USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > The First Evangelical Congregational Church, Cambridgeport, Mass. > Part 12
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The church were all earnest workers, not for itself alone, but we organized auxiliaries to many of the benevolent so- cieties then in operation. The ladies supported a heathen child, and named him William A. Stearns, and in '44, I think perhaps '43, we commenced the support of a colporteur by the same sewing-circle. I mention this to show you that we all were earnest in the prosperity, not only of our own church, but in the spread of the gospel.
With regard to the raising money to build the church, I know but little. Dr. James Chaplin, I have heard Mr. Barrett say, gave one thousand dollars, all the first male members contributed, Mrs. Newcomb, Miss Gardner, and
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Mrs. Abigail Boardman, also I have no doubt many, if not all, the others. Mr. Faulkner was a Unitarian, but became a Christian about the time the church was formed, and came out a bright happy man. He was greatly interested in the church, and, though a carpenter of moderate means, he gave four hundred dollars for the church. He led the singing in the chapel for many years, and though his voice trembled and his singing was not the best, we loved to hear him pour forth his whole soul in the hymns, as he always seemed to do.
Yours in Christ,
A. J. BARRETT.
REV. J. O. MURRAY, D. D.
PRINCETON, N. J., September 19, 1877. 7
IT is a source of very deep regret to me that I cannot be with you to-morrow. My pastorate lies behind me as so green a spot in memory, that I would have been delighted to join in your commemoration. The least I can"do is to send on my apology for absence, and my hearty congratulations to the Prospect Street Church and Society. Had it been possible, I would have sent you a few reminiscences, but I have been un- avoidably prevented from preparing them.
Ever truly yours, J. O. MURRAY.
REV. W. S. KARR, D. D.
HARTFORD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, September 10, 1877.
I AM under the necessity of declining your kind invitation to attend the Semi-Centennial Anniversary of the organization of the Prospect Street Church.
All churches having a due regard to the convenience of posterity should arrange that their birthdays should fall within the vacations, and not the term-time of Theological
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and other Seminaries. You might have rectified the calendar again and made the old style into new, by dropping some ten or twelve days.
At the point in your celebration when you begin to hear reports from present and absent friends, you will have had the long retrospect of the church's history given by your pastor, and will also be in that state of contentment with things past, present, and to come, which results from a good dinner. You will be able to appreciate what the absentees have lost.
As one of these, I forbear to reproach you for holding your festival at an unseasonable time, and I assure you that I have nothing but the kindest feelings towards the people of my former charge, despite the preposterous date of their organi- zation.
As my term of pastoral service extended to only three years I had but three-fiftieths of the pastoral responsibility which has been borne by your ministers, and am entitled to only a proportionate share of your time at this celebration.
The three years which I spent among you were passed with great pleasure and profit to myself ; I felt that other men - especially your first pastor - had labored, and that I had en- tered into many of the fruits of their labors.
I rejoice to know that under your present pastor the hopes and aims in which the church was founded are having a larger fulfilment than ever.
I join, with all the multitude of your friends, in the prayer that you may bring forth "yet more fruit " in the years to come.
May we all abide in the deepening conviction, that there is no institution like the Christian Church; nothing that is worthy of one's utmost devotion save the Kingdom of our Master.
Affectionately and faithfully yours,
W. S. KARR.
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REV. ENOCH POND, D. D.
BANGOR, ME., September 8, 1877.
I BECAME a member of the church in Cambridgeport in 1828, and left it for Bangor in 1832. I was intensely en- gaged in my work as editor of the "Spirit of the Pilgrims," and had not much opportunity to become acquainted with the brethren and sisters. Doctor Chaplin I knew very well. He was a remarkable man, and a very useful man. He was the son of the old Orthodox minister of Groton, Mass., and was religiously educated. Dr. Chaplin welcomed Dr. Beecher to Cambridge, entertained him at his house, and did more than any other man towards founding and establishing the Ortho- dox church. The church was formed before I went there. I preached for them a good deal during my stay in Cambridge, and at one time there was quite a revival under my preaching. But the church was small, and had to encounter a most violent opposition. It never grew much till after the settlement of Mr. Stearns. Under him it grew to be a large and flourishing church. Dr. Chaplin's death was a severe blow to it, but it survived, and perhaps became more self-reliant on account of his removal. Dexter Fairbank was in the employ of Dr. Chaplin, helping to take care of his insane hospital. He was an earnest Christian and a good man. Samuel Barrett was an excellent young man, a graduate of Harvard, and teacher of one of the public schools in Boston. His home was in Cambridgeport, where he married and settled. W. J. Hub- bard was a respectable lawyer ; married Dr. Chaplin's eldest daughter, and resided in Cambridge. He was a leading mem- ber of the church, especially after the death of Dr. Chaplin. Mr. Faulkner was a good stalwart Christian in common life, and had a very promising family. He was converted under Dr. Beecher's preaching. He was much opposed to Dr.
