USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. I > Part 36
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The gentlemen who solicit your return are mostly known to you, -- men of re- pute and figure, from whom you may expect generous treatment ; and among them I doubt not but you may be pe- culiarly serviceable to the Lord Jesus Christ, which is the height of your am- bition. I believe your return will be pleasing to all friends of religion. I am sure it will be inexpressibly so to your unfeigned friend and servant."
3II
BRATTLE STREET CHURCH.
They proposed no deviation in the form of worship from the existing practice, except in respect to the reading of the Scrip- tures from the pulpit without comment, which hitherto had not been allowed in the churches of the established order in New England. They declared that they approved of and sub- scribed to "the Confession of Faith put forth by the Assembly of Divines at Westminster," and that they designed only "the true and pure worship of God, according to the rules plainly appearing to them in his word." They said, further, that it was their "sincere desire and intention to hold communion with the churches here as true churches." They protested against "all suspicion and jealousy to the contrary, as most injurious " to themselves ; and they added: "Although in some circum- stances, we may vary from many of them, yet jointly profess to maintain such order and rules of discipline as may preserve, so far as in us lies, evangelical purity, and holiness in our commu- nion." The two propositions which were most at variance with the practice of the time were : -
We judge it fitting and expedient that whoever would be admitted to partake with us in the Holy Sacrament be accountable to the pas- tor, to whom it belongs to inquire into their knowledge and spiritual state, and to require the renewal of their baptismal covenant. But we assume not to ourselves, to impose upon any a public relation of their experiences.
Finally, we cannot confine the right of choosing a minister to the communicants alone ; but we think that every baptized adult person, who contributes to the maintenance, should have a vote in electing.
Judge Sewall's diary throws much light upon what now took place : -
Dec 9. Mr. Colman visits me : I expostulat with him about the 3d Article in the Manifesto, that had shew'd no more respect to N. E. Churches. I told him Christ was a Bride-Groom, and He lov'd to have his Bride commended. Philomela would have found out some words : at which he smil'd.1 He satisfied me as to Baptisme and said the word [Adopted] was left out. I told him he was the more in danger, and had need to be more upon his Guard ; lest any hard sharp words he had met with should tempt him to do what he intended not. Warn'd him of the Cross in Baptisme &c. Said he was of our mind. Because I told him meerly saying Conform, did not express such an Approbation of the N. E. way as I desired : Many in England con- form'd to things they professedly disliked.
1 [Philomela was the pseudonyme of a popular poet of her day, and a near Elizabeth Singer, afterward Mrs. Rowe, personal friend of Mr. Colman.]
312
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Then follow these admirable words, which breathe the very spirit of John Robinson, in his memorable farewell address at Leyden : -
At his going away, I told him, If God should please by them to hold forth any Light that had not been seen or entertain'd before; I should be so far from envying it, that I should rejoice in it : which he was much affected with.
While the First and Second Churches were hostile to the new church, the attitude of the Third was decidedly friendly to it. Mr. Willard's long-cherished desire that Mr. Pemberton should become his colleague shows, at the least, that he saw nothing dangerous in the new movement, and both he and his prominent members did all in their power to allay the excite- ment. Thomas Brattle, the father, had been one of the founders of the Third Church, and nearly all his children had become mem- bers of it. Thomas Brattle, the son, owned the covenant in the spring of 1680, when so many of the young people of the con- gregation made a similar profession of their religious faith, but neither his name, nor that of his brother Edward, appears on the roll of full membership. We have seen that when Benjamin Davis and Nathaniel Oliver were admitted in 1685, they ob- jected to the relation of experience which was required of them, and the rules were so modified that they were received in the presence of the church only. They went to the new church, and Richard Draper, who joined a year later, went also. Mr. Davis and Mr. Draper were its first deacons. In later years, Judge Sewall was drawn closely to it by family ties, the Rev. William Cooper, its second minister, and Grove Hirst, one of its most influential members, being his sons-in-law.
