USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 52
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66
591 ; Memorial History of Boston, vol. ii. P. 539. Mrs. Oliver died May 21, 1735, and her funeral sermon, by Mr. Prince, is in the Prince Library.
1 [" Boston, April 18. 1728, at the House of William Welsteed Esqr.
" Upon Consideration had of the In- troduction of Mr. Timothy White into the stated Preaching of the Gospel on the Island of Nantucket: And having received from him a serious Declaration, and Assurance of his Willingness to en- ter also upon the Service of the Souls of the Indians on said Island ; Voted that Fifty Pounds of the Money put into our Hands by the Reverend Mr. Thomas Cotton of Hamstead near London, be advanced to Mr. Timothy White for his encouragement and Support in that Ser- vice.
SAML SEWALL WM WELSTEED
BENJA COLMAN."
Sewall's Letter Book, vol. ii. p. 240.]
461
HOLLIS STREET CHURCH.
V. That the Remainder, being about six Pounds, be allowed to Mr. John Cleverly, for his preaching the Gospel at Freetown.
VI. That the committee for building the Meeting-House, be desired to lay their accounts before the church at their next Meeting.
VII. That there be a committee to survey the Ministerial Houses which are out of Repair, and make a Report to the church at their next Meeting. That Mr. Pemberton, Mr. Cushing, Mr. Durant, and Mr. Foster be of this committee.
VIII. Whereas the church stock is not sufficient to bear the charges of paying for the Ministers' wood, and necessary Repairs of the Min- isters' Houses ; Voted -
That there be a publick collection on the Lord's Day, 29th of this Instant.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
The South Church took much interest in the gathering of Hollis Street Church, which was formed November 14. Gov- ernor Belcher gave the land on which the meeting-house had been built ;1 Dr. Sewall drew up the form of covenant; and the following members of the church and congregation joined the new organization : John Clough, Caleb Eddy, John Bennett, Henry Gibbon, Joseph Payson, and Isaac Loring. Mather Byles, grandson of Increase Mather, was ordained as its first minister, December 20.2
Mr. Joseph Maylem died January 29, 1733, in the seventy- fifth year of his age. He had kept a private house of entertain- ment in School Street. By his will, he left five pounds to each of the ministers, and twenty pounds to the poor of the South Church. 3 His widow, "a very discreet, industrious woman," died a few weeks later, March 6.
1 " Governor Belcher resided [or had a residence] in Orange Street in 1732. Shaw says he resided in King Street, and that the State Bank occupied the site of his residence. I locate him by the selectmen's books, in which they record, January 12, that 'His Excellency Gov- ernor Belcher had liberty granted him to dig up the pavement to carry a drain from his house in Orange Street '" etc. - Drake's Hist. and Antiq. of Boston, P. 585.
2 July 6. 1731. "I pray'd with the men who this Day Raise the New-Meet- ing House at the South End. Lord overrule that Affair for the Advance- ment of Christ's Kingdom in the Town : Let Him Increase."
. Nov. 14. 1732. " This day was kept as a Day of Prayer by the New Society at the South. Mr. Checkly began, then Mr. Cooper prayd. Dr. Colman preach'd from 2 Cor. 8. 5. Then Mr. Webb prayd. Thirteen of the Brethren entred into Covenant, forming a distinct Church. I read the Covenant to them and then Pray'd."
Dec. 20. "Mr. Byles was ordain'd Pastor to the New Church. Mr. Prince began, with Prayr. Mr. Byles preach'd from 2 Tim 3. 17. Then Mr. Walter pray'd. I gave the Charge. (Dr. Col- man was chosen, but declin'd it,) and Dr. Colman the right Hand of Fellow- ship." (J. Sewall.)
3 Neither his name, nor that of his
462
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
At a church Meeting March 20. 1733.
Voted - I. That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Fast next ensuing, March 29 ; the money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses as this church shall determine.
II. That the congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection.
III. That the Deacons be desired in the best manner they can, to procure two Velvet Palls, one for grown persons and the other for children, out of the money collected at the communion, for the benefit of the Poor of this church.
Collected 87. 10. 3 For Mr. Hale 56.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Deacon Bartholomew Green had died December 28, 1732, "a pious worthy man," says Dr. Sewall. We have already quoted from a notice of him in the News-Letter, the paper which he printed for nearly thirty years, and of which he had been the proprietor since 1722. He was a son of Samuel Green, "the famous printer of Cambridge," who came to New England with Governor Winthrop in 1630. The church chose as the successor of Deacon Green, Jonathan Simpson, "a noted shopkeeper" of the town, who lived to a venerable age. He had been admitted to the membership in 1707. His name appears on a petition with the names of Samuel Adams, Thomas Peck and others, in 1715, for leave to erect a meeting-house in Summer Street ; but if at that time he thought of assisting in this new religious enterprise, he afterward changed his mind.
