USA > Massachusetts > Sketch of the history of the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem ; with a list of its members > Part 6
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As there was expected to be but one place of worship in Boston, at least for a considerable time, it was thought im- portant that it should be located in a central situation, and made sufficiently large, not only to meet the present necessity of the Society, but to provide for its prospective wants, and also to accommodate all strangers who should wish to attend: The amount subscribed and taken in pews was only about half sufficient for this object. The Society, accordingly, com-
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menced with a heavy debt ; and the amount of indebtedness on the Church is still large, being at the present time eighteen thou- sand dollars. The debt has, however, never been allowed to in- crease ; the interest having always been promptly met. This debt will be paid as the remaining pews are disposed of; all moneys received from this source being strictly devoted to this object. The attention of all members of the Church who are not owners of pews, and who are able to purchase, is earnestly called to this subject. When the Church was to be built, some persons were under the necessity of subscribing much larger sums than were required for their own accommo- dation ; so that an individual in some cases came into possession of five or six pews. If every new-comer, or every one who has since come into the Society, who is able to do so, will pur- chase of the Society such a pew as he wants for the accom- modation of himself and family, the debt will be gradually but surely paid. In addition to the Church, the New Jerusa- lem Society is the owner of the house, formerly the property and residence of the late Mr. John II. Wilkins. This build- ing is so connected with the Church that it did not seem wise or expedient to allow it to pass into other hands. It was ac- cordingly purchased of the trustees of Mr. Wilkins' estate for the sum of sixteen thousand dollars, for which sum the note of the Society was given by its treasurer at seven per cent. interest payable semi-annually, secured by a mortgage upon the estate. The house is now leased for $1,500 per annum and taxes.
The function of "The New-Jerusalem Society " is confined strictly to the ownership and care of the Church building and the support of public worship therein. It is not authorized to expend money for any other purpose. This Corporation votes annually the amount of salary to be paid to the Pastor, and fixes the amount to be assessed on the pews. This amount is at present nine per cent. on the appraised valuation to those who own their pews, and sixteen per cent. to those who do not ; the difference of seven per cent. being the in-
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terest on the cost of the pews. The amount of taxes on the pews, however, has always been quite inadequate to meet the . expenses of the Society, leaving a considerable sum to be de- frayed by voluntary contributions.
It has been the practice, for some years past, for the Stand- ing Committee of this Society to issue a circular to the mem- bers of the Society, and those worshipping with them, giving a statement of the condition of the finances, and requesting those to whom it is sent to notify the collector of the amount they may respectively be expected to contribute during the year. This circular has met with a ready and cheerful re- sponse, so that the current expenses, though large, have been fully met ; and the present year the sum of $2,000 has been paid on the permanent debt. The contributions are usually made in quarterly payments.
The annual current expenses for the three years ending April 1, 1872, have averaged . $0,507 39 Receipts for the same time have averaged, -
From pew-taxes and rents $6,269 75
Donations paid directly to the Treas. 38 83
Rent of school-room .
500 00
the Boston Society of the New Jeru- salem, from funds subscribed by individuals to make up deficiencies in the funds of this Corporation, and to provide for certain expenses annually incurred by that Corpora- tion for general Church purposes . 2,585 03
Receipts above expenses and interest on the Wilkins House for two years . . 167 10
Received for difference in exchange of pews, $350; one-third is 116 66
$9,677 37
The balance on hand, April 1, 1872, is $342.90 more than April 1, 1869.
There was an amount in the treasury, in April, 1860, suffi-
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cient to balance the deficit which accrued during the three years.
We annex the Plan of Organization and the By-laws of " The New-Jerusalem Society."
" The Boston Society of the New-Jerusalem " is authorized - to hold property for "religious, charitable, and educational purposes "; and, as this body must by its By-laws consist exclusively of the members of the Church, it has always been preferred to the other by those who have made donations or bequests. We annex the original act of incorporation, to- gether with acts obtained subsequently, and also the By-laws of this Corporation.
" The Boston Society of the New-Jerusalem " holds the first mortgage on the Church of "The New-Jerusalem So- ciety," amounting to ten thousand dollars. It is the owner of five pews, and also of the parsonage in Pinckney Street, which was the gift of the late Mr. Wilkins.
