USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 19
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THOMAS BRATTLE
In the name and by the Order of the whole Church : 1 9 : 12. 69,
Answer sent by the first church unto this letter above written fol- loweth.
ffor Mr. Tho : Thaacher and the rest of that society to be commu- nicated to the Assembly that shall meete att the Ordination.
Beloved in the lord.
The letter sent to be Communicated to us, delivered to our Ruleing Elder the 12th of this instant acquaintinge us with your purpose to ordaine officers, and desiringe our Concurrance therein, hath given us a fitt occasion to manifest our sence of that spirit appeares in your letter, and the procedinge mentioned therein, wee Cannot but wonder and that with griefe of hearte to behold that confidence mentioned in yours, in callinge your Combination a regular Church Constitution which agrees neither with the lawes of Christ, nor (as we Conceive) of this Collonie And that you dare entitle the favor of god, to that which is onely the fruitt of your owne wills, and manifestly Crosse to the will of God revealed in his word. The wisdome of god permit- ting and governinge such motions wee readily acknowledge, but not graciously, Conductinge them. wee gladly would joyne with you to double our Cryes for grace from the lord for your repentance and par- don, that his displeasure may nott break forth in your layinge the top- stone of this provocation,
Most willingly wee would have concurred with your desires, had the way bene such, that withoutt offence to our owne Consciences, wee might have approved : but being as it is, wee must declare our dissatis- faction in your proceedinge to ordaine officers either Elders or Dea- cons among you.
The reasons whereof are
I Because the persons mentioned to bee Called to those offices, are
1 [We have corrected this letter by a have added the signature of Thomas copy in the possession of the Mass. Brattle, which does not appear in the Historical Society, and, in so doing, Narrative.]
157
ANSWER OF THE FIRST CHURCH.
not withoutt blame, as such ought to bee I Tim : 3: 2: 7: Titus : I : IO: Mr. Thacher though hee saw nott light to joyne with you, when you irregularly withdrew yourselves from us, yet since Dismissed from us first hath joyned and so made himselfe partaker of your sinnes, contrary to I Tim : 5 : 22 : the 3 others have bene constant actors with you from first to last :
2 all of them have accepted a call to office among you, who are not Capable to Choose or receive any such officers, according to the rules of Christ, or the lawes of this Jurisdiction (as wee understand them) for I. when wee were according to rule laboring to convince you of your offences, given to us, you did contrary to that rule Matt : 18: 15 : withdraw from us, not acknowledginge the authority of Christ Jesus in his church, and soe not regardinge your Covenant engagement to sub- jection to it.
2. After which you appointed a time to gather into a pretended Church Society, by yourselves, though not regularly free from your Covenant to this Church, contrary to that law of Christ I Cor: 12 : 25 : and the law of this Jurisdiction tit: Eccl Sect I. (as wee con- ceive)
3. And notwithstandinge wittnesse bearinge by this Church against that proceedinge, by messengers sent on purpose, with a writeing of the Churches testimonie against it, as also six of our honourd Magis- trates, of whom our Honourd Governor was one, who did by a writing declare their desire of your desistinge at the present yet you pro- ceeded, neither regardinge offence to a Church of Christ Contrary to I Cor : 10: 32. Nor havinge due respect to the persons or the author- ity of magistrates, contrary to Tit : 3: I : and that law of this Col- lonie Title Eccl : sect : 3. as wee thinke
4. Since which you have erected a meetinge house in a place for- bidden by the authority of this towne, not consented unto by the pru- dentials of the same, offensive to the Churches in it, and to many godly Christians in other places, neither suitinge the ends and con- veniences of this place, who by former agreement had appointed a lott for such a buildinge, onely grattifying your owne selfe ends and wills contrary to I Cor : 10: 31.1
1 [Among the papers in the posses- sion of the Mass. Historical Society there is a rough draft of a portion of a reply to this letter, in the handwriting of Mr. Thacher, which perhaps it is hardly just to him to print in its unfinished and frag- mentary state, and yet we feel that we ought to put it in as part of the con- troversy : -
" To your 4th Reason where you say Since which you have Erected a meeting
house. Oh horrible crime ! Twas som- times said He is worthie for he loveth our nation and hath built us a meet- ing house. Luk. 7. But another spirit spirits your scribes and subscribers. But it was in a place forbidden by the Authority of this town you say] nay but it was built where no authority of this town had any power to forbid us that we knew of. where should men build it but on that ground where they had power ?
