USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 15
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Lords Day Evening Sept 23 1770.
The brethren of the church and congregation were staid, and whereas upon application made by the Deacons to the associated pastors in the town agreeable to the Desire of the Church and congregation itt ap- peared probable that the said pastors would not be able to assist in carrying on the religious Exercises of the Day of prayer with fasting as Voted the 16th Inst. therefore Voted that the Day for the purposes as mentioned in said Vote of the 16th be pitched upon at some future time.
Tuesday Oct. 23. 1770.
At a meeting of the Brethren of the South Church and Congrega- tion,
Voted that Mr. John Hunt of North Hampton who has been preach- ing to this society for severall Lords days past, be desired to preach further to us for three months to come upon probation, to commence
I33
A QUESTION OF PRECEDENCE.
the next Lords day, together with the Rev. Mr. John Bacon heretofore invited.
It is to be noticed that previous to passing the above Vote, it was mentioned by severall of the brethren of the Church that they thought it was the Undoubted right and privilidge of the Church to lead in such an affair : upon which it was observed by one of the brethren of the Church that our practise had in some cases been Otherwise ; to this it was replied that our practising wrong heretofore, which seemed to be the Oppinion of the Church, was no Reason why we should continue in such a practice, which might be attended with consequences very pre- judicial to the Interests of true Religion. Where upon itt was moved, that the brethren of the Church should first vote by themselves which they did, and afterwards the brethren of the congregation.
Voted that Mr. Henderson Inches and the Deacons be a Committee to wait upon Mr. Hunt and acquaint him with said vote. The Com- mittee waited upon Mr. Hunt and Returned his answer to the Church.
Whereas Brother Thomas Dawes who with Brother William Homes were appointed a Committee to wait upon those members of other Churches &c as pr Vote Augt 16 has desired to be Excused by reason of a Multiplicity of business, Therefore, Voted that our brother Joseph Belknap be and he is appointed in his Room.
Voted that Mr. Henderson Inches Deacon Mason and Ezekiel Lewis Esqr. be added to the committee formerly chosen to put in Order the Church Library given by our worthy pastor the late Rev. Mr. Thomas Prince, Deceased, in his will, and that a Catalogue be taken of the same.
A Letter from Mr. Charles Dabney Directed to the Members of the old South Church.
Gentlemen
BOSTON, the 23d Dec 1770
I being a tenant in the parsonage house formerly Improved by the Rev. Mr. Prince and having an Intention to make some alteration and addition to the same, have thought proper to lay the matter before you for your Approbation. What I purpose is to carry that part of the house called the porch out to the street and to widen it feet each way : and in order that I may be permitted to carry this my De- sign into Execution and to answer any Objections that may be made, I would make the following proposall viz. that whenever you shall have occasion for a house for your minister, I will make an addition of Twenty Dollars a year, to the rent I now pay, which will be equal to one hundred Dollars pr Annum ; in order to procure an house for this purpose and to make good this my proposall I will obligate my- self as you shall Desire.
As it is my intention punctually to perform whatever engagements I
I34
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
enter into with you, and as I am desirous of being rightly understood in what I propose ; I beg leave to observe that the additionall Rent I speak of Giving is not ment to respect the minister you first settle or that first has a family, I taking itt for granted that in this case there is a house already provided ; but my meaning is when you come to have two settled ministers that have each of them a family, then and not till then is this additional rent to commence, as this altera- tion will cost me a Considerable sum; I ask the Liberty of taking away when the house shall be Demanded of me whatever addition I may make to itt. These things, Gentlemen, I submitt to your consid- eration and am very Respectfully
Your most humble servant CHARLES DABNEY.
Voted that Mr. Henderson Inches, Mr. Secretary Oliver, Deacon Phillips, Mr. Hubbard, and Deacon Jeffries be a Committee to con- sider of Mr. Charles Dabney's Letter and also what may be proper to do with respect to the ministerial house Mr. Dabney now lives in.
Mr. Benjamin Pierpont will take the ministry house and keep itt in repair or at least not put the society to any Expense thereon and give an hundred dollars p. annum provided he may carry the porch out to the street at his own Expense in order for a Jewellers shop and re- move such shop when he leaves the place, putting the fence and house in the same condition itt now is if required, or if he may continue there five years will leave the shop on the premisses.1
At a meeting of the Old South Church January 21. 1771. The Committee appointed to Examine the Deacons accounts relative to the Church Stock, reported that they had examined the Accounts and found them well Vouched and right cast and that the ballance due to the Church consisting of divers obligations and cash, amounted to the sum of which report being read was accepted.
