USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 23
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1 58.
" Boston affords nothing new but com- plaints upon complaints. I have been
1 [Wells's Life, vol. iii. pp. 114, 115, credibly informed that a person, who used to live well, has been obliged to take the feathers out of his bed, and sell them to an upholsterer, to get money to
208
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
As we said in the last chapter, there is no evidence that the council called, at the request of the Rev. Mr. Bacon, at the time of his dismission from the pastorate, ever came together ; and, owing to the distracted state of public affairs at the time, his ministry had terminated in a somewhat abrupt and unsatis- factory manner.1 Mr. Bacon had now entered upon political life, in which he was to distinguish himself, and to serve the com- monwealth of his adoption with much acceptance. He had removed to Stockbridge, had served in the convention which framed the State Constitution, and had been elected to the legis- lature.2 Naturally, he was desirous that his relations to the church of which he had been a pastor should be properly defined and declared upon the record; and there would seem to be no doubt that the attitude of the membership towards him person- ally was altogether friendly. At his request, and after friendly intercourse between him and his former parishioners, they gave him an unqualified testimonial of their confidence and respect.
Lords Day 17 June 1781.
The Church stayed after the publick exercise, at the request of the Revd. Mr. Bacon, the former Pastor ; who desired that some publick testimonial might be given to him relative to his Dismission and speci- fying the reasons of it.
Voted that the Church meet on Monday Evening, and that Mr. Bacon be desired to be present and make his request.
JOSEPH ECKLEY Mod.
buy bread. Many, doubtless, are exceed- ingly distressed; and yet, such is the infatuation of the day, that the rich, re- gardless of the necessities of the poor, are more luxurious and extravagant than formerly. Boston exceeds even Tyre ; for not only are her merchants princes, but even her tavern-keepers are gentle- men. May it not be more tolerable for Tyre than for her! There can be no surer sign of a decay of morals than the tavern-keepers growing rich fast." - Belknap Papers, Hazard to Belknap, April 1, 1780.]
1 Thomas Pemberton, in his Descrip- tion of Boston, says that Mr. Blair and Mr. Bacon were dismissed from the Old South Church " by mutual consent."
2 In the Independent Chronicle, Sep- tember 23, 1779, we find an excellent
speech made by Mr. Bacon, in the Con- vention of 1778, in opposition to the words "except Negroes, Indians, and Mulattoes," in the 23d article of the constitution as reported by the com- mittee. It was a noble argument for political equality, but it did not prevail with the convention. See Notes on the Hist. of Slavery in Mass., by Geo. H. Moore, pp. 187-191. After Mr. Bacon left the Old South pastorate, he became a justice of the peace; a representative in the legislature; associate and pre- siding judge of the Court of Common Pleas ; a member and president of the state senate ; and a member of Congress. In politics he was a Jeffersonian demo- crat. He died October 25, 1820. His son Ezekiel Bacon, Yale College, 1794, held many public offices.
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TESTIMONIAL TO MR. BACON.
Monday June 18 1781
The Church met according to appointment. After prayer had been offered, Mr. Bacon presented his request, and then withdrew.
Voted that a written testimonial be drawn up to be given to Mr. Bacon agreably to his desire, and that the Church meet the next even- ing to hear the same.
J. ECKLEY.
June 19. 1781.
The Church met according to agreement. The testimonial that had been drawn up was read, and after the brethren had given their opinions, it was voted that it should be presented to him in the form which follows :
" At a meeting of the Old South Church in Boston, 19 June 1781.