158
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Those things and many the like considered, wee Judge it our duty to declare our dissattisfaction in your proceedinge to ordaine officers, as an act highly displeasinge to God and Dangerous to the wellfare of Civill and Church government as settled among us ; And therefore wee being obliged in love to Christ Matt : 10 : 32 : to Con- fesse his name, not onely by acknowledginge any truth of his, wherein his Crowne and Dignity is Concerned, but also by preventing soe farr as wee may the doinge any thing destructive thereunto, as also in love and duty to this government, which the Lord hath graciously sett over us, they by that law concerninge ordination, not onely givinge leave to organick Churches to declare against any disorderly proceedinge but inviting them thereunto, that they by them may know how to prevent dammadge to the government as now Constituted, and in love and duty to preserve the peace and purity of those Churches which are soe manifestly endangered, as wee are prest in Psal : 122 : 6: and urged to doe, by the use of all lawfull meanes, of which this is one, and in love to our brethren accordinge to the great rule of love, in such Cases, Lev : 19 : 17 : doe bare this Testimony against it.
upon that ground which most suited the conveniences of the builders? yea on that ground which was given unto God for such an end ! But you say - not con- sented unto by the prudentialls of the town] We had as much of their consent as was necessary for us But you adde that twas offensive to the churches in it. - We knew they had no cause to be offended. not the new church, because it was for them, nor the Second church, because it could not be any prejudice to them nor yourselves : for by that means you had inlargement, and the benefit of all the cost and charges we had ben out at in our time of communion with you. We did not carry from you any part of the common stocke which was- we demanded no help from either of the churches, made no collections, to im- poverish the town by it or ingage any. but trusting in the Lord we undertook it and the Lord hath finishd it as it is at this day. Neither indeed had we any notice of any vote of offence past against it in either church : or any church act put forth orderly, to hinder it. But if they had that would not have proved it to be offensive to the churches. it would have proved them offenders against Christ to have hindered a sister church in preparing an house of meeting for their God where-
in to enjoy communion with him and with one another in him according to their covenant. Twas not only so but you say further that it was offensive to many Godly Christians in other places. Here you hold forth a great deal of charity to the Godly Christians, the many godly Christians in other places So that you think it a great sin to offend them, and indeed so it is : But where was this care in those who rejected the advice given by the first councill of their own calling, without answering their sollid arguments or returning a reason? where was this care not to offend them, in those that shut the 2d Councill out of their dores. forgetting that the messengers of the churches are the glory of Christ. 2 Cor. 8. 23? where was this care not to offend them when the matter of offence and scandall to so many churches testifyed against by so many Elders was left un- removed, about concealing the leters of such importance, and cutting off about two thirds of another letter out of it to draw and squeaze forth a pretended dis- mission : which is not pleasing unto us to repeat Surely that scripture should then have ben minded I Cor. 10. 31 where which you so hotly charge us thô without cause. But as for the many Christians that were offended -"]
159
THE INVITED CHURCHES.
It is our hearty desire the Lord would open your eyes to see what you have done amisse, you may bewaile and reforme it, and that he would blesse this our faithfull endeavor to that end, however wee have hereby given you warninge from the Lord, and so delivered our owne soules, and shall leave the issue to the wise and soveragne dis- poser of the hearts and wayes of men, to deliver yours in his good tyme for which wee pray.
The messengers sent by the Church with this letter unto your Assembly are Capt. Tho. Clark, Capt. Hutchison, Lieutenant Cook and James Everill and to declare the churches mind further as they see cause.
John Davenport Senior James Allon Jamos Jonu. Hiff- Content of the broofiron
This letter above was by Captaine Clark, and Captaine Hutchison and Mr. Everill delivered to Mr. Thatcher the evening before the ordination day at 7 a clocke
[These] Churches were sent unto, but by reason of the deep snow their Elders and Messengers could not be present : 2 there was present of the Elders and Messengers onely of those Churches below.
ffrom the Church of Watertowne Captaine Mason and Deacon Hastings their Pastor not being able to come
16: (12)1669. Churches sent to Beverly Wen- ham Haverell Sudbury Con- cord Ipswich Andover Man- chester Billreke Medfeild Rowly
ffrom the Church of Cambridge Reverend Charles Chancy President of the Colledge, Captaine Dan : Gookin and Mr. Tho : Danforth.
