USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 46
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con Sewall and wife, were buried in the Hull-Sewall tomb, No. 185. Dr. Eckley was buried in his own tomb, No. 163. When Dr. Wisner died in 1835, his body was deposited in the Old South tomb, but was afterward removed to Andover Hill, where a monument to his memory was erected by his former parishioners in Boston.
On the 25th of April, 1889, we made an examination of the Old South tomb, assisted by Dr. Samuel Abbott Green, and Mr. Edward MacDonald, superin- tendent of cemeteries. We found the coffins of Mr. and Mrs. Huntington on the right as we entered, and the tomb- stone of Abigail (Sherman), first wife of Mr. Willard, who died before 1679, and whose remains, we suppose, were placed there, when the body of her hus- band was transferred from Judge Sew- all's tomb in 1712. We gained no infor- mation whatever in reference to other interments.
431
MR. DWIGHT'S SERMON.
him the light of his countenance. Being told by one who was at his bedside [Deacon Phillips], that he was going to meet his father ; he replied, " Yes, and a glorious meeting it will be." - The pains of death were for a time excruciating ; but at length the struggle was over. A delightful calm succeeded. The soul now purified, conscious of its state, and ready for its final flight, was waiting the summons from heaven. Its composure was sweet and tranquil ; and with the serenity of a sleeping infant it entered on its final rest. . .
While I feel for the sorrows of the mourning connexions, I also remember with the tenderest sympathy, that a church of Christ is here clothed in sackcloth, and that a bereaved people are in tears.
What I at this moment witness, my friends and brethren, is perhaps the highest testimony which you could give to the worth of my de- parted brother. On whatever side I cast my eyes, I can read, in silent but expressive language, the estimate which you form of the greatness of your loss. Never on a similar occasion, have I seen proofs, more clear and unequivocal, of deep and universal mourning. The relation which he sustained to you, was in the highest degree important and endearing. How he discharged the duties of this relation, I need not ask you; nor appeal to the evidence which you now furnish me, of your strong conviction that he was a good man and a faithful minister of Christ. I can here state what I personally know; and your own memories will bear witness that it is true.
Religious integrity was the solid foundation of his ministerial and pastoral character. By this I intend a conscientious devotedness to the service of God in the preaching of the gospel. It included a con- stant and earnest desire to do good to the soul, and thus to accom- plish the great purpose for which Christ came into the world. This habitual regard to the high and holy service in which he was employed was visible in all his public labours, and all his private instructions. . . .
The doctrines which he taught you are the doctrines of the Refor- mation. They have long and deservedly been distinguished as the doctrines of grace. They are the doctrines which in every age, have been embraced by that portion of the Church of Christ, to which, as your departed minister fully believed, we are especially indebted for the existence of evangelical religion. These doctrines he clearly ex- plained and successfully defended. He loved them as the Truth of God, and made them the foundation of every instruction and every exhortation. On them rested every hope which he indulged, of heaven and eternal life.
No characteristic, perhaps, contributed more to his usefulness than his prudence ; a virtue rarely possessed even by men of eminent piety to the same desirable extent. In this he greatly resembled his ex- cellent and venerable father, who has left a " name which is better than precious ointment." It was a prudence which bore no resemblance
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432
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
to cunning or timidity. It was simply a habit of preparing by suf- ficient deliberation, to speak and act wisely, before he ventured to speak or act at all, on any important occasion. His prudence was peculiarly manifested in avoiding unnecessary comments on opinions or characters. On these topics he rarely spoke unless called upon by duty. Who can remember an indiscreet or unguarded remark which fell from his lips?
His prudence was accompanied by immovable firmness. It was apparent that his great object was to discover his duty, and when dis- covered to perform it. His opinions were his own. While he paid a proper deference to those of others, he always declared his own, when called upon, freely and firmly ; yet with great candour, and a delicate regard to the feelings of those who differed from him. Few of these ventured to question the purity of his intentions. The tendency of his instructions was to soften the asperities of controversy, without the slightest dereliction or concealment of his principles. The regularly increasing attachment and respect of his people, at a period of great diversity of religious sentiment on topics within the direct range of his instructions, furnish very strong testimony to his prudence and firmness.