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Beecher at first, and forbade his family to go and hear him. One day he was awakened, became frightened at himself, and was ready to ask his good wife to pray for him. I have always felt a great interest in that church, and have a strong affection for it. May it live and flourish and prosper even unto millennial times.
I have just received the invitation to be present at the Fiftieth Anniversary of the formation of your church. Nothing would be more pleasant to me than to come, if it were prac- ticable ; but it is not. My health is generally good, but I am subject to ill turns, and do not venture far from home. Probably I should see none but new faces. The old standards are all gone. But the church lives, and I rejoice. May. it continue to prosper, and throw abroad and around its good influences to the end of time.
So prays a quondam brother and an earnest well-wisher,
ENOCH POND.
REV. L. IVES HOADLEY.
ST. STEPHEN, N. B., September 18, 1877.
DELAYED, I have yours of the 10th, forwarded from New Haven, Ct., and from Northford to this place.
I should be pleased to accept the invitation of the Cam- bridgeport church and congregation, and to be present at its Semi-centennial Anniversary, but it will be impossible, through the infirmity of years, to give myself the pleasure.
I quite enjoyed the article in the Congregationalist lately, respecting your congregation and your pastor, and all the prosperity of Zion.
As you see, I write in pencil. It is a necessity with me on account of my infirmity. I am comfortable for the maturity of eighty-seven years. The Lord be praised for his goodness
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so many years. O, what a text that is, Romans v. i., " Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."
Yours fraternally, L. IVES HOADLEY.
REV. WM. ADAMS, D. D.
ORANGE, N. J., September 11, 1877.
I AM in receipt of your kind invitation of September 10, [sic]. I wish it were in my power to accept it, as my mem. ories associated with the church at Cambridgeport are very pleasant. My Seminary term begins on the 19th, so that my time will be fully occupied with official services at home.
My engagements just now are so numerous that I have no time at my disposal to put on paper the reminiscences you suggest. By all means secure the presence of Dr. Pond of Bangor.
With best wishes, I remain, very truly yours,
W. ADAMS.
JOSIAH A. STEARNS.
BOSTON, September 12, 1877.
MY DEAR SIR, - I will answer your note as best I may, only premising that I do so from no data, but simply from recollection, which is not always an infallible guide. My brother's first sermon in Cambridge was preached in 1831, I think during his spring vacation. It was his first discourse outside of the Institution. The Sabbath proved to be an occasional one, which he had not anticipated, and he found himself there without anything written that would answer the purpose. He was obliged to extemporize, but his discourse carried the people by storm. They gave him a call, and worked hard to obtain him. I think he rather liked to com-
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, mand a forlorn hope, and his sympathies, as well as his zeal for the cause, prompted him to accept. The church had been gathered by Dr. Lyman Beecher, and its most efficient workers had been members of his communion in Boston. The house was originally a neat, but small and unpretentious structure located on Norfolk Street. Its seating capacity could not have exceeded five hundred. The society offered to pay their minister $ 700 per annum, and whatever gain might be made in the rent of pews till it should reach $ 1,000. It was a desperate undertaking, and before its acceptance he took advice. His father and mother did not oppose, but sure I am they did not encourage the enterprise.
I was teaching school in Townsend at the time, and sharing a room with the Rev. Mr. Kittle, - afterwards Rev. Wm. M. Rogers, - my brother's most intimate friend. Mr. Kittle attended and took part in the services, and probably gave the right-hand. My father also had some part, but I am not now certain what it was. There had been a previous pastorate, of which I never knew much, only that it was very short and quite unsuccessful. My first personal acquaintance with the church was some time in the spring of 1832, when I came to visit my brother and attend his "four days' meeting." I can only remember that the exercises were interesting, and most of the neighboring ministers were there.