"Whereas in the providence of God a difference in sentiment rel- ative to the great doctrine of Atonement and Imputation, and also the practice of administering Baptism, took place some time past, between the Old South Church in Boston and the Reverend John Bacon, then one of the Pastors of said Church, which difference was such, as that by mutual consent the relation of Pastor and People was dissolved ; - and whereas no written testimonial was at that time given by the Church specifying the reasons of this Separation ;- and it being now the request of Mr. Bacon that such a testimony, together with the sen- timents of the Society concerning his character and deportment, while connected with it, should be presented to him ;- we therefore the Brethren of the Old South Church in Boston, think it our duty, in complyance with this desire, and as a manifestation of Christian affec- tion and brotherly love towards Mr. Bacon, hereby to make known and declare -
"That Mr. Bacon came to this Church amply recommended by the Presbytery of Lewes ; - that together with the Rev. John Hunt, he was unanimously called to take the sacred charge and oversight of it, after having preached three months on probation ; - that during the time he was with the Church, his conversation and deportment was evidently such as became the gospel ;- that he and his Colleague the Revd. Mr. Hunt, notwithstanding a difference in sentiment, in some doctrinal points, always appeared to live in friendship, and to discover a Christian affection for each other : -
" That the principal difference which took place between Mr. Bacon and this Church was that which related to the great doctrine of Atone- ment and Imputation, and the practice of administering Baptism to the Children of Parents who own the Covenant, but do not join in full Communion ;- and that while the difference or controversy aforesaid continued, Mr. Bacon manifestly conducted with that Chris- tian meekness which befitted a Gospel Minister.
" By desire of the Church JOSEPH ECKLEY Pastor."
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Voted also that a Copy of the recommendation of the Lewes Pres- bytery be taken from the records of the Church and presented to Mr. Bacon.
Concluded with prayer.
J. ECKLEY Modr.
Lords Day 24 June 1781.
The Church again stayed in consequence of an objection Mr. Bacon had made to the following clause contained in the recommendation which had been presented to him, viz : "That the principal difference which took place between Mr. Bacon and this Church was that which related to the great doctrine of Atonement and Imputation, and the practice of administering Baptism to the Children of Parents who own the Covenant but do not join in full Communion."
The objection was, that the expression "principal difference " might be liable to be considered by those who read the recommendation, as implying that there were other matter or matters of difference, besides what was specified in the article. -
Upon the mention of this objection, it appeared to be the opinion of the Church that the difference specified in the above article was the only difference which took place between Mr. Bacon and the Church.
Whereupon, it was voted, that the word "principal" be erased, and the word " only " be inserted in its room; and that the whole para- graph run as follows - " That the only difference which took place between Mr. Bacon and this Church was that which related to the great doctrine of Atonement and Imputation, and the practice of administering Baptism to the Children of Parents who own the Cove- nant, but do not join in full Communion."
The meeting of the Church was then dissolved.
JOSEPH ECKLEY Pastor.1
In the autumn of 1781, or early in the following winter, Sam- uel Adams wrote a letter to his kinsman, John Adams, then in France, in which he said : -
Matters go on here just as you would expect, from your knowledge of the people ; zealous in the great cause, they hesitate at no labor or expense for its support. Anxious to have a code of laws for the in- ternal government adapted to the spirit of their own Constitution, the General Court have appointed the supreme judges with Mr. Bowdoin, who is at present perfectly at leisure, to revise the laws and report proper and necessary amendments. The two great vacancies in the offices of President and Professor of Mathematics &c. in our univer- sity, are filled with gentlemen of learning and excellent character,
1 [This action of the church was printed by Mr. Bacon (1782), in his Let- ter to the Rev. Joseph Huntington, D. D., in the course of a controversy which
grew out of the dismission by the Stock- bridge church of one of its members, a widow, for marrying a man who was re- puted to be profane and immoral.]
21I
THE OLD STATE HOUSE.
the Reverend Mr. Willard of Beverly, and the Reverend Mr. Williams of -. The Academy of Arts and Sciences is in a flourishing way. A new society is incorporated by the name of the Medical Society ; and this metropolis has lately appointed a committee to consider the present management of the schools, and report what further improve- ments may be made, in which the better education of female children is designed to be comprehended.
The surrender of Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown to the com- bined forces of America and France took place on the 19th of October ; seven days later the welcome news reached Boston, by way of Providence, and was joyfully received as an earnest of the speedy termination of the war.1
Octr. 19. 1781.
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation being informed by the Deacons that they had re- ceived notice from the War- dens of the Chapel that being in weekly expectation of ob- taining a Minister of their own denomination, they should want to occupy their own House of Worship, Voted that the Deacons be a Committee to make the proper application for the use of the Representa- tive's Room in the State House, for the Society to worship in on Lords Days until the pub- lick state of affairs will with propriety, allow them to com- mence the repairs of their own House of worship, or they can be better accommodated for a season in some other place.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.2
Novr. 27. 1781.