1 [We have corrected this letter by the original, in the handwriting of Mr. Allen, which is in the possession of the Mass. Hist. Society.]
2 [" 16. 12. 1669 Mr. Thomas Thatcher was ordained Pastor to the third church in Boston, and Mr. Rainsford Ruling Elder.
" This winter was very sharp and te- dious, we had much snow and cold weather, the wayes difficult and un- passable." - Roxbury Church Records.
The Rev. Samuel Phillips, of Rowley, entered on the records of his church that he was unable to be present at the ordi- nation, because there was so much snow.
Mr. Phillips was a warm friend of the new church from the start. It would have gratified him if he could have foreseen that descendants of his in the third, fourth, and fifth generations would serve as deacons in this church.
The question is asked, sometimes, What constitutes a quorum of an eccle- siastical council ? Our Narrative, we think, gives a satisfactory answer : Those representatives of invited churches who have appeared at the time and place des- ignated constitute a quorum, and should proceed to business accordingly, unless the parties who issued the letters missive desire otherwise. If it be said that a
160
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
from the Church of Charles Towne ; Reverend Tho: Shepheard, Tho : Lynd Deacon
from the Church of Waymouth, Reverend Sam : Torry. Captain Wm. Torry Elder Bates, John Holbrooke.
Reverend mr. John Allin being present all though not sent from his Church, was Desired by the Church in the time of it to joyne with Reverend mr. Shepheard, and mr. Torry, in laying on of hands upon mr. Tho : Thatcher, and Mr. Allin to give the charge, unto him, which accordingly was performed, and then mr. Thatcher mr. Shepheard, and mr. Torry layd hands on mr. Edward Rainsford, and mr. Thatcher gave charge unto him.1
And mr. Thatcher and mr. Ranceford layd hands and gave charge unto mr. Jacob Elliot and mr. Peter Bracket for the office of Dea- cons.
Aboute 10 of the clock, and before the ordination abovesaid Captain Clarke, Captain Hutcheson, Leiutenant Rich Cooke and mr. James Everill came unto the house of Captain Tho : Savage 2 where the Elders and Messengers of Churches were met, and delivered them a letter of the same Tenour which was sent unto mr. Tho : Thatcher, and his society from the first church of Boston, as is before men- tioned Requiring and desiring that it might be communicated to the publique assembly The Messengers of the Churches demanded of the said Captain Clarke and the rest of those with him whither they were sent from their Church to this assembly, by vertu of Communion of Churches to give the right hand of fellowship, and whither their church had sent their Elders, as well as themselves unto which they made answer that their church had not sent their Elders Nor did them- selves come to hold Communion of Churches with this church - unto which answer was made that if they would withdraw they would con- sider what to do about it, The Elders and Messengers went to meet- ing where mr. Tho: Thatcher preached out of 6 Zach : 12 : v : 3 at the End of the Sermon there was respit for halfe an houer (In which time)
majority of the churches invited must be present by their representatives before a council can organize and transact other business, then a majority, by purposely staying away, might postpone or prevent an ordination or installation ; or, in the case of unavoidable absence, might put the inviting church and its pastor-elect to great inconvenience. It would have been unjust, manifestly, to Mr. Thacher, to the church, and to those elders and messengers who had made the effort to be present, to postpone the ordination services, because the representatives of other churches, even a majority of those
sent to, and for a good reason, had failed to appear.]
1 [The words "for the worke and office of ruling elder " are erased in the manuscript.]
2 [In the early years of the colony, Mr. Savage's house and garden were on the north corner of Fleet and Ship streets, near Scarlet's Wharf. See Porter's Ram- bles in Old Boston in N. Eng., p. 286. In 1656, Mr. Savage built a new house in the vicinity of the present Union and Elm streets, "between the drawbridge and the conduit."]
