USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 40
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372
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
An address to the clergy of Massachusetts had appeared in the federal newspaper, urging them not to read the proclama- tion for the approaching Fast Day. It recalled the action of Dr. Chauncy and the associated pastors in Boston, under Gov- ernor Hutchinson, and declared that Governor Gerry had given a succession of proclamations, replete with assertions and prin- ciples which the clergy generally were known to discredit and detest. "With what consistency," it was asked, "can the am- bassador of Christ consent to be made the instrument of utter- ing and publishing, as truth, what, in his heart, he believes to be false ; of recommending to his flock to give thanks for the occurrence, and to pray for the perpetuity of events, which he seriously considers portentous and visible judgments of Heaven ? "
The state election was a very exciting one, and resulted in a victory for the federalists, or, as one of the papers described them, "the friends of Wash- ington, Commerce and Peace." Caleb Strong and William Phil- lips were elected governor and lieutenant-governor, respective- ly, in place of Elbridge Gerry and William Gray. Mr. Gray was not a candidate for reëlec- tion, and William King, of the Province of Maine, had been nominated on the ticket with Governor Gerry. Mr. Phillips held the office to which he was now elected until 1823.
W." Phillips.
At this critical juncture in the politics of the State and na- tion, the annual parish meeting was held, as usual, in the after- noon of Fast Day.
cleared, and sailed principally for foreign ports. Unfavorable weather detained about twenty of them in the outer har- bor. On the arrival of the act yesterday morning a signal was hoisted on Fort Hill, but the haze prevented its being seen ; and it was not until the afternoon that they received information of the
arrival of the law, and that the revenue cutter had been despatched to detain them, when the principal part of them cut, and put to sea." Four vessels were detained by the cutter, although the masters made use of every exertion in their power to get to sea. - Col. Centinel, April 11, 1812.]
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373
THE PRINCE LIBRARY.
April 9th 1812. At a meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Congregation
William Phillips Esqr. Moderator.
Voted, That John Winslow be requested to act as Clerk for the Year.
The Committee chosen by the Old South Society on the 11th April, 18II, to take the direction and ordering of all temporal matters of said Society, beg leave (as the time being expired for which they were chosen) to report, That they have within the year past directed the Treasurer to pay Sundry bills against the Society, Vizt.
Expences attending the funeral of the late Revd.
Dr. Eckley, $504.27
Sundry bills work done on the parsonage House, 90.64
Iron Fence, Stone post &c. in front of said Houses 384.37
Planks, Boards &c.
96.85
Gravel and paving Stones for Parsonage House $267.05
Laying same, 73.21 340.26
Sundry Expences of Singing Society, 5.2.00
Repairs on Meeting House, 527.42
Removing Library and making Cases for Books 108.35
To Betterments made on Westerly Parsonage House 80.00
$2184.16
And the Committee further report, that they have let the Easterly par- sonage House for One Year at the rent of Six Hundred Dollars, and also the Stores in Marlborough Street on leases of five Years, three of them at $450. and two at $500. p. Annum, and generally, that they have attended to all the Affairs of the Society, that were entrusted to their Agency.
Which is respectfully submitted p order
(Signd.) F. WELCH.
Motion made and seconded the report be accepted, which Vote was unanimous.
The Report of the Committee on the Library Vizt.
The Committee appointed by the Old South Society June 17. 1811 to examine into the State of the Library, and into the clause of the Rev. Thomas Princes will respecting the same, and to make a cata- logue of the Books &c - Beg leave to report, that they have attended that duty and found the Library in a very ruinous situation, the boxes were some broken to pieces, others uncovered and the books partly taken out and laying about the floor, trodden over and cover'd with dust. They are removed to, and deposited in a room of the Rev. Mr. Huntington's House, and placed in cases fitted up with shelves
374
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
in a suitable manner, a compleat catalogue is made of all the books, and there are new bound 90 Vols Octavo, (95 - 12 mo) 16 Folio, 2 Quarto, the Library is now in a respectable situation, and Contains many very excellent and Rare Publications.
p. Order JOSEPH CALLENDER Secretary.1
Expences
paid Josiah Loring binding .
112.46
do Mr. Lord for Catalogue .
120.00
$232.46
Moved and Seconded said report be accepted, which was Voted unanimously.
Voted, We now proceed to a choice of a Standing Committee for the Year, and that they be invested with all the powers of former Committees, to consist of twelve.
