USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > Lectures on the history of the First Church in Cambridge > Part 11
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entered upon that office on the 9th of October, 1717. At his ordination Dr. Increase Mather preached from Ephesians, iv. 12: "For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." He also gave the charge. Dr. Cotton Mather gave the right hand of fellowship. The Rev. Mr. Angier of Watertown and the Rev. Mr. Rogers of Ipswich joined with the Mathers in the laying on of hands. The town records show an addition of £ 15 to the taxes of the year, toward defraying the ex- penses of this ordination. President Leverett presided over the deliberations of the church and congregation with regard to the settlement of a pastor, and when Mr. Appleton had been chosen by a large majority, he closed the entry of the fact in his diary with " Laus Deo." This election gave great pleasure to the Corporation of the College, who at once chose the new minister as a Fellow in Mr. Brattle's place, not even waiting for his ordination. He filled this office with great fidelity and discretion, essentially promoting the interests of this " important seminary." At the Commencement in 1771 the College conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, in consideration of his " having been long an ornament to the pastoral character, and eminently dis- tinguished for his knowledge, wisdom, sanctity of man- ners, and usefulness to the churches, and having for more than fifty years exerted himself in promoting the interests of piety and learning in this society, both as a minister and as a Fellow of the Corporation." This honor was the more marked, in that this degree had only once been conferred since the founding of the College, and that was seventy-eight years before, when Increase Mather was the recipient. President Wadsworth wrote
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of Mr. Appleton, ten years after his establishment here, " I have often thought it is a great favor, not only to the church and town of Cambridge, but also to the College, and therein to the whole Province, that he is fixed in that public post and station, assigned by Provi- dence to him. I pray God long to continue his life and health, and make him more and more a blessing to all he's concerned with. Tho' he's but young, yet his labors are very instructive and profitable !" His con- nection with the College continued until 1779, a period of more than sixty years. His pastorate was the longest the church has ever known. The written record of his labors as pastor comprises little more than long lists of persons received to the church, of adults and children who were baptized, and of persons married. The sum- ming up is as follows : Children baptized, 2,048 ; adults, 90. Admissions to the fellowship of the church, 784.
All through this long ministry the pastor was busy in the duties of his office, preaching the word, striving for the salvation of those under his care, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. Traces of his vigilance still remain. We have the record of church discipline in 1731 and afterwards, when certain individuals had fallen into open sin. At length, on the 26th of February, 1734, the church and whole congregation met in solemn assembly, and spent the forenoon in prayer and preaching. The sermon was from Ezra ix. 5, 6 : " And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness ; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the Lord my God, and said, O my God, I am ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God ; for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our
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trespass is grown up unto the heavens." In the afternoon several votes were passed, expressing the apprehension of a general decay of piety, in that many had fallen into evil ways who had been baptized and were reckoned the children of the church, and those who had publicly owned the covenant ; and some who were in full com- munion did neglect their business, frequent taverns and public houses, follow unlawful gaming, and indulge in excessive drinking of strong drinks, and were profane in their conversation, whereby they greatly dishonored the Christian name and profession, broke the good and wholesome laws of the land, misspent their precious time, impoverished their families, blasted their reputa- tion, injured their health, unfitted themselves for busi- ness, ran into innumerable snares and temptations, and extremely hazarded their immortal souls.
The assembly apprehended, further, that these evils resulted from a neglect to watch over one another, according to their covenant obligations. With contri- tion before God, they promised to amend their lives, to discountenance and discourage such sinful practices, and to deny themselves even their lawful liberty to prevent others from stumbling thereat. They promised to exer- cise the mutual watchfulness and helpfulness which the gospel enjoins. And they voted, finally, that a suitable letter should be prepared by the pastor, and sent to the innholders and retailers of ardent spirits, exhorting them to do what in them lay to prevent intemperance, gaming, or any disorder at their houses. The record closes with this petition : " And now, O Lord God of our fathers, keep these things forever in the imagina- tions of the thoughts of the heart of this people, and prepare their heart unto thee."
