USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The Manifesto church. : Records of the church in Brattle square, Boston, with lists of communicants, baptisms, marriages and funerals, 1699-1872 > Part 3
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
D' Noyes then proposed our using some better version of the Psalms; and Cap! Clark proposed that there might be a con- stant Exposition of ye Scriptures after the reading of them every Lord's day. Both which matters after some discourse of them were left to further Consideration, if need were.
On September the 7th 1715. we received M' Coopers Answer, signifying his Acceptance of our Call, his desires of our Prayers for Him, & that we would however excuse him from engaging presently in a constant Course of preaching; it being a very early day with him.
At a Congregation Meeting, October y: 7th 1715. I acquainted the Brethren how M' Cooper had explain'd himself to me, scil, That he fear'd if he should immediately engage in a Course of constant preaching it might hinder him too much in his prepar- atory studies, & therefore his desire was that for ye first year he might be expected to preach but once in a fortnight: Also he pray'd that we would not for this first year propose his Ordination.
I observ'd to the Brethren the Humility & modisty of M. Coopers desire, & then y: following Votes pass'd, Nemine Contra.
I. That M: Cooper be desir'd to preach as often as he could conveniently with us, & that it be left to me & him to supply the Pulpit at other times, & the supply had be paid out of what is allowed to M: Cooper.
2. That M: Cooper be allowed for this year forty Shillings a Sabbath, or every week.
The matter of Ordination was then discoursed, & at last it was resolved to let it rest for y: present, in compliance with M: Coopers desire.
At a Church meeting, Tuesday March. 20, 1716. I proposed the bringing forward M: Coopers Ordination; & accordingly the twenty third day of May following was fixt upon :
On wch Day the Solemnity was accordingly attended, & He was publicly separated to y: Work of the Ministry, & unto the Pastoral Office over this Church, by the Laying on of y: Hands of the Presbytery, with fasting & prayer.
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DR. COLMAN'S AND MR. COOPER'S MINISTRY.
At a Church Meeting August ye 20. 1717. M' Benjamin Gibson was chosen into the Deacons Office among us, & approved by the Pastors. Sometime after he signified his Acceptance & took his place.
At a Church Meeting March. 8. 1718, After much Discourse it was voted,
That there be an equal Dividend of y: next Remains of ye Moneys collected at the Sacrament, after ye payment of the charges for the Holy Table; the one half to be distributed by the Deacons to ye poor; the other to be applied to ye further supply of y: Communion Table with plate: provided that y: Distribution to ye poor do not exceed ye Summ of ten pounds p annum.
At a Congregation Meeting March 16, 1720, M: Cooper being about to marry, I proposed ye raising & fixing his Salary for his honble support, & that it might be equal at least to mine ; & that they would please to provide a House for him to dwell in. And accordingly ye following Votes were passed,
I. That M: Coopers Salary be three pounds five Shillings a week.
2. That M: Cooper be allowed a House to dwell in.
3. That a Committee of five, namely M: Harris, D: Noyes, Coll. Minot, Cap: Steel, & M: Fitch, be appointed forthwith to enquire after some convenient House for him, & make report to ye Society
4. That M: Coopers fire-wood be allow'd him.
Voted then also, That M: Ingram ye Sexton be from hence- forth allowed sixteen pounds a year Salary.
N B. Some time in y: Month of January preceding ye last Votes, some of y: Brethren of ye Church having express'd to us their desires of a Monthly Lecture to be held in our place of Worship, ye Afternoon of every Fryday before the Adminis- tration of ye Lords Supper; And we taking into our Consider- ation y ye said Holy Ordinance is administered in ye first
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
Church of Christ in the Town at ye same time thro'out y: year y' it is with us; The Chh. did therefore come into a Vote, to request & invite them to joyn with us in ye setting up the said Lecture, & that it' be carried on by their Revd Pastors, M: Wadsworth & Foxcraft, together with us; & be attended & supported equally by them & us, for our mutual Edification by the will of God.