Voted, That Joseph Peirce and Samuel Coverly be a Committee to count and sort the Votes, who report the following persons chosen, Vizt. Deacon William Phillips, Samuel Coverly, Joseph Peirce, William Homes, Benjamin Whitman, Edward Phillips, David W. Child, John Winslow, Abraham Wild, William Whitwell, Francis Welch and An- drew Homer.
Voted, That Deacon Salisbury, Joseph Peirce, John Winslow, Sam- uel Coverly and Benjamin Whitman be a Committee to examine the Treasurer's account.
Voted, That Benjamin Whitman, Deacon Ticknor and John Winslow be a Committee to attend to the letting pews in future in this House, so far as to describe the mode and manner of said lease.
Voted, That Joseph Peirce be joined with our reverend Pastor to examine and see what Books belonging to this Society can be found, which may have been lent, that they may be replaced in our Library.
Attest JNO. WINSLOW Clk.
The declaration of war against Great Britain was signed by President Madison on the 18th of June, in opposition, no doubt, to the desires and interests of the majority of the people of Massachusetts. They were engaged principally in commercial pursuits ; "their spirit of thrift was greater than their thirst for military renown ; and they were inclined to peace, not from
1 [More than half a century had ably was almost forgotten. A smaller passed since the death of Mr. Prince, collection, but one of great value, the gift of William III. to King's Chapel, was partly scattered and much injured during the Revolutionary period. - Foote's Annals of King's Chapel, vol. i. pp. 123, 124.] and in the mean time there had been sev- eral changes in the pastorate. During the War of the Revolution, as we know, the library suffered greatly; and, for many years afterward, its existence prob-
375
THE REV. D. HUNTINGTON.
cowardice nor from a willingness to sacrifice the interests of their country, but from a profound conviction that peace was the policy of the nation, and would subserve its interests better than war." 1
Sabbath Day Oct 11. 1812
After divine service in the afternoon a letter was read from the fourth Church of Christ in Bridgewater, requesting the assistance of this church, by its Pastor and Delegate, at the Ordination of Mr. Daniel Huntington, on the 28 inst. Voted to comply with the re- quest.
The Pastor and Deacon Salisbury were chosen to attend on the occasion.
JOSHUA HUNTINGTON.
Mr. Huntington was a brother of the pastor of the Old South, and his junior by two or three years. He graduated at Yale College in 1807, and was settled over the North Parish in Bridgewater ; here he continued until 1832, when the state of his health compelled him to resign.2
At the annual meeting of the church and congregation, April 8, 1813, the standing committee reported that it had expended during the year just ended, $156 for the support of a choir of singers, and $411.57 for repairs and for wood; also, that it had let one of the parsonage houses for another year to Dr. Water- house. A committee consisting of the deacons and General Winslow was appointed to consider the question of altering the porch on Milk Street, and the standing committee was directed to take into consideration the reduction of the taxes on the pews. A meeting was held April 26, to receive reports from these committees.
The Committee who was appointed to consider the alterations of the porch in Milk Street beg leave to report that in their opinion, the porch might be reduced about one half, and have only one Door in front, they would also report, it would be a very great convenience, to have inside Baze Doors at all the avenues on the Lower floors in the winter season, and that a Committee be appointed to Confer with the Select- men, before this alteration is made, to have from them a promise that our side walks shall remain in the order we put them.
1 Barry's History of Massachusetts, p. 387.
2 Mr. Huntington's first wife was Mary Hallam, daughter of Captain Gur- don Saltonstall, and great-granddaugh- ter of the governor of the same name.
His second wife was Alma, daughter of Benjamin French. Alma French joined the Old South in 1822, and her sister Almira, afterward wife of John Dane, one of the founders of the Harvard Church, Brookline, joined in 1823.
376
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Voted, The report be accepted, and that the Standing committee be appointed to carry the same into effect.
The Standing Committee were appointed to take into Consideration, the lowering the Taxes on the Pews, it is reported that the Society at a Meeting held on the 19th Feby. 1808 did Vote to raise the Taxes on the pews 50 p. ct. in Consideration of settling a colleague with the Rev. Doctor Eckley, whose decease has rendered it unnecessary to continue the same. Therefore Voted, That from the first day of Jan- uary last the Taxes on the Pews on the lower floor also those four in the Gallery which are really sold to the following persons, William Whitwell, Samuel Salisbury Junr. Thomas Tilden and John Bullman, be reduced one third part from their present rates.
On motion being made and seconded that two Rowes of flatt stone be laid across the main Street for the convenience of foot passengers, crossing one from the Steeple Door, the other from the Center of the Society's Stores in Marlborough Street
Voted, The Committee be requested to see the same carried into effect as soon as convenient. (24 members present)
Voted, This meeting be now dissolved, and it was dissolved ac- cordingly.
