USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 12
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MR. BLAIR'S LETTER.
To many it may at first view appear exceeding plausible ; yet after the most carefull and candid examination, I am sorry to say, itt ap- pears to me to be attended with unsurmountable Objections.
As the person to be chosen for the purpose must be one whose sen- timents are Opposed to mine in so important an Article of ministerial administration, I see not how I can as pastor of the Church with any consistency agree to the Vote.
It is too difficult for me to make such a distinction as will satisfy a good conscience, between administring an Ordinance with my Own hand contrary to the apprehended Rule of Christ, and consenting to the calling in of another to doe itt. Moreover, itt does not appear to me probable that any Gentleman will be willing to settle in the Church where the terms of his settlement, at least implicit must be a disagree- ment in Oppinion and practice with the pastor who is to be a colleague in a point so interesting- such conduct must needs betray very great weakness and imprudence if not some ungenerous and sinister design. And should there be one found who might be willing to settle on these terms, I could not but on my part deem itt very unsafe for me to trust my comfort and Usefullness in his hands. Being the Acting pastor on the intire plan and principalls of the church and congregation, he must of course have the superior influence in the Society : and to sup- port mine in the circumstances in which all things considered, it is like to be necessary, would require much more prudence and disinter- estedness than I fear would be the share of one who would venture on such a Scituation.
Besides all this, my discourses as well private as publick, on the point of difference cannot be supposed to be agreeable to him, as they would necessaryly imply a condemnation of his principalls and prac- tice. Nor is itt likely there would be wanting both in the Church and congregation many who would also be offended, and the more so as they might fear lest at Length I should prevail to gain over my col- league and perhaps the majority of the Church. Nay, and setting aside these considerations, I am aware that any future endeavours of mine to bring about an alteration in the practice Objected to, will be deemed unwarrantable, as the church have after mature consideration so recently established and Confirmed itt. And as I am bound to declare the whole councill of God where ever I am called to serve as his minister, I cannot but look upon such a restriction as incompatible with the faithfull discharge of my Duty.
My Dear brethren, I beg leave to speak with the utmost plainness. I know you will bear with me. I truely fear that my future connec- tion with you will be attended with too many difficulties and evil con- sequences to Justify its being desired either by you or me ; at Best you will be a body as with two heads, looking different ways, and a body becoming more and more divided in its self according to the
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
contrary sentiments and influence of its heads. Such a circumstance is naturally unavoidable, as human nature is productive of ill tempered dissentions and altercations ; the seeds of Jealousy and discord will in time be more and more plentifully sown between the pastors and be- tween each pastor and the party that differs from him - one will be for Paul, another for Apollos - and there is no knowing where we may sett bounds to the Unhappiness in which both ministers and people may at length be involved.
This being the case, we are in my view unhappily brought to this alternative, either that as a Church you reconsider your late vote and so remove the ground of my difficulties ; or that the Relation between us be Dissolved. Otherwise I cannot after the most deliberate, candid and prayerfull inquiry, see how either my Own future comfort and use- fullness or the peace and edification of the Church is like to be secured and promoted ; And as I am constrained to give up hopes of the former, I consider my self as bound in duty to sue for the latter - and acordingly I do now apply to you for a Dismission from my pastoral charge.
My partiallity and affection for you, permit me to say, is unabated ; the satisfaction I have had in my pastoral connection with you has in many instances exceeded my most sanguine expectations ; your tender- ness and generosity towards me has been distinguished and exem- plary ;- Through your Kindness my temporal circumstances were rendred as agreeable as I could reasonably wish, and itt will never be in my power to forgett the many instances of friendship and liber- ality I have been favoured with by many individuals both of the Church and congregation. And were I to consult only the dictates and emotions of my heart, without regard to the consideration of my Judgment, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer another resolu- tion. But if we would approve ourselves to our consciences as Chris- tians, we must deny ourselves. I mean to follow what appears to be my duty and for the best interest of the church in this instance. In- deed were there no such reasons for my separation from you as I have above mentioned subsisting, I have often doubted whether it would be consistent with justice to you, and a proper regard to my own life, to continue in the same connection with you ; my constitution is very frail and precarious ; from much experience I have reason to appre- hend that a life of such study and application as would be necessary, must shortly put a period to my days, especially if attended with the difficulties that must result from the difference subsisting between us ; Indeed such is the state of my health at present, notwithstanding the measures I have hitherto been pursuing, that I am well nigh perswaded, I should by next spring be rendered as unfitt for the services of the Church as when I left you, and my malady perhaps so fixed as to become incurable. I mention not this as one of the chief reasons of
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MR. BLAIR'S LETTER.