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These general measures do not seem to have been sufficiently effective ; for two years later, at a meeting of the church, a committee was appointed to consult with the pastor " about such measures as shall be thought most likely, under the Divine blessing, to reform the growing disorders that are among us." The com- mittee in its report advised that nine of the brethren be appointed " to inspect and observe the manners of professing Christians, and such as are under the care and watch of this church." They were to inquire into any sinful and disorderly behavior of which they might hear, and administer appropriate admonition, with faith- fulness, but yet with all meekness and tenderness ; and if such private treatment did not succeed, they were to advise with the pastor about more public action. In case of such open and scandalous offences as required the public notice of the church, they were to take such steps as were necessary to bring the matter before the church. But the appointment of this committee was not to be construed as excusing private Christians from that watch over the good name and good character of the church to which they were pledged. The committee was appointed, and entered upon its work. Year by year, after that, we have a record like this: " The brethren voted to choose a committee to inspect the manners of professing Christians, etc., according to the method agreed upon April 13, 1737." From time to time we have the record of the work. It is plain that the church meant to deal faithfully with those under its care, but there is a spirit of forbearance which shows that they did not mean to encroach on the Christian liberty of any one. The offences which were brought under the consideration of the church were all such as
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no church could overlook, and retain its self-respect and preserve its character.
Another matter which enters largely into the records concerns the lands belonging to the church. There is a catalogue signed " N. A." and entitled, " Lands belong- ing to the Church and Congregation in Cambridge for the Use of the Ministry." The list includes three small lots of four, eight, and three acres, and a lot of forty acres in Menotomy, called Bare Hill. Besides these, there was a lot of twenty acres in Newton, " the gift of Mr. Thomas Beale to the church of Christ in this place and town of Cambridge, whereof he was a member." And a farm of five hundred acres at the farther end of Lexington, to- wards Bedford, given in former time by the proprietors of the town for the use of the ministry. It was found expedient and convenient, in Mr. Appleton's day, to sell this land in Newton and Lexington. The proceeds of the former were invested in bonds, and the income was to be used as the church should direct. Of the money received from the sale of the Lexington lands, £ 130 was reserved for the erection of a new parsonage. The rest was applied to the purposes of the original donation. Inasmuch as the proceeds of the Lexington farm were to be for the minister's benefit, the minister made an arrangement with the town whereby he was to receive two thirds of the interest which accrued by the investment of the money received by the sale of the land. The remaining third was to be added, by the minister's own proposal, to the principal. The fund was to be in the hands of a treasurer nominated by the minister and approved by the town. Mr. Appleton solemnly charges the people of the parish to abide strictly by the arrangement which had been made, and
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never suffer their third of the interest to be applied to any other use than the increasing of the fund. He ex- presses the hope that no successor of his in the ministry will ever desire or demand more than two thirds of the interest of this money. " Nay, let me add, what some of you may easily compute, that by keeping this vote and agreement, of adding one third of the interest to the principal, sacred and inviolable, that by the 3d or 4th generation it will of itself afford a comfortable and decent support for a minister, without any tax upon the people."
The result which the prudent pastor anticipated could hardly prove desirable. It is best that the institutions of religion should be sustained by the voluntary offerings of those who enjoy them. Our church has been entirely saved from any perils which might have attended the course which he proposed. But the minister of 1800 writes that this fund, by its own accumulation, and by the addition of the product of ministerial lands sold in 1795, has become greatly auxiliary to the support of the ministry. From time to time a committee was appointed to examine into the state of the church stock of moneys, bonds, or notes, in the hands of the deacons. In 1773 such a committee make a long report, in which they recommend that, after allowing the funds to increase by interest for fourteen years, for the next fifteen years one third of the interest shall be used for the support of the minister, and that after that time two thirds of the fund shall be thus employed, and the remainder be added to the principal. In order that the fund may be increased, the committee also recommend to the mem- bers of the church that whenever they come together " to commemorate the death and sufferings of Him who
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spared not to shed his precious blood for us, they would express their thankful remembrance of the benefit they have received, by cheerfully contributing a small part of the substance with which God has blessed them for the important purposes of continuing and spreading amongst mankind that pure and undefiled religion which Christ appeared on earth to propagate." They enter into an elaborate statement "to show that a very small part of our substance, properly applied, would produce a very considerable effect " in enlarging the resources of the church.
