USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 41
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The brethren of the Old South Church and Congregation held a meeting July 18, Mr. Benjamin Whitman in the chair, to hear a report of the committee on a vestry for the use of the society. The committee was unanimous in the opinion that a building for the purpose should be procured or erected at once, and reported that there was a lot of land owned by James Loring, adjoining the society's land in Spring Lane, with a two-story wooden building, which might be purchased for about $3000. Plans were also submitted, to show how the land belonging to the society might be further utilized by the erection of a building in the rear of the meeting-house, at a cost not to exceed $1000. The consideration of the report was postponed until the next annual meeting.
Boston, Dec. 1, 1814.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation, Deacon William Phillips chosen moderator.
The request of the Historical Society was then read, and the Com- mittee to whom this Subject had been referred, Reported as follows -
That our beloved Pastor, the Revd. Joshua Huntington with such a Committee as the Old South Church and Society shall appoint, make a Selection of such historical Tracts, Manuscripts and Treatises relating to the History of our Country, from the New England Li-
1 [Clark's Historical Sketch, pp. 252- 254. This attempt at consociation, though unsuccessful, aroused suspicions which " for a time hindered the growth of the General Association." Merely the rec-
ommendatory report "occasioned the withdrawal of one or more associations which had united with the body, and probably prevented several others from uniting with it."]
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383
THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
brary, belonging to the Old South Church and Congregation, and now under his care, as they may think proper, and for the benefit of said Church and Society, and the publick, and the same, when so selected, to list, index or number on two separate Lists, which said Lists shall contain and be headed with this Vote, and all the regula- tions respecting said Subject passed at this meeting, and one of said Lists, he shall deposit in said New England Library, the other of said Lists, after it has been signed by the said Historical Society, their Officers or Agents, shall be by him delivered over to the Clerk of the Old South Church and Society, to be by said Clerk kept among the records of said Church and Society. And said Tracts, manuscripts and Treatises, so as aforesaid by said Huntington selected, shall be by him delivered over to said Historical Society, to be by them care- fully kept in their room in Boston, and under their care, for the use of the Old South Church and Society, said Historical Society, and the Publick, upon the terms and Conditions following, Vizt.
Ist. Said Tracts, Manuscripts and Treatises shall always be kept by said Historical Society, safely, in apartments by themselves in their room in Boston, and a fair record of the disposition and situation of the same, so kept by said Historical Society that the said Old South Church and Society may always know where and in what situation the same are, and may always have access to said records. And over the place where the same Tracts, Manuscripts and Treatises are, or shall be kept, the said Historical Society shall always keep inscribed in fair legible letters, the following Inscription "The Donation of the Rev. Mr. Prince to the Old South Church and Society."
2ndly. The Pastor or Pastors of the Old South Church and So- ciety, shall at all times hereafter, have a right, and liberty, to inspect or use, or take away for inspection or use, any of said Tracts, Manu- scripts or Treatises, leaving a receipt for the same with said Historical Society, to return the same, after the purpose for which the same were taken away, has been answered - and any Member of the Old South Church and Society, shall have like right and liberty, under like Con- ditions, and for like purposes, producing to said Historical Society a written order therefor, signed by the pastor or pastors of said Old South Church and Society.
3dly. The Old South Church and Society shall at any time hereafter have a right to receive and take back from said Historical Society said Tracts Manuscripts and Treatises, whenever by their Vote, at any meeting of said Church and Society, they shall so Vote and deter- mine
Voted, That Benjamin Whitman, Joseph Peirce and Joseph Calen- der be the Committee to assist the Rev. Joshua Huntington in carry- ing the above Votes into effect.
384
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Motion made and seconded that this meeting be dissolved, and it was dissolved accordingly.
True Copy, Attest JNO. WINSLOW Clk.1
A defalcation in the Massachusetts Bank was brought to light at this time, which inculpated one who had been teller for twenty years, or more, and a member of the Old South for more than thirty years. The pastor was requested to open a corre- spondence with the offending brother, and received from him a letter, in which he said : -
Not wishing to avoid a disclosure of the nature of my offences, I will state to you, Sir, that the first article is a debt actually due from myself, incurred in consequence of an unfortunate suretyship. The amount of this debt I counted as money on hand. From the moment I contracted this debt to the last moment of my service at the Bank it was my most solemn determination to repay it, and at every returning period of qualification for the ensuing year, it was first in my mind, and the hope of this restitution was my strongest inducement to continue in that service as the only means by which it might be accomplished.