His humility was unaffected. As a preacher, few young men in our country have been equally popular. When a mere youth, he received the unanimous call of this large and respectable church and society to become their Pastor. A very flattering invitation of a similar nature, was given him, at the same time, from a neighbouring state. None of these things however moved him. If I mistake not, I never knew the young man who was more entirely free from personal vanity, or less anxious for popular applause. If he made peculiar progress, during the latter years of his life, in any one Christian grace it was in hu- mility. He habitually felt as though he were the least of all saints, and hardly worthy to be called a minister of Christ.
On the Sunday following the funeral, Mr. Codman preached a sermon to his own people, at the Second Church, Dorchester, from Psalm xii. I : "Help, Lord, for the godly man ceaseth," in which he paid an affectionate tribute to his departed friend : -
He filled a conspicuous and most important place in our churches. He stood, as it were, alone. Surrounded by those who differed widely from him in opinion, he did not hesitate to declare his firm, unshaken faith in those doctrines which were once the glory of the New England churches, and which he fully believed were the wisdom of God and the power of God unto salvation. These doctrines he boldly and con- stantly preached without the fear of man. In the faith of these doc- trines he lived, and in the faith of these doctrines he died. While he
433
MR. HUNTINGTON'S PREACHING.
contended earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints, he had learnt of his Divine Master to blend the wisdom of the serpent with the meekness of the dove. In his whole character and deportment as a Christian minister, he discovered the wisdom, and prudence, and discretion of age, while he retained in a remarkable manner the pleas- ing appearance of youth.
By his death, I may be permitted to say, I have lost the friend of my youth, with whom I took sweet counsel, and who was endeared to me by many tender ties. Providence cast our lot in the same part of the vineyard ; we were ordained in the same year ; have repeatedly been called to act together in various ways, and ever maintained the most intimate and uninterrupted friendship. We were perfectly united in sentiment and affection. We fought side by side the battles of our King. He is taken, and I am left. He is gone home to glory, and I am left to struggle a little longer on the field of battle. Oh that I might be found faithful unto death, and receive with him a crown of life that fadeth not away!1
A writer in the Panoplist said of Mr. Huntington : -
The style of his written and extemporaneous performances was neat, simple and dignified, never descending to coarseness, or unbecoming familiarity, sometimes rising to impassioned eloquence. His delivery was easy and natural, chaste and animated. His voice, at once sono- rous and agreeable, easily filled the largest houses of public worship. The highest proof of the interest which his preaching excited, is found in the fact that this interest was regularly increasing. Many times, in the two last years of his life, did we hear different members of his congregation express their warm attachment to their pastor, their high sense of the power and general excellence of his preaching, and their conviction that, though always beloved, he was becoming more and more dear to his people.2
We have this sketch of Mr. Huntington as a preacher, from the pen of Dr. Sprague : -
I heard Mr. Huntington preach while I was a student in Yale Col- lege. I remember him as a small but finely formed person, as speak- ing with much animation and fervour, having a pleasant voice, and abounding in graceful gesture ; and his sermon, which was on the
1 [Boston Recorder, September 25, only partially written, so that a compila- 1819.]
2 [It was proposed to print a volume of Mr. Huntington's sermons, and the MSS. were placed in the hands of his brother for selection and . preparation ; but it was found that many had been written in short hand, and many others
tion could not be made which would do justice to their author. See Boston Re- corder, November 20, 1819, for the Pros- pectus ; and, February 12, 1820, for Mr. Daniel Huntington's letter to Mr. Arm- strong, giving reasons for not going on with the work of preparation.]
434
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Deluge, was written in a highly figurative, - perhaps I may say florid - style. His manner in the pulpit - as I gather both from tradition and from my own impression - must have been much more than com- monly attractive.
The Rev. Daniel Huntington thus wrote of his brother to Dr. Sprague: -
Commencing his ministry in Boston at an early period of that mem- orable controversy which separated the Unitarian from other Congre- gational Churches of Massachusetts ; - as colleague with one of the oldest members of the Boston Association, and feeling conscience bound to pursue a course somewhat at variance with the opinion and r practice of that venerable man, and distasteful to some estimable members of his church and parish, and to multitudes in the surround- ing community ; - he had need of all the conciliating power which could be found in the most agreeable personal appearance and deport- ment ; and with that power he was armed in no ordinary degree. Treating those with whom he was constrained to dissent with scrupu- lous delicacy and uniform kindness, he never rendered himself need- lessly offensive, and never failed to command respect, at least as a gentleman and a Christian.
