USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > The biography of a church; a brief history of Christ Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts > Part 11
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We implore Thee, O King of kings, to crown with the bless- ings of heaven and earth our most Gracious Sovereign Lord, George the Third, by Thy grace King of Great Britain and Ireland and of all the dominions thereunto belonging, defender of the faith, and throughout all his realms supreme in all causes ecclesiastical and civil. Endue him with all royal virtues, prosper his arms and counsels, grant him a long and happy reign over a free and willing people, to Thy glory, the welfare of his subjects, the protection and advancement of true religion. Bless, O Lord, her Royal Highness the Princess Dowager of Wales, and all the royal family, enrich them with Thy heavenly grace, and prosper them with all happiness.
Illuminate with the truth of Thy doctrine the dispensers of Thy most holy word and sacraments, the Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons of the Church of England and the Ministers of all other Protestant Churches. Pour down upon them the continual dew of Thy blessing, that they may
169
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APPENDIX B
be holy and exemplary in their lives and faithful stewards of Thy mysteries. Bless the nobility and magistracy, endue them with grace and wisdom, that they may all in their several characters maintain religion and virtue. In more especial duty we pray for His Excellency the Governor of this Province, His Honor the Lieutenant Governor, the Honorable Council and House of Representatives. So bless them in their respec- tive stations, that wisdom and knowledge may be the stability of our times, and the fear of Thee our treasure.
Father of lights, from whom descendeth every good and perfect gift, grace with Thy divine favor and enlighten with Thy Spirit all seminaries of learning and religious education, particularly the Universities of England and the Colleges of this place, on whose President, Tutors, and Students we implore Thy heavenly benediction, that they may equally excell in virtue and useful knowledge.
O most gracious God, hear Thou in heaven Thy dwelling place, and behold with an eye of favor this congregation here assembled. In all humility, conscious of our own unworthiness, we implore Thy mercy, pardon and acceptance through the merits and puissant mediation of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; to whose most sacred name, and to the promoting of whose glory and kingdom we consecrate this Church, and ourselves the living temples of the Holy Ghost. Bless, we beseech Thee, all those whose pious munificence and public spirit have as- sisted in this good work, especially the Venerable and religious society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Grant success to their Christian purposes for the advancement of true religion, endue their ministers with fidelity to their trust, a sincere faith, unfeigned charity and sanctity of manners. Make them in their several stations the happy instruments of extending the kingdom of Thy Son, as well by supporting Thy pure worship in these colonies, as by publishing the glad tidings of the Gospel among remote and barbarous nations.
Grant, O God of truth and love, to Thy servants here before Thee, an uncorrupted, firm, and efficacious faith in the merits, mediation, and promises of their Divine Redeemer; aid and enlighten them by Thy Holy Spirit that they may sincerely
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APPENDIX B
practice all the duties of the Christian life, and adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour by holiness and piety, and by their ardent charity towards all mankind, especially towards all Christians of every denomination, preserving indissoluble the bond of peace and endeavoring in meekness to restore the unity of the spirit.
Finally, O God, we praise Thy holy name for all Thy servants departed this life in Thy faith and fear, beseeching Thee that we may so follow their good example, that, our probation ended, we may be partakers with them of a glorious resurrection, and of that everlasting inheritance purchased for the faithful by the most precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Saviour and Redeemer of the world; in whose prevailing intercession we trust for the acceptance, and with whose sacred words we supply all the defects of our imperfect petitions.
Our Father, &c.
APPENDIX C
INSCRIPTION ON THE CORNER-STONE OF CHRIST CHURCH WRITTEN IN LATIN, SAMUEL BATCHELDER'S TRANSLATION READS:
Under the guidance of the most venerable Society founded for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, the inhabitants of Cambridge, members of the Church of England, dedicated this house of worship to the Eternal God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the increase of Christian faith and charity, in the year of our Lord 1760, the Honorable Francis Bernard being governor of the province.
Batchelder, ibid., p. 16.
172
APPENDIX D
THE HARVARD CHIME
The Harvard chimes are thirteen in number, cast by Henry N. Hooper & Co. of Boston in 1859 at a cost of more than $5000. Their schedule is as follows:
No.