The church was organized on the 12th of December, 1699, fourteen persons declaring "their consent and agreement to walk together in all the ordinances of our Lord Jesus Christ." No council was called to sanction its organization, or to assist in the installation of its minister, but at the meeting at which the church was formed, a vote was passed, "that Mr. Colman present the desires of the society to the ministers of the town, to keep a day with us ;" that is to say, they desired friendly recognition and the fellowship of the churches. By wise pre- vision, the question of ordination had already been settled according to Presbyterian usage, and to this the Mathers do not appear to have taken very positive exception. Increase Mather
313
THE REV. BENJAMIN COLMAN.
and James Allen sent a reply, December 28, addressed to "Mr. Colman," saying that the desire of the church would be gratified, if it would give proper satisfaction for its disorderly proceedings.
Jan. 24 1699-1700. The Lt Govr [William Stoughton] calls me with him to Mr. Willards, where out of two papers Mr. Wm Brattle drew up a third for an Accommodation to bring on an Agreement between the New-Church and our Ministers; Mr. Colman got his Brethren to subscribe it.
Jan 25. Mr. I. Mather, Mr. C. Mather, Mr. Willard, Mr. Wads- worth and S. S. wait on the Lt. Govr at Mr. Coopers : to confer about the writing drawn up the evening before. Was some heat ; but grew calmer, and after Lecture agreed to be present at the Fast which is to be observed January 31.
Jan 31. Fast at the New Church. Mr. Colman reads the Writing agreed on. Mr. Allin Prays, Mr. Colman preaches, prays, blesses. p.m. Mr. Willard prays, Mr. I Mather preaches, Mr. Cotton Mather prays. Sing the 67 psalm without reading. Mr. Brattle sets Oxford Tune. Mr. Mather gives the Blessing. His Text was, Follow peace with all men and Holiness. Doct. must follow peace so far as it con- sists with Holiness Heb. 12. 14.
Mr. Colman's Text was Rom. 15. 29. Mr. Fisk, Hobart, Belchar and many Ministers and Scholars there. Mr. Torrey absent by rea- son of sickness and the bad wether yesterday. Of the Council, Lt Govr. Mr. Russell, Mr. Cooke, Col. Hathorne, Sewall, Addington, Sergeant (Foreseat) Col. Foster, Lynde, Saffin, Eliakim Hutchinson, Walley, Townsend, Byfield. Mr. Willard pray'd God to pardon all the frailties and follies of Ministers and people ; and that they might give that Respect to the other churches that was due to them though were not just of their Constitution, and Mr. Cotton Mather in's prayer to the same purpose. Mr. Willard and C. Mather pray'd excellently and pathetically for Mr. Colman and his Flock.1 (Sewall.)
obtain an account of these occurrences from another point of view : -
" 1699 7th 10th m. I see another day of temptation begun upon the town and land. A company of headstrong men in the town, the chief of whom are full of malignity to the holy ways of our churches, have built in the town another meeting house. To delude many better meaning men in their own company, and the churches in the neighbourhood, they passed a vote in the foundation of the proceedings, that they would not vary from the practice of these churches,
I [From Cotton Mather's journal we except in one little particular. But a young man born and bred here, and hence gone for England, is now returned hither at their invitation, equipped with an ordination to qualify him for all that is intended on his returning and arriving here; these fallacious people desert their vote, and, without the advice or knowl- edge of the ministers in the vicinity, they have published, under the title of a manifesto, certain articles that utterly subvert our churches, and invite an ill party, through all the country, to throw all into confusion on the first oppor- tunities."
314
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
The time was now come for the Third Church to act har -. moniously in calling a colleague pastor. The records say :-
At a Church meeting : Feb. 21 1699-1700
Whereas there have formerly bin attempts used, and severall votes past. in and by this Church, in order to the procuring of another min- ister to take office among us; which have failed of their desired success through want of a comfortable unanimity in our proceedings ; we do therfore joyntly agree to lay aside all former pretensions, that we may be no longer hindred in a free Choice ; asking of God forgive- ness of what hath bin displeasing to him, and his Gracious conduct, in our essays for a peacable and mercifull settlement.
