USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 49
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June 4. 1728. I holp to assist the Committee for allowing Mr. John Cleverly Ten Shillings a Sabbath for preaching at George-Town, on Arrowsick, for one year, to be paid Quarterly : petition'd for by Mr. Denny and others. I mention'd what I had read out of Isa 32. 20, Sowing by all Waters. Mr. Cooper said had sown little or nothing by these waters yet. Laus Deo. (Sewall.)
1 His daughter Abigail joined the 1761. Arnold Welles married Susanna, Old South in 1756, and his son Arnold, daughter of John Jones, of Bristol, Eng- Harv. Coll. 1745, owned the covenant in land, and died in 1802.
432 ?
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Judgt? Sewall had visited Arrowsic Island on the Kennebec River in ' 717, with Governor Shute, and always afterward took a deep interest in the prosperity of the settlement there.
At a church Meeting, June 26. 1728.
Voted - I. That the New Meeting House be built with Brick.
II. That the Subscribers doe each of them pay in to the Treasurer a third part of their subscriptions, on or before the Ioth of July next.
III. That the Honble Daniel Oliver having desired to be excused from serving as Treasurer for the Building ;
Voted - That Capt. Osborne be the Treasurer, to receive the money to be collected towards the Building the New Meeting House ; and to pay out the same according to the orders of the committee for Build- ing.
IV. That the committee for Building proceed to purchase such Materials as they shall judge proper to be laid in before Winter,1 and take other methods to forward the Building, as soon as the Treasurer hath money in his hands to enable them.
Voted - That fifteen pounds be given to Joseph Secombe, out of the collection towards his support at the College.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
On the morning of Thursday, July 4, which had been set apart as a day of prayer, on account of the prevailing drought, the moral sense of the town received a shock as startling as that which had disturbed the foundations of the buildings a few months before, and even more terrible. Two young men on Wednesday evening had risen, flushed with wine, from a quarrel over a card-table in the Royal Exchange Tavern, King Street, had gone to the Common, and there, "near the water side," had fought a duel with small swords, which proved almost imme- diately fatal to one of them. The unhappy victim of this quar- rel was Benjamin Woodbridge, son of the Hon. Dudley Wood- bridge, judge advocate of the island of Barbadoes, and agent of the South Sea Company there.2 He was only twenty years of age, and had just commenced business with Jonathan Sewall, a nephew of Judge Sewall. The still more unhappy youth who survived the duel was Henry Phillips, son of Samuel Phillips, a much respected bookseller.3 His mother was Hannah, daughter
1 [Dr. Wisner mentions a tradition that all the mortar was made the autumn before it was used.]
2 He was the agent of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For- eign Parts, and Hutchinson says he was the projector of paper money in Bar-
badoes. See Memoir of the Rev. Nath. Ward, A. M., by John Ward Dean, p. 193.
3 John Dunton, in his Letters from New England, speaks of Mr. Phillips in 1686 as an old correspondent, and de- scribes him as "young, witty and the
433
THE FIRST DUEL IN BOSTON.
of Benjamin and Hannah (Savage) Gillam. He was baptized at the South Church, of which his parents were members, Febru- ary 25, 1704-5, and he graduated at Harvard College in 1724, in the same class with Adam Winthrop (third of the name), Andrew Belcher (third of the name), Andrew Oliver (Senior), Dudley Woodbridge (third of the name), Phillips Payson, and Joseph Park. He was in his twenty-fourth year, and had re- cently gone into partnership with his brother Gillam, to con- tinue the business of their late father. With the help of Gillam Phillips,1 Peter Faneuil, and John Winslow, he made his escape by getting on board a British man-of-war which was just leaving the harbor, and when the town awoke next morning to the ex- citement which was awaiting it he was far out at sea. He found a refuge at Rochelle, in France, and died there within a year, of grief and a broken heart.2
The high standing of the parties implicated in this duel, and of the families made desolate by it, did not prevent the ministers of the town from speaking out faithfully and solemnly against the sin itself and the evil courses which had led to it. Mr. Colman, to whose care young Woodbridge had been commended by his father on leaving home, took his text on the following Sunday from Job x. 22, " Without any order." The whole pas- sage reads : "Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death ; a land of dark- ness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness." The preacher in his application spoke of "a late hopeful and promising youth, who was heretofore of us, a child of great expectation, but he went out from us, and ran himself into the paths of the de- stroyer and an untimely death." And again : " You see, Children, what comes of leaving these Churches after an Education in them : even Duelling and Bloodshed and Flight from Country and Friends, may come of Bursting the Bonds of God asunder, and going after Strangers, and into the Manners Customs and impious Maxims of the World." Evidently Woodbridge had most beautiful man in the whole town of visited Mrs. Ph. O Lord sanctify thine awfull Judgment to her. Give her Son a thorow Repentance." Boston ; he's very just and (as an effect of that) thriving." He died in 1720, at the age of fifty-eight. He was not de- scended from the Rev. George Phillips, Watertown.
