USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. I > Part 31
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was translated into several languages. The Prince Library contains a copy in English, as well as a copy of the Indian translation.
Samuel Sewall wrote to an uncle in England, February 15, 1685-6: "The best News that I can think to speak of from America, is, that Mr. John Eliot, through the good hand of God upon him, hath procured a second Edition of the Bi- ble in the Indian language ; so that many Hundreds of them may read the Scrip- tures. Lord sanctify them by thy Truth, thy word is Truth. As to the Design of
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SIR EDMUND ANDROS.
The arrival of the new governor, Sir Edmund Andros, was awaited with much anxiety. On Sunday, the 19th of Decem- ber, the guns of the frigate Kingfisher, with Sir Edmund on board, were heard below. The president, Major Dudley, was at the South Church in the forenoon. Mr. Willard preached from Heb. xi. 12: "Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multi- tude, and as the sand which is by the sea-shore innumerable." Mr. Willard said "he was fully persuaded and confident God would not forget the faith of those who came first to New Eng- land, but would remember their posterity with kindness." Sir Edmund landed on Monday, and proceeded to the town-house, at the head of King Street. Here his commission was read, and he took the oaths, and the councillors were sworn. Hardly were these ceremonies concluded, when, prompted no doubt by Randolph, he had a conversation with the ministers about ac- commodations for the services of his church, and proposed that one of the meeting-houses should be made to subserve the purposes of two congregations, -its own and the new Epis- copal society. Palfrey says, " If the demand had been for the use of the building for a mass, or for a carriage-house for Jug- gernaut, it could scarcely have been to the generality of the people more offensive." On the following evening, the minis- ters met at the house of Mr. Allen, of the First Church, with four from each of the three congregations, "to consider what answer to give the Governour." The decision was that they could not with a good conscience consent that their meeting- houses should be made use of for "Common-Prayer worship." On Wednesday evening, Mr. Mather and Mr. Willard waited upon the governor at his lodgings at Madam Taylor's,1 and "thor- owly discoursed his Excellency about the Meeting-Houses in great plainness, showing they could not consent." They appear to have made some impression upon him, for, as the result of the interview, it was reported, "He seems to say will not impose." The next Saturday was Christmas Day, and although he had not attended the time-honored Thursday lecture, at which the Converting them, we in N. E. may sor- measure as it were to stand and look rowfully sing the 127. Psalm. Except on."] the Lord build the House, they Labour in 1 Rebecca, widow of William Taylor, was a member of Mr. Willard's congre- gation. See ante, p. 166. Her house was on the corner of what are now Hanover and Elm streets. vain that build. I am persuaded twould be a most acceptable sacrifice to God, importunately to beseech Him to put his Hand to that work, and not in a great
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
magistrates and leading men of the colony made it a point to be present regularly, he went to the town-house to service morning and afternoon. The Conversion of St. Paul was duly commemorated on the 25th of January, and on Monday, the 3Ist, service was held "at the Townhouse forenoon and after- noon, bell rung for it, respecting, the beheading Charles the First." 1
All this time, while occupying the deputies' chamber for their worship, the governor and his friends were looking with long- ing eyes at the comfortable Congregational meeting-houses, and, as Easter approached, it was determined by them to take for- cible possession of the most eligible one of the three. On Wednesday, the 23d of March, Randolph was sent for the keys of the South meeting-house, that prayers might be said there on Good Friday. A committee consisting of Deacons Eliot and Frary, Nathaniel Oliver, Ephraim Savage, Benjamin Davis, and Samuel Sewall immediately went to the governor, to remon- strate with him in person. They explained to him that the meeting-house and the land on which it stood belonged to them- selves and those whom they represented ; that the property had been paid for by private liberality, that it had been set apart for their own religious uses, and that they could not consent to its being appropriated as now proposed. They presented an ex- tract from Mrs. Norton's deed and from the original subscrip- tion list, and we may be sure they pleaded ably and earnestly in defence of their rights. But their remonstrances and argu- ments were all in vain. The outrage had been decided upon, and there was no power in the colony to prevent its consumma- tion. William Needham, the sexton, though he had resolved to the contrary, "was prevailed upon," on Good Friday, at the governor's command, to ring the bell and open the doors ; and the walls of the Puritan meeting-house for the first time echoed to the responses and anthems of the Anglican ritual. Further resistance was in vain; and from now until the deposition of Governor Andros, the South Church and congregation could
1 The 30th of January was the day observed by the English Church to com- memorate " King Charles the Martyr," "our own, our royal Saint," as Keble calls him ; but as this fell on Sunday in 1687, Sir Edmund and his party post- poned the observance to Monday. In 1688 Sewall writes, "Near noon Mr.