Voted and agreed by the Church.
At the same time, was Mr. Ebenezer Pemberton elected, and with a free concurrence of the church, chosen to be their minister, in order to his settlement in office amon them; and the Honoured Capt. Sewall, Major Walley, Mr. Frary, Mr. Hill, Mr. Williams and Captain Checkly were chosen and desired to present the desires of this church to Mr. Pemberton :
Attests SAML WILLARD Teacher.
There was some change in the committee. Mr. Williams's wife was then lying at the point of death,1 which would account for his not going to Cambridge, and Mr. Sergeant seems to have gone in place of Mr. Walley. 1
Tuesday March 5 1699-1700: Mr. Sergeant, Capt. Frary, Capt. Hill, Capt Checkly and my self goe to Cambridge over the Ferry, and
" 1699 5th d. 11th m. (Saturday) I see Satan beginning a terrible shake in the churches of New England, and the in- novators that had set up a new church in Boston, (a new one indeed !) have made a day of temptation among us. The men are ignorant, arrogant, obstinate, and full of malice and slander, and they fill the land with lies, in the misrepre- sentations whereof I am a very singular sufferer. Wherefore I set apart this day for prayer in my study, to cry mightily unto God."
" 1690 21st d. 11th mo. . . . I drew up a proposal, and, with another minister, carried it unto them, who at first rejected it, but afterwards so far embraced it, as to promise that they will the next week publicly recognize their covenant with God and one another, and therewithal declare their adherence to the Heads of
Agreement of the United Brethren in England ["the United Ministers for- merly called Presbyterian and Congrega- tional,"] and request the communion of our churches in that foundation.
" A wonderful joy filled the hearts of our good people far and near, that we had obtained thus much from them. Our strife seemed now at an end ; there was much relenting in some of their spirits, when they saw our condescension, our charity, our compassion. We over- looked all past offences."]
1 Mrs. Mary Williams died March 7. She was a daughter of Peter Oliver, and she first married Jonathan Shrimpton. Mr. Williams, a year or two later, mar- ried Sarah, youngest daughter of the Rev. John Wheelwright, of Salisbury, and widow of Richard Crispe ; she died March 3, 1726-7.
-
315
MR. PEMBERTON'S ORDINATION.
acquaint Mr. Pemberton with the Church's Call, and their desire of his Acceptance. He makes a very sensible Answer as to the Weight of the Work, his own inability ; hop'd God would hear his earnest Prayer, and help him to make a right Answer. (Sewall.)
Mr. Pemberton, as we have said, was a child of the South Church. He was baptized by its first minister, Mr. Thacher, February 11, 1672, and was educated at Harvard College, gradu- ating with Timothy Edwards and Christopher Toppan in the class of 1691. After completing the regular course of study, he continued to reside at Cambridge as a fellow of the house or tutor. He was a man of eminent talents and great ac- quirements, and became one of the most accomplished preach- ers the country had produced. He was a master of logic and an orator. The college had never had a more able tutor, nor one who took a deeper interest in the moral as well as intel- lectual training of its youths. His piety was of a decided char- acter, producing habitually, as we are told, strong conviction of the reality of things invisible and eternal, and "a zeal which flamed" in his Master's cause. Probably he did not wish to leave Cambridge until the close of the college year, as he was not ordained and installed until the 28th of August. He had been a member of the church since the summer of 1692.
Wednesday Aug. 28. 1700. Mr. E. Pemberton is ordained : He preached ; then Mr. Willard Preached : Mr. Willard gave the charge : He, Mr. I. Mather, and Mr. Allen laying on Hands. Mr. I. Mather gave the Right Hand of Fellowship. Mr. Wigglesworth [of Malden] and Mr. Torrey [of Weymouth] were in the Pulpit, Mr. Hubbard of Ipswich and many Ministers below. A very great Assembly. All was so managed, as I hope does bode well, that the Blessing of God will accompany Him and us. (Sewall.)