The second article of my deficiency resulted from the payment of checks drawn by sundry persons, which checks were not good. In some of these instances I was guilty of a criminal compliance.
The third resulted from actual losses in transacting the business. My crime in regard to these, I conceive, was in keeping them secret from my employers.
A fourth article of criminality was unwarrantable accommodation to certain Brokers, to whom I was obliged at certain seasons of examina- tion for assistance to enable me to cover my deficiency. - All which are considered, and too justly, to be inconsistent with fidelity to my employers, and violations of my oath of office.
To attempt to justify or excuse these errors would be vain, if not wicked ; to palliate or extenuate them will not be attempted. I will only state that I was reconciled to the course I pursued, by the con- sideration that continuance in office was the only means whereby I could make restitution for the deficiencies incurred, and that many of the actual errors that rested upon me, I was led to believe did not originate with me. The circumstances that led me to this belief would
1 [For full particulars of this arrange- ment with the Massachusetts Historical Society, and of the deposit of the Prince Library in the Boston Public Library in 1866, see the Preface to the Catalogue of the Prince Library printed by the City of Boston in 1870.
Mr. Huntington was elected a resi- dent member of the Massachusetts His- torical Society, with Mr. William Tudor and the Hon. Joseph Story, April 25, 1816, but he declined the honor, we sup- pose, on account of the poor state of his health.]
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385
THE PEACE OF GHENT.
be tedious in detail, and would be hardly intelligible to those un- acquainted with my situation in the Bank.
The terms of the peace concluded under the Treaty of Ghent reached Boston by express, in twenty-four hours from New York, February 21, 1815, and the following day, Washington's Birthday, was given up to public rejoicings. The merchants and business men of the town had suffered severely from the war, and hardly less from the events which preceded it ; and the return of peace was hailed with the greatest enthusiasm. Re- ligious exercises were held in the Stone Chapel, at which Dr. Lathrop and Mr. Cary, the legislative chaplains of the year, officiated.
Dr. Griffin's ministry at Park Street Church closed this spring. "In consequence of the congregation having become embarrassed by means of the war, and withal somewhat divided among themselves, he accepted an invitation to return to New- ark, as pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church, which was then vacant."1 He was an able and excellent man, but he failed to make much impression upon the community here, partly, no doubt, but not altogether, because of his very pronounced doc- trinal opinions. We find no reference to his departure in any of the papers of the day, nor does a council of churches appear to have been convened to take action upon his resignation. He is now best remembered as one of the distinguished presidents of Williams College.
At a meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Congre- gation, Fast Evening April 6 [1815] Deacon Wm. Phillips Moderator.
The Committee chosen by the Old South Society on the 7th day of April last, to take the care and direction of all temporal Concerns of said Society, - as the time for which they were chosen has expired, beg leave to report, Vizt.
Ist. In compliance with the Vote of the Society at a Meeting held in May last, they have [caused] the meeting House to be painted inside and out, the Walls white wash'd, and the Building thoroughly repair'd, all which has cost the sum of Eighteen hundred and Sixty Eight Dollars, twenty seven Cents - they have also laid out one hun- dred and fifty Dollars in necessary repairs on the Stores.
2d. They have expended three Hundred Dollars for the support of a Choir of Singers the past year ; and finally they have attended to all the Concerns of the Society.
FRANCIS WELCH Clk p. order.
1 Sprague's Annals, vol. iv. p. 31.
386
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Voted, The report of the Standing Committee be accepted.
On Motion made and seconded, Voted we now come to the Choice of a Standing Committee for the Year.
Voted, That Joseph Foster and Joseph Callender be a Committee to receive Count and Sort the Votes, who report the following persons Chosen, Vizt. Deacon William Phillips, Joseph Peirce, Samuel Cov- erly, William Homes, John Winslow, Abraham Wild, Benjamin Whit- man, Francis Welsh, D. W. Child, Pliny Cutler, Edward Phillips and John Winslow Junr. who shall be invested with the same powers as the former Committees.
Voted, That Deacon Salisbury, John Winslow, Joseph Peirce, Joseph Callender and Samuel Coverly be a Comniittee to examine the Treas- urer's Accounts, and report the same as soon as Convenient.