At a meeting of the Society. The Brethren having received a mes-
1 The Evening Post of October 27, says : "Every token of joy was expressed by the good People of this City. The Bells of the various Churches were ring- ing thro' the greater Part of the Day, and with as merry a Peal as we have heard since they rung the Departure of Francis Bernard."
2 [We find the following paragraph in the Continental Journal of November 22, 1781 :-
" Last Lord's Day a Brief was read in the several Churches in this Town, and a generous Collection made for our unfor- tunate Brethren of South Carolina and Georgia."]
212
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
sage from the Wardens of the Chapel passed the following Vote, That the Deacons be a committee to consider the message from the War- dens of the Chapel and report to the Society the proper steps to be taken thereon. The Committee reported the following letter, which was accepted and voted to be sent as a reply to the message - Gentlemen
Having been favoured with a Communication that the wardens of the Chapel apprehended it will not be in their power to open the Church so soon as they expected, and that they desire (if agreeable to us) that we would continue to improve it, till we should be notified further respecting it, We would, after expressing our sincere thanks to the Wardens for this instance of friendship, inform them that as we have, in consequence of the request of the Proprietors of the Chapel, tolera- bly well accommodated ourselves for the present, and as from the above message its uncertain how long we could occupy the Chapel if we should now remove thither, we think best to worship for the present in the Chamber where we have lately obtained. But we would never- theless beg leave to mention, that as our tarry there is uncertain by reason of the publick improvement of that place, we may hereafter gratefully accept your offer of friendship, and be glad to enjoy the Chapel, whilst the present place of our worship is improved by the publick or our own meeting house repairing for our more fixed occu- pation.
We are, Gentlemen, with sentiments of real regard,
In behalf of the Old South Society Yours &c DAVID JEFFRIES WM. PHILLIPS JONA. MASON.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
Lords Day Decr 2 1781
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation after publick service Voted that there should be a collection as usual on Thanksgiving Day the 13th December, for the benefit of the poor of the Society.
JOSEPH ECKLEY.
During all this time, while the brethren of the Old South were enjoying the Christian hospitality of the proprietors of the Chapel, their hearts must often have turned with eager longing towards the house in which, in happier days, their fathers and they had worshipped God, and there was, no doubt, much anxious deliberation among them on the subject of re- storing its interior, in order to the resumption of the services of the sanctuary there. They had long prayed ; and now they were moved to say with the Psalmist : " Thou shalt arise and have
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213
PLAN FOR RESTORATION.
mercy upon Zion : for the time to favour her, yea, the set time is come. For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof." We may believe, also, that they adopted the language of another ancient worthy, to give ex- pression to the confident and courageous purpose of their hearts : "The God of heaven, he will prosper us ; therefore we his servants will arise and build." The task to which they were called to address themselves was a very serious one, under the circumstances ; they were not as strong numerically or finan- cially as they were seven years before ; and it was only in de- vout expectation of the Divine blessing upon their endeavors, that they could hope to succeed. The first step taken of which we have any record was the adoption of the report of a com- mittee, the original of which has been preserved,1 as follows : -
BOSTON, Jany. I. 1782
William Phillips, David Jeffries, Jonathan Mason, Thomas Dawes, Josiah Waters Junr. Bartholomew Kneeland and Jonathan Mason Junior, your committee appointed to consider of the most prudent ways and means to be chosen in repairing the Old South Church, having mett, and duely attended that business, beg leave to report to the Society the following Votes to be adopted by them -
Ist. Voted. That we the proprietors of the Old South Church, will begin to repair said Church immediately and compleat it as our abil- ities will permit, and that the plan for making such repairs, as pre- sented by the Committee be adopted.
2d. Voted. That the different pews upon the floor of said Church in the plan exhibited, be prized not higher than 30 pounds, 24 pounds, 21 pounds, 18 pounds and 15 pounds agreeable to the numbers in said plan and the paper annexed to it, to those who shall immediately subscribe for the same, and that the pews in the gallery in said plan be prized at 12 pounds, 9 pounds, four pounds ten shillings and 3 pounds agreeable to the numbers therein and the paper before mentioned.