The installation council, as we are familiar with it, was not known in New England then, nor for more than a century later. It is an abnormal outgrowth, an excrescence upon the con- gregational polity, and we may be sure the fathers would never have tolerated it. We can imagine the astonishment and indig- nation of Theophilus Frary, Samuel Sewall, Peter Sergeant, and the other brethren if Mr. Allen, Mr. Mather, and Mr. Wiggles- worth had assumed to cross-examine Mr. Pemberton upon the details of his doctrinal belief, and then, with the other ministers invited to the service of recognition, had gone into private session to discuss his relations to the new movement at Cam- bridge and to vote upon the question whether it was expedient
316
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
that the South Church should settle him as one of its ministers. Mr. Willard thought himself entitled to the " negative," when the church came together for the purpose of choosing his col- league ; but he would have opened his eyes in amazement if his brother ministers had asserted the claim that the negative be- longed, not to him, but to themselves, as representing the neigh- boring churches. To such ecclesiastical bondage he and his people would have consented to give place by subjection, " no, not for an hour."
Lords-day, June, 16, 1700. Mr. Daniel Oliver has his son Daniel baptised.
June, 17. Mr. John Eyre makes his Will in the morning, and dies in the Afternoon, an hour or 2 before Sunset Born Febr. 19th 1653-4. I visited him on Satterday in the Afternoon : He was sitting up in his little Room, Took me by the hand at first coming in, Desired me to pray for him when took leave.
Fourth-day, June, 19. 1700. Mr. Jno Eyre is entomed in the new burying place. Nine of his children are laid there to handsel the new Tomb: Bearers, Sewall, Addington, Townsend, Byfield, Dummer, Davis : Scarys and Rings. Lt Gov' and many of the Council there. Mr. Thomas Brattle led his mourning widowed Sister. (Sewall.)
On the 24th of June, 1700, Samuel Sewall published his anti- slavery tract, The Selling of Joseph, for which, and for his pub- lic confession after the witchcraft trials, he would deserve to be held in grateful and affectionate remembrance by all the generations, if there were no record of any other noble word or act of his in church or state. He thus speaks of the circum- stances which led to the production of this pamphlet : -
Having been long and much dissatisfied with the Trade of fetch- ing Negros from Guinea ; at last I had a strong Inclination to Write something about it ; but it wore off. At last reading Bayne, Ephes. about servants, who mentions Blackamoors; I began to be un- easy that I had so long neglected doing any thing. When I was thus thinking, in came Brother Belknap to shew me a Petition he in- tended to present to the General Court for the freeing a Negro and his wife, who were unjustly held in Bondage. And there is a Motion by a Boston Committee to get a Law that all Importers of Negros shall pay 40 s p head, to discourage the bringing of them. And Mr. C. Mather resolves to publish a sheet to exhort Masters to labour their Conversion. Which makes me hope that I was call'd of God to Write this Apology for them; Let his Blessing accompany the same.
317
AN EARLY CHALLENGE TO SLAVERY.
Dr. George H. Moore says of this pamphlet : -
The earliest positive public challenge to slavery in Massachusetts of which we have any knowledge was in the year 1700, when a learned, pious, and honored magistrate entered the lists alone, and sounded his solitary blast in the ears of his brother magistrates and the peo- ple, who listened in amazement and wonder, not unmingled with sor- row and contempt. His performance is all the more remarkable from the fact that it stands out in the history of the time separate and dis- tinct as " the voice of one crying in the wilderness." 1
Soon after Mr. Pemberton's ordination, Mr. Willard had a severe illness.
Lords Day Sept 29th 1700. Mr. Willard, by reason of sickness keeps house, and Mr. Pemberton preaches forenoon and Afternoon. (Sewall.)
On the 6th of October there was "a meeting of some of the South Church occasioned by Mr. Willard's sickness ;" and two days later a service with reference to it was held by the mem- bers of Brattle Street Church, who evidently bore in remem- brance the generous and kindly spirit manifested by Mr. Willard and his leading members during the troubles of the preceding winter.
