USA > Massachusetts > Sketch of the history of the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem ; with a list of its members > Part 4
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These resolutions were adopted by a unanimous vote ; and Messrs. Theophilus Parsons, David L. Webster, and George
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B. Davis were appointed the committee on behalf of the Church.
Dec. 8, 1867. - The joint committee of the Church and Society reported that they had extended to the Rev. James Reed a joint call to become Pastor of the Church and Society, and had received from him the following reply :
" BOSTON, Sept. 28, 1867.
" DEAR SIR, - Yours of the sixteenth instant, forwarding to me a joint invitation of the New-Jerusalem Church and So- ciety in Boston to become their Pastor, is duly received.
" Let me assure you, and through you the Church and So- ciety, that in accepting the position offered me I have a deep sense of its many and great responsibilities. But I will try to perform its duties faithfully, according to the light and strength that are given me; and I trust I shall not fail to look to the right source for light and strength.
"Praying that the Divine blessing may be upon us all in our future counsels and actions,
"I remain, affectionately and truly yours,
"JAMES REED.
"To PROF. THEOPHILUS PARSONS, Chairman of the Joint Committee."
The Committee also reported that they had sent to Mr. Worcester the following invitation to officiate at the installa- tion of the Pastor elect :
" To the REV. DR. WORCESTER :
" DEAR SIR, - The Boston Society of the New-Jerusalem, and the New-Jerusalem Society, have, through us, a commit- tee for that purpose, given to the Rev. James Reed a joint · call to become the Pastor of the Church and Society.
" This call Mr. Reed has accepted. In discharge of a farther duty assigned to us, we have now to ask you to officiate at the induction of Mr. Reed into his pastoral office.
" We should make this request from your position as the
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Pastoral Head of the Association of which our Society is a member.
" We should make it from a due regard to your age, char- acter, and personal position in the Church in this country.
" We are, however, moved to make this request yet more for other reasons :
"Some of us remember the feeble beginnings from which you have led us on the way to our present prosperity. All of us know that for nearly half a century you have been indeed our Pastor, the instrument through whom our Father has fed us with spiritual food, and given us to drink of the water of life.
" Your own instruction would lead us to give our gratitude and thanks first and most to Him from whom are all good gifts. But we are not forbidden to offer to you, as we do, and with the certainty of the concurrence of the Church and Society which we represent, our grateful acknowledgments for the willingness with which you have acted as this instru- ment ; for your unfailing love for the high use to which He called you ; for your fidelity to duty ; for your constant and earnest desire to guide and lead us upward.
" To whom should we look, if not to you, to officiate at the induction of your successor to the same office and the same duty?
" The Church and Society would be glad to have Mr. Reed inducted into office, on the first Sunday in January next ; but they leave the matter in your hands, the time being wholly subject to your convenience.
" BOSTON, Oct. 16, 1867."
To the request contained in this letter, Mr. Worcester re- turned an affirmative reply, and on the day of the quarterly meeting, the fifth of January, 1868, Mr. Reed was inducted into the office of Pastor of the Society. He was accompanied to the chancel by the following-named persons, to represent the Society : namely, Sampson Reed; Theophilus Parsons ;
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Joseph M. Marsh ; John G. Davis; E. Waldo Cutler, and George Howe.
Dr. Worcester officiated, and preached a sermon from Deut- eronomy iv. 32-36.
At a meeting of the Church on the evening of the same day, the following resolutions were passed by a unanimous rising vote :
" Resolved, That in offering to Dr. Worcester the thanks of this Church for the service he has this day rendered us, we would say, that his own profound acknowledgment of Ilim who stood in our midst, his deep devotion to duty, his warm and tender care over the Society which he has so long taught and led, imparted to the words of wisdom which he uttered a life and force which have helped them to sink deep into our hearts ; have given new strength to our gratitude for all he has done, and new force and endurance to the ties which, in our altered condition, still bind us together ;
" Resolved, That the Rev. Dr. Worcester be requested to furnish a copy of his Discourse and Installation Service for publication, under the direction of the Church Committee, and that a copy be sent, with these resolutions, to each member of the Society, and to each Minister of the Massa- chusetts Association of the New-Church."