my application for a discharge; because were there not Others as above mentioned subsisting, I think I could not without a further trial conclude itt to be sufficiently forcible ; yet as standing in connection with those others itt has a prevailing wait with me. I presume I shall not fail of an interest in your prayers that this with Other afflictive dispensations may be sanctified to me.
It would on many accounts be a satisfaction to me as well as a proper token of the high respect I bear you, to be present on this occasion. But I am perswaded that you will not be wanting in gener- osity to dispense with what in present circumstances would be attended with so much expense, fatigue and danger as a journey to so great a distance would be, especially as it will not be necessary in order to your transacting the affair of my dismission.
Finally my dear brethren, with a heart overflowing with unfeigned affection towards you, and gratitude for the many instances of your abundant love and beneficence, a heart deeply humbled for the many errors and imperfections of my ministry among you, and with a heart earnestly desirous of your spiritual and eternall wellfare, and your speedy and unanimous agreement in one who may serve you in the gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ with more eminent zeal, Knowledge, faithfullness and success ; permitt me now to take my leave of you, wishing you every Blessing of grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
I am
Honored and Beloved Brethren Your affectionate tho' afflicted Pastor and Brother in the Christian pro- fession
SAMUEL BLAIR.
The Letter having been read the Brethren of the congregation were desired to withdraw ; after which a motion was made that there should be a meeting of the Brethren of this Church in this place on Tuesday next at 10 o'Clock A. M.
Tuesday Septr. 26th 1769.
The Brethren of the Church meet, and the Revd. Doctor Cooper, at their Request, came and Prayed with them and then withdrew.
Voted, That Deacon Jeffries be Moderator.
At the desire of the Church the above mentioned Letter was again read, (which letter is recorded in the Society's Book,) Also a Letter from Mrs. Blair, dated Philadelphia September 16th 1769 and wrote by the Desire of her Husband, the Rev. Samuel Blair (he being sick) to Deacon Phillips, relative to his Salary since he left Boston, and relative to his Settlement money, was read, vizt :
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
PHILADELPHIA Septr 16th
Sir
Mr. Blair was last evening taken very unwell, and though he is through divine goodness much better this Morning, he is still very weak and low, which makes it highly improper for him to write, but very desir- ous that the Inclosed should be deferred no longer he insists upon my writing for him in order to Inclose to you Sir, and to mention some particulars which he proposed writing to you.
Mr. Blair hopes you have received a letter he wrote you some time ago, in which he mentioned the reasons why he does not think it necessary for him to return in order to procure the dismission he ap- plies for, he thought proper to omitt mentioning in his letter to the Church among many other reasons the Jealousy that prevails among many of the Church respecting his Sentiments concerning qualifi- cations for Communion in the Lord's Supper, a jealousy which he thinks must prove very injurious to his peace and Usefullness, espe- cially should his Colleague be of a different opinion with him respect- ing the means of Ascertaining that evidence which may be sufficient to proceed in the admission of members - his reason for not men- tioning it to the Church was least possibly it might cause some diffi- culty between the Church and Congregation. He has also thought proper to omit in his letter to the Church his intention of giving back the salary due from the time he left them last spring, but rather to empower you, as he does hereby to make a surrender of it to the Church in his name - his reason for this is, that he might not receive a reward for services he had not done. As to the settlement, as it was not given by them as a Society there would be an impropriety in offering it to them but begs leave to refer it to your own discretion, whether to propose returning it to individuals or not.
And the Brethren after some Conversation, Voted that there be a Committee of Five to consider what may be proper to be done in Consequence of said Letters, and report to the Church at their Ad- journment.
