USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 20
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Such hath bin the order of divine providence that our deare hus- bands are removed from this Church society And are gathered into a distinct church body by themselves, and have opportunity of adminis- tring all the holy ordinances of God among themselves, We consider- ing the duty which lyeth upon us, That we are commanded to aske our respective husbands at home, also considering the faithfull in Scripture Joshua, he and his household would serve the Lord, - David and his traine went together, Moses would have the women and Children goe together to worship, allso the Comeliness and sweet order when whole familyes worship together, On the contrary the confusion, disorder, and disturbance which will unavoidably follow, when hus- bands goe to one place and wives to another to worship : Allso our owne affections and desires earnestly pressing us hereunto, doe there- fore present our earnest request unto you that you would dismiss us from your church fellowship, unto the fellowship of that church whereof
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165
DEATH OF MR. DAVENPORT.
our respective husbands are members. That this is desired of us all witness our hands
MARY SAVAGE
ELIZABETH USHER
The 3d Church after great tra-
HULLDAH DAVIS
ELIZ RANSFORD
vell and trouble
JUDITH HULL
SARAH OLLIVER
being furnished
LIDIA SCOTTOW
MARY ELLIOT
and supplyed with officers
ELIZ ROCK
HANNAH FFRAIRY
did agree that
there should be
MARY BRACKETT
RAN BELLCHER
a narrative of
SUSANNA DAWS
MARY TAPPIN
the whole [pro] gres of their proceedings
SARAH PEMBERTON
ELIS THIRSTON
drawn up and
ELIZ ALLDEN
SARAH WALKER
kept among the
RACH RAWSON
MARY SALLTER
Churches Rec- ords for Pos- terity.
Elder Pen after he had kept the sisters petition three days brought it down to Mr. Brackett, And said it would not doe it was too long a business, They might write two or three lines to 5: I : 69-70 be dismisd to a church in order and let every sister write and sub- scribe there paper, to which Mr. Brackett answered he Judged it not safe for them soe to doe, the sisters might bring themselves into a snare. He answered no, it should not, they might bring every one their owne request and leave it with him. But as it was written he would not read it to the church, upon the elders speech Mr. Brackett replyes if the writing of so many Coppyes and each sister to set her hand will satisfy that may be done.
The sisters subscribing the same petition only alltering the term we to me writt soe many individuall papers with each of their names subscribed and by Companyes carried theire peti- 8 : I mo : 69-70 tions up to elder Pen, desiring him to take a season to present them to the Church, to understand their mind, as to the granting of their dismission. And soe left their severall papers with him &c.
Being Lordsday Reverend Mr. Davenport being ill preached not in the afternoon. about 9 Clocke of the Evening was taken very ill and smitten with the dead palsy upon one side of 13 : Imo: 69- Mr. Daven- him at once, who continued soe untill 16 day in the Even- port's death. ing about (9) of the Cloke his soule Returned to God that gave it.1
Mr. Oxenbridge was on the Lords day propounded to be a member of the first Church.2
the same day mrs. Blake widdow was admitted member of the third church by vertu of letter of dismission from the church of 20: 1 : 69-70 Dorchester who in that act owned them to be a church of Christ.3
1 [The Magnalia inscribes for him the demnation of his course in connection following epitaph : "Safely in port. In with the New Haven correspondence.] life, the ornament of New England and 2 [The Reverend John Oxenbridge was ordained pastor of the First Church, April 10, 1670.] the church ; dead, the object of their common regret." His death was un- doubtedly hastened by the general con- 3 [Mr. William B. Trask has kindly
and ordinances
166
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
mr. Oxenbridg was admitted member of the first Church
Reverend Mr. Davenport was interred in the tombe of Reverend
transcribed for us the following, from the Dorchester Church Records : -
"6 (1) 69-70 Sister Agnes Blake (the wife of William Blake deceased) she haveing removed her dwelling to Boston was dismissed to Joyne to the third Church in Boston." (I)
"18. 12. 71. John Blake dismissed to Joyne to the third Church in Boston." (2)
" Ann Legar of Boston who was the daughter of William Blake Senior dis- missed the 21. 2. 72 to Joyne to the Church in Boston." (3)
" Old Mrs. Mather and Sister Clements was dismissed to the third Church in Boston the Ioth II. 74." (4)
"Mrs. Taylor who was the dafter of Mrs. Stoughton dismissed to the 3d Church in Boston though not in full communion 1675." (5)
"In the 6 mo. 1676 the daughter of Nathaniell Glover now wif unto Mr. Rawson of Boston And was dismissed to the 3d Church in Boston though not in full Communion, but by father's Cov- enant." (6)
(1) William Blake's will was proved Jan. 28, 1663. He was born in Little Baddow, Essex, England; sailed from Plymouth in the Mary and John, March 20, 1630; and arrived at Nantasket May 30.