A copy was furnished in accordance with the above request, and published with a preface under the direction of the Church Committee.
From this preface we make the following extract :
" In the afternoon the sacrament of the Holy Supper was administered to three hundred and fifty-two communicants, Mr. Worcester commencing the service and continuing to the end of the prayer ; after which Mr. Reed broke the bread and gave it to the assistants, and also gave the cup, Mr. Worces- ter closing the service with the Benediction.
" Previous to the Supper, Mr. Reed officiated at the recep -. tion into the Society of sixteen new members.
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"This day will be long remembered by those who were present on the above-mentioned occasions.
" In the morning, the sermon of Dr. Worcester was listened to with profound attention. All hearts were touched, 2 !! united in the acknowledgment of the great truths container: in it, all were led to hope that, through the Lord's merey, they might profit by the instruction which fell, so gently yet with so much power, from the lips of him to whom for so many years we had loved to look up as our truest friend and our best guide, among men in the way of eternal life.
" At the induction, the address of the venerable and re- vered Pastor who had surrendered his charge, introducing the young minister into the place he had so long held, was deeply affecting ; for it was full of grateful remembrances and of pleasing hopes."
Jan. 5, 1868. - It was
"Voted, As the sense of this meeting, that in our worship we should rise when the music strikes ;
"Voted, As the sense of. this meeting, that the time for rising from our seats is when the Pastor opens the Word."
.July 26, 1868. - The following resolutions, presented by the Church Committee, were adopted :
"Resolved, That it is expedient to celebrate the semi-cen- tennial anniversary of the formation of this Church, which took place on the fifteenth of August, 1818, on some day in the ensuing autumn.
"Resolved, That our former Pastor, and the Rev. Mr. Hay- ward, the only surviving male members of the original So- ciety, be invited to take prominent parts in the ceremonies ; that they be consulted, and requested to communicate their views.
"Resolved, That our Pastor be requested to confer with these. gentlemen, and to take himself an appropriate part in the ceremonies."
Sept. 27, 1868. - The following vote was passed :
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"Voted, That it be adopted as a standing rule of this So- ciety that delegates are authorized to fill vacancies."
Nov. 18, 1868. - The Society celebrated the Fiftieth An- niversary of its formation this evening.
On account of the inclemency of the weather, many per- sons were prevented from attending ; nevertheless about two hundred and fifty of the past and present members assembled in the Temple on Bowdoin Street.
Brief religious services were held, conducted by the Pas- tor, the Rev. James Reed, and the Rev. Joseph Pettee of Abington, which consisted of the reading from the Word of the 121st Psalm, the twenty-first chapter of Revelation, and other portions, prayer, and chanting the 158th and the 122d selections from the Liturgy.
At the conclusion of these services those present repaired to the vestry, where arrangements had been made for a social festival and reunion.
The Pastor presided, and made a short address, welcoming all present, and expressing his regret (as it was the regret of all) that the Rev. Dr. Worcester, who had been the Pastor of the Society for almost all the time that had elapsed since its organization, was not able to be present on this commem- orative occasion.
A letter was read from Dr. Worcester, expressing the sat- isfaction and spiritual enjoyment he had received in his inter- course with the Society.
The Rev. T. B. Hayward, the only one present of the orig- inal members of the Society, spoke of the early history of the Society, and made mention, in a few words, of each of the original twelve members ; he also spoke of the opposition which those who received the doctrines at that time had to meet - opposition, he said, of such a character that the pres- ent generation can form but little idea of it.
A letter from Miss Cary (the oldest member of the So- ciety, at this time ninety-three years of age) was read, to- gether with extracts of much interest from her journal.
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Also a letter from Mrs. Sarah Worcester, widow of the late Samuel Worcester of Bridgewater, recounting many pleasing incidents immediately preceding the organization of the Society.
Letters, written by the late John HI. Wilkins and the Rev. Holland Weeks to Mr. S. Reed, one in the year 1818, the other in the year 1820, were read and listened to with great interest.
Mr. Edwin Burnham, then a member of this Society, re- siding in Chicago, in a letter stating that he could not be present, said that he should endeavor to observe the occa- sion by inviting to his house any and all members of this So- ciety who were in Chicago, to unite with his household in singing chants, and in conversation about the Society.