Bullivant gives a Warrant to the Con- stables, and causeth the Shops to be shut."
On the 6th of February, the shops were again closed by a warrant from a justice. This was the third anniversary of the accession of James II. to the throne.
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THE MEETING-HOUSE SEIZED.
assemble in their own meeting-house when, and only when, the royal governor and his followers had no use for it. Increase Mather tells the story in a few words that burn with righteous indignation : -
So sweet and kind were they, that to Avoid Offence, they (have as they say) At their own charge built and Erected a Convenient Church. A great piece of Supererogation. But when was this done? why, 'twas after they had the free use of the Town House which would more than have contained them all : but this would not serve their turn : they then demanded the Keys of the South Meeting-house, which when some Gentlemen (who had a Right in the House) did not surrender, Gov- ernour Andross told them he would presently scise on that House and all the Meeting Houses in the Country, and hinder them from Contributing the Value of Two pence towards the maintenance of any Non-Conformist Ministers. He also bade them Consider what Effects the Stifness of the Protestants in France had, who would not Yield in what they might have done (note that well) and now there is not the name of a Protestant in France. But this not prevailing, they thrust themselves into that Meeting-house, and there continued untill by Interrupting the people of the South Congregation, often in their Times, sometimes in the very parts of their Worship the whole Town cryed shame upon them. And then 'twas (bonis avibus) they thought of Building.1
Samuel Sewall's diary gives us a graphic account of these trying days : -
Sabbath March 27. Governour and his retinue met in our Meeting house at Eleven ; broke off past two because of the Sacrament and Mr. Clark's long Sermon ; now we were appointed to come & hour past one, so twas a sad Sight to see how full the Street was with people gazing and moving to and fro because had not entrance into the House.
Monday April 4. In the Even Mr. Willard, Eliot, Frary and Self have great debate about our meeting for the Lords Supper.
Sabbath April 10. Mr. Moodey helps Mr. Willard in the Forenoon. Text, Job 23. 10. [But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.] Shewed that Afflictions were for Tryal, and where the Tryal met with sincerity, the issue would be glorious.
Tuesday May 10. Mr. Bullivant having been acquainted that May 15th was our Sacrament-day, he writt to Mr. Willard, that he had ac- quainted those principally concern'd, and 'twas judg'd very improper and inconvenient for the Governour and his to be at any other House, it being Whit-Sunday and they must have the Communion, and that
1 [A Vindication of New England, Andros Tructs, vol. ii. p. 44.]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
'twas expected should leave off by twelve and not return again till they rung the Bell, that might have time to dispose of the Elements. So remembring how long they were at Easter, we were afraid 'twould breed much confusion in the Afternoon, and so, on Wednesday, con- cluded not to have our Sacrament for saw 'twas in vain to urge their promise. And on the 8th of May were bid [by the bell] past One a pretty deal.
Sabbath May 15. Goes out just } hour after one; so have our Afternoon Exercise in due season. But see they have the advantage to lengthen or shorten their Exercises so as may make for their pur- pose.
Wednesday June 1. A privat Fast of the South-Church was kept at our house, Mr. Willard pray'd and preach'd in the morn. Mr. Cotton Mather pray'd first in the afternoon, Mr. Moodey preach'd and pray'd. Mr. Willard dismiss'd with a Blessing. Mr. Willard's Text, Deut. 32. 36. "For the Lord shall judge his people and repent him- self for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up or left." Mr. Moody's Text. Ps. 46. 10 "Be still and know that I am God : I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." Occasion of the Fast was the putting by the Sacrament, the last Turn, and the difficult circumstances our Church in above others, regarding the Church of England's meeting in it.
Sabbath June 12. Lords Supper at the South-Church. But Church of England men go not to any other House : yet little hindrance to us save as to ringing the first Bell, and straitning the Deacons in removal of the Table.
Sabbath October 16. Had the Sacrament to-day at the North Church ; Mr. Ratcliff also had the Sacrament, and sent to Mr. Willard yesterday to leave off sooner. To which Mr. Willard not consenting Governour sent for him in the night.
