USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newburyport > Origin and annals of "The Old south," First Presbyterian church and parish, in Newburyport, Mass., 1746-1896 > Part 11
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one of which, Whitefield's, is plainly legible at the present time. In 1866, in excavating under the build- ing for placing furnaces. the workmen unearthed the old tomb and found it considerably larger than the present crypt. Our authority for these facts is Mr. William H. Johnson, who had them from his father. Mr. Isaac Johnson.
The crypt, as it stands today, is a brick structure, seven feet square, reached by a flight of steps, and lighted by gas. On the right, as we enter, are the remains of Rev. Jonathan Parsons; on the left those of Rev. Joseph Prince; while across their feet lies Whitefield's coffin. The three coffins lie with the lids open but protected by glass, exposing the head and chest of each occupant to view. Whitefield's skull was taken to Boston some years ago to have casts made from it, one of which is to be seen in the crypt; but the skull was safely brought back and re- stored to its place in the coffin.
The arm of the evangelist was stolen long ago and taken to England, where it was seen, in 1836. by Mr. Robert Philip, who promised to conceal the cul- prit's name, if he would return the spoil. This he did, but without an explanation at the time. The name of the purloiner is said to have been Bolton. Rev. Dr. Stearns, to whom the mysterious box
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containing the missing relic was returned, regarded it with apprehension, lest it might be an "infernal machine." After some months a letter came stating the facts, and asking if the bone had been received. Under the date of September 26, 1849, Dr. Stearns wrote as follows :- "The trust committed to me I am happy to say has been discharged. The ven- erable relic was conveyed to the vault where its kin- dred remains lie ; and in the presence of the Session of the Church, and of the Parish Committee, 1 descended to the tomb, and restored it to its place yesterday. .Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.' "
It is further related that a Mr. Brown of Epping Forest, England. visited the old tomb in 1784, in or- der to test the truth of a rumor that the body of the evangelist remained "entire and uncorrupted." Hle certified that this was true; that he felt of the flesh himself. and found the body as perfect as when the interment had taken place fourteen years before. Another examination was made, in 1801, by Mr. Mason, of Newburyport, who reported that he found the flesh totally consumed, though the gown, cas- sock and bands were the same as if just put in the coffin. The suggestion has repeatedly been made that the crypt should be sealed up; but the opposi-
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tion to this has always been too strong to be over- come. Hence it remains accessible to the public. The registry of visitors shows the names of more than 6000 persons who have visited the sacred place during the past twenty-eight years. The volume contains the autographs of some of the most distin- guished persons in our own country, as well as from foreign lands. Every state of the Union has been represented; and all the British Provinces. There have also been visitors from England, Scotland, Ire- land, and various parts of Europe; from Turkey, China, Japan, India, Africa, Bermuda, Hawaii. and other regions. On several occasions large religious assemblies have visited it in a body. Even while these pages are in press, the crypt and other objects of interest in and about the Old South Church are visited by the Massachusetts Sons of the American Revolution. The time seems to have hardly yet come for sealing up such a place of precious relies.
TOWER, CLOCK, BELL AND VANE.
The memorial clock recently given by the Plumer family is fully described on preceding pages. Its predecessor was put up in 1785: but who bought or gave it is not known. The old dials were hexagonal,
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and they had but one hand. an arrow, extending across the dial to mark the hours; the minutes might take care of themselves. When the clock struck one p. m .. and also at o p. m., the bell was rung for ten minutes-a custom for sometime discon- tinued, but now resumed, so far as the nine o'clock " curfew" is concerned. The original bell was bought previous to 1785, at which date a vote is recorded "to raise the bell to the top of the steeple." The peculiar phrase suggests the idea that at first it may have been tested on a triangle; as was actually done when one of our pew-holders, Lord Timothy Dexter, bought two bells, importing them from Lon- don, then setting them up for a time on the Brown Square that people might try them; the best being kept for the Second Presbyterian church, and the other sent to a church at Malden. However that may be, our present bell was bought by Mr. Benjamin Wyatt, as a committee with power to act. in 1803. and was cast by the famous Paul Revere. For ninety- three years it has pealed forth its rich, mellow tones for the hours of the day and night. been rung for Sabbath services, on election days, and occasionally on an anniversary of a birthday, notably that of Miss Phoebe Harrod, in whose honor it was rung a hun- dred minutes. It has tolled for funerals, aided in
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sounding fire-alarms, and made the air tremble with "joy-bells" on holidays, and other occasions of re- joicing.