Brief addresses were made by Mr. Sampson Reed, Prof. Parsons, Rev. Joseph Pettee, Mr. William A. Wellman, and Mr. Joseph Andrews.
Original hymns, written for the occasion, one by the Pas- tor and one by Miss II. L. Ware, were sung during the ex- ercises.
A detailed account of the celebration, including the re- marks made by the Pastor and others, and letters from absent members, containing much interesting matter pertain- ing to the early history of the Society, was published in a pamphlet of eighty-one pages.
Feb. 14, 1869. - The following communication was pre- sented from members of the Society residing in Newtonville :
" To the Rev. James Reed, Pastor, and to our Brethren of the
Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, affectionate greeting :
" For several years, as residents of Newtonville, we, whose names appear below, together with other friends and neigh- bors, have enjoyed the sacraments of the Church, supported public worship, and performed various uses of a Religious Society.
" We have nearly completed a chapel, which is to be de-
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voted to religious uses, and in which we hope to find a home.
"It seems to us, therefore, that the time has come for us to draw nearer together, to assume all the duties and respon- sibilities, and to ask for the support and spiritual blessing which should fall upon an independent Society of the Lord's New Church.
"That we may be free to enter this new position, we re- spectfully ask that our present connection with your much- loved Society may be separated, trusting that a new relation will spring up between us, which will be still more useful and happy."
Signed by Rev. JOHN WORCESTER, and seventeen other members of the Society.
Whereupon the Society adopted the following preamble and resolutions :
" Whereas, Rev. John Worcester, and seventeen other members of this Society, residing in Newtonville, have sent a written request that their membership may cease, in order that they may be formed into a distinct Society ;
"Resolved, That their request be and hereby is granted ;
"Resolved, That we cordially proffer the right-hand of fel- lowship to our brethren and sisters in Newtonville in the new position which they are about to assume, trusting that by tak- ing upon themselves the duties and responsibilities of an or- ganized Society of the New-Church, their sphere of useful- ness may be much enlarged and strengthened ; and that our long connection as members of the same body may have pre- pared us, under Providence, to act in harmony and brotherly love, as distinct societies, in the performance of the more gen- eral uses of the Church."
Feb. 14, 1869. - The name of the Committee on Recep- tion was changed to that of the Committee of Reception and . Acquaintance.
April 5, 1869. - The Church Committee, to whom had
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been referred the consideration of the Pastor's address, deliv- ered Jan. 3, 1869, presented a report recommending the for- mation of a Society, to be called the "Charity Association of the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem." At a subse- quent meeting, held April 27, this report was accepted, and the recommendation adopted.
The association was at once organized by the choice of officers, by whom a code of by-laws was drawn up, which was adopted by the Society.
It has since been in successful operation, performing those offices which its name implies much more systematically and effectually than they had previously been discharged. All contributions or collections for the poor are placed at the disposal of this Association.
April 5, 1869. - A recommendation of the Committee on Social Intercourse and Recreation that ladies, as well as gen- tlemen, should be appointed on that Committee, was adopted. About an equal number of ladies and gentlemen have since served on this Committee, and our experience leaves no room to doubt the wisdom of the change.
April 27, 1869. - The Music Committee was discontinued at its own request, it being thought that its duties could be better performed by the musical director.
May 23, 1869. - It was voted to take up a collection on the first Sunday in June, to defray the incidental expenses of the Sunday-school. A collection for this purpose was also taken up in 1870 and 1871.
May 30, 1869. - It was "Voted, That the Pastor be re- quested to publish one or more of the sermons recently preached by him on the conjugial relation, if it be thought best by him to do so."
In conformity with this vote a small volume was afterwards published, containing five sermons by the Pastor, under the title, "Man and Woman, Equal but Unlike."
