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 8
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79
DR. PALFREY'S MINISTRY.
of Churches for the purpose of ordaining me to the pastoral office in said church, on Sunday evening July 22d. The Council will meet at Berry St. Vestry at 7 0 clk P. M.
Wishing you blessing from Almighty God and asking your prayers in my behalf
I am your brother in a common faith
RUFUS A. JOHNSON
The churches invited are,
The Revª Henry Ware, Chapel church Cambridge -
Revd William Newell first church do.
Rev! Francis Parkman new north church Boston -
Revª Ezra S. Gannett Federal St. church Boston -
Whereupon, Voted; that two delegates be appointed, and Messs Grant & Coffin were chosen.
1832 July 22 A meeting of the Church was held after Divine Service this day, & a similar letter was received from M' Allanson Brigham, as the foregoing from M' Rufus A Johnson, both of whom were to receive ordination in the eve% at Berry St Church, - Whereupon, voted, that the Deacons attend as Delegates from this Church
1833 Octº 27 Church met after services in the afternoon, to act upon an invitation from the first Church in Framingham, to be present by Delegates at the ordination of M' George Chapman.
Voted; to accept & elect two Delegates.
Voted; that M' Moses Grant and Jona Chapman represent this Church.
Nov 17 The Church met after the morning service to receive a Communication from the Second Church, to attend the Ordination of M' Chandler Robbins on the 4th of December.
Voted; to accept the invitation, and that the three Deacons be the Delegates.
1834 March 9 The Church met after the morning service to act on an invitation from the Second Congregational Society
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
in Nantucket, to attend the installation of the Revd Henry F Edes on Wednesday March 26th. On motion it was voted to accept the same; Also that Brother George W Coffin and George Bond be requested to attend as delegates Voted that in case either of these Gen" be unable to attend, the Deacons of the Church may supply their places by others
May 11. 1834 A meeting of the Brethren of the church was held by request from the desk after the Morning Service to act upon a communication from the Proprietors of the church respecting the settlement of the Revª Sam! K. Lothrop; of which the following is a copy;
At a meeting of the Proprietors of the Church in Brattle Square holden on Sunday the thirteenth day of April ult. it was unanimously Voted ;
That the Revd Samuel Kirkland Lothrop of Dover, in the State of New Hampshire be & he hereby is invited to settle with this Religious Society as its Pastor & Teacher.
Voted; That if the Revd. Mr Lothrop accept this invitation this Society will keep the Parish House in Court Street in suitable repair for his residence & will pay him Eighteen hun- dred Dollars pr annum in Monthly installments
Voted; That in addition to the compensation above men- tioned and for the purpose of preventing his public instructions in the early part of his settlement from being too arduous and also to enable him to pursue his professional studies without detriment to his health as well as to afford him an opportun- ity of attending to his pastoral relations & becoming better acquainted with the members of the Society the pulpit shall be supplied during the first two years for thirteen Sundays in each year at the expense of the Society Voted that a special com- mittee of five be appointed to communicate these votes to the Reverend Gentleman & report his answer.
At the same meeting the following Gentlemen were appointed upon the Special Committee, Viz : James Austin, Amos Law- rence, Geo Bond, Benja T. Pickman Esqrs. & Honl Judge
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DR. LOTHROP'S MINISTRY.
Thacher. The Committee upon the fourteenth day of April addressed a letter to the Revª Mr Lothrop enclosing a copy of the above votes & upon the 21st ult received an answer thereto enclosing a reply to the Society in which he signified his acceptance of their invitation
At a meeting of the Society holden on Sunday the fourth day of May instant the Committee reported their proceedings to the Society and the answer of Mr Lothrop which report of the Committee was unanimously accepted.
At the same meeting it was Voted ;
That the standing Committee be requested to communicate to the Church connected with this Society the proceedings of the Proprietors in regard to the selecting of the Revª Mr Lothrop to be our Pastor & Teacher and that said committee be authorised to arrange with the Pastor elect a time for his Installation & to take all such measures for that solemnity as have heretofore been usual on similar occasions or which they may deem suitable and proper at the present time
Attest IVERS J. AUSTIN, Proprs Clk.
Whereupon it was unanimously voted, that they do approve the doings of the Society, respecting the sett! of the Revd Sam- uel Kirkland Lothrop as their Pastor & Teacher, and that the same, together with his answer, be recorded on the Church Record.