True Copy Jno. Winslow Clk. WM. PHILLIPS Modr.
Sabbath-day July 4 1813.
After Divine Service in the afternoon, a letter was communicated from the First Church (Chauncy Place) requesting the assistance of the Old South Church by its Pastor and Delegates, at the Ordination of Mr. John Lovejoy Abbot, on the 14th Inst. Voted to comply with the request.
The Deacons, His Honor William Phillips, and Samuel Salisbury, together with Mr. Peirce, Mr. Homes, and Mr. Ticknor, were chosen to unite with the Pastor on the Occasion.
On motion made by the Pastor, it was Voted, that the Church on communion days, sit in the body pews, reserving the side pews for spectators ; and also, that a general invitation be given from the desk, before the congregation is dismissed, to all persons, members in reg- ular standing, of sister churches, to stay and sit down with us at the Supper of the Lord.
Attest.
Jos. HUNTINGTON, Pastor.
Mr. Abbot, the successor of Mr. Emerson at the First Church, was born at Andover in 1783, graduated at Harvard College in 1805, and studied theology with the Rev. Jonathan French, of Andover, the minister of his father's family, and afterward at Cambridge with Dr. Ware, who preached the ordination sermon.1
1 The council was entertained by the the council included Bishop Cheverus, committee of the First Church at Con- Dr. Sharp and Dr. Baldwin of the Baptist cert Hall. The invitations to dine with churches, and Dr. Griffin of Park Street.
377
TWO ORDINATIONS.
Mr. Abbot's ministry was of short duration. He preached a few Sundays only after his settlement, "when a wasting con- sumption obliged him to cease from labors which were never afterwards resumed." 1
Sabbath Day, Nov. 28 1813.
The church stay'd after divine service in the afternoon, when a let- ter was communicated from the New North Church, requesting the assistance of the Old South Church by its Pastor and Delegates at the Ordination of Mr. Francis Parkman on the 8th day of December following. Voted to comply with the request.
The Deacons, His Honor William Phillips and Samuel Salisbury, together with Joseph Peirce and William Homes were chosen to unite with the Pastor on the occasion. J. HUNTINGTON, Pastor.
The Rev. Dr. John Eliot died on Sunday the 14th of Febru- ary, after a faithful ministry of more than a third of a century. His successor, the Rev. Francis Parkman, graduated at Harvard College in 1807, and his ministry continued until 1849.
Sabbath Day, January 16, 1814.
The Church stay'd after Divine service P. M. when a letter was communicated from the Church in Brattle Square requesting the as- sistance of the Old South Church by its Pastor and delegates at the Ordination of Mr. Edward Everett on the 9th of February next. Voted to comply with the request.
The Deacons, His Honor William Phillips and Samuel Salisbury, together with Mr. Jeremiah Bumstead Senr. and Samuel Coverly were chosen to unite with the Pastor on the occasion.
J. HUNTINGTON, Pastor.
Mr. Buckminster died June 9, 1812, at the age of twenty- eight. Mr. Everett was a son of the Rev. Moses Everett, for a few years minister of the New South Church. He graduated at Harvard College in 1811, and studied divinity under the di- rection of President Kirkland. His ministry at Brattle Street was very brief, as, in 1815, he returned to Cambridge to take a Greek professorship.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Con- gregation Fast Evening April 7th 1814, 35 Members present,
William Phillips Esqr Chosen Moderator.
Voted, That John Winslow be requested to do the duty of Clerk for the Year, who was unanimously Chosen.
The Standing Committee chosen by the Old South Society, the 8th April 1813, to attend to the necessary repairs of the Meeting House,
1 Ellis's History of the First Church, pp. 244-246.
378
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
and to take the direction of all the temporal Concerns of said So- ciety, Beg leave (as the time for which they were chosen is now ex- pired) to make the following report of their doings, Vizt.
They have caused the South Porch of the meeting House to be altered according to the Vote of the Society - Green Blinds to be put on the front Gallary Windows, and inside doors to the several Porches. They have had new funnels for the stoves and two flues made in the wall of the meeting House. They have also caused to be made, the necessary repairs on the Meeting House, Parsonage Houses and Stores, for all which they have expended the Sum of Eight hundred and thirteen dollars, seventy five Cents. They have also expended for the Support of the Singing $176.50. There is now a Singing school in great forwardness, at which are taught forty two Young La- dies and about the same number of Young Gentlemen of the Society, who will be able in a very short time to take a part, in that portion of public worship. They have let the Easterly parsonage House for One Year at the rent of $450, and they would mention that the Stores still remain occupied on the leases mentioned in the last year's report, and they have attended to all matters and things entrusted to them by the Society, all which is respectfully submitted -
F. WELCH p order.
Motion made and seconded, That the report be accepted. Voted Unanimously, That the report be accepted.