All moneys received by the collector, except the taxes and rents on the pews, are paid to the Treasurer of this Corpor- ation ; and, after deducting what is necessary for those inci- dental current expenses which do not fall within the province of the " New-Jerusalem Society " - such as the contributions to the Massachusetts New-Church Union, expenses for the meetings of the Association and of the General Convention, for wine for the Holy Supper, etc. - the balance is paid to the Treasurer of "The New-Jerusalem Society."
The following is an exhibit of the property of this Corpor- ation, April 1, 1872 :
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SCHEDULE OF PROPERTY, APRIL 1, 1872. Wilkins Fund ..
B bonds of the Oakswood Cemetery Associa- tion in Chicago, $1,000 caclı $3,000 00
Note of II. II. Honore, Chicago, secured by mortgage, Dec. 15, 1870, 3 years 4,000 00 - $7,000 00
Smith Fund.
Note of the New-Jerusalem Society $10,000 00
88 shares Boston & Roxbury Mill Corpora- tion, $50 .
1,900 00
5 shares Boston National Bank, $116 . 580 00
3 National Exchange Bank, $174.50 . 523 50
10 66 Marine Co., Chicago, and certifi- cate Marine Bank, Chicago, for $100 375 00
Estate No. 17 Spring Street, Boston
4,500 00
1 5-20 United States Bond, 1867, 113
565 00
4 notes of E. F. Don, Chicago, secured by mortgage, dated July 18, 1870, on three years, cach for $850
3,400 00
Cash on hand
2,273 25
24,116 75
Marshall Fund.
1 policy, No. 3,666, in the Massachusetts Hospital Life-Insurance Co., with accumu- lations .
$11,225 06
1 policy, No. 4,146, in the Mass. Hospital Life-Insurance Co., with accumulations to Jan. 1, 1872 1,695 42
12,920 48
Young Fund.
12 shares Boston National Bank, 116
Cash on hand
644 24
Sprague Fund.
Deposit in Suffolk Savings Bank
1,138 21
Maiden Ladies' Fund.
Deposit in Suffolk Savings Bank
148 15
Loring Bequest.
Cash on hand
249 96
Other Property.
Parsonage, No. 45 Pinckney Street . $14,000 00
5 pews in Church, valuation 1,860 40
Communion Service . 850 00
Furniture, books, crockery-ware, etc. 475 00
Cash on hand
1,140 57
18,325 97
Total value
$65,933 76
$1,392 00
2,036 24
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The property of the Corporation has mostly been given for specific purposes, to which the income must be strictly devoted, and cannot be used for ordinary current expenses. It will be seen that it is of much value, and requires watchful care ; and all male members of the Church, who are not members of this Corporation, are invited to become so by signing the By-laws, and to take an active part in the management of its concerns. Mr. D. L. Webster is Treasurer of " The New-Jerusalem So- ciety ; " and Mr. Francis Loring of " The Boston Society of the New Jerusalem ; " and Mr. Charles II. Little, collector for both. All moneys, whether derived from pew-taxes or con- tributions, may be paid to the collector.
It will be seen that the functions of the two Corporations are quite distinct ; and it may turn out, that what has seemed to be a necessity, and has been a subject of regret, will prove to be a matter of use and convenience. The number of pew- holders who are not members of the Church is very small, and has never been the occasion of any practical inconvenience. It very commonly happens, that a person who is sufficiently interested in the doctrines to purchase a pew will become suf- ficiently interested to become a member of the Church. The Society has left its members in entire freedom as to their con- tributions to its funds. At the same time, it has always dis- tinctly recognized the fact, that the Church has paramount claims both on the affections and the means of each and of all; that unless our affections go forth into corresponding works, as opportunity offers, they can have no permanent abiding-place in our minds ; and that it is the duty of every member to do his part according to his ability, faithfully and in the light of his own conscience.
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BOSTON SOCIETY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
ACTS OF INCORPORATION.
AN ACT TO INCORPORATE A RELIGIOUS SOCIETY BY THE NAME OF THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
SECT. 1. - Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That Thomas Worcester, Henry Gardner Foster, Barnabas Thayer Lor- ing, Sampson Reed, Samuel Worcester, John Hubbard Wilkins, Tilley Brown Hayward, Timothy Harrington Carter, Caleb Reed, Warren Goddard, Simcon Child, Lemuel Little, Adonis Howard, and Nathaniel Balsh, junior, together with their polls and estates, and such others as may associate with them, and their successors, be, and they hereby are, incorporated and established as a religious society, by the name of the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, with all the powers and privileges, and subject to all the duties, of other religious societies, according to the constitution and laws of this Commonwealth.