(2) John Blake, with his wife Mary, joined the Third Church Feb. 28, 1671- 2. He died 1688-9.
(3) Anne, wife of Jacob Leager (whose. tombstone is in the possession of the Bostonian Society) joined May 2, 1673. She was in some way connected with the Walkers and Thurstons.
(4) Mrs. Mather (of whom we have already spoken in this chapter) and Mrs. Clements joined March 5, 1674-5. The latter was probably Elizabeth, widow of Augustine Clements, of Dorchester and Boston. She gave a silver cup to the First Church, Dorchester, in 1678. Mrs. Thomas Thacher had given one to it, with "a green cushion for the desk," in 1672. These cups were presented by that church, in 1877, to the Second
Church, of which the Rev. James H. Means was then pastor, "as a token of good fellowship." See Hist. and Gen. Register, July, 1886.
(5) Rebecca Taylor owned the cov- enant in 1676. She was a daughter of Israel Stoughton, a sister of William Stoughton, chief justice and acting gov- ernor, and wife of William Tailer, or Taylor, "one of the greatest merchants of Boston." For an account of Mr. Taylor's suicide, July 12, 1682, see Diary of Noadiah Russell, Hist. and Gen. Register, vol. vii. p. 56.
(6) Ann, daughter of Nathaniel Glover, married, July II, 1673, William Rawson, a son of the secretary, and had twenty children. Her husband owned the cov- enant in 1680, but her name does not appear on any of our church lists.
The Dorchester Church Records con- tain the following particulars in reference to Mrs. Taylor : -
" The 16 (7) 68, Mr. Mather acquainted the church with a motion made to him and the church by Mrs. Stoughton and her daughter Taylor, namely, that her children might be baptized, she being a member of this church by her parents' covenant ; and after much agitation, the issue was that Mr. Mather should speak with Mrs. Taylor, to see if she would join in full communion with the church, and so come to the Lord's supper."
" The 24 (8) 68, Mr. Mather declared to the church that he having spoken with Mrs. Taylor, as aforesaid, her answer was that she did not judge herself worthy or as yet fit for the Lord's supper, and therefore durst not adventure thereupon, but yet did desire baptism for her chil- dren ; but the church would not fully or comfortably agree about it, and so it rested." (See ante, p. 91, note.)
Mrs. Taylor's son, William, was bap- tized at the South Church, July 9, 1676, probably, when she owned the covenant. He became a distinguished man, held many prominent positions, and was lieutenant governor and acting governor under the second charter.]
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167
REFUSAL TO DISMISS THE WOMEN.
Mr. Cotton, Before his carrying forth out of his house it was desired by the Reverend Elders there present, that they might carry him to the tombe, which was denied to them : being 22: I : 69-70 carryed by B[rother] Search Mr. Everill and other brethren of first Church
The old church met where they read the afore menti[o]ned desire of the sisters for their dismission to the church whereof theire husbands were members: After much agitation, 25: 1:70: being put to vote, it past in the negative by lifting up of hands,
After the vote past B : Chever moved that the church would further consider of the sisters petition ; And in case they did not see light to give them a dismission to the church whereof their husbands were members, Then to give them an indefinite dismission, whereupon Mr. Allen bid the Brother forbear, and attend the businesse in hand, If the sisters had any such motion to make, they might express it themselves, Whereupon one of the sisters having a writing in redinesse with the consent of the other sisters present desired it to be handed up to the elders which was as follo[ws] viz
We having presented our humble request for a dismission as we beleive according to rule, upon reasons renderd in that request, to that Church whereof our husbands are and perceiving that it is not acceptable to you doe humbly request that you would grant unto us an indefinite dismission, and soe liberty to joine unto any Church in order.
Subscribed by some sisters in the name of the rest.
This paper above being given up the elder toke it and put it up in his pocket, neither reading it, nor making knowne their re- 25: 1: 1670 quest unto the Church [which] returned no answer unto it.
