USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > The First Evangelical Congregational Church, Cambridgeport, Mass. > Part 6
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"Resolved, That we, as a church, feel ourselves required, by the spirit of the gospel, to abstain entirely from the use of ardent spirits, except in cases of bodily hurt or sickness, and that such abstinence be with this church an invariable condi- tion of admission."
After this there is on record no vote annulling or mod- ifying this resolution. If it is not iron-clad, it is only because it is all iron. That was before the beginning of the modern movement. How is it now ? The Christian
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Woman's Temperance Union has some noble workers in this church, and weekly from the desk is read the notice of its meetings, and when for its public speakers the house is asked, it is granted, and if at any place prayers have ever ascended from human hearts through human lips, it has been here for the rescue of those perishing in the grasp of this demon, compared with which the one who tore the face of the stricken father's child is mild and gentle. Nor is this all. Laying aside a conviction of education and long-continued use, it has abandoned the use of fermented, and substituted the use of the absolutely unfermented fruit of the vine at the communion-table. If this is an anti-temperance church, let us have more of them for the welfare of all.
THE POSITION OF WOMAN.
Thirty-seven women and nine men composed this church fifty years ago. One hundred and seventy-three men and three hundred and eighty-five women compose this church to-day. They seem to be harmonious, and no record conveys the impression that the majority have been intimidated or oppressed or downtrodden, nor has any complaint been entered that the minority do not · have their rights in this church. However, these are days when almost every subject that comes up gets into the church, and, of course, we have noticed this matter. Art. XIII. of our standing rules, as printed in the Manual, reads: "In the transaction of business only the adult male members shall be entitled to vote." In Jan- uary, 1870 and 1876 and 1877, a motion was made, in accordance with Rule XIV., to strike out the word . "male." January 3, 1877, Art. XIII. was recon-
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structed so as to read, " In the transaction of business all the adult members shall be entitled to vote, except on questions requiring the concurrence of the society, in which cases adult male members only shall be entitled to vote."
ANTISLAVERY MOVEMENT.
These are days of reconciliation between political ene- mies. I trust there are no animosities lurking in the hearts of brethren in Christ, that we should need speak a word to remove them, or shrink from giving this agita- tion of the past its place in our review of to-day. Yet fidelity demands the impartial presentation of everything that goes to make up history.
Forty years have passed since the events of the early days of the antislavery movement threw our churches into terrible excitement. This church was but ten years old, young and vigorous, with its then youthful pastor. He was exceedingly tried. In this church, on the one hand, were those who were honest in their convictions that God demanded at their lips speech and prayer and song in conference-meetings, and at their hands service and sacrifice as a church, in extirpating this great evil from our national domain ; and, on the other hand, those who were equally honest in their conviction that, what- ever position individual brethren in the church might pursue, the church should not devote its meeting-house, nor its hour of prayer, or any part of it, for the discussion of any subject upon which there were such pronounced and antagonistic views. There are men living here now, who warm to a glow as they speak of those frequent and pro- tracted meetings held in a good Deacon's house, where the two classes of men warmed beyond the golden, away into
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the crimson glow, night after night, as they reasoned together over the problem which each party desired to solve aright, but was very anxious to have the solution favor its convictions. Even the innocent hens were levied upon to furnish missiles to these heroes of prin- ciple, on both sides the controversy. But these scenes were not confined to the house of the Deacon. Upon the old church, at the pulpit and choir end both, its vestibule, and even the organ, dropped thick and fast sparks from this friction of these two steel-faced parties, so that, had they been tinder, they would have been reduced to ashes. Twain elements of a purer air, they were to become one only through combustion. We breathe the pure air and remember whence it was gen- erated.