A Motion was made to take up the report of the Committee on the business of a Vestry, which was referred from July to the Annual meeting, on which said report was read by the Clerk.
A Motion was then made and seconded that the subject be referred for one Year.
Voted, The same be referred.
A motion was made and seconded that this meeting be dissolved, and it was dissolved accordingly.
True Copy Attest JNO WINSLOW Clk.
A meeting of the society was held May 15, to hear the report of the committee on the treasurer's accounts. The amount on hand, in cash and securities, was stated to be $4,740.98. Mr. Phillips was reelected treasurer.
Boston August 11. 1815
At a meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Congre- gation, Deacon William Phillips Moderator.
On motion made and seconded it was Voted, That there be a col- lection on the next Sabbath afternoon after divine Service for the benefit of the sufferers in the late distressing Fire at Petersburg, Virginia, agreeable to the recommendation of the Committee of this Town.
Voted, That John Winslow be a Committee to inform the Rev. Mr. Huntington of this Vote, and request him to mention the same after divine Service in the morning to the Society, and to inform them that all monies not mark't will be consider'd as for that purpose.
JNO. WINSLOW Clk.
The committee of citizens on the Petersburg fire consisted of Daniel Sargent, Thomas Dawes, and Peter Oxenbridge Thacher ; the total collected was $3,932.29. In making the remittance, the committee wrote : "The amount would have been greater
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387
THE SEPTEMBER GALE, 1815.
but for their privations during the late war, and their contri- butions to neighbors who not long ago had lost their all by fire, especially in Portsmouth and Newburyport."
What is known as the equinoctial storm was exceptionally severe in September of this year, and proved fatal to the Old South bell, which had called three generations of worshippers to the house of prayer.
The Public Buildings, though much exposed, and for which great anxiety was expressed, did not sustain material injuries. One of the high arches of the tower of the Meeting-House in Hollis Street, sprung and hazarded the fall of the steeple ; but it stood, and may probably be repaired without being taken down. The Third Baptist, Park Street and Old South Meeting Houses ; the Church in Summer Street, the Chapel, and some at the North End, lost many panes of glass, had the leads removed from their ridges and edges, and some of their Venetian blinds destroyed. ... On land, the most impressive scene was ex- hibited in the Common and vicinity. About twenty of the stately trees which form the Mall, and skirted the Common, were torn up by their roots and prostrated, carrying the fences with them ; and five of the Elms which form what is called Paddock's Walk, in front of the Granary burial-ground, shared the same fate. The overthrow of these trees is perhaps one of the strongest proofs of the fury of the tempest.1
Boston, Nov. 20. 1815.
At a meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Con- gregation called by the request of the Standing Committee, from the Desk, to meet this day at 3 O Clock PM. on the Subject of procuring a New Bell, the present Bell being crack't, supposed by the late Tem- pest on the 23d of September last, the Bell being Ringing for Fire at that Time, Voted, Unanimously,
That a New Bell be procured for the use of this House.
Voted, That Joseph Peirce, Josiah Salisbury and Edward Phillips be a Committee to procure a New Bell, as near the size and sound of the Old Bell as possible, in any way and manner that they may see proper.
Voted, That the Committee put on the New Bell any inscription they may think proper.
Motion being made and seconded that this meeting be dissolved, and it was dissolved accordingly ; 13 Members present.
Att. JOHN WINSLOW Clk.
The brethren met December 12, to consider further the
[ Centinel, Sept. 27, 1815. The trees which had been uprooted were replanted, with the prospect of preserving them.
See Dr. Holmes's poem, "The Sep- tember Gale," for the humorous side of this visitation.]
388
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
case of the late teller of the Massachusetts Bank. He had ad- dressed a communication to the church in July, which was not satisfactory, and the pastor was requested to inform him that the church was desirous to see an exhibition in his life and con- duct of that repentance towards God for his great sin whereby he had brought reproach upon religion, which would justify his restoration to its communion and fellowship ; also, that evidence of this repentance would appear, when he should seek an oppor- tunity to confess his sin before the church, and ask for forgive- ness. At the end of the year he wrote a letter, full of expres- sions of sorrow and shame, which was read at a meeting January 3, and being within call, he was invited to appear before the brethren. He then made oral confession of his sin, asked the forgiveness of the church, and its prayers in his behalf, declared that he cheerfully submitted himself to its government and dis- cipline, and most solemnly professed that his offence towards God, and the reproach which he had brought upon the cause of Christ, bore more heavily and painfully on his mind than any human censure. Whereupon it was voted, nem. con.
