USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 8
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Voted, I. That the Desires of our late Rev'd Pastor, mention'd in his last Will be complied with.
2 That there be Cases provided in the steeple chamber, with Locks to keep the books &c. contain'd in the New England Library, till the Church shall provide a separate Apartment for them.
3. That there be a Catalogue taken of the Church and New Eng- land Libraries : And that Mr. Oxenbridge Thacher be desired to take this catalogue.
4. That there be a committee to draw up Rules and Orders for the regulation of said Church Library : And that the Pastors, Hon. Andrew Oliver, Hon. Thomas Hubbard Esqrs. and Mr. Oxenbridge Thatcher be of this Committee.
5. That said Committee be desir'd to provide Cases for the New England Library.
Lord's Day June 21 1761. The Church was stay'd, and the Brethren Voted as follows -
That Wednesday the 8th of July next, be observed by us as a Day of Prayer with Fasting to humble ourselves before God, and seek to him to revive His work among us by Pouring out his Spirit upon us and our offspring and his people :
65
REPAIRS ON DR. SEWALL'S HOUSE.
And that the Congregation be notified and desir'd to join with us in the religious exercises of said day. JOSEPH SEWALL.
The 8th of July was accordingly observed by us as a Day of Prayer with Fasting.
Novr. 22. 1761. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed, and Voted that there be a collection for charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Decr. 3. next ; And that the Rest of the Congregation be notified the next Lord's Day, and desir'd to assist in said collection.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Novr 29. The congregation were notified.
Thanksgiving 3. Decr 1761. Collected 380. 13. 0 ·
· Appropriated
To the Charitable and pious Fund . 15. 0. 0
Mr. Eliphalet Parker . 2. 5. 0
Mr. Abijah Adams . 2. IO. 0
Rev'd Mr. Campbell
19. 5. 0
Mr. Brett
2.
Widow Bodman
2. 5. 0
43. 5. 0
At large
337. 8. 0
Decr. 13. 1761. The Brethren of the church and congregation stayed, and Voted, that three dozen of the New England Psalm Book revis'd, be purchas'd from the unappropriated Part of the last Collec- tion for the use of this Society, to be lodg'd with the Pastors and Deacons of this church : And that the remainder of said Collection be dispos'd of to charitable and pious uses by the said Pastors and Deacons according to their best Discretion. JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the South Church and Congrega- tion Aug. II. 1762.
The Hon. A. Oliver Esq. Moderator.
Voted I. That the House in which the Rev'd Dr Sewall dwells be repair'd.
2. That the Front and East end of the House be rough cast, and that there be new windows made, and sash'd.
3. That the Roof be slated, after being first double boarded or the shingling repair'd, as the committee to be chosen shall judge best.
4. That Mr. Oliver, Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Phillips be a committee to see the repairs effected.
5. That in order to raise about one half of the sum that may be needed, and to enable the Committee to procure materials, there be an Assessment on the several Pews in the House as follows - viz :
66
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
twenty-four shillings on the pews below ; twelve shillings on the front pews in the Galleries, and six on the back pews in the galleries ; and that the several Pew holders be desir'd to put their respective sums due from them as above into the Contribution Box on Lord's Day 29. Instant, and mark the same : But if any Persons find it inconvenient to pay the said Assessment on that day, that they be desir'd to put it into the Box as soon as they can conveniently, and mark it as afore- said.
And it is hereby declar'd that this is the whole sum which will be expected to be rais'd by way of Assessments on the Pews ; as it is hoped the remainder will be rais'd by way of Contribution or Subscrip- tion. And it is desir'd that other Persons not Pew holders would on the said 29. Instant contribute to the service as their respective cir- cumstances will allow.
Lord's Day Augt. 15. 1762. Church stay'd. A Letter was read from Revd Mr. Barnard of Marblehead desiring our Assistance at the Ordination of Mr. Whitwell. Granted. Messengers chosen, Deacons, Messrs William and Samuel Whitwell, Col. Jackson and Mr. Phillips.