The record reads : " March 1, 1837, the Cambridgeport Antislavery Society respectfully beg the use of the meeting- house for the delivery of an Antislavery discussion, at such a time as they may be able to procure a lecturer and as it is unoccupied by the society." This is signed by the secre- tary of the Cambridgeport Antislavery Society, and ad- dressed to the Examining Committee. In most courteous terms reasons were given at length by this committee for their course, and the use of the house was refused, with the request that, inasmuch as there were other com- modious places for such lectures, they (the Cambridgeport Antislavery Society) would cheerfully withdraw their request. This was on March 4. To this report one member of the Examining Committee objected, and at his suggestion the Cambridgeport Antislavery Society, in equally courteous terms, "voted to request Dr. Stearns to call a meeting of the male members of his
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church." This meeting was called March 14, when a motion, couched in words which are a credit to their author's spirit and wisdom, was made "to grant the use of the meeting-house, not to exceed twice a year, to a person well accredited as a consistent Christian, for aboli- tion lectures." It was discussed, and the vote taken by yeas and nays. Three voted for, nineteen voted against and four declined voting. "Some of the Antislavery brethren retiring, a unanimous vote was taken, commend- ing the Examining Committee in their course," and the following resolution was adopted : -
" Resolved, That the primary object of this church, in its organization and in the erection of its house of worship, was to sustain, in the members of this church and in this commu- nity, the great principles of evangelical faith and practice, as they are expressed in our confession and covenant.
" Resolved, That while we deeply deplore the institution of slavery, and would do all we can to remove it, we do not feel that the claims of any existing society on the subject should come into competition with the vital interests of the gospel among us.
" Resolved, That our pastor is under no obligations to give public notices on the Sabbath, and we leave this whole matter to his discretion.
" Resolved, That . . we are determined, at the sacrifice of private preferences, sacredly to avoid any known innovation which may probably cause alienated feeling and divisions in the church, and that, moreover, for the expression of Christian confidence in each other's purposes and plans, we do hereby solemnly renew our covenant with this church, in all things to seek its welfare so long as God shall continue us members of the same."
These are ashes that have been cooling for forty years,
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but they still feel warm to our feet as we walk over them.
At an annual meeting, January 9, 1839, a series of antislavery resolutions were introduced and a motion made for their adoption. "This motion gave rise to considerable discussion, which was continued until a late hour, when the resolutions were laid on the table." At the next meeting the resolutions were discussed until a late hour, and decided in the negative ; nine voting in favor and eighteen voting against it. At a meeting of the church at the house of Deacon Fisk, March 13, the letters were read calling the meeting for the purpose of rescinding the resolutions passed at the annual meeting, or of entering the protest of the signers of these letters against said resolutions. After some discussion, a motion to in- definitely postpone was carried by a vote of twenty-four to nine. At a meeting of the church at the vestry, Octo- ber 31, called by the antislavery members, it was voted, that inasmuch as an agreeable change of circumstances has taken place in the church since the passage of the resolutions in January last, in order to oblige those brethren who voted against those resolutions, "they be and hereby are rescinded." "Voted, that this church agree to assume the responsibility of protecting such Abolition notices as may be posted in the entry of the meeting-house." This coal we can handle better, for the fire is put out.
In January, 1842, at the annual meeting, a committee was appointed to consider and report the following : -
" Whereas the increase of this village has been so great for the last few years, that our house of worship has become too strait for us; and whereas a wide difference of opinion in
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regard to the original design of churches as reformatory asso- ciations is well known to exist among us : therefore,
" Resolved, That in our opinion the time has come when proper steps should be taken to form a new church in Cam- bridgeport, to the end that the cause of Christ may be better promoted.
Resolved, That members of this church feeling it their duty to form a new one, be dismissed for that purpose, on the presentation of their several requests in due form, and that we will bid them a hearty Godspeed in their most praise- worthy and benevolent undertaking."
The committee brought in a divided report, - three being in favor and two against the resolution. They re- ported, January 29, 1842, and agreed upon the following resolutions, which were adopted.
" Resolved, That any members of this church . . .. who feel it to be their duty to form and unite with a new church, to be established on the principles of the gospel and accord- ing to ecclesiastical usage, and are willing to take upon them- selves the responsibility of so doing, may be dismissed for that purpose. Resolved, That, if we part, we do it in Christian fellowship, invoking the blessing of God upon each other, that both the new church and the old may be built up in the faith and order of the gospel, and bear each an important part in the conversion of the world."
