USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 50
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" ... Everything went on harmoni- ously, till they came to the choice of a gentleman to give the Right Hand of Fellowship. At this moment one of the Council, it is believed the Rev. Mr. Walker of Danvers, nominated the Rev. Mr. Huntington ; the motion was sec- onded by another gentleman, the Rev. Mr. Cornelius. The Moderator in- formed those gentlemen, that the name mentioned by the Church and Society, in the papers he held in his hand, was the Rev. Mr. C. Lowell, and requested gentlemen to look at the paper to see whether he was correct or not. One of the above gentlemen, Mr. Walker .or Mr. Cornelius, observed that the part to be assigned belonged to the Council, and to them only, and that in fact the Church and Society had nothing to do with it. The Moderator and some other gentle- men observed, that in their opinion it would be highly indecorous to put the question, knowing the wishes of the Old South Church and Society, as expressed in the vote before them ; - and for some time refused to put it. The mover of the question insisted most strenuously, that it was proper and right that it should be put. At this moment, the Rev. Mr. Low- ell came into the room, and finding the turn the business had taken, he observed to the Moderator, that although he had received an invitation from the Church
and Society, and had given an answer in the affirmative, and was prepared ac- cordingly, yet it would have been as well to have mentioned in his answer, 'if agreeable to the Council,' knowing that they had the right of assigning the part ; - but from what he had now seen and heard, he could not consent to be a can- didate, as it appeared to be the wish of some of the Council that he should not ; and that he was ready to vote for the other gentleman named, the Rev .. Mr. Huntington. Mr. Lowell having de- clined, his friends were prevented from urging the vote to be put relating to him, and the other candidate was chosen. The feelings of the friends of Mr. Low- ell can be better conceived than de- scribed. They are free to confess that they were deeply wounded, being fully satisfied that a plan was agreed on by several of the Council, to prevent that gentleman having any part in the per- formances of the day. How far the pro- ceedings above stated comport with the Christian principle of love to all who profess to be the followers of our blessed Saviour, is left for the decision of others. The writer has no hesitation in saying, that his opinion fully coincides with that of the Reverend Moderator, and that the proceedings in this particular were high- ly indecorous. He would be happy to hear a discourse from some of the gen- tlemen above referred to, from a passage in Isaiah - 'Stand by thyself, come not near to me, for I am holier than thou.'" - Ibid., March 3, 1821.
" ... It is already known that the Rev. Mr. Lowell was unanimously in- vited by the Old South Church and So- ciety, through their Committee, to deliver the Fellowship of the churches on that day ; - that he signified his acceptance ; - that his name was printed in the order of performances, and that he went to the Council prepared for the service. We now premise, that the disposition and feelings manifested there, were not ac- cidental, but previously concerted and
469
A CONTINGENCY NOT PROVIDED FOR.
the denomination, there was one contingency for which they did not provide, - the appearance and ascendancy of partisan-
agreed upon in secret conclave by the principal actors in the drama; and that a party went prepared to act in unbroken phalanx, determined to execute their purpose (not christian), not only of wounding the sensibility of one, who in our opinion is second to none for the full possession and exercise of all the christian virtues and graces, but to offer contumely to, and violate the rights of hospitality of, those who had invited them to be helpers of their joys! It is a fact, now generally known, that many of the members of the Council, who came in town prior to the day of ordina- tion, stated to their friends that Mr. Lowell was not to deliver the Fellow- ship of the Churches, and spoke of it as a matter perfectly understood, that the Council would overrule the appointment made by the Church and Society ! It is a fact that a Reverend Gentleman hard by, did state in company more than a week previous the same thing, and added that Mr. Wisner would not exchange pulpits with Mr. Lowell! It is a fact, that as soon as the Council came to as- sign the parts, (as some who were ex- pected did not appear) an unprecedented motion was made and carried, to clear the place of meeting of all the invited guests, and also of the officers and mem- bers of the church; and immediately after a motion (unprecedented also, we believe) was made for a return of all the churches and delegates ; on which a de- bate was had, in which certain gentle- men urged that it might be necessary to know the numbers present, and how they would vote! It is a fact, when they came to the service of presenting the Fellowship of the Churches, a motion was instantly made that Mr. Huntington be requested to perform it, and notwith- standing the affected modesty of the Reverend Gentleman, and his assurances of his being unexpectedly called to the duty, it is a fact that he was previously prepared for that service !!. It is a fact, that considerable time was employed in debate prior to the appointment of Mr.