1 Gillam Phillips married Marie, sister of Peter Faneuil.
2 July 4. 1728. "In the Evening I
Jan. 22. 1728-9. "Mr. Thacher, Mr. Prince and I met at Mrs. Phillip's, and Pray'd for her Son. I hope God gra- ciously assisted. Lord pardon the hain- ous Sins of that young man, Convert and Heal his Soul." (J. Sewall.)
434
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
been a member of the Brattle Street congregation. The ser- mon was printed under the title, Death and the Grave with- out any Order. On the 18th of July, at the Thursday Lecture, Mr. Sewall preached a sermon, the subject of which was, He that would keep God's Commandments must Renounce the So- ciety of Evil Doers. His text was Psalm cxix. 115: "Depart from me, ye evil-doers : for I will keep the commandments of my God." He endeavored to show the evil and danger of wicked company, and he condemned duelling as a bloody crime. To- wards the close he said :-
Nor hath any word been spoken with a design to wound such as are greatly distressed. No ! my heart's desire and prayer is, That they may be enabl'd to Mourn after a godly sort, and then Experience the Presence of Christ with them, giving them the oyl of joy for Mourn- ing. May the Comforter which shou'd relieve their Souls not be far from them, And God, who can make all things work together for good, bring light to them out of this thick darkness.
The sermon was published, with a preface signed by the other Congregational ministers of the town, ten in number.
A new governor arrived at midsummer, in the person of Wil- liam Burnet, a son of the famous Bishop of Salisbury. His administration was to be a brief one, but he was very heartily received and very handsomely entertained on his arrival.1 On the Thursday following Mr. Prince preached before his Excel- lency and the General Court from Psalm lxxviii. 70-72 : "He chose David also his servant, and took him from the sheep- folds : from following the ewes great with young, he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance. So he fed them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them by the skilfulness of his hands." The sermon was printed ; its title was, Civil Rulers Raised up by God to Feed His People.
August 31. We are under difficulty respecting the Admission of a Member. His admission was suspended. Lord hear my poor peti- tions. Shew the Church what thou wouldst have us to doe. Let thy people keep close to Scripture rules, and require nothing more than God requires. O enable us to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (J. Sewall.)
1 " On the 19th Inst. Governor Burnet came to Town. The Ministers waited on him, and Mr. Colman made a short Speech to him. O Lord incline thy Ser- vant to favour this people, in our reli-
gious and civil Privileges! Bless him Pouring out thy Spirit . . . upon him." "August 6. Some of the Ministers met and pray'd together for the Govern- or &c." (J. Sewall.)
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435
TERMS OF MEMBERSHIP.
The difficulty thus briefly referred to by Mr. Sewall seems to have led the church to define more precisely than before the qual- ifications upon which it would insist in those seeking admission to its membership. The question, as a practical one, may never have presented itself for settlement until now. The prayer of the pastor, of which he tells us, seems to have been answered, for the church determined, as the result of this discussion, to "keep close to Scripture rules " in this important matter, and to " require nothing more than God requires," and than was re- quired in the apostolic age, of candidates for church membership in full communion.1
At a Church Meeting, Septr. 1728.
Voted -- That such as come into full Communion should make a publick Profession of their Repentance towards God, and Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, of their Belief of the Scriptures as a perfect Rule of Faith and life, and of their Resolution, by the Grace of God, to walk according to them. JOSEPH SEWALL.2
At a church Meeting, Octr. 29. 1728.
Voted -I. That sixty pounds be given out of the stock remaining of the collections for pious and charitable uses, for the supply of the Poor of this church and congregation, with Wood and other Necessa- ries of life.
II. That Mr. William Rand, Mr. [Joseph] Belknap, and Mr. [John] Durant, be desired to collect what is behind of the first Payment of subscriptions towards the New Meeting House, and pay it to the Treasurer.