Upon a motion made and seconded, Voted that the Deacons be and hereby are appointed a Committee to see to the decent Interment of the remains of Deacon Sewall at the expense of the Church, according to their best discretion, and that the accounts of Mr. Roulstone and Mr. More relative to the funeral of Mrs. Sewall late Consort of Dea- con Sewall be discharged by the Deacons out of the Church Stock.
The Deacons communicated a Letter from Mr. Charles Dabney rel- ative to the Ministerial House. It was thereupon Voted that Mr. Henderson Inches, Mr. Secretary Oliver, Deacon Phillips, Mr. Hub- bard and Deacon Jeffries be a Committee to Consider of the same and
1 [A marginal note by Dr. Eckley says that Mr. Dabney's letter, which was addressed to the church, should have been entered in the Church Book and not in the Society Book, where we
find it. In each of the books there is a reference to the first action taken upon it, and we print the whole, in the order of time in which the several entries were made.]
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I35
THOMAS DAWES'S PLAN.
also what it may be proper to do with respect to the Ministerial House that Mr. Dabney now lives in and report at the Adjournment.
The church took under Consideration the expediency at this time and under their present Circumstances of settling two Ministers, and after some debate the Question was put, and it was voted by a very great majority that it was expedient to settle two ministers.
Voted that Mr. Cushing, Mr. Secretary Oliver, Deacon Jeffries, Deacon Phillips, Deacon Mason, Mr. Hubbard and Mr. William Whitwell be a Committee to Confer with Mr. Bacon and Mr. Hunt relative to their Sentiments with respect to Church Government and know of them whether the method practised by this Church is agre- able to them.
Voted that the Deacons be and hereby are desired to call a Meet- ing of the Brethren of the South Church and Congregation to be Convened on Monday next at Ten o'Clock A. M: Then to consider of a Vote of the Church pass'd this Day, that it is expedient to settle two Ministers and desire their Concurrence with the Church in this Vote.
Voted that this Meeting be adjourned to Monday the 28th inst., at three o'Clock p. m.
At a Meeting of the South Church and Congregation the 28th Jan- uary 1771,
The Hon Andrew Oliver Esq. Moderator.
The Committee appointed to examine the Deacons accounts re- ported that they had examined the same and found them right cast and well vouched, and that there remained a Ballance of £331.12.6 due to the Church and congregation, viz. in the hands of Deacon Jef- fries one hundred and forty one pounds fourteen shillings and eight pence and in the hands of Deacon Phillips one hundred and eighty nine pounds, seventeen shillings and ten pence.
Voted that the said accounts be allowed, the Deacons afore men- tioned to be accountable for the sums in their hands Respectively.
Voted that Mr. Thomas Dawes, William Phillips, Andrew Oliver, Thomas Cushing and Mr. Wales be a committee to take a plan of the Churches land and make an Estimate of the charge for erecting a brick building on some part of [it] to be improved for shops, and make a Draught of the same, and that the said Committee treat with Mr. Stephen Minott for so much of his land as may be sufficient to widen the passage way from Spring Lane into said Land.1
1 [Mr. Dawes had prepared a plan of the property owned by the church, a copy of which, somewhat reduced in size, we present herewith. Upon this we find the Milk Street parsonage built in 1710, the ground plan of which we have given
separately, see ante, vol. i. p. 347. We find also, the front elevation of three brick shops or stores which it was pro- posed to build on the main street, be- tween the old parsonage and the meeting- house, but which were never erected.
I 36
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Voted that the sum collected by contribution on the last Thanks- giving day be distributed by the Deacons for pious and charitable uses as usual according to their best discretion.1
A Vote of the Church signifying that they judged itt expedient at this time and under their present circumstances to settle two minis- ters, was laid before the Church and Congregation for their consider- ation who thereupon voted a concurrence in oppinion with the Church in the Expediency of settling two ministers as aforesaid
Adjourned to tomorrow morning ten o'clock.