Voted, that the Deacons of this Church, Moses Grant, Amos Lawrence, and George W Coffin be authorised, to send Letters Missive, in the name of the Church, to the several churches, which shall be selected to compose the Ecclesiastical Council, inviting them to assist by their respective Pastors & Delegate at the Installation of the Pastor Elect.
Voted, that the Deacons be a Committee in behalf of the Church, to unite with the Stands Committee of the Society, and with the Pastor Elect, in agreeing upon the Churches which shall be invited to compose the Council, in appointing a convenient day for the Installation, and in adopting all such other arrangements, as are usual and proper for the occasion.
II
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
The subject of a quantity of superfluous silver-plate, belong- ing to the Church, by the bequest of several Individuals amounting in all to 43.5 oz, which is now never used at the communion was brought before the Church by the Deacons Whereupon, Voted : That Judge Thacher with the Deacons be a committee to consider what disposition if any can be made of the same and report
Attest MOSES GRANT Moderator
Copies of the Letter addressed to the Revd S K Lothrop with his answer
BOSTON April 14 1834
REV". SIR, - By direction of the Church in Brattle Square we transmit to you an authenticated copy of the votes of the Proprietors of pews passed yesterday, and we desire to express to you the high gratification we feel in being the organs of this communication .*
The unanimity of the meeting on this interesting subject will we trust be considered by you a very strong reason for complying with their request and must give you an assurance, as well of your usefulness in the proposed connection as of the mutual satisfaction to be expected from it.
We beg leave to add that the peculiar situation of the Parish make us desire to receive your reply, so soon as your convenience will permit and induces us to hope not only that it may be favourable to our wishes but that early arrangements may be made for your entering upon the new duties, which you are invited to assume. We are Sir, In behalf of our Fellow Worshippers, with cordial salutation and great personal regard Your friends
JAMES T AUSTIN GEORGE BOND
Signed by r AMOS LAWRENCE BEN' T PICKMAN PETER O THACHER
To the Committee of the Church and Society in Brattle Street Boston.
GENLN-Your communication of the 14th transmitting a copy of the votes passed by the Proprietors of pews in Brattle Street Church, inviting me to become their pastor and Teacher, reached me in due season.
* A note inserted at this point, " (The votes on the second page back)."
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DR. LOTHROP'S MINISTRY.
I herewith enclose to you my answer to the question proposed by that communication. I have made application to my present parish requesting that our connection may be dissolved on the 18th of May next which will be the close of my present quarter. After that time I will take charge of the Bratte St pulpit, and supply it by exchanges. My installation I should wish to have postponed till my domestic arrange- ments are completed, and my family settled in the Parish House that · there may be nothing after that to interfere with my parochical duties. I thank you Gent" for the very kind and friendly manner in which you were pleased to make your communication and beg you to accept the assurances of the high consideration and great personal esteem, with which I am your friend & serv!
S. K. LOTHROP.
To
HON' JAMES T. AUSTIN, AMOS LAWRENCE, EsQ.
GEORGE BOND, EsQ. Come
HON. BEN. T. PICKMAN,
HON. PETER O. THACHER.
DOVER N H April 212 1834
To the Church and Society in Brattle Street Boston -
CHRISTIAN FRIENDS, - Your Committee in the most friendly and respectful manner communicated to me the votes by which you invited me to accept the important office of your Religious Teacher and Pastor.
This testimony of your esteem & confidence expressed with such unanimity of opinion could not fail to be grateful to my feelings, at the same time a call to decide a question of such importance as the relin- quishment of my present charge, and the acceptance of a situation so honourable & dignified in itself as the one you offer me, so arduous in its duties, so hallowed in the eyes of all by the men of genius, learning & piety who have filled it, could not fail to awaken in me the deepest anxiety.
In deciding it I have found myself surrounded by difficulties and dejection arising from a distrust in my own abilities to meet your expec- tations and from my expressions of strong attachment on the part of my people and their extreme unwillingness to relinquish my services
Having given to the subject then enquiry and deliberation its impor- tance demands I have come to the conclusion that compliance with your wishes is my proper and necessary course. I hereby signify my deter- mination with the consent of my Church and Society, for which I have applied, to accept your invitation.