JOSEPH SEWALL.3
1 " The fundamental doctrines of Christianity are not the deep results of metaphysical skill or learned investiga- tion, but those evident truths which all men of ordinary capacity and diligence may receive from a perusal of the Bible. According to the most enlightened and orthodox judgment, among Christians, 'no doctrine is a fundamental, a neces- sary article of a Christian's faith, but what is so plainly and distinctly revealed as that an ordinary Christian, sincere in his inquiries, cannot miss of the knowl- edge of it.'"
" All that," says Baxter, " without which a man cannot be a good and holy Chris- tian, is plain and easy in itself; and Christ did choose therefore to speak to the capacity of the meanest." - White's N. Eng. Congregationalism, pp. 166, 167.
2 [" October 28. The last week two aged pious Women of our Communion
were buried, the Widow Wheeler, about 83, and the Widow Horton, about 80 or 81." (J. Sewall.)]
3 [“ Nov. II. I understand there was about 39 pounds gather'd privately on the Lord's day, part for publick uses of piety and charity. There was £6.10.0 put into the Box directed to me, about £13.10.0, to Mr. Prince. Lord bless those who thus contribute to our mainte- nance, with spiritual and temporal bless- ings. Shew thy people their Duty, and enable us to fulfill our Ministry."
"Dec. 15. I preach'd from I John I. 7. Took occasion to thank the Congre- gation for the liberal Collection made the last Lord's day for our support, of which my part was £79.12.2." (J. Sewall.)
A few days after this Mr. Sewall was chosen a Fellow of Harvard College, and the choice was confirmed by the overseers January 2.]
436
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
At a church Meeting [at Mr. Sewall's house] Jany 15. 1728-9
Voted - I. That Mr. Timothy Prout be added to the Committee for Building.
II. Upon a representation made to the church by the Committee for Building, that the money paid in to the Treasurer, was near expended,
Voted, That another third part be paid in, on or before the Ioth of March next ; and the subscribers are desired to pay it in accordingly.
III. That a committee be chosen to take an account of the Pews in this House, and who have a right to them according to the votes of the church: That a reasonable consideration may be made to them, agreeable to a vote pass'd Febr. 27. 1727-8.
IV. That Anthony Stoddard Esq. Mr. James Pemberton and Mr. [George] Bethune, be of this committee.
V. That a committee be chosen to consider where it may be most convenient, for the church and congregation to meet on the Lord's days, after this House shall be taken down, and while the New House is in Building.
VI. That the Honble. Coll. Fitch, Daniel Oliver, Secretary Willard, Mr. Lewis, and Deacon Henchman, with the Elders [that is, the pas- tors] of the church, be of this committee.
Then the Meeting was Adjourned to the 28th of this Instant, Jan- uary.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a church Meeting, Jany 21. 1728-9
Whereas through the good Providence of God there is a considera- ble Legacy bequeathed to this church by Mrs. Anne Mills, the Relict of Mr. Henry Mills, late of Watertown, to be improved for the Relief of the poor of this church and congregation :
Voted - That Anthony Stoddard Esq. Deacon Henchman, and Mr. James Pemberton, be a committee to receive this Legacy according to the tenour of the Will, and give proper discharges to the executors.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Mrs. Mills became a member of the church in 1690. After making certain bequests, she provided by her will that all the rest and residue of her estate should be divided as follows: one quarter part to the Old or First Church in Boston, one quarter part to the South Church, one quarter part to the church in the east parish in Watertown, and one quarter part to the church in the west parish.1 The South Church received as its share about £280, in securities, but we are uncertain as to how much it realized upon them.
At a church Meeting Jany. 28. 1728-9.
The Report of the committee appointed to consider where it may
1 See ante, p. 408, note.
437
COURTESY OF THE FIRST CHURCH.
be most convenient for the church and congregation to meet &c., was read and accepted, and
Voted -I. That it will be most convenient for the church and con- gregation to meet on the Lord's days after the present Meeting House shall be taken down, and while the New House is building, at the Old Brick Meeting House.
II. That it will be most convenient to meet twice on each Lord's day at said Brick Meeting-House, saving on their Sacrament days.
Upon which it was agreed that a letter, then read and accepted should be sent to the Old church in a respectfull manner to ask this Privilege of them. JOSEPH SEWALL.
Feb. 16. 1728-9. I preach'd from Eph. 4. 3. O Lord enable thy people to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the bond of Peace ! Our Letter to the Old Church, and their Answer granting us the Privilege of assembling in their Meeting-House was read. (J. Sewall.)
At a church Meeting Febr. 18. 1728-9.