SECT. 2. - Be it further enacted, That said Society may have and use a common seal, and the same may break, alter, and renew at pleasure ; shall be capable of suing and being sued in any actions, real, personal, or mixed, in any court proper to try the same; shall and may take and hold, in fee-simple or otherwise, by gift, grant, devise, or purchase, any estate, real or personal, the aggregate amount of which shall not exceed ten thousand dollars; and may sell and dispose of the same at pleasure.
SECT. 3. - Be it further enacted, That any justice of the peace for . the county of Suffolk, upon application therefor, is hereby authorized to issue a warrant, directed to a member of said Society, requiring
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him to notify and warn the members of said religious Society in Boston to meet, at such time and place as shall be expressed in said warrant, for the choice of such officers as religious societies have a right to choose at their annual meetings.
[Feb. 11, 1823.]
Mass. Spec. Laws, 1822, ch. 106.
AN ACT IN ADDITION TO AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: The Boston Society of the New Jerusalem are hereby authorized to hold their house for public worship, and for other uses, together with the land on which it stands, provided the income accruing from such uses shall be appropriated exclusively to parochial purposes.
[Feb. 15, 1839.]
Mass. Spec. Laws, 1839, ch. 18.
AN ACT IN ADDITION TO AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows : The Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, in addition to the power given in the second section of its charter, may take and hold for religious and charitable purposes, in fec-simple or otherwise, by gift, grant, devise, or purchase, any estate, real or personal, the annual income of which shall not exceed the sum of three thousand dollars.
[April 2, 1850.]
Mass. Spec. Laws, 1850, ch. 137.
AN ACT IN ADDITION TO AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE BOSTON SOCIETY OF THE NEW JERUSALEM.
Be it enacted, etc., as follows : The Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, in addition to the power given in the second section of its charter of incorporation and in other acts in addition thereto, may take and hold for religious, charitable, and educational pur- poses, in fee-simple or otherwise, by gift, grant, devise, or purchase, any real or personal estate, provided the annual income of'all said estate shall not exceed six thousand dollars.
[Feb. 9, 1861.]
Mass. Spec. Laws, 1861, ch. 31.
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BY -LAWS.
ADOPTED OCT. 22, 1839. AMENDED APRIL 26, 1860; AND JUNE 23, 1862.
SECT. 1. - Any male member of the Church known as the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem may become a member of this Cor- poration on application to the Clerk, and subscribing his assent to the By-laws; and any such person, ceasing to be a member of the said Church, shall cease to be a member of this Corporation.
. SECT. 2. - It shall be the duty of every member, who does not pay cither pew-rent or taxes to the New-Jerusalem Society, to con- tribute to the funds of this Corporation at least once a year.
SECT. 3. - All moneys contributed as donations for the uses of this Corporation may be paid to the Collector, and by him paid to the Treasurer.
SECT. 4. - Any member may withdraw from the Corporation by filing with the Clerk a written notice of his desire so to do.
SECT. 5. - The Corporation shall hold its annual meeting on the fourth Tuesday of April; and, at that meeting, a Moderator, and all the officers of the Corporation, shall be chosen by written ballots. All meetings, whether annual or special, shall be called by posting, at least seven days before such meeting, a notice thereof, embracing a copy of the articles of the warrant, certified by the Clerk, or, in case of his absence or inability, by the Treasurer, or by a Clerk pro tem. appointed therefor by the Assessors, at the usual place of meeting for public worship.
SECT. 6. - Special meetings may at any time be called by the Standing Committee, as provided by law; and shall be called on application of any five members.
SECT. 7. - The officers shall be five Assessors, a Treasurer, a Collector, and a Clerk, who shall be sworn according to law, and, if present when chosen, shall be sworn forthwith; and the Assessors shall constitute the Standing Committee. None but members of the Corporation shall be eligible to these offices.
