USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 53
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Voted - I. That there be given out of the collection for charita- ble and pious uses a sum not exceeding fifty pounds, to supply the poor of this church and congregation with wood and other Necessa- ries.
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
II. That there be allowed out of the collection, to the Rev. Mr. Josiah Cotton, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and en- couragement in preaching the Gospel at Providence.
III. That there be allowed to the Rev'd Mr. Joseph Torrey the sum of ten pounds towards his support and encouragement in preach- ing the Gospel at South Kingston in Narraganset.
IV. That the sum of five pounds be laid out in Books of piety to be distributed by the Pastors to proper objects of such a charity.
JOSEPH SEWALL. .
At a church Meeting March 4 1734-5.
Voted - I. That our Brethren, the Hon. Ezekiel Lewis, Anthony Stoddard, Saml. Welles Esqrs. the Revd Mr. Nathl. Williams, and Mr. Thomas Cushing jr. be joined with our Pastors as a Committee to Prepare a Vote relating to the affair of the first church in Salem, to be laid before this church the next Lord's Day Evening.
II. That five pounds be given out of the Church stock towards de- fraying the charge of Printing the Narrative of the Proceedings of the late Ecclesiastical Council convened at Salem 1734.
III. That the charge of Sawing our Pastors' Wood, be paid by the Deacons out of the church Stock. JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a church Meeting, Lord's Day Evening. March 9. 1734-5. This church having taken into further consideration the unhappy and sorrowful state of the first church in Salem,
Voted as follows, viz.
Although we are greatly grieved and offended at the divisions and contentions of the first church in Salem, and their scandalous refusing of proper methods of healing ; (which appears by a printed Narrative of the Proceedings of an Ecclesiastical Council convened at Salem in the year 1734.) yet from our great concern and affection for that neighboring church, we conclude to suspend the determination of this church's withdrawing communion from said offending church, till the first Monday in April next ; to give them a further opportunity of con- sidering and retracting their disorderly conduct.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
The Rev. Samuel Fisk, whom some of the brethren thought of calling to the South Church at the time of Mr. Prince's settle- ment, and who, soon after, was ordained over the First Church, Salem, became very arbitrary in his methods, "having high thoughts of church authority," and departed in many important respects "from the practice of his predecessors, and in such manner as to produce great uneasiness and disaffection among his people. He appears to have dispensed entirely with church
471
THE FIRST CHURCH IN SALEM.
meetings, excepting when he stayed the Church after religious exercises for some particular purpose." At length ten of the aggrieved members withdrew from the communion of the church, and, having exhausted all expedients for pacification, they called an ex parte council, at the suggestion of the Boston ministers, to advise them as to their duty. This council, consisting of the representatives of ten churches, assembled in Salem on the 17th of July, 1733, and after much consideration, earnestly besought the church and its pastor to retrace their steps and put an end to the scandal, at the same time advising the aggrieved mem- bers, on their continued failure to obtain satisfaction by any other method, to seek relief through the Third Way of Commu- nion, as laid down in the Cambridge Platform. Mr. Fisk and the majority showing no disposition to yield, twenty-one of the brethren, on the 20th of December, wrote a letter to the Second Church of Boston, asking it to come to their relief. This church responded to the appeal, and sent eight delegates to Salem, " to dispense an admonition " in its name, "if the case should appear to call for it." Mr. Fisk refused to receive the delegation, and would not allow it to meet his church. The Second Church then notified Mr. Fisk that if it should not hear from him in a month, it would proceed further ; and three or four months having passed without bringing a reply, it took another step in the matter, and invited two or three other churches to join with it in seconding its " charitable admonition." This was the invitation which the South Church accepted on the 14th of April, 1734. On the 23d of the same month, repre- sentatives of the South Church, the Church in Rumney Marsh, and the First Church of Gloucester 1 met the representatives of the Second Church of Boston in Salem, and together they solemnly urged the First Church there to repent of its sinful course, and to call a council for the settlement of all difficulties, also warning it that if it refused to act upon this advice, its sister churches would proceed to call a council for its " con- viction," that is to say, for the purpose of convincing it, if possible, of its wrong-doing. Mr. Fisk declined to meet a committee of this council, or to receive its documents, and a majority of the church would not consent to a church meeting to talk matters over. A month later, the four churches above mentioned called a council of twenty-seven churches, to convene at Salem on the 16th of July. Nineteen churches responded to