When the meeting-house had stood nearly a cen- tury it was taken for granted, in 1848, that the tim- bers of the tower must needs be decayed, and that a new structure ought to be built. But those who undertook the job found the timbers as sound as ever. One of the carpenters timed his sawing a timber off and found it took half an hour. Yet the decree had gone forth and the tall old spire must come down. It was more easily said than done. Mr. Elias Pike was entrusted with the task. The spire itself was one solid piece of white oak, broad at the bottom, and tapering to the top, where for so many generations the gilded weathercock had veered with each changing wind, and had served as a land- mark for the sailors. Horses and oxen were used to pull over the spire, by the aid of pullies and a snatch block, after the saw had been freely used. Slanting cuts had to be made in order to gain a purchase. Just as this was done, the horses were frightened in some manner and started suddenly, so that the spire fell point downward into Federal street. But while yet in mid-air, the gilded rooster slipped from his lofty perch, and like a thing of life, flew to Spring
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street, where he alighted, somewhat battered. though not beyond easy repairing. The bird was first put on the spire in 1759, and must have been startled at the unexpected change in his situation. On being weighed he was found to tip the scales at fifty-three pounds, being made, not of wood, but of pure copper gilded. Captain Nathan Plumer, with the aid of Mr. Philip Lord. put on the shingles of the new spire, in 1848, and together they hoisted the weathercock to his place again. After adjusting him on the upright iron rod whereon he was to revolve, Captain Plumer. before coming down, slapped him on the side. shout- ing, "Good by, old bird!" This venerable fowl has afforded so much amusement to people who know no better, that it is well to remind them that, from the earliest period. the cock has been a Christian emblem, a special symbol of the resurrection, the herald of the millennial dawn, and the emblem of eternal vigilance.
Among those who watched the building of the new spire was a lad in a corner grocery, who offered various suggestions to Mr. Rufus Sargent. the archi- tect, that were of course, promptly discarded. His name was Thomas W. Silloway; and he informs the writer that he at that time received the first impulses that led him afterward to devote himself
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for life to the profession of architecture in Boston, where his fame is well established. He also in- forms me that the pulpit, then new, but now sixty-seven years old, is made of pine, and it was intended to have Mr. Johnson, who did the rest of the painting, paint it white. But some one reported a new process of graining to make the pine look like oak. Accordingly a Boston painter named Whit- taker, came on to effect the marvellous transforma- tion. His condition was that he and his helper should have complete control of the room till his work was done. For some years the parish took pride in it as a work of art; but better taste prevailed in 1856, and the pulpit was painted, as was first in- tended, a pure white. At that time an Italian, named Philip Guelpa, did the refrescoing of the walls and ceiling so generally and deservedly admired, espe- cially the marvellous hangings back of the pulpit.
Church music has been mentioned on pages 52-54; but a few words may here be added. In 1781 Elder Pearson was instructed to "sit in the Elder's seat and set the music. In 1795 the parish voted "to sing without the Deacons' reading the psalms and hymns line by line." That same year they voted forty pounds for a singing-school, and made another
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THE CHOIR-OLD SOUTH. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH BY J. W. AND C. J. G. WINDER.
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appropriation for the same object in 1807. At about the same time they voted to remove the old sounding-board from above the pulpit; and likewise appointed a special committee to see that "pew-owners should nail list on the seats to prevent the noise made by their falling in prayer time." In 1813 the parish voted "to adopt the regulation dress for attending funerals," although no description of said dress is given in the records.
The accompanying interior view shows the mod- ern organ, to the right and left of which are the so- called "negro pews," relics of colonial customs; a portion of the famous whispering gallery; the fres- coed ceiling; and the alcoves, between the doors. where the stoves used to stand whence the foot- stoves were supplied with live coals.