I. Whereas this church have determined with submission' to the Providence of God, to build a New Meeting House, in the place where our present Meeting House stands, and the Materials for building are in a considerable forwardness ;
Voted- That this Meeting House be taken down.
II. That the committee for Building, viz: the Honble. Jonathan Belcher, Edward Winslow Esq. Mr. Ezekiel Lewis, Mr. Samuel Welles, Mr. Timothy Prout and Mr. William Foye, be impowered and directed to take down our present Meeting House, as soon as conveniently may be after the 24th of this Instant, February.
III. That the said committee be directed to dispose of our present Meeting House to the best advantage.
IV. Voted - That the church Propose, God willing, to begin to As- semble for publick Worship in the Old Brick Meeting House on the Lord's day which will be on the 9th of March next, at II. A. M. and 4 P. M. ; And that the congregation be desired to assemble with them.
V. Voted -That the Pastors of this church be desired to return our hearty thanks to the Old Church, for the Liberty they have given us of Assembling in their Meeting House ; and to inform them that we purpose God Willing, to begin to meet there on the 9th of March next.
VI. That Friday come sennight, Febr. 28. be observed by this church as a day of Fasting and Prayer, to humble ourselves before God for all our unfruitfulness under the means of Grace enjoyed in this Meeting House, and to ask his Presence and Blessing upon us in the momentous affair of taking down this House, and building another for his Publick Worship ; and that the congregation be desired to join with us in this Solemnity.
)
438
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
VII. Whereas, Capt. Timothy Cunningham 1 in his last Will and Testament generously bequeathed to this church two hundred pounds ; and the Execution of his Will by order of his Mother, Mrs. Ruth Cunningham, falling into the Hands of his Elder and only Brother, Mr. Nathaniel Cunningham, to whom the committee of this church have made application for the said Legacy, and which he offered to pay, at the same time signifying his desire that the money should be invested in a Bell for the new House now going to be built :
Voted - That the said Money be applied to the purchasing as good a Bell as it will procure ; and that in honour and gratitude to the Memory of the Donor, there be the following Inscription cast on the Bell : viz.
THE GIFT OF CAPT. TIMOTHY CUNNINGHAM TO THE SOUTH CHURCH IN BOSTON ; WHO DIED AT SEA, SEPTR 12. 1728
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Mrs. Ruth Edwards, widow of George Edwards, joined the church in 1685. She afterward became the wife of Timothy Cunningham, and the baptism of their children, Ruth, Hannah, and Nathaniel, is recorded in 1689 and later. The baptism of their son Timothy is not recorded ; nor do we find either his name or that of his brother Nathaniel among the members of the church. Of their interest in the church, however, there can be no doubt. Nathaniel, a man of large wealth, when he died (in London) in 1748, left to it by his will sixty ounces of silver, to be made into some proper vessel for the communion table, and £500 for its poor.2 His daughter Ruth and her distin- guished husband, James Otis, were afterward members of the church and congregation. The bell, purchased with the be- quest of Timothy Cunningham, did faithful service in the Old South tower until the autumn of 1815, when it was cracked while ringing an alarm of fire. The inscription on it, which commemorated the name and generosity of the donor for more than two generations, we now enter upon these pages, in the hope that he will continue to be held in grateful remembrance while the church endures.
1 [Benjamin Walker in his Diary, September 23, 1728, says that Timothy Cunningham's sloop arrived from Anti- gua on that day, and that Mr. Cunning- ham had died on the passage. " He was a brisk likely young man."]
2 Nathaniel, son of Nathaniel Cun-
ningham, married Sarah, daughter of Christopher Kilby. They had two daughters, Susannah and Sarah; and the younger of these had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married the seventh Duke of Argyll. (See the cut at the head of this chapter.)
439
THE OLD MEETING-HOUSE.
In accordance with the vote of the church special services were held on Friday, February 28. In the forenoon, Mr. Fox- croft offered prayer, and Mr. Prince preached from Lam. iii. 41, "Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." In the afternoon Mr. Colman assisted, and Mr. Sewall preached from Psalm cxxvii. I : "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain." Mr. Sewall says in his journal : "I hope we had the Tokens of God's gracious Presence with us. The congregation generally at- tended, and many others with them. I hope God enabled me in, publick and private, to look earnestly to him this day. O Lord, hear, Forgive and doe as the matter may require." On Sunday, March 2, the last sermons were preached in the old building to very large congregations,1 and on the following day, Mr. Sewall having prayed with the workmen, the process of demolition began. " On the 4th. this ancient building was taken down, about 5, P. M. No hurt done." "Several of the beams and timbers " were found to be so much "decayed " that it was "apprehended " the "crowded " assemblies on the preceding Sabbath "had a very gracious preservation." Mr. Sewall, after recording this, says : " I thank thee, O thou Preserver of men. Reconcile thy Servants who have been opposite to this Work, and let there be good Agreement among thy people in the things that are pleasing in thy sight." 2
March 9. We met in the Old-Meeting-House. Mr. Prince preach'd from Ps. 119. 54. The House of my Pilgrimage. I preach'd P. M. from Isai. 12. 2. I will trust and not be afraid. O Lord enable me and thy people to put our Trust in thee !
