USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 35
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Voted, That it is expedient that a new Pulpit should be built, agree- ably to the recommendation of the Standing Committee.
322
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Deacon Phillips then generously offered to give to the Society the sum of $400, for the purpose of defraying the expense of building the new Pulpit.1
Voted, (unanimously) to accept the same.
Voted, That the Standing Committee be requested to superintend the erecting and completing the new Pulpit, this day voted to be built.
Voted, That the consideration of that part of the communication from the Committee, recommending that provision be made for a pub- lic dinner &c. be postponed till Mr. Huntington shall have given his answer to our call.
Voted, That this meeting be dissolved.
WM. PHILLIPS Moderator A true record
Attest Wm. Thurston Secy.
37 present.
Sabbath Day 3 April 1808
Mr. Huntington's Answer accepting the invitation of the Church and Congregation, was read by the Pastor preceeding the close of the public services of the afternoon. JOSEPH ECKLEY.
This letter was copied into the record book of the church and congregation, and was as follows : -
To the members of the Old South Church and Congregation in Marlborough Street,
Much respected Fathers and Brethren,
The United and very general invitation which I have receiv'd to settle over you as Colleague Pastor with the Rev. Dr. Eckley, has called my attention to a subject of the most interesting and momen- tous nature. Arduous is the duty, high the obligation, awful the re- sponsibility of a Gospel Minister ; especially at this day, and in this Place.
Impressed in some good measure (as I humbly hope) with the weight of this consideration, and conscious of the impropriety of yield- ing to the exclusive dictates of my own inexperienced judgment, I have sought the advice of judicious friends and the direction of Infinite Wisdom, while preparing to make you this return. Hoping you have formed just conceptions of my Theological sentiments, of my character as a Man, and of my qualifications for the Pastoral relation ; trusting in the continuance of your favors, and the Assistance of your prayers, I accept your Invitation.
1 [Dr. Lowell related that Dr. Eckley spoke with a slightly foreign accent ; and when it was proposed to remove the " tub pulpit," and to build a larger one, partly of mahogany, and partly of some other material, a wag in the parish said
that Dr. Eckley had requested that the pulpit might be mognified, - placing a prolonged accent on the first syllable, - and that the parish had erected one not wholly mahogany, but mahoganified. -- Sprague's Annals, vol. ii. pp. 139, 140.]
323
MR. HUNTINGTON ACCEPTS.
With sentiments of the highest respect and the sincerest affection, I am Gentlemen
Your Servant for Jesus sake
JOSHUA HUNTINGTON.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Con- gregation, April 4, 1808,
William Phillips, Moderator and J. Winslow Clerk.
"The Committee of the South Society chosen at their meeting in April last for managing the prudentials of the same beg leave to report, that there has been expended for the support of Singing, and teaching a new sett of singers since the above date, also for wood for the Stoves, repairing the Churches Tomb in the Common burying ground and other Contingencies, the sum of three Hundred and Eighty three Dol- lars seventy two Cents, all which has been directed to be paid by the Treasurer of said Society.
p. order of Committee
WM. PHILLIPS."
Voted, Unanimously, that said report be accepted.
Voted, We now come to the Choice of a Committee for the present year, and they have the same powers of the Committee of last Year, and that Samuel Belknap and Jos : Eaton be a Committee to collect, count and sort the Votes, who reported, that Deacon William Phillips, Samuel Coverly, Joseph Pierce, William Homes, Nehemiah Somes, John Winslow, Benjamin Whitman, Abraham Wild and John Holland were unanimously Chosen.
Voted, That the Treasurer be requested to pay to the Rev. Doctor Eckley, the sum of Six hundred and Eighty eight Dollars 3,4, to make his Sallary equal to Twenty five Dollars p Sabbath to the 19th of February last, at which time a Vote passed giving him a fixed Sallary from that date of Twenty five Dollars p Sabbath.
Voted, That Samuel Salisbury, John Winslow, Joseph Pierce, Wil- liam Thurston and Col Jos : Ward be a Committee to examine the Treasurers Accounts and report at the next meeting.
Voted, This Meeting be dissolved
JNO. WINSLOW Clk.
Sabbath Afternoon, 10 April 1808.
A meeting of the Brethren of the Church was holden after the pub- lic duties of the day to consult on the measures proper to be taken relating to the Ordination of the Rev : Mr. Huntington as Colleague Pastor with the Rev : Dr. Eckley.