J. SEWALL.
Mr. William Whitwell belonged to an Old South family, and in 1759 became a member of the church in which he had been baptized.1 He graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1758. Of his ministry at Marblehead, it was said by one of his suc- cessors, the Rev. Samuel Dana, in 1816: He "continued, it is believed, in the conscientious, humble and faithful discharge of the important duties of his office, delivering the true gospel, and watching for souls as one who expected to give an account, devoted to the best interests of his people, and highly esteemed and beloved by them, till the eighth of November 1781, when it pleased the great Head of the Church to translate him to a better world, in the midst of his days and usefulness, in the forty-fifth year of his age, and twentieth of his ministry."
The 3d of September was observed throughout the province, as a day of fasting and prayer, on account of the prevailing drought. A few days later, "the joyful news of the reduction of the Havannah " came to hand ; and Dr. Sewall on the 16th of
1 William, son of William and Re- Church in 1733; another, as above, in becca Whitwell, was baptized January I, 1759; and another, in 1762. 1737-8. He received a Master's degree from Harvard College in 1762. His or- dination sermon was preached by the Rev. Thomas Barnard.
A William Whitwell joined the South
In 1767, William Whitwell advertises in the papers as at "the Seven Stars in Ann Street, near the Draw Bridge." Mary Fleet records the death of a Mr. Whitwell, June 9, 1801, aged eighty-four.
67
MISSIONARY ZEAL.
September, at the Thursday Lecture, preached a sermon before Governor Bernard and the General Court, from I Chron. xxix. II : "Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty : for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine ; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all." 1
The missionary work of the churches in and near Boston had hitherto been carried on in connection with the Corporation for Propagating the Gospel in New England, founded in London in 1649, and the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge, chartered in 1709. The time seemed to have come for the formation of an independent society in Boston, and for the extension of the work. The following petition, therefore, was addressed to Governor Bernard and the General Court : -
The Petition of a number of the Inhabitants of said Province Humbly Sheweth,
That the Signal Success, with which it has pleased Almighty God to crown His Majesty's Arms, calls upon us not only to express our grateful acknowledgements to the Author of it, but to demonstrate our gratitude by endeavoring to spread the knowledge of his Reli- gion.
That a favorable opportunity of doing this, among the Indians of North America seems now to present itself ; as the French of Canada being subjected to His Majesty's Arms, have it less in their power to obstruct so good a work.
That your Petitioners humbly apprehend that the erecting a Society here with Corporate powers for this purpose will be a likely means of carrying it on with Success.
That a large Sum has been already Subscribed towards the forming a perpetual fund therefor ; and we humbly apprehend in a short time it would be so much increased by other Subscriptions, that the Profits of it would be sufficient to effect some real service in promoting Chris- tian knowledge if such a Society was incorporated.
Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray your Excellency and Hon- ours to take this Affair (so nearly connected with the Interests of Christianity, and with the political Interest of Great Britain and her Colonies,) into your wise Consideration and to grant an Act of Incor- poration vesting your Petitioners (with such others as they from time to time shall elect) with all the powers necessary for the purpose aforesaid.2
1 At the Peace of Paris, Cuba and the Philippines were restored by Great Brit- ain to Spain in return for the cession of Florida.
2 [The signatures to this petition were as follows : -
Andw. Oliver, Isaac Royall, John Erv- ing, James Bowdoin, Wm. Brattle, Thos.
68
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
The Rev. Peter Thacher, of Brattle Street Church, gave the following account of this movement in a pamphlet published in 1798 : -
In the year 1762, a number of gentlemen associated with the design of establishing a society similar to that of which we are now about to give an account. They collected a large fund, and obtained a charter of incorporation from the government here, and began warmly and zealously to prosecute their pious and benevolent object. But, when the act of their incorporation was sent to England for allowance, the Archbishop of Canterbury, jealous lest this should interfere with the society established in Great Britain [in 1701], or perhaps unwilling that persons not well affected to episcopacy should obtain new. influ- ence and power by this means, obtained from the King a negative on the incorporating bill. It fell of course, and the zeal of its support- ers in a great measure fell with it ; for no more was heard concerning it till after the Revolution which made us an independent people.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the South church and congregation, Novr 22. 1762.