Voted, We now proceed to the Choice of a Standing Committee for the present Year, with the same powers of the former Committee.
Voted, That Pliny Cutler and Samuel Armstrong be a Committee to Collect, Count and sort the Votes - Who report the following Gentlemen to be chosen, William Phillips, John Winslow, Benjamin Whitman, Joseph Peirce, D. W. Child Esqrs Mr. Samuel Coverly, Pliny Cutler, William Homes, Edward Phillips, Francis Welch, Abra- ham Wild and John Winslow Junr.
Voted, That a Committee of five be Chosen to examine the Treas- urer's Accounts, Vizt. Samuel Salisbury, Joseph Peirce, Deacon Tick- nor, Samuel Coverly and B. Whitman.
Voted, That this meeting be dissolved, and it was dissolved accord- ingly.
True Copy. Jno. Winslow Clk.
Boston, May 9th. 1814.
The Brethren of the Old South Society, met by notice from the Rev Mr. Huntington on the Lord's day in the Afternoon.
The Committee appointed on the Treasurer's Accounts report that they have examined the Treasurers Accounts and find them well vouched and right cast, and there is in the Hands of the Treasurer as follows Vizt.
379
PARISH AFFAIRS.
2 Massachusetts Bank Shares . 1000.00 €
I 3 pr Ct Certificate U. S. nominal $724.63 c 52 cts p 100 376.80
Cash on hand 371.35
Belonging to the Church · $1748.15
Belonging to the Church and Congregation 3783.06
$5531.21
May 5, 1814.
Sign'd Samuel Salisbury and others.
Voted, The Report of the Committee be accepted.
Voted, We now proceed to the Choice of a Treasurer. Mr. Sam- uel Belknap was appointed a Committee to receive, count and sort the Votes, who reported that Deacon William Phillips was unani- mously Chosen.
Voted, That in future, a Treasurer shall annually be Chosen, and the Choice shall be in the Month of May.
Joseph Peirce and D. W. Child were appointed a Sub Committee to meet Committees from other Societies, -report they have attended that duty and have agreed to pay the proportion of Expence for a Dinner for the reverend Clergy, of Congregational Ministers, who meet on Election week.
Voted, The Society approve their doings, and request the Treasurer to pay the same.
The Standing Committee to whom was referred the Subject of building a Vestry, Having Considered the same, Report that there ought not to be any building whatever erected on the land belonging to the Society.
Voted, The report of the Committee be accepted.
The Sub Committee of repairs reported, that Sundry repairs were necessary, to be done on the meeting House such as painting the House outside, whitewashing inside &c. which in their opinion would cost Eleven Hundred Dollars.
Voted, The Committee proceed and make such repairs, as they shall deem necessary.
Motion made and seconded, that a Committee be appointed to take into consideration the necessity of procuring a suitable place for a Vestry for the use of this society, the following persons were Chosen, Vizt D. W. Child, P. Cutler, Joseph Calender, Isaac P. Simpson and Jonathan French.
Voted, This meeting be dissolved and it was dissolved accordingly. 23 members present.
Attest Jno. Winslow Clk.
The Centinel speaks of Election Day as the " Political New
380
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Year's Day." The annual sermon, this year, was preached at the Old South by Dr. Appleton, president of Bowdoin College, who on the day following preached at Brattle Street before the Convention of Congregational Ministers. On Friday President Kirkland preached in Chauncy Place, before the Society for the Suppression of Intemperance,1 and, on Thursday, June 2, in the same meeting house, before the Massachusetts Bible Society.
The Convention of Congregational Ministers appointed a committee to prepare and address to Congress a petition against the transmission and opening of the mails on the Lord's day. The committee consisted of the Rev. John Lathrop, the Rev. Samuel Worcester, the Rev. Abiel Holmes, the Rev. Ebenezer Porter, the Rev. Daniel Chaplin, and the Rev. Henry Ware, who, in their memorial, said : " It is with solicitude and grief that we have seen this usage, sanctioned as it is by public au- thority, made the pretext for various encroachments on the reg- ular observance of the Sabbath."