The following verses on the death of this faithful servant of Christ appeared in one of the newspapers of the day. The initials of the writer were given as C. D. C., which we identify as those of Charles Dexter Cleveland (son of Charles Cleve- land), then in his seventeenth year, and afterward distinguished for his scholarship and authorship :1-
His voice, no more, to sinners shall proclaim The rich provision of the gospel feast ; No more shall urge them, in his master's name, To leave delusive joys, for heav'nly rest.
His gracious words no more shall greet my ear, When anxious doubts and fears distract my mind ; No more his eye the sacred page explore, In search of balm, to heal my bleeding wound.
For this, he often sought, with fervent prayer That God would bless the work - display his grace, Crown his own precious word with mighty power, And show his glory in Immanuel's face.
God's ways are righteous - none can stay his hand, Nor disappoint his wise and sov'reign will ; Our pulse shall cease to beat, at his command, Who sits, and reigns supreme, on Zion's hill.
1 Charles Dexter Cleveland was born mouth College in 1827, and died in Phil- in Salem in 1802, graduated at Dart- adelphia in 1869.
435
AN ELEGY.
The orphan's father and the widow's God,
Will ne'er withhold his kind, parental care,
From those who bow, submissive, to his rod,
And seek support in faith and fervent prayer.
Confin'd, a tenant of the silent tomb, Safely encircled by his kindred dust,
Our Friend shall sweetly sleep till Christ shall come To take his Saints to their eternal rest.
Then, at the sound of trump, his dust shall rise, Assume its glorious form, and wing its way
With rapid speed, till far beyond the skies, It pass the gates to everlasting day.
May the surviving children ne'er forget The kind instruction of a Father's love,
Nor from his faithful counsels turn their feet, Nor fail to meet him in the realms above !
Weep not, dear Widow! wipe away thy tears, A few more days, and thou wilt meet thy friend
Beyond the reach of pains and griefs and fears, Where friendship's holy joys shall never -never end.1'
It will be proper in this connection to present the action of the church and society, making provision for Mrs. Huntington and her family.
At a Meeting of the Committee of the Society on the fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord 1819,
Present, William Phillips, Homes, Coverley, Child, Cleveland, Cut- ler, Edward Phillips, Davis and Welch, - The following votes unani- mously passed, -
First, That this Committee recommend to the Society, to grant to the widow of our late beloved Pastor, the use of the parsonage house which she now occupies, the usual quantity of Fuel, with the salary of her late Husband, for one year from the first day of this present Oc- tober, and that it be paid to her in the same manner, that it was to him, during his lifetime.
Second, That this Committee also recommend, that the Society should grant to her, from and after the first day of October, which will be in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty, One Thousand Dollars per annum, for six years, to be paid by the Treasurer of this Society in quarter yearly payments.2
Third, That this Committee further recommend to the Society, to
1 [Col. Centinel, October 16, 1819. The Boston Recorder, November 6, 1819, has some lines on Mr. Huntington's death, which we should be glad to quote.] 2 [For the provision made by the
church for the widow of the Rev. Sam- uel Willard in 1707, see ante, vol. i. p. 228, note. No pastor's widow since that time had needed pecuniary assistance from the church.]
436
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
present to the Rev. Mr. Jenks, a complete suit of clothes, or the value thereof in money, at his option, as a compensation in taking a lead in the public devotions at the Vestry.
Fourth, The Committee having been made acquainted, that by the sudden death of Mr. Elms, our late Sexton, his Widow has been left with eleven children in distressed circumstances, It was also Voted to recommend to the Society to give her One hundred and fifty dollars.
FRANCIS WELCH, Sec. to the Committee.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation (be- ing proprietors of Pews) held at the Meeting-House on the eleventh day of October 1819, having been regularly notified from the desk the previous Sabbath,
Francis Welch was chosen Clerk pro tem.
William Phillips was chosen Moderator.