Voted, that two of the hindermost of the long seats be made into Pews for the accommodation of Strangers.
2. That the Seaters be desir'd to see this matter effected accord- ingly to their best Discretion.
Novr. 28. 1762 The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed, and Voted, that there be a Collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Decr 9. next: And that the
Flucker, Thomas Hancock, Thos. Hub- bard, N. Sparhawk, Harrison Gray, Ed- ward Holyoke, Sam. Dexter, Ebenezer Storer, Samll. Grant, Jno. Barrett for ye Hon. Robert Hooper, Esqr., Jno. Bar- rett, Thomas Gray, John Scollay, Benja. Dolbeare, William Gray, Royall Tyler, Henry Bromfield, Jona. Williams, Wm. Phillips, Wm. Whitwell, Moses Gill, Timo. Newell, Wm. Greenleaf, Isaac Smith, Isaac Walker, Nathel. Holmes, Alex. Hill, Edward Langdon, John White, Jona. Cushing, Henry Newman, Richd. Martyn, Saml. Abbot, Willm. Story, Thos. Marshall, Joshua Henshaw, William White, Moses Peck, Benja. Gray, Benja. Clarke, Chris. Clarke, Thos. Handasyd Peck, Peter Boyer, Joseph Sherburne, John Melvill, John Ruddock, Amos Adams, Middlecott Cooke, John Symmes, Samuel Minot, Jos. Green, John Simpson, John Phil-
lips, Isaac Winslow, Ezekl. Goldthwait, James Pitts, Sam. Ph. Savage, Thomas Cushing, John Tudor, Samuel Deming, Benja. Church, Samll. Hill, Willm. Blair Townsend, Joseph Sewall, Frans. Borda- nott, Jona. Mason, John Greenleaf, Danl. · Waldo, John Dennie, James Otis, Junr., Benja. Hammatt, Fortesque Vernon, Benja. Austin, Benja. Hallowell, Jun., William Hyslop, Henderson Inches, Thomas Fayerweather, William Homes, Joseph Jackson, Wm. Hickling, Oxenbg. Thacher, Jonathan Mayhew, Thomas Foxcroft, Charles Chauncy, Stephen Hall, John Scott, Samuel Mather, E. Pemberton, Saml. Checkley, Junr., An- drew Eliot, and for Revd. Nathl. Apple- ton, Hull Abbot, Thomas Prentice, Thomas Fletcher, Saml. Cooper, Zachh. Johonnot, Onesiphs. Tileston, A. Cum- ming, Samuel Adams. - Mass. Archives, vol. xiv. p. 289.]
TWO DEACONS CHOSEN.
69
rest of the Congregation be notified the next Lord's Day, and desir'd to assist in said collection.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Decr 5. The congregation was notified.
Thanksgiving Decr. 9. 1762. Collected
O. T.
The whole, . . 293. 15. 4
Appropriated,
To the Widow Gerrish
2. IO. 0
- Bodman 9. o. o
Mr. Abijah Adams I. 5. 0
Mr. Eliphalet Parker 2. 5. 0
Rev'd Mr. Brett
3. 7. 0
Mr. Campbell 6. 10. 0
Char. and pious Fund,
15. 0. 0
39. 17. 0
. At large
253. 18. 4
293. 15. 4
Lord's Day Decr. 12. added
28. IO. 0
19. 66
IO. IO. O
The Brethren stay'd, and Voted,
That the unappropriated Part of the Collection be dispos'd of to charitable and pious uses by the Pastors and Deacons, according to their best Discretion.
J. SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the church and congregation April 15 1763.
The Committee for repairing the House in which Dr. Sewall dwells, having made an estimate, and reported that there would be £1250 O. Ten. wanting besides what has been collected by assessment on the Pews ; Voted, That there be a Collection on the Lord's Day, first of May next.