Accordingly we wrote unto them in ye Name of the Church, & the said First Chh. in ye Town did readily come into the Proposal; & it was opened by me on Fryday, March. 4. 1720./ from these words, Exodus. 24. 9, 10, II./.
At a Meeting of the Congregation. Sept. 5. 1721, Deacon Draper inform'd the Congregation, that in this time of distress by the Smalpox, & upon the removal of so many out of the Town, the weekly Collections had fallen so far short of what is necessary for the Support of ye Ministers, that it was necessary a Summ of about fifty pounds be presently rais'd, for the paying the Arrears due & the laying in Wood for the winter.
After some Discourse on one Method & another for a present Supply it was Voted, That Cap' Steel, Coll. Ballantine, M' Hedman, Coll. Alford, M: Fitch be a Committee to treat with the Proprietors of the House, about applying part of the moneys in their hands, arising from the late Additional Building to the present Service.
The Brethren of the Church were then desired to stay, & Deacon Kilby informed the Brethren, that upon his late failing in his Estate, when he put over y: whole of it into the hands of his Creditors, he had forgot to secure the Churches Money intrusted with him; Namely, the Moneys collected at y: Monthly Sacraments.
Whereupon it was voted, That M: Thomas Clark, Capt. Tim. Clark, M: Tay, Coll. Minot, & M: John Colman be a Committee to look over Deacon Kilbys Account of the Sacrament Collec- tions; & that they treat with his Creditors about the Church Stock gone by this means into their hands; & if they can't
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DR. COLMAN'S AND MR. COOPER'S MINISTRY.
prevail to recover it, that they claim in the Name of the Church among the Creditors.
At a Meeting of the Congregation, Septem. 19. 1721, The Answer of the Proprietors to the late Proposal of the Com- mittee from the Congregation was read, & the Congregation Voted a Compliance with it
The said Answer of the Proprietors was as follows.
Whereas the Congregation of the Church in Brattle Street have this 7th of September 1721. applied to us the Proprietors of the same, by a Committee of five Persons, chosen for that purpose, at a Meeting of both Church & Congregation, for the Ballance of the Moneys rais'd from the Sale of the Pews when the Addition to ye Chh. was made, desiring the same may be added to ye Contribution money, for the supply of the present Deficiency thereof;
And whereas the Prudentials of the said Church & Building hath hitherto necessarily fallen under our management & direc- tion from the foundation to this day; Exact accounts & methodical Books having hitherto been Kept & laid open by the Treasurer every year to the Satisfaction of the Society, as well as a fair Entry made of all Votes, and Determinations, for the more regular carrying on the Affair; & we think to the satisfaction of every one that shal give themselves the trouble to look into them; & they wil be very welcome so to do :
And whereas it is Our Opinion the present Exigence & deficiency of the Contribution might better be made up by Subscriptions than any other way; & that the aforesaid Money be kept in bank for ye defraying of all Contingent Charges that wil necessarily & frequently arise on ye House; and that upon every Occasion we may not be put to ye trouble of calling the Congregation together to raise the money, in a Method yet to be contrived & agreed upon, & it may be difficult to come at; that while the grass grows the steed starves :
Now Gentlemen, Since it is & alwayes was our sincere desire to have this money applied for the general Good & benefit of
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
the Whole & to no other use & purpose whatsoever; & You can't agree with us in this method, but still desire & request to have the Mony applied as aforesaid ; We say in Answer,
That if this be thought the most effectual way to Encourage a more chearful Contribution for the future, for the carrying on & promoting the Worship of God among us; & the Congre- gation wil be under the same Obligation with the Proprietors to pay any Person or persons, Owner or Owners of any pew or pews in said Meeting-house, such Sum or Sums of money as they gave for said pew or pews, upon their leaving of any of them, according to Receipt passed therefor: As also to repair said Meeting house when it needs, & to support the Minister or Ministers from time to time as God shal enable; And let this be voted & Enter'd in the Church Books as a standing Memo- rial, & Discharge of the Proprietors or any of them; Excepting their Several proportions in common with the rest of the Con- gregation : In such case we are willing to apply the Money as desir'd.