1 The church in Ipswich was invited also, but did not attend.
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
this call, but four of them withdrew, after the council had or- ganized, because it declined to take into consideration certain proposals made by Mr. Fisk to the aggrieved brethren. The council addressed a solemn letter of admonition and advice to Mr. Fisk, and then adjourned for three months to await results. Reassembling on the 15th of October, it was informed that Mr. Fisk had refused to receive its letter, "but spake as if he es- teemed it a nuisance." After further examination of the case, it agreed by unanimous vote upon the terms of a final letter to Mr. Fisk and the brethren who sustained him, in which it was said : "The whole of your conduct in this affair appears to us to be very offensive, and which, if persisted in, will expose you to such a censure as we hope and earnestly desire you will use your utmost endeavors to prevent ; it being no less than a depri- vation of the privilege of communion with these churches." This missive had no more effect upon those to whom it was sent than had the letters which preceded it, and at length, the churches, one by one, passed the threatened vote of non-com- munion.1 The South Church, as we shall see, did not take this final action until June 9, 1735.
1 Mr. Fisk was "voted out" of the pastorate March 10, 1735, and he and his adherents formed the Third Church in Salem. The First Church was reorgan- ized in 1736, and the Rev. John Spar- hawk was settled as its pastor. See Diary of Benj. Lynde, Jr., pp. 140-144 ; White's New Eng. Congregationalism, pp. 112-116.
We print here, for convenience of reference, all the entries in Dr. Sewall's diary relating to the Salem troubles.
[1733] July 17. I went to the Coun- cil at Salem. There were the Elders and Messengers of 10 Churches.
July 20. I return'd safe with D. Hench- man. Lord command thy Blessing on the Endeavours of thy Servants to restore Peace to the first Church in Salem.
[1734] May 6. On the 23d of last moneth I set out for Salem with Mr. Prince. Our Church the Church in Rumny-Marsh, the Ist Church in Gloces- ter met. After Consideration of the re- quest of the 2d Church in Boston, they united with them. And having in vain Endeavour'd to confer with Mr. Fisk and
his Church they seconded the Admoni- tion given by the 2d Church in Boston. O Lord pity this Flock, and Restore Peace with truth and holiness to them. We return'd safe 25. April.
[1734] May 30. I preach'd to the Rev- erend Ministers from Luk. 24. 49. . And behold, I send the Promise of my Father. P. M. The Council met, agreed to send 27 Churches.
July 15. I set out for Salem with Dea- con Henchman.
July 16. There were the Delegates of 19 Churches.
July 17. The Delegates of the 4 Churches which call'd this Council had a public Hearing in the Meeting-House.
July 18. 19. The Council declar'd their Approbation of the Proceedings of the Delegates of the 4 Churches, and de- sir'd that these would Unite with them in further prosecuting this Affair. A Letter of Advice to the Ist Church in Salem was drawn up, and after some Debate Voted unanimously by the Dele- gates of 15 of the 19 Churches. Mr. Fisk and the Brethren with him refus'd to appear, save one of them, who on fryday
473
SENTENCE OF NON-COMMUNION.
On the 7th of April the church met, and adjourned to the Lord's Day Evening next, April 13, 1735. JOSEPH SEWALL.
April 13. 1735. The church further adjourned to the 27th of this Instant.
April 27. 1735 P. M. The Church deferr the further consideration of the Salem affair to this time Five Weeks. THOMAS PRINCE.1
June 1. 1735. The church determin'd to meet on Monday the 9th of this Instant, further to consider the affair of Salem.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a church Meeting June 9. 1735.
After prayer to God as usual,
Voted -I. We approve and accept. the Judgment and Advice of the late Ecclesiastical Council convened in Salem at the Desire of this and other churches, given in their Result dated Salem October 18. 1734.
II. Agreeable to the advice of the said Council, We declare the Sentence of Non-Communion concerning the Rev'd Mr. Samuel Fiske, and his Brethren of the first church in Salem, until they shall betake
P. M. brought in the Proposals Mr. Fisk made to the aggriev'd Brethren. N. B. The greater part of the Elders and some of the other Delegates withdrew.
Oct. 15. I went to the Council at Salem with Mr. Prince. About 16 Churches met by their Delegates. They made remarks on Mr. Fisk's Proposals. Neither He nor his Brethren that stand with him would receive anything from the Council ; On Fryday these remarks were read in the Meeting-House, then a result was drawn up and accepted, in which the Ist Church in Salem is de- clar'd to be obstinate - 3 months time are given, and the Churches are advis'd if they doe not by that time manifest re- pentance, to withdraw Communion.