Huntington, and authorities were cited to show the right of the Council to make the appointments &c. &c. And from the vote to appoint Mr. Huntington, and other expressions given, there could be no doubt of a decided majority to refuse confirming the wishes of the Church and Society as expressed. - The Rev. Mr. Lowell did what we conceive to be the duty of every Christian Minister, cir- cumstanced as he was, when he found himself the object of contention and dispute among professed christian teach- ers, and on a public occasion; and suf- fering, as he must, the most painful emotions, rose and with christian dignity and sensibility, declined the service which he had been invited to perform. It is not a fact, we believe, that he re- tired from the Council, but it is true that he went with them to the Meeting House, attended the service there, and returned and participated with them at table, and by his whole deportment set an example of Christian conduct, which for ought we know made his per- secutors blush ! Is it, therefore, candid, Mr. Editor, for your correspondent to say, in view of the facts above suggested, and they only a part that can be sup- ported by irrefragable proof, that 'the ordaining council did not, by an act, refuse to confirm the assignment by the Society of the Rev. Mr. Lowell to give the right hand of fellowship; and further, had any vote been taken, the assignment would have been con- firmed'? No man, we think, who at- tended the occasion, or has examined its history, but must draw conclusions totally the reverse. Add to which the remarks of a Reverend member the same evening, 'had not Mr. Lowell de- clined, the Council would have voted against concurring with the Church, and that they would have cause of gratitude for this timely interference in their be- half !' Alas! poor Church, that needs such guardians and puts itself under such protectors ! !
" We have more to say, Mr. Editor, on
470
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
ship in the council which they had convened for the solemn occasion. In a letter sent out by the First Church of Salem in 1718, inviting the neighboring churches to assist at the ordina- tion of Mr. Fisk, the hope was expressed that "this office of communion may tend to our mutual edification and the strength- ening our holy fellowship." We do not know the form of the letter issued by the Old South in 1821 ; there can be no doubt, however, that such a hope as this was implied in it, if not expressed in terms. But instead of being an " office of com- munion " on the part of and among sister churches, the ordina- tion of Mr. Wisner was seized upon for the purposes of party dictation and domination, and, naturally, the result was not " mutual edification and the strengthening" of " holy fellow- ship," but mutual distrust and ill-will and the promotion of strife and division.
The members of the Old South knew perfectly well what difficulties lay in the path of the young man whom they were about to settle as their minister. He was not a New England man, either by birth or education ; and he was coming to Bos- ton, not only as a stranger, but with pronounced theological opinions at variance with those then prevailing in the town and in the neighboring university. He was coming to a church which, while not in sympathy doctrinally with the churches by which it was surrounded, had very much in common with them. He was coming also, in response to a call which had not been unanimous, and there was to be a minority in his congregation, in no sense hostile to him, but, at the first certainly, without enthusiasm for him. All the details of the approaching ser- vices had been planned with the definite purpose, on the part of the society, of making it as easy as possible for him, under such circumstances, both outside and within the limits of his parish. Not that there had been any desire to compromise in the slight-
this fertile subject, but not now ; - and while we deplore that such a domineer- ing, overbearing temper, contrary to the mild precepts of the Gospel, should have been cherished, and particularly on such an occasion, we rejoice there is a strong excitement throughout the society, as well as in the community at large, to condemn, decidedly, this sectarian zeal and spirit, which is calculated 'to wound religion in the house of her friends,' and foment and perpetuate those unhappy
divisions and discords which have long divided and distracted the Church of God. We ardently hope that conduct, which merited and received the decided animadversion of the venerable Presi- dent of the Council, and others at the time, and the expression of public opin- ion, will be a security against its recur- rence on any similar occasion - and that such 'spots in our feasts of charity' will be remembered only to excite our pity and regret." - Ibid., March 10, 1821.]