As we turn the pages of the church-records, we come upon various matters which were of importance in their day, and are still of interest. Here is Mr. Appleton's wood-account, beginning in 1729: " My good friends and neighbors have for several years past, in the fall of the year, brought me a considerable quantity of wood gratis, some years between thirty and forty loads, some- times above forty loads, which good and laudable custom, that had been dead for some years before the Reverend Mr. Brattle's death, was revived by good Father Pattin about ten years ago, and continued by the friendship of the people." Then follow the names of the donors year by year, with the quantity of their gifts.
In 1732 the people of the northwesterly part of the town were formed into a separate Precinct, and in 1739 a church was gathered there, and to this second church our church gave £25, " to furnish their communion- table in a decent manner." This was a partial realiza- tion of the communion of saints. In 1731 and 1734 additions were made to the communion-service of our own church by private gifts. In 1740 " the Hon. Jacob Wendell, Esq., from his regard to this place,"
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presented " to the minister of the first church, for the time being, a large, handsome Bible for the use of the church," and the gift was acknowledged with thanks.
Here, in 1757, is the account of a church-meeting, at which " some of the honorable brethren of the church moved that for the future it might not be insisted upon with such who should be admitted into the church to come forth and stand in the front alley or aisle at the time of their admission ; alleging that it was disagree- able and surprising to some persons, and had been offered by way of objection by some persons, and had been such a stumbling-block to them as to prevent their offering themselves for admission; and considering it was but a mere circumstantial thing, and a matter of indifference, and considering also that the practice of other churches allowed persons to stand in their own proper places all the time of admission. Therefore the brethren agreed to leave the matter to the discretion of the pastor, at the same time manifesting that they did not insist upon the standing in the aisle or alley, and that they should be well satisfied if they appeared in any of the seats or pews that joined upon the front alley, so as to be fairly before the pastor and in view of the assembly ; and to this no one of the brethren offered the least objection, although they were desired to do it if they had any objection to offer." Good, honest men, sound but not stiff, and sure that God would have mercy and not sacrifice.
The Revolution was drawing on. As early as 1765 the people of the town had formally instructed their representatives to give no aid to the operation of the Stamp Act, but to do all they could for its repeal. And they ordered that their action should be recorded in the
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town-books, " that the children yet unborn may see the desire that their ancestors had for their freedom and happiness." We do see it after a hundred years, and give thanks at every thought of their daring and devo- tion. I need not tell again what Cambridge did in the beginning and consummation of the long struggle which gave being to our nation. Cambridge was long the head- quarters of the American army, and the old meeting- house stood in the midst of stirring scenes, and opened its doors and extended its ministrations to the citizen soldiers. There Washington and his companions in arms came to worship. There the delegates from the towns of the State met in 1779, and framed the Con- stitution of the Commonwealth, which the next year was ratified by the people. We may be sure that the preaching of the venerable pastor glowed with patriotic fire, and that his prayers were the intercession of a man who believed in God and loved liberty ; who was in the spirit of Lexington and Bunker Hill, and taught his people the worth of life, and the honor of a death for one's country ; who cheered them in the day of darkness and defeat, and rejoiced with them when victory revived their hope and crowned their toils and trials. Of all this they said little ; but we know the men. Here, in 1774, when public and political affairs wear a dark and gloomy aspect, they are keeping, with other towns, a day of humiliation and prayer. Yet they are watch- ful of the church while solicitous for the country, for on this very Fast Day they choose two deacons.
We have a glimpse of the times in some of the re- ceipts for his salary which the minister gave during the Revolution. Here is one in which he acknowledges the receipt of £ 3 2 s. to complete the payment of his salary
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in Continental bills, which, "although they are exceed- ingly depreciated, yet, considering the contributions and subscriptions they have afforded for my relief, and con- sidering the additional grant they have made to my salary for 1778, I accept of this in full for my salary for the year 1777." His salary had been £ 100, and was probably but little changed ; yet the next year he receipts for £ 600, and the next for £ 750, and in 1783 for £ 2,000 paper currency, and £ 25 silver currency. There is a touching pathos in the simple statement of the good man as he took his bills and called them money, " although they are greatly depreciated."