Pitched
Wt. Lbs.
1
D
3,100
2
E
2,100
3
F#
1,500
4
G
1,350
5
A
850
6
B
725
7
C
625
8
C#
500
9
D
450
10
D#
400
11
E
250
12
F#
200
13
G
175
Total Weight
12,225
Each bell bears, in Latin, a portion of the Gloria in Excelsis. No. 1 also bears the inscription :
LET THE NAME OF MR. THOMAS DOWSE OF CAMBRIDGE BE REMEMBERED
THE LIBERAL MAN DEVISETH LIBERAL THINGS
No. 2 is, as its inscription signified, in memory of the bene- fits of the Venerable English Society founded for Propagating
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APPENDIX D
the Gospel in foreign parts, as a mission of which Christ Church was begun.
No. 3 is especially interesting because it is cast from the metal of the first bell possessed by the church, presented by Captain Cahill of London in 1760. It bears its original in- scription, with the addition:
RECAST A.D. 1831 RECAST IN THE CHIME A.D. 1859
The chime is operated from the ringing room in the second story of the tower, where the old-fashioned system of a frame, into which the ends of the bellropes lead, is in use. The five larger bells are provided with pivots and wheels, and can be rung as well as chimed.
The chime was procured through the exertions of three Har- vard graduates: R. H. Dana, Jr., class of 1837, H. M. Parker, 1839, and F. L. Batchelder, 1844, who issued a circular in 1855 proposing the idea, calling for subscriptions from all graduates and undergraduates of the college.
Batchelder, ibid., pp. 79-80.
APPENDIX E
THE VASSALL TOMB
The Vassall tomb beneath the church is marked by a long, low mound in the gravel floor. This mound is the arched top of the vault, which is sunk below the surface. It is constructed of brick, with the entrance by a flight of stone steps at the western end. It was built shortly after the completion of the church by Henry Vassall, one of the original proprietors. When finally sealed in 1865 the tomb contained ten coffins, those of its owner (died 1769), his wife (1800), their only daughter, wife of Dr. Charles Russell (1802), Darby, son of Henry Vassall's negro coachman "Tony" (1861), four coffins containing the bones of children, all under two years of age (one coffin marked 1770), and one containing an unidentified man over 45 years of age. This man may have been Lieutenant Brown, one of the British prisoners of war, confined in Cam- bridge during the year 1778, who was shot by a sentinel for passing the lines, and "entombed in the Church at Cambridge with all military honors," according to a contemporary ac- count. At all events, no signs of separate interments below the church have been found, though there is record of at least one such burial, that of Elizabeth Apthorp (died 1763), daugh- ter of the first rector.
Batchelder, ibid., p. 68.
175
APPENDIX F
COMMUNION SILVER
The most interesting articles of plate in the possession of the church are the communion pieces bearing the names of William and Mary. This set was part of a larger service pre- sented in 1694 to the Rev. Samuel Myles, then rector of King's Chapel, Boston, by William and Mary, the joint sovereigns of England. It continued in use at King's Chapel until 1772. At that date Thomas Hutchinson was appointed governor of the province by King George III, and received from the Crown, as was customary, communion plate and pulpit furniture to be appropriated at his discretion. He presented this new set of plate to King's Chapel, taking in exchange the old service, part of which he gave to the church at Newburyport, and part to Christ Church, Cambridge. The pieces are three in number, a flagon, a chalice, and a paten, which forms a cover to the cup. The flagon is 132 inches high and of a most graceful shape; the chalice measures 83 inches in height. On the under side of the bottom rim of each is the inscription:
THE GIFT OF K WILLIAM & Q MARY TO YE REVED SAMLL MYLES FOR YE USE OF THEIR MAJTIES CHAPPELL IN N: ENGLAND: 1694.
All three pieces are of thin hand-wrought silver, singularly free from ornament, save the royal arms and the monogram WM R which appears on each. This service is ordinarily used only on Christmas and Easter and is kept at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
In 1829 money was raised for a chalice and paten, and these
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APPENDIX F
were made to match the William and Mary chalice and paten, which they do except for the inscription and coat of arms.
