USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 38
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The close of the year 1810 threatened to be disastrous to the
1 Mr. Samuel H. Walley and Mr. Thomas McClure accepted the office of deacon in Federal Street Church, July 24, 1808.
2 In the petition of Andrew Oliver and others, in 1762, for an act of incor- poration, it was said : -
" A large sum of money has been al- ready subscribed towards the forming a perpetual fund therefor ; and we humbly apprehend in a short time it would be so much increased by other subscriptions, that the profits of it would be sufficient to effect some real service in promoting Christian knowledge if such a society was incorporated." See ante, vol. ii. pp. 67, 68.
In the charter of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Indians, established in 1787, it was pro- vided : -
" All donations to the society, either by subscriptions, legacy or otherwise, excepting such as may be differently ap- propriated by the donors, shall make a part of, or be put into the capital stock of the society, which shall be put out on interest, on good security, or otherwise improved to the best advantage, and the income or profits applied to the purposes of propagating the gospel among the said Indians, in such manner as they shall judge most conducive to answer the design of their institution."
353
THE MEETING-HOUSE IN DANGER.
Old South Society. On Saturday evening, December 29, a fire broke out in a stable on the corner of Milk and Hawley streets, which soon communicated to the adjacent buildings, and burnt fiercely for two hours. The meeting-house was in great danger from the sparks which were driven across the street in show- ers, and it was saved by the intrepidity of Mr. Isaac Harris, a mast maker at the north end of the town, who ascended to the roof, and there fought the fire with axe and buck- ets, as it caught from time to time.
On Saturday evening last, about 7 o'clock, an alarming fire broke out in a Stable in Milk Street, occupied by Mr. Soper (formerly kept by Mr. Niles) which was to- tally consumed in a short time, together with a number of other stables and barns, and two Dwell- ing-houses, one occupied by Mr. John S. Lillie, the other by Mrs. Fosdick. The timely exertions of Silver Pitcher Presented to Jsade Harris the citizens prevented its spread- ing, though the Old South Meeting-house was in imminent danger.1
The Society recognized Mr. Harris's valuable services by giving him a silver pitcher, now in the possession of a grand-
TOM: ISAAC HARRIS
For his entreprise und succesful exertions on the roof of the Old South Church when on fire December 29och 1810 The Souly present this token of their! GRATITUDE
110
Boston January 29na 1811
daughter, which bears a representation of the fire, and the fol- lowing inscription : "To Mr. Isaac Harris. For his intrepid and successful exertions on the roof of the Old South Church 1 [Ind. Chronicle, December 31, 1810.]
354
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
when on fire, December 29th, 1810, the Society present this token of their gratitude. Boston, January 29th, 18II." 1
At the annual meeting of the Massachusetts Charitable Fire Society, a few months later, Mr. John Lathrop, Jr., read an ode suggested by "the intrepid conduct and personal exertions of Mr. William Brewster of New York, who saved the Brick Pres- byterian Church during the late conflagration in that city, and of Mr. Harris, who by a similar act of heroism, extinguished the flames on the roof of the Old South Church in this town last winter." We quote the third and fourth stanzas : -
Such was the deed that lately sav'd, Our sister city's beauteous domes ; The Champion's image is engrav'd On hearts secure in peaceful homes - Nor Harris, shall the muse's lays, Unmindful of thy well-earned fame,
Refuse the grateful meed of praise, Due to thy worth - thy valor's claim.
While sweet Benevolence regards, Each generous hero's bold emprise,
And bids him read his bright rewards, In Gratitude's expressive eyes, She hails the Charitable band, Who sooth the houseless wanderers' care,
Relieve the poor with liberal hand, And cruel Fortune's wrongs repair.2
Boston April II. 18II
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Con- gregation,
Voted that John Winslow be requested to act as Clerk for the year. Deacon William Phillips Moderator.
Your Committee appointed in April 1810 to manage the pruden- tial concerns of the Society beg leave to report, that they have at- tended the business and have expended the following sums of money, Vizt.
Supporting of the Singing School 132.00
Wood for Stoves $20. Sawing do 4.50 fixing
funnells 7.62 . 32.12 ยท
Printing bill $4. I. Clap bill 23.75 Watching
after fire 8
35.75
Hall & Giff bill for ladder painting &c
29.15
1 No mention of this incident is made ter, of Lexington, for his knowledge in in the society's records, and the author reference to it. is indebted to the Rev. Edward G. Por- 2 [Col. Centinel, June 5, 1811.]
