USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. I > Part 38
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Drove a Pin in the Ministers House which I found Raising ; bolted on the Raisers out of Bishop's Lane before I was aware.
The house, however, was not completed for several years, and the next entry on the books of the church, April 19, 1710, records a vote of thanks to the building committee. In the mean time there were to be many changes in the church and congregation.
Septr 10 1705. In the Afternoon I went to speak to Mr. Allen that the Lord's Supper might be celebrated once in four weeks, as it was in Mr. Cotton's Time and Mr. Wilson's: He was just come out of his house with Elder Bridgham, Elder Copp, Deacon Marion and Deacon Hubbard : I pray'd them to go back again, and open'd my mind to them. All save Mr. Hubbard plainly remember'd how it was in Mr. Wilson's days ; and the Alteration upon the coming in of Mr. Davenport, upon his desire because he had it so at Newhaven : and seem'd inclinable enough to alter it. Then I went to Mr. Cooke, both he and Madam Cooke remember'd the change, and seem'd not displeas'd with my proposal. I discours'd with Mr. Pemberton, and told him it would be a Honor to Christ, and a great Privilege and Honor to Boston, to have the Lord's Supper administerd in it every Lord's Day : we having nothing to do with moneths now; Their respect now ceases with the Mosaical Pedagogy. [Gal. iii. 24] It seems odd, not to have this Sacrament administred but upon the first day of each Moneth ; and the rest of the Sabbaths always stand by. (Sewall.)
Judge Sewall's idea was that all Sabbaths were equally sacred,
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
and that neither the first in the month, nor any other, should have the preeminence; and that as there were four churches of the established order in Boston, it would be desirable for them to have the Lord's Supper every four weeks, each church taking a different Sabbath, so that there might be an administration in Boston every Lord's Day. Although the last part of Judge Sewall's entry is somewhat ambiguous, we are inclined to think that the Lord's Supper had always been administered at the South Church on the fourth Sabbath.
Año, of Rolosk & mary Jving. Mary , of No & Pana Cotta. Ronjamin, of Josiah & Abich Franklin. AchotaGol; of Daniil & mary Ivillans. Jacob, of Relokal nichols.
On the 6th of January, 1706, Mr. Willard baptized a child from one of the humbler homes in the parish, and gave it a name which, as the century advanced, was to be written on some of the most memorable pages of the world's history. (We present a fac-simile of the baptismal record.) It is unnecessary to attempt to tell here who Benjamin Franklin was or what he did. Who and what his par- ents were is not so well known. Josiah Frank- lin belonged to a respectable family in North- amptonshire ; in England he was a dyer, but finding little request for this occupation on his arrival on these shores, he became a soap-boil- er and tallow-chandler. His second wife was Abiah, a daughter of Peter Folger, of Nan- tucket, and at the time of the birth of his youngest son, Benjamin, he was living, as is generally supposed, in a small house near the head of Milk Street, opposite the South meet- ing-house.1 His son has left this sketch of him: -
Jan. C. Jan - 13.
He had an excellent constitution, was of a middle size, but well made and strong, and ex- tremely active in whatever he undertook. He designed with a degree of neatness, and knew a little of music. His voice was sonorous and agreeable ; so that when he sung a psalm or hymn, with the accompaniment of his violin, as was his frequent
1 Drake thinks that Benjamin Franklin Streets, where his father lived for many was born in a house - the "Blue Bell"- years after he left Milk Street. See on the corner of Union and Hanover Hist. and Antiq. of Boston, pp. 492, 493.
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THE PROPOSALS OF 1705.
practice in an evening, when the labours of the day were finished, it was truly delightful to hear him. He was versed also in mechanics, and could, upon occasion, use the tools of a variety of trades. But his greatest excellence was a sound understanding and solid judg- ment, in matters of prudence, both in public and private life. In the former indeed he never engaged, because his numerous family, and the mediocrity of his fortune, kept him unremittingly employed in the duties of his profession. But I well remember, that the leading men of the place used frequently to come and ask his advice respecting the affairs of the town, or of the church to which he belonged, and that they paid much deference to his opinion. Individuals were also in the habit of consulting him on their private affairs, and he was often chosen arbiter between contending parties.
Josiah Franklin owned the covenant in 1685, and, with his wife, became a communicant in 1694. It will be seen, as we proceed, that he was highly respected and esteemed by his brethren in the church.