THOMAS PALMER. In behalf & at the Desire of the Proprietors.
The Congregation then proceeded to the Choice of a Com- mittee, for ye managing the Affairs of the House, Pews &c.
And first voted that the Committee before chosen for the year by the Proprietors do stand: scil, William Harris Eq., Treas!, M: Thomas Clark, Timothy Clark Esq!, M' Walker & Coll. Minot.
Secondly, That four more be added to them; namely, Thomas Steel Esq', Coll. Ballantine, Coll. Alford, & M' B. Fitch.
Thirdly that this Committee stand till January next, when the Congregation wil proceed to a new Choice.
At a Congregation Meeting, Fryday, January 12, 1721, 2 the Choice of a Treasurer first came on, to succeed in the place of the Worthy William Harris Esq:, deceased: & the Votes fell on the Honble Addington Davenport Esq:
Voted that the Committee of the Congregation be seven in number, the Treasurer alwayes one.
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DR. COLMAN'S AND MR. COOPER'S MINISTRY.
The Votes for the Committee were bro't in & the Choice fell on Thomas Palmer Esq:, Timothy Clark Esq:, Thomas Steel Esq:, Coll. Minot, Coll. Ballantine & Coll. Alford.
M: Davenport not being present was notified of the Choice made of him & sending his Excuse, it was voted,
That the Committee now chosen be desired to urge his Acceptance, & if they cannot prevail with him, that they then appoint one from among themselves to act as Treasurer till y: next meeting of the Congregation.
Lastly it was voted, That the annual meeting of the Congre- gation for the chusing a Treasurer & Committee, be from hence forward on the first Wednesday in August.
M: Ingram the Sexton then mov'd for some Allowance to be made him for looking after the plate & linnen for ye Com- munion Table: & it was referr'd to the Consideration of the Church at their next meeting, if they shal judge it fit.
Tuesday February 6. 1721. Addington Davenport Esq', having received the Books & Moneys of the Church & Congre- gation from the Committee aforesaid, in token of his accepting the Choice that had been made of him to be their Treasurer, was pleas'd to come & inform the Pastors thereof.
At a Meeting of the Congregation, August 28. 1722. The Accounts of the Treasurer & of the Deacons were then Audited & allowed. M' Davenport then excused himself from acting any longer as Treasurer. Votes were thereupon call'd for, & Thomas Palmer Esqr. was chosen by a great Majority, Capt. Tim. Clark excus'd himself from acting any more as one of the Committee. And M: Jacob Wendal was chosen into his room.
The former Committee were Re-chosen. Thomas Palmer, Treas", Addington Davenport, Thomas Steel, Stephen Minot, John Ballantine, John Alford, Jacob Wendal.
The Thanks of the Congregation were voted to M' Tho: Clark, Timothy Clark Esq:, & Deacon Draper for the Services, many & great, done by them to ye Society in the care they have taken of y: House, or moneys, &c.
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
Septem. 9. being y: Lords Day the Church was stayed after ye publick Exercises were over, & it was proposed to them to fill up the Vacancy in the Deacons Seat, by the Death of M: Kilby; & it was voted to meet for that end (by Gods will) on ye. next Tuesday come fortnight, at II. of ye Clock, in the forenoon.
At a Church Meeting Septem. 26. 1722. After Prayer to God it was put to the Church, Whether They were ready now to proceed to Elect another into the Deacons Office; which being signified in the Affirmative, ye Votes were brought in, - wch by a great Majority were found for M: John Edwards; But he absolutely excusing himself from accepting the Call; the Brethren were desir'd to come to a second Choice, & ye Votes were found by a great Majority for M' Jacob Parker, who some time after accepted & took his place.