June 13, 1869 .- The following communication was received from fifteen members of the Society residing in Waltham :
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"To the Rev. James Reed, Pastor of the Boston
Society of the New Jerusalem Church :
" DEAR SIR, - The undersigned, members of your Society, believing that the interests of the Church and their own spiritual welfare will be promoted by the institution of a So- ciety in the town of Waltham, where they now reside, re- spectfully ask leave to resign their membership of your Society for that purpose. The hesitation and delay which they have shown in approaching this step, already, it is sup- posed, sufficiently attest their reluctance to leave their old home.
" They have, then, only to add that they could not now take their leave, except in the hope that the separation will prove to be more in form than in reality, and that they will continue to enjoy the privilege of association with your So- ciety in the reception and development of New-Church life.
" With much respect and affection for the Society, for your- self, and all its members, we remain
" Your friends and fellow-servants."
Signed by CALVIN CLARK, and fourteen others.
Upon the reading of this communication, the following pr ?- amble and resolutions were unanimously adopted by the Society :
" Whereas, Calvin Clark and fourteen others, members of this Society, have asked leave to resign their membership for the purpose of joining in the institution of a Society of the New-Church in the town of Waltham ;
"Resolved, That their request be, and hereby is, granted ;
"Resolved, That we cordially reciprocate the kind and fra- ternal feelings expressed in the communication of our broth- ers and sisters in Waltham, and extend to them the right hand of fellowship in the new position they are about to as- sume, trusting that their sphere of usefulness may be thereby much enlarged, - that the bonds of affection and good-will, which have so long held us together as one body, may not be
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weakened, but made still stronger, by the step they have taken, and the new responsibilities they are about to under- take; and that the two societies may always work harmo- niously and efficiently together in the promotion of the more general uses of the Church."
March 27, 1870. - On recommendation of the Church Committee, it was
"Voted, That the quarterly business meetings of the So- ciety be held on the Monday evenings following the adminis- tration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, and that refreshments be provided in the vestry on these occasions as heretofore; the arrangement to continue until otherwise ordered ;
" Also, That the Committee on Social Intercourse be re- quested to provide a collation in the vestry on quarterly meeting Sundays, as heretofore, until otherwise ordered."
These arrangements have proved quite satisfactory ; the number who attend our quarterly meetings from a distance being larger than could be conveniently provided for at the private residences of the members, as was formerly the case.
April 25, 1870. - Mr. Sampson Reed, who had officiated as Superintendent of the Sabbath-school for twenty-six years, having been the first and only Superintendent, having declined a reelection, resolutions were adopted expressing the high ap- preciation by the Society of the value and faithfulness of his services, and he was requested to present, at the next anni- versary of the school, such reminiscences of its history, and of his connection therewith, as he should find it convenient to prepare.
May 2, 1870. - It was "Voted, That the organist be re- quested to play the organ during the passing of the bread and wine at the Communion Service."
Nov. 6, 1870. - It was "Voted, To establish adult doc- trinal classes in connection with the Sabbath-school, and to dispense with Sunday evening meetings, which had been held to some extent previously.
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Nov. 14, 1870. - A communication having been received from Mr. George J. Webb, who had officiated as organist and director of music for the Society for about thirty-six years, resigning the position which he had so long held in conse- quence of being about to remove to Orange, N. J., the fol- lowing preamble and resolutions reported by the Church Committee, to whom Mr. Webb's letter had been referred, were unanimously adopted :
" Whereas, Mr. George J. Webb has sent a communication to this Society, giving information that he has decided to re- move his residence to Orange, N. J., and is therefore under the necessity of resigning his office as director of music ;
"Resolved, That the severance of relations which have con- tinued so long and so pleasantly, strengthened continually by ties of friendship and brotherly love, is an occasion of sin- cere and deep regret ;
"Resolved, That as we look back on the past we cannot fail to recognize the kind providence of our Heavenly Father, in the fact that Mr. Webb was led to leave his native land and come to this country, and to this city, and almost directly to this Society, and take charge of our music, and, by his experience and eminent ability, not only to supply a want so important and essential to our own public worship, but to render a most valuable service to the New-Church throughout the country ;
"Resolved, That we cordially reciprocate the kind and brotherly feelings manifested in the communication of Mr. Webb ; that we trust that the hope there expressed that he may often meet and commune with us in future may be re- alized ; that our best wishes for the peace, prosperity and happiness of himself and his family will follow them to their new abode, and that we heartily commend them to the affec- tionate regards and fellowship of our brethren of the New- Church in that place and elsewhere."