The Church then met [Monday at 3 o'clock], and the Committee appointed to Confer with Mr. Hunt and Mr. Bacon reported that they had attended that Service and found the Method of Church Govern- ment prescribed by the Platform agreed upon at Cambridge N. E. and as practized by this Church was agreable to them and particularly that they were of opinion that the Ordinance of Baptism ought to be administred to the Children of all such Persons as made a Publick profession of their Faith, and were desirous of Dedicating themselves and their Children to God, whether such Persons were in full Com- munion with the Church or not.
Voted that the Church will now proceed to the choice of Two Min- isters.
Voted that the Persons upon whom the Choice may fall be informed that it is the expectation of this Church that they give in a Confes- sion of their faith previous to their settlement.
The Church then proceeded to the Choice and upon Counting and sorting the Votes, It appeared there were Fifty-three Voters, and that Mr. John Hunt and Mr. John Bacon were Unanimously Chosen.
Voted that Mr. Cushing, Mr. Secretary Oliver, Mr. Hubbard, Dea- con Phillips, Coll. Jackson, Deacon Jeffries, and Deacon Mason be a Committee with such as the Brethren of the Congregation may joyn, in Case they concur with the Church in the Choice, to wait upon Mr. John Hunt and Mr. John Bacon and inform them that the Church have
The property was not improved in this way until 1800.
If Mr. Dawes had drawn a ground plan of the old parsonage, it would have had the greatest historical interest for us. As it is, we have two gateways only, the one, ten feet wide, for carriages, the other five wide, for a footway, with which to mark approximately the home of Win- throp and of the Nortons. This house, as we have already said, stood with its end to the street, and, probably, with its front towards the meeting-house. We may assume that it was twenty-two feet wide, this being the width of the addition
to the eastern end built before 1677, which would probably be uniform with the main building.]
1 [In the margin of the record we find the following : -
"Memo. of the Collection by the South Church and Congregation, on the annual Thanksgiving Dec. 6 1770.
Appropriated to the widow of Mr. Abijah Adams 0. 12. 0 At Large · 30. 15. I 29th Collected more 6. 8 .
£31. 13. 9
Communicated to the Society."]
I37
TWO PASTORS CALLED.
Unanimously made Choice of them as their Pastors, and to desire they would continue to preach for the Society untill they give their Answer.
Tuesday, Jany. 29. 1771.
[Church and Congregation.]
Whereas danger is apprehended from the [foot] Stoves that are fre- quently left in the meeting house after the publick worship is over,
Voted That the saxton make diligent serch on the Lords day even- ing and on the evenings after a Lecture, to see if any stoves are left in the house, and that if he find any there he take them to his own house, and itt is expected that the owners of such stoves make reason- able satisfaction to the sexton for his trouble before they take them away.
And the Deacons are desired to cause the foregoing vote to be read on the next Lords day, that the whole. congregation may be apprised of it.
Voted that a Seater be chosen in the Room of Joshua Winslow Esqr Deceased.1 The Votes were accordingly brought in and counted, and it thereby appeared that Mr. Benjamin Dolbear was chosen.
Mr. Cushing who was Moderator of a meeting of the Church held yesterday, communicated a Vote then passed by the Church, fifty three members being present, whereby itt appeared that they had unani- mously chosen Mr. John Hunt and Mr. John Bacon to be pastors of the said Church ; which vote was laid before the Church and congre- gation for their concurrence, and a Vote being put thereon, the said choices were unanimously concurred.
Voted that there [be] allowed as Sallery to either of the said gentle- men who shall accept this call Two pounds thirteen shillings and four pence p. week untill further Order ; or to each of them if they shall both accept, the same ; said allowance to take place upon their being publickly set apart to the ministerial Service among us.2
Voted that the said Gentlemen, after being thus set apart, be allowed wood for their Studies while they are at private Lodgings, and that when they shall settle in families a sufficient Quantity of wood, as has been usual, to be allowed to each of them respectively upon their so settling.
1 [Joshua Winslow, merchant, died October 9, 1769, in his seventy-fourth year. His widow, Elizabeth, died August 7, 1778, also in her seventy-fourth year. The Continental Fournal has a full obit- uary notice of her. Mr. and Mrs. Wins- low's names do not appear on the list of church members. The Mass. Gazette records the death of Joshua Winslow,
merchant, March 20, 1775, in his thirty- ninth year, who, as we suppose, was one of the consignees of the tea, in 1773.]
