USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 48
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Voted unanimously, That it is proper and expedient to assign a time for a meeting of the Brethren of this Church, for the special purpose of considering whether they will now proceed to give a call to the Rev'd Benjamin B. Wisner to settle with them as their Pastor.
2ndly. Voted, That Tuesday next being November 7th at 3 o'clock
1 [When Mr. Wisner came to the Old South, the people, who were not accus- tomed to extempore discourses, were very desirous that he should change his method of preaching; and to please them, but strongly against his own pref- erences, as we have been told, he brought written sermons into the pulpit after his settlement. He yielded his preferences
in two other particulars : he consented to the purchase of an organ, and he ac- cepted a preaching gown. We have be- fore us the letter which he wrote on the day after his ordination, in acknowledg- ment of the gift of a gown from the ladies of the congregation, addressed to Mrs. Margaret C. Welch and Miss Eliz- abeth Dorr.]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
P. M. be the time assigned, and that the meeting be held in the vestry.
3dly. Voted, That notification of the said meeting be given to all the Brethren, individually.
After which, Adjourned to said time and place.
J. SALISBURY Scribe.
Tuesday, Nov. 7. 1820. At a meeting of the Old South Church, in the Vestry, by adjournment from the 5th instant ; - notifications of the meeting having been issued to all the brethren, agreeably to the order of said church.
Present : His Honor, William Phillips, Senior Deacon, Deacons Edward Phillips and Josiah Salisbury, Brothers William Homes, Ben- jamin Whitman, Samuel Coverly, David W. Child, Pliny Cutler, Thomas Lamson, Jeremiah Bumstead, Thomas Barry, Samuel Brewer, Joseph Burge, Elisha Hunt, Joseph Callender, John Gulliver, Isaac Murdock, John Hopkins, Charles Cleveland, Benjamin Morrill, Thomas Vose, Anthony Martis, Jonathan French, Abner Phelps, Tim- othy Nash, Isaac Adams, S. H. Walley, Nathaniel Pettee, James Clap, John Homes, Paul Whitney, John Stimpson and Elisha Field, -33.
His Honor William Phillips was chosen Moderator, and J. Salisbury Scribe.
The Rev'd Mr. Jenks having been requested to attend, then offered prayers for the divine direction, after which he was invited to take a seat with the moderator, as a spectator and witness of the transac- tions of the church.
The moderator then addressed the Brethren, stating the purpose for which the meeting had been adjourned, to this time, agreeably to their vote on the 6th [5th] inst. " to consider whether they will now proceed to give a call to the Rev'd Benjamin B. Wisner to be their pastor." As this gentleman had been preaching some time on proba- tion, he invited them to express their minds with frankness on the said subject.
A considerable number of the Brethren expressed their opinions, and those of their families and acquaintances of the congregation, which were very favourable to the character and ministerial gifts and qualifications of Mr. Wisner, and these opinions appeared to accord with the sentiments of the whole meeting.
It was, likewise, testified, that the minds of the female members of the church and congregation accorded with the sentiments now ex- pressed. Great harmony of opinions was apparent, and where a slight diversity appeared in the minds of two of the brethren, it was evinced that they were influenced by a generous spirit of peace and christian fellowship.
45I
A CHURCH MEETING.
The Deacons and others stated verbally the substance of the recommendations they had received from the Rev'd Drs. Miller and Alexander, Professors at the Theological Institution at Princeton ; and from other persons of great respectability, who united in unquali- fied approbation of the candidate.
The Reverend and truly excellent Mr. Jenks being called upon, favored the church with his opinion, which was in agreement with all the foregoing, - and added a few words on the importance of coming to an early decision in cases of this sort.
After these discussions, it was moved by Brother Benjamin Whit- man Esq. that the following Vote with the Preamble preceding it be adopted, as the result of the deliberations of this meeting, viz.
