USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877 > Part 27
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Dr. Peter Thacher, of Brattle-street Church, Boston, and Rev. Thomas Thacher, of Dedham, were members of the ordaining council. The charge was given by Rev. Mr. Haven, of Dedham, and the right hand of fellowship by Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, of Dorchester.
1 Bill of Fare for the Ordination of Mr. Joseph McKean November the first 1797.
D C.
D. C.
60 lb. Turkeys
7 , 50
6 Doz Eggs I
36 1b. Geese
3
48 1b. Fowls 6
IO Galla Wi e IO
36 1b. Ollemote Beef
3
3 6 Doz" Lemmons Wood Coal & Candles 3, 50
40 lb. Roast Beef
4
1} Bush1 Apples 1 , 50
I2 lb. Cheese 2
30 1b Butter
6
28 1b
Flower
1 ,75
I2 lb
Raisins
1 , 50
Bread
6
Sider
Boards, Table making, Hay, and attending horses, I5
$116.
Mr John Swift agreed to provide & cook the above Bill of Fare for One Hundred and Fifty Dollars
JOHN SWIFT
JOSEPH VOSE
DANIEL BRIGGS
Committee.
ELIJAH VOSE
JOHN CREHORE JUNE J
6 Galls Bran y & W. I. Rum I2
30 1b.
Beacon . 5
Milk, Rose water Spices Sweet Herbs Celery & Oil . 5,, 25 Mustard Vegetables Pipes & To- bacco . 2,, 50 Crockery, ware, Glasses, Knives & Forks 5
262
HISTORY OF MILTON.
On the following Sabbath, in the morning, Mr. Mckean preached from the text, Jer. i. 6: "Then said I, Ah! Lord God, behold, I cannot speak, for I am a child." And in the afternoon on the text, Acts xx. 24.
He entered upon his ministry under the most favorable auspices, and was beloved and honored by most of those to whom he ministered. But the times were troublous. Political lines were sharply drawn. Not unfrequently members of the same family were arrayed against each other in bitter opposi- tion. The youthful pastor was a pronounced and decided Federalist; 1 he was positive in his views and sharp in his rebuke of all who opposed him. He was full of wit and merriment, and yet utterly fearless in asserting and maintaining what seemed to him right and just; while at the same time a dis- cerning and cultivated understanding in a measure chastened the passions with which nature had fired him.
As a consequence some of his hearers of opposite opinions became impatient and restive under his pointed preaching. Thus the young man, naturally of a delicate physical organiza- tion, overborne by vexatious cares and prostrated by exhaustive labors, was forced to seek relief by a temporary absence.
April 7, 1803, we find the following record : -
A fast to-day, no meeting, Mr. McKean is so unwell.
During the winters of 1803-4 he visited Savannah, Ga., and passed six months in that salubrious climate, preaching during his absence on one occasion only, " which gave great satisfaction to the people." Returning from the South to his Milton parish in the summer of 1804, still feeble, he resumed his duties here, and again attempted to meet the requisition made upon him as pastor. The result was entire prostration. He was compelled to relinquish his charge, and after a ministry of about seven years he was dismissed, Sept. 30, 1804.
2 July 15, and Aug. 12, Mr. Mckean preached in Milton. Aug. 26 he prayed at Sacrament. Sept. 30, Mr. Mckean preached from Num. 6. 24, a farewell sermon.
Oct. 13, 1804. A day of fasting and prayer on account of separation of Mr. Mckean from the church.
1 It is said that Dr. McKcan wore a black Federal cockade on his hat, and when he entered his pulpit was careful to place his hat in sight with the cockade turned toward the congregation. The Democrats in the choir induced Elisha Field, who seldom attended church, to put his hat, with a white cockade on it, over the clock in front of the gallery. Of course this political opposition in the church attracted attention. On one occasion the Federal chorister reached over and knocked the Democrat's hat to the floor, when a Fed- eralist below kicked it out of doors.
2 Hannah Vose's Diary.
263
MINISTERS OF MILTON.
Dr. Lothrop of Boston, preached from 1 Thes. 5. 8-13. Dr. Elliot and Rev. Mr. Chickering, of West Dedham, prayed.
PARSONAGE.
In 1798 a parsonage was built on Canton avenue, opposite the Amory place, now owned by Col. H. S. Russell, and here Mr. McKean lived during his ministry.
Dr. Gile took possession of the parsonage when he moved to Milton, and finally purchased it of the parish. After the de- cease of Mrs. Gile it was sold by the heirs of Lewis Tucker, who married Mary P. Gile, to Col. B. S. Rotch, in whose possession the estate still remains.