March 25, 1842, a vote was taken to give regular letters of dismission and recommendation to the council for organization, to nineteen members. Sunday, March 27, 1842, two significant votes were taken, one appointing a Fast for the 30th instant, and one respectfully declining an invitation to sit on the council to organize the new church on the same day. At a meeting held February 26,
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1858, a series of resolutions was unanimously adopted, declaring that " the interests of Christ's kingdom in Cam- bridgeport require the continued existence and support of a second church of our order, which should be in cordial co-operation with us; that we recognize the Second Evangelical Congregational Church as entitled to our fellowship and confidence ; that it needs fifteen or twenty members from neighboring sister churches, and that we will cheerfully give letters to any who, from sense of duty or privilege, may be disposed to connect themselves with it; that we will make an effort to give them the sum of three hundred dollars in help of ministerial support." March 7, 1862, an invitation was extended to its Sunday school, about to discontinue its distinct organization, to become associated with our Sunday school. To-day we express our gratitude to God, that, while such havoc was made both in our nation and our churches by the excite- ments produced by that great question, our church (whether or not He who sees men's hearts and knows men's judgments as well as motives shall deem the old and the new alike righteous and wise, we cannot tell), our church has come off as well as it has, and that now the storm has passed, which split the heart almost in two, the two sides have come together again, and the two hemi -: spheres of the little life-globe now compose one drop to lose its individuality in the stream of love which gladdens alike every individual in both churches.
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MISSIONARY WORK.
IN October, 1851, a committee of three was appointed to confer with the Baptist brethren, who had proposed to co-operate in supporting a city missionary. Two days later this committee reported favorably to the church, whereupon a committee of six was appointed to raise money for this object. A like committee was appointed, April 2, 1853, which reported to the church ten days thereafter. The church voted, 1st, that it would co-oper -- ate with other evangelical denominations at least one year longer; 2d, that it would raise as much money and per- form as much labor as any other denomination ; 3d, to take up a collection next Sabbath to defray expenses of last year; 4th, to institute measures to provide teachers and men to assist in sustaining the weekly prayer-meet- ing. Similar action was taken March 24, 1854. Similar action again in March, 1855, with the addition of a pledge to give $312 in money for this work. In October of same year a further appropriation of $50 was made. The same action was taken in March, 1856 and 1857, and April, 1858, and again March, 1859, pledging not to exceed $400. A series of four meetings now occur for consul- tation upon a proposition made by the Baptist brethren either to withdraw from the mission and Sunday school entirely, or take the Sunday school and sustain it aside from the mission, or to sustain the Sunday school as now conducted if separated from the mission. The meeting of March 2 appointed a committee, with instructions to favor the continued co-operation. This committee report, exhibiting the difficulties in the case, on March 23, and
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on the 30th this church voted to co-operate in the city mission with such other Evangelical churches as may unite with us, and to become responsible for $500 in money for this work. Similar action was taken in March, 1861, and again March 21, 1862. The record for 1863 is incomplete, giving only the names of the committee, and leaving a blank to indicate that the clerk did not finish the minutes of the meeting. October 21, 1864, $1,500 was appropriated for the city mission enterprise. Another semi-blank record for 1865 and 1867 leaves us in doubt as to their proceedings. Stearns Chapel was erected in 1863, towards which this church contributed $4,000.
STEARNS CHAPEL CHURCH.