At a meeting of the Old South Church at their vestry, on the 7th day of November A. D. 1819, it appearing that all the Brethren of said church had been notified of this meeting, according to usage and the direction of said church, .. . after which a full and free conver- sation was had among the brethren respecting the situation of this church, their great desire to have placed over them in the Lord, a pious, devout, able and orthodox Pastor, to supply the place on earth, of their late dearly beloved, and never-to-be-forgotten Pastor, the late Rev'd Joshua Huntington, whom God in his righteous judgment has seen proper to remove from us by death --
Whereupon, many of the Brethren, speaking highly of the charac- ter and publick performances of the Revd. Benjamin B. Wisner, who has lately for several Sabbaths preached to this Church and Congre- gation, on probation, and expressing their belief in his piety, sound- ness of principles, ability and usefulness, as a minister of the Gospel of our Divine Redeemer,
Therefore, it is Voted,
That this church do elect the said Revd. Benjamin B. Wisner as their Pastor, and desire that he may be ordained over them and the Congregation with which they are connected, as their Pastor and min- ister, sincerely praying that the great Head of the church may gra- ciously give us his blessing, that the connexion between us of this church, and the Congregation, and the Revd. Mr. Wisner as our Pas- tor and Minister, may by the mercy and blessing of God, be sanctified to us all, for our spiritual and everlasting good. And this Church request, that the congregation associated with this church in divine worship would concur in this vote of the church, - for which purpose the Deacons of this church are requested to apply to the Standing Committee of the church and Congregation, and request them to call a meeting of the church and congregation, to take this subject into their serious consideration, and join this church in the Christian ordination and settlement of the said Revd Mr. Wisner as their Pastor and minister, and that they furnish said Standing Committee
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
with an attested copy of the proceedings of this church, at this meet- ing, to be by said Standing Committee laid before said church and congregation at their said parish meeting.
The Preamble to the foregoing Vote was then adopted unanimously.
It was voted to take the question on the principal motion, made by Brother Whitman by Yeas and Nays.
After calling the names of the Brethren present, it appeared that the following had voted, Yeas .. . , 30. Nays, there were none. Three brethren present [Jeremiah Bumstead, Samuel Brewer, Joseph Callen- der] declined voting.
Voted, that the committee present to Mr. Wisner, a copy of the preceding Vote.
Voted, that Brothers Homes and Whitman be added to the com- mittee appointed by the foregoing vote.
Voted, that the committee request Mr. Wisner to tarry and preach with us, until after the proceedings of this meeting shall have been laid before the church and congregation for their concurrence.
The Revd Mr. Jenks having again prayed for the divine blessing, The meeting was dissolved.
A true Record
JOSIAH SALISBURY, Scribe.
At a meeting of the Old South Church and Congregation at their Vestry this 13th day of November, A. D. 1820, it appearing that this Parish meeting of the Old South Church and Congregation had been warned agreeable to usage,
The following Persons being Pew holders and members of the said Church and Congregation constituting this Parish were present, viz. 49, as follows -
Hon. William Phillips, Brothers Jonathan French, James Murphy, Jeremiah Belknap, David W. Child, Samuel H. Walley, Benjamin French, James Means, Thomas Barry, Thomas Dean, Elisha Hunt, Joseph Baker, Jeremiah Bumstead, William H. Lane, George Todd, John Houston, Aaron P. Cleveland, Joseph Mitchell, Andrew G. Wins- low, James Clap, Benjamin J. Gurney, Isaac P. Simpson, David Ho- mer, Tobias Lord, Joseph S. Hastings, John S. Lillie, Joseph Callen- der, Joseph Burge, Thomas Allen, John Andrews, Bela Hunting, Wells Coverly, George Lane, Samuel Coverly, Abraham Wild, James Clark, James Pickins, Samuel Davis, Thomas Vose, Abraham Foster, Benjamin V. French, Benjamin Whitman, Deacon Edward Phillips, William Homes, Francis Welch, Deacon Josiah Salisbury, John Wins- low, Charles J. Adams, and Thomas Tilden.
On motion, His Honor, William Phillips Esq'r was chosen moderator.
The Rev'd William Jenks offered up a Prayer for a Divine Blessing.
The Standing Parish Committee of the Old South Church and Con- gregation then laid before this meeting the proceedings of the Church
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MR. WISNER CALLED.
connected with this society of the 7th inst. relative to their election of Mr. Benjamin B. Wisner as their Pastor, and their desire that this Church and Congregation being Pew holders constituting this Parish would concur with said Church in their said election, and cause to be settled over this Church and Congregation as their Pastor and min- ister the said Benjamin B. Wisner ; whereupon the proceedings of the Church being read,
A motion was read and laid on the Table by Brother Joseph Baker, that the further consideration of the proceedings of the Church which have now been read, be postponed untill the society have further opportunity to hear Mr. Wisner, and the Committee for supplying the Pulpit are requested to give him an invitation for that purpose.