That brother - - be restor'd to the full communion and cordial fellowship of the Church, and that an outline of the Church's pro- ceedings in relation to him, for the honor of our holy religion, thus deeply wounded in the house of its friends, be communicated from the pulpit as soon as convenient, at the close of the public service of the Lord's day, and that said - be notified to attend on the occasion.
It adds to our interest in these proceedings to remember that the two deacons of the church which passed thus leniently upon the offender were stockholders and directors (one of them was the president) in the bank whose funds had been taken, and, therefore, were personal sufferers by the defalcation.
At the meeting at which the vote just given was adopted further action was taken, as follows : -
Voted, that all persons who apply for a transfer of their relation from any other church to the Old South Church, shall, in addition to a written testimonial from the church or Pastor of the church to which they belong, of their good standing in said church, give to the Pastor of this, the Old South Church, and to a joint committee of the same, hereafter to be chosen, satisfactory evidence that they approve of the covenant, and are disposed to conform to the faith and government of this church. . After which their certificate shall be publicly read before the church as heretofore, and the minds of the brethren taken in the
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389
ABSENT MEMBERS.
usual form on the question of their admission. Provided, however, that persons thus admitted shall not thereby become entitled to any of the property appropriated for the relief of the poor belonging to this Church.
The Deacons and Brother Benjamin Whitman, with the Pastor, were chosen a committee for the purpose aforesaid.
Voted, also, that all members of this church, who have for a year ending December 31, 1815, or longer, absented themselves from the communion of this church, and associated with any other church, while their relation and consequent obligations to this church have never been dissolved, shall be requested to apply for a dismission from this church, in order to their regular admission to the churches with which they statedly worship and commune.
Voted, also, that the pastor be requested to communicate this vote to all members affected by it, together with a request that they comply with the same. J. HUNTINGTON.
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CHAPTER VIII.
1816-1820.
BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
A T the beginning of the new year Dr. Lathrop, the pastor of the Second Church, departed this life, after a ministry of nearly fifty years. One of his successors has said of him : " His light shone with a mild and steady, rather than a brilliant lustre. As a preacher, he instructed, rather than delighted ; wisely counselled and gently led his hearers, rather than power- fully moved them. Without being remarkable for learning, he was respected for the soundness of his thoughts, the weight of his opinions, and the soberness of his judgment." 1 He was contemporary with five ministers of the Old South, and with one of them, Dr. Eckley, whose pastorate had been by much the longest of the five, he was on terms of intimate friend- ship.
At his entrance on the ministry his tenets were strictly such as were then commonly reputed Calvinistical. In some respects afterwards they underwent a considerable alteration. This, however, had no effect on his good opinion of those who differed from him. Whatever sentiments of a religious nature in the course of life he imbibed, and thought proper to avow, they were never accompanied with the bitter
1 Robbins's History of the Second Church, p. 127.
391
DEATH OF DR. LATHROP.
spirit of censoriousness and reproach. He embraced good men of every persuasion, for in every persuasion he doubted not there were such, in the arms of charity and love, and wished rather to enlarge and strengthen than to loosen and dissolve the bonds of Christian fellow- ship and communion. A more striking pattern of candour and cathol- icism is not perhaps often to be found among Christians of any de- nomination.1
At a meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Con- gregation Fast Evening, April 4th 1816,
Deacon William Phillips Moderator.
Voted, That John Winslow be requested to do the Duty of Clerk for the year ensuing.
The Committee chosen by the Society April 6, 1815, to take the care and direction of all the temporal concerns of said Society, as the time for which they were chosen has expired, beg leave to report their doings the last Year, Vizt.
First, They have expended three hundred Dollars for the Support of a Choir of Singers.2
2d They have laid out Nine hundred and twenty five Dollars 1,9% on repairs of the Meeting House, Parsonage House and Stores, which have been completely repaired, and are at present in perfect order - and they would inform the Society, that the Leases on which they were let for five Years, will expire on the first of October next, when they may be rented at a higher rate than is now paid for them.