An attempt was made at this time, by " certain " ministers "in and about Boston," to change some of the foundation prin- ciples of Congregationalism by a concentration of power in the ministerial associations, and this attempt was defeated by the sturdy opposition of the Rev. John Wise, of Ipswich. A docu- ment made its appearance, addressed to the churches and min- isters of New England, bearing the unassuming title, Question and Proposals. It was anonymous, and purported to have been prepared by an association of ministers, but it was "understood to have been the work of the Mathers, backed by a coterie of clerical admirers." It was dated November 5, 1705.1 John Wise, says Professor Tyler, "saw its true character, - a plot for an ecclesiastical revolution, and a revolution backward ; and having given ample time for the scheme to work its way into general discussion, at last he lifted up his hand, and, at one blow, crushed it." As the churches need to be on their guard con-
1 John Wise used this date with great effect : " The fifth day of November has been as a guardian angel to the most sacred interest of the empire; it has rescued the whole glory of church and state from the most fatal arrest of hell and Rome. . . . Ilad I been of the cabal ... which formed these proposals, so soon as I had seen . . . the date, ... I should have cried out 'Miserere nostri Deus'- the good Lord have mercy on us. This is the 'gunpowder - treason
day;' and we are every man ruined, being running Fawkes's fate! Why, gen- tlemen, have you forgot it? It is the day of the gunpowder-treason, and a fatal day to traitors. . . . I have such an awe upon my mind of this very day, that of all the days of the whole year, I will never conspire treason against my natural prince, nor mischief to the churches, on the fifth day of November."
See Tyler's Hist. of Am. Literature, vol. ii. pp. 105-110.
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
tinually, in the defence of their local rights as against the encroachments of a centralizing ecclesiasticism, we shall pre- sent the facts of this controversy, and we shall do so in the words of one who is a recognized authority on the Congre- gational polity. These words were uttered thirty years ago, but they have as much significance and importance for the present generation as for any that has preceded it.
At a meeting of the Boston Association, held November 5th, 1705, sixteen Proposals were drawn up and put forth for the consideration of the " several associated ministers in the several parts of the country." These, though couched in plausible terms, and embodying some useful hints, were nevertheless repugnant, in their general spirit, to the Cam- bridge Platform and the popular usage ; or, as Mr. Wise describes them, "they seem a conjunction of all the church-governments in the world, and the least part is congregational," - " the spectre or ghost of Presbyterianism," - " something considerable of prelacy," - " some- thing which smells very strong of the infallible chair." The Congre- gationalists of our day, grown familiar with modern innovations, will fail to detect in these proposals all the ugly features here portrayed, unless they follow the author through his illustrations, and learn to look at things in embrio, et in rerum natura, to cite one of his classical allusions. The leading ideas contained in them may be reduced to these three : first, to give the ministerial meetings, which were then coming into vogue, an ecclesiastical character by the introduction of business pertinent only to the churches. Second, to combine these associations of ministers, thus ecclesiasticized, and enlarged by a lay delegation, into standing councils, whose decisions in all ordinary cases should be " final and decisive." Third, to allow " no particular pastor or congregation to employ any one in occasional preachings who has not been recommended by a testimonial under the hands of some association."
On this last point, it may be proper here to remark for the informa- tion of those not familiar with " the old ways," that hitherto a " li- cense " or " approbation " to preach was only "the express or implied authority granted by a church to preach to them."1 The Congrega- tional churches had acknowledged no human authority, either ministe- rial, prelatic, or civil, as a pre-requisite to the employment of any one whom they chose to select. They would submit to none ; though they thankfully availed themselves of every help, especially that of settled ministers, in finding suitable candidates.
The Cambridge Platform is silent upon this subject ; but John Cot- ton, in his Way of the Churches,2 indirectly tells us how ministers got licensed by showing "in what manner they were chosen." " When
1 [Cong. Dictionary, p. 214.] 2 [Pp. 39, 40.]
333
THE RIGHTS OF THE CHURCHES.
any of the churches are destitute of any of these officers, the breth- ren of the church (according to the apostle's advice, in defect of dea- cons, and so in defect of all other officers), they look out from amongst themselves, such persons as are in some measure qualified according to the direction of the word. If the church can find out none such in their own body, they send to any other church for fit supply, and each church looketh at it as their duty to be mutually helpful one to another, in yielding what supply they may, without too much prejudice to themselves. Such being recommended to them for such a work, they take some time of trial of them, partly by their own observation and communion with them, partly by consultation with the elders of other churches continuing there."