355
CLOSE OF DR. ECKLEY'S MINISTRY.
S. & D. Bradley bill $10.73 Glass to repair after fire 17. . 27.73
I Clap, for repairing Chandelier $22. Shed's
bill .87 $279.62 22.87
Also the bills for building the Ministerial Houses and out houses, as far as they are finished, amount to the sum of $16,310. for all of which your Committee have drawn on the Treasurer for payment. They have also directed Insurance to be made on the Houses, the sum of Ten thousand dollars, all of which is submitted
p. Order JNO WINSLOW Sub. Com.
Voted, The report of the Committee be accepted.
Voted, We now proceed to the choice of a Committee for the year ensuing, and it consist of twelve, and they have the same powers, the Committee were possessed of the last year.
Voted, That James Foster and Joseph Calender be a Committee to count and sort the Votes, who report the following gentlemen chosen, Vizt. Deacon William Phillips, Samuel Coverly, Joseph Peirce, Wil- liam Homes, Benjamin Whitman, Nehemiah Somes, Edward Phillips, John Winslow, Jonathan Harris, Abraham Wild, William Whitwell, and Francis Welch.
Voted, That Deacon Salisbury, Joseph Peirce, Samuel Coverly, John Winslow, and Abraham Wild be a Committee to examine the Treas- urers Accounts ; when said Committee is ready to report they request the Rev. Pastors to notify it from the desk.
Voted, The Committee be directed to Insure the Stores in Marlboro Street against fire as soon as may be.
Dr. Eckley's pastorate had been attended with many trying conditions. It began when the congregation was scattered, - exiled from its long-accustomed place of worship, -and in the midst of the Revolutionary war. It was continued during a period of severe financial vicissitudes, and of heated political controversy, when the principles upon which the newly formed governments, state and federal, were to be based, were under discussion and on trial. It was to end on the eve of another war with Great Britain, and of a schism in the Congregational body, - already threatening, - one of the effects of which would be to separate the Old South from many of its sister churches with which it had enjoyed Christian fellowship for nearly a hundred and fifty years. During the three eventful decades of his ministry, Dr. Eckley had commanded the respect and confi- dence both of his own people and of the ministers and churches
356 HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
about him, and his death, when it came, was regarded as a pub- lic calamity. His last sickness was a repetition of an attack, of a similar kind which he had had in New York in the autumn of 1809. "Such was the violence and the rapid progress of the disorder," said Dr. Lathrop, " that he was not able to see and converse with his brethren in the ministry in the last days of his illness. Early in the morning of Tuesday last, that ex- cellent man, that exemplary Christian, and faithful minister of Jesus Christ, expired." The bereaved congregation hastened to pay every possible tribute of affectionate regard to their late pastor, and to express all possible sympathy with his family, in making arrangements for his funeral.
Boston April 30, 1811
At a meeting of the Church in the meeting-house on Tuesday (this day) occasioned by the death of our worthy pastor the Revd Joseph Eckley who departed this life this morning at 2 O Clock,
The Revd Joshua Huntington Moderator,
Voted, That Joseph Peirce be Secretary.
Voted, That the Revd. Dr. John Lathrop be requested to deliver a discourse at the interment of the Revd. Dr. Eckley.
Voted, That a Committee of three wait on the Revd. Dr. Lathrop for the above purpose, - and the two Deacons with Joseph Peirce be the Committee.
Voted, That the Funeral be on Friday at 3 O'Clock P. M.
Voted, That the expences attending the Funeral be defray'd by the Church.
Voted, That the pulpit be covered with black Cloth for several weeks, as insignia of mourning.
Voted, That there be a Committee of arrangements to carry into effect the several Votes preparatory to the funeral, and that the num- ber be five.
Voted, That Nehemiah Somes, Mr. Child, Joseph Peirce, Jeremiah Bumstead Jun. and Mr. Edward Phillips be the Committee.
Voted, That the same Committee of five wait on the family of the late Dr. Eckley and inform them of the arrangements made by the Church and consult them about the coffin, and after the funeral they will wait on them to receive and discharge the accounts consequent upon the funeral - a question arose whether mourning was intended to be included for the domesticks in the family, which was determined in the affirmative.
A Sub-Committee of one, vizt. Joseph Peirce was requested to wait on the Revd. Mr. Huntington and inform him that he was also to be pro- vided with a suit of mourning, and to request that Mrs. Huntington
.