3d They have rented the Cellars under the Meeting House for four hundred Dollars pr Annum.
4th. They have been able to let most of the Gallery Pews belonging to the Society, the proceeds of which amounted to upwards of three hundred Dollars, and has been paid into the Treasury - and they have the satisfaction to state, that with very few exceptions, the Taxes have been collected from the Pews on the lower floor to 31 December last.
Finally your Committee have attended to all matters and things relating to the Society, entrusted to them.
All which is submitted.
Sign'd FRANCIS WELCH pr order.
Voted, The report of the Committee be accepted.
Voted, To proceed to the Choice of a Standing Committee for the Year.
Voted, That Deacon Ticknor and Mr. Cleveland be a Committee
1 [Col. Centinel, January 24, 1816.
Dr. Lathrop's successor was the Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., whose ordination took place January 1, 18:7.]
2 [At the Fourth of July celebration
at the Old South, in 1816, the oration was given by George Sullivan, and it is said that " several excellent pieces of music " were sung by the Old South Choir. Ex- President John Adams was present.]
392
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
to receive, sort and count the Votes, who reported the following per- sons to be duly elected, Vizt.
Deacon William Phillips, Joseph Peirce, John Winslow, William Homes, Samuel Coverly, Abraham Wild, Benjamin Whitman, David W. Childs, Edward Phillips, Francis Welsh, Pliny Cutler, and John Winslow Jr. with the same powers as the former Committee.
Voted, We now come to the Choice of a Committee, to examine the Treasurer's Accounts, when Deacon Samuel Salisbury, John Winslow, Deacon Ticknor, Benjamin Whitman and Samuel Coverly were duly chosen, and directed to report as soon as convenient.
Deacon William Phillips then brought forward the subject respecting procuring or building a Vestry, when a motion was made and sec- onded, the subject be referred to the Standing Committee, and they be requested to proceed on said business as soon as a proper place can be procured therefor.
Motion being made and seconded that this meeting be dissolved, and it was dissolved accordingly.
Attest
JNO. WINSLOW Clk.
At a meeting of the brethren on the 6th of May, it was re- ported that the accounts were correct, and Deacon Phillips was reelected to the treasurership. A committee consisting of John Winslow, Joseph Pierce, and William Homes was appointed, to request of the selectmen "that the By-Laws of the Town be put in force respecting the driving of Carriages on the Lord's Day, in the time of Divine Service."
On the 27th of May, the standing committee, having made a report on the subject of a vestry, was authorized to purchase an estate in Spring Lane, belonging to James Loring, for three thousand dollars.
On Wednesday, May 29, the Election Sermon was preached at the Old South by President Kirkland, before Governor Strong, Lieutenant-Governor Phillips, and the legislature. Governor Strong was succeeded at this time by the Hon. John Brooks, of Medford. On Wednesday evening, the Rev. Ezra Ripley, of Concord, preached in the same place, before the Evangelical Missionary Society. The Convention Sermon was preached on the following day, at Brattle Street, by the Rev. Mr. Channing ; the sermon was in explanation and defence of the principles of the Peace Society, which had recently been organized, and in reference to which there was a wide difference of opinion.1
1 The Centinel of July 20 contains a to Mr. Channing, February 6, declining letter addressed by Ex-President Adams to become a member of the Peace So-
393
A NEW BELL.
Boston November 4. 1816. The Brethren of the Old South Church and Congregation meet by notice from the Revd. Mr. Hunt- ington on Lord's Day, in the afternoon, to meet at 3 o'clock to receive the Report of the Committee on the Business of the Vestry.
Deacon William Phillips was chosen Moderator.
Report of the Committee impowered by a Vote of the Society passed Nov. 20, 1815, to procure a Bell in place of the one which was cracked while ringing for fire during the Tempest on 23d Sept. 1815, and to have such inscription put on the same as they should think proper, - they have executed that trust to the best of their ability, without however exercising the power of directing any inscription whatever to be put on the Bell. Mr. Thomas Mears of London was the Manufac- turer, and Samuel Williams Esq. of London, the Merchant who pro- cured it to be made. The Committee hope it may prove as good, and give as much satisfaction, and last as long as the former one which was the Gift of Capt. Timothy Cunningham in 1728-9; the Invoice of the hereoff being $668 180% including all charges delivered at the Meeting House.
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