2 [When Mr. Howard was ordained at the West Church, May 6, 1767, the same salary, {2. 13. 4 a week, was voted to him. It was increased in later years, to meet the exigencies of the times, as was also the salary at the Old South.]
I38
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Voted that suitable Dwelling houses be provided for those Gentle- men respectively, upon their settling in families as aforesaid.
Voted That Mr. Lyde, Mr. Winslow, Mr. Gill, Mr. Sweetser, Mr. Soley, and Mr. Bant, be a Committee with the Committee of the Church to acquaint Mr. Hunt and Mr. Bacon with the foregoing votes respecting them.
Voted That the Deacons be desired to endeavour to collect all the arrearages due for seats in the meeting house as soon as may be, and that publick notice be given that the books are at Mr. Phillips, where all persons who are in arrear are desired to call and pay their arrear- ages ; and where if need be they may satisfy themselves with regard to their respective ballances, and that the Deacons be desired to make report of their doings herein some time in March next.
Voted that the Committee appointed yesterday to take a plan of the Church's land &c be desired to view the Deacons and the Singers seats and consider if any alteration can be made in either of them to advantage ; and report.
Lords Day P. M. March 10th 1771.
The Brethren of the Church were stayed, and the Deacons informed them that the Revd Mr. Blair (our late Pastor), was come to Town from Philadelphia, and had manifested his Desire to have an Inter- view with the Church. Whereupon Voted that the Committee chosen August 5. 1770, vizt. Deacon Jeffries, Deacon Phillips, Thomas Cush- ing, William Whitwell, Jonathan Mason, John Scollay, and Henderson Inches be a Committee to confer with the Revd Mr. Blair and report to the Church what he may have to offer. Voted that Mr. Secretary Oliver and Mr. John Kneeland be added to said Committee.
Voted that there be a meeting of the Church on Thursday the 14th inst, at 3 o'clock P. M. unless the publishing his Honor's commission which tis apprehended will take place on that Day should prevent, in which case the meeting is to be on Fryday the 15th at 10 o'clock a. m.
DAVID JEFFRIES Deacon.
Lieutenant-governor Hutchinson, who had been acting-gov- ernor during the absence of Sir Francis Bernard in England, now received the royal commission as governor, and Mr. Secre- tary Oliver was commissioned as lieutenant-governor.
Fryday 10 o'clock A. M. March 15th 1771.
The Brethren of the Church met according to Appointment. The Rev Mr. Bacon prayed, Deacon Jeffries was chosen Moderator, after which he informed the Church that their Committee had met the Rev. Mr. Blair several Times, and that as he apprehended there might be Difficulties remaining in the minds of some of the Brethren respecting him, he desired an Opportunity of coming before the Church and in a free manner unbosom himself to them.
I39
TESTIMONIAL TO MR. BLAIR.
Accordingly Mr. Blair being notifyed that the Church were ready to hear him, he attended the meeting and after having expressed his mind very fully to the Church, respecting his going to Philadelphia, also respecting his asking a Dismission from his pastoral Relation to this Church, and not returning to us, he withdrew, having first enquired of the Church whether it was necessary for him to tarry while they took the matter under Consideration. After some Conversation had, the Church Voted That a Letter Testimonial be given to the Revd Mr. Blair, respecting both his Ministerial and Christian Character.
Voted that the above mentioned be the Committee to prepare the Draft of said Letter, and that it be laid before the Church for their Approbation at the Adjournment.
Voted that the Revd. Mr. Bacon be desired to ask the Revd. Mr. Blair to preach with us the next Lord's Day.
Voted that the meeting be adjourned to Wednesday the 20th Inst. at ro o'Clock A. M.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
Wednesday March 20th 1771 10 o'Clock A. M.
The Brethren of the Church met according to adjournment and, Voted that Mr. Benjamin Pierpoint's proposals respecting the Min- isterial House late in the occupation of Mr. Charles Dabney, be accepted.
The Committee appointed the 15th Inst. to prepare the Draft of a Letter Testimonial to the Revd Mr. Samuel Blair laid the following before the Church for their approbation which was accepted and voted to be recorded, and that a Copy thereof be signed by the Moderator and delivered to Mr. Blair.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
To all to whom it may Concern ; The South Church in Boston send Greeting.