SECT. 8. - It shall be the duty of the Standing Committee to have . the immediate superintendence of the business of this Corporation, and to act as the effective agents and organs of the same; to order by their warrant the calling of meetings of the Corporation, when- ever they think expedient, or whenever applied for in writing by five members; to advise and consult with the Pastor on the part of the Corporation; to audit the accounts of the Treasurer and
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Collector; and to report at the annual meeting their general acts during the year, and the names and number of those who have joined or left the Corporation.
SECT. 9. - It shall be the duty of the Clerk to preserve a correct list of the members of the Corporation, and their places of res- idence ; to keep a record of the doings of all meetings of the Cor- poration, agrecably to the laws of the Commonwealth; to preserve all reports and papers belonging to the Corporation; to notify meetings on the warrant of the Standing Committee; and to preside at all meetings of the Corporation till a Moderator is chosen.
SECT. 10. - All moneys shall be disbursed by the Treasurer, under the direction of the Standing Committee; and he shall present at each annual meeting a full account of the receipts and expenditures during the preceding year.
SECT. 11. - The Treasurer shall act, in the disposition of all the moneys or other property of the Corporation received by him, in accordance with directions, which it shall be the duty of the Stand- ing Committee to prescribe from time to time, in writing, for his government.
SECT. 12. - In the absence or inability of the Clerk, the Treas- urer shall post notices of all meetings, and one of the Assessors shall preside till a Moderator be chosen; after which, the first business in order shall be the choice of a Clerk pro tem.
SECT. 13. - All obligations of the Corporation shall be signed by the Treasurer, as such, and be approved by the Standing Com- mittee.
SECT. 14. - It shall be the duty of the Collector to use diligence and promptness in obtaining payment of the sums due to the Cor- poration, and to pay the same to the Treasurer without delay ; and at the close of each year, and at any other time when required, to furnish the Treasurer with a particular account of all the receipts.
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NEW JERUSALEM SOCIETY.
PLAN OF ORGANIZATION.
Article First. This Society is formed for the worship of God in conformity with the doctrines of the New Jerusalem, as the same are revealed in His Word, and taught in the theological writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. · Article Second. This Society hereby invites the Church under the pastoral care of the Rev. Thomas Worcester, and known as the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, to unite with this Society in the support and maintenance of religious worship, services, and or- dinances : and, upon their acceptance of this invitation, they shall be recognized as the Church connected with this Society, and shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges properly belonging to them in that capacity, according to the usages and laws of this Commonwealth.
Article Third. The Church shall have the right to select the pas- tor ( or colleague pastor, when the Church and Society shall decm it expedient to have one ), to be proposed to the Society for their concurrence. If they do not concur, the selection shall have no ef- fect; but, if they do concur and approve, a joint call shall be given to the person so selected and approved.
Article Fourth. Whenever the Church and Society shall be desti- tute of a settled pastor, a Joint Committee of the Church and Soci- cty, consisting of nine persons, of whom five shall be chosen by the Church and four by the Society, shall supply the pulpit, and adopt all measures necessary to that end. Temporary supplies of the pulpit, during the absence or sickness of the pastor, shall be pro- vided for by the pastor and Standing Committee of the Church.
Article Fifth. The amount of salary to be paid to the pastor shall be fixed and paid by the Society.
Article Sixth. By the word "Church " in this plan and articles, so far as relates to the right of voting therein, is meant male mem- bers of the Church, of the age of twenty-one years and more.
Article Seventh. These articles may be changed by the concurrent vote of three-fourths of all the proprietors of pews.
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BY-LAWS.
First, There shall be an annual meeting of this Society on the first Wednesday of April in each year, at such time and place as the Prudential Committee shall appoint.
Second, At each annual meeting, the following officers and com- mittees shall be chosen, to hold their offices for one year, and until others are chosen and qualified for that purpose ; and vacancies may be filled at other meetings called for that purpose ; and the Standing Committee may fill any such vacancy until an election by the So- ciety : viz., a Clerk, seven Assessors, a Treasurer and a Collector, two Auditors, and a Director of Music. These officers shall be chosen by ballot, and all but the Director of Music shall take the oath of office; and they shall, excepting the Auditors, and Director of Music, together constitute the Standing or Prudential Committee of the Society.