This motion was advocated and opposed in the most friendly and Christian like manner, and when the question was taken, it was by yeas and nays ; and passed in the negative, viz. yeas 17, nays 32, so the motion was lost.
Whereupon Brother Francis Welch submitted for the consideration of said Parish, the following Vote, viz.
Voted, That this Church and Congregation constituting said Parish do elect the said Mr. Benjamin B. Wisner as their Pastor and min- ister, and will join the Church in the ordination of the said Mr. Wisner over this Church and Congregation as their Pastor and minister, on condition that all the customs and usages of the Old South Church and Congregation as it respects the administration of the holy ordi- nances of Baptism and the Lord's supper, Church discipline, and the religious and ecclesiastical rights and privileges of the Church in full communion, and all other members of the Congregation, be held sacred and secured to them in the same manner and extent as they have been enjoyed and held while the late Dr. Eckley and the Revd Mr. Huntington were the Pastors and Ministers of this Church and Congregation.
The foregoing Vote passed in the affirmative, yeas 36 noes 10.
Also, Voted unanimously, That should the said Mr. Benjamin B. Wisner agree to settle with us as our Pastor and minister, upon the conditions aforesaid, in that case, we the Old South Church and Con- gregation, constituting this Parish, agree to allow and pay to said Mr. Benjamin B. Wisner, for and during the time he shall continue to be and remain our Pastor and Minister, and the relation between us, as a society or Parish, and the said Mr. Wisner as our Pastor and Minister continues, the sum of thirteen hundred dollars, yearly, as his salary, or compensation for his services in the Gospel ministry among us, to be paid him by the Deacons, in the usual manner, and in addition thereto, we agree to allow and provide for him a dwelling House and his fire Wood, when he shall think proper to be married or commence Housekeeping, the above being the same compensation or salary that
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
this society allowed their late beloved Pastor and minister, the Revd. Joshua Huntington, and the conditions of settlement being also the same.
Voted, unanimously, That the Deacons with the Standing Com- mittee of this Church and Congregation be a Committee to communi- cate to Mr. Benjamin B. Wisner an attested copy of the proceedings of this meeting, and request him to return his answer, as soon as is convenient, to this Church and Congregation, whether he will accede to and accept the terms and conditions aforesaid, and settle amongst us, and be ordained over us, as our Pastor and minister.
Attest. DAVID W. CHILD Clk.
BOSTON, Nov. 16 1820
To MR. BENJAMIN B. WISNER, Geneva, State of New York,
Dear Sir
It affords us great pleasure to address you on this occasion, by com- mand of the Old South Church and Congregation, for the purpose of communicating to you the Votes passed at their meeting on the 13th inst, a copy of the Votes referred to, we have herein enclosed.
The proceedings of the Church in their separate character, have already been laid before you, by a Committee from that body.
By these documents, you will perceive that the said Church and Congregation have chosen you for their Pastor and Minister, and in presenting them for your consideration, thro' our hands, they do call you to come to them in this interesting, important and solemn relation.
We trust the great head of the Church has directed us in our choice. May the same omniscient being direct your answer. May you be to us a man and a Pastor after God's own Heart, and may this People be to you a Crown of rejoicing in the day of the Lord.
We are with great respect and regard, and with much sincerity, your friends
WILLIAM PHILLIPS
JOSIAH SALISBURY
EDWARD PHILLIPS
WILLIAM HOMES
SAMUEL COVERLY
DAVID W. CHILD
SAMUEL DAVIS
FRANCIS WELCH Committee.1
A careful reading of the proceedings relating to this call shows that almost every important step in connection with it was taken by the church and congregation as distinct from the church, and this, we think, deserves attention. On the 7th of
1 [Two members of the standing com- mittee, Benjamin French and Abraham Wild, did not sign this letter ; whether or
not this absence of their names is an indication that they did not concur in the call, we do not know.]
2
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CHURCH AND PARISH.