The Petition of M' Ingram, the Sexton, was then laid before the Church, for some Allowance to be made him, for his Keep- ing, cleaning, bringing & carrying the Plate for the Communion Table, & washing the Linnen us'd thereat: And the Church Voted him an Allowance of forty Shillings p Annum for his Service therein.
The Church then proceeded to Enquire what the Committee appointed Septem. 5. 1721, had done in treating with the Creditors of the late Deacon Kilby, since deceased, about the Church Stock gone by his Neglect into their hands; & being inform'd of what had pass'd between the Creditors & them, it was resolv'd that the Church wil come in among the Creditors & take their part in the Dividend of his Estate; That a Com- mittee be appointed therefore to claim & receive for them; and that ye said Committee be
February 10, the Church was staid, being the Lords day Evening, when we proposed to them the Keeping a Day of Prayer for the Effusion of the Spirit of Grace upon the Children of the Flock; which was Voted, & the first Tuesday in March was fixed on for the time: wch was accordingly kept.
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DR. COLMAN'S AND MR. COOPER'S MINISTRY.
At a Congregation Meeting, Octob: twenty second, 1723. The Treasurer & Committee of the last year were Rechosen; & the accounts of the Treasurer & Deacons audited & accepted. It was recommended to the Committee to fill with persons proper ye vacant Pews in the Galaries; that ye Negroes be directed to leave ye back Seats of ye lower & go into those of the upper Galary: & that they dismiss Roger from looking after ye Boyes, & provide some fitter person.
The Congregation being dismissed the Church staid, & voted the Buying a Tankard of Deacon Draper, to be valu'd by M: Noyes & Edwards, & that it be paid for out of the Church Moneys.
At a Congregation meeting September 9. 1724. The Treas- urer & Committee of ye former year were Rechosen, namely
Thomas Palmer Esq: Treasurer, Addington Davenport Esq. Thomas Steel Esq: John Alford Esq: M: Stephen Minot, M' John Ballantine, M' Jacob Wendal.
The Pastors then withdrew, leaving the Congregation to con- sider of some way or other to supply the deficiency in their Salary for their Support; when they readily Voted the coming unto a Subscription of a Present unto ye Pastors, to be equally divided between them; & that Deacon Gibson & Deacon Parker, assisted by M: Jacob Wendal & M: Benja Fitch & M: William Tyler be desired to take ye trouble & care upon them of putting forward the said Subscription.
At a Meeting of the Congregation Septem. 21. 1725. After prayer I acknowledged to ye Brethren ye Kindness of God wch they had shown to us in ye year past, that we had received from ye hands of M' Benja Fitch five hundred pounds, & thirty pounds more from y: hand of Deacon Parker; wch we pray'd God to reward to them.
We then took our leave, & ye Brethren chose their Com- mittee, & voted ye raising ye Salary's of their Pastors from henceforth to four pounds a week each.
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
March. 13. 1726 ye Church being stay'd, after ye dismission of the Congregation, We acquainted the Brethren, That ye Pastors of the United Churches in ye Town were unanimously of Opinion (after serious & deliberate Consideration & much discourse together) That it might serve many excellent Ends of Piety if the Several Congregations had Collections made in them on dayes of Fasting & Thanksgiving. And that whereas we were now approaching toward the Annual Day of Prayer & Fasting in the begining of the year, the Ministers had agreed together to propose the matter to their respective Congre- gations, that such a Collection might be made on the Fast now appointed.
We added, That we did not propose the Gathering any great Summs; if it were but a little more than our ordinary Con- tributions on ye Lords-dayes, it might suffice.
The moneys so collected we proposed to be by every Congregation deposited in the hands of some Committee of their own chusing, as a Kind of Evangelical Treasury for the propagation of religion & piety, & to be held sacred to such use ; & not a farthing of it to be drawn out & applied at any time ; but by ye Advice & consent of said Committee; Who shal Keep an exact account of all that they disburse, to whom, for what, & on what Occasions; so that the Congregation may when they please, from time to time, see how their moneys are applied.
