USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Shirley > History of the town of Shirley, Massachusetts, from its early settlement to A.D. 1882 > Part 17
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*The sentence in brackets was erased from the covenant, at a period sub- sequent to its adoption.
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church, and behave so as not to give just offence to any person whatever.
"Do you consent to this covenant?
"May God enable you to keep it."
As may be seen, the covenant which was adopted at the formation of the church contained few things that liberal Christians of this day would reject. But as the Arminian heresy began to gain ground, the conservatives of that day unwisely thought to suppress its progress by making church creeds speak more definitely the sentiments of the Synod of Dort, and of the Assembly of West- minster. Accordingly the "Cambridge Platform,"-which was established on the basis of the published deliberations of these two celebrated convocations of divines,-became a sort of model, by which was formed the creeds of local churches. Many churches, for the sake of peace, or from a fear that they might depart too far from the received standards, undoubtedly came into this measure without a deliberate conviction that it would be of any vital utility. Among such the Church in Shirley may be reckoned. Mr. Whitney, in the latter part of his life, told some of his friends that he was assisted in preparing his revised Confession of Faith and Covenant, (which follow,) by Rev. Dr. Appleton of Cambridge, whose catholic mind revolted at that bigotry which attempted to limit mental research in its application to religious truth, and which would force adherence to tenets with which neither reason nor conviction could sympathize .*
"CONFESSION OF FAITH FOR THOSE WHO JOIN THE CHURCH IN FULL COMMUNION.
"I. You believe in one God, in three persons (or characters,) Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
"2. You believe the sacred Scriptures are the word of God, and a perfect rule of faith and practice.
"3. You believe that man is a fallen creature, and cannot be justified by the deeds of the law.
*See Appendix S.
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" 4. You believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and Savior of men, and that God will bestow salvation on all those who will repent and believe in his name, and live. according to the precepts of his Gospel.
"5. You believe in a resurrection of the body, and a future state of rewards and punishments.
"6. You believe that baptism is an institution of Christ, and the Lord's Supper is a sacrament, by which his church should commemorate his dying love ; to which church you believe it your duty to join yourself.
"Do you consent to this?
"COVENANT.
"You do now in everlasting covenant give yourself to God through Jesus Christ.
"You do humbly and penitently ask of God forgive- ness of all your sins, whether original or actual, and with all your heart you desire to adopt Jesus Christ for your Savior and Redeemer, as he is offered to poor sinners in the Gospel. You likewise solemnly promise before God and the holy angels, and before this assembly, that being helped by the Holy Spirit, you will deny the vanities of this evil world, and approve yourself the true disciple of Jesus Christ, in all good carriage towards God and man. And particularly you promise, so long as God shall con- tinue you among us, to walk in communion with the Church of Christ in this place, and carry it here accord- ing to the rules of the Gospel in all things agreeably to what you know, or shall hereafter know, to be your duty.
"Do you consent to this covenant?
"I then, in the name of the great Head of the Church, do declare you to be a member in full communion with this church. I promise, being helped by the Holy Spirit, we will carry it towards you as towards a member of the same body with ourselves, watching over you with a spirit of meekness, love and tenderness, earnestly praying that God would delight to dwell among us, and that the divine blessing may be upon us, and his kingdom advanced by us. Amen."
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I have introduced these several documents to exhibit to the present generation some of the ecclesiastical usages of a pious ancestry ; and, also, that existing formulas of faith may be fairly compared with more ancient creeds. The difference between liberal congregationalists of the present time and those of the Arminian faith of a century ago is not so great as some have supposed. And a candid consideration of those extremes of profession, to which dogmatical Christianity has urged the ardent controversial- ist, may lead the mass of believers to that rational medium which is a safe basis of religious peace and progress.
I also have hoped, by their insertion in this volume, to save these formulas of our fathers from oblivion, to which-being long out of use-they are exposed while confined to single manuscript copies.
CHAPTER II.
Second Meeting-House-Events of Mr. Whitney's Min- istry -Enlargement of Meeting-House-Settlement of a Colleague.