From the materials furnished by the singing schools the "singing men and singing women" were formed into a choir, that was led by an orchestra consisting of a violin, a base-viol, a clarinet and a bassoon. Among some manuscripts kindly given to us by Mr. Alfred W. Lord. and that had been out of our possession for a century, (mostly pertaining to the separation between the
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First and Second churches), we found the remon- strance of Elder Jeremiah Pearson against the use of anthems and fugue-tunes in the house of God. But all such protests were in vain. The parish not only kept its choir, but bought an organ, in 1828, at a cost of $800. This was used for ten years, and then ex- changed for another costing $1400, bought from Mr. William Balch, $500 being allowed for the old in- strument. This second organ was sold at half-price in 1866, when the superior one now in use was bought for $3800 from Hook and Hastings of Boston.
The Pastoral Library, mentioned on page 5, was founded in 1849, by a vote of the parish, at the sug- gestion of Deacon Moses Pettingell. who also made a liberal donation to its contents. A vote was also recorded in 1869, by the church with the concurrence of the parish, that an annual collection should be taken to replenish this valuable library; the outlay of the fund being in the hands of a committee annually appointed, and of which the pastor is the chairman. The beneficial result is that a collection of books, papers and manuscripts is being made, by purchase and by gift, that will increase in value as time passes by, and will save for coming generations historical, and other, material that else would perish.
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EARLY LEGENDS AND CUSTOMS.
Several of the quaint legends that have come down as to the early ministers have already been related. They appear to have had a generous support for the times. At the outset the society, amid its poverty and persecution, voted to Mr. Parsons a salary vary- ing from 100 to 133 pounds annually, besides "the loose contributions." They also gave him the house and grounds he occupied on School street. His widow was well cared for after his death. getting one year the sum of 100 pounds, and considerable sums at other times. These were in good English money, as it was before the Revolutionary War. No reference is made in the records to "continental money," but its use explains the statement that, in 1780, Mr. Murray's salary was 9,000 pounds and house rent; and that same year the appropriation for parish expenses was 20,000 pounds, or the equivalent of $100,000. The year following, Mr. Murray's salary was but 150 pounds, with 100 pounds additional as a gift, together with 1,000 pounds to build a parsonage. The total amount for this latter object was 1,805 pounds. After Mr. Murray's death very generous appropriations were made for the support of his fam- ily. He was buried on the summit of what is now known as the Old Burying Hill, in a tomb of brick
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surmounted by granite blocks, on which rests a white marble slab suitably inscribed; the tomb was con- structed at the expense of the society, and is at this time in perfect condition.
Parson Murray was great and eloquent, but not quite perfect. He knew this better than any one else. But it was a pity that some of his clerical brethren could never forget his faults in consideration of his many virtues. For various reasons Dr. Spring would not shake hands with him. At a certain fu- neral where they both officiated, the former left the room when the latter prayed. Hence the boys used to sing this odd refrain:
"Parson Spring began to fling, And seemed to be in a hurry ; He could not stay to hear him pray, Because 'twas Parson Murray."
But our parson had his retaliation. Dr. Spring published a theological work, whose doctrines were open to objections, and Mr. Murray wrote on the fly- leaf of a copy that went the rounds, a significant stanza quoted from Watts, Book I, hymn 57.
"What mortal power from things unclean Can pure productions bring ? Who can command a vital stream From an infected Spring?"
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Formerly the invariable custom was to require those guilty of scandalous offences to make public confession which was duly recorded in the church- book. But, March 31, 1821. it was voted, "That. whenever the Session are satisfied of the sincere pen- itence of the offender, no public confession of any particular sin shall be required-inasmuch as the usages of the church cannot make that right, or ex- pedient, for which there is no warrant in the Word of God." In the following year the rule requiring candidates for membership to give written experi- ences was also dispensed with.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
After the Newburyport Sabbath School and Tract Society was disbanded. in 1835, (see page 46), our school was, for a while, sustained by voluntary effort. and there is no record of officers. Historically the school dates back to its original formation in our Beck street chapel, in 1814. eighty-two years ago. It is a matter of regret that no complete list has been kept of those earlier years. But it is known that. among the men, were: Capt. Abraham Wheelwright. Thomas M. Clarke, John Rogers, Edward Woodbury. Paul Simpson, Isaac Wheelwright, George Donnell and James Caldwell. Among the women were: Phoebe Harrod. Mary C. Greenleaf, Mary Haskell.
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Lydia Titcomb, Mary Ann Pillsbury, Elizabeth Beck, and Almira Boardman.