UNDER date of September, 1865, the Mission Committee report favorably to the formation of a church at Stearns Chapel, and, on the following November, eighteen persons were dismissed from this church and recommended to an ecclesiastical council called to consider the expediency of forming a church at Stearns Chapel, - Samuel Palmer, Edward O. and Ellen A. Lovett, J. N. Meriam, Dr. James Meriam, Ellen M. Ellis, Ann M. Palmer, Margaret Ryan, B. - R. and Mary L. Tilton, Philena D. Hawkes, Mary A. Fraser, James H. and Julia A. B. Sparrow, Julia Bridges, George H. Rugg, John K. and Hepsibah J. Nay. Also a unani- mous vote passed to concur in the choice of Rev. Edward Abbott as pastor of the church to be organized at Stearns Chapel. The meeting of January 10, 1867, records a vote to take up a collection for Mr. Stone, city missionary, to pledge $ 1,200 to Stearns Chapel, and $ 100 for Rev. Mr. Stone, the city missionary, and appoints a committee on
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Stearns Chapel mission. In January, 1868, a like com- mittee was appointed, and $ 1,000 pledged for Stearns Chapel mission. We drop city missions here. Decem- ber 17, 1869, $1,700 were appropriated to Stearns Chapel, and the standing committee of the church appointed Stearns Chapel Committee. April 15, 1870, this church was apprised by the Chapel Church that it had extended a unanimous call to Rev. George R. Leavitt to become their pastor, at a salary of $ 2,000, and was requested to concur in this action if agreeable. It was voted unani- mously to concur. Our first child now runs alone, and we find, in the records of the annual meeting for 1871, no appointment and no appropriation for Stearns Chapel Church. Dear child, literally bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh and spirit of our spirit, - we love her. She is here to-day, larger and as fair as her mother, with the bloom of but twelve years upon her ruddy cheeks. We hope she loves her mother dearly. We know we love her. But somewhere in 1870 she gave up her nursery pet name, " Stearns Chapel" by which we called her while in our arms, and in November, 1871, we recognize her new name " Pilgrim," as we dismiss one of our number to the Pilgrim Church under the pastoral care of Rev. George R. Leavitt, and we like the name. We cannot expect anything else of our children, and so we are not disappointed to be informed by her, in the dead of winter, on a day of some note in the annals of our denomination, December 22, 1871, that she should leave her mother's house and set up housekeeping in her own home just across Main Street. She wrote us a beautiful letter, brimful of gratitude and promises to keep us in mind, especially at her devotions. We not only love her, but
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are proud of her. We bless her. She commenced life aright, and she has kept it up, and God has blessed her, and, if we did not know that he endows his children with perpetual youth, we should fear lest we lose our charm by the side of so fair a daughter at such a promis- ing age. Not long, however, is our nursery vacant, for at the very meeting when these tidings came, arrangements were completed to employ Mr. Abbott at Stearns Chapel. The following April twenty-one of our number are dis- missed to this Pilgrim Church, and in October of the same year, our infant has a christening and takes its older sister's pet name, and Rev. J. K. Browne is ordained as its pastor. We give it six of our number, - James and Emily Douglass, Charles A. Fiske, Jr., H. P. and Mrs. Anne B. Smith, and George S. Merrill, -with our parental blessing. And three months after we present them as a New Year's gift a paid policy for insurance and a com- munion service. And in January, 1874, we gave her $1,250; in 1875, $927.13; in 1876, $1,045.50; and in 1877 we propose that she shall have $ 1,000 from us. Some effort was made to move this chapel from its hallowed site, but it remains where it has so long stood a " witness " and a " call." We do not know why we may not expect - as much of her as of her older sister. We turn to one and then to the other, and do not blush when we say with the prophet, " Behold I and the children whom the Lord hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in Mount ·
Zion."
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CHURCH LIBRARY.
OLDER persons remember a Church Library. It was sold by order of the church ; and with the proceeds there- of, a share in the General Theological Library of Boston was purchased, which entitles the pastor of this church gratuitously to consult and to draw books from the library as long as the Church shall exist.
CASES OF DISCIPLINE.