The house was three stories high, finished on the outside in stucco. It was taken down by Mr. Rotch in 1873. The cellar still remains, marking the residence of two of Milton's pastors.
DR. MCKEAN'S FAMILY.
Mr. McKean married Amy Swasey, of Ipswich, in 1799, and left three sons, - Joseph William, Henry Swasey, and John George. They all graduated at Harvard College, and were young men of uncommon promise and ability. They died in early manhood.
One of his daughters married Joseph E. Worcester, LL.D., and another, Charles Folsom, of Cambridge.
CHURCH RECORDS.
Mr. McKean gathered up the scattered fragments of Milton Church Records, and rescued them from oblivion. But for him they would have been irrevocably lost.
With him commenced the first systematic entries of the doings of the church, and from his day, with some exceptions, the records have been fairly kept.
SUBSEQUENT LIFE,
After leaving Milton Mr. McKean passed a year at the West Indies, where his health was greatly improved. He returned and engaged in teaching in Boston, and also represented Bos- ton in the Legislature for two sessions.
He declined an appointment as Professor of Mathematics at Harvard College, and also a call to succeed Dr. West as pastor of Hollis-street Church, Boston. Invited a second time by Har-
264
HISTORY OF MILTON.
vard to a professorship, doubtless more congenial with his inclinations, he accepted, and was inaugurated as the successor of Hon. John Quincy Adams, in the department of Oratory, in the fall of 1809.
He was honored with the degrees of LL.D., conferred upon him by Princeton College, and of D.D., by Alleghany College of Pennsylvania.
His career at Harvard was brief, but bright and glorious ; warned by failing health, he determined upon a visit to Ha- vana, but immediately on his arrival there "he was seized with a general debility, accompanied by alarming symptoms, from which he not even obtained temporary relief. He was kindly invited to the house of Mr. Samuel Curson, formerly of Boston, from whose family he received those affectionate and unremitted attentions which were calculated to soothe and com- fort his last hours." He died at Havana in 1818, at the early age of forty-two years.1
Rev. N. L. Frothingham, in a funeral sermon, at Boston, April 19, 1818, gives the following estimate of his character : -
Dr. Mckean was distinguished by a quickness, an ardour and intense- ness of feeling, which combined, as it was, with the greatest delicacy of perception, an uncommon sweetness of temper, and a tender heart, made him eminently useful in everything to which his attention was directed, and to his friends rendered him inexpressibly dear.
That his was a soul of fire is sufficiently understood even by those who know him but by fame; but none except such as were familiar with him can appreciate those mild and kind qualities of his which tempered the bolder, keener constituents of his decisive character. He lies in a strange land. The last rites of respect and kindness were offered at his sick-bed and his tomb by the hands of those on whom he had only the common claims of humanity.
God reward them for all the affectionate sympathy and ceaseless care with which they endeavored to supply the place of the absent ones who were nearest to his heart, and smoothe his descent to the narrow house.
1 By the grave of Dr. MeKean stands a monumental stone bearing the following in- scription : -
Reliquiae hic repostae sunt JOSEPH MCKEAN V.D.M. S.T.D. et L.L.D. Rhet, et Orat. Professoris in Universitate Harvardiana Cantabrigiae Nov. Anglorum Ætatis 42 Alieni ! Parcite huic lapidi saero ! Cineres honoraté Viri celeberrimi, optimi carissimi.
265
MINISTERS OF MILTON.
WORKS.
Dr. McKean1 published six sermons; Memoir of Rev. John Eliot, S. T. D; addition to Wood's Continuation of Dr. Gold- smith's "History of England."
REV. SAMUEL GILE.
After a vacancy of two years and four months, Rev. Samuel Gile, of Plaistow, N.H., was ordained, Feb. 18, 1807. Rev. Mr. Kendall preached from Rev. ii. 10: "Be thou faithful unto death and I will give you a crown of life." Rev. Mr. Wads- worth, of Danvers, gave the charge, and Rev. Mr. Bates, of Ded- ham, the right hand of fellowship.
Mr. Gile's first sermons on the Sabbath after ordination were on the text, John xxi. 16.
Mr. Gile was born in Plaistow, July 23, 1780 ; graduated at Dartmouth College, 1804, and married Mary Henley White,
1 The following lines written at the time of his death have been found among the papers of one of his old Milton admirers : -
ON THE DEATH OF PROF. MCKEAN.
Oh, mourn not for the good who die, For goodness has a home on high ; And tears which fall when saints depart Refresh religious soil, the heart.