Voted that Deacon Jeffries, Deacon Phillips, Thomas Cushing, Wil- liam Whitwell and Jonathan Mason be the Committee.
Voted that Two be added to said committee.
Voted that John Scollay and Henderson Inches be the Two.
Voted that the Meeting of the Brethren of the Church be adjourned to Tuesday, the tenth Day of October next at 3 o'Clock P. M. in this place.
Tuesday Octor 10th 1769.
The Church meet according to Adjournment, and the Committee appointed on the 26th September last "to Consider what may be
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THE CHURCH'S REPLY.
proper to be done in Consequence of said Letter," reported that they had attended the Service, and were of Opinion, that the Revd Mr. Samuel Blair should be dismissed ; and that an Answer to his Letter should be sent him together with the Vote for his dismission, and that they had accordingly prepared the Draft of a Letter, which was read, and after some small amendment approved of, vizt :
BOSTON Octor 10th 1769
Revd. Sir
The Brethren of the South Church have received your Letter of the 7th September last, and have attentively Considered the Contents : At a Time when we had the highest reason dayly to expect you, when God in his Alwise Providence had lately by Death deprived us of our Aged and Venerable Pastor Dr. Sewall and we were left Desti- tute and as sheep without a shepherd ; at such a time for you to apply for a Dismission and determine not to return, is to us very surprising ; your making such an application and forming such a resolution before it had been signified to you by the Church that they had not altered their sentiments relative to the matter in Dispute between us, and even before you had Vouchsafed to write us a single Line and properly Informed yourself upon this Head is somewhat unaccountable ; for had you been regularly Notified that we still Continued of the same Opinion, as when you went from us, and had even Dispaired by any further Endeavours to have brought about an Alteration in our Senti- ments and Practice, yet this we apprehend, would have been far from being a sufficient justification of such a Determination ; Certainly, Sir, your Connections with this Church over which you was so sol- emnly Ordained, the Engagements you at that time entred into, and the Charge you then undertook, together with the peculiarly distress- ing and Destitute Circumstances under which you left us, must have been Considerations, if duely attended to, abundantly sufficient to have Induced you to have hastened your return and afforded us all the Assistance in your power ; especially if you had considered that perfectly consistent with a good Conscience, you might have dis- charged the Duties of your Pastoral office, that of administring the Ordinance of Baptism in some special Cases excepted. It certainly would have been but a token and Evidence of the high respect you profess to bear to the Church to have returned and continued your Connexions with us, at least till we could have supplied ourselves with another Pastor. Moreover a Journey at this season might have been of Eminent Service with regard to your Health, and would per- fectly have coincided with the Plan you sett out upon, when you took your leave of us, and as to the Expense of the Journey, your own Expe- rience of the Distinguished Generosity of this Church, must have natu- rally led you to have Concluded that you would not have been a Suf-
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
ferer upon this account ; besides the Expense would have amounted to a triffling sum when compared with your sallary from the Time you left us last spring which would have been allowed you in case of your return ; but which for a very good reason you have Impowered Deacon Phillips to give back to the Society. It gives us pain to be oblidged to make these Observations ; But a sense of Duty would not permit us to be wholly Silent. However from a Consideration of the Innumera- ble failings, Indiscretions and infirmities to which Human Nature is exposed, we are inclined to be Candid and Charitable ; we desire therefore to put the most favourable Construction upon your Conduct, and as your Letter is replete with expressions of Affection and regard for us, we would hope that your resolution not to return, did not arise from want of Tenderness and respect, but is rather to be attributed to your ill state of Health, which has not permitted you to advert so carefully to your connexions with and relations to us ; nor so maturely to consider of the Propriety and Expediency of this measure, as you might otherwise have done.