3dly. Voted. That we will open a Subscription among ourselves for the repairs of said Church immediately : That the Subscription be for pews, and that the form of the Subscription paper as presented by the Committee be accepted.
4thly. Voted. That the Subscription paper be offered to all those, who were Pew holders in said Church previous to the 19th of April 1775, and to the heirs of those who are deceased.
1 This report came into the possession Phillips, by the intervention of Mr. Hen- shaw Bates Walley. There is no refer- ence to it in the Society's records.
of the author, with other Phillips papers, after the death of Mr. John Charles
214
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
5thly. Voted. That those persons, to whom it is not convenient to pay the money they shall Subscribe immediately, be allowed to pay the same in three different payments. One third part immediately, One other third part in three months, and the remainder in six months.
6thly. Voted. That by a Petition to the General Assembly of this Common Wealth we will request their assistance in repairing said Church and that the form of said Petition, together with the form of a Subscription paper to be handed to the publick, as presented by the Committee, be accepted.
Signed in behalf of the Committee -
WM PHILLIPS p. order.
All the above passed unanimously.
It was natural that the society should look to the Common- wealth for help in the restoration of its meeting-house, seeing that the great political gatherings held within its walls in the years immediately preceding the Revolution had brought upon it the exceptional damage and disgrace which it suffered at the hands of the public enemy; but to have granted its petition would have been to establish a precedent and to enter upon a course of expenditure in which the legislature would hardly have been justified.1 The cost of the restoration was the price, or rather, a part of the price, which the society had to pay for its public spirit ; the remainder, and by far the larger part, has had to be paid by the present generation, as will appear later.
In the Independent Chronicle of January 17, there is a com- munication, signed " A Friend to the Public," as follows : -
Riding into Town, and passing the Old South Meeting House, the last Afternoon, I could not but observe a Quantity of Lumber lying by the Door, which, upon Enquiry, I find is there deposited by the Members of that Society, for the Purpose of repairing the House, the Inside of which was laid waste by the public Enemy.
This is a laudable Undertaking, and, I think, has a Claim on Chris- tian Charity ! When I consider the Efforts of so small a Number to
1 In the Journal of the House of Repre- sentatives we find the action taken on the petition recorded as follows : " Wednes- day, Jan. 17. 1782. The Petition of the Revd. Joseph Eckley, David Jeffries, William Phillips and Jonathan Mason Esqrs. relative to refitting the old South Meeting House - Read and committed to Mr. Frazier, Gen. Titcomb, and Capt. Wales." " Wednesday Jan 23. 1782.
The committee who had in charge the Petition from the Society of the old South Meeting, -report, read, there- upon, ordered, that the Petitioners have leave to withdraw their Petition."
The committee consisted of Moses Frazier and Jonathan Titcomb, of New- buryport, and Ebenezer Wales, of Dor- chester. Mr. John Bacon was member of the House for Stockbridge.
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215
A GENEROUS APPEAL.
rebuild what was destroyed by public Enemies, from public, political Motives - I think there ought now to be given some public Assist- ance : - But as what is Every-Body's Business is No-Body's, the Work ought to begin with Some-Body - I will throw in my Mite, The Com- mittee of that Society, by calling on the Printer hereof, shall receive a couple of Guineas, towards assisting in the Work aforesaid. This Donation is small indeed ; but if a Hundred others, who are more able to give Twenty Guineas a piece than I am to give those two, would only contribute Five Guineas each to the said Work -con- fident I am that what from such an Assistance, and what from the present Efforts of the Society, one of the first public Buildings in this City would not so long lie desolate, and a Reproach upon brotherly Love.
We find no response in the papers to the appeal of this public- spirited individual ; nor does it appear that the society received any outside assistance in the work of restoration upon which it had entered.1
Lords Day 17 February 1782
The Brethren of the Church were desired to stay after the services of the day. A letter was read from the New South Church requesting the presence and assistance of the Old South Church by its Pastor and other Delegates at the Ordination of Mr. Oliver Everett on the 27 instant.
Voted to comply with the request. The Pastor, the Deacons, Mr. John Scollay, Mr. Thomas Dawes and Mr. Samuel Whitwell were appointed to attend on the occasion. JOSEPH ECKLEY.