November, the church took the initiative, and passed a vote electing Mr. Wisner, and directing that its action be reported to the standing committee to be laid before the church and con- gregation. It requested the committee on supply to present a copy of this vote to Mr. Wisner; and it did nothing further until after the call had been formally accepted. On the 13th of November the church and congregation, " being pew holders," passed a vote, also electing Mr. Wisner, but providing, in terms, for the maintenance of all their religious and ecclesiastical rights and privileges, as a Congregational parish, including, of course, baptism under the half-way covenant. They then appointed a committee of their own number to extend the call ; and to this committee, which presented the call, as above, Mr. Wisner addressed his letter of acceptance. It was not a joint com- mittee ; it was not constituted by the separate action of two coordinate bodies, -the church, and the church and congrega- tion, - but by the latter, acting as pew-holders, and as a parish.
In the controversies which were agitating the Congregational body at this time, a dividing line, in several instances, had been drawn between the church membership on the one hand and the parish on the other. A majority of the church had been on one side, and a majority of the parishioners, not church mem- bers, on the other. This conflict of interest and of action was the almost inevitable result of the old colonial legislation which limited the franchise to church members, and which compelled the towns to provide for the support of public worship. At Dedham, the Rev. Alvan Lamson was settled October 29, 1818, as the successor of the Rev. Joshua Bates, by a minority of the church and a majority of the parish. The majority of the church protested and withdrew ; and only a few days before Mr. Wisner was called to the Old South, the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth had been appealed to by both parties, to decide which of the two was rightfully and historically the First Church of Dedham. In settling a minister at this critical period, the brethren of the Old South seem to have been determined that no such separating line as was dividing other societies should di- vide them, if by any possibility they could prevent it, and, there- fore, in every stage of the proceedings, the church members and pew proprietors acted together, not coordinately as two bodies, but as an unit.1 Thus, if schism must come in the denomina-
1 Of course, there was an important ton and those in the country towns, in difference between the churches in Bos- that the former were not related to
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
tion, they hoped, at least, to be able to maintain peace among themselves. They had not been absolutely unanimous in their call to Mr. Wisner ; but there had been no factious opposition to him, and no disposition to thwart the preferences of the ma- jority had manifested itself.
The decision of the court in the Dedham case must have been a surprise to both parties. It was as follows : "When the ma- jority of the members of a Congregational church separate from the majority of the parish, the members who remain, although a minority, constitute the church in such parish and retain the rights and property belonging thereto." Whatever may be thought now of the justness of this decision, it is easy to see that in its application to the conditions existing in Dedham and other places it must have worked great hardship, and that it could not but intensify the feeling on both sides, in the opposing parties into which the Congregationalists of the State were ranging themselves.1
geographical parishes, and supported their ministers not by means of a town tax, but by a tax levied by the pew pro- prietors upon themselves.
1 The following sentences in the de- cision have a bearing upon the case of the Old South Church when it removed to the Back Bay : -
" If a donation were made to the Old South Church, Park Street Church, Brat- tle Street Church or any other that might be thus designated by local quali-
ties, it must be supposed that the donor had in view the society of Christians worshipping in those places, and as his donation is intended to be perpetual, that he had regard to the welfare of suc- cessive generations who might become worshipping Christians and church mem- bers in the same place. If the whole society should find occasion to remove to some other place in the same town, the identity might be preserved and the bounty enjoyed as he intended it."
'EL
CHAPTER IX.
1821-1836.
THE SPIRIT OF PARTY - CHURCH-EXTENSION.
M R. WISNER'S letter of acceptance of the Old South call was read by the Rev. Mr. Jenks, after service, Sabbath afternoon, January 14, 1821 : -
JOHNSTOWN N. Y. Decem. 30th 1820
To the Deacons of the Old South Church, and the Standing Com- mittee of the Old South Church and Congregation, appointed by a Vote of said Church and Congregation, at their Parish Meeting, held at their Vestry on the 13th of November last, a Committee to confer with me on the subject of my accepting the invitation of said Society to become their Pastor and Minister,
Gentlemen
If I have been correctly informed, my answer to the above men- tioned invitation is to be addressed through you to the Church and
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Congregation. I will therefore thank you to communicate to them, the following answer to their invitation.
I am Gentlemen,
With the greatest respect and esteem,
Your obedient and humble servant,
B. B. WISNER.
To the Old South Church and Congregation, of Boston in the State of Massachusetts,
Dearly beloved Brethren,
Your call to me to assume the important and responsible station of Pastor and Minister of your Society, voted at your meeting on the 13th of November last, together with an attested copy of the minutes of said meeting, signed by the Parish Clerk, and also an attested copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Church, on the 7th of November last, signed by the Clerk of said meeting were duly received.