Mr. Huntington declared his approbation, in general, of the Con- fession of Faith, and of the Platform assented to the 12 May 1680, by the Elders and Messengers of New England Churches : Also of the
324
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
orders and regulations maintained in this Church. At the same time he exhibited a Certificate of his regular admission into the College Church at New Haven in Connecticut, and Recommendation by the said Church, signed by the Rev: Dr. Timothy Dwight, President and Pastor. He was then admitted, by Vote of the Brethren, a Member of this Church.
On which it was Voted, that with the permission of divine Provi- dence, the Ordination of the Rev : Joshua Huntington be on Wednes- day the 18th day of May next.
Voted That the following Churches be requested to attend by their Pastors and other Delegates, to assist in the transaction of the business, and performance of the religious duties of the Day ; Viz. The Con- gregational Churches in this Town ; the Church at New Haven, under the Pastoral care of the Rev : Doctor Timothy Dwight, the Church at New London, under the pastoral care of the Rev : Abel McEwen ; the Church at Goshen, under the pastoral care of the Rev : Asahel Hooker ; the Church at Charlestown, under the pastoral care of the Rev : Doctor Jedidiah Morse ; and the Church at Roxbury, under the pastoral care of the Rev : Thomas Gray.
Voted The Pastor and Deacons of this Church be a Committee, to prepare and sign the Letters missive on this occasion, and send them to the Churches afore named.
Voted The Council be desired to meet at 9 o'Clock A. M. on the day assigned for the Ordination.
Voted That Deacons Dawes, Salisbury and Phillips, Doctor Eckley, Mr. Thurston, and Mr. Homes, be a Committee to communicate to the Council, when organized, the proceedings of this Church, relating to the election and proposed Ordination of the Rev: Mr. Hunt- ington.
Voted that the Pastor of this Church be desired to make the Or- daining Prayer.
Voted that the Pastor be a Committee to communicate to the Standing Committee of the Church and Congregation the Votes passed by the Church this Afternoon relating to the Ordination of Mr. Joshua Huntington ; at the same time expressing their desire that a meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation may be holden as soon as convenient, for their joint concurrence in such other measures as may then be judged to be connected with the design and solemnities of the occasion.
The meeting was then dissolved.
JOSEPH ECKLEY.1
The foregoing Votes being handed to the Standing Committee, the Revd Dr. Eckley was requested by said Committee, to request a
1 [The proceedings of this meeting gation's book as well as in that of the are recorded in the church and congre- church.]
325
THE TREASURER'S ACCOUNT.
Meeting of the Church and Congregation on April 20. 1808 at 4 O Clock P. M.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and the pro- prietors of Pews, Boston April 20 1808,
William Phillips Moderator.
Voted, That the Brethren of the Congregation concur in the doings of the Church respecting the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Joshua Hunt- ington on the 18 May next.
Report of the Committee appointed on the Treasurers a/c have attended that service, and report that they found the accounts right cast and well vouched, and the following in the hands of the Treas- urer Vizt.
18 Shares in the Massachusetts Bank belong-
ing to the Church 1 $9,000.00
3 p Ct Stock belonging to do nominal $724.63, specie . 416.66
Cash in hand belonging to do.
435.83
Ballance of Income from the Stores 176.00
Interest money of the poor of the Church and
Congregation subject to the direction of the
Minister and Deacons, Trustees for their fund, .
2,509.81
BOSTON April 19 1808
All which is submitted
SAML. SALISBURY p order.
Voted, That the above report be accepted.
Voted, That the Standing Committee be requested to wait on the brethren of the Church and Congregation to raise by Subscription a Sum sufficient to provide a public Dinner for the delegates and Coun- cil who are invited to assist in the Dutys of the Day.
Voted, That John Winslow, Jonathan Harris, Samuel Belknap, Jo- seph Ward and Abraham Wild be a Committee, to join the Committee of the Church to wait on the Council who are chosen to settle and ordain the Revd Mr. Joshua Huntington, and communicate the doings of the Church and Congregation.
Voted, That the Standing Committee be a Committee to superin- tend the doings of the Day, and to provide the Dinner and see that strangers and others are provided with seats, and to attend to what- ever other duties may occur on that day.
Voted, That we now come to the Choice of one of the Congrega-
1 [“ When the Stock Holders of the Massachusetts Bank agreed to double their Stock -the Church not being in Cash to double theirs - the Deacons disposed of their right of Subscribing,
for a premium which produced a sum sufficient to fill up two Shares, and add to the 16 they before owned and leave up- wards of $100, - which was passed to their Credit in the Treasurers Books."]
326
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
tion to serve on the Standing Committee in the room of Mr. John Holland who declines serving.