One little incident impressed me as showing the outside bitterness of opposition to Orthodox religion. All the way from Mrs. Chaplin's on Austin Street, where my brother boarded, down to the very church door, was found one morn- ing liberally yellowed with the flour of brimstone. This insult was simply treated with silent contempt.
As a measure of policy for a considerable time some one was found to supply the afternoon pulpit, and the house was lighted for a service by the pastor in the evening. This was a most efficient agency in augmenting the stated congregation.
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The lines between Orthodoxy and Liberalism had, in those times, been drawn so rigidly as to almost wholly debar the parties from social intercourse. This Mr. Stearns set his face against. Some good ladies being greatly scandalized that he not only received but returned calls from Unitarians, he gave a Sabbath discourse upon the subject, making plain the unwisdom of such an exclusive spirit, and urged his people to an imitation of the policy of the Great Master, and of his Apostle to the Gentiles in winning souls to the religious life.
In the autumn of 1835 I became a constant attendant upon my brother's ministrations, and continued such until his re- moval to Amherst. Mr. Stearns always took a lively interest in all the secular affairs of the town, yet never to the obstruc- tion of his one absorbing purpose, to work for Christ. If he ever sought personal influence, he seemed to do so that he might wield it in the Master's service. For many years his salary was not adequate to the support of his family, and he supplemented it by the use of his pen, and by giving instruc- tion to private pupils. As the society gained in strength, the old house became too straitened, and it was twice en- larged ; once by building a tower in front and throwing the vestibule into the audience-room, and once by erecting gal- leries at the sides. I well remember when these had been put in, how reluctant the people were to use them. In this emergency the minister removed his family to one of them, and his brother and cousin fitted and occupied another. Several prominent persons did likewise, and soon these gallery pews came to be considered as among the most eligible. For a good many Sabbaths, on account of repairs or otherwise, our services were held in the Town Hall. This was a golden opportunity to win persons whose prejudices would not permit them to seek the truth in a regularly consecrated Orthodox church, and well did the pastor improve it. He never
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preached with more eloquence and power or with more visible success. When the new house received its dedication, a strong society and a working church was ready to honor it. To be sure, many had made great sacrifices to secure its erection ; the pastor himself taking several pews, and all of us doing to the utmost of our means. Yet we had the satis- faction of gathering under our own vine and fig-tree, and knowing that we were for the time regarded as the most thriving church organization in the town of Cambridgeport. 1 am reminded here that the early poverty of the society some- times made them feel poor, even after they began to grow rich. On one occasion it was proposed to raise one hundred dollars for a gift to Dr. Beecher in recognition of his services in gathering the church, but one and another pleaded inability, and claimed that the demands upon the church for charity were too bur- densome to bear. " If you feel in that way," retorted the pastor, " it is manifest you have not encountered applications sufficient to get you used to giving. I am resolved to employ the first agent I can find to wake you up." Rev. Seth Bliss, agent for the Tract Society, proved to be the man required, and he was forthwith set to work. Mr. Bliss was an admirable beggar in his day, and he so opened the purses of people that they made him a contribution of fifty dollars on the spot ; nor was this all, for, roused by his appeal, they ventured at once to start the Beecher subscription, and raised the amount almost without wincing ; and then, as if giving were become a pleas- ure to them, they immediately contributed a purse of $ 1,200, to aid their minister in building him a house.
I cannot be at Cambridgeport during the daytime of the celebration, but I shall be with you in spirit, and in the evening I shall be sure to join the social gathering in person.
Very faithfully yours,
JOSIAH A. STEARNS.
P. S. I have always understood that the first house was
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built by subscriptions from the friends of Orthodoxy in and about Boston, and that a few individuals in the parish con- tributed liberally. $ 300 or $ 400 of the $ 700 salary was contributed by members of the church, who paid $ 100 each. I am not aware who the individuals were, except the family of Dr. James Chaplin. Many persons who at the start. determined never to enter the Orthodox house were at last found among the efficient workers and strong supporters of the church.