The Church have constantly endeavoured to treat you with the utmost respect ; they have done all in their Power to remove your Scruples with respect to their Practice relative to the Ordinance of Baptism ; they attended to your Objections upon this subject with great candor, seriousness and Deliberations ; insomuch that before your Departure you repeatedly expressed your satisfaction with their Conduct, and acknowledged that they behaved as those who were earnestly seeking after Truth ; upon the whole, we were not Convinced by anything you Advanced that we were in an Error, and we continue to this Day in the same Practice ; and as you are still of the same Sentiments as when you left us, and as by the whole Tenor of your Letter, it evidently appears that you are very solicitous to have the Relation between us Dissolved, and have Expressly applied for the same ; we have therefore granted your request, and have given you a Dismission from your Pastoral Charge as you will find by the Inclosed Vote.
With Respect to what has been wrote to Deacon Phillips relative to the sum you received in lieu of Settlement and which has been com- municated to us, we have to observe, that it is true, the Church never Voted you anything for this Purpose, but you must be sensible that what you received from Individualls was given you as a settlement, and with an Expectation that you would spend your Days in the service of this Society. It is therefore our opinion that in Equity it ought to be refunded.
To Conclude, we heartily pray that God would sanctify to you and to us this Dispensation of his Providence ; that he would restore you to a Confirmed State of Health, and honor and Improve you in his service ; That he would at all times afford you the Influence and
III
MR. BLAIR'S DISMISSION.
Guidance of his good Spirit, and that he would preserve you blame- less to his Heavenly Kingdom.
We are your Bretheren in the profession of the Gospell of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
In the Name and Behalf of the South Church.
The Revd Mr. Blair's Letter of September 7th last wherein he has for Divers Reasons therein mentioned, requested a Dismission from his pastoral Relation to this Church was read again; and the Church having sought to God for Direction and haveing Seriously and delib- erately considered the same, came to the following Resolution,
Voted that the Revd Mr. Samuel Blair, in compliance with his Re- quest, be and hereby is dismissed from his pastoral Relation to this Church, and that their Answer to this Letter be signed and trans- mitted by the Deacons, together with a copy of this vote.
The meeting was then adjourned to the House of Deacon Sewall [the parsonage in Milk Street] on Tuesday the 24th instant at 5 o'clock p. m.
After this, upon Application made to the Revd. Doctor Chauncy, he came and prayed with the Church, and then they were dismissed.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
The church now proceeded immediately to the reconsidera- tion of its action on the 2d of March, when, in order to meet the views of Mr. Blair, it adopted a form of doctrinal belief to be assented to by those seeking admission to its membership. It was only too glad to return to the simple and scriptural rule which, under the guidance of Dr. Sewall and Mr. Prince, it adopted in 1728,1 and which was in full harmony with the tra- ditions of the New England churches. The aim of the fathers was "to make the terms of communion as parallel as may be with the terms of salvation." It would be hard, we think, to improve upon this.
Tuesday October 24th 1769
The Brethren of the Church met at the House of Deacon Sewall according to adjournment, of which they were reminded the Lord's Day Afternoon preceding. They Conferred together respecting the Reconsideration of their Vote, but came to no Determination about this matter.
Voted That a Day of Fasting and prayer be Observed by this Church as soon as conveniently may be, to ask of God his gracious Direction and Help under our present Afflicted and bereaved Circum-
· 1 See ante, vol. i. pp. 434, 435-
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
stances since the Death of the Revd. Doctor Sewall, and Dismission of the Revd. Mr. Samuel Blair from his pastoral Relation to this Church, and that he would be pleased in due time to repair the Breaches he has made upon us.
Voted that the meeting be adjourned to Fryday the 27th inst at six o Clock in the Evening at the House of Deacon Sewall.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
Fryday Octor 27th 1769.
The Brethren met according to Adjournment and conferred, as heretofore, respecting the Reconsideration of their Vote - after which they
Voted that the Deacons, Mr. Thomas Cushing and Mr. John Dem- ing be a committee to prepare such Votes respecting the Admission of Members to full Communion, and the Form of a Covenant as to them appears agreable to the mind of the Church and report at the ad- journment.
Voted that the meeting be adjourned to Fryday the 3d Day of No- vember next, at six o'Clock in the Evening. at the House of Deacon Sewall. DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
November 3rd. 1769.