Oh, weep not that the staff is gone Which aged Israel rested on. Oh, weep not that he sleeps afar, - The world is one wide Machpelah.
Oh, weep not that his body must Be trodden down like common dust. But weep that there remain behind No traces of the mighty mind.
How few who lived have dared to think, How few who think have dared to do ! Oh, weep, then, that a soul should sink Who boldly thought and acted too.
How seldom rays that reach the earth Bear impress of their heavenly birth ; Then who from sorrow ean refrain That Heaven absorbs such rays again ?
How few created minds have soared Above the height before explored ! How few will reach the height he dared, Oh, weep then that he was not spared !
Go, mark the comet's bright career, And trace it's track when it is gone, Say when another will appear And you may bid us eease to mourn.
266
HISTORY OF MILTON.
daughter of Isaac White, Esq., Salem. He was the second son of Major Ezekiel Gile, of Plaistow, an officer of good reputation for bravery in the Revolutionary war. Ezekiel Gile was born in Plaistow, and his father was a descendant of Samuel Gile, one of the ninety-one grantees of the town of Newbury, Mass., and one of the company who, with Rev. Mr. Ward, settled the town of Haverhill in 1640.
" Old Master Gile," once known in Essex County as a veteran school-teacher, a large, portly gentleman, the terror of all the · urchins in the region, was an older brother of Dr. Gile.
Like his brother, Dr. Gile was possessed of stately propor- tions, and by his courtly manners and dignified presence in- spired attention and respect.
He was distinguished for his appropriate, perspicuous, and affectionate exhibition of divine truth. He applied the gospel to the daily duties and minute concerns of life. He was gifted with peculiar power, richness, and fervor in prayer, bearing his congregation from earth to heaven, into the very presence of the all-seeing, all-gracious God. He was prudent and pacific, and thus was able for twenty-seven years to hold in check and control the agitations threatening the church and town.
CONTROVERSIES.
Two years after the settlement of Mr. Gile the controversy between Rev. John Codman and the Second Church in Dor- chester commenced, and resulted, after a long and grievous strife, in the separation of disaffected members from the church and pastor.
Eleven years later the First Church in Dedham experienced a similar conflict. The elements of controversy and the leaven of change were working in many towns of our Commonwealth.
As early as 1818 the question of doctrinal belief began to be agitated in the town of Milton. July 4, 1828, the First Uni- tarian Society was formed; it withdrew from the First Church and parish of Milton, and met in the Academy building, under the ministration of Rev. Charles C. Sewall. It consisted of members of the old parish who were not edified by Mr. Gile's preaching, and were dissatisfied with the stand he took on the question of ministerial exchanges. After a time this move was deemed unwise by those who had engaged in it, and the First Unitarian Society was dissolved. The members who had with- drawn resumed their membership in the old parish, and pro- ceeded to assert and defend their rights as the majority.
From year to year the struggle continued, and finally resulted
266
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P. Gile
267
MINISTERS OF MILTON.
in the dissolution of the pastoral relation between the parish and Dr. Gile, on the 20th of January, 1834.
At this time all the members of the church, with the excep- tion of one lady, and a respectable minority of the parish fol- lowed the pastor to another place of worship.
On the following Sabbath, Jan. 26, Rev. Mr. Sewall, of Med- field, preached in the church, and Dr. Cogswell, of Dedham, preached at the parsonage of Dr. Gile, where, also, services were held on the next Sabbath. Afterwards they removed to the Stone Church, East Milton.
NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
Steps were soon taken for the erecting of a new place of wor- ship in the central part of the town.
Several acres of land east of the old church were donated by Nathaniel Tucker, and by the persistent efforts of the homeless flock, encouraged by the generous help of sympathizing friends, the meeting-house which now stands east of the old church was erected and dedicated free of debt.
DEATH OF DR. GILE.
Dr. Gile continued as pastor of the church now styled "The First Evangelical Church," in the new and pleasant house of worship to the completion of which he had so largely contrib- uted by his wise and persevering efforts, till the day of his death, Sunday, Oct. 16, 1836. In the morning of that day he was assisted by the Rev. Samuel Bumsted, who preached from the text, John xiv. 2: "In my Father's house there are many mansions." Dr. Gile participated in the service, offering prayer and reading the Scriptures, apparently in perfect strength and health.
During the interval of worship he was stricken with apoplexy, and before the hour of the afternoon service his life was ended.
Henceforth we have to record the progress of the two churches ranged side by side, and exerting their influence in the same community.
RESULTS OF DIVISION.