Whereas it has been the Practice of this Church to admit to Bap- tism the Children of such among us, who do Publickly and solemnly renew their baptismal Covenant, and whose Lives and Conversations are otherwise agreable to such Christian profession, altho they should for Reasons best known to their own Consciences afterwards abstain from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper ; concerning which practice, our late worthy Pastor the Revd Mr. Samuel Blair entertaining some unsurmountable Doubts and Scruples, and at the same time finding his Health greatly impaired, insomuch that it was with the utmost Difficulty and Hazard of Life that he could in any Measure discharge the Duties of his Ministerial Office : He did for these Reasons hold himself obliged to ask a Dismission from his pastoral Care and Charge over us ; and we the said church did thereupon grant him such Dis- mission.
140
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Now lest such Seperation should be construed to the prejudice of Mr. Blair's Character, we think ourselves bound in Justice to declare, and we do hereby freely declare, that Mr. Blair's moral Character while among us was irreproachable, and his Ministerial performances highly acceptable, and that we conceive it to be a humbling Frown of divine providence that we should be constrained upon such grounds to seperate. We pray God to restore his Health and Usefulness. We declare ourselves to be in perfect Charity with him, notwithstanding the Difference in Opinion aforementioned, and we do hereby cordially recommend him to any Christian Church or Society who may agree with him in religious Sentiments, if it should please God to restore his Health, and again open the Door for his further Usefulness in his Gospel Ministry.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
Voted That John Sweetser Junr. and John Soley be and they are hereby desired to transcribe into the Books of the Church and of the Church and Congregation, the Votes pass'd by them respectively since the Departure of the Rev Mr. Blair (our late pastor) from us, also any other papers or Letters heretofore voted to be recorded.
Voted That the Committee appointed to consider what alteration may be proper to be made in the Deacons seat, and the seat adjoining behind, be and they are hereby desired to proceed and make the alter- ation according to their best Discretion.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moder.
The restoration of mutual confidence between Mr. Blair and his late parishioners, so happily accomplished in the freedom of per- sonal intercourse, could never have been reached by correspond- ence alone ; nor, under the circumstances, would an ecclesiastical council, with its almost inevitable concomitants of prejudice and partisanship, have been likely to do anything except to widen the breach and make it permanent. The straightforward vote of confidence adopted by the brethren will compare very favorably, we think, with the flattering resolutions usually passed in these days by councils called to dismiss.
Mr. Blair took up his residence in Germantown, near Phila- delphia, and passed the remainder of his life in retirement and in the enjoyment of his books, except that he served two years as chaplain to Congress, and preached from time to time, as opportunity offered. He received the Doctor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1790, and died in 1818, in the seventy-seventh year of his age.1
1 The Rev. Dr. William Neill says of him : -
" He was a man of polished manners and of amiable and generous disposi-
14I
DEATH OF MRS. GILL.
Sarah, wife of Mr. Moses Gill,1 and the last surviving child and descendant of the Rev. Thomas Prince, died after an illness of many months, on the 5th of August, aged forty-three. She was a highly educated and accomplished woman,2 and a devoted follower of her Lord and Master. Mr. Hunt preached her funeral sermon from a text selected by herself, Rev. vii. 14: " These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." The sermon was printed, with selections from her writings. We quote one paragraph from the former, for the sake of its reference to the political agitations through which the province was then passing : -
tions. He was also a superior scholar a well read theologian, and an eloquent pulpit orator. But, owing perhaps to excessive diffidence, and a tendency to melancholy, he was too much of a re- cluse. True, his health was feeble; but it would probably have been improved by more active service. He yielded too much to despondency, and did not rouse himself to labour in his profession with becoming energy and zeal. Hence the high expectations which his early promise had inspired, were, in a great measure disappointed. But it should be men- tioned to his honour that he was always liberal in his contributions to the sup- port of religion, and to all evangelical enterprises. He was a principal agent, and one of the most generous contribu- tors, in the erection of the Presbyterian church edifice in Germantown, where he laboured in word and doctrine, for some time, gratuitously, and with great accept- ance. His services were also acceptable in Philadelphia, where he preached, by invitation, in several of the churches, when their pulpits happened to be va- cant; but he rarely went abroad to preach, partly on account of infirm health, and partly because he deemed himself but poorly fitted for that sort of labour. Indeed, although he was a man of acknowledged talents, good education and refined taste, he failed in energy and moral courage. He gave himself up to the luxury of private study, pondering the deep things of religion, waiting, it would seem, for a providential opening to some important station, when he
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