357
DR. ECKLEY'S FUNERAL.
provide herself with suitable mourning on the occasion - and the expenses to be defray'd by the Society.
Voted, That the Committee give notice in the several Newspapers of the death of the Revd. Dr. Eckley.
Voted, That when this meeting be adjourned it be to tomorrow- morning, then to meet at 9 O. C.
Voted, That upon a representation made by Deacon Phillips, - there be a Committee to consider the propriety of erecting a monu- ment over the remains of the late Rev. Mr. John Hunt, formerly pastor of this Church, which lays deposited in the Cemetery of Northampton without any monument, and who departed this life at Northampton, the place of his Nativity, in the year 1775 at the commencement of the Revolutionary war.
Voted, That this Committee consist of five, Vizt. Deacons Salisbury and Phillips, Mr. William Homes, Joseph Peirce and Samuel Coverly, and to report at the adjournment.
Voted, That this meeting be adjourned to tomorrow morning 9 O. C. and it is accordingly adjourned.
JOSEPH PEIRCE Secretary.
Wednesday April 31.
Voted, That the President of Harvard College (Dr. Kirkland) make one of the prayers at the interment of Dr. Eckley.
The Committee respecting a monument over the remains of the Revd Mr. Hunt, reported in favor of the measure, and
Voted, That there be a Committee of three to carry the same into effect, and to cause a suitable inscription to be placed on the same, Vizt. Deacon Phillips, Deacon Salisbury and Mr. Ticknor.
Voted, That there be a meeting of the Church and Congregation called to meet at this place to morrow afternoon, 5 o'Clock.
Voted, That the several Societies to which the Revd. Dr Eckley belonged be requested to attend the funeral, notice to be given in the newspapers.
A letter was communicated by the Revd Mr. Huntington, from the new South Society directed to the pastors of the Old South Church, inviting them and delegates to assist at the ordination of the Rev. Samuel Cooper Thatcher on the day of
Voted, That the Revd Pastor and four of the Church, Vizt. Deacon Salisbury, Deacon Phillips, Joseph Peirce and Elisha Ticknor, attend.
Adjourned JOSEPH PEIRCE Secretary.
At a meeting of the Church and Congregation at 5 O'Clock P. M. as notified -
They then Voted to concur in the several Votes of the Church pre- viously passed respecting the Funeral - and also
Voted, That six of the Congregation be added to the Committee of
358
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
arrangements, Vizt. General Winslow, Francis Welsh, Abraham Wilde, William Whitwell, Jonathan Harris and Andrew Homer were added, and Joseph Callender was added as one of the Church making the whole number twelve.
Voted, That the members of the Church and Congregation wear black crape on the left arm below the elbow, as mourning, and recom- mend to the Ladies to wear such insignia of mourning as they may think proper.
Voted, That the Committee of arrangements assign such parts of the meeting house as they may think proper for the members and for the Ladies.
Voted, That the same Committee appoint suitable persons to keep order.
Voted, That the galleries be hung in black.
Voted, That the Sexton apply to the Sextons to toll their several Bells on this mournful occasion.
Voted, That the Committee of arrangements apply to the Board of Health to dispense with the regulation of the tolling of the Bells.
Voted, That the Committee of arrangements have discretionary power to take up any business which may have been omitted.
Voted, That the Stores and Shops of the members of this Society be closed on Friday 2 O'C p m.
Voted, That the Committee of arrangements determine what musick is to be performed on the day of the funeral.
Voted, That the Society adjourn to Six O'Clock tomorrow after- noon, then to meet in this place.
Attest JOSEPH PEIRCE.
Thursday 6 O'C. met according to adjournment - there being no business before the Society - adjourned Sine Die.
Attest JOSEPH PEIRCE Secy.
The funeral scene on Friday must have been very impressive. "The Society, from lisping infancy to hoary age, preceded the corpse ; and gave mournful evidence of the loss they had sus- tained. The corpse was conveyed into the Old South meeting- house; and a well-adapted affecting discourse on the occasion was delivered by the Rev. Dr. Lathrop. The funeral anthem, which was chaunted with peculiar effect, by the choir, began with the following lines : -
"The righteous soul that takes its flight Far from this world of pain,
In God's paternal bosom blest For ever shall remain." 1
1 [Col. Centinel, May 4, 1811. Dr. 163; the heavy slab which covers it is Eckley was buried in the Granary Bury- incised with his coat of arms and with ing Ground, in a tomb of his own, No. his name, "Rev. Joseph Eckley."]