Nehemiah Somes was appointed a Committee to collect, count and sort the Votes, who reported that Mr. Jonathan Harris was unani- mously Chosen.
Voted, That when we do adjourn it shall be to such time as the Standing Committee shall see cause to call a Meeting, and that the Rev. Dr. Eckley be requested to notify the meeting from the Desk on the Sabbath.
Voted, That we now adjourn.
Mr. Huntington's ordination took place on the 18th of May. The introductory prayer was offered by Mr. Gray of Jamaica Plain; it had been expected that President Dwight would preach the sermon, but he was taken ill on his way to Boston, and his place was filled by Dr. Morse, who chose for his text 2 Cor. iv. 2 : " But have renounced the hidden things of dishon- esty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully ; but by manifestation of the truth commending our- selves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." The sermon was a strong plea for doctrinal preaching, and was very positive and aggressive in its tone. Dr. Eckley offered the ordaining prayer, Dr. Lathrop gave the charge, Mr. Channing extended the fellowship of the churches, and Mr. Lowell closed with prayer. "The exercises were devout and animated ; and afforded high satisfaction to the numerous auditors assembled on the occasion." 1 Dr. Lathrop charged the pastor-elect : " Take heed to thy doctrine. Let the doctrine you preach, be Preach not yourself, but Jesus Christ the doctrine of Christ.
and him crucified. Preach the word, the pure word, not cor- rupted with the false reasonings or traditions of men." "On this day of the week," he added, " and on this day of the month, forty years ago, I was ordained to the work of the gospel min- istry in this town." Mr. Channing, in giving the right hand of fellowship, enlarged upon the words of Christ, " My kingdom is not of this world," and said : ---
We invite you to no participation of power or authority ; we have none to bestow ; but do not therefore count our fellowship contempti-
1 Col. Centinel, May 21, 1808.
The hymns sung were "Come let us anew our journey pursue," and "Our Lord is risen from the dead "; also, the anthem, " O Lord God of Israel, there 's no God like thee in Heav'n above," etc.
The delegates from the Church in Federal Street, with Mr. Channing, were Deacon Wright, Judge Davis, Judge Dawes, Jonathan Phillips, and Josiah Salisbury, the last three former members of the Old South.
327
MR. CHANNING'S ADDRESS.
ble. We invite you to share with us the toils and successes of a min- istry, more honorable in our estimation than the empire of the world ; a ministry, established by the Prince of Peace for the universal diffu- sion of truth, holiness and love.
Turning to the church and congregation, Mr. Channing said : -
On these occasions our joy is generally mingled with sorrow. In ordaining ministers we are generally called to repair the ravages of death, and to fill the vacant place of a departed friend and brother. But here it is our happiness to behold our brother, whose faithful services you have long enjoyed, still living, and uniting with us in the interesting duties of this day. Brethren we rejoice in your liberality, unanimity, order and peace. We rejoice that God has sent you a new pastor whose age, character and attainments promise many years of zealous, interesting and profitable labors. Permit us to ask for this our young brother, your prayers and unremitting kindness. Ac- cept his attempts to serve you with candor and tenderness. We ask not for him your admiration and applause, the most dangerous gifts you can bestow. Rather grant him your serious attention and cordial esteem. Grant him the best evidence of an acceptable ministry, not empty praise, but a devout reception of the truths he may deliver. Brethren we commend you and your pastors to the guidance and bless- ing of Almighty God. May charity, the bond of perfectness, never fail among you. May no root of bitterness spring up and trouble you. Peace be within these walls. Behold how good and how pleas- ant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity !
The proprietors of the First Church voted, July 14, 1807, to sell their meeting-house, - the Old Brick, -and to erect an- other in what is now Chauncy Street. The first service in the new building was held on the 21st of July, 1808, when an appro- priate discourse was preached at the Thursday Lecture, by Mr. Emerson. There were good and sufficient reasons for moving from the spot which had been occupied by the church for more than one hundred and sixty years, and from the neighborhood in which it was established at the foundation of the town; but there was serious opposition to the change, as there always is in such cases. Mr. William Hayden, for a long time chairman of the standing committee, wrote :-
The noise and dust of the great thoroughfare - now Washington Street, then Cornhill - were even then so great as to render the loca- tion unsuitable as a place of worship, and the project of removal to Summer Street was agitated. The change, though determined
328
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
upon by the majority, was vehemently opposed by some of the wor- shippers, and, among others, by the Hon. Benjamin Austin, a well- known political leader of the Democratic party, and editor of the Chronicle, the Democratic organ of those days. He was the father of Charles Austin, who was killed by Selfridge, in State Street, in 1806. Mr. Austin's opposition to the removal of the church extended so far as to lead him to terminate his connection with it, and I think he never attended at Chauncy Place. He wrote some verses bewail- ing the fate of the old church, of which the first two lines are all that I remember, running thus : -
" Farewell, Old Brick, - Old Brick, farewell ; You bought your minister and sold your bell." 1
The Old South congregation continued to worship on the same great thoroughfare, almost within a stone's throw of the site of the Old Brick, for nearly threescore years and ten from this time ; and when, at length, it was compelled to move, it had to encounter an opposition much more violent and persistent than Mr. Austin and his friends ever thought of attempting against the First Church. In the meanwhile the First Church made another removal, -to its present house of worship, in Berkeley Street.