The sacrament being celebrated at the 3d Church some of the sisters partoke with them and one sister named S : Beck 1 whose husband was no member of this new Church which occa- 27: (1) 70 sioned much dissatisfaction among many brethren of the old Church for peace sake those sisters did forbeare going to the sacrament to the old Church the 3 : of the (2) it being then celebrated, waiting when the Lord would incline the brethren to grant them a dismission, having the assurance from the Elders that they should not by that forbearing of Communion be accompted as sismitickes for rending the Church.
The old Church kept a day of humiliation. [5] 2. 70
Our deare Brother Peter Oliver departed this life,2 II :
1 [S. probably stands for Sister, in this case. Elizabeth, wife or widow of Alexander Beck, joined the new church in 1674. Her son, Manasseh, joined March 6, 1672. His wife, Mary, was a daughter of one of the founders, William Salter.]
2 [" 70. 2 m 11 d Mr Peter Oliver
died and was lamented by all men." - Roxbury Church Records.
Thomas Brattle was chosen and ap- pointed by the General Court "cornet to the troope of horse in the county of Suffolk instead of the late Captain Peter Oliver deceased." - General Court Rec- ords.]
168
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
The sacrament was celebrated at the new Church, where most of the sisters whose husbands were members of it, togither 24: with many sisters of the old Church : both widows and others did partake with them, and after that the sisters whose hus- bands were members of the new Church gave to Elder Pen this fol- lowing paper desiring it to be communicated unto the old Church
Reverend and Dearly beloved in the Lord.
Having had communion with our respective husbands in the Supper of the Lord, this Sabbath, And judging it for ædification and consola- tion so to doe, Wee humbly intreat you, candidly to interpret it, And for the helping of our joy in the Lord for the future, earnestly request you so to release us of our Covenant engagement unto yourselves, that wee may, without offence to you, have liberty so to provide for our own peace and spirituall comfort as may, in our own consciences be most suitable to our duety for our ædification in the Lord : 24 : (2:) 1670
MARGREATT THACHER MARY BRACKITT
MARY SAVAGE ELISABETH ROCK
HULLDAH DAVIS SUSANNA DAWES
MARY TAPPIN
MARY SALTER
LIDIA SCOTTOW
MARY ELLIOT
JUDITH HULL HANNAH FRARY
SARAH WALKER REANIS BELCHER
SARAH OLIVER
I desire the like liberty when god shall give opportunity
RACHEL RAWSON
I doe desire the like
ELISHUA THURSTON
I doe desire the like liberty with the rest of my sisters
ELIZABETH RAYNSFORD
Soe do the wife of James Pemerton
ELIZ ALDEN.1
Mrs. Savage, Mrs. Hull, and goody Dawes were desired to goe up to Mr. Allens where Mr. Oxenbridge, Elder Pen, and some
25 : (2) other Brethren of the old Church were met, where when come a reason was desired to be given of their partaking with the new Church in the Sacrament the last Lords day.
It was answerd Mr. Oxenbridge being treated with by the Church
1 [We have corrected the copy of this letter in the Narrative with the original, in the handwriting of John Hull, pre- served on the files of the Old South. It was a singular mistake on the part of the
compiler of the Narrative, to place, as he did, the name of " Margaret Sheaffe " among the signers. Mrs. Sheaffe mar- ried Mr. Thacher several years before this.]
169
PERPLEXITIES OF THE WOMEN.