At a church Meeting Augt. 7. 1733.
Mr. Jonathan Simpson was chosen into the Deacon's office ; And . the Pastors and Deacons of the church were appointed to acquaint him with the choice the church hath made, and to beg his acceptance of it.
Voted - That the House in which our Rev'd. Pastor, Mr. Thomas
wife Hannah, is on the list of members, but Dr. Sewall, in recording their deaths in his diary, says that they were " of our communion. Seven of their children were baptized at the South Church be- tween 1689 and 1703. Drake thinks that Joseph Maylem may have been a son of "John Mylam," one of the signers of the paper urging the building of the new meeting house of the First Church in 1639, on the Green. See ante, pp. 135- 139.
John Maylem was baptized January 20, 1694-5, and graduated at Harvard College, with Samuel Checkley (the third), in 1715. He wrote two poems entitled respectively, The Conquest of Louisburg, and Gallic Perfidy, for which see Tyler's Hist. of Am. Literature, vol. ii. P. 54. Of the first, the critic says that it is " tumultuous, gory and gigantesque." Children of John and Ann Maylem were baptized at the South Church between 1734 and 1739.
463
A MISSION TO THE INDIANS.
Prince dwells, be new shingled so soon as conveniently may be ; And that the committee appointed to survey the Ministerial Houses, be a committee to manage this affair. JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a church Meeting Augt 14. 1733.
The account of the committee for repairing the Ministerial Houses was read and accepted ; And the thanks of the church given for their care and pains in this affair.
Voted - I. That the Honble. Thomas Fitch, Anthony Stoddard Esqrs. Messrs. Hugh Vans, Thomas Cushing junr. and John Hunt be a committee to examine the accounts of the committee for building and of the Treasurer ; and make a Report to the church on Wednes- day the 29th of this Instant.
Any Three of them to have power to act.
II. That the Committee for building take care that the weight of the Tongue of our Bell be increased according to their best Discretion. JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a church Meeting Septr. 5. 1733
Whereas by the Report of a committee specially appointed by the church Augt. 14. 1733, it appears necessary to raise very speedily 469. 12. 7. viz.
To defray the charge of repairing the Minis- terial Houses .
150. o. o. To pay for wood for our Rev'd Pastors . II6. o. o.
To defray the charge of Paving, Posts &c. about the Meeting House . .
59. 18. 9. To pay the balance due for building the Meet- ing House .
143. 13. 10.
£469. 12. 7 ..
Therefore voted, that Messrs. Jonathan Loring, Samuel Rand, Daniel Goffe and John Trail be a committee to take subscriptions for raising the said sum, and to pay it to the Treasurer for the Purposes above said.
Voted, That the Honble. Thomas Fitch, Anthony Stoddard and George Bethune Esqrs. be added to the committee for increasing the weight of the Tongue of our Bell. JOSEPH SEWALL.
In 1709 the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge was chartered under the great seal of Scotland. Its primary object had been to carry the gospel to destitute places in the highlands and islands of Scotland; but before many years it directed its attention to North America. In 1730 Governor Belcher, Dr. Colman, Dr. Sewall, and others,
464
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
were commissioned to be its correspondents and agents, and were authorized to select and employ missionaries in New Eng- land. On the 12th of December, 1733, three young men, recent graduates of Harvard College, Stephen Parker, Ebenezer Hins- dell, and Joseph Seccombe,1 were solemnly set apart to mission- ary labors among the Indians. Dr. Colman was moderator of the ordaining council, and gave the charge ; Dr. Sewall preached the sermon, and Mr. Prince gave the right hand of fellowship. Dr. Sewall's text was Acts xxvi. 16-19; and his subject, Christ Victorious over the Powers of Darkness, by the Light of His Preached Gospel. In urging the claims of the mission upon his audience, he said : -
Give me leave then humbly to recommend to you this pious Charity, which hath such a direct tendency to promote the glory of God and best interests of men. Blessed be God for what hath been done this way more privately, and by our worshipping assemblies in their collections. I wish that excellent proposal might be generally accepted, viz. The having publick collections for pious and charitable uses on our anniversary Fasts and Thanksgivings. In this way we might honour God with our substance, and give our helping hand towards propagating Christian Knowledge among our own people and the aboriginal natives : And certainly the generous compassion express'd towards this poor people by the Honourable Societies in South and North Britain, should provoke us to an holy emulation ; especially considering God hath given us the possession of this good land which their ancestors once inhabited ; and that this was the professed inten- tion of our pious progenitors, the first planters of this country.2.