At a meeting of Brethren of the Church and Congregation at the Old South Meeting House in Marlborough Street, August Ist. 1808,
William Phillips Moderator.
Voted, That the report of the Committee be accepted respecting the Alteration of the Stairs, by taking down the present Stairs, and erect- ing new ones in the Westerly porch of said Meeting House.
Voted, That the report of the Committee be accepted, respecting the Alteration of the Pews in the Gallery and below agreeable to the plan exhibited to the Society this day.
Voted, That the Standing Committee be the Committee to make the Alterations above agreed to, by getting the work done in the best and cheapest manner, offering the same to the members of this Society.
Voted, That there be a covering for the Cushions on the pulpit, the Clock and Chandelier.
Voted, There be a Committee of ways and means now chosen, to report to this Society what measures shall be taken respecting the building two ministerial Houses, and the ways to obtain monies for doing the same.
242. The reference in the couplet was to the inducements offered to the Rev.
1 [Ellis's Hist. of the First Church, p. Mr. Emerson, in 1799, to leave his church in the town of Harvard and come to Boston.]
329
SECOND CHURCH IN DORCHESTER.
Voted, That Deacons Phillips and Salisbury and John Winslow be the Committee of ways and means.
Voted, That the thanks of this Society be given to William Phillips Esqr. for his Liberal present in presenting them with a new and ele- gant pulpit including a handsome set of cushions for the same, and that this vote be recorded in the Societys Books.1
Voted, That this meeting be now dissolved.
At a meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Con- gregation in Marlborough Street Novr 7th 1808, called by the Revd Doctor Eckley on Sabbath afternoon after service, to be held this day at 3 O'Clock PM.
Deacon William Phillips chosen Moderator.
A motion made and seconded that the pews above and below shall be valued and then sold by Auction to the highest bidder who shall bid for the Choice, and that the taxes be fixed on each pew p Sabbath before the sale, which was Voted Unanimously.
Voted, The Standing Committee be the Committee to carry the above Vote into effect, and the Deacons be requested to execute the Deeds after the Sales.
Voted, That the Committee be directed to advertize the above Pews for Sale on Thursday the first day of December at 11 O'Clock, (this day being appointed for Thanksgiving Day the sale was postponed to Friday the 2d December.)
Voted, This meeting be now dissolved.
Sabbath Day Nov 22. 1808.
A letter was received from the Second Church in Dorchester ; re- questing the assistance of the Old South Church by its Pastors and other Delegates, at the Ordination of the Rev'd John Codman, on Wednesday the 7th Inst. [December].
Voted to comply with the request. chosen to attend on the Occasion.
The Pastors and deacons were JOSHUA HUNTINGTON.2
1 [See picture at the head of chapter vii.]
2 [The letter-missive sent to the Old South was in the following terms : - Christian Friends and Brethren,
Mr. John Codman having accepted the call of the Second Church and Society in Dorchester, to take the same under his Pastoral care, - the Subscribers in be- half of said Church respectfully request you by your Pastors and Delegates to attend in Council - with the other Churches to whom letters missive are directed ; to afford your assistance in the
Ordination, on Wednesday the seventh day of December next at the house of Mr. Samuel Richards in said Dorchester, at ten O'Clock in the forenoon.
Wishing you Grace, Mercy and Peace, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, they subscribe themselves, your Brethren in the faith and hope of the Gospel,
STEPHEN BADLAM SAMUEL WITHINGTON JOSEPH CLAP EBENR WITHINGTON JOSEPH CLAP Junr. DORCHESTER, Nov. 16th. 1808.]
Committee.