In theory, therefore, a Congregational church, destitute of a pastor, looked over their own list of members for a suitable candidate. If they could find one of sufficient promise, they placed him in the pul- pit and heard him preach, and applied such other tests as they deemed necessary to a satisfactory judgment of his qualifications. Their own "approbation " was all the testimonial he got or wanted. If they found no suitable person for that office among themselves, they looked into other churches, consulted the ministers of those churches, con- sulted the laymen, conversed with the candidate recommended, took him into the pulpit, took him to their houses, - used all appropriate means, - and then " lisenced " him, if he stood the test, and settled him if he and they could agree.
The General Court undertook to interfere with this right in 1652, by ordering that a license should be obtained from a council or county court ; but so determined was the resistance, that the order was re- voked the following year. "If a church has the liberty of election and ordination," said the Woburn church in their petition on the sub- ject, " then it has the power of approbation."1 Nearly fifty years later, namely, in 1699, Increase Mather, with nine other ministers, signed and sent forth their Advice unto the Churches of New Eng- land, the drift of which was " to beware of running after new preach- ers, of whose endowments and principles they have not had a reason- able attestation," - expressing also their own intention thenceforth to admit into their pulpits "no stranger, coming as a preacher without sufficient assurance of his being what he pretends to be," except by first passing him through " a solemn examination of his capacity for the tremendous work of preaching the everlasting Gospel." But this put no restraints on the ancient liberties, or the existing usages, of the churches ; nor did it imply that their trial and approbation of a can- didate would not be regarded by these ministers as a " sufficient assur- ance " of his " capacity" to preach. It was simple and seasonable advice, having reference particularly to illiterate pretenders coming
1 [Mass. Ilist. Collections, vol. i. p. 42.]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
from abroad ; and it was backed up by considerations like the follow- ing : " If every piece of ignorance and arrogance be set up for a preacher, the name of the holy God will be profaned by an offering, that is made a ridicule in the repetition." "If God should be pro- voked, by the unthankfulness of men, to send the plague of an un- learned ministry upon poor New England, soon will the wild beast of the desert lie there, the houses will be full of doleful creatures, and owls will dwell therein." 1
Thus the matter stood when these sixteen Proposals came out, and called forth in reply that excoriating satire from the pen of John Wise, The Churches' Quarrel Espoused ; which had the effect, not only to explode the whole project, but to recall the churches to the first principles of Congregationalism, and to re-seat them on their ancient platform more firmly than ever, for the next sixty years. Even to this day it is common for ministerial bodies to insert in their con- stitutions, or rules of business, a disavowal of all "ecclesiastical au- thority," out of respect to an inwrought jealousy among the churches, which had its origin in this affair. The sudden and complete triumph which this small book achieved is the more remarkable, when it is considered that the proposed innovations were supported by an array of names which were deemed a tower of strength to any cause which had their endorsement.2
Dec. 27. Capt. Belchar invited me to his Thanksgiving on ac- count of his Son's preservation.
Friday Dec. 28. 1705. Mr. Pemberton prays excellently, and Mr. Willard Preaches from Ps. 66. 20 very excellently. [" Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me."] Spake to me to set the Tune ; I intended Windsor, and fell into High- Dutch, and then essaying to set another Tune, went into a Key much too high. So I pray'd Mr. White to set it ; which he did well, Litchf. Tune. The Lord humble me and Instruct me, that I should be occa- sion of any Interruption in the Worship of God. Had a very good Dinner at three Tables. Had the Meeting ; and few else except Re- lations in Town, and me. The Lord accept his Thank - offering. (Sewall.)
Jonathan Belcher, who was born in 1682, and graduated at Harvard College in 1699, with Jeremiah Dummer, Edmund
1 [Magnalia, book vii. ch. 5. This paper was dated Boston, December 28, 1699, and its full title was " A Faithful Advice from Several Ministers of the Gospel near Boston unto the Churches of New England relating to the dangers that may arise from Im- posters pretending to be Ministers." It
was signed by Increase Mather, James Allen, Samuel Willard, Moses Fisk, Ne- hemiah Hobart, John Danforth, Cotton Mather, Nehemiah Walter, Jonathan Pierpont, and Joseph Belcher.]
2 [Dr. Joseph S. Clark's Ilist. Sketch of the Cong. Churches of Mass., pp. 115- I18.]
335
MR. WILLARD'S DEATH.