Wednesday, November 16. In the Even [the Governour] sends for the Ministers and so Schools them that the Thanksgiving is put by which was to have been the 17th.1 (Sewall.)
The death of the governor's wife at the beginning of the new year, only three months after her arrival in New England, made a deep impression upon the little community, and, for the mo- ment, must have softened the asperities on both sides. Prayers
1 [“ When the ministers of Boston agreed with their congregations upon keeping a day of thanksgiving to heaven for the shelter which their brethren [in England], as well as themselves, found by the Declaration [of Indulgence], Sir Edmund Andros, with many menaces,
forbade their proceedings, and particu- larly threatened that he would set guards of soldiers on their church doors, if they attempted what they pretended to." - Parentator, p. 102.
The governor and council fixed on December I as a Thanksgiving Day.]
269
FUNERAL OF LADY ANDROS.
were offered for her recovery at the morning service, January 22, but at or near the beginning of the afternoon exercises she died. She was buried on Friday evening, February 10, and we may be sure that no one objected to the use of the South meet- ing-house for the funeral services and ceremonies, although they were new and surprising to those who had always lived in the colony.
Friday February 10 1687-S Between 4. and 5. I went to the Funeral of the Lady Andros, having been invited by the Clark of the South Company. Between 7. and S. (Lychns [links or torches] illumi- nating the cloudy air) The Corps was carried into the Herse drawn by Six Horses. The Souldiers making a Guard from the Governour's House down the Prison Lane [Court Street] to the South-Meeting- house, there taken out and carried in at the western dore, and set in the Alley before the pulpit, with Six Mourning Women by it. House made light with Candles and Torches. Was a great noise and clamor to keep people out of the House, that might not rush in too soon. I went home. where about nine aclock I heard the Bells toll again for the Funeral. It seems Mr. Ratcliffs Text was, Cry, all flesh is Grass. The Ministers turn'd in to Mr. Willard's. The Meeting House full, among whom Mr. Dudley, Stoughton, Gedney, Bradstreet &.c. Twas warm thawing wether, and the wayes extream dirty. No volley at placeing the Body in the Tomb. On Satterday Feb. 11 The mourning cloth of the Pulpit is taken off, and given to Mr. Willard. (Sewall.)
This solemn night service in the plain New England meeting- house, which had neither aisle nor organ, must have contrasted strangely with similar services in the more stately sanctuaries in the mother country, to those who had witnessed them there. Thirty years later, Joseph Addison was buried in Westminster Abbey, Atterbury, Bishop of Rochester, officiating, and the scene has been described for us by one of the mourners, in lines of rare grace and beauty : -
How silent did his old companions tread, By midnight lamps, the mansions of the dead, Through breathing statues, then unheeded things, Through rows of warriors, and through walks of kings ! What awe did the slow, solemn knell inspire ; The pealing organ, and the pausing choir ; The duties by the lawn-robed prelate paid, And the last words that dust to dust conveyed !
Sir Edmund Andros and his friends now determined to build a house of worship for their own use.
March 25. 1688. Mr. Increase Mather preaches at the South Meet-
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
ing from Ezek. 47. 11. But the mirie places &.c. [Mr. Mather sailed for England a few days later.]
March 23, 16SS. Captain Davis spake to me for Land to set a Church on. I told him could not, would not, put Mr. [John] Cotton's Land to such an use, and besides, 'twas Entail'd. After, Mr. Ran- dolph saw me, and had me to his House to see the Landscips of Ox- ford Colledges and Halls. Left me with Mr. Ratcliff, who spake to me for Land at Cotton-Hill for a Church which were going to build : I told him I could not. first because I would not set up that which the People of New England came over to avoid : 2d the Land was En- tail'd. In after discourse I mentioned chiefly the Cross in Baptism, and Holy Dayes.
Saturday April 14. Mr. [John] 1 West comes to Mr. Willard from the Governour to speak to him to begin at 8 in the morn, and says this shall be last time ; they will build a house. Soe begin about hour past S. yet the people come pretty roundly together. 'T was Easter-day, and the Lord's Supper with us too.
April 18. This day an Order is made that next Sabbath-day sen- night be a Thanksgiving for the Queen's being with Child.
April 22. Mr. Willard having received no Order mentions not the Thanksgiving : though it seems one was sent to him at noon to men- tion it, but left no Order with him.