At a Meeting of the Church, Septr. 16, 1763.
After Prayer to God as usual, Voted, That the Brethren come to a choice of two Deacons (in the room of Deacon Daniel Henchman, and Deacon Jonathan Simpson deceas'd.)
By counting the Votes it appear'd that Samuel Sewall Esqr. and Mr. David Jeffries were chosen into the Deacons-Office.
That the Pastors, Deacon Hubbard, the Hon John Osborn, Samuel Wells and Andrew Oliver Esqrs be a Committee to acquaint the said Persons with the choice made and to desire their acceptance.
Deacon Henchman died, after a lingering illness, on the even- ing of the day on which Mr. Cumming was installed, February
70
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
25, 1761 ; he had served the church as deacon forty-two years.1 Deacon Simpson, after a service of thirty years, died February 18, 1763. The election of Mr. Sewall and Mr. Jeffries to these vacancies gives us two more of those illustrations with which the history of the Old South abounds, and on which we like to dwell, of the responsibilities of this church "bequeathed by" saintly " sire to son." Mr. Sewall's great grandfather, John Hull, was one of its founders. His grandfather, Judge Sewall, during a long life, was one of its brightest lights ; and his father, Dr. Sewall, on the day of the election just recorded, had been one of its pastors for precisely half a century - a remarkable coincidence.2 We have quoted from this father's journal the private supplications which in 1715 accompanied the public dedication of his firstborn son to the service of the Lord; in the winter of 1749-50 he received this son into the membership of the church ; and now, in 1763, he, with others, was to invite, and to receive his acceptance of the office of deacon, to which he had been called.3 Mr. Sewall was a merchant ; he graduated at Harvard College in 1733, and he married in 1749 Elizabeth, daughter of Edmund Quincy.
The other newly appointed deacon was also of a distinguished Old South lineage. His great grandfather, Thomas Brattle, was one of the founders of 1669. His grandmother, Elizabeth (Usher), wife of David Jeffries, was a member of the church, and their children were baptized by its ministers. His father, David Jeffries, the college friend of Sewall and Prince, who was
1 President Quincy names Mr. Hench- man among the large benefactors of Harvard College. In April, 1742, he gave 100 ounces of silver, and in October, 1747, £250. old tenor, towards the en- dowment of the Hollis Professorship of Divinity ; the income to be paid to the professor, "so long as he shall be a member in full communion with some Congregational or Presbyterian Church, and shall profess and teach the principles of the Christian religion, according to the well-known confession of faith drawn up by a synod of the churches of New England." On failure of either condition, the annual interest was to be given, "by the President and Fellows of Harvard College, to some deserving student of the said College, whose parents are not able to bear the charge of his public edu-
cation, and who shall be approved by the pastors of the Old South Church, in Boston, for the time being, preference being given first to a child of this town of Boston." In 1758, Mr. Henchman gave £66. 13. 4, lawful money, without conditions, toward the endowment of the Hollis Professorship of Mathematics.
2 The Rev. Joseph Sewall's ordination took place on the 16th of September, 1713.
3 Deacon Sewall's son-in-law, Samuel Salisbury, and grandson, Josiah Salis- bury, were to be deacons in the Old South in later years. His son, Samuel Sewall, baptized at the Old South, De- cember II, 1757, was a judge of the superior court of judicature from 1800 to 1814, and in the latter year, just before his death, was appointed chief justice.
.
7I
MR. CUMMING'S DEATH.