Quincy, Nathaniel Eells and others, had just returned from a long absence in Europe. He married, a few days after this thanksgiving service, Mary, daughter of Lieut .- Governor Par- tridge, of New Hampshire. He soon became a very prominent man in the church and in the province.
Wednesday, March 6 1706 Council of Churches held at Mr. Wil- lard's. They advise that after a Moneth, Mr. Joseph Morse cease to preach at Watertown farms. Adjourn'd to the first of May. Sharp Thunder the night following. Mr. Gookin, Capt. Morse and Deacon Larned dine with us.1 (Sewall.)
Joseph Mors, or Morse, was a graduate at Cambridge in the class of 1695, with (the Rev.) John Hubbard, Oliver Noyes, Simon Willard, Ezekiel Lewis, and others. After preaching for some time at Watertown Precinct, now Weston, he removed to Dorchester, New Village, now Canton.
At the opening of the autumn term at Cambridge in 1707, Mr. Willard's health gave way, and believing that he should not live long, he resigned his position as acting president.2 He continued in feeble health during the next month, but was able to officiate at the Lord's table on the first Sunday in Septem- ber, and to be present at the weekly lecture on the following Thursday. On Friday, at noon, he cut his finger at the dinner- table, and two hours later he died.
Monday Augt 11. 1707. Mr. Willard goes to Cambridge to Ex- pound, but finds few scholars come together ; and moreover was him- self taken ill there, which oblig'd him to come from thence before Prayer-Time.
Tuesday, Augt 12. between 6 and 7. I visited Mr. Willard to see how his Journey and Labour at the College had agreed with him ; and he surpris'd me with the above-account ; told me of a great pain in's head, and sickness at his stomach ; and that he believ'd he was near
1 [" The church in Weston was sep- arated from the original Watertown church November 2, 1709, having had a meeting-house and a minister for the space of ten years previously. The Rev. William Williams was ordained their first pastor when the church was organ- ized." - Clark's Hist. Sketch of the Cong. Churches of Mass., p. 113.]
2 The last class graduated under Mr. Willard included Joseph Sewall, Thomas I'rince, Ames Cheever, William Shurt- leff, and Joshua Moody.
Mr. Prince said, several years later : - "I shall never forget His admired Expositions Twice a Week in the Hall, His Gracious Deportment, nor the copi- ous, exact, and pathetical Prayers He as frequently poured out among Us. I must ever Remember Him with peculiar Es- teem and Gratitude, for the Heavenly Gravity, Condescention, and melting Affection wherewith he treated me in my tender Years, when he took me aside at Colledge to incourage and direct me in the Affairs of my Soul."
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
his end. I mention'd the business of the College. He desired me to do his message by word of Mouth ; which I did, Thorsday follow- ing. to the Govr. and Council.
Quickly after I left Mr. Willard, he fell very sick, and had three sore Convulsion Fits to our great sorrow and amazement.
Thorsday, Augt 14th. When the Govr. enquired after Mr. Willard, I acquainted the Govr. and council that Mr. Willard was not capable of doing the College work, another year : He Thank'd them for their Acceptance of his service and Reward. Govr and Council order'd Mr. Winthrop and Brown to visit the Revd. Mr. Willard, and Thank him for his good service the six years past. Sent down for Concur- rence, and Deputies to name persons to join in the Thanks and Con- dolence. Deputies concur and nominat the Rever'd Mr. Nehemiah Hobart to officiat in the mean time till Octr. next. This the Govr and Council did not accept, and so nothing was done.1
Sept. 12. Mehetabel Thurston tells me Mr. Willard was taken very sick. I hop'd it might go off, and went to Dinner ; when I came there, Mr. Pemberton was at Prayer, near concluding, a pretty many in the Chamber. After Prayer, many went out, I staid and sat down : and
1 [On the 2Sth of October the Fellows of Harvard College made choice of the Rev. John Leverett as president. He had eight votes, Dr. Mather three, Mr. Cotton Mather one, and Mr. Brattle of Cambridge one. Judge Sewall gives a full account of the inauguration, which took place on the 14th of January, 1707-8. Joseph Sewall, who had taken his first degree a few months previously, pronounced a Latin oration ; and so did Edward Holyoke, who, thirty years later, was elected president as the successor of the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth.