1 Mr. Parker and Mr. Hinsdell gradu- the 12th Instant. I spake with one to- ated in 1727, and Mr. Seccombe in 1731. day, who met them well at Plainfield."
Ebenezer Hinsdell was baptized at the South Church under peculiarly affecting circumstances. Judge Sewall, writing to the Rev. John Williams, August 22, 1706, of a party of captives who had recently arrived in Boston, probably from Canada, on their way home to central Massachusetts, said : -
" As you prayd earnestly for those that returned last; so you will be glad to hear, that they Landed well here the 2d Instant. I took the widow Hoit into my House. It was a great pleasure, to see Mr. Willard baptise Ebenezer Hins- dal, and Sea-born Burt, two little Sons born in the passage. The Captives most of them, began their journey homeward
Mr. Seccombe joined the South Church before he went to college. In the Mass. Archives there is a memorial, addressed by him, September 22, 1737, to Governor Belcher, asking for a grant of £100 for " his Essays as Missionary to the Indians, for above five Years, at the Garrison on St. George's River, agreeable to an Act of the General Assembly."
2 [Such a collection as Dr. Sewall here recommended had been regularly taken in the South Church since March, 1726.
Gookin, writing in 1671, said that " for this Charity [the propagation of the Gospel among the Indians] New Eng- land people had done not less, but far
465
A MISSIONARY CHARGE.
In addressing the candidates for ordination, Dr. Sewall gave the following "Compendium or Summary of Christian Religion agreeable to the Scriptures," to be often inculcated among the natives, which, for its practical good sense, it would be difficult for those who give instructions to Christian missionaries to-day to improve upon : -
Declare to them the only true and living God, who made Heaven and Earth, and all things in them ; and that He made Man upright, in His own Image. Shew them their vile and miserable State by the Fall. Declare to them that this God, who is the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost, hath contriv'd a way in which they may be de- liver'd from their Sin and Misery. That in order to this, the Eternal Son of God hath taken our Nature, and became Man; that he was obedient to Death, the Death of the Cross, rose again from the Dead, and lives in Heaven to intercede for his People. Declare to them that this Jesus is the only Mediator between God and Man ; and that they must pray to God in His Name only. Shew them the necessity of turning from all Sin to God in true Repentance ; and of receiving the Lord Jesus Christ by Faith, and depending on His Righteousness
for Pardon and Justification. Declare to them that God alone hath power to forgive Sins. Shew them the nature and use of the holy Sacraments, and that those which Christ hath instituted are only two, Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; and labour to maintain in them an high esteem of them. Shew them that they must be taught the Prin- ciples of the Christian Religion, and subject themselves to the Au- thority and Laws of Christ, before these may be administered to them : That if they would receive saving benefit by Baptism, they must also seek the washing of Regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost, for themselves and their Offspring, that being born of Water and of the Spirit they may enter into the Kingdom of God. Teach them that the Lord's Supper must be received by the Communicants in both Elements, Bread and Wine ; and that tis contrary to Sense Reason and Scripture, to imagine, that these are turn'd into the very Body and Blood of Christ; and therefore that Christ, who is spiritually present with his People, must be apprehended and received by faith, if they would partake in the saving virtues of his Death. And take
more in proportion, than their country- men in England." - Palfrey's History, vol. ii. p. 332.
The Rev. Dr. Treat said at a meeting of the American Board at Salem, in 1871: "The colonies of Plymouth and Massachusetts, let us never forget, had a missionary purpose. Their charters were, in some degree, missionary char-
ters. That seal, so unique in the annals of our race, - an Indian uttering the Ma- cedonian cry, -expressed the thoughts of many hearts. Hence those laws, passed from time to time, which might have been indexed ' Missionary laws.' Hence that early yearning to 'preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.'"]