Third, It shall be the duty of the Clerk to preside at all meetings of the Society until a Moderator be chosen ; to keep a record of all votes passed at such meetings, and a record of all deeds of convey- ance of pews in the meeting-house. He shall call special meetings of the Society, when thereto requested in writing by any five legal voters. All corporate meetings shall be called by him, by posting a notice of the time, place, and objects thereof, in some conspicuous place in the vestibule of the meeting-house, for seven days imme- diately preceding the time appointed for such meeting; and, in case of the absence or inability of the Clerk, his duties may be performed by the Treasurer.
Fourth, The Prudential or Standing Committee shall have au- thority to make such repairs upon the meeting-house as may from time to time be necessary ; to provide for lighting and warming the building; to appoint the sexton, and fix his compensation; and, generally, to manage the property and concerns of the Corporation ; expending, however, only such sums of money as shall be placed at their disposal by the Society for the above purposes.
Fifth, The Director of Music shall have authority to make arrangements in respect to the music of our public worship, and to provide therefor.
Sixth, The Treasurer shall have charge of all moneys belonging to the Corporation; and shall present his accounts, properly audited,
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at each annual meeting. No money shall be paid out by him unless pursuant to a vote of the Corporation, or by order of some Stand- ing Committee thereto authorized by vote of the Corporation.
Seventh, The Collector shall collect all taxes and assessments upon pews, and pay the same to the Treasurer.
Eighth, All deeds of pews from the Corporation shall be given on such terms as the Corporation shall direct, and shall be sealed with its corporate scal, and shall be signed by the Treasurer, and coun- tersigned by the Clerk. All subsequent transfers of pews shall be by deed, to be recorded by the Clerk. All deeds of real estate from the Corporation shall be signed by the Treasurer, and sealed with the corporate seal.
Ninth, The taxes on the pews shall be payable quarterly.
Tenth, The Pastor, with the concurrence of the Standing Com- mittee of the Church, may grant the use of the meeting-house for all religious meetings of the Society or Church; but, for all other purposes, the Prudential Committee may grant the use of the house as they deem expedient, but subject to any order of the Society.
Eleventh, At all corporate meetings, every owner of one or more shares of stock until the first sale of pews, and thereafter every owner of a pew being legally qualified to vote in civil affairs, shall be entitled to one vote; and no person shall be entitled to more.
Twelfth, These By-laws shall not be enlarged, diminished, or altered, unless by three-fourths of the legal voters present at a meeting regularly notified for that purpose.
At the time when the Plan of Organization and the By-laws were adopted, Peleg W. Chandler was chosen Clerk of the Corporation, and the following votes were passed, namely : -
- Voted, That Caleb Reed, J. H. Wilkins, Sampson Reed, William Parsons, Richard B. Carter, Newton M. Keen, William A. Wellman, members of the Building Committee heretofore chosen by the sub- scribers to the stock for building the meeting-house, be hereby confirmed in that office, and chosen as the Building Committee of this Corporation; and they are hereby authorized to execute and complete the contracts made by them, and to complete and furnish the meeting-house; to appraise the pews, and arrange for the sale thereof; with all the powers originally granted to the Building
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Committee by the subscribers, and all those properly belonging to their office.
Voted, That this Society do now and hereby invite the Rev. Thomas Worcester to become their pastor, minister, and religious teacher, and to officiate as such for them.
Voted, That this Society will pay to Mr. Worcester, if he shall accept this invitation, a salary of two thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly.
Voted, That, upon the acceptance of Mr. Worcester of the invi- tation given him, he shall be considered as duly settled as the pastor, minister, and religious teacher of this Society, without any further act or ceremony ; and he shall be entitled to all the rights and privileges appertaining to that office, according to the laws and usages of this Commonwealth.
Voted, That the Clerk of this Society communicate to the Rev. Mr. Worcester, and to the Boston Society of the New Jerusalem, the preceding votes, and Plan of Organization relating to them.
Voted, That this Society adopt, as their common seal, a seal bear- ing the following words, namely : "The seal of the New-Jerusalem Society, organized April 28, 1845."
Voted, That the Clerk be directed to cause the organization of this Society, and the proceedings thereat, to be entered on the records of the City Clerk, according to law.
In accordance with the last vote, the organization of this Society, and the proceedings thereat, are entered at large in the "Records of Religious Societies," vol. i. fol. 16; May 8, 1845, etc.
THE
ARTICLES OF FAITH OF THE SOCIETY,
AND
A LIST OF MEMBERS.'
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