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
To this determination of Providence I submit with trembling solicitude relieved however by a confident expectation that I shall receive all proper indulgence, and support from those with whom I shall be connected and sustained by the hope that my best exertion as Pastor of your ancient and venerable church will be crowned by the blessing of God, with honourable usefulness
With Christian Salutation and great Respect I am bretheren
your friend & Serv!
DOVER N H April 21 1834
S. K. LOTHROP.
The following Churches are invited to compose the ordaining Council at M' Lothrop's installation the 18th
The Boston Association of Churches in this City; also
Roxbury Church do
Revd M' Putnam
Revª DE Gray
do Revª M- Whitney
Dorchester do Revª DE Harris
do. Revª M' Cuningham
Chelsea do. Revª M- Alger
Brookline do. Revª D' Pierce
Charlestown do.
Revª ME Walker
Also the Cambridge University Church Revd Professor Ware Ware Jun' and Palfrey
Salem Church Revª Mª Brazer
Newburyport do. Revª M: Fox
Dover N H First Unitarian Church
Philadelphia do. do. do Revª M: Furness
First Unitarian Church in Cambridge Revd M' Newell
June 18th 1834. The Pastors & Delegates from the above churches, invited to assist in the installation of Rev. S. K. Lothrop, met at Concert Hall at 9. A. M. The usual papers hav[ing] been exhibited, the Council professing them satisfied, voted to proceed to Installation. The Introductory Prayer was offered by Rev Mr Robbins, Sermon by Rev. Prof. Palfrey, Prayer of Installation, by Rev Mr Parkman, charge by Rev.
S. R. Sonof
·
85
DR. LOTHROP'S MINISTRY.
Mr Walker, Fellowship of the Churches by Mr Frothingham, Concluding Prayer, Mr Newell.
Aug. 17th 1834. A letter was received from William G. Eliot, stating his intention to visit the Western States, as a Minister of the Gospel, & his desire to be ordained as an Evangelist before his departure & inviting this church to be present by Pastor & Delegates at a Council to be assembled for this purpose, at the Berry Street Vestry, on Sunday Evng, the 17th inst, at 7 o'clock. It was submitted to the Church & thereupon
Voted; To comply with the request, & be represented the Pastor being absent, by Judge Thacher, William Lawrence, & Moses Grant.
Octob'. 26th. A Letter Missive was received from the Ex- ecutive Committee of the Benevolent Fraternity of Churches inviting the presence & the assistance of this Church, at an Ecclesiastical Council to be convened for the purpose of ordain- ing the Rev. Charles Barnard & the Rev Frederick T. Gray, as Ministers to the Poor, in this City. It was read to the Church, this day, Whereupon,
Voted; That this Church comply with the request, & be represented by the Pastor, & Brothers, George W. Bond, Francis A. Gray, & Wm R. Sumner.
Feby 15th 1835 At a meeting of the Church holden this day, the Pastor laid before the Church the following proposi- tions, relating to the covenant & forms of admission to the Communion : Ist That the covenant written in the small Pulpit Bible, be adopted as read by the pastor, as the covenant of this Church; there never having been any vote of the Church adopting it. 2ª That any person wishing to join this Church & not approving our covenant he may be received to fellowship, upon professing his Christian intentions & Christian faith in any other form of words he may prefer. 3ª That whenever any individual is desirous of joining this church, & from timidity or any other cause, is indisposed to acknowledge the Covenant in
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
public, he may acknowledge it in private, & shall be received to fellowship, whenever that acknowledgement shall be publicly announced by the Pastor. After some discussion, in which, Messrs J. C. Gray, Geo. Bond, Alden Bradford & Peter O. Thacher took part, these propositions were on the Motion of Wm Lawrence, referred to a Committee, to consist of the Pastor & Deacons & 5 others. On Nomination, Messrs. J. C. Gray, P. O. Thacher, Geo. Bond, Henderson Inches & Nathan Hale, were put upon this Committee.
May 31st. A letter Missive was received from the First Con- gregational Church in Quincy, inviting the presence & assist- ance of this Church, at an Ecclesiastical Council, to be convened on the 3ª of June next, for the purpose of Installing the Rev. Wm. P. Lunt as Colleague Pastor with the Rev. Peter Whit- ney - It was read to the church this day. Whereupon voted,
That this Church accept the invitation, & be represented by the Pastor, & George W. Bond, Delegate.