After much controversy, and many fruitless attempts at a division of the ministerial lands and church property, the whole passed into the possession of the parish, on the grounds that, in law, a church is a nonentity, and has no power to hold property.
268
HISTORY OF MILTON.
This position was fortified by the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of the Dedham church, where the protesting two-thirds of the church members seceded and demanded the church property.
It was laid down in this decision : -
That a church separating from a parish for any cause, lost its existence ; that never in Massachusetts had a church a legal existence apart from a parish.
The law knew of parishes as corporations, and deacons as corporations, and ministers as corporations ; but the church proper was no corporation or quasi corporation, and could not, therefore, hold property apart from the parish, whatever its faith.
As is natural in such a case more or less ill feeling prevailed, and the lines of separation were sharply drawn. This, however, gradually passed away. In 1850 there was scarcely a remnant of this feeling manifest. The pastors of the churches were friends and brothers, and for forty years have labored together in the common field of duty with the utmost harmony and cordiality, each in his own way, but never in conflict one with the other.
This kindly fraternal feeling increases with every passing year; so that if the scenes of fifty years ago were to be reënacted to-day, governed by the prevailing sentiment of the day, there would be no difference in judgment or feeling regarding the financial interest that then divided and perplexed the com- munity.
REV. BENJAMIN HUNTOON.
Rev. Benjamin Huntoon received a unanimous call, and was installed pastor of the First Congregational Church and Society, Oct. 15, 1834.
Introductory prayer and reading of the Scriptures, Rev. George Putnam, of Roxbury.
Prayer of installation by Rev. Peter Whitney, of Quincy.
Sermon by Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, D.D., of Dor- chester.
Charge by Rev. John Pierpont, of Boston.
Right hand of fellowship by Rev. Francis Cunningham, of Dorchester.
Address to the people by Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., D.D., of Cambridge.
Concluding prayer by Rev. John White, of West Dedham.
One of the first acts after the induction of the pastor was the formation and announcement of a church.
The creed to which the signatures of the members are affixed is recorded on blank leaves attached to a copy of the New Testament belonging to the church.
269
MINISTERS OF MILTON.
Dec. 6, 1835. The old church, having been turned around and thoroughly repaired, was reopened and dedicated to the service of Almighty God.
Rev. William P. Lunt, of Quincy, and Rev. Orestes Brownson, of Canton, assisted Mr. Huntoon in the services.
The pastorate of Mr. Huntoon continued only for the short term of two years and eight months, when he was dismissed June 20, 1837, at his own request, to accept a call from the church in Cincinnati.
Mr. Huntoon went from Milton to Cincinnati, Rev. Ephraim Peabody from Cincinnati to New Bedford, and Rev. Joseph Angier from New Bedford to Milton. Mr. Huntoon died in Canton, April 19, 1864.
REV. JOSEPH ANGIER
received a unanimous call to become pastor of this church, Aug. 7, 1837, and was installed Sept. 13, 1837.
Rev. Caleb Stetson, of Medford, preached the installation sermon. Mr. Angier remained with the church for eight years. He was a man of rare qualities of heart and mind, genial, sympathizing, full of kindly feeling, and possessed of a high degree of culture.
His pulpit services were fervent and attractive, characterized by a graceful and vigorous utterance, at times rising into fervid eloquence. He possessed a latent power drawn out by rare and special exigencies and occasions.
In a company of townsmen, who were discussing the abilities of the clergymen in the two churches, the opinion was advanced that Mr. C. would surpass Mr. A. on special occasions.
"Never," was the reply, "if Mr. A. knows it."
Mr. Angier's connection with the society was dissolved, June 22, 1845, at his own request, and against the wishes of the people.
He was succeeded by the
REV. JOHN H. MORISON,
who was installed Jan. 18, 1846, and whose long and useful pastorate remained unbroken for nearly forty years.
After the continuous and faithful labor in the church and in the town of nearly twenty-five years, a part of which was passed in feeble health, he was relieved by the kindness of the church in associating with him, March 2, 1871,
270
HISTORY OF MILTON.
REV. FRANCIS T. WASHBURNE,
a young man of excellent abilities and noble aspirations. His career was a short one ; scarcely had he begun the work ere the Master called him. He died in office, Dec. 29, 1873.
REV. FREDERICK FROTHINGHAM
was installed as associate pastor, Oct. 8, 1876.
He is still laboring in this vineyard, where the Master has placed him.