April 29. Mr. Willard received an Order about the Thanksgiving on Satterday night ; yet read it not this day, but after the Notes said such an Occasion was by the Governour recommended to be given Thanks for. Mr. Allen [at the First Church] sings the 6 first verses of the 21 Ps. and the first part of the 72d, which gives offence to some of his Church. Mr. Willard prays more particularly and largely for the King, but else alters not his course a jot.
Sabbath May 20. Mr. Willard preach'd in the morn from Heb. 12. 4. Have not yet resisted unto bloud &c. In the Afternoon rain'd exceeding hard, so that I doubt many staid to hear the Service [the Episcopal service which followed] who had not been wont.
Thursday, May 24. Bell is rung for a Meeting of the Church of England Men, being in their language Ascencion day.
Sabbath, June 10. Sacrament with us, finish so that I got home just about a quarter past 12 by the Dial. Governour angry that had done so late, and caused their Bell to be rung about a quarter past one ; 'twas rather more before the Bell had done : So 'twas about a quar- ter past Three before our Afternoon Bell Rung about 1 hour later than usual.
Friday June 22. This day Mrs. Joyliff and Mrs. Grecian goe to his
1 [John West was brought from New and wills. For the character of this York by Randolph, from whom he official, see Palfrey's History, vol. iii. farmed the fees on deeds, mortgages, p. 523.]
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AN EXCITING CONFERENCE.
Excellency, and expostulat with Him about his Design of meeting first on Sabbath-days in our Meetinghouse.
Saturday June 23. Capt. Frary and I goe to his Excellency at the Secretaries Office, and there desired that He would not alter his time of Meeting, and that Mr. Willard consented to no such thing, neither did he count that 'twas in his power so to doe. Mr. West said he went not to ask Mr. Willard Leave. His Excellency asked who the House belong'd to ; we told Him the Title to the House was on Record. His Excellency turned to Mr. Graham and said, Mr. Attorney, we will have that look'd into. Governour said if Mr. Willard not the Parson, so great an Assembly must be considered. We said He was Master of the Assembly, but had no power to dispose of the House, neither had others, for the Deed expressed the Use 'twas to be put to. Govern- our complain'd of our long staying Sabbath-day sennight ; said 't was the Lord's Supper, and [he] had promised to. go to some other House on such dayes ; Mr. Randolph said he knew of no such promise, and the Governour seemed angry, and said He would not so break his word for all the Massachusetts Colony, and therefore, to avoid mistakes, must give in writing what we had to say ; we answered, Mr. Randolph brought not any writing to those he spake to. Governour said we rent off from the old Church against the Government, and the Land the House stood on was bought clandestinely, and that one should say he would defend the work with his Company of Soldiers. Men- tion'd folks backwardness to give, and the unreasonableness ; because if any stinking filthy thing were in the House we would give some- thing to have it carried out, but would not give to build them an house : Said came from England to avoid such and such things, there- fore could not give to set them up here : and the Bishops would have thought strange to have been ask'd to contribute towards setting up the New-England Churches. Governour said God willing they would begin at Eight in the Morning, and have done by Nine : we said 'twould hardly be so in the winter. Mr. Graham said if they had their Service by Candle-Light what was that to any : And that the Service appointed by the Church for morning could not be held after Noon.
Sabbath June 24. We read and sing in course the 57th Psal. Alta- schith. They [the Church of England congregation] have done before nine in the morn, and about a quarter after one in the afternoon; so we have very convenient time
July 1. Governour takes his old time again after our coming out, and Sir William Phips's Chaplain preaches. We were a little hurried and disappointed in the morning, the Bell ringing about quarter be- fore nine.
Thursday July 12. George Keith [a Quaker] doth this day send a Challenge to the 4 Ministers of Boston, in an open letter by Edward
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Shippen, to dispute with them about the false Doctrine they deliv- ered.
Thursday August 16. [News arrived in the evening of the birth of a prince.1] So from 11. to 1. or 2. is Drumming, Bonfire, Huzas, small and great Guns, Ringing of Bells, at which many startled for fear of fire or an Alarm; because the thing was so sudden, People knew not the occasion. Brother Needham was called out of 's Bed to deliver the keys which at first he refus'd, they not telling him the occasion.