He was close upon ninety years old. We find this fact of his advancing years creeping into the records. 1777, April 25. " Whereas our Rev. and very aged Pastor is at present under such bodily infirmities as to render it doubtful whether he will be able to administer the sacraments on the approaching Sabbath, voted, in such case, it is agreeable and is the desire of this church that the Hon. and Rev. President Langdon should ad- minister the same, and at any other times when necessary occasion calls for it."
The following Thursday was to have been a day of " Public Fasting and Prayer "; but "the aged pastor, through bodily disorders, was unable to carry on the services of the Fast, neither could any help be obtained, so that there was no public service on the Fast." By 1782 the people had begun to talk seriously of the need of hav- ing " a more fixed and settled provision for the preach- ing and administering the gospel ordinances among them," and it was decided by the church that it was desirable presently to settle a minister, if the right man could be found, and the parish committee were desired
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to consult the parish in the matter. Here is Mr. Appleton's record of July 30, 1783, which "was ob- served as a day of Fasting and Prayer by the church and congregation to seek of God divine direction and assistance in the important affair of procuring a more fixed and settled preaching and administration of the word and ordinances among us, considering the very advanced age and growing infirmities of me their aged pastor. The Rev. Mr. Eliot began with prayer : Rev. Mr. Cushing preached A. M., Rev. Mr. Jackson began with prayer : Rev. Mr. Clarke preached P. M."
At the general desire of the brethren of the church, " as well as in compliance with his own inclination and earnest wishes," the pastor called a meeting of the church for the purpose of choosing one to be his colleague in the ministerial office, if the church should see fit. When the meeting was held, the pastor was unable to attend, and Dea. Aaron Hill was moderator. A com- mittee was appointed "to wait on the President of the University, and request him to pray with the brethren on the present occasion." The president complied with the request, and received the thanks of the brethren. This means, I suppose, that he came to the meeting and offered the opening prayer. It was voted by a large majority to proceed to the choice of a colleague pastor, and the Rev. Timothy Hilliard was chosen to that office. The parish concurred in this action, and Mr. Hilliard accepted the invitation. A council of the neighboring churches was called, and on the 27th of October, 1783, the pastor elect was installed. He preached on the occasion from Titus ii. 15: "Let no man despise thee." The Rev. Mr. Clarke of Lexington prayed before the charge, which was given by the Rev.
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Dr. Cooper of Boston. The Rev. Mr. Cushing of Wal- tham gave the right hand of fellowship. "The greatest order, decency, and sobriety were observable through the whole. Soli Deo Gloria."
Mr. Appleton very soon gave the church-book into the care of his colleague, which was virtually relinquish- ing the staff which his decrepit hand could no longer hold. In the following February "he departed this life, in the ninety-first year of his age and sixty-seventh of his ministry." " 1784, February 15. This day his funeral solemnity was attended. The body was carried to the meeting-house. Rev. Mr. Cushing of Waltham prayed. The surviving pastor of this church delivered a funeral address. A funeral anthem was sung, after which the procession advanced to the burying-place, and the body was committed to the tomb." A long Latin epitaph covers the stone upon his grave ; but the last lines, which are in his own tongue, balance the rest : "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firma- ment, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever."