In 1886 Dr. Morison resigned his position as senior pastor, and on the 23d of June Roderick Stebbins was ordained as junior pastor with Rev. Frederick Frothingham. Rev. T. C. Williams preached the sermon ; Rev. Horatio Stebbins, D.D., father of the pastor elect, gave the charge, and Rev. Mr. Froth- ingham the right hand of fellowship. Henceforth the field is to be occupied by this united pastorate. May the reward of the faithful laborers be theirs !
FIRST EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
At the death of Dr. Gile a call was extended to Rev. Samuel W. Cozzens, then pastor of the church in Marblehead, to become pastor of this church. Mr. Cozzens was installed, May 24, 1837 ; he built the house now owned by Mr. G. S. Cushing. When he left Milton it was sold to Mr. Baldwin, March 25, 1848.
He was a faithful and earnest laborer, and rich blessings descended upon the people during his ministry.
The events of these latter years are fresh in the memory of the living, and need not be recorded in full on the historic page.
Dr. Cozzens remained pastor of the church for ten years, and then, at his own request, was dismissed, May 2, 1847, and removed to other fields of labor.
In the summer of 1874 he left his parish in Plymouth, Mass., for the rest of a few weeks, and came to Milton, where he was prostrated by sickness from which he never rallied.
He remained here, in the hospitable home of relatives, until a few weeks before his death, which occurred Aug. 7, 1875, and finally was borne hither for sepulture, and now lies en- tombed in our cemetery, among the people of his first love.
After a lapse of about three years, during which time Rev. J. P. Leslie and several other clergymen performed the duties of the office, a call was extended to
271
MINISTERS OF MILTON.
REV. ALBERT K. TEELE.
Mr. Teele came to Milton from his pastorate at Naugatuck, Conn., in May, 1850, and removed his family hither in Septem- ber following.
He was installed on the 18th of December, 1850.
Rev. Dr. Kirk, of Boston, preached the sermon.
Rev. Dr. Baker gave the charge to the pastor.
Rev. Dr. J. M. Means, the right hand of fellowship.
Rev. Dr. R. S. Storrs, the charge to the people.
Mr. Teele remained pastor of the church for twenty-five years, when he desired to be relieved of his duties, and preached his twenty-fifth anniversary sermon, Dec. 18, 1875.
Rev. W. C. Reed, Rev. W. W. Parker, and other clergymen occupied the field until
REV. CALVIN G. HILL,
the present honored pastor, was installed, Feb. 8, 1882, with Mr. Teele as pastor emeritus.
STONE CHURCH.
The Stone Church at East Milton was built in 1826 by the Second Congregational (Unitarian) Society of Milton.
It was subsequently occupied by several different denomina- tions.
It was to this building that the First Evangelical Church repaired in 1834, after the separation from the old town church.
The Methodists had possession of it for a time, Rev. Edward Otheman occupying the pulpit for two or three years.
Afterward Rev. Mr. Witherell preached there for a season ; during his administration the Second Evangelical Church was formed.
The Stone Church was a well-proportioned building, of grace- ful, solid architecture, and pleasing to the eye. It might have stood for a century, an ornament to the thriving village; but it was unused for a long period, during which time it was greatly neglected. The roof partially fell in; it stood a ruin for years, and was finally taken down.
THE SECOND EVANGELICAL CHURCH.
The Second Evangelical Church of Milton, of eighteen members, was organized Nov. 9, 1843. They held services in
272
HISTORY OF MILTON.
the Stone Church for a time; afterward they occupied Mr. Babcock's hall.
June 18, 1846, the Second Evangelical Congregational Par- ish was organized and the church edifice erected. This was during the ministry of Rev. W. M. Harding.
Rev. Samuel Cozzens, after leaving the First Church, preached here from the fall of 1848 till April, 1851.
Rev. Edwin Leonard was ordained and installed pastor of the church, March 25, 1852.
Rev. Mr. Wheeler was acting pastor for about two years.
The pastor of the First Evangelical Church, Rev. Mr. Teele, had charge of this church in connection with the First, com- mencing afternoon services April 30, 1865, and continuing till Dec. 19, 1872.
Then followed Rev. Hilary Bygrave and several others.
Rev. George P. Gilman, the last resident clergyman, was with the church for three years or more.
It is now without a settled pastor.
THE LOWER MILLS BAPTIST CHURCH OF DORCHESTER AND MILTON.
This church, having been a mission enterprise for two years, was organized Nov. 13, 1882, with twenty-five members, and Nathan Hunt was ordained as pastor.
Mr. Hunt was born in Scott's Woods, Milton. He is remem- bered with great affection as connected with the Sabbath School of the First Evangelical Church in his boyhood. The pastor of this church has followed him with the watchful interest of a sincere friend in his education and progress onward to the place he now occupies.
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