47I
CONCILIATION AND PARTISANSHIP.
est degree his theological position or that of the society. He had been called to the Old South as a Trinitarian ; and in call- ing him the church and congregation had publicly manifested their determination to maintain unqualifiedly their Trinitarian standing. Had there been any wavering in this respect on the part of the majority, why should they have gone to Princeton at this time in their search for a minister ? They did not try to conceal the fact that there was a very serious difference of opinion, in matters of Christian doctrine, between themselves and many of the neighboring churches ; indeed, they had de- clined to assist at the settlement of a minister over one of them, and in consequence had ceased to receive invitations from them. They did not, therefore, ask these churches to a full participa- tion in the ordination of Mr. Wisner, but they requested the attendance of their pastors as an expression of Christian cour- tesy and sympathy, and they were prepared to give them a cor- dial welcome as Christian friends and brethren.
The selection of Mr. Lowell for the particular duty which had been assigned to him was calculated to conciliate still fur- ther the regard of the churches with which the Old South was not then in full ecclesiastical communion. His relations with these churches had not been disturbed by the passing contro- versy, while he had refused, as he continued to refuse to the close of his long life, to be numbered with either party. At the same time, the brethren of the Old South must have had a good reason for including his church in their invitation, while not asking any of the other historical churches in the town to send representatives to the council. Certainly during his ministry, the West Church had been more in sympathy with what was called the evangelical party than at any time since the departure of the Rev. Mr. Hooper, nearly eighty years before. But of all the carefully weighed considerations growing out of the peculiar state of things then existing in Boston, the ministers from a distance had no knowledge; or, if they had, they cared nothing for them, but rudely brushed them aside, and went forward to the execution of their purpose, apparently without concern for the feelings of Mr. Lowell or the peace of the Old South Church. Of course they were correct technically, in saying that it belonged to the council to determine who should repre- sent it in expressing to the new pastor the fellowship of the churches, for this was the one part which the council had a right to assign. But if the chief motive in overruling the arrange-
472
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
ment of the Old South was a sensitive desire to defend the rights of the council, why did not some of these gentlemen go privately beforehand, either to the brethren of the church or to Mr. Lowell, and state their objection to the proposed pro- gramme, which was in print and was generally known, and sug- gest a modification of it ? Or, why did they not, in the council, assign some other part, even a minor one, to Mr. Lowell ? In- stead of this, the party which had planned the movement against him carried it to its completion in private session, on their own responsibility, to the surprise of those not in the secret, and in a manner which called forth a stern rebuke from the ven- erable moderator, Dr. Osgood. The movement was successful, and a victory was won. It is true that the susceptibilities of a Christian minister were wounded, an ordination service to which a church and congregation had been looking forward for months with earnest anticipation was spoiled, many laymen in the neighboring churches who were predisposed to evangelical prin- ciples were offended, and, quite possibly, two or three churches were lost to the Trinitarian faith : " But things like that," we " know, must be at every famous victory." 1
1 The late Mr. Uriel Crocker, who died in 1887, at the age of ninety-one, told us that a few days after the ordina- tion Mr. Lowell met Mr. Wisner in the street, and going up to him, held out his hand and said: " Mr. Wisner, they can- not prevent my giving you the right hand of fellowship here."
It is difficult to believe that Mr. Wis- ner had intimated his purpose not to ex- change pulpits with Mr. Lowell; for, as it seems to us, it would have been inde- fensible in him thus to antagonize the church whose call he was accepting, and whose unanimous choice for one of the most significant parts in his ordination Mr. Lowell was known to be.