THE FOOTE MEMORIAL
In 1885 a solid gold chalice, paten, and cruct were given by Mr. Luther Foote. They were designed by Henry Vaughn and
COMMUNION SILVER AND CHRISTENING BOWL
were made by Bigelow Kennard Company. The chalice is 82 inches high and around its stem the gold is cut in jewel-like facets.
SILVER CHALICES AND PATENS
The silver chalices and patens which are used at normal communion services were given by Dr. Basil King, the tenth rector, while the smaller intinction chalices were given, one
178
APPENDIX F
by Mr. and Mrs. Norman Dill in memory of Robert Dill, and the other in memory of Dr. Prescott Evarts.
CHRISTENING BOWL
A silver christening basin was presented to the church in 1759 by Mrs. Grizzel Apthorp, the mother of the first rector. It is ordinarily used only on special occasions.
Batchelder, ibid., p. 69.
APPENDIX G
THE PRAYER USED BY COLONEL PALFREY IN THE NEW YEAR'S EVE SERVICE FOR GENERAL AND MRS. WASHINGTON, DECEMBER 31, 1775
O Lord our Heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings and Lord of lords, who hast made of one blood all the nations upon earth, and whose common bounty is liberally bestowed upon thy unworthy creatures; most heartily we be- seech Thee to look down with mercy upon his Majesty George the Third. Open his eyes and enlighten his understanding, that he may pursue the true interest of the people over whom Thou in thy Providence hast placed him. Remove far from him all wicked, corrupt men, and evil counsellors, that his throne may be established in justice and righteousness; and so replen- ish him with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that he may incline to thy will and walk in thy way.
Have pity, O most merciful Father, upon the distresses of the inhabitants of this western world. To that end we humbly pray Thee to bless the Continental Congress. Preside over their councils, and may they be led to such measures as may tend to thy glory, to the advancement of people. We also pray Thee to bless our provincial assemblies, magistrates, and all in sub- ordinate places of power and trust. Be with thy servant the Commander-in-chief of the American forces. Afford him thy presence in all his undertakings; strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies; and grant that we may in due time be restored to the enjoyment of those inestimable blessings we have been deprived of by the devices of cruel and bloodthirsty men, for the sake of thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Batchelder, ibid., p. 42.
179
APPENDIX H
DR. LANGDON'S LAST YEARS - AN EPISODE IN THE HISTORY OF CHURCH UNITY
In 1891 at the age of sixty Dr. Langdon retired from paro- chial ministry and went to live with one of his sons in Provi- dence, R.I., in order to give himself completely to his chief passion, namely, Christian unity and particularly a union be- tween the Episcopal and the Presbyterian Churches. To further this end he founded a fellowship entitled The League of Catholic Unity, of which he was the first secretary, "whose purpose was to devote itself to sympathetic study of the pos- sibilities of interdenominational union and the furtherance, as they shall become wise and sure, of active steps toward the re- uniting of organic Christendom."
Meanwhile, a commission of our General Convention with which Dr. Langdon kept in constant touch had been appointed and had sent an invitation to about twenty different Protestant Churches to enter into brotherly conference in an attempt to effect the restoration of the organic unity of the Protestant Church. It is interesting in the light of Twentieth Century events in the field of church unity to note that while the various churches responded politely, the warmest response came from the Presbyterian Church and with them the Commission car- ried on a considerable correspondence. This correspondence with the Presbyterian Church was the most hopeful approach toward unity that our Church had made up to that time. The Commission presented an enthusiastic report at the General Convention in 1895 stressing their belief that "the agitation of the questions connected with Christian Unity has done untold good in attracting the thought of the age to the evil and
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APPENDIX H
sin of schism and in arousing discussion concerning methods to put an end to strife and division amongst men who profess to follow the Prince of Peace Who hath taught us that the Church is His one body." The Commission further had a memorial from the Diocese of Indiana urging that it invite all interested churches to take part in a general conference on the question of church unity on the basis of the Lambeth quadrilateral.