June 20th. A Letter Missive was received from the 2ª Con- gregational Society in Portland Maine inviting the presence & assistance of this Church at a Council to be convened on the 24th inst for the purpose of Installing the Rev. Jason Whitman as their Pastor. It was read to the Church whereupon, Voted That this Church be represented on the Council, by the Pastor & Alden Bradford, Delegate.
July 5th A Letter Missive was received from the 1st Congre- gational Church in Dorchester, requesting our aid & presence at the ordination of Rev. Nathaniel (B. sic) Hall as Colleague Pastor, with Rev. D' Harris: Read to the Church, Whereupon Voted, That this Church comply with the request, be represented by the Pastor & Henderson Inches, Delegate.
July 5th. At a meeting of the church, this day holden, the Committee appointed to consider the propositions submitted to the church by Pastor, presented the following report -
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DR. LOTHROP'S MINISTRY.
The first proposition offered by the Pastor relates to the adoption of the Covenant written in the small pulpit Bible as the Covenant of this Church. After a full & free discussion of this point it seemed to the Committee, that the Covenant, now in use tho' in the main very simple & general in its terms did yet contain some few expressions, of a technical character; such at least, as are in use to signify belief & from their nature imply belief in certain doctrines that are matters of dispute among Christians & which it is therefore desirable not to introduce into a Church Covenant. The Committee thought therefore that by omitting these & making some other slight alterations, the Covenant now in use might be improved, rendered accepta- ble to all, made so simple that no serious & right-minded person could object to it, & that consequently all ground for the adop- tion of the second proposition of the Pastor, to which some of the Committee in Common with many members of the Church have serious objections, might be removed. The Committee propose therefore that the following form of profession be adopted as the Covenant of this Church :
You declare your belief in one God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven & earth, & your acceptance of the Old & New Testament as a revelation of the mind & will of God to men.
You profess repentance toward God & faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, as the promise Messiah & Saviour of the world.
You promise to walk with God & this Church of his in all his holy ordinances & to yield obedience to every truth of his which has been or shall be made known to you as your duty, God assisting you by his Spirit & Grace.
We then the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ in this place, do admit & receive you to fellow-ship with us, to watch over you in [the] Lord, & to carry it toward you as becometh our sacred relation to you. And this we do with our prayers to the God of all Grace that you & that we may be faithful to our religious engagements.
The second proposition of the Pastor, was as follows.
Resolved, "That if any person wishing to join this church, do not approve of our Covenant he may be received to fellow-
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
ship, upon professing his Christian faith & Christian intentions in any other form of words he may prefer."
The Committee do not recommend the adoption of this resolution; because it seemed to many of their number, that if any Covenant were established, there was a propriety in having one & the same for all, & in the opinion of all the Committee, the greater simplicity made in the Covenant, by the alterations proposed & the peculiar feature introduced by the expression, "yield obedience to every truth that has been or that shall be made known to you," implying the liberty of change in individual opinion & progress in religious knowledge, seemed to render the resolution unnecessary either for the promotion of truth or the enjoyment of christian ordinances.
The Committee recommend the adoption of the third prop- osition, as altered & amended in the following resolution.
Resolved, "That whenever any individual is desirous to join this Church & is unable, from reasons which shall be deemed satisfactory by the Pastor, to make an acknowledgment of the Covenant in public, it shall be in the discretion of the Pastor, to receive such acknowledgment in private, & such person shall be received to fellowship whenever that acknowledgment shall be announced to the Church."
In relation to the Baptismal Covenant, submitted to this Committee on the motion of Mr Bond, the Committee are of opinion, that it should be left to the discretion of the Pastor to require such acknowledgments, & profession from the Parents or guardians, as shall be satisfactory to himself.
The views here presented, are such as the Committee trust, will be satisfactory to all, & will tend to preserve the harmony & promote the increase & improvement of the Church.
All which is respectfully submitted,
(Signed) S. K. LOTHROP, for the Committee.
After some discussion, the report was unanimously accepted, & the covenant here proposed, is to be hereafter used as the Covenant of this Church.
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DR. LOTHROP'S MINISTRY.