In short, we told 'em, that ye Proposal was - That every particular Church would furnish it self, by such Collections on our Anniversary dayes of prayer & praise, with a smal stock or Fund for the propagation of the Gospel: & that our prayers & alms might together go up for a Memorial before God.
After some Consideration had of this proposal, the Church voted that such a Collection be proposed to ye Congregation to be made on ye Day of prayer approaching; & that ye moneys collected be laid by till ye annual Meeting of the Congregation in August or September next, when the Congregation might take ye Proposal now made for constant Collections on dayes
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DR. COLMAN'S AND MR. COOPER'S MINISTRY.
of Fasting & Thanksgiving into their Consideration, & deter- mine on it as God should direct them.
On ye next Lords-day we informed the Congregation of ye Advice of y: Church respecting the proposed Collection, & on ye Day of prayer March, 24, it was readily complied with & forty pounds were gathered, which ye Deacons were directed to deliver into ye hands of Thomas Palmer Esq, Treasurer for ye Congregation, to be kept by him till ye Annual Meeting of the Congregation.
On Tuesday Sept. 21. 1726. The Congregation took into Consideration the disposition of ye Moneys collected, & voted,
That ten pounds of the forty may be applied to uses of piety abroad, & particularly with an eye to ye Meeting house of Providence: the other thirty pounds to be disposed of among ye poor & needy of our own Church & Congregation. That ye Pastors & Deacons of ye Church, together with the Standing Committee of the Congregation for the year, be a Committee to dispose of & distribute ye said Money. That also because many poor people are like to want needful firing, clothing &c this winter, therefore a Collection be made for their releif & supply on our next Thanksgiving day, & ye moneys then col- lected be put into ye hands of the aforesaid Committee, to be by them distributed.
The Congregation were pleased also to vote M: Colman thirty pounds this year for house-rent; being ye first House rent ever allowed to him; at ye End of twenty six years.
November y: 10. was solemniz'd a Day of publick Thanks- giving to God, when ye Collection for ye poor was made, & we gather'd seventy two pounds, seven shillings.
September 26. 1727. The Congregation at their Annual Meeting continued to M' Colman thirty pounds for House-rent ye year ensuing. And a Collection for ye poor ye next Thanks- giving day, to be distributed by ye Pastors & Deacons.
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
Thursday, Novem. 7. 1728, being y day of Publick Thanks- giving; a Collection was made for ye poor & for pious Uses, & ninety four pounds were Contributed.
Lord's-day, Jan'y. 5. 1728, 9. The Church being staid we propos'd to them ye chusing another Deacon, our aged & hond Brother M' Richard Draper being confined by growing Infirmities, & a threatning sickness wch gave us great Reason to apprehend his approaching change. On ye good Deacon died, having ministred with us in y: Deacons Office twenty seven or eight years, & (to ye Glory of Gods free Grace) discharg'd his Office well.
On February 4, at a Church Meeting M: John Philips, Stationer, was chosen into ye Deacons Office, & accepted of ye Call.
At ye same time ye Church came into ye following Vote, That considering the fall of Moneys, & ye dearness of Pro- visions, & ye sense ye Congregation had of the Insufficiency of ye Salary's of their Pastors to answer ye necessary Expenses of their Families; therefore it was advisable for ye Congre- . gation to come into a voluntary Contribution or free Gift to ye Ministers on some approaching Sabbath, & that whatsoever shal be gathered be given to them; over & above their stated Salary.
Accordingly ye next Lords-day ye Congregation were notified of said Desire of the Church, & ye Lords day after was collected 140. pounds, wch was divided between the Pastors.
