USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The history of the First Baptist church of Boston (1665-1899) > Part 15
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1 "Church Record." 2 " Boston Evening Post," April 3.
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The church immediately asked Elder John Callen- der, of Newport, and Elder Edward Uphamn, of Spring- field, to preach on the next Lord's Day. Mr. Upham was asked "to preach to us one part of the day on Each Sabbath for three months," and his pay to be taken "out of the Weekly Contribusion," and the re- mainder of the weekly contribution was to be paid "to the ministers widow for the support of herself and Family." This arrangement, however, provided for but one-half of the Lord's Day. The church then appointed a committee, consisting of Deacon Byles, Deacon Drowne, and Brother Proctor,
to wait on the Severall ministers of this town whose names are under written and Request of them In the name of the Church that Each of them be pleased to preach to us one part of the Lords Daye alternately untill they have preached once round. viz. Rev- erend Doctor Colman. Mr Cooper. Doc. Sewall. Mr Foxcroft. Mr Thacher. Mr Gray. Mr Prince. Mr Webb. Mr Gee. Mr Wellsted. Mr Checkley. Mr Mather. Mr Byles. Mr Hooper. Mr Chauncy.1
Not all of these were pastors. Some of them were teaching elders in their respective churches. The fact that this invitation was extended and accepted, shows how great a change had taken place in the at- titude of the Congregational churches toward this church. It was less than seventy years since the per- secution had been severe, almost beyond endurance, and even at this time Baptists were greatly harassed in other parts of Massachusetts. But in Boston the genial character of the Callenders, father and son, to- gether with the large benefactions to Harvard College
1 " Church Record."
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by that generous Baptist merchant, Mr. Hollis, had won fraternal recognition.
Other causes had indeed contributed to this result. The Church of England had established itself in Boston under the powerful patronage of the king. The large increase of population by immigration had brought a miscellaneous assortment of people from every quarter, and they could not easily be held to the strict rule of the early Puritanism. There had been a very marked lessening of the spiritual fervor which characterized the first settlers. The Puritan churches were already under the baneful influence of the "Half-way Covenant," and were no longer the same in spirit as those of the pristine days. The influence of wealth-getting in a new world, and the limitless possibilities of trade and discovery, operated to relax the strenuousness of the earlier Puritan life. The temper of the times would not allow the old-time severities. Several exemption laws had been passed by the legislature of Massachusetts, but had been so adroitly worded as to make them in their actual working alinost as odious and hateful as the severest laws. Nevertheless, neighborly relations with Bap- tists were growing, and the time when they could be thrust into jail for conscience' sake was almost gone forever. The death of Elder Callender brought out some fine exhibitions of the new fraternal spirit. It is not too much to say that he himself in his character and work was the largest factor in bringing about these changed and happier conditions. His name deserves a place of reverence and of great honor among Baptists.
CHAPTER XI
ORDINATION OF JEREMIAH CONDY. THE WHIT- FIELD REVIVAL. CHURCH IN SPRINGFIELD. SCHISM AND ORGANIZATION OF SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH. SAMUEL STILL- MAN. BROWN UNIVERSITY. WARREN ASSOCIATION.
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"THREE persons had been propounded for baptism " when the pastor was ill and unable to baptize them. In July, 1738, Rev. John Callender, of Newport, was present in Boston, and the church by a formal vote requested him to administer baptism, to which he consented. They "were Decently Baptized with great Solemnity, a very great Number of Spectators being Present, and to all appearances were much affected."1 The memories of the lately deceased pas- tor and the sacredness of the symbol of baptism were well calculated to make a great solemnity. It was natural that the church should turn to Rev. John Cal- lender and hope to make him their pastor, but he was too firmly settled in Newport to be readily moved. Mr. Upham continued to preach for them until August 20, when Mr. Jeremiah Condy arrived from London. The church immediately sent him con- gratulations on his safe arrival and desired him to preach to them on one part of the Lord's Day.
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On October 12, 1738, at a church meeting, "it was unanimously voted by eighteen Bretheren then present that the Revrend M' Jeremiah Condy be Desired to accept the Pastoral Charge over this Church." 1 December 24 "M" Condy Publickly declared to the Church and Congregation that he did accept the Churches Call." 1
1 " Church Record."