The first meeting-house-with all its inconveniences- remained the place of worship for about twenty years, during eleven of which the district had experienced the advantages of a settled ministry. It had become too small to accommodate its worshippers, and was too imperfect in its construction to admit any further repairs or enlarge- ment.
The proposal to have a new temple of worship seemed to accord with the wishes of the entire commu- nity ; and to encourage the enterprise the pastor proposed to contribute £10 lawful money, "for the carrying on of
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the new meeting-house," for which his parishioners passed a vote of thanks, at a district meeting.
The preliminary steps having been taken, a public meeting was held May 21, 1771. It was voted that "the new meeting-house be fifty feet in length, and forty feet in breadth, and that it be raised as soon as June of next year." At a subsequent meeting it was "voted that the timber be provided by the inhabitants," that "the work should be contracted for, and that £200 be assessed to de- fray the expense that should be incurred."
So great was the importance attached to the raising of meeting-houses, in those days, that special meetings of the citizens were often called to make arrangements for the occasion. It was so in this case. June 29, 1772, a district meeting was held, and the following business transacted :
"Voted to raise the new meeting-house, which the dis- trict is about to build." "Voted to adjourn this meeting for half an hour to the new meeting-house spot, to view and consider whether it is best to raise said house on the spot where the sills were framed." "Upon viewing the same, returned back at the time and place aforesaid, and voted to raise said meeting-house on the spot where the sills were framed."* "Voted to choose a committee to appoint a day when said house shall be raised, and to provide materials for the raising said house, and provision for those men they shall appoint to raise said house, to the number of fifty men." "Voted that John Ivory, Oliver Livermore and John Longley be said committee."
The house was not completed till the autumn of the following year (1773) ; and without a formal dedication was made ready and opened for divine service on the day of the annual Thanksgiving, which was the 25th of No- vember. The entire cost of the structure was £168 IOS. Iod. 3qrs. !
*See Appendix T.
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Much of the original of this church building exists at the present time, notwithstanding the changes, externally and internally, of later years which remain to be de- scribed. The frame-work, from ground-sill to ridge-pole, with much of its covering has continued unimpaired by time and exposure during the entire century of its exist- ence. The shingles on the north roof were removed after a service of eighty-three years, with trifling appearance of decay. Indeed the entire body of the house gives promise to the beholder of as permanent usefulness, for genera- tions to come, as it did to the "fifty men" who reared it in a former age.
This work was completed at a most favorable time, as the war of the American Revolution soon broke out. That war required all the funds that could be commanded throughout the United Colonies, and might have sus- pended an enterprise like that of the building of a meeting- house for several years.
To the eye of modern taste the interior form and finish of this ancient temple presented an antique appear- ance. It had doors of entrance on three sides, from which alleys led across the length and breadth of the house, cutting each other at right-angles. Other alleys divided what were called the wall pews from those situated on the central floor. The pews were high, of a square form, and at the upper part ornamented with fancy rounds. The seats were fastened with hinges, that they might be raised while the congregation was standing. The body of the ground floor was occupied, one half by pews, the other half-nearest to the pulpit-by long seats. The stairs that led to the galleries were in the interior of the building, and the galleries were extended over about two- thirds of the lower part of the house. The pulpit was very high, and over it hung a large sounding-board, a necessary appendage to all well-finished Puritan churches. In front of the pulpit was the communion table, and a seat for the use of the deacons. The structure presented a specimen of that rich and varied architecture which has now almost wholly passed into disuse.
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
In disposing of the pews in the new meeting-house, the same aristocratic course was pursued that had been observed in "seating the old house." The pews were all appraised, and the largest tax-payers had the privilege of choosing according to the valuation of their several estates, after appropriating the pew by the pulpit stairs for the use of the minister's family.
While the new meeting-house was in process of build- ing, Madam Hancock, the wife of the first governor of Massachusetts under the constitution, presented an elegant folio Bible (London edition), for the use of the pulpit. The following letter, in acknowledgement, was forwarded to the donor by order of the district :
LETTER TO MRS. HANCOCK.