After some remarks upon the early history of the music of the Society, and the work of preparing music suitable for
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the New-Church in worship, in which Mr. Webb and Mr. Hayward had taken a leading part, it was
" Voted, That Mr. Hayward be requested to prepare and communicate to the Society a history of the rise and progress of the religious music of this Society ; it was also
"Resolved, That Mr. Webb be requested, at some time con- venient to himself, to address the Society on the subject of music in worship, giving such reminiscences of his early con- nection with the music of this Society as he may deem useful:"
With this request neither Mr. Hayward nor Mr. Webb has yet complied. It is hoped that they may do so hereafter.
It will be seen, by referring to the previous part of this sketch, that in 1829 a committee was raised, of which Mr. Hayward was chairman, " to consider the subject of music as a part of public worship, etc." - that this committee re- ported, that their powers were enlarged, that they published a volume of two hundred and seventy-eight pages, consisting of lessons from the Word, selections from the Word for chanting, chants and choruses, entitled the " Book of Wor- ship, prepared for the Use of the Boston Society of the New- Jerusalem "; and when a new edition was about to be pro- pared the General Convention took up the subject, and this Society united with the general body of the Church in the publication of a book which was prepared under the direction of a committee chosen by that body for the purpose.
It will be seen that the Book of Worship prepared for this Society consisted entirely of portions of the Word. It was indeed a deep sense of the power of the words of Scripture to bring those who use them devoutly into conjunction with the Lord and consociation with the angels, and their conse- quent superiority in worship over any merely human com- position, which led to the preparation of the work. The same cause led to a new mode of singing the chants, they being sung much slower than was usual elsewhere, that the sense of the words might be felt and understood.
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It was a similar feeling in regard to the power and sanctity of the Word which led the Society, when the Church was built, to give to it the central place in the building, as it should have the central place in the minds of all who came there to worship.
Since the publication of the Book of Worship, and the introduction of chants, our worship, in singing as well as in the prayer, has consisted entirely of words of Scripture.
At the same meeting, on motion of Mr. Parsons, it was
"Voted, That Mr. S. Reed furnish a copy of the Address delivered by him at the anniversary of the Sabbath-school in May last, to be printed with the sketch of the Society now in preparation." And the Address is printed according to this vote.
Dec. 11, 1870. - The following communication was re- ceived from members of the Society residing at Boston Iligh- lands :
" BOSTON HIGHLANDS, Nov. 23, 1870.
"To the Boston Society of the New-Church :
" DEAR BRETHREN, - The undersigned desire to be dis- missed from membership externally with your Society, that they may become members of the Society to be instituted at Boston Highlands, December 18.
" With pleasant remembrances of the religious sphere en- joyed with you, and feeling that this step will in no way weaken the spiritual affinity between us, but rather strengthen it by means of the uses we hope to perform, we hereby affec- tionately ask for dismissal."
Signed by LUCY HI. HORN, and eight other ladies.
Whereupon the Society adopted the following preamble and resolutions :
" Whereas, Mrs. Lucy II. Horn and eight others have sent a communication to the Society, requesting that their mem- bership may be discontinued, in order that they may unite
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with others in the formation of a Society of the New-Church at the Boston Highlands, to be instituted on the eighteenth of the present month ;
"Resolved, That their request be, and hereby is, granted ;
"Resolved, That we cordially reciprocate the affectionate feelings manifested in the communication of our sisters in the Church ; that we heartily join in the hope there expressed that the bonds of union heretofore existing may not be weak- ened, but made stronger by the step they are about to take, and that we trust that their sphere of usefulness may be en- larged, and their opportunities of performing good uses increased thereby ;
"Resolved, That we take great pleasure and satisfaction in the prospect of another Society of the New-Church within the limits of our city ; that we cordially extend to it the right hand of fellowship; that it has our best wishes for its peace and prosperity ; that we trust that the societies in Boston may be spiritually, as well as naturally, near to each other, and may work harmoniously and efficiently together in the promotion of the common cause in which we are en- gaged."
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