Dr. Langdon undoubtedly looked forward to the Commis- sion's being instructed to follow through with the approach made with the Presbyterians and also to the calling of this general conference. Unfortunately, however, the General Convention was a great disappointment to those who believed in unity. It voted to lay on the table the request for a general conference of churches and simply continued the Commission without any general instructions to consult further with the Presbyterians. Consequently, we read in the National En- cyclopedia of American Biography "that the retrogressive attitude taken by the Protestant Episcopal General Conven- tion of 1895 put to an end for the time any progress in the di- rection of unity and that the keen disappointment over the result proved the last straw on Dr. Langdon's exhausted strength and he died a few days afterwards on October 29, 1895." It also states that his funeral at Grace Church, Provi- dence, on All Saints' Day was attended by some thirty-five clergymen of eleven different denominations who partook of the Holy Communion together. Surely this was an appropriate and indeed a beautiful way of closing the door on a life of one who pioneered in the field of church unity at a time when divisions were marked by high and thick walls of differing doctrine, long standing prejudices, and acrimonious feelings. The sad fact is that all this might well be dated 1946 instead of 1895.
APPENDIX I
SENIOR WARDENS OF CHRIST CHURCH
1762
David Phips
1763
John Vassall
1764
Robert Temple
1766
David Phips
1767 Thomas Oliver
1771
John Vassall
1772
Ezekiel Lewis
1773
Joseph Lee
1774
David Phips
1791 Jonathan Sampson, Jr.
1796
John Trecothick Apthorp
1800 Samuel Wyllis Pomeroy
1801
Abraham Biglow
1802
Richard Richardson
1804
William Winthrop
1814
Abraham Bigłow
1829
Joseph Foster
1836
Samuel P. P. Fay
1841
Charles C. Foster
1842
Isaac Lum
1844
Clark Gayton Pickman
1847
William Cranch Bond
1852
Henry L. Eustis
1852
Luther Foote
1852
George Phillips Bond
1860
Herbert H. Stimpson
1861
Luther Crane
1862
Herbert H. Stimpson
1864
Abraham Edwards
1865
Samuel Batchelder, Jr.
1879
George Dexter
1880
Samuel Batchelder, Jr.
1888
Francis Charles Foster
1892
Sturgis Hooper Thorndike
1893
Benjamin D. Washburn
1895
Francis Charles Foster
1901 Albert D. S. Bell
1907 Joseph II. Beale
1921
Stoughton Bell
1932 Henry R. Brigham
1933
Stoughton Bell
1936
James Garfield
182
183
APPENDIX I
JUNIOR WARDENS OF CHRIST CHURCH
1762 John Vassall
1763
Robert Temple
1764 Richard Lechmere
1766 Thomas Oliver
1767 John Vassall
1771
Ezekiel Lewis
1779
John Fenton
1772
Jonathan Sewall
1774
John Pigeon
1791
Nathaniel Bethune
1796
Andrew Craigie
1800
Abraham Biglow
1801
Richard Richardson
1801 Andrew Craigie
1802
Jonathan Bird
1804
Ebenezer Stedman, Jr.
1810
Abraham Biglow
1814
Samuel P. P. Fay
1816
William Dandridge Peck
1820
J. R. Dana
1821
Jonathan Hearsey
1826
Samuel P. P. Fay
1829
Abraham Biglow
1833
Samuel P. P. Fay
1836
Isaac Lum
1841
James Greenleaf
1842
Edward Hyde
1843
Luther Foote
1844
Charles Chase
1845
William Edwards Carter
1852
Richard H. Dana, Jr.
1852
John Montgomery Batchelder
1853
Charles F. Foster
1860
Luther Crane
1861
Samuel Batchelder, Jr.
1865 John Gardner White
1872
Joseph Fay Greenough
1873 William A. Herrick
1875
John Gardner White
1877
Francis Charles Foster
1878 Samuel D. Sargeant
1879 Lucius L. Hubbard
1883
William W. Manning
1884
James Greenleaf Croswell
1887
Frederick Stanhope Hill
1893
William E. Wall
184
APPENDIX I
1895
Benjamin D. Washburn
1898
Albert D. S. Bell
1901
Thomas A. Jaggar, Jr.