We would not leave the impression upon our readers that in the Unitarian controversy the partisanship was all on one side. It is not our purpose to follow this controversy further than as it bears directly upon the history of the Old South, but it seems to us that a serious mistake was made by the liberal party in 1805, when it carried the election of Dr. Ware as professor of theology at Cambridge. It was urged at the time, "that wisdom,
and regard to our peace and safety, ob- viously dictated the selection of a man for professor, who, in respect to his reli- gious principles, was on the middle ground, between the two existing ex- tremes among us, whose sentiments were coincident with those of Dr. Doddridge, or the late amiable and excellent Profes- sor Tappan." Dr. Ware was chosen by a vote of four to two in the corporation, and was confirmed by a vote of thirty- three to twenty-three in the board of overseers. This was too close a vote, if the harmony and well-being of the asso- ciated churches were to be properly taken into consideration. The founda- tion of Andover Theological Seminary followed, almost as a matter of course, and the two parties soon found them- selves in positive and almost hopeless antagonism to each other.
Dr. Codman preached the Convention Sermon in 1831, and taking for his sub- ject Ministerial Courtesy, in the presence of both parties and for the benefit of both, he said : -
" We do not say that religious contro- versy is not necessary, and, sometimes,
473
A LETTER TO MR. LOWELL.
The brethren of the Old South were prompt to express to Mr. Lowell their regret and mortification at what had occurred. "Upwards of forty" of them, says the Centinel, united in a letter to him which appears in its columns, but the signatures were not printed, and we have failed in our endeavors to find the original document.
BOSTON Feb. 23, 1821.
Reverend and dear Sir, -
The subscribers, members of the Old South Society, beg leave to offer you the expression of their sincere regret, that the ultimate determination of the Council, convened for the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Wisner on Wednesday, should have overruled the arrange- ment, by which the unanimous vote of the church and society, who acted on the occasion, had assigned you an interesting part in the ceremonies of that day. While we regret the prevalence of sectarian views, and exclusive systems of theology, we most deeply deplore, that on an occasion which should be regarded as a holy jubilee, when past animosities should be forgotten and charitable feelings should univer- sally prevail, an opportunity should be seized to tear asunder the bonds of Christian fellowship, and to draw a line of distinction between those who profess to teach the same gospel. For such a violation of chris- tian charity, we will not attempt an apology. We know that your Christian philanthropy will throw over the transaction the most favor- able construction ; but your sensibility must have received a wound, which the consolations of religion only can heal. To these we can
even desirable; but we must be per- mitted to enter our solemn protest against the spirit with which it is too often conducted. Truth may be defended, and error exposed, and, at the same time, a Christian spirit maintained. In the agitating controversy that exists among us, it cannot be denied that a spirit of bitterness has manifested itself, that has given pain to good men of every communion. The personalities that have been suffered to obtrude them- selves upon the notice of the public eye cannot but be regarded with disapproba- tion, by the truly liberal and catholic of every religious sect. The attempt to fasten upon the advocates of any system of religious belief opprobrious epithets, which they not only do not admit, but expressly deny, cannot be justified by candid, impartial men.
" Is there not a want of kindness and impartiality in representing each other's religious sentiments? Are not opinions imputed to opposite sects, which they expressly disclaim, and results from their principles charged upon them, which they unhesitatingly disavow? Are not the most extravagant caricatures offered to the public, as correct representations of religious peculiarities ? I do not mean to charge any with intentional mis- representation, but is it not the case, that those who would shrink from such an imputation, are in the habit of regarding the religious opinions of their brethren through the distorted medium of party prejudice ? "
Dr. Codman thought that among those who differed so widely from each other, an interchange of ministerial labor was both inexpedient and injurious.
474
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
add nothing but our sympathy, and the assurance of the great regard with which
We remain, dear sir, Most truly, your friends.
TO THE REV. CHARLES LOWELL.
At a meeting of the Old South Church and Congregation held at the Vestry March 5. 1821, agreeable to notification from the Desk by the Revd. Mr. Wisner, the 4th inst. Deacon William Phillips was called upon to preside, and the following communication was read by the Clerk, and laid on the Table for the consideration of the Society, Viz.