On motion of Mr Bond, Voted, " that this report be read on Sunday, to the whole Congregation & that copies of the cove- nant by [sic] printed & distributed in the pews " -
Nov 1837. After the Communion service on the Ist Sunday in this month, the pastor called the attention of the Church to the importance of having stated monthly meetings of the Church for mutual edification & religious improvement & appointed a meeting to be held at the parsonage in Court Street on the Friday Evening before the next Communion; these meetings to take the place of the Union preparatory Lecture, which the other Churches, associated in it, viz D' Channing's, The First Church, & Church Green & the Purchase Street, Mr Ripley's were disposed to relinquish. At the first meeting held, as appointed the Pastor read a brief paper on the objects of such - Church Meetings, the manner in which they should be con- ducted & the benefit to the individual & to the body to be derived from them. The meeting was well attended & successful.
Nov. 1838 - At a meeting of the Church held on the 16th of this month, Deacon Grant presented an application of the Pitts Street Chapel, under the care of Rev. F. T. Gray, one of the Ministers at large in the employ of the Benevolent Fraternity, for the loan of some of the communion plate of the Brattle Square Church that was not used by them. In presenting this application Deacon Grant said that it ought certainly to [be] complied with, as our Church had a consider- able quantity of plate which was not used in the monthly communion service & that it ought not to be denied to some poorer, who needed it. On his motion it was
Voted ; That the Deacons have authority to loan to the Pitts Street Chapel such pieces of plate as might be appropriate & desirable for their use in the Communion Service. Also
Voted; That the Deacons with Peter Oxenbridge Thacher be a committee with authority to examine all the Church plate not in use; to have it appraised & report what disposition should
12
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RECORDS OF THE CHURCH IN BRATTLE SQUARE.
be made of it; the opinion being expressed that it ought to be sold & the proceeds invested & the income of the same used in behalf of the poor of the Church.
Dec. 29, 1839. A meeting of the Church was held this day at the House of Deacon' Moses Grant, Cambridge Street, at which the Committee appointed more than a year ago on the unused plate of the Church made a report; presenting a schedule of the different pieces, the number of ounces in each, & the value of the same per ounce according to the estimate of the most prominent jeweller in the city; & recommending that it be sold according to that estimate of appraisal. Objec- tion was made that it was hardly respectable, certainly not pleasant for Brattle Street Church to offer its supernumerary pieces of plate most of them gifts for the communion service for sale in any public way. While it was very proper to sell it & make the income available to the poor of the Church, it should be done in a private & not public manner. It was then proposed that as there was a very full meeting of the male members of the church the plate should be sold then & there by auction; the Brethren to bid for choice & then select what piece or pieces he chose at the appraisal. This was done; & in a few moments the pieces were all sold. As the bidding grew slack at the very last, & only one piece remained unsold; it was moved that that piece be presented to the Pastor. The brother acting as auctioneer, "do you mean to the Pastor or to Rev Mr Lothrop?" the mover said, "I mean to our present pastor as his personal property"; & the motion prevailed. The proceeds of the whole sale amounted to nearly twelve hundred dollars.
Monthly Church Meetings not resumed this Winter The pastor delivering a course of Sunday Evg lectures in the vestry instead.
Oct 4th 1840. At a meeting of the Church held this day, a letter missive from a Committee of Hollis Street Church was read inviting us to be represented on an Ecclesiastical Council
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DR. LOTHROP'S MINISTRY.
to consider the difficulties between Hollis Street Church & its Pastor Rev. John Pierpont. After some discussion the letter was referred to a Committee of which Dr J. G. Palfrey, now worshipping with us was Chairman.
Oct. IIth 1840. At a meeting of the Church held this day; D' Palfrey in behalf of the Church & the Committee presented a full report, closing with the opinion that it was expedient & proper that this Church should be represented on the Council. The Report was accepted, & the Church agreed to be represented on the Council the Pastor & as Delegate, Rev. D' Palfrey.
Febry. IIth 1841. Letters missive from the Committee of the Hollis Street Society inviting the Church to be represented on an ex-parte Council to be convened on the 15th inst were laid before the Church & after discussion the proposition or invi- tation was accepted; & the Church was represented by the Pastor & D' Palfrey.
March 7th 1841. There being a clear prospect that the above ex parte Council would by agreement of parties be changed into a mutual council & would have a long work before them, D' Palfrey asked to be excused from serving as Delegate & then Richard Sullivan was appointed in his place.
March 21st. A letter missive from Church in Sterling, in- viting us to be represented on a ecclesiastical council for the ordination of their pastor elect, Rev Mr Fosdick; accepted Mr W™ Lawrence appointed Delegate.
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