3 ["Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts,
161
THE ORDINATION.
the Messengers of the churches being at mrs. Nortons house, sent for Captain Clarke and his Companions and told them that they saw no light, to read that writing before the Assembly they not standing as Messengers by vertu of communion of churches &c :- Then the Elders and Messengers of churches Assembled in publique, After mr. Chancy had prayed they proceeded to work of ordination. The Ques- tion being putt by mr. Tho : Shepheard to the Messengers of Churches sent by Communion of Churches according to the request of this Church, that if they had any objection against mr. Tho : Thatcher, from being proceeded with to ordination of a Pastor to this Church of christ, they had liberty to express them- 16 (12) 1669 selves, Captain Clarke, Captaine Hutchison, Leiutenant Cooke, and Mr. Everill being sent by the first Church of Boston [as] Messengers to declare against the proceeding of the day spake as followeth and replyes to them were made.[ ] Captaine Clarke began thus : It is much against my owne mind to speak especially upon such a time and occasion, but being called to it, with some others by the appointment of another church who could gladly (if according to rule) have held forth the right hand of fellowship to this Church and the officers chosen, am necessitated to object, that Church apprehending some thing to lye against both the Electors and the Elected, the particulars whereof refer to a Letter sent to this Society from that Church Mr. Shepheard answered The letter it seemes is sent to this third Church in Boston and we suppose they will be ready to give an account of their way to any who shall orderly desire it. In reference to the thing in Generall the Messengers of the Churches have considered of it and find not that in it as to give a supersedeas to the worke of this day, and therefore doe apprehend in point of order this is not soe proper a worke. Captaine Clark replyed order is that we shall willingly sit downe by But we apprehend it orderly to give a hearing of such objec- tions as may Justly be made in such a case.
Mr. Shepheard we are far from shutting our eyes or stopping our eares against any thing that may be brought in justly from the word of God against any Person, but we cannot apprehend any thing of that moment in what you object, and in point of order if you looke upon yourselves as Messengers of a Church and met here by vertu of Com- munion of Churches, you doe strike up your owne argument there being nothing in the letter but rather denyeth the being of the Church rather than communion with them now owning yourselves as Messen- gers by Communion of Churches your practise runs counter to your argument conteyned in the letter
Mr. Torry your speech was in answer to the proposall made to the Messengers of the Churches if you owne yourselves to be of the saying, Behold the man whose name is of his place, and he shall build the tem- THE BRANCH : and he shall grow up out ple of the Lord."]
162
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Messengers of the Churches we shall then treat with you in that way.
Lieutenant Cooke : we doe not know that our Church hath professed contrary to the Churches, we were but as messengers of our Church to declare their mindes, if you would have us to owne this Assembly to be a Church by vertu of that Communion we scruple it
Mr. Torry this third Church did send in a way of Communion of Churches to other Churches to send their messengers, if you sent [brethren] in a way of Communion with us, then you stand in the. same capacity with us.
Captaine Clark our Church hath expressed their owne mindes, and therfore I desire we may not be put upon interrogatories.
Mr. Shepheard this letter you seem to be about to read is sent to this third Church in Boston, and they are to have the first cognisance of it, they have had no time to consider the same as they would desire. It was sent them this day within the compasse of 24 houres, I suppose the first Church will receive an answer from this third
16 : (12) 1669 Church the messengers assembled have already judged the paper not meet to be read at this time :
Captaine Hutchinson I suppose the messengers of the Churches are not sent to give the right hand of fellowship let things [be] how they will :
Mr. Shepheard we are willing to heare any objection soe that the end may not be obstructed, and this I assure you in the name of the rest of the messengers, if you will refer the matter to an orderly deci- sion by Councill, you shall have it in time convenient.
Mr. Torry you would have the letter read, pray tell us to whome you would have it read whither to the messengers of the Churches, to this Church as a Church of Christ, to them as brethren still with you, or to the whole Assembly: it was answered to the whole Assembly, and that those persons were never orderly dismissed from them being Brethren under offence, as those who had leapt over the wall and although Mr. Thatcher did not see meet to act then with them, but told them he approved not of their way, yet when he was cleare from their Church joyned himself unto them, being demanded whither their objection was against Mr. Thatcher as standing here to be ordayned, and whither Mr. Thatcher had not publiquely declared his intention to joine unto this Church it could not be denyed but that he had, but it was objected against him that he had professed that he had dis- owned the dissenters in their acting and would labour to bring them of, yet now was partaker of their sin in leaping over the wall, Mr. Thatcher having liberty granted to speake cleared himself of that false aspersion : but if the thing affirmed were granted it was replyed unto them, it argued but the change of a mans mind who might see cause to doe that afterward which he saw not before, and therfore no
--
163
THE ORDINATION SERVICES.