466
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
heed you never prostitute these Sacred Mysteries of our holy Religion, by administring them to any under Heathen Ignorance, under Romish Idolatry, or that live and allow themselves in open and scandalous Immoralities. Declare to them the Commandments of the Moral Law. That God only is the Object of Prayer, and all religious Wor- ship. Tell them, forasmuch as we are the Offspring of God, we are not to think that the God-Head is like unto Gold, or Silver or Stone, graven by art, and Man's device : that it is a most hainous crime to worship God by Images ; and that He who is a jealous God, threatens to punish this Iniquity upon Parents and their Children, unto the third and fourth Generation. Teach them to Sanctify the Sabbath Day; and in a word, the necessity of a sober righteous and godly Life : In particular, do all you can to convince them of the great Evil of that Sin which most easily besets them, and to keep them from it; lest they wholly forget God's Law, and quench every good motion of His Spirit : Solemnly warn them of the Destruction they are bringing upon themselves by it, and how they are consuming away under the deadly influence of it. Declare to them that God alone can change their Hearts, enable them to hate Sin and love his Law ; and then direct them to ask of God His Holy Spirit, to sanctify them, and create them in Christ Jesus unto good Works. And shew them that when they have done all, they must Trust in the Merits of Jesus Christ and not presume to think that they can merit by their good Works.1
At a church Meeting Febr. 1. 1733-4
Voted, I. That there be given out of the Collection for charitable and pious uses, a sum not exceeding fifty Pounds, including ten pounds already dispos'd of, to supply the poor of this Church and Congregation with Wood and other Necessaries.
2. That there be allow'd out of the Collection -, to the Rev. Mr. Joseph Torrey, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and en- couragement in Preaching the Gospel at South-Kingston in Narra- ganset.
3. That there be allow'd out of the Collection, to the Rev. Mr. Josiah Cotton, the sum of five pounds towards his support and en- couragement in Preaching the Gospel at Providence.
4. That there be allow'd out of the Collection to Mr. White, the sum of five pounds, towards his support and encouragement in Preach- ing the Gospel at Nantucket.
1 [These doctrines, as set forth by Dr. Sewall, were evidently intended to counteract the teachings of the Roman Catholic missionaries. Dr. Chauncy, preaching the ordination sermon of the Rev. Joseph Bowman, August 31, 1762, said of the three ministers ordained twenty-nine years before : -
"They were separated to their work, and commended to the grace of God, in this house, in the presence of a great multitude of pious good people. But, upon trial, they found themselves unable to serve the ends of the gospel among these Indians ; as they had been previ- ously corrupted by popish priests."]
467
DEATH OF EDWARD BROMFIELD.
5. The Account of the Committee for New Shingling the Rev'd Mr. Prince's House was read and accepted ; And the Thanks of the Church given to the Committee for their care and pains taken in that Affair.
6. That the Treasurer for building, be directed to Pay to the Com- mittee for repairing the Ministerial Houses, their several Accounts, so soon as may be.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a Church Meeting March 27. 1734.
Voted ; I. Whereas the Subscriptions towards defraying the Charges of repairing the Ministerial Houses and paying for our Rev'd Pastors Wood, are deficient about one hundred Pounds ;
Voted, that there be a public Collection on the Anniversary Fast next insuing, April 4. to make up this Deficiency.
2. That there be given out of the Church-Stock, the Sum of ten Pounds to Mrs. Jane Green, Relict of Mr. Bartholomew Green, late Deacon of this Church, in Consideration of her Loss sustain'd by Fire.1
3. That the Residue of the Collection for charitable and pious uses, be laid out in Bibles, Catechisms, and other Books of piety, to be dis- pos'd of by the Pastors to proper Objects of such a Charity.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a Church Meeting April 14. 1734.
Upon reading a Letter from the Second Church of Christ in Boston &c.
Voted ; That this Church will join with and assist the 2d Church in this Town in their Proceeding in the 3d way of Communion with respect to the first Church in Salem, and Second their Charitable Ad- monition given by them to said Church, if upon due Enquiry there shall appear just Cause for their so doing.
Josiah Willard Esq. Deacon Henchman, Mr. Edward Bromfield junr, and Mr. Thomas Cushing, junr. were join'd with the Pastors as the Delegates of the church in this Affair. JOSEPH SEWALL.
The Hon. Edward Bromfield died on Sunday, June 2, and, says Drake, his loss was as severely felt in the town as almost any which had occurred since its settlement. He was in his eighty-sixth year, and he had been a member of the South Church thirty-six years. He was born at Hayward House, near the New Forest, in Hampshire, was bred a merchant in London,
1 [On the 30th of January, 1734, the " Printing House belonging to the widow and children of the late Deacon Green at the South End" was burned. In it two printing-presses were destroyed and
a large quantity of type. Very little was saved. The fire took place at or near midnight. - Drake's Ilist. and Antiq., P. 592. Mrs. Green was a cousin of Dr. Sewall.]