On the 31st of March Paris surrendered to the allied armies, and the submission of the capital was at once followed by the abdication of the Emperor Napoleon and the return of the Bourbons. The intelligence of these great events was received in Boston with the most intense satisfaction, and arrangements were at once made to hold -in the Stone Chapel (as King's Chapel was then called) on Wednesday, June 15 - " Solemni- ties and Services in honor of the late Restoration of Safety and Peace to Europe, and in commemoration of the downfall of The Tyrant." 2 Governor Strong, Lieutenant-Governor Phillips, the Council, the Legislature, Mr. Pickering, Mr. Ward, and Mr. Pitkin, members of Congress, and many of the clergy, were present. Mr. Huntington offered a " solemn invocation," Mr. Channing preached a sermon of great power, and Dr. Osgood, of Medford, offered prayer. After the benediction by the ven- erable Dr. Lathrop, the Hon. Christopher Gore (ex-governor) presented some resolutions which had been agreed upon by a committee appointed at a meeting held at the house of the lieu- tenant-governor a few days before.3
1 Mr. Huntington was recording sec- retary of this society. The New England Tract Society advertised, May 24, that it had opened a deposit of tracts in the chamber over Mr. Armstrong's book- store, No. 50 Cornhill.
2 Services were held in the Stone
Chapel, March 25, 1813, to commemo- rate the victories of Russia over Napo- leon.
3 This meeting was held at Mr. Phil- lips's, June 8, when " the observance of a solemn religious festival " was deter- mined upon, and a committee of arrange-
381
"THE PROPOSALS OF 1705."
At the meeting of the General Association of Massachusetts in Dorchester, at the end of June, 1814, one more - and the last - attempt was made to bring the Congregational churches of the State into consociation. A manuscript document found among the papers of Cotton Mather was submitted to the As- sociation, containing an answer to the question, "What further steps are to be taken, that councils may have their due consti- tution and efficacy, in supporting, preserving and well ordering the interests of the churches in the country ?" The paper was referred to a committee, of which Dr. Morse was chairman,1 to inquire into its history, with instructions also to report at the next annual meeting, "on the expediency of a recommendation of this body of the plan of discipline there proposed, to the con- sideration of the association and churches in our connection."
When the year came round, the committee presented an elab- orate report, embodying a "Plan of Ecclesiastical Order," ex- pressed in ten carefully drawn " Articles of Agreement " for the churches "explicitly to adopt and duly to put in practice." The old manuscript had proved to be the original draft of those celebrated proposals which John Wise of Ipswich had demol- ished one hundred years before in his treatise - the " Churches' Quarrel Espoused." "It was the second attempt," says Dr. Clark, "to resuscitate those death-struck proposals, the first having been made in 1774 by Dr. Whitaker for a Presbyterian purpose, and now by this committee as the basis of consocia- tion. Both were alike abortive." A vote was passed, "That the report be printed, and copies sent to the several associations in our connection, for the purpose of ascertaining the public sentiments respecting the plan of ecclesiastical order therein presented, and that the subject be called up at the next meet- ing of the General Association." The subject accordingly came up, but the most that the Association could be induced to do in favoring the plan was to signify that they had "no objection " to the consociating of those who so desired, as they had " no wish to prescribe opinions to their brethren." Here, says Dr. Clark, the matter ended, and he adds : -
Let us do justice to the motives of our fathers in this transaction. ments was appointed, upon which Mr. 1 The other members were the Rev. Samuel Austin, D. I)., the Rev. Leonard Woods, D. D., the Rev. Samuel Worces- ter, D. D., the Rev. Enoch Hale, the Rev. Joseph Lyman, D. I)., and the Rev. Timothy M. Cooley. Channing and Mr. Huntington repre- sented the clergy, and Christopher Gore, George Cabot, John Phillips, Harrison Gray Otis, John Lowell, William Sulli- van and others, the laity.
382
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
The ecclesiastical affairs of our denomination were in a deplorable state. The want of agreement in religious doctrine and church-dis- cipline was dissolving the bonds of fellowship between ministers and churches, who yet were held together by ecclesiastical ties that created incessant friction. Almost every council called together to settle or dismiss a pastor, to deal with an erring minister or church-member, or in any way to advise on church matters, was divided in sentiment and discordant in action. To obviate these crying evils, and at the same time to deliver the evangelical interest from its imperilled posi- tion, was the leading, if not the only, motive impelling towards conso- ciation. But this was not the first instance in which good men, by attempting to avoid the roaring Scylla, have narrowly escaped the rocky Charybdis. Through the good hand of God upon them, the Association steered through the dangerous narrows, and the desired haven was safely reached. A more effectual deliverance was wrought, in a less objectionable way.1
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