From Joseph Sewall's MS. Diary : - "Oct. S. Dr. Mather called Oakes and my self to the Library. . .. Gave us three books apiece. Advised us to get our selves informed and well principled in good doctrine. In the Method and practice of the New England Churches. That we should pray for a good and learned man [for the presidency of the college]. Mr. Willard (He said) not an academicall Schollar.
"Nov. 3. I visited Mr. Pemberton. Some of his instructions such as these. I. Lay the foundation in Systematicall Divinity. 2. Church Ilistory proffitable, Jewish Antiquities. 3. Academicall Studies now to be fixed in the memory
so that they may be retain'd ; yea to be now cultivated. Little time for any other study when come to preach, go leave nothing [to] be studied till then, but get some insight into all that so you may then study them with greater facility. 4. Get a knowledge of the arguments of every Chapter in Scripture, the time of writing, occasion &c. 5. Study not Divinity as Vintners taste Wine ; apply it to your Self. Mr. Leverett commended for a President. 6. Naturall Philosophy good.
" Nov. 13. I visit my M[aster] Chee- vers. Ilis Discourse. Mr. Leverett not of the Old Principles. Examine the old way and the new; Though the new should be the right yet are they blame worthy that they do not write against the Books put out for the Old, Show that the Scriptures will not bear what they hang upon them and so convince their Brethren that they may not remain in error. To this he said He desired Mr. Wadsworth but in vain."
We are indebted to Mr. Samuel Sewall of Burlington, Mass., for the use of the volume of the Rev. Joseph Sewall's diary (1707-1740) from which these and other extracts have been copied for this history.]
337
MR WILLARD'S FUNERAL.
in a few minutes saw my dear Pastor Expire : it was a little after Two, just about two hours from his being taken. It was very surpris- ing : The Doctors were in another room Consulting what to doe. He administred the Lord's Supper, and Baptiz'd a child last Lord's Day : Did it with suitable voice. Affection, Fluency. Did not preach : 7" rith went to Lecture and heard Mr. Pierpont. At even seem'd much better than had been lately. Tis thought cutting his finger, might bring on this tumultious passion that carried him away.1 There was a dolefull cry in the house. Feria Secunda, 7' 15th. Mr. Willard is laid by his Tutor in my Tomb, till a new one can be made.2 Bearers, Dr. Mather. Mr. Allen ; Mr. Tho. Bridge, Mr. C. Mather ; Mr. Wads- worth, Mr. Colman. Fellows and students of the College went be- fore. Mr. Pemberton led Madam Willard. Govr. and his Lady had Rings : Bearers Scarvs and Rings. The Lady Davie, and Lady Hob- bie were there. Son [Samuel] Sewall led his sister [Madam] Paul Dudley ; he being gon to Plimouth Court. Very Comfortable Day. (Sewall.)
Mr. Pemberton preached the funeral sermon of his departed colleague from Matthew xxiv. 45, 46: " Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season ? Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing."
We have already quoted from this sermon, in our fourth chapter, a general delineation of Mr. Willard's character and attainments. Of his pastoral work, Mr. Pemberton said in closing : -
His affection and tenderness to this his dear flock was singular. He might have said with the apostle, that he could have imparted with the gospel his own soul to them.
As a wise and faithful steward over this house of Christ, he gave every man his portion in due season. And might at his departure
1 [The Rev. Joseph Sewall, in his the South Church in Boston to make a Journal, says : "Sept. 15. The Rev. Toomb in the South burying place nigh the upper corner therof between the fence next the common and Mr. Browns Toomb, for the Ministry of that Church." - Town Records. Mr. Willard, after he had cut his finger, while eating oysters, went up to his study, called his wife, thanked her for her kindness, prayed God to bless them all; then fell into a convulsion, about noon, which in two hours' time (plus minus) despatched him to the great grief and sorrow of all good men."]
2 [At a meeting of the Selectmen, April 15. 1712,
" Liberty is granted to Major Thomas Fitch and others of the Committee for
July 31. 1712. " Williams calls me to the Tomb, I go into it to view the order of things in it. Mr. Willard was taken out yesterday, and laid in the new Tomb built by the South-Congregation." - Sewall's Diary.
The tomb is No. 160 in the Granary Burying-ground.]
33S
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
have called heaven and earth to record, that he had not shun'd to declare the whole counsel of God, and was pure from the blood of all men.
He went before this flock as a good shepherd, gathering the lambs with his arm. carrying them in his bosome, and gently driving those that are with young : And is now gone to the Great Shepherd of the Sheep ; whose flock he here watch'd over, led, fed and defended.
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