In July, 1838, the church assumed the care. super- vision and support of the school, and appointed its teachers and officers: which continues to be the cus- tom, with modifications. Vacancies ad interim are filled by the officers and teachers.
Among those who served either as superintendents. or as acting superintendents, may be mentioned : Captain William Pritchard, who was elected in 1838 and served for twenty-five years, James Caldwell. Roger S. Howard. Charles Morss, Ebenezer Rolfe, Moses H. Sargent, (afterward for many years treas- urer of the Congregational Sunday School and Pub- lishing Society). William Todd, James A. IIorton, John D. Parsons, Edward D. Pritchard, Joseph B.Crea- sey, Edmund Jaques, (who has also served long and faithfully as librarian ), George W. Haskell, Dudley D. Tilton, Dr. Frank A. Hale. Joseph H. Noyes. Walter Gerrish. Charles M. Pritchard, William Taylor, George H. Jaques, William E. Chase, and John M. Bailey.
The Home Department is superintended by Mrs. Ilelen L. Hovey, and the Primary Department by Miss Ada M. Greenleaf. The present secretary of the school is Miss Alice G. Jones. Miss Mary P. Lunt
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has, for several years, served as pianist for the school.
The former system of having tything-men being discontinued, it became necessary to have some per- son authorized to maintain order and propriety in the house of God; and accordingly, April 15. 1861, the church decided that this duty devolved on the sex- ton. and voted that "therefore he be instructed to be in attendance at the church on the Sabbath during public worship, and at such other times as this meet- ing-house is open for public worship; and that the clerk give a copy of this to the Parish committee." The records of the parish furthermore defined it to be the duty of the sexton to attend all meetings or- dered by the parish committee.
The list of tything-men and sextons would include the names of some of the most useful and faithful servants of the parish. could it be made out: but it is not practicable from the records. The present sex- ton is Mr. Edgar J. Batchelder, 9 1-2 Atwood street.
REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENTS.
A long chapter might be written about the part played by our fathers in the War of the Revolution; but a few facts demand special mention. It is a
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matter of history that, at ten o'clock. Monday night. March 5th. 1770. the bells of Boston rang an alarm. and thousands of the inhabitants assembled, the oc- casion being the massacre of unarmed citizens by the British soldiery. The bells of Newburyport. our own among the number, responded by tolling the next day. Rev. Jonathan Parsons states that he "had been repeatedly urged to speak in pub- lic on a day set apart to commemorate the bloody massacre, the barbarous butchery at Boston, but had declined to do so." until, four years later he yielded, and on March 5, 1774, he preached his famous ser- mon on "Freedom from Civil and Ecclesiastical Sla- Very." It was published in pamphlet form, and was "dedicated to the Honorable John Hancock, Esq., of Boston." A few sentences will give an idea of this impassioned appeal made two years before the Dec- laration of Independence. After describing with in- dignation the massacre at Boston, he said concerning the situation of the colonies: "If one man may de- fend himself and his rights against an assailant, much more may a whole country defend themselves when their rights are invaded. If old friends are disposed to be terrible, if they endeavor to enslave, and bring mischief and misery upon their brethren-then it be- comes us to take up arms .- If former friends are now
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resolved to entangle us with a yoke of bondage, God forbid that we should suffer them to cut off our limbs and mangle our whole body to gratify their in- jurious demands. - If it should be so that our nat- ural and constitutional liberties cannot be recovered and maintained without repelling force by force-it is a very loud call from God to defend ourselves."
Five months later. at a town meeting. it was re- solved " That this town will stand by the result of Congress, even if it be to the stopping of all trade;" and we know what that meant in one of the most busy marts of the colonies, as Newburyport then was.
The battle of Lexington. the next April, was the signal of war. The following Sunday, according to a well authenticated account. the voice of Parsons rang
forth again for liberty. He was then seventy years old, but he seemed to drop the infirmities of age and renew the fire and courage of youth. At his appeal one of the members of this church, Captain Ezra Lunt, stepped forth into the broad aisle and a com- pany of sixty men was formed on the spot, which is said to have been the first company of volunteers to join the continental army. In the diary kept by Lieut. Paul Lunt is the modest, but significant, en- try: "May. 1775, marched from Newburyport with sixty men: Ezra Lunt, commander. June 16, our
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men entrenched on a hill beyond Bunker's Hill. June 17. the Regulars landed troops and we engaged them." In keeping with this patriotic spirit was the town vote recorded, May 31. 1776. thirty-four days be- fore the Declaration of Independence, " Voted, That if the honorable Congress should. for the safety of the United Colonies, declare them independent of the kingdom of Great Britain, this town will. with their lives and fortunes, support them in the measure."