1735. Feb 4. The Narrative relat- ing to the Ist Church in Salem was read at a Church Meeting. The further Con- sideration is put off to the 4. March.
1 [May 18. I preach'd from John 14 16-18. I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter. Men- tion'd the account we have of the re- markable concern there appears in great numbers at N. hampton and several other Towns near, about their Soul's Salvation.
May 24. Mrs. Eliz. Oliver was buried, a worthy Gentlewoman of our Com- munion.
May 25. Mr. Prince preach'd a fu- neral Sermon from Ps. 116. 15. [“ Pre- cious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints."] I preach'd again from John 14. 16-18, and endeavoured to improve the afflicting Providence from the 18 v. [" I will not leave you com- fortless : I will come to you."]
May 28. Mr. Prentice preach'd [the Election Sermon] from 2 Chron. 17. 3-6.
May 29. Mr. Hancock to the Minis- ters from Rom. I. I. After Sermon they chose Mr. S. F. which hath given just matter of offence. O Lord I bewail the disorders and confusions found among us. O Pardon, Pour out thy Spirit and save us. (J. Sewall.)
The Convention questioned the right of Mr. Fisk's church to dismiss him from the pastorate, and showed its favor to- wards him by choosing him as preacher for 1736. He did not, however, fulfil the appointment, Dr. Colman preaching in his place. The Legislature, by a large majority, censured the Convention for its action.]
474
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
themselves to the use of proper means of peace and healing ; except- ing those who are by name exempted in the Result abovesaid.
JOSEPH SEWALL THOMAS PRINCE.
N. B. A Letter was sent to the Rev'd Mr. Fiske in the Name of this church to inform him and his Brethren of the votes above written, and further to Exhort them to use the means of Peace.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the church Augt 5. 1735.
Voted - That this Meeting be adjourned to Monday next at eight o'clock in the morning for considering of some proper method for the better support of the Ministry among us ; and that it be desired that such persons of the congregation as doe usually contribute to the sup- port of the ministry would then meet with us in order to their assist- ing with their advice on this important occasion.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Augt. 11. The church and congregation met, and their votes are recorded at the end of this Book.
From this time forward, when the church and congregation met together for business, their action was recorded apart from the proceedings of the church, at the other end of the volume. We shall not keep up this separation in our history, but shall give the proceedings at the meetings of the church and of the church and congregation, in the exact order of time in which they took place.
August 11. 1735. The Brethren of the church and congregation met, and Voted as follows ; scil.
Whereas it appears that the Allowance made by this church and congregation to their Rev'd Ministers hath of late through the sinking of the value of the bills of credit fallen short of what is necessary for their honourable support,
Voted,
I. That there be a collection made on the next Lords Day come se'nnight for raising such a sum of money as may be needful for making up such Deficiency in the support of the Ministers of this church ; And that the church and congregation be desired to make their contributions accordingly, the money that shall be so collected to be distributed to the Rev'd Ministers in equal proportion.
II. That Ezekiel Lewis, Anthony Stoddard, Samuel Welles Esqrs, Mr. Thomas Cushing, Mr. Thomas Hubbard, William Foy Esq. Mr. Nathaniel Cunningham, Mr. Francis Borland, and Capt. Daniel Goffe, or any seven of them, be a committee to consider of some proper
475
DEATH OF GEORGE BETHUNE.
method for the more certain and equal support of the Revd. Ministers of this church for the future ; to make report as soon as may be con- venient, not exceeding the space of two months.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the Church and Congregation Octr I. 1735. They adjourned to the 3rd of October. Then met, and Voted, I. Their acceptance of the Report of the Committee.
II. That the church and congregation have two meetings annually viz. on the first Monday of April, and on the first Monday of October, at ten of the clock A. M. to consider what may be further necessary to be done for the support of our Revd Pastors.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Nov. 2. 1735. The Brethren of the church staid, and
Voted - That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanksgiving, the 13th of this Instant.
The money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses ; And that the congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection. JOSEPH SEWALL. Novr. 13. Collected 957.
[1735-6] Jan. 14. This Day George Bethune Esq. of our Commu- nion died very suddenly at his Ware-House. I visited the House of Mourning. O Lord Sanctify this awful Dispensation to the Widow and Children. Support and Comfort them. O awaken me, thy people, that we may be also ready! The last Sermon which the Deceas'd heard was from Luk. 12. 40. [" Be ye therefore ready also," etc. Mr. Gee preached this sermon at the South Church, three days before, in exchange with Dr. Sewall.]