J. A. S.
REV. LYMAN GILBERT.
BROOKLYN, N. Y., September 11, 1877.
DEAR BROTHER, - Your favor was duly received, and I thank you for a kind remembrance in relation to the Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Evangelical Congregational Church in Cambridgeport. I came to West Newton about six months after its organization, and I preached in it once, by exchange, soon after my coming. As you suppose, I was doubtless present at subsequent councils which were called by it. Brother Perry, the first pastor, was my classmate, as was also Brother Yco- mans, who preceded him in a supply of the pulpit. Brother Stearns was a good neighbor, and we lived on exchanging terms.
When under a call at West Newton I consulted with Dr. Woods at Andover. I told him the church and parish was so small that I had my doubts as to my duty in the case. The Doctor replied : "I know all the ground perfectly well. The church is indeed small, but if you settle there you are not to consider yourself simply as the pastor of a little church, but as one of a host. We want to settle as many ministers as we can in and around Boston."
I went into that host, and I soon found that it was engaged
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unitedly and energetically in the great work, as characterized by Dr. Beecher, one of the leaders, of "turning back the cap- tivity of Zion."
It was in the working of this enterprise that the Church of Cambridgeport was organized, and numerous other churches in and around Boston. Councils for these purposes, and for set- tling pastors were not infrequent, and were always made to embrace all the churches of the city and vicinity for the pur- pose of enlisting their sympathy and aid.
One incident helps me to remember. At a council called at Medfield, a little outside our common field, most of the members being strangers to me, I was nominated as scribe. I rose and excused myself on the ground that I had already served in that capacity in some fifteen councils. The Moder- ator, a stranger to me, said : " Brethren, there is good evidence before you that Brother Gilbert is well qualified for the office." They voted me down.
The grand cause of all this movement in and about Boston at that time was the reviving energies of the Divine Spirit. By that power the churches in Newton and others were saved.
The church at Cambridgeport was a child of that revival.
A year ago it was my pleasure to meet your present pastor at the Eliot Church in Newton. I have read with great in- terest the account of the results of his labors in the past year.
May the church never forget wherein her great strength lieth !
With Christian salutations,
LYMAN GILBERT.
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1
BOOK II. PRINCIPLES, RULES, CONSTITUTION.
[ CHURCHI. ]
ECCLESIASTICAL PRINCIPLES.
THE Christian Church is a union of all who are called and chosen through the Word and Spirit of God to be the posses- sion of the Lord, who are united together by the public con- fession of a common faith in the Redeemer according to the command of Christ, and whose destination it is to promote each other's edification, and to co-operate towards the spread of their faith for the illumination, sanctification, and blessed- ness of mankind.
The Christian Church is in its essence an invisible society, held together by the invisible bond of the Holy Spirit, but visible in its manifestation, having an outward organization and polity, and distinguished by the presence of the Spirit in the hearts of its members, and by the ministration of the pure Word of Life and the Sacraments.
Any congregation of believers associating themselves to- gether in this faith, and for these purposes, becomes, by the ordination of God and by the presence of the Holy Spirit, a Christian church complete in itself, independent and with jurisdiction over its own affairs.
The first church at Jerusalem formed itself in this way,
PRINCIPLES, RULES, CONSTITUTION. 181
> according to the command of Christ, and in the power and bond of the Spirit. The other apostolic churches came into existence in the same manner. The churches which walked in the ancient order of New England, founded their rights and their liberties on these principles. We have done the same, and organized an independent church on the " foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone." (Ephesians ii. 20.)
And while we are independent so far as relates to internal organization and to the administration of our local affairs, we mean to be governed in all matters of our own, and in those relating to other churches of our order, by the established principles of Congregational usage.
In common with other branches of the Christian Church, we believe that the Ministry is ordained of Christ, who "gave some, apostles ; and some, prophets ; and some, evangelists ; and some, pastors and teachers ; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry." (Ephesians iv. 11.)
But we do not believe, as some do, that the power and authority of the church reside in the Ministry or flow through it, but that they belong to the church itself, and that the Ministry is given not to organize the brethren into a church, but to build them up as disciples, to secure an orderly minis- tration of the Word and of the Sacraments, and to be the natural head of the church in all its ministry.