The above Votes of the Committee having been read, were sev- erally put to vote, and all of them unanimously passed in the affirma- tive.
It was also Voted unanimously, that in the event of the decease of Mrs. Huntington, the Salary and Annuity shall be continued, and paid, for the benefit of her children, for the time before mentioned.
FRANCIS WELCH Clerk pro-tem :
The tenth annual meeting of the American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions was held in Boston on the 15th, 16th, and 17th of September, in the council chamber in the State House. On the afternoon of the 16th, the Rev. Joseph Lyman, D. D., preached the annual sermon at the Old South, from Isaiah lviii. 12.1 At this meeting it was voted to choose corresponding members of the Board by ballot, to "assist in its deliberations, and by communicating information, and in various other ways, enlighten its course, facilitate its operations, and promote its objects."
On Wednesday, September 29, the annual meeting of the Education Society was held at the Old South, his honor, Wil- liam Phillips in the chair. After prayer by the Rev. Dr. Holmes, of Cambridge, Professor Woods, of Andover, presented the report for the year, in which it was stated that the Society had under its patronage about two hundred young men fitting for the ministry, and that its receipts had been $19,000. Ad- dresses were made by the Hon. William Reed, of Marblehead, the Rev. Mr. Tappan, of Augusta, the Rev. Mr. Codman, of Dorchester, and the Rev. Mr. Meade, of Virginia. "The allu-
1 The collection taken after this sermon amounted to $154.
437
A COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY.
sions to the death of the lamented and beloved Huntington were tender and respectful, and melted many even to tears." 1
On the same day, September 29, Hiram Bingham and Asa Thurston were ordained to the missionary work in the Sand- wich Islands, by the North Consociation of Litchfield County, Connecticut. On Friday, October 15, these missionaries and five assistants, with their wives, and three Hawaiian natives, - seventeen persons in all, - were constituted a church of Christ by solemn services held in Park Street Church, Boston. They sailed from this port, October 23, in the brig Thaddeus, Captain Blanchard, which cleared at the Custom House for the Sand- wich Islands, the Northwest Coast, and Canton.2
October 25, 1819. Monday 3} o Clock P. M. The Brethren of the Church met at the Vestry agreably to the notification from the pulpit, on the preceding Lord's day. His Honor William Phillips, the Lieu- tenant Governor of the Commonwealth, being the senior Deacon, took the chair, as moderator, according to the order of our congrega- tional churches, when without a pastor. The Rev. Mr. Jenks at- tended, by invitation, and opened the meeting with prayer, after which he retired. It was then, Voted to proceed to the choice of a scribe to continue in office until the settlement of a pastor over us. Brother Charles Cleveland and Brother Samuel T. Armstrong were chosen to collect and count the votes. After the votes were received and counted, the committee declared the choice of Josiah Salisbury, one of the deacons, as scribe.
The subject of admitting members under our present bereaved cir- cumstances being taken into consideration, it was Voted, To choose by ballot, a Committee of Inquiry, whose duty it shall be to receive applications for admission into this Church - to examine into the views and qualifications of the applicants for church membership, and when they see fit, to cause such as they may approve, to be propounded in the usual way. After these persons have stood propounded the cus- tomary space of time, the committee shall cause a meeting of the church to be called from the desk, to determine definitively on their admission. The said committee to continue in office until the settle- ment of a pastor over us.
1 Col. Centinel. A collection was taken, amounting to $174. Mr. Meade, who was one of the speakers, was the Rev. William Meade, afterward Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal diocese in Virginia. Bishop Griswold was an hon- orary vice-president of the society.
2 She was cleared by Messrs. Hall & Thacher ; she loaded at May's or Union
Wharf, and sailed from Long Wharf. In the Daily Advertiser of October 25 there is a card from Dr. Worcester, thanking the friends of the cause, who, during the thirteen days of preparation here, showed the most ready and affec- tionate kindness to the missionaries, and an animated and inspiring interest in their Christian enterprise.
438
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
After proceeding to ballot for the Committee of Inquiry, it was found that the following persons were chosen, viz. His Honor William Phillips, Josiah Salisbury, Edward Phillips, the three Deacons, Brother Pliny Cutler, Brother Thomas Vose.