lost in the Amity in the English Channel in the autumn of 1716, was also a member ; 1 so also was his mother, Katharine (Eyre), also his stepfather, Oliver Noyes. Mr. Jeffries was bap- tized by one of the ministers of the South Church, October 24, 1715 ; he graduated at Harvard College in 1732 ; he was a mer- chant, and for thirty years treasurer of the town of Boston. He married, first, Sarah, daughter of George Jaffrey, chief justice of the superior court of New Hampshire ;2 secondly, Deborah, daughter of Byfield Lyde, and granddaughter of Governor Belcher ; thirdly, Hannah, daughter of Joshua Winslow.3
But new trials awaited the church. Mr. Cumming, who from the first had been in feeble health, died on the 25th of August, in the thirty-seventh year of his age, and the third of his pastor- ate in Boston. His venerable colleague preached his funeral sermon from the words of the Apostle Paul : " For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain."4 The following sketch of his character and scholarship we take from the sermon : -
. He was an able minister of the New Testament, endowed with rich gifts from our ascended Saviour. He was an hard student, an excellent scholar ; a scribe well instructed to the Kingdom of Heaven. It is true his lively, active soul dwelt in a crazy, feeble body ; however, under his bodily weakness, he did willingly spend and was spent in his Lord's work. He was a man of prayer ; and, in his addresses to that God who is the High and Lofty One, he lay low under an abasing sense of our meanness and vileness, and well expressed his entire dependence on the merits and intercession of Jesus, our Advocate with the Father.
He showed his esteem and value for these churches, and for the doctrines of grace exhibited in their Confession of Faith.
This man was a burning and shining light, who not only preached but lived the Gospel, holding forth the light in it in a conversation becoming the doctrines and precepts of our holy religion.
He showed his zeal for the Lord of Hosts, and against the prevail- ing errors and corruptions of the times wherein he lived.
He followed Christ bearing the cross ; and, under returns of dis- tressing pain, showed his patience and reverend submission to the will of his Heavenly Father. And although a Sovereign God took him from us in the midst of his days, yet he expressed himself to me
1 See ante, vol. i. p. 378.
2 Only one son lived to mature years, John, who became distinguished as a physician. He was baptized at the South Church, February 10, 1744-5. His mother was Sarah (Jaffrey).
3 This third marriage took place Au- gust 17, 1768.
4 Dr. Manning's funeral sermon was preached from this text, at the Old South, by the Rev. W. M. Taylor, D. D., of New York, February 18, 1883.
72
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
as desirous rather to die than live ; and to another, his hope and trust in Christ. But his pain was so great, there was not that opportunity to discourse with him which could be desired.1
Lord's Day Septr. 18. 1763
Church stayed. A Letter was read from the third church in Salem, desiring our Assistance at the Ordination of Mr. John Huntington, their Pastor Elect. Voted. Messengers chosen, Hon. Samuel Welles, Coll. Joseph Jackson, John Scollay, Samuel Sewall Esqrs and Mr. David Jeffries.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Mr. Huntington was a son of Mr. John Huntington, of Nor- wich, Connecticut. He graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1759, and was now called to succeed the Rev. Dudley Leavitt as minister of the church organized by the friends of the Rev. Samuel Fisk, on his dismission from the First Church in 1735.2 The ordination took place on the 28th of September. The ser- mon was preached by the Rev. Benjamin Lord, of Norwich; the charge was given by the Rev. Peter Clark, of Danvers ; and the right hand of fellowship by the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton, of Boston. Mr. Huntington's pastorate was a very brief one; he died May 30, 1766, in the thirtieth year of his age.
1 [The Mass. Gazette, September I, 1763, contains an obituary notice of Mr. Cumming, in terms of commendation similar to those used by Dr. Sewall. Mr. Cumming received the Master's de- gree from the College of New Jersey in 1760, and from Harvard College in 1761.
One of the younger members of the Old South, Jeremy Belknap, who was just out of college, wrote an eclogue formed partly on the plan of Virgil's Daphnis, a part of which we quote : -
Not five swift circumvolving Suns have roll'd Their annual Orbits, round our dreary Globe, Since Prince, the great, the good, the learn'd, the wise,
Descended to the silent Shades of Death. Mankind deplor'd his Fall. Scarce had we now Emerg'd out of that Gulph of gen'ral Woe, And worthily repair'd the mighty Breach ; The King of Terrors visits us again, And moves our Candlestick out of his Place. " Cumming is dead." No more that sacred Dome With his harmonious Accents shall resound : No more those glorious, evangelic Truths, On which his Faith, and Hope were firmly built, With such celestial Pathos, shall devolve From his persuasive Tongue. Oft have I stood,
And join'd with him in ardent Pray'r to Heav'n ; Till I have almost seen his active Soul, With inward Fervour, and Devotion fir'd Burst thro' its feeble Tenement of Clay, And wing its Flight up to the Throne of God. But now, alas ! no longer shall I hear Those ardent Breathings. His pure Hands no more
Shall break the Bread of Life, unto our Souls. Lament, and mourn, ye poor bereaved Flock ; Your Beauty's wither'd, and your Glory fled.