matter of obstruction, after further debate it was declared as to the being of this Church it had already bin judged by the orderly judge, the Churches having already judged it to be a Church of Christ, and therfore declared they should proceed in the work which god called unto, the vote being put to the whole Assembly of Christian friends and neighbours, and finally to the Church itself whose votes passing in the Affirmative Mr. Thatcher being called upon to declare whither he accepted of it thus spake :
It is not a matter of small moment to be a Pastor to any people for any man, being to stand in the stead of the Lord Jesus Christ in his ministration and especially at such a time as things are Circumstanced with ourselves : but being throughly perswaded that this call is the call of God and Christ I dare not be disobedient therunto, But trust- ing in the grace of Christ doe freely give up myselfe to the Lord and his people in the worke he hath called me to, resolving by the helpe of his Grace to mannage it in his feare, according to the rules which he hath or here after may make knowne unto mee - after which they proceeded to actuall ordination, premising that the Reverend Mr. Allin of Dedham being there, it was declared by this Churches vote to be their desire he should joyne with Mr. Shepheard and Mr. Torry in laying on of hands on Mr. Thatcher and that he should give him the charge which accordingly was performed as before mentioned.
Elder Ransford declared to the church before the As- sembly that the next Lords day the sacrament was to be administred.
20 : (12) 1669
The first Church in Boston had a church metting where the sisters were particularly warned to be present, when met Captain Tho : Clarke, Captain Edw : Hutchinson, Lieutenant Cooke, 25:
and mr. Everill whom the Church had sent as messengers to the Elders with the foregoeing paper from the church to be Communicated to the Assembly, gave an account of their service which the Church imployed them in, haveing drawen up a narrative of their discou[rse] with the Elders and Messengers of the Churches in publique and private ; therein they charged the Reverend Mr. Chancy for reflecting upon themselves in his prayer, wherein they did him apparent wrong, and allso in the said narrative they gave no better titles to the Reverend Mr. Shepheard and Mr. Torry than Shepheard and Torry, Torry and Shepheard, they being by the messengers of the Churches chosen and declared to be the Moderators to order and carry an end the work of ordination that day : after reading of the same, thankes was returned to them by the Church for their good service : soone after Mr. Daven- . port applyed himself to the whole Church Brethren and sisters, de- claring it was breach of Covenant for any of them to goe from their owne Church to heare the word preached, or to partake of the Sacra- ment unlesse it were in want of officers to the Church or being on a
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Journey (though it was contrary to the frequent practise of the Breth- ren who ordinarily heard and partake of the supper with the Church [at] the North end of the Towne) this was not put to vote, but by silence consented unto by the Church whereupon the Sisters whose husbands were members of the 3d Church understanding how greivous and deeply offensive it would be for them to partake with their hus- bands in the seale next Lords day, they out of Christian prudence forbare, not having made particular application unto the Church for their dismission :
The Lords supper was celebrated among them of the 3d Church where sundry Brethren and sisters of other Churches did partake by vertu of Communion of Churches.
27 : (12)
Two sisters repaired to Mr. Davenport for satisfaction about what he had delivered the last Church meeting : namely that 28: they should lay under breach of Covenant with the first Church if they should heare the word or partake in another Church unlesse &c : and declaring themselves satisfied in the orderly consti- tution of that Church whereof their husbands were members and said that if the Church would please to let them hold Communion with them, they should not desire to alter their station untill such time as they saw their practise was answerable to their profession, if not they should desire a regular dismission :
The same sisters soone after applyed themselves to Elder Pen and Mr. Ja. Allen and to other Brethren to promote their request unto the Church for their dismission, and having drawne up a petition they carryed it to Elder Pen desiring him to Communicate it to the Church which followeth.
Honourd Reverend and Beloved Elders and Brethren of the first Church of Christ in Boston whereof we are members.
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