468
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
went to Jamaica, came from thence to Boston in 1675, "and, being a pious Puritan, decided to spend his days here." He was prominent in all religious and charitable efforts,1 and his son, of the same name, was equally consecrated with him in heart and life. He was buried on the 6th ; and on the 9th Dr. Sewall preached from Isai. Ivii. I, "The righteous is taken away from the evil to come," making " a respectful mention " of his de- ceased parishioner. Mrs. Bromfield died on the 7th of October of the same year, -"a worthy, pious gentlewoman," says Dr. Sewall.
At a Church Meeting, June 9, 1734.
The Report of the Elders and Messengers of the Churches, (viz. the 3d Church in Boston, the Church in Rumny-Marsh, the first Church in Glocester, united with the 2d Church in this Town,) who have given the 2d Admonition to the Ist Church in Salem for their neglecting the means of peace under Scandalous Divisions, was read ; In which Let- ter the Delegates of said Churches declare that (after waiting above a moneth), They find that things remain in the same deplorable condi- tion at Salem, the said Church there refusing to hearken to their Charitable Admonition ; and accordingly deliver it as their unanimous opinion that the Churches concerned ought to proceed to meet by their Delegates at Salem, July 16, and make use of the help of a Council of neighbour Churches for their Conviction.
Upon which the Draft of a Letter propos'd to be Sent to twenty- seven churches was read and voted. JOSEPH SEWALL.
In July the governor went on a cruise to the eastward, taking with him Mr. Prince and two of the prominent members of the South Church. They were absent sixteen days. The object of the trip is given in the Weekly News-Letter of July 18, in the following announcement : -
On Monday last [July 15], about 6 o'clock in the Afternoon, the Rev. Mr. Thomas Prince Sailed from Boston for the Eastward, in his Majesty's Ship Scarborough, Capt. Durell, in company with Governor Belcher, Hon. Josiah Willard, Esq. and Edward Winslow, Esq. Sheriff of the County of Suffolk and Colonel of a Regiment of Foot in this town - They go to take a further view of that spacious Country, and as we hear, to have an interview with some of the Indian Tribes, to continue and strengthen their friendship with us.
1 His mansion was in Rawson's Lane, now Bromfield Street. It is said that in order to find retirement from worldly noise and business, " he turned the pas- ture behind his house into a very shady grove, where, in the midst, he built an
oratory, into which he used to retire several times a day, in his most flourish- ing circumstances and heights of busi- ness," for meditation and prayer. See Drake's Hist. and Antiq. of Boston, p. 598.
469
A DAY OF FASTING AND PRAYER.
An account of the voyage, probably from the pen of Mr. Prince, appeared in a later number of the News-Letter.
[At a church Meeting] Augt 4. 1734,
The Church was desir'd to stay, and, Voted, That the 20th of this Instant should (God Willing) be Observed by us as a Day of Prayer with Fasting, to Humble ourselves before God for our unfruitfulness under the means of Grace, and to ask the Effusion of His Spirit, to revive the Power of Godliness among us ; And that the Congregation be desir'd to join with us in this Solemnity. JOSEPH SEWALL.
Three months previously, on the 14th of May, such a day as was proposed by this vote had been observed by the Brattle Street Church, and, says Dr. Sewall, " such days are, God will- ing, to be observed in our Congregations successively, to ask of God the Revival of Religion among us."
Aug. 20. This Day was observ'd as a Day of Pray'r with Fasting by the South Church and Congregation to ask of God the Effusion of his Spirit to revive the Pow'r of Godliness among us. A. M. Mr. Chauncy began with Prayer, Mr. Prince preach'd and concluded with Prayer. text 2 Chron. xv. 2 [" The Lord is with you, while ye be with him : and if ye seek him, he will be found of you : but if ye for- sake him, he will forsake you."] P. M. Mr. Webb began with Pray'r. I preached from Rev. 2. 4. 5. ["Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love," etc.] I hope we had God's gracious presence with us. (J. Sewall.)
Octr. 27. 1734.
The Brethren of the church staid, and Voted - That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanksgiving, the 7th of Nov'r next ; The money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses, as this church shall determine ; .
And that the congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Collected 997. 7. 0.
of which is appropriated 47.
At a church Meeting Febr. 4. 1734-5.
The Narrative of the Proceedings of the Ecclesiastical Council con- vened at Salem in 1734 - was read, and after some discourse upon it, the brethren voted that they would defer the further consideration of that affair, to the first Tuesday in March next.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.