1 " I preach'd P. M. from Ps. 127. I. A very great Assembly I hope God helped me. But have great Reason to be hum- bled under my own great Weakness, having forgot to propound three persons for full communion. Lord shew me my own frailties and infirmities." (J. Sewall.) 2 March 4. "Cut the posts and pull'd house down, it fell into the meeting- house ground." (B. Walker.)
They began to lay the stone founda- tion for the new building March 31, " seven feet below the pavement of the street." The old building "was near 75 feet long, and near 51 wide; besides the
southern, eastern and western porches ; the length of this is near 95 feet, breadth near 68, besides the western tower, and eastern and southern porches." N. Eng. Weekly Journal, March 31, April 28, 1729. Drake's Hist. and Antiq. p. 584.
August 18. 1729. "On the 15th I pray'd with the workmen who are raising the Roof of the Meeting-House, again this day. I thank thee O Thou Pre- server of men, that this difficult work is so far accomplish'd and with so little hurt to any person. (Two were some- thing hurt and others in danger.)" (J. Sewall.)
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440
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
March 27. A person of our Church came to me, acknowledging he had committed a very hainous Sin. I pray'd with him. O Lord re- buke Satan! Save this miserable young man from his Pride discon- tent &c. I hope God hath bless'd our Endeavours with him.
May 28. Several Ministers met at my House.
May 29. Mr. Colman Preach'd the Sermon to the Ministers in Publick from 2 Thess. 3. 1. Brethren, pray for us. A considerable number of Ministers met again after dinner.1 (J. Sewall.)
At a church Meeting [at Mr. Sewall's house] Septr. 30. 1729.
Whereas the church is determined with submission to Providence to assemble for the Worship of God in the New Meeting House before winter, there being an hopefull prospect that the House will be in a condition to receive us, tho' not compleatly finished :
Voted-That the subscribers be desired to pay in the Remainder of their subscriptions forthwith. JOSEPH SEWALL. 2
At a church Meeting, Octr. 29. 1729.
Voted - That the Treasurer be desired and impowered to borrow such a sum of money as the committee for building shall judge need- full for expediting the Building, not exceeding Eight Hundred Pounds, which sum or sums so borrowed, the Brethren of the church hereby oblige themselves to repay to said Treasurer within six moneths from the time of borrowing the Money.
Voted - That Mr. James Pemberton, Mr. Samuel Gerrish 3 and Deacon Henchman be a committee to inquire of the Seaters &c. of other churches in this Town, concerning their methods relating to the tenure of their Pews ; and make a Report to this church at their next Meeting JOSEPH SEWALL.
Upon a Report made, Voted - That the thanks of the church be
1 [We suppose that this sermon was preached at the South meeting house, as the ministers' meetings were held at Mr. Sewall's parsonage. We have no ac- count in Mr. Sewall's diary of the ser- mons in 1730 and 1731; in 1732 Mr. Colman preached again, his text being Rev. ii. 1.]
2 [" Sept 30. We had a Church Meet- ing at my House. Lord hear our Prayers. Let the House be seasonably finish'd ; Preserve thy people, and Provide well for them in the mean time. O thou great Shepherd keep us together, Lead and Feed us! The Evening before the Pastors with two other of the Brethren (agreable to the Church's Desire) Ad-
monish'd D of his late scandulous Sins. He expresseth a sorrow for them and a readiness to Confess them. Lord give him the sorrow which is to repent- ance. Recover him and others fallen. O revive a godly Discipline among us more and more." (J Sewall.)]
3 [James Pemberton was a grandson of James Pemberton, one of the founders of the church, and a nephew of its third minister. Samuel Gerrish was a son of the Rev. Joseph Gerrish of Wenham. He married, first, Mary, daughter of Judge Sewall, who died at the age of nineteen ; and secondly, Sarah, daughter of John Coney. He was a bookseller, and town clerk from 1733 to 1741.]
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