about taking of office, declared in his answer to the Church that as for these persons whose hearts were not with the Church whome he termed half members, he desired the Church would take some care about their remove before the day of his ordination, they hearing this it put them upon further thoughts of desiring their dismission : and allso that upon the 18th of this moneth, Elder Pen went to Mrs. Hulls and sister Dawes houses, and to each of them declared, it would be the best expedient for the attayning of their desires, for all the sisters to goe and partake with their husbands in the sacrament that next Lords day, where upon it was replyed by this meanes they should be led into a snare, and bring themselves into further trouble, the Elders answer to Mrs. Hull in the generall was, that he would stand betwixt them and any trouble on that Accompt, for he knew no sin in their partak- ing with their husbands, it was answered likewise that on the 21th of this instant two of these sisters had bin with Mr. Oxenbridge to be informed of the truth of what was reported referring to
ordination to cleare the sisters from the Church whose answer then was to that effect, whereupon they desiring him to give them his advice and counsell what the sisters should doe in this case, informing him what Elder Pens advice was, his answer was, that it was not con- venient for him to give advice as things were circumstanced, but would tell them what his opinion was, that it would be best for all the sisters to partake, and his reason was because they could but be dealt withall by the Church if they did partake and should be soe if they did forbeare, for the not giving constant attendance upon the Ministrie of the word everie Lords day, whereupon was farther asked whither they should forbeare this sacrament day in partaking with their hus- bands and ask the Church leave again before they did partake, his answer was no, it was further asked what if they should stay half a yeare what hope is there for them to obtaine their dismission, if there were any hope they should willingly wait, it was answerd by him no it would be for the worse, God may change their hearts, but for pres- ent I have no hope of it, this is your onely opportunity now or never in my opinion, the sisters further said, shall we not come into trouble by the Church for soe doing, he answered I tell you, how you may salve the matter, goe and partake, and when you have soe done draw up a few lines to be presented unto the Church which they did as before is expressed, this they gave in as their answer to the Elders and Brethren being called before them to give Account of their par- taking with their husbands in the Sacrament the Lords day preceding ; at this meeting Mr. Stoddard retorted upon Elder Pen that he had never ruled him in the Church nor ever should, to whome it was replyed he spake very true and that had bin the cause of the trouble which had befallen the church. The old Church passed this vote against
his speech to the Church on the Lords day relating to his
1670
170
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
the sisters the same day they communicated with their husbands with- out calling them before them or desiring to know the ground of their actings 24 : 2 : 1670
Whereas we have received testimonie under the hands of some of our sisters, that they have had communion with those with whom we have declared we cannot hold communions till they remove offences given us Notwithstanding the warning the Church hath given against such communion with them as that which would be very offensive to them We do declare, therefore we cannot have communion with such of ours at the Lord's table who have and do communicate with them, untill they give us satisfaction, they having broken that rule: I Cor : 10: 32.1
JAMES ALLEN JAMES PEN
28 : (2) 1670
The new Church had a meeting and voted this following letter to be sent by three Brethren to the old Church which was delivered the next day to Mr. James Allen, who in presence of Captaine Savage, Mr. Usher, and Josh : Scottow promised to communicate it to the Church.
To the Honourd Reverend and dearely beloved, the first gathred Church in Boston.
Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed.
This humbly presents itself to your candid acceptance, as an an- swer to that which you directed to our Pastor (a coppie whereof you sent to the messengers of the Churches met at that ordination) for the whole assembly, it was not publiquely read, true, that is not . to be imputed to us alone. the messengers of the Churches judged that there was nothing in it, that could justly retard our proceeding :
when we revolve the comforts of love and fellowship of the spirit we enjoyed so long in one society with you, wee account it our afflic- tion that we were necessitated soe to depart from you. yet we esteem it no boldnes but duty thankfully to owne the favour of God in the con- sent of so many magistrates Elders and Churches with their prayers and blessing at our Church gathering and in providing such officers for us, your objections against the ordination of them center in this question. whither our peaceable secession were lawfull or no.
To cleare the affirmative we pray you to consider us as if it were the case of yourselves in particular, or of others in whome you are in no wayes concerned.
1 [" Give none offence, neither to the church of God." We find this vote in Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the the record book of the Third Church.]
.
I71
REPLY TO THE FIRST CHURCH.
first we doubt not but it is the liberty of all the Brethren of a Church, in all Church affaires, which are to be mannaged by the brethren espe- cially in the choice of their owne officers to consent or dissent upon scripture grounds, as they are fully persuaded in their owne mindes, in which liberty we as well as others ought to stand fast : Gall : 5 : 1 : of this liberty were we deprived, on the 10th day of 6th moneth 1668 when you renewd your call of Reverend Mr. Davenport to teaching office, and he fully accepted of it, as by the Churchs letter of New Haven dated 12 : (8) 1668 doth appeare, as they writ from his owne letter to them, and that was done unanimously as he saith, which ar- gueth that we were not owned as having any inthrest with you, whose dissent you know in the matter, and how we were excluded and secluded by you, we shall omit other times wherein we were not called to your Church meetings, counsells, and transactions. in that affaire, with other greivances which we could alledge, neither doe we know any rule or example in the word, that a ruling elder or elders with the Major part of the Church have any such power to impose officers upon the minor part, being many of their Brethren dissenting, and to compell them to submit to and abide under their authority.