Mr. Everett graduated at Harvard College in 1779. His brother, the Rev. Moses Everett, had been pastor of the First Church, Dorchester, since 1774. After a ministry of ten years Mr. Oliver Everett moved from Boston to Dorchester, and his distinguished son, Edward Everett, was born there in 1794.
March 31. 1782.
At a meeting of the Society, information was given that the Wardens of the Chapel were in no expectation of obtaining a minister to officiate for them as they had reasons some time since to suppose, and had therefore again offered the use of their Church. Voted that the society will accept of the friendly and Kind Offer, and return to the Chapel the next Lords Day.
With the exception of five months at the Representatives' Chamber in what is now known as the Old State House, the society worshipped at the Chapel five years and a quarter. The
1 The streets of Boston were paved and repaired " at great expense," in 1782.
216
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Christian hospitality of these laymen of the Anglican commu- nion at this time made full amends for the prolonged aggression on the rights of the proprietors of the South Church by Sir Edmund Andros and his party one hundred years before.
Lords Day July 21. 1782.
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed after the Blessing was given, and Voted that there be a meeting of the said Brethren on Monday the 29th current at 3 O Clock PM. at the Chapel, to enquire into the State of the Societys Contribution : to receive the report of any committee, or to chose other committees, also to take into consideration and determine upon such matters and things as may be thought necessary and proper for finishing the Repairs of their house for publick Worship of God where they used to meet ; also any other matter or thing by which the Interest of the Society may be promoted.
Voted, That the Revd. Mr. Eckley be desired to communicate the votes to the Society : and request the punctual attendance of all the Brethren upon matters of such importance.
DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
Monday July 29th 1782.
The Brethren then met at the time and place appointed, and Voted unanimously, That when any of the Brethren loan moneys for the repairing the South Society Meeting House, they shall have leave to subscribe for any number of Pews that are not subscribed for at the time they loan the money, to the amount of the sum Loaned and not repaid before drawing, and may draw for as many Pews, with other subscribers upon equal terms, as will be adequate to said Sum, which Pews shall be held as their property until the monies so advanced are paid by the Society. And when any person applies to the Committee hereafter to be chosen, for the purpose of conducting the Sale of Pews, and any pew is by them disposed of being the property of the person who has Loaned money as aforesaid, said Committee shall pay the same to the person loaning, who shall be charged with so much as said Pew or Pews sold for against his Credit on his receiving the money, and so on, untill all the Pews so holden for payment shall be sold. And said Pews given as a Security to the Loaners of money aforesaid shall not be occupied untill they are disposed of ; And the owners of said Pews shall not be held to pay for the support of the minister untill sold as aforesaid. DAVID JEFFRIES Moderator.
Lords day Octr 5. 1782
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were desired to stay after the Blessing was given. It was represented by the Deacons that Dr. Bulfinch, senior Warden of the Chapel, and Mr. Ivers, had given
217
THE REV. JAMES FREEMAN.
them information that the Chapel had engaged Mr. James Freeman to lead them in the public duties of religious worship, and were desirous and expected to meet in said Chapel the next Sabbath ; at the same time they said it was the wish of their Society further to accommodate the Old South Society ; and they therefore proposed that untill the repairing of the Old South Church was completed, the members of their Society should meet in the forenoon of each Sabbath when Mr. Freeman should officiate ; and the members of the Old South Society in the afternoon of the same Sabbaths when their minister Mr. Eckley should officiate ; and further that when the communion Sabbaths of the Old South Church returned, [on every fourth Sabbath], the Society might meet in the Forenoon of those Sabbaths, and the members of the Chapel Society in the Afternoon. After some conversation on the subject, the question moved for and seconded was put, Vizt. Whether the Society will accept of the afore mentioned proposal and it passed in the Affirmative by a very considerable Majority.
Voted that the Deacons be a Committee to acquaint Doctor Bulfinch with the determination. JOSEPH ECKLEY.
Remarks. As the Church voted afterwards that in the present situation of things, the Sacrament of the Lords Supper should be administred in the Afternoon, the whole Society statedly met on that part of the day. A great proportion of the members of both Societies attended together the whole of the Day.
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