8' Sth 1700. Is a Fast at the New-Meetinghouse to pray for Mr. Willard's Life. Mr. Colman, Wadsworth pray. Mr. Pemberton preaches : Philip. 1. 24. [" Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you."] Mr. Allen, Cotton Mather Pray. 20th Psalm two staves and & sung L. Lt. Govr. Mr. Russell, Cook, Addington, Em Hutchinson, Townsend there. Mr. Fisk, Danforth, Walter, Brattle, out of Town. Pretty considerable congregation, it being so sudden, and first intended in privat. (Sewall.)
It was nearly two months before Mr. Willard was convales- cent.
1 [Notes on the Hist. of Slavery in Mass., pp. SI, 82. Dr. Moore prints the pamphlet in full. It appears also in the Sewall Papers, vol. ii. pp. 16-20. It was printed as part of a tract against slave- holding in 1838, in Philadelphia, by Ben- jamin Lay. Judge Sewall wrote to the Rev. John Higginson, one of "the First Planters in New England," April 13, 1706: -
" It is now near Six years agoe since I printed a Sheet in defence of Liberty. The next year after, Mr. Saffin set forth a printed Answer. I forebore troubling the Province with any Reply, untill I
saw a very severe Act passing against Indians and Negros, and then I re- printed that Question, as I found it stated and answered in the Athenian Oracle; which I knew nothing of before last Autumn was twelve moneths, when I accidentally cast my Eye upon it. Amidst the Frowns and hard Words I have met with for this Undertaking, it is no small refreshment to me, that I have the Learned, Reverend and aged Mr. Hig- ginson for my Abetter. By the interpo- sition of this Brest-Work, I hope to carry on and manage this Enterprise with Safety and Success."]
SIS
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Nov. 21. 1700. Day of publick Thanksgiving. At 3 post meridm Mr. Willard comes abroad and Prays to the great Refreshment of the Congregation. This the first time since his sickness. In the evening I made these verses on it, viz,
As Joseph let his brethren see Simeon both alive, and free : So JESUS brings forth Samuel, To tune our hearts to praise Him well. Thus He with beams of cheerfull light, Corrects the darkness of our night. His Grace assists us in this wise To seise, and bind the Sacrifice.
(Sewall.)
During the period of Mr. Willard's illness the church lost its senior deacon, Theophilus Frary, who died October 17. He was one of the founders of 1669, and he had been a valuable member and a very useful citizen. His wife, Hannah, who had died some years before, was a daughter of the first Jacob Eliot, and a niece of the Rev. John Eliot, of Roxbury. On the 14th of November, Joseph Eliot, son of the second Jacob Eliot, died suddenly. He was at church on the preceding Sunday, and Judge Sewall met him in the street on the morning of the day he died. His name does not appear as a member, but he was one of the young people who owned the covenant in 1680, be- ing then eighteen years of age. His wife, Silence (Baker) Eliot, became a member in 1697, and survived until 1744.1 Samuel Checkley, as we suppose, succeeded Mr. Frary in the deaconship.2
Jan 30 1700-1701 Mr. Willard preaches from Eccles. 9. 2. - he that sweareth, and he that feareth an Oath. Spake very closely against the many ways of Swearing amiss. Great Storm. (Sewall.)
This was at the Thursday Lecture. The sermon was printed with the title, The Fear of an Oath, or Some Cautions to be used about Swearing. Mr. Willard had previously preached and printed sermons on Laying the Hand on the Bible in Swearing, and on The Danger of Taking God's Name in Vain.
Monday, June. 2-1701. Mr. Pemberton preaches the Artillery Ser- mon, from Luke. 3-14. Dine at Monk's. Because of the Rain and Mist, this day, the election is made upon the Town-house, Sewall. Capt. ; Tho. Hutchinson Lieut. ; Tho. Savage junr, Ensign ; Tho.