"Madam :- The inhabitants of Shirley, being this day assembled at the public meeting-house, take this first opportunity to return their sincere thanks to you for your late generosity in giving them a very handsome folio Bible, to be read in public every Lord's day. They are sensible that the reading of the Scriptures in public is very commendable, and hope it will be really serviceable to them ; and at the same time assure you that they have a grateful sense of your generosity and piety in promoting such a laudable practice. They sincerely wish you [may ] live and continue to diffuse your kindness to the needy,- that you may enjoy happiness here, and in the future world be received to reap the reward of your extensive charity, in the kingdom of heaven.
"JOHN LONGLEY, Dist Clerk. "Shirley, December 28, 1772.
"Voted that the above letter of thanks be signed by the district clerk, and be sent to Madam Hancock of Boston, and a copy of it entered on the district book, there to stand in perpetual memory of the thing.
"JOHN LONGLEY, Dist Clerk."
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The same Bible, in very perfect condition, now lies on the pulpit of the First Parish, and is "read in public every Lord's day."
The ministry of Mr. Whitney, which lasted for more than half a century, was one of general peace and pros- perity. He had the confidence of his people, and between him and them a good degree of harmony was maintained. He was also favorably considered abroad, was frequently invited to sit in ecclesiastical councils, and assist in the settlement of clergymen, and was noted for his decision and firmness. The only unpleasant event in his ministry, that is particularly worthy of notice, relates to his pecu- niary support during the trying period of the American Revolution. The inability of the people to pay his salary when due, and the advanced price demanded for all the necessaries of life, were difficulties that he could not sur- mount, and he was therefore compelled to ask of the district some direct action in his behalf. At first his peti- tion was dismissed, but afterwards it was voted to pay him £66 13s. 4d., exclusive of his regular salary, for one year. With this, Mr. Whitney was not satisfied, and proposed to the district either to grant him a dismission, or meet his present demand with something like a generous appropri- ation. The district very decidedly voted not to dismiss their pastor, but to raise the special appropriation to £133 6s. 4d. Owing, however, to the great depreciation in paper money, Mr. Whitney found even these enlarged means entirely inadequate to his wants; this fact he com- municated to the district, whereupon it was voted to raise something more to remunerate the pastor. This indefinite action brought out from Mr. Whitney the following letter which we copy from the records of the district.
"Shirley, March 26, 1778.
"TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE DISTRICT OF SHIRLEY :
" Gentlemen :- I have been made acquainted by your committee of what you have done for me by way of sub- scription, in addition to my former stipulated salary, upon
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the account of the extraordinary price of the necessaries of life. I find it amounts to £86 12s. 4d. The terms upon which you offer it, as mentioned in your subscription papers, are not so clearly expressed but that they might leave room for dispute afterward ; to prevent dispute I would observe to you, I suppose the subscription was designed for my present year's salary. As such I accept it, unless the district shall think proper, at their present meeting, to adopt some other method for my support, more to their own as well as to my satisfaction. If I have the subscrip- tions I expect the papers will be left open, and I shall be entitled to what may be yet added to the subscription,- which I must promise myself will be considerable, con- sidering that there are about one-third of the district, and many of them able persons, [who] have not subscribed anything at all-and considering what is subscribed is not half enough to make my salary what it was formerly. But as small as it may be, if paid together with my former stipulated .salary, I expect and engage to give you a receipt in full for my year's salary ; that is, from the 23d of June 1777, to the 23d of June 1778. But if little or no addition is made, in any way, to the subscription, and the times do not alter, you must not blame me if I don't trust your generosity so late another year, nor if I continue to pay some small attention to some other business which may assist a little to support me ; but on the other hand, if any of you make my support anything near so good as it formerly was, I shall have reason again to trust your gen- erosity, and shall lay aside every business which may hinder me in your service, and devote myself as much to the work of the ministry as my health will admit. This, gentlemen, from your sincere friend and servant in the gospel,
P. WHITNEY."
The matter was finally adjusted by a committee of five persons, appointed to confer with Mr. Whitney ; his necessities were duly considered, and met by proposals
Autoglyph Print, W. P. ALLEN, Gardner, Mass.