Jan. 25. Yesterday died Mr. Robert Butcher in the 92d year of his Age, who was the eldest Brother of our Church. (J. Sewall.)
Febry 1. 1735-6. The Brethren of the church stay'd and
Voted ; -- I. That there be given out of the collection for charitable and pious uses a sum not exceeding fifty pounds to support the poor of this church and congregation with wood and other Necessaries.
II. That there be allowed out of the collection, to the Rev'd Mr. Josiah Cotton, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and en- couragement in preaching the Gospel at Providence.
III. That there be allowed out of the collection to Rev'd Mr. Joseph Torrey, the sum of ten pounds towards his support and encour- agement in preaching the Gospel at South Kingston in Narraganset. JOSEPH SEWALL.
March 21. 1735-6. The Brethren of the church stay'd, and Voted - I. That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary
476
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Fast, the Ist of April next ; the money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses ; And that the congregation be notified of this vote, and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection.
II. That there be given out of the last collection for charitable and pious uses, five pounds to supply the poor of this church and congre- gation with Books of piety ; and the remaining twenty pounds to supply them with Wood and other Necessaries.
JOSEPH SEWALL. THOMAS PRINCE.
April I. 1736. Collected 927. IOS. O.
At a Meeting of the church and congregation April 5. 1736.
Voted, I. That the sum of fifty-three pounds, now in the hands of the Deacons be forthwith equally distributed to our Revd Pastors.
II. That this meeting be adjourned to the first Monday of May next at Io o'clock A. M.
May 3.
Voted, I. That the committee for building be desired to draw on Mr. Treasurer Osborne, for the ballance now in his hands, and pay the same to the Deacons.
II. That the Deacons, so soon as may be, pay to each of our Revd Pastors the sum of 73. 10. 0, which with 26. 10. given them at the last meeting, makes to each of them one hundred Pounds.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
May 26. The Revd Mr. Holyoke preached [the Election Sermon] from Neh. 7. 2. The Ministers met, agreed to have a Sermon to mor- row, and a Collection with an especial regard to Providence and S. Kingston.
May 27. Dr. Colman preach'd from I Chron. 29. 14. All things come of Thee. There was Collected after Sermon 97/. I. o. Appro- priated 2. 10. o. The rest was equally divided between Mr. Cotton of Providence and Mr. Torrey of S. Kingston. (J. Sewall.)
Thomas Fitch, one of the most prominent members of the church, and equally prominent in public affairs, died June 23, 1736. He was colonel of the Boston regiment, three times captain of the artillery company, representative and councillor for nearly twenty years. He was married by the Rev. Mr. Willard, 'April 12, 1694, to Abiel, or Abiah, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Danforth, of Roxbury,1 and had sons, Thomas, Samuel, and John, all of whom died before him.2 His daughter
1 " 1674. IIth mo. 31st day," baptized : " Abiel, daughter of Mr. Samuel Dan- forth, borne after her father's decease." - Roxbury Church Records.
2 John Fitch, aged twenty-six, was buried July 15, 1735. Dr. Sewall speaks of him as an only son. He graduated at Harvard College in 1727.
477
DEATH OF MRS. BELCHER.
Mary was the first wife of Andrew Oliver. Mrs. Fitch's older sister Mary was second wife of the first Edward Bromfield.
June 23. The honble Coll. Fitch died æt. 68.
June 27. Mr. P. preach'd. Ps : 73. 26. ["My flesh and my heart faileth : but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."] P. M. I preach'd from Gen. 47. 9. ["Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been," etc.]
June 28. Coll. Fitch was buried. Regiment in Arms. I was sent for to the House of Mourning after the funeral, and pray'd with the Mourners. (J. Sewall.)
A conference was held by Governor Belcher with several Indian chiefs at Deerfield, on the 27th of August, 1735, and four following days; and on Sunday, the 3Ist, Mr. John Sergeant was set apart and ordained to the work of the ministry among the Housatonics, in the presence of the governor, as repre- senting one of the societies for the propagation of the gospel. Several clergymen took part in the services, Mr. Appleton, of Cambridge, preaching the sermon. Mr. Sergeant labored faith- fully as a missionary in the western part of Massachusetts for a quarter of a century. It was said at the time of his death that he had baptized one hundred and twenty-nine Indians, and that forty-two were then communicants.