1906 Joseph H. Beale
1907 Huntington Saville
1919 Hammond V. Hayes
1921 Henry R. Brigham
1932 Franeis B. Sayre
1933 Clarence H. Poor
1936
Frank H. Golding
1940 Calvert Magruder
CLERKS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH
CLERK AND SEXTON
1763
Thomas Sherren
1774
Joseph Welch
CLERK
1794
James Fillebrown
1817
Abraham Biglow
1833
Henry F. McGee
1838
Thomas G. Wells
1839 William Torrey
1840 James Greenleaf
1842
Edward Hyde
1843
Luther Foote
1844
Elijah Fiske
CLERK, TREASURER, AND COLLECTOR
1847 George Phillips Bond
1851
Franeis Lowell Batchelder
CLERK AND TREASURER
1856 James C. Merrill
1862 Franeis Charles Foster
1864
James C. Merrill
1865
Alfred Whitman
1866
Francis W. Story
1866
William Wright
1867
Alfred Whitman
1869
George Dexter
1872
David Greene Haskins
1873 Henry P. Walcott
1873
John M. Whittemore, Jr.
1873 George C. Wright
1874 John W. T. Nichols
1875
Thomas Potts James
1876
John M. Whittemore, Jr.
185
APPENDIX I
1878 Simon Greenleaf Croswell
1879
Henry H. Elliott
PARISH AND VESTRY CLERK
1880 Simon Greenleaf Croswell
1885 James J. Greenough
1888 Edward C. Wright
1889 Sturgis H. Thorndike
1892 Huntington Saville
1900 Samuel F. Batchelder
1927 Roberts Tunis
1934 Allyn Bailey Forbes
1947 Erwin Schell
PARISH TREASURERS
In the early years the Senior Warden was apparently the Treasurer. From 1847 to 1879 the Clerk was also Treasurer. In 1880 the two positions were separated and Mr. George Dexter was the first to hold the position of Parish Treasurer.
1880 S. G. Croswell
1888 F. Stanhope Hill
1893 H. D. Wright
1896 F. Stanhope Hill
1910 Hammond V. Hayes
From 1911 to 1942 in addition to the Parish Treasurer there was also a Missionary Treasurer.
PARISH TREASURERS
1911 - Hammond V. Hayes
1916 - Henry R. Brigham
1918 - Huntington P. Faxon
1925 - Thomas W. Little
1932 - Paul Gring
1935 - Henry DeC. Ward
1936 - Walcott B. Thompson
MISSIONARY TREASURERS
1911 - John Sturgis
1917 - Huntington P. Faxon
1920 - Cushing Toppan
1931 - Dorr Viele
1932 - Henry M. Shreve Richard C. Evarts 1933 - George L. Dow
1936 - Humphrey J. Emery
1938 - Frederick G. Kileski
1942 - Walcott B. Thompson
ASSISTANT TREASURERS 1931 - William B. Gentleman
1933 - Walcott B. Thompson
1936 - Richard W. Simmers
1937 - Norman A. Dill
1950 - Manning A. Williams, Jr.
186
APPENDIX I
THE VESTRY ASSOCIATION 1
The Vestry Association consists of all former members of the vestry now living, irrespective of whether or not they are still members of the parish.
Park Appel
Herbert Barry
Stoughton Bell
Richard H. Blasdale
William H. Boardman
Burton A. Miller
Roswell Blair
Arthur F. Musgrave
Henry R. Brigham
Hans L. Carstensen
Henry W. Newbegin Arthur Niehols
Norman Dill
Charles C. Peabody
Dows Dunham
Philip Rhinelander
Roger W. Eekfeldt
Arthur T. Row
Seymour P. Edgerton
Joseph B. Russell, Jr. Paul E. Sabine
Richard C. Evarts
Thomas H. Sanders
Stanley G. H. Fiteh
Franeis B. Sayre
Maxwell Fish Charles S. Gardner
Ceeil H. Smith
Roger Gilman
Murray Hall
Warren Stearns Cushing Toppan George S. Tueker, Jr.
S. Park Harman
Shelby Harrington
Hammond V. Hayes
Richard Henshaw
Henry DeC. Ward Donald Wright
Frederiek G. Kileski
Lynde W. Tueker Roberts Tunis
Hugh R. Leavell
1 The names of the present vestry appear on page 151.
Howard T. Lewis Thomas W. Little John M. Maguire Dudley Merrill
James V. D. Eppes
Richard W. Simmers
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