REV. PHINEHAS WHITNEY.
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that were satisfactory to him. The result was then em- bodied in a report and submitted for the action of the dis- trict, at a meeting appointed for the purpose, June 21, 1779; The following is a copy of the report :
"We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee to confer with the Rev. Mr. Whitney upon the second article of the warrant for the district meeting of the 17th inst., which article refers to his salary, report as follows, viz : That we find Mr. Whitney is desirous of doing no busi- ness for his support that in any measure interferes with his ministerial work. This committee are of opinion that his present salary is entirely insufficient for his support ; they are therefore of the opinion that the district from the 23d day of this instant June, during the present war with Great Britain, pay his salary of £66 13s. 4d. annually, according to the price of Indian corn and Rie, reckoning Indian corn at £o 2s. 8d. per bushel, and Rie £o 4s. per bushel, said salary to rise and fall as the price of said grain rises and falls ; also that the price of said grain be estimated by the assessors annually, when the assessment is made for the payment of salary ; the salary being paid in the fore- going manner, upon the following conditions, to which Mr. Whitney freely consents, viz : that there be a deduc- tion made by the assessors, during the war, from his salary thus paid, of his full proportion of taxes assessed upon the district according to his estate, real and personal.
"OBADIAH SAWTELL, "FRANCIS HARRIS, "OLIVER LIVERMORE, "JOHN LONGLEY, "HENRY HASKELL, L
Committee.
"Shirley, June 21, 1779."
The above report was unanimously accepted, and the following vote was unanimously passed :
"Voted that the thanks of the district be given to the Rev. Mr. Whitney for his generous and truly patriotic
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HISTORY OF SHIRLEY.
spirit and disposition, in being willing to bear his equal proportion of the very extraordinary heavy taxes his people are laboring under at this distressing time.
"OBADIAH SAWTELL, Dis. Clerk."
There ended all difficulties in relation to the salary of Mr. Whitney. He found a competent support until many years afterward ; when, on account of physical infirmity, he was obliged to hire supplies from abroad, being himself unable to preach. He asked assistance on this account, and $100 was readily voted for the purpose.
There are a few events connected with the ministry of Mr. Whitney, of no great importance in themselves, yet worthy of a place of perpetual record. They are here introduced without much regard to chronological arrange- ment.
It has been said that, at the formation of the Church, Mr. John Longley and Mr. Hezekiah Sawtell were ap- pointed deacons. John Ivory was appointed to the same office, Dec. 2, 1777. Deacon Ivory was a well instructed man, of his time, was for several years clerk of the district, and entered his public records with a precision and chirog- raphy that far excelled any other who held that office in remote times. Joseph Brown was elected a deacon July 5, 1784. He lived to the advanced age of ninety-seven years, and remained in office to the close of his life. The last celebration of the Lord's Supper, at which he offici- ated, occurred but a few weeks before his death. John Heald was chosen to the office of deacon September 13, 1790, making five, in all, who officiated in this capacity during the ministry of the first pastor.
In 1777, December 2,-fifteen years after the settlement of Mr. Whitney, and twenty-four years after the building of the first meeting-house,-the following entry was made in the records of the church : "It was put to vote to see if the church would agree to sing Dr. Watts' version of the Psalms, and it passed in the affirmative." It is supposed that the version of "Tate and Brady" had been in use pre- viously.
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During the early years of this church, congregational singing was exclusively practiced in the worship of the sanctuary. The senior deacon read the psalm or hymn- a line at a time-and all the people who could sing fol- lowed with such harmony as their abilities could com- mand. In 1786 it was decided that this essential part of the sabbath services should be conducted by a select choir,and that the back seats in the front gallery should be exclusively appropriated to the use of the singers. As this measure received some opposition from persons who had occupied those seats, it was conceived proper to bring the matter before the people at a regular town-meeting. The following article was accordingly introduced into a warrant calling a town-meeting :
"To see if the town will vote the two hind seats in the front gallery, to be fitted for the use of the singers, instead of the two hind seats on the lower floor." The meeting "voted to choose a committee to confer with the singers about the carrying on that part of worship, and concerning their seat, and report at the next meeting."