Thus Florio; to whom Albinus replies at some length, in a more hopeful strain, and says : -
Let not the mourning Flock too sorely grieve; Yet Sewall lives, and from his aged Lips Dispenses heav'nly Truths, with holy Zeal: May his important Life be yet prolong'd, And late, to Heav'n his dove-like Soul ascend.]
2 See ante, vol. i. pp. 470, 584. May 23, 1763. " The Church lately under Mr. Leavit vote to be called the third Church. They invite John Hunting- ton jr., who had preached for them, to become their minister. The congre- gation concur with this invitation." June 20. " Mr. Huntington voted £100 L. M. salary, and {200 L. M. settlement." --- Annals of Salem.
73
DEACON HUBBARD RESIGNS.
Lord's Day, Octr 2. 1763
The Brethren of the church and Congregation stay'd, And Voted, That with God's leave, we purpose to observe Wednesday the 2d of Novr next, as a Day of Prayer with fasting, to humble ourselves under the afflictive Hand of God, in removing from us by death our late worthy Pastor the Rev'd Mr. Alexander Cumming, and to ask God's gracious Presence and Direction under our present bereaved circum- stances.
J. SEWALL.
Novr. 2. Observ'd accordingly as Day of Prayer.
Lord's Day Novr. 6. 1763.
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed, and Voted, That the Deacons be a committee to supply the Pulpit.
2. That there be allow'd for this service I. 6. 8 L. M. pr. Sabbath. Novr. 27. 1763. Lord's Day.
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stay'd and Voted, That there be a Collection for charitable and pious uses on the Anni- versary Thanksgiving Decr. 8. next : And that the rest of the Congre- gation be notified the next Lord's Day, and be desir'd to assist in said collection.
J. SEWALL.
Decr. 4. Congregation notified.
Thanksgiving, Decr. 8. 1763
O. T.
Collected, At large . 286. 16. 72
Appropriated,
To the Pious and Charitable Fund 19. 19. 0
To Revd Mr. Campbell 6. 10. 0
To Revd Mr. Brett . 2. 0. 0
To Several Persons of the Society 12. 7.6
40. 16. 6
Total
327. 13. 12
Lords Day Decr. 25. 1763
The Brethren stayed, and Voted, That the unappropriated Part of the last Collection be dispos'd of to charitable and pious uses by the Pastor and Deacons according to their best Discretion.
J. SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church Jan. 9. 1764.
Deacon Hubbard's Accounts were accepted.
Voted, that the Brethren have a gratefull sense of the Fidelity of the late Deacons viz : Deacon Henchman, and Deacon Simpson deceas'd : And that the Thanks of the Brethren be given to the Hon. Thomas Hubbard, for his Fidelity in the Deacon's office : And that He be desir'd unanimously to continue in said office.
74
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Then the meeting was adjourn'd to this day fortnight 10 a-clock A. M.
Jan 23. 1764. The Brethren of the church met.
The Hon. Mr. Hubbard gave his answer in the Negative.
Then the Brethren adjourn'd to this day three weeks, 10 a clock A. M.
Mr. Hubbard lived several years after this; while laying down other trusts, he continued to be treasurer of Harvard Col- lege until his death. On the day following this meeting, Harvard Hall was burnt, containing the library and all the philosophical apparatus, -a severe blow to the college ; but its friends came promptly to its relief, Mr. Hubbard being one of the most gen- erous contributors.1 The General Court, which was occupying the hall at the time of the disaster, assumed the expense of rebuilding it.
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