STANDING RULES.
I. THE permanent officers of this church shall be a Pastor (or Pastors) and Deacons. The Pastor shall be ex-officio modera- tor of the church.
II. It shall be the duty of the . Deacons to preside at the meetings of the church in the absence of the Pastor, to pre- pare for and assist in the celebration of the Lord's Supper, to
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attend to the necessities of the poor of the church, to receive and distribute the contributions for their relief, to provide a supply for the pulpit in the temporary absence of the Pastor, and generally to aid in the ministry of the church as occasion may require.
III. The Annual Meeting of the church shall be held on the first Wednesday in the month of January. Special Meet- ings of the church shall be called by the Standing Committee whenever they deem it advisable to do so, or whenever a written request to that effect is presented by six members of the church ; and public notice of the meeting shall be given from the pulpit on the previous Sabbath.
IV. The following officers shall be chosen by ballot at the Annual Meeting.
First, A Clerk, who shall keep the records of the church, a chronological list of its members, showing the time and mode of their admission and dismission, a record of the adult and infant baptisms, and shall present at the Annual Meeting a list of those members who have been absent more than a year.
Second, A Treasurer, who shall take charge of all contribu- tions for religious and charitable purposes (except such as are designed for the poor), and present a written report of the same at the Annual Meeting.
Third, An Auditor, who shall examine and audit the ac- counts of the Treasurer.
Fourth, A Standing Committee, to consist of nine persons, of which the Pastor, Deacons, and Clerk shall constitute a part ; whose duty it shall be to examine applicants for ad- mission to the church, to act as a Committee of Inquiry in · cases of discipline, to decide what benevolent objects shall be presented to the church for their contributions, and to exercise a general supervision over the interests of the church.
Fifth, A Superintendent of the Sabbath School.
Vacancies in any of the above-named offices occurring
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during the year may be filled at any regular meeting of the church.
V. Candidates for admission to the church, having been approved by the Standing Committee, shall stand propounded to the church two weeks, and shall be received by vote of the church, on public profession of their faith ; and their names shall be read from the pulpit at least one week previous to their public admission.
VI. Members of this church changing their place of wor- ship, shall request a letter of dismission, and of recommenda- tion to the church with which they worship, within one year from the time of such change, unless a reasonable excuse is given to the Church Committee for the omission.
VII. Members of other churches wishing to unite with this church by letter of transfer, will be received by vote of the church after having been approved by the Standing Committee and propounded to the church two weeks.
VIII. Members who may wish to transfer their connection to another church, shall make written application for a letter of dismission, through the Pastor or one of the Deacons, who shall lay the application before the church. It shall then be referred by rule to the Standing Committee, and lie over at least one week ; and if no objection is made, the Pastor, or Deacon presiding, is hereby authorized to declare the fact at the next Friday evening meeting, and to direct the Clerk to issue the usual letter of dismission, as by vote of the church. In case objection is made, the matter must be brought before the church for special vote. Letters of dismission shall be valid for one year only.
IX. It shall be the duty of any member of this church who may be personally aggrieved or offended by another, to seek first a reconciliation in the spirit of the gospel by fraternal conference with the offending brother, in the manner set forth by our Saviour in the 18th chapter of the Gospel of St. Mat-
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thew. Should he fail to obtain satisfaction, he may bring the matter to the notice of the Standing Committee, or by a writ- ten complaint to the church. If the church entertain the com- plaint, a time shall be appointed for a hearing of the case when the offending brother shall be summoned to be present. This course of proceeding shall be considered binding in all cases of private or personal difference between the members of this church. Immoral conduct, breach of express covenant vows, neglect of acknowledged religious duties, and avowed disbelief of the Articles of Faith of this church, shall be regarded as offences subjecting the members implicated to the discipline of the church ; and in case of such public offences, proceed- ings may be instituted on the written complaint of any mein - ber to the church, or through the agency of the Standing Committee. And if the church is satisfied of the guilt of the party accused, it may vote to suspend him from the privileges of the church, or to excommunicate him from its membership, as set forth by the Apostle Paul in the 5th chapter of the Ist Epistle to the Corinthians. But no mem- ber shall be deprived of the privileges of the church without --- a full and impartial hearing of his case.
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