Parson Murray was an ardent patriot, as has already been testified. on page 38 of this volume. The fol- lowing incident will show his zeal, as well as the power of his eloquence. It is narrated in Rev. Mr. Miltimore's eulogy of Murray. Newburyport was called on for still another company of soldiers, after having already furnished many. Day after day the recruiting officers toiled in vain. Finally the regi- ment was invited to the Presbyterian church, where Mr. Murray addressed them in such spirited and stir- ring words, that once again, as formerly in a similar case in the days of Parsons, a member of this church stepped forth to take the command, and, in two hours after the benediction had been spoken. the entire company was raised. When the war was ended Mr. Murray preached a great sermon, Dec. 11, 1783. en- titled. "Jerubbaal. or Tyranny's Grove Destroyed.
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and the Altar of Liberty Finished." This wonderful Thanksgiving sermon is out of print, but by the kind- ness of Mr. A. W. Lord, the only copy perhaps now in existence is deposited in the Pastoral Libraryof our church. The men of our parish nobly gave them- selves and their means, and on almost every battle- field and in many a thrilling naval contest, they dis- played their daring. The fact should never be for- gotten, that during the Revolutionary war twenty-two vessels and one thousand men, from the towns of Newbury and Newburyport, were lost at sea; and. according to a local historian, the first American flag which floated in the British waters, after the cessa- tion of hostilities, was displayed in the river Thames. from the Compte de Grasse. by Captain Nicholas Johnson, of Newburyport.
PORTRAITS OF THE PASTORS.
On the walls of the chapel hang portraits of all the former pastors, and each picture has its own history. A beginning was made, Nov. 30, 1826, of which the record is as follows: "The portrait of the late Rev. John Murray presented to this church by Samuel Swett. Esq., of Boston, and Simon Greenleaf, Esq., of Portland; it having been much defaced and
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neglected. the above gentlemen, as a mark of respect paid to the memory of the Rev. Mr. Murray. once their minister in their youth, they caused it to be repaired, and generously sent it as a present to this society, wishing that it might be placed in the par- sonage-house where it was formerly placed." The next year it was voted "that the portrait of Mr. Murray be placed in the room provided for the meet- ing of the session in the meeting-house."
In April, 1855, a committee was appointed to look up the portraits of the former pastors; consisting of Dr. Vermilye, Ezra Lunt, Moses Pettingell and James Caldwell.
In May, 1874, the parish appointed Messrs. Isaac H. Boardman, William Graves and John T. Brown, a special committee for the same purpose. A full ac- count of their efforts was published at the time in the Newburyport Herald. The portrait of Parsons is a fine crayon copy of an original Copley painting, and was presented by Hon. Henry E. Parsons of Ashta- bula, Ohio. The formal presentation to the society was made by Jacob Stone. Esq., a grandson of Mr. Parsons. It shows the first pastor in his wig, gown and bands, according to the fashion of those days. The oil portrait of Dr. Daniel Dana was painted in 1883, and is a copy of the original owned by his fam-
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ilv. It is the gift of his grandson, Mr. William Dana Wheelwright of New York. The likeness of Rev. S. P. Williams, also an oil portrait, was the gift of Mrs: Charlotte Cook Knapp, after it had hung for many years on the walls of his former home on the corner of Federal and Orange streets. The pictures of Pastors Proudfit, Stearns. Vermilye and Richard- son, are excellent engravings ; while those of Durfee, Newell. Wallace and Sinclair are half life-size photo- graphs, being the gifts of their friends. There are two likenesses of Rev. George Whitefield, one being the gift of Sir Charles Reed, of London, England. together with a letter written by Whitefield in 1766; and the other being more recently obtained for us by Mr. John T. Brown. The oil painting of the old meeting-house was executed in Antwerp in 1857 for Captain Charles H. Plumer, a parishioner, and was purchased of him for the society by the Ladies' and Gentlemen's Association.
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