At a meeting of the Brethren by adjournment,
Whereas the present Form for the Admission of Members to full Communion prescribed by a Vote of this Church on the 2d March 1769, does not admit such persons as are seeking admission to full Communion to give a Voluntary profession of their Faith in their own Terms,
Therefore, Voted unanimously that such persons as may hereafter seek admission to full Communion, instead of being required to make · the profession specified in the Vote aforementioned, shall, previous to their Admission, give to the Church Orally or in writing a profession of their repentance towards God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, of their Belief of the Scriptures, and of their Resolution by the Grace of God to walk according to them.1
1 [The Cambridge Platform says :- " The things which are requisite to be found in all church members are repent- ance for sin and faith in Jesus Christ." "The weakest measure of faith is to be accepted in those that desire to be ad- mitted into the church; because weak Christians, if sincere, have the substance of that faith, repentance, and holiness, which is required in church members, and such have most need of the ordi- nances for their confirmation and growth
in grace. The Lord Jesus would not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed, but gather the tender lambs in his arms and carry them gently in his bosom."
An eminent scholar of our own day has well said : "There are other and better ways of preserving the purity, order, and discipline of Christ's church than the one of excluding Christians." See an article on Creeds and Church-Member- ship in the Andover Review, April, 1889.]
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A NEW FORM OF COVENANT.
Also, Voted unanimously that instead of the Covenant prescribed by the Vote aforesaid, the Following Form of a Covenant be admin- istred to all those who may hereafter be admitted to full Communion with this Church viz : 1
ADMISSION TO THE CHURCH.
Copy of the Form of Covenant referred to in the Vote of the Church Nov, 3, 1769 Not entered at that time in this book of Rec- ords. Now taken from the original Copy which had been preserved.
"A. B. You do now in the presence of God, before his holy Angels and this Assembly, solemnly profess to give up yourself to God the Father as your chief good-to the Son of God as your Mediator, Head and Lord, relying on him as the prophet, priest and King of your Salvation - to the Holy Spirit of God, as your Sanctifier, Guide and Comforter, for him to dwell in.
" You also profess to give up yourself to this one God, who is the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, in an everlasting Covenant, to love obey and serve him for ever.
" You also promise to walk with this Church of Christ, in a due Sub- mission to, and attendance upon, all the Orders and Ordinances of the Gospel ; and that by the help of the Spirit, you will adorn this your profession, by a holy, blameless, fruitful life and conversation.
"This you do promise.
"We also do, by the help of the same Spirit, promise you, that we will carry it towards you as towards those brought up with us in the Fellowship of the Saints. We will watch over you, not for your halt- ing, but for your Edification : We will counsel, reprove, comfort and exhort you, as your circumstances and our acquaintance therewith shall require."
DAVID JEFFRIES, Moderator at the time when this form of Covenant was accepted.
This form, with slight verbal changes, and with a part of the prefatory address of the Confession of Faith of 1680, is in use to-day at the Old South.
November 3 [? 5] 1769
The Brethren of the church and congregation were staid and Voted that there be a Collection for charitable and pious Uses on the Anni- versary thanks Giving the 16th Instant, and that the Rest of the con-
1 [This Covenant does not appear in its proper place in the records, but was copied into the church book at a later date, with the following note, in the handwriting of Dr. Eckley : --
"No entry appears to have been
made of this form of Covenant. It is therefore entered in a spare leaf of this book immediately preceeding the Rec- ord of 31 October 1779, - taken from the original Draught which had been preserved."]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
gregation be notified the next Lord's day and be desired to assist in said collection.
November 11. 1769. The Church Received a Letter from the Revd. Mr. Samuel Blair, in Answer to their Letter of Octor 10th 1769.
PHILADELPHIA Octor 31st. 1769
Honoured and Beloved Brethren,
Your Letter dated Oct. 10th. with the inclosed Vote of Dismission I have received ; and tho from common bodily frailty and indisposition I am very unfit for such interesting application, yet such are the con- tents of your Letter, such the apparent spirit of it, and such the treat- ment I deem myself to have therein received, that had I remaining but a few Hours of life, I should think it necessary if possible to spend it in the way of proper remonstrance and self vindication.
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