[1736] Aug. 1. Mr. Sergeant preach'd for me P. M. There were a Number of the Housatonnick Indians, to whom he is a Missionary, present and behav'd with gravity. There's an hopeful prospect of con- siderable success. Several have already been instructed and baptis'd. (J. Sewall.)
At a Meeting of the Church and congregation Octr 4. 1736.
It being represented by the Deacons that there is in their hands of the weekly contribution 55/ more than the weekly charge, and for half the year's Wood to our Rev'd Pastors ;
Voted, - That the said sum of 557. be equally divided between our Rev'd Pastors to encourage them in their work among us.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Mrs. Belcher, wife of the governor, and daughter of Lieu- tenant-Governor Partridge, of New Hampshire, died October 6.1 The funeral pageant recalls to us the procession when Lady Andros was buried, half a century before ; but it will be observed that on this occasion there were no services in the meeting- house.
1 Jonathan Belcher married, secondly, Emily Teal, who survived him, - " a lady September 9, 1748, Mrs. Mary Louisa of great merit and a handsome fortune."
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
The Rev. Dr. Sewall made a very suitable prayer at his Excellency's house just before the funeral. The coffin was covered with black velvet and richly adorned. The pall was supported by the Honour- able Spencer Phipps Esq. our Lieut. Governor ; William Dummer Esq. formerly Lieut. Governor and Commander in Chief of this Prov- ince ; Benjamin Lynde Esq. Thomas Hutchinson Esq. Edmund Quincy Esq. Adam Winthrop Esq. His Excellency with the children and family followed the corpse, all in deep mourning ; next went the several relatives according to their respective degrees, who were fol- lowed by a great many of the principal gentlewomen in town; after whom went the gentlemen of His Majesty's Council, the reverend ministers of this and the neighbouring towns ; the reverend President and Fellows of Harvard College ; a great number of officers both of the civil and military order, with a multitude of other gentlemen. His Excellency's coach drawn by four horses was covered with black cloth and adorned with escutcheons of the coats of arms both of his Excel- lency and of his deceased Lady. All the bells in town were tolled ; and during the time of the procession, the half-minute guns begun, first at His Majesty's Castle William, which were followed by those on board His Majesty's ship "Squirrel " and many other ships in the harbour, their colours being all day raised to the heighth usual on such occasions.1
His Excellency's pew at the South Church, and the pulpit, "were put into mourning, and richly adorned with escutch- eons ;" and on the following Sunday funeral discourses were preached by the pastors. Mr. Prince's text was 2 Tim. i. 10: " The appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." In closing, Mr. Prince drew an admirable sketch of the deceased lady, but we will only quote what he said upon her relations to this church :-
In the midst of all the Sprightliness of Youth, she was not ashamed of the Gospel ; but soon after her entring the married State, she made an open Profession of her Faith in Christ and Subjection to Him, and join'd to our Communion. She always set a fair Example of Gravity and Attention in the Publick Worship. And I am assured by her nearest Relative, that she daily read the Holy Scriptures ; and with great Reverence and Fear, even to a faulty Degree of Trembling, was ever wont to receive the Elements of the Holy Supper.2
1 [News-Letter, October 14, 1736.]
2 [" An Epistle in Verse " was ad- dressed to the governor by his nephew, the Rev. Mather Byles, minister of the church in Hollis Street, from which we quote a few lines : -
To you O Fav'rite Man, the Pow'r supream Gives wealth, and titles, and extent of fame; Joys from beneath, and blessings from above ; Thy Monarch's plaudit ; and thy peoples love : The same high Pow'r, unbounded, and alone, Resumes his gifts, and puts your mourning on. His Edict issues, and his Vassal, Death,
479
THE NEW ENGLAND CHRONOLOGY.
Oct 31, 1736. The Brethren of the church stay'd and
Voted - I. That there be given out of the collection for charitable and pious uses, the sum of sixty pounds to supply the poor of this church and Congregation with Wood and other Necessaries.
II. That fifteen pounds be given out of said collection, to supply the poor of this Church and congregation with Bibles and other Books of piety.
III. That there be a publick collection on the Anniversary Thanks- giving the 11th of Novr next ; the money collected to be disposed of to charitable and pious uses ; And that the congregation be notified of this vote and be desired to concur with the church in the said collection.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Novr. II. Collected one hundred and two pounds ; 67 of which were appropriated.
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