2ly we desire you to consider how far the chief reasons have. been cleared up to be just by the providence of God as first we were unsat- isfyed about Reverend mr. Davenport leaving of his Church at New haven without their consent, yourselves allso professed that without their dismission you would not proceed, yea that being once denyed by them you would insist no further on that motion, but now it is mani- fest that your renewed and confirmed election was acted before you had any colour of their dismission, yea by that letter which was con- cealed, they wholly and that from principles of conscience denyed to grant any dismission, yea in their last letter out of which was extracted so much as might carry some show of a dismission, they expressely denyed it, and that upon solid arguments, they could not in conscience grant a dismission to him, though indeed its true, there was in it an humble submission of him to the providence of God, in a professed, involuntary leaving of him and yourselves, to proceed in that which they had no power though a right to hinder you from. Our second chief reason was from our solemn ingagement to have our seed owned as members under the watch and discipline of the Church, and you know how the Elders acted in the face of the Church in the case of Brother Negus daughter, even without any vote of the Church, where- by we perceive how we should be deprived of that right which to our consciences is just and necessary.
Thirdly considering the sentence of the Councill called by your- selves wholly, against which and the defence thereof you 28. (2) 1670. never gave any reason for your non attendance thereunto, according to which we soe sesnably and often by our humble ad-
172
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
dresses to the Church desired our dismission, and with much patience waited untill we were denyed by the vote of the Church and attempts made to intangle us for our laboring after it ; whereupon we saw no other way but to crave the councill of Churches what we ought to doe in such a case, the assembling of the eleven Churches by their mes- sengers being a lawful Councill, as having all the causes of a Coun- cill, see Platf : Disc : ch : 16 : sect : 2 : their result you know, and the grounds and reasons of it from the word you never answerd, all these things considered, it is manifest that our secession was upon just and necessary grounds, and acted not rashly or onely upon our owne heads and wills (as your letter unjustly and untrewly affirms) but upon mature deliberation, and upon the grave and sound advice of the Churches by their Elders and messengers unanimously agreeing togither, we owne the Ministeriall power of Churches, soe long as they act by the rules of the supreme the Lord Jesus Christ but the exer- cise of such an absolute power over the members of Christ to deny them their lawfull liberties, and to hold them as in a prison, desiring their dismission upon just reason, this we cannot beleive, nor could our submission to your officers, had we bin forced to it, stand with our peace and edification, If the Apostles assumed no power but unto edification, not as Lords of the peoples faith but helpers of their joy, why should any Church ascribe more unto themselves over their Brethren, consider doe they not break Covenant with them that doe soe. neither can we beleive but that our Lord Jesus Christ hath pro- vided a remedy for his Saints injured in his Church, as well as to pre- serve the power of a Major part, which remedy being left Acts: 15 : we ha[ve] duely attended : which case of ours in making a peaceable secession, and which remedy of Councill of Churches is generally allowed by the divines of the Congregational way, as may be proved from Mr. Davenports Apollogie, and the writings of others but Mr. Norton to Apollonius may be consulted (if need be) page 55. and our Platform of Disc. ch : 13 : S : 2 : 3 : 4: when a member may lawfully remove, the Church cannot lawfully deteine him, &c.
Our secession being thus cleared up not onely to ourselves, but to the impartiall judgement of soe many Churches by their messengers the objections in your letter doe fall of themselves. for.
first thence it followeth that Mr. Thatcher is not under blame in joyning himself unto this our Church, neither our Elder nor our dea- cons.
2ly nor is our Church incapable of electing officers, and accept- ing of them. As for the lawes of the Commonweale we find no such thing in them, that should hinder our proceeding, having had the con- sent of 7 magistrates and 5 Churches to our Church state, no Church or magistrate objecting against us, but those who were members of your Church who were the parties necessitating us to proceed as we
173
MR. DAVENPORT'S SUCCESSOR.
have done, the other three magistrates with them onely declaring their desire of our desisting at the present, therefore to us it seems some- thing hard and very groundlesse, that we are represented by you as disaffected and prejudiciall to the commonwealth for no other cause, your other sharp expressions, hard censures, bitter invectives, and un- just reproches, we very willingly passe by, knowing that love is not easily provoked, desiring rather to overcome such evill with good, and to commit ourselves unto the Lord who judgeth righteously, and soe intreating the renewing of your brotherly love towards us, with the most hearty profession of our sincere brotherly love to you, and desire that once at length, through the grace of our Lord Jesus we may have all our uncomfortable differences and distances totaly carryed into the land of forgitfullnes, and buryed in everlasting oblivion, that we may not be necessitated to insist on things more particularly which we are unwilling to doe, humbly crave leave to subscribe, as we are indeed.
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