330
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
In consequence of the increasing population of the town of Dorchester, the old meeting-house was so full that many fam- ilies among the new-comers could not procure pews, and even individuals found it difficult to obtain sittings. Sixty families, it is said, were in the habit of attending worship in the neigh- boring towns. It was determined, therefore, to build " another edifice for religious assembly," and divine service was held in it for the first time, October 30, 1806. But the minister of the First Parish, the Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, hesitated long before giving up any portion of his flock, to which he was much attached, and the new church was not formally recognized until January 1, 1808.1 On that occasion, Dr. Lathrop was moderator of the council, and the Rev. John Pierce, of Brookline, preached the sermon. The fellowship of the churches was extended to General Stephen Badlam, as representing the Second Church, by Dr. Porter, of Roxbury. The covenant, said the Rev. James H. Means, in an historical discourse, in 1858, " was modelled after the original covenant of the First Church ; " 2 and in another dis- course, twenty years later, he said further : -
It is rather singular that the records contain no copy of the cov- enant used at the formation of the church. There is, however, reason to believe it to have been the same which is recorded under date of May 11, 1821, as having been "renewedly adopted "; all the ex- pressions of which, with the exception of a few unimportant words, are found in the covenant we now use. It did not, however, contain dis- tinct articles of belief, and in 1828 the church adopted a declaration of faith embracing five articles, concerning the Trinity, depravity, the atonement, regeneration, and eternal happiness and misery, with a general assent to the "system of faith" taught in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism. On the 28th of February, 1834, the church
1 The new church was at one time called the Old South of Dorchester.
2 In 1886 many of the members of the Second Church, desiring to return to the more simple and scriptural methods which were in use during the first twenty years of their history, proposed to sub- stitute the Form of Admission recom- mended by. the Creed Commission in 1883 for the Confession of 1834. The argument for a change had been stated clearly and forcibly by their minister, the Rev. Mr. Packard, in a paper on Church Creeds and Church Membership, read by him in 1882, before the Suffolk South
Conference, and at a meeting of the Congregational ministers of Boston, printed in the Golden Rule, and, in 1884, reprinted in a pamphlet. " The artificial bars raised by one generation and neces- sary to their defence may have to be let down by another generation under differ- ent circumstances. Whatever is merely artificial and of temporary use ought not to be put on a level with the Ten Com- mandments." We should have said that Mr. Packard's argument was un- answerable, had he not endeavored to answer it himself, in opposing and - for the time- defeating the proposed change.
33I
PAYING VOWS TO THE LORD.
unanimously accepted the covenant and confession in its present form, which we thus hold hallowed by the associations of forty-four years, and a large part of which has been used here since 1808.
Mr. Pierce's sermon at the gathering of the church was on Paying Vows made to the Lord ; we quote what he said upon the obligations assumed by those who owned the baptismal cov- enant, as showing the light in which he, and earnest men like himself, regarded these obligations : -
Do not some, in all probability, yield a formal assent to the church covenant, merely to obtain baptism for their children? Do they not in the most solemn manner, which words can express, devote them- selves to the Lord " in an everlasting covenant never to be forgotten," while at the very time they do not realize the awful import of their engagement? Or do they not appear very soon to forget their solemn declarations, promises and resolutions? Do they not sometimes think that they have taken but one step, and that a very inconsiderable one, towards being Christians ; while, if they pay the vows which they have vowed, they must be Christians in deed and in truth? On the most favourable supposition, are not some ready to imagine that there is a great difference between the engagements they form, and the en- gagements of those who come to the Lord's table? But nothing can be more erroneous, as may appear by considering the obligations which devolve on those who avouch the Lord to be their God. This avowal is made equally by those who bring their children to baptism, as by those who come to the table of the Lord. For both equally profess to believe the validity of the sacred scriptures. Both equally profess repentance of their sins and sincere desires of forgiveness. Both equally profess their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Both equally engage, in humble dependence on divine grace, to conduct according to the rules of the gospel relating both to God and man. Both equally subject themselves to the discipline of the church. What then is the difference ? Why they who come to the Lord's supper, engage to walk in communion with the church of Christ; while they who do not come to this sacrament, for a very obvious reason, do not enter into this obligation. The agreement in the main articles is exact. Is there then any difference in the engagements ; and should there be any difference in the qualifications of those who procure the benefit of a christian ordinance for their children, and of those who commem- orate the death of Christ? Will he who has commanded us to pay that which we have vowed, forgive our remissness in the one instance, and severely condemn it in the other? Will he not rather in both cases declare, " Ye have vowed a vow unto the Lord ; and ye cannot go back " ?
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