October 29th 1819. Friday evening, after the sacramental lecture, the Brethren of the church tarried, after the assembly had been dis- missed.
It was stated that the Missionaries the Revd. Messrs. Pliny Fisk and Levi Parsons were about sailing from this port to Smyrna in the Levant, having been solemnly ordained to preach the Gospel ยท at Jeru- salem and the neighboring parts of Palestine and Asia Minor. This mission being one in which this church, and the church in Park Street, had manifested a peculiar interest, by devoting to its support the con- tributions at their united monthly concert of prayer, it was Voted, that the Deacons present an affectionate invitation, from this church, to the Jerusalem missionaries, and to the Pastor and church in Park Street, to unite with us on the approaching Lord's day, at the table of the Lord, in commemorating the dying love of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Voted, that in order to give our fellow Christians, who are invited, an opportunity of joining us before the communion service com- mences, there be an interval of a few minutes after the usual morning services.
Memorandum, October 31st 1819. Agreably to the invitation, the Missionaries, the Pastor and church in Park Street, and the Rev. Dr. Worcester, Secretary of the Board for Foreign Missions, met us at the sacramental table, in our church in Marlboro Street. The Rev. Mr. Codman of Dorchester, being our officiating clergyman on that day, took the lead in the services, assisted by the Rev. Dr. Worcester of Salem, Rev. Mr. Dwight, Rev. Mr. Jenks and the missionaries. It was, we trust, a day of refreshing from the Lord to many believers in both churches. In the evening of this day, a solemn service was per- formed at our house of worship, amidst a crowded audience. Mr. Fisk preached a farewell missionary sermon, and the two missionaries received the charge of the missionary board of Directors, from the Rev. Dr. Worcester. It was expected, they would embark and sail on the day following.1
In another account of the services of this interesting day we read : -
On Lord's day, October 31st. at the return of the communion in the Old South Church, the two missionaries, and the members of Park Street Church, with several clergymen, were present by invita-
1 [The collection at the close of Mr. Fisk's sermon amounted to $293.31.]
439
A MISSION TO PALESTINE.
tion. While surrounding the table of the Lord, the exhortations, the prayers, and the numberless associations, were calculated to increase that zeal and self denial, which are peculiarly necessary to the prosecu- tion of this divine work. In the afternoon of the same day, Mr. Parsons preached in Park Street Church, from Hosea III. 4. 5. on the Dereliction and Restoration of the Jews ; and in the evening Mr. Fisk delivered a farewell discourse from Acts XX. 22. on the Holy Land, as a Field for Missionary Enterprise. On this occasion the Old South Church was excessively crowded, and a highly respectable audience testified their interest in the subject, by the profoundest attention, and a liberal contribution. The Instructions of the Pru- dential Committee were then delivered in public. . .. On Monday Evening the united monthly concert for prayer was held at Park Street Church. As the collections at this meeting for the preceding twelve months had been made expressly for the Palestine mission, it was peculiarly grateful to join with the first missionaries in prayer and exhortation, just before their departure.1
The missionary company sailed for the Levant, by. way of Malta, in the ship Sally Ann, Captain Edes, on Wednesday, November 3.
On the evening of the same day, at the Old South, the Rev. Professor Murdock, of Andover, preached the annual sermon in behalf of the Society for the Moral and Religious Instruction of the Poor. Of the work of this society, it was said in the Columbian Centinel : "The seamen's meeting on Central Wharf, the meeting every Sabbath at Parkman's market, a Missionary who constantly labors among the poor, and four Sabbath Schools, in which are about six hundred children, are under their superintendence, and dependent on their support. They look into the recess of poverty, and draw from thence the child of want; supply what is necessary for his comfortable and decent appearance, and take him to the Sabbath School and the Sanctuary. There he learns to love virtue, and to shun those vices into which he would otherwise be plunged. He learns to become a useful citizen here, and to be happy hereafter."
Brigadier-General John Winslow, a much respected citizen, and one of the most useful members of the Old South Society, died November 29, in his sixty-seventh year. We do not find his name on the roll of church members, but it appears on the list of baptisms, - September 30, 1753, -and its frequent re- currence in the records of the church and congregation testifies
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