Novem. 13. 1729. Being Thanksgiving day; was collected 155" IO. O. / 107 !! for the poor of our own Church: 23" 105 for ye Pastors: 20" to be delivered to Deacon Henchman of ye South Church : 4" 105 0 for ye support of ye Worship of God at the Town of Providence.
Decem. 27. Ye Congregation made a Collection for the Pastors, to make up ye Deficiency of Salary for their needful
Withina Cooper.
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DR. COLMAN'S AND MR. COOPER'S MINISTRY.
Support ye last Year, & one hundred pounds were gather'd, & divided equally to them.
September. 16. 1730. At a Congregation Meeting warned for ye farther necessary support of ye Worship of God, forty Shillings p week was further Voted to each of ye Pastors; & that ye weekly Allowance to 'em should be six pounds for ye year to come.
January 24. 1730, I. At ye Desire of many of the Congre- gation a Proposal was made for a Collection for ye poor in Marblehead, in this time of Distresse with them by reason of ye smal pox; & ye next Lords-day ye Collection was made, one hundred & twenty pounds; put into ye Hands of M' Bowdoin, M: Wendal, M: W" Tyler & M: Tho: Jackson; to be by them remitted in such way & manner as might best serve ye poor there in their present Necessities. I know also of twenty four pounds from two of the Congregation ye Week before this.
October 8. 1731. Ye Congregation met, & voted twenty pounds to poor M's Lazenby about to have her breast cut off; & the purchasing a new Pall for funerals; & to have a Col- lection ye 21. Instant, for defraying ye Charges of ye Year. And that ye weekly Allowance to ye Pastors for ye next Year be six pounds.
On ye Lords-day, Novem. 21. Collected 103. pounds.
October 17. 1732. The Congregation met, & chose Jacob Wendal Esq: Moderator, & Voted, That ye Moneys due to defray ye Charges of ye Year past, about 120", be raised by a voluntary Contribution; on ye next Thanksgiving Day; & that ye Rev. Pastors be desired to give Notice of it to ye Congregation ye next Lords Day.
That six pounds p. Week be allowed to ye Pastors ye next Year, beside their Wood & House Rent as in ye Years past.
That ye Income of ye Pall, belonging to the Church, be dis-
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
posed of by y: Revd Ministers & Deacons, among ye poor of ye Congregation.
That ye Committee for ye Year ensuing be desired to speak to each Person that hath a Pew in the Church, & inform them of ye Contributions falling short from Year to Year, & that it is expected y! every one y! has a Pew below contribute at least half a Crown every Sabbath, & they yt have Pews in ye Gallery each one at least Eighteen pence.
That Thomas Palmer Esqr. be Treasurer ye Year to come ; & that John Alford, Jacob Wendal, Richard Bill & James Bowdoin Esqr. be ye Committee for this Year.
October 26. was Kept in Thanksgiving to God & ninety four Pounds were collected, with some Bills for ye poor.
December, 18, 1733. The Congregation met, & voted that ye Moneys for defraying what remains of ye Charges for ye Year past be collected by a voluntary Subscription through ye Con- gregation; & ye Overplus that may be collected do remain as a Church Stock for ye Deficiencies that may be in ye next Year. The same Committee was continued, & Salary's
At a Meeting of the Congregation October 11. 1736.
Voted that the two hundred pounds, for wch Mess's Palmer & Balston gave their Bonds, payable next May; now in the Hand of ye Treasurer ; be given as a Present to our Revd Pastors, with the Interest due thereon, equally between them.
THO: PALMER, Moderator.
The Committee chosen for ye year ensuing were Thomas Palmer, Jacob Wendel, James Bowdoin, Richard Bill, & John Fairweather, Esqrs.
It was also voted, That a Committee be chosen to collect ye sum of about 120" to make up ye Deficiencies of ye Year past: And that for Time to come a Subscription be made by every Contributor what he wil annually give toward the Sup- port of ye Worship of God among us, to prevent any future annual Deficiencies.
Lordsday Evening Decem. 26. Ye Church were informed of
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