1 Their son, Jacob Eliot, baptized just anon, Conn., Nov. 26, 1729, and died after his father's death, December I, April 12, 1766. 1700, Harv. Coll. 1720, was ordained first minister of the Third Church Leb-
2 See p. 294. Mr. Checkley was elected first, October 15, 1693.
319
THE ARTILLERY COMPANY.
Fitch I Sergt. : Oliver Noyes 2 : Hab. Savage 3 : Charles Chauncey 4. Call'd down the Council out of the Chamber, set their chairs below ; Col. Pynchon gave the Staves and Ensign. (Sewall.)
The town house, replaced in 1712 by the building now known as the Old State House, was open and uninclosed on the ground floor, and this was used as a merchant's walk or exchange. Lord Bellomont died in New York three months before this anniversary of the artillery company, and the lieutenant-gov- ernor, William Stoughton, lay at the point of death. All the officers of the artillery company elected in 1701, except Thomas Hutchinson (father of Governor Hutchinson), as well as the preacher of the annual sermon, came from the South Church and congregation. The following members of the church had been captains of the company before Judge Sewall : Thomas Savage, William Davis, Peter Oliver, John Hull, John Walley, Theophilus Frary, Ephraim Savage, Samuel Checkley. Among those who were elected later were : Thomas Fitch, Habijah Sav- age, Edward Winslow, Nathaniel Cunningham, Daniel Hench- man, Thomas Dawes, Josiah Waters, John Winslow.
June, 12. Mr. Willard marries Mr. Pemberton and Mrs. Mary Clark. All Mr. Willard's family there, as I am informed, and many others. Come to our Meeting the next Sabbath. (Sewall.)
For some unexplained reason, Judge Sewall and his family were not present at this wedding. Mary Clark was a daughter of Captain John Clark, who had died in Barbary, probably a prisoner, says Savage ; 1 her mother, Mary, daughter of Joshua Atwater, and granddaughter of the Rev. Adam Blakeman, had married in 1694, as her second husband, John Coney, the gold- smith, a member of the Second Church, and one of her daugh- ters, Abigail Coney, became the wife of the second Edward Bromfield.2
In the autumn of the same year Mr. Willard was elected to the presidency, not in name but in fact, of Harvard College.3
1 After the death of Mr. Pemberton in 1717, his widow married, first, John Campbell, founder of the Boston News- Letter, and secondly, Mr. Henry Lloyd, of Long Island. Judge Sewall speaks of her mother, Mrs. Clark, as " a person of great prudence and piety, and good edu- cation ; " and Cotton Mather says of her grandmother, Mrs. Atwater, afterward wife of the Rev. John Higginson, that she was a woman of eminent piety.
2 Their daughter Abigail became the wife of the first William Phillips, deacon in the Old South Church from 1764 to 1793. See Hist. and Gen. Register, vol. xxxix. p. 111. Other daughters of John Coney married the Rev. Thomas Fox- croft and Samuel Gerrish.
8 He was probably called the presi- dent. Sewall so speaks of him at the examination of his son Joseph for admis- sion to the college, June 28, 1703.
320
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Dr. Increase Mather had been president since 1685, continuing his relations as senior pastor to the Second Church, Boston, but he had become so unpopular that it was determined, if pos- sible, to compel his resignation. He was an able, zealous, and fearless man, but he was overbearing and intolerant, and an in- tense partisan. He had been very prominent in public affairs, and he had rendered distinguished service to the province ; but as such men will do in high positions, he had made many and bitter enemies. His course in England as confidential agent of the colony, while the wisest and best under the cir- cumstances, as subsequent events proved, was greatly misun- derstood and misrepresented ; it " was to him an abundant source of calumny and animosity," and ended in the loss of his politi- cal influence, and his severance from all subsequent employ- ment. And yet, says President Quincy, "whatever opinions we may be compelled to entertain concerning his measures and motives on other occasions, his conduct in this great crisis of his country entitles him to unqualified approbation. It is scarcely possible for a public agent to be placed in circumstances more trying or critical ; nor could any one have exhibited more sagacity and devotedness to the true interests of his constit- uents." 1
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