359
DR. LATHROP'S SERMON.
Dr. Lathrop's text was Rev. xiv. 13 : "And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow them." The preacher thus spoke of the theological views of his departed friend : -
He was, through his whole ministerial course, a warm advocate for what have been generally called, the doctrines of grace ; this I can testify, because I have always known him, have been associated with him, and our communications with each other have never been inter- rupted. But while he was an advocate for the doctrines of grace, be- cause he found them in the New Testament, he never would bind him- self to receive and defend the explanations which uninspired men have given of those doctrines. While he treated all men with respect, he would call no man master. Christ was his Master, and the words of Christ and of the apostles, made the only confession of faith to which he would subscribe. While he possessed the liberty of search- ing, of thinking, and of forming his opinions according to the best judgment and understanding, and the best helps which he could obtain, he was quite willing that all his brethren should do the same. He had too much understanding, too much good sense, too much en- largement of mind, to be angry with a brother, and denounce him, or threaten to separate from him, because, on comparing, there appeared to be considerable difference in their opinions and ways of thinking. He made the essential doctrines of his faith but few ; and he verily believed that all sincere Christians, if they would lay aside passion and prejudice, may agree in the essentials, so far as to hold commu- nion with each other, although they may differ widely about modes and forms, and doctrines of minor importance. If he ever seemed to be indignant, it was when he bore testimony against those who mis- represent the opinions of their brethren, and endeavour to make divisions among such as had been long and happily associated. . . .
The loss to the theological interest of the vicinity in which he lived, and to that interest in general, I view as the greatest loss which is occasioned by his death. In our depraved world, where the unhal- lowed passions, where prejudice and ignorance, have an unhappy influence on our reasonings, and on the opinions which we form, that man is worthy of double honour, who can, without any undue bias, pursue truth ; and when discovered, can embrace the truth, although it may appear very different from what he at first expected. Our departed brother professed to be an impartial, humble inquirer. While he discovered evidence enough to support his faith in the essen- tial doctrines of the Christian religion, he examined those opinions which have divided the church into angry parties ; he examined those
360
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
opinions with freedom ; and if the result of his examination gave him different views, and led him to form opinions on some points, different from what he once entertained, it is no more than many have experi- enced, and many others will experience, who read, examine, and think for themselves.
Dr. Lowell wrote of Dr. Eckley, in a letter to Dr. Sprague, in 1853 : -
I never witnessed his indignation at anything but bigots and big- otry ; and then it was expressed emphatically. I do not remember his ever talking on points of theological controversy, - not even on the subject of the Trinity ; though that was a subject which, in his day, was but little discussed among us. His relations were certainly more intimate with the 'liberal party,' as they were termed, than with the Calvinistic party. It was not so with his young colleague, Mr. Huntington, with whom I enjoyed pleasant, personal and ministerial intercourse during his life ; but he was most kind, gentlemanly, and Christian-like, in his treatment of those from whom he differed in sentiment.
On the doctrines of the Trinity and the Atonement Dr. Eck- ley said, not long before his death : "I seek for a plan which exalts the personal character of the Son of God in the highest possible degree." And, further : "The common plan of three self-existent persons, forming one essence, or infinite being, and one of these persons being united to a man, but not in the least humbling himself or suffering, leads to and ends in Socinian- ism ; and, though it claims the form of orthodoxy, it is a shadow without a substance; it eludes inspection ; and I sometimes say to those who are strenuous for this doctrine, that they take away my Lord, and I know not where they place Him. The orthodoxy, so called, of Waterland, is as repugnant to my reason and views of religion, as the heterodoxy of Lardner ; and I am at a loss to see that any solid satisfaction for a person who wishes to find salvation through the death of the Son of God, can be found in either." 1
Nine days after Dr. Eckley's funeral, Mr. Emerson, of the First Church, whose health had been failing for several months, was called to his rest. Mr. Buckminster, of Brattle Street, preached his funeral sermon, and began with this reference : -
1 Wisner's History, pp. 114, 115. Dr. emanating from the Father, possessing Wisner says that Dr. Eckley was a Semi- all divine attributes except literal self- existence and independence and absolute eternity." This was the position, sub- stantially, of the Rev. Noah Worcester. Arian, that is, one who believes " that the Son is, not of the same, but of like substance, with the Father, derived or
361
THE REV. S. C. THACHER.