The committee submitted the following report :
"We, the subscribers, being a committee to agree with sundry persons respecting an article in a warrant for the last meeting of the town, respecting a convenient seat for the singers ; having attended to that service, beg leave to report,-that having held a conference with them, we have agreed that the two hind seats in the front gallery be made into a proper pew, with a table suitable for them, or con- venient for books, and they take the said pew for their seats so long as they serve in singing.
"JOHN KELSEY, "OBADIAH SAWTELL, "JAMES DICKERSON,
Committee.
"Shirley,'April ye 13, 1786."
This report was accepted; yet, as the persons who were removed from their seats by the change were disaf- fected, the matter was again brought before the town at a
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meeting held in October of the aforesaid year. It was, however, voted not to rescind the former vote, and the singers were accordingly established in the front gallery for all coming time.
April 24th, 1787, after many unsuccessful trials, it was voted by the town to purchase a bass-viol, "for the use of the meeting-house." Capt. Thomas Whitney, Jonas Livermore and Nathaniel Holden were appointed a com- mittee to select and purchase said instrument. A chest was made-at the expense of the pastor-for the safe- keeping of the viol when not in use. This same instru- ment continued to accompany the voices of the choir down to the year 1842, and for forty years was conducted by the same individual, David Livermore. The people of Shir- ley were so much gratified when any improvements could be made in their church harmony that no religious scruples stood in the way of introducing instrumental music, as was the case in many of the New-England towns.
Sometime in the early part of Mr. Whitney's ministry a Mr. Samuel Barron of Groton presented to the church in Shirley a note of £1 6s. 8d., which was placed in the hands of Deacon John and Mr. Jonas Longley, and was upon interest for several years. At a church meeting holden July 5th, 1784, it was "voted to collect this money, and purchase linen for the communion table, and to lay out the residue for cups, etc., for the use of the church."
At a subsequent period the church received the gift of a flagon for the communion table, from another gentle- man of Groton; of which, however, no record appears upon the church book. The vessel bears upon its front the following inscription :
"THE GIFT OF CAPT. B. BANCROFT OF GROTON,
TO THE CHURCH IN SHIRLEY."
During the years of Mr. Whitney's ministry previous to June 23d, 1802, two hundred and forty-seven per- sons made a profession of religion, and were united with the church; and during forty-five years, which brought
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his ministry to June 23d, 1807, eight hundred and forty- one persons-infants and adults-received the seal of bap- tism. From that time the record of these events has been lost. Thus the quiet and unostentatious ministry of the first pastor was blessed with many precious results.
More than one-quarter of a century had passed away after the second meeting-house was completed, when a plan of enlargement and improvement was proposed. The enlargement was to be made by adding three porches, to be constructed over the three entrances to the house. Two of these were to be of sufficient dimensions to receive the stairs leading to the galleries; and the stairs in the interior were to be removed to make room for additional pews. The porch upon the west side of the house was to be carried up into a tower, surmounted by a vane, etc., and furnished with a belfry. The house was to be further improved by removing the free seats from the first floor and supplying their places with pews; and the whole structure was to be carefully underpinned with hammered granite.
After various struggles and controversies this entire plan was adopted at a town-meeting held in April, 1804. " William Conant, Capt. John Edgerton and Wallis Little were appointed a committee to provide materials for the work." It proved to be a long and tedious undertaking, yet it was finally effected according to the plan as above stated. The cost of these improvements was not entered upon the town records.
Wallis Little, Esq., presented a bell to the town, to be hung in the tower of the newly-modelled church. The town acknowledged the gift through a committee ap- pointed for the purpose. The committee communicated with Mr. Little in the following note :
"The subscribers being chosen a committee to thank Wallis Little, Esq., for the meeting-house bell, we, in behalf of the town, give him our sincere thanks for his generosity in presenting the town with said bell.
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