BOSTON February 21. [? 23.] 1821
Gentlemen
The subscribers Proprietors of Pews in the Old South Church, re- spectfully request that an early meeting of the Church and Con- gregation, being Proprietors of Pews, may be called to consider and act on the following subjects,
Ist. The expediency of request- ing from the Revd. Leonard Woods D. D. a copy of the Sermon deliv- ered by him on the 21st Inst for the Press.1
2. The expediency of confirming to the Rev'd Charles Lowell, the Letter addressed to him, by a num- ber of the members of the Old South Society, on the refusal of the Council to confirm to him the part in the Public Services on Ordination Day, assigned by the Church and Congregation.
And to act on such other Subjects as may then come before them. We are Respectfully
Your Obt. Servants,
ELISHA TICKNOR
WILLIAM BRIGGS
JOSEPH CALLENDER
ISAAC MCLELLAN
JOHN ANDREWS
ANDREW G. WINSLOW
GEORGE LANE
LOTT WHEELWRIGHT
J. BAKER
I. P. SIMPSON
To the Standing Committee of the Old South Society.
1 [The sermon was printed subse- quently, but not by the Old South So- ciety. We have been told by Mrs. John Charles Phillips, a daughter of Mr. Francis Welch, that the leading men in
the society were so much displeased with Professor Woods, who was believed to have been the leader in the movement against Mr. Lowell, that he was not asked to preach in their pulpit for some time.]
475
A LESSON TO BE REMEMBERED.
Whereupon Deacon Salisbury moved that the Brethren of the Church not being Proprietors of Pews, be invited to attend this meet- ing, and to Vote in any question not relative to the money concerns of the Church and Congregation. A desultory debate took place, but the question was not put.
Major Dean made a motion which was seconded, that this meeting be dissolved, and after some few remarks from the Chairman and other members, was put and passed in the affirmative, 25/13, and the meeting was dissolved accordingly.
Attest DAVID W. CHILD Clk.
A general discussion now, among the members of the church and congregation, could do no good, and might extend the mis- chief indefinitely. The brethren had had a bitter experience of what may happen to a church, from the encroachment upon its liberties of an ecclesiastical council ; and there was nothing for them to do, but to lay the lesson to heart and to profit by it in time to come.1.
1 Dr. Sprague wrote to the Rev. Dr. and I felt at one time as if we might Bartol, the successor of Dr. Lowell, possibly find ourselves in the midst of a under date of February 12, 1861 :-
" I will with pleasure state to you my present impressions on the subject ; though, as they relate to an event that occurred forty years ago, I cannot vouch for their entire accuracy. The case, as it lies in my memory, was substantially as follows : -
"The Council, consisting of a larger number of ministers and delegates than any other I ever saw convened, met in an immense hall, between nine and ten o'clock in the morning, to arrange for the preliminaries for the ordination services, which had been appointed to commence at eleven, with Dr. Osgood in the moder- ator's chair; who, you know, was not famous for letting other people have their way, when he thought his own was better. The first work we came upon was the examination of the candidate ; the doctor maintaining that the written creed which he had presented was enough, while some other members of the Council wanted the privilege of test- ing his Orthodoxy more thoroughly by asking questions. I am not quite sure how this matter was disposed of: but I remember there were some rather un- gracious words in connection with it;
storm before we were aware of it. But, even when this was passed, we were not at the end of our troubles. If my mem- ory serves me, all the ministers com- posing the Council were Orthodox, except Dr. Lowell; and I understood that the secret of his being sent to was, that there were a considerable number of the members of the Old South who were not then prepared to dissolve all connec- tion with the Unitarian churches, while Dr. Lowell was regarded as having de- parted less from Orthodoxy than any other Unitarian minister then in the city. Either the church or the parish, or, for aught I know, some committee, had an- ticipated what the Council considered their appropriate work; namely, the as- signment of the parts in the ordination- services ; and the right hand of fellow- ship they had given to Dr. Lowell. I remember to have heard it said (I think, by Dr. Wisner himself), that, if it had been the first or last prayer, it would not have been objected to ; but the giving of the right hand of fellowship was the strongest pledge of ministerial inter- course, which the greater portion of the Council, at least, were unwilling to sanction. Dr. Osgood, however, was
476
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Referring to these events, in one of his historical discourses in 1830, Mr. Wisner in a review of his ministry to that time said : --
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