In this town there still vibrates on the ear the funeral bell of one of our beloved brethren. The earth has not yet settled on his re- mains ; the footsteps of the mourners have hardly turned back from his grave, ere another waits for admission, and the bereaved meet and mingle their lamentations. In the mean while it is not to us, nor was it to him, whose remains are before us, merely a fanciful satisfaction to think, that the beloved Doctor Eckley will hardly have left these regions of mortality, these confines of his former existence, ere this kindred spirit, long waiting to be dismissed, will follow in the still lin- gering light of his upward track, with the hope, if God so please, of being reunited with him forever.1
Sabbath day May 12. 181I
A letter was read from the Church in Summer Street, lately under the care of Revd. Dr Kirkland, requesting the assistance of the Old South Church, by its pastor and delegates, at the Ordination of Sam- uel Cooper Thatcher on the 15th inst. Voted to comply with the request. The Pastor and Deacons were appointed to attend on the occasion.
JOSHUA HUNTINGTON.2
Dr. Kirkland was called to the presidency of Harvard Col- lege in 1810, as the successor of the Rev. Samuel Webber. Mr. Thacher, fifth in the line of descent from the Rev. Thomas Thacher, was a son of the Rev. Peter Thacher, late minister of the Church in Brattle Street, and bore the name of his father's predecessor in that pastorate. He graduated at Harvard Col- lege in 1804, in the same class with Thomas Jeffries Eckley, William Scollay, and (the Rev.) Samuel Sewall. While yet a student in college, he formed the purpose of entering the min-
1 [On the 21st of October, 1814, the Rev. Edward Everett, then of Brattle Street Church, preached the funeral ser- mon of Mr. Abbott at the First Church, - to Mr. Samuel Cooper Thacher to set- and said : "Three years and a half are past, since you followed the la- mented Eckley and the faithful Emer- son to the grave. Another year, and the illustrious Buckminster had joined the assembly of the just. The commence- ment of the last year bereaved us of the evangelical Eliot, and we are now assem- bled to pay the mournful tribute of a brother's life to the close of this."]
2 [The following is a copy of the let- ter missive : -
It having pleased the great Shepherd and Head of the Church to remove our late beloved Pastor to a sphere of more
extended usefulness, it is a Source of comfort and joy to us, that this Church and Society have united in an invitation tle with us in the work of the Gospel Ministry, and that he has signified his acceptance of our call : We have there- fore appointed Wednesday the 15th day of May next, for the Ordination, and invite you to attend by your Pastor and Delegates, to assist at the Council, and in the Solemnities of the day.
Wishing you Grace, Mercy and Peace, we Subscribe ourselves, in behalf of the Church and Society
Your friends &c. DANIEL BATES 1 Committee JOSEPH FIELDS
The council will meet at the Rev. Mr. Emerson's meeting House, at 9 o Clock.]
362
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
istry. In December, 1803, he wrote to an elder brother : "To this object all my hopes and wishes are directed; and I pray God that I may not be permitted to touch his ark with unholy hands." He studied theology under the direction of Mr. Chan- ning ; taught for a time; and travelled in Europe in company with Mr. Buckminster. His ordination took place on the day preceding the funeral of Mr. Emerson; and Mr. Buckminster, in the sermon from which we have already quoted, drew this striking contrast between the two occasions : -
The trying scenes of the passing week offer themselves to us as an epitome of the course of human life. There promise - here disap- pointment ; there expectation - here defeat; there a new gift of heaven - here bereavement and vacancy ; there a course commenced with the fairest auspices - here eclipse and disastrous twilight ; there prayers and hopes for long life, health and happiness - here condo- lence, lamentations, and tears over a lifeless body.1
Mr. Huntington now had the sole charge of the Old South parish, a weighty responsibility - especially at that time- for a young man of five and twenty. Dr. Wisner says that the society was in a flourishing condition. "The attendants on public worship steadily and rapidly increased. The church was continually gaining strength, both as to the decision of its members in regard to doctrine and piety, and increase of num- bers. There was, during Mr. Huntington's ministry, no such special attention to religion as we commonly understand by a revival. Yet there was, during the whole time, a serious, growing and efficient attention to the subject. There was, it may be said with strict propriety of language, a continual revival."
At a meeting of the members of the Old South Church and Con- gregation on Monday May 27 1811 - William Phillips Esq. chosen Moderator.
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