OUR Covenant enjoins "helpfulness, brotherly love, and watchfulness, and a walk in submission." We recognize the three constant enemies of such a walk. From the very church which clustered around Jesus while in the flesh, we learn to dread the excessive ambition of Zebe- dee's sons, or, at least, of their mother, the desertion of Jesus by all the disciples, the profane denial of Peter, and the treachery of Judas. And we learn also to expect that the Judas will be incorrigible ; that Peter's fidelity will shine in the light of restoration through its own efforts ; and that the two modest men who secured the advocacy of their mother, and the mother herself, will endure chas- tening even until they are cleansed. This church has a standard of living and a standard of doctrine. Among the thanksgivings that we offer to-day must be this, that cases of discipline were recorded, so that we can learn through what internal tribulations the church has come to the close of its first half-century. The several cases were treated with great care and patience and kindness, and the records of them are complete and full. As this
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matter requires impartial treatment, and still must be handled in a manner to occasion no unnecessary bad feeling, I shall present every case, avoiding so far as pos- sible any personal allusions.
" General laxness of deportment and looseness of talk " bring admonition from several brethren upon a brother, but in vain. But under the kind admonition by the church, he sees his error. He sends to the church a written confession, and is fully restored to his position.
A charge of grave and intentional fraud is made against a brother until he feels that he is seriously injured there- by. He therefore lays the matter before the church. The church takes up the case. Ten and a half closely written pages of record tell how, for two months, in frequent and protracted sessions, the investigation was conducted, and that the slandered brother was unanimously acquitted and justified in his course.
A person outside the church brings before the church a charge of gross immorality and impiety against a step- daughter. Eight of those full pages on the record open the case to the reader, and prepare him to read with joy that the church was a protector of the dependent one. " With these facts, the bare recital of which is enough to - make an eye of iron weep, the brethren of the church not only declare that our sister is innocent of the charges alleged against her, but they do deeply sympathize with this unprotected female, orphaned, and more than orphaned in her father's house, calumniated and on the point of losing that good name and standing in the church which to all Christians is dearer than life ; and they do heartily commend her, as an abused Christian, to the charity, affec- tion, and fellowship of the sisters of the church, and all
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the friends of the Redeemer in this place, praying Almighty God to keep her in every temptation, to sanctify to her this trial, and to bring her out of the furnace as gold seven times purified." Dr. W. A. Stearns's name is attached to many documents to which He will never allude, who, pointing to this, will say, Inasmuch as you did it unto her, you did it unto me ; and this church will receive from the Alpha and Omega no message to repent of what it then did.
Another instance was a charge against a sister for habitual trade on the Sabbath and neglect to attend wor- ship and communion. Three meetings were held. The whole case is recorded, and a unanimous vote suspended her from the church for three successive communions. Before the three communions have occurred, she asks a letter of dismission from the church. This reopened the case ; and after three meetings, she was excommunicated by a unanimous vote.
The sentence of suspension for six months was passed upon a sister on a sustained charge of slander.
One, a member of the original church, was excommuni- cated on a charge of intemperance.
A young man, "led away and enticed," is accused and brought to trial at a court of law. The church must notice it. Not as a heartless tyrant does it break his spirit, but as a tender mother it yearns over the young man, and wins him back to a love for the Master, and reinstates him by a unanimous vote.
A sister is led by discipline to confess her sin, and is restored to full fellowship.
A man and wife habitually absent themselves from worship and communion. After repeated exhortations
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, from several of the brethren, the church proceeds to re- prove them. Still they justify themselves, and the church feels compelled to excommunicate them both. Thirteen years after he confesses his sin to the church, asks to be restored to its membership, and the church gladly grants his request.
For conversation unbecoming and disgraceful, one is suspended from communion for six months.
A brother, charged with " drunkenness, profanity, ab- sence from church service, retailing intoxicating drinks, and general infamous deportment," is, by unanimous vote, excommunicated, but not until they have spent five months in investigating the case and laboring with him.
For ten years, in two different instances, a brother is kept under the special care of the church, in its efforts to deliver him from slavery to the cup ; and finally, having done all it could, with pain it passed a unanimous vote to excommunicate both. O, the long-suffering kindness of the spirit of Christ !
A man and his wife confess to the truth of a charge " of embracing wrong views of Christ and his ordinances," as this church understands them, and are unanimously voted out of the church.
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