We have already noted some indications of the esteem in which the sixth pastor of this church was held. He was possessed of the learning of his time. He labored to instruct his people. His preaching was with great plainness and simplicity. "He frequently borrowed similitudes from familiar, sometimes from vulgar, objects ; but his application of these was so per- tinent, and his utterance and his air were so solemn, as to suppress levity and silence criticism." He expounded the whole New Testament, the Book of Isaiah, and other parts of the Bible. His aim in this was to promote practical piety. He made use of such events as were
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engaging the attention of the people, that he might lead them to serious thoughts. He was vigilant and careful in his parochial administration. "So great," says Dr. Holmes, " was the ascendency which he gained over his people, by his discretion and moderation, by his con- descension and benevolence, by his fidelity and piety, that, while he lived, they regarded his counsels as oracular ; and, since his death, they mention not his name but with profound regard and veneration." He was venerable for his age, but more for his piety. "His religion, like his whole character, was patriarchal. In his dress, in his manners, in his conversation, in his ministry, he may be classed with the Puritan ministers, of revered memory, who first came to New England." He was a popular man, and his church was " respectable for wealth, influence, and numbers." He had great weight of character, and made himself felt through the province. His praise was in all the churches. Eccle- siastical councils sought his advice. He was a wise counsellor, and strove for the peace and order of the churches. His portrait, by Copley, which hangs in the College, represents him, very fittingly, as holding in his hand a volume of Dr. Watts, entitled "Orthodoxy and Charity."
Dr. Appleton's manuscripts were burned in the fire in Boston in 1794; but a goodly number of his sermons are in print, and also a work published in 1728 and entitled, " The Wisdom of God in the Redemption of Man." He left a legacy of £ 40 for the benefit of the poor of the church, and one of £ 26, Massachusetts currency, to the College for a scholarship, in addition to £ 30 previously given by him. Dr. Appleton was married about the year 1720 to Margaret, daughter of
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the Rev. Henry Gibbs of Watertown. Dr. Sprague's " Annals of the American Pulpit " furnish this incident. " It is a current tradition in the family, that, while he was wooing the lady, he happened to call one day soon after a rival suitor had made his way to her father's house, leaving his horse fastened near the gate. The Cambridge minister, on his arrival, tied his own steed to the fence, and coolly unloosed the other, and with a smart stroke of his whip sent him off down the street. He then went into the house, and told his rival that he had just seen a horse running away at full speed, and asked if it was his. Whereupon the owner rushed out after his stray beast, leaving Dr. Appleton in possession of the field. He made the most of his opportunity, offered himself, and was accepted." They had twelve children. One son was a merchant in Boston, and a zealous patriot during the Revolution, and for many years held the office of Commissioner of Loans. Two daughters married clergymen.
There are some other events which fall into this period, which should have a mention here. After Mr. Appleton had been invited to the pastorate, a committee was appointed by the town to consider the expediency of raising the meeting-house, so that an upper tier of galleries could be put in. The College agreed to bear one-seventh part of the expense of this alteration, on condition that certain parts of the house should be re- served for the use of the scholars. I do not find any account of the work, and presume that the project was abandoned. In 1746 the parish proposed to repair the meeting-house, and the College again agreed to pay a por- tion of the cost. There was a difference of opinion re- garding the amount of work which should be done, and
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the extensive repairs contemplated were abandoned; but it would appear that the immediate want was met by making the roof tight, and mending the windows, doors, and seats. It is probable that some thought the time was not distant when a new house would be needed, and that it would be poor economy to spend much money on the old one. In 1753 the inhabitants voted to build a new meeting-house upon some part of the hill on which the house was then standing. The Corporation of the College agreed to pay one seventh part of the cost of the new house, upon certain conditions. The students were to have the improvement of the whole front gal- lery, and one of the best pews was to be set apart for the president. A petition was to be sent to the General Court, asking such help in the affair as should seem meet to their wisdom and goodness. The College afterwards agreed to add £ 20 to the previous sub- scription. There was a protracted negotiation to arrange matters between the parish and the College, but on November 17, 1756, the house was raised, and Divine service was first performed in it July 24, 1757. This fourth house remained until 1833. " In this edifice," writes President Quincy, "all the public Commence- ments and solemn inaugurations, during more than seventy years, were celebrated; and no building in Massachusetts can compare with it in the number of distinguished men who at different times have been assembled within its walls." During the investment of Boston in 1775, when Washington had his army here, he worshipped with his companions-in-arms in that church. In 1779 the delegates from the different towns of Massachusetts met in that church, and framed the Constitution of the State. When Lafayette was here, in
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