The receipt of these several documents was acknowledged, soon after they came to hand.
After much careful consideration of the subject, myself ; after con- sulting with several judicious and pious friends ; and as I trust humbly and frequently imploring Divine direction, I have concluded that it is my duty to accede to, and accept, and I do hereby accede to and accept, the terms and conditions, specified in your Vote on the said 13th of November last, whereby you did elect me your Pastor and Minister, and in your subsequent Vote passed at the same meeting respecting my salary. I do hereby consent to settle among you, and to be ordained as your Pastor and Minister, in the manner usually practised in your Church.
The Presbytery of Albany, under whose care I am, will meet the second week in January. This meeting it will be necessary for me to attend, to obtain from them my dismission and recommendation. It will not, therefore, be in my power to be in Boston, till some time during the third week in January. You may expect me by the third Sabbath in that month. If anything occurs to prevent my arriving in Boston by that time, timely notice shall be given to the Committee, that the Pulpit may be supplied.
And now, my beloved Brethren, permit me to add that I feel - deeply feel that the work in which I am about to engage, is a most arduous and responsible one, that I am altogether insufficient for it, and that the grace of God alone can enable me to discharge in any degree aright, the important duties that will devolve upon me. It appears to me, and to those whom I have consulted, that the great Head of the Church calls me to this station ; I do therefore trust that he will strengthen and support me in it. But it is in answer to prayer that such a blessing is to be expected. Allow me therefore earnestly
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MR. WISNER'S ACCEPTANCE.
to request that you will remember me continually before our Prayer hearing God, and intreat him to give me that wisdom, prudence and piety which I so much need : - that I may be led by the Spirit into all truth ; that I may be rooted and grounded in the love of the truth of Christ and of the souls of men ; that I may come to you in the full- ness of the blessings of the Gospel of peace ; that we may be mutual helpers in promoting the glory of our Divine Redeemer, and that we may so live together while it shall please God that the interesting rela- tion of Pastor and People shall subsist between us, that we may both have cause to praise him throughout eternity, that in his righteous Providence that relation was constituted.
And now my beloved Brethren, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all for evermore.
I am
With much esteem and affection, Yours in the best of bonds, BENJAMIN B. WISNER.
In the course of arrangements for the supply of the pulpit until Mr. Wisner's ordination,1 Deacon Salisbury received the following letter from Professor Woods : -
ANDOVER, Feb. 9. 1821.
My beloved Sir
Having been unable to comply with your wishes in regard to Mr. Hoadley and Mr. Goodale, I have requested Mr. Hemmenway to seek an exchange with Mr. Green of Reading, and, if he does not succeed there, with Mr. Emerson, or Mr. Rockwood ; that your pulpit may be supplied in that way. It is very gratifying to me that you are disposed to treat Dr. Osgood so respectfully and so kindly.
I give you this notice, that you may feel no anxiety as to the supply of your pulpit.
With respects to your good wife, I am Dear Sir Your sincere friend and servant, L. WOODS.2
JOSIAH SALISBURY Esq.
Mr. Daniel Hemmenway was a member of the Andover class of 1819; he was settled over the church in Wareham, August
1 On Sabbath afternoon, January 7, preached and took collections in the 1821, the Rev. William Ward, an asso- Baptist, Congregational, and Presbyterian churches. He collected in all nearly $10,000, of which one third came from Massachusetts. ciate of Cary and Marshman in the Bap- tist mission at Serampore, preached to the congregation at the Old South in behalf of the college at that station. During his visit to the United States, he
2 [We have been favored with a copy of this letter by Professor Salisbury.]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
29, 1821. Loammi Ives Hoadly and William Goodell were of the class of 1820. The former was settled over a church in Worcester, in 1823 ; the latter became a foreign missionary, and labored in Turkey with great fidelity and success for more than forty years.
Dr. Osgood, of Medford, was one of those moderate men who did what they could to soften the asperities of party at this time, and to keep the peace among Christian brethren. He was evidently appreciated at the Old South, was invited to its pulpit, and sat on the council for the ordination of Mr. Wisner.1
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