Tuesday, October 16. This day the Ground-Sills of the Church [the first King's Chapel, built of wood] are laid ; the stone foundation being finished.ª [It was " raised " on the day following.]
Saturday October 27. His Excellency goes off to Charlestown and so to Dunstable.
Sabbath October 28. Lord's Supper at the South Church. Mr. Willard preached from Heb. 9. 24. Mr. [Seaborn] Cotton of Hamp- ton preached in the afternoon, His Text, Quench not the Spirit. Note. It seems the Governour took Mr. Ratcliff with him, so met not at all distinct in our House this day. Several of them with us in the afternoon. (Sewall.) 3
A former minister of King's Chapel, in writing of these pro- ceedings, has said : -
In looking back on this event, we are obliged to consider it, though not itself of great political importance, as one of the most arbitrary acts ever perpetrated in this country while it remained under the Eng- lish government. No excuse is to be rendered for it. It was such a deliberate outrage on the common rights of property, to say nothing
1 [" There, on the morning of Sunday, the 10th of June, a day long kept sacred by the too faithful adherents of a bad cause, was born the most unfortunate of princes, destined to seventy-seven years of exile and wandering, of vain projects, of honours more galling than insults, and of hopes such as make the heart sick." - Macaulay.]
2 [On Wednesday, October 17, 1688, Mr. Nehemiah Walter was ordained at Roxbury as colleague with the Rev. John Eliot. Mr. Willard took part in the services, and Governor Bradstreet and Samuel Sewall were present, probably as messengers from the South Church.]
3 [Samuel Sewall sailed for England in the America, Captain Clarke, November
22, 1688, partly on private business, and partly to be with Mr. Mather and other friends who sought to uphold the inter- ests of the colony, now without a char- ter or a settled government, and to se- cure, if possible, a restoration of its privileges. On his arrival in the English Channel, he heard of the flight of James HI. and the landing of the Prince of Orange. On the 12th of February, 1689, he saw the Princess Mary, who had just landed from Holland, pass on her way from Greenwich to Whitehall. He returned to New England in the same vessel, the America, Mr. Thomas Brattle being one of his fellow-passen- gers, and landed at Newbury, November 29, 1689.]
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A DECLARATIVE DEED.
of conscience and liberty, that we may only wonder that Andros and his abettors suffered no personal violence from the people.1
To this judgment we may add the words of the late much- lamented minister : -
It is a chapter of outrageous wrongs which Andros wrote here, and there is cause for lasting regret that the origin of so good a thing as religious freedom under the stern old Puritan régime should have been sullied by his despotic acts. But it is satisfactory to remember that ninety years later King's Chapel willingly expiated this injustice by opening its doors wide to the Old South congregation, when dispos- sessed of their own church by the later revolution.2
In the midst of the uncertainties of this trying time, the members of the Third Church naturally felt anxious about their valuable property. All the trustees to whom Mrs. Norton made her conveyances were dead, with the exception of Edward Rawson, Joshua Scottow, and Jacob Eliot, and as no one could foresee what demands would be made upon the church, or what might be the fate of the meeting-house, under Sir Edmund Andros's administration, it was thought best for the surviving trustees to execute a "declarative deed," continuing the trust in the hands of younger men, and stating with explicitness the purpose of Mrs. Norton, and, by implication, that of the other founders of the church. The instrument was drawn up by Mr. Rawson, and, incidentally, gives us information on certain points which we should not otherwise possess : -
To all Christian People to whom these presents shall any way in time comming come or may concerne Greeting ; Whereas the late worthily honoured Mrs. Mary Norton relict and sole Executrix to the last will and Testament of the late Reverend Mr. John Norton bear- ing date the fowerteenth day of January 1661 as in the originall Re- corded in the book of Records for wills in the County of Suffolk in New England refference thereto being had more amply doth and may appeare Gave his late dwelling house yard Garden orchard thereon and thereunto adjoyning being in the whole about an acre of land be it more or lesse as now ffenced in being scittuate in the street in Bos- ton leading to Roxbury And whereas the said Mary Norton relict and Executrix aforesaid on divers weighty and preponderate consider- ations besides that great and good affection which the said Reverend John Norton her husband with her selfe did beare unto his and her loving ffriends Thomas Savage Edward Rawson William Davis Heze-
1 [Greenwood's History of King's 2 [Foote's Annals of King's Chapel, vol. i. p. 79.]
Chapel, p. 39.]
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