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The church at once made arrangements for his settlement, and following the precedent set in the ordination of Mr. Callender, invited " Rev. M' Apple- ton of Cambridge M' Wi" Welsted M' Will Hooper and M' John Callender of Newport to assist & offici- ate att the Ordination of our Elected Pastor."1 The letter sent to Cambridge was as follows :
Boston January 24. 1738. To the Church of Christ in Cam- bridge under the pastoral care of Revd M' Nathanael Appleton. Hond & beloved in the Lord.
The Church of Christ in Boston lately under the care of the Revd M' Elisha Callender deceased, having unanimously made choice of Mr Jeremiah Condy to take upon him the pastoral charge of this Church, of which M' Condy has declared his ac- ceptance,-This is therefore. Hond & beloved Brn to request of you to send your Revª Elder & Messengers to assist at ye ordina- tion of our Said Elected Pastor on the Second Wednesday in February next-A request of the like tenoar with this we have made to the Churches in Boston under the care of ye Revª Messrs Welsted & Gray, and Mr Wm Hooper & to ye Church in Newport under ye care of the Revd M' John Callender, Hond & Beloved, We heartily wish you all Spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus the glorious head of the Church, We are in behalf and by order of the Church your affectionate Brethren in the Gospel
SHEM DROWNE Deacon JOHN CALLENDER JAMES BOUND BENJ LANDON JOHN PROCTOR. 1
These Congregational churches, together with the Newport Baptist Church, constituted the ordaining council. At the ordination of Mr. Callender none but Congregational churches had been invited.
1 "Church Record."
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The council was organized Feb. 14, 1738, "at the house of Brother Skinner Russell," by the choice of Mr. Appleton as moderator,
and having agreed upon the public proceedings of the day ad- journed to the meeting-house, when the ordination was carried out in the following manner :- The Revª M" Gray (Mr Welsted not being present being very much indisposed) began with prayer. . Mr Callender preached from I Thessalonians 5 : 12. 13. Mr Appleton (chosen moderator of the council) gave the charge, and Mr Hooper the right hand of Fellowship.1 ,
The sermon by Mr. Callender was by request of the church published.
The Baptist Church in Swansea felt aggrieved by the action of this church in inviting Congregational churches to the council, and sent a letter of protest, in which they say :
We shall be sorry to hear that you make use of, or improve, other ministers of other persuasions in the ordination of him whom you have chosen for that work : for we believe it to be not agreeable to your own principles : for we suppose you do not look upon them as persons regularly baptized, and, for that reason, not qualified to ordain your minister : for we do not find by the rules of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ that any were received into the Christian Church before baptism, much less to ordain others to the work of the ministry. Therefore we pray you to take it into your serious consideration before you proceed : for if you proceed in that way, it will be matter of grief to us, and we be- lieve to the whole Church, and particularly to our brothers and sisters in Providence. 2
How much of this protest was due to doctrinal strictness, and how much to the fact that the Newport
1 " Church Record."
2 Backus, Vol. II., p. 33.
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Church was invited and the Swansea and Providence churches were not, it is now impossible to tell.
The protest did not avail. Mr. Condy had been resident in Newport in 1730, and by request had preached to the church there. In February, 1731, he was elected pastor of the church, but "some were very much dissatisfied,"1 and he did not remain very long. He became one of the founders of the Literary and Philosophical Society in Newport, which was the precursor of the Redwood Library. He was reputed to be an Arminian in his views, but it would appear that he was only lukewarm in regard to high Calvin- istic views. He began his pastorate here with the fairest of prospects, but the church did not prosper under his ministry. He seems to have been a man of unblemished reputation. He married Sarah, daugh- ter of Deacon Shem Drowne.
In October, 1739, the church voted " to have a lec- ture on the Wednesday (at 3 o'clock) before the first Lord's Day in every month." It also discreetly voted that "when the subscriptions for the Support of this Lecture fail, or there be a general neglect of attend- ance at it, i. e. by ye members of the Church in and about Town, the Elder of the Church may be entirely at Liberty to proceed with the Lecture or not." 2 By this arrangement the pastor would not be compelled to lecture to empty seats. What they had feared came to pass, for in October, 1742, -
the Brethren taking into Consideration the very thin appearance at the Lecture, voted that the Lecture be dropped, and desired
1 Comer's "Diary," p. 115.
2 "Church Record."
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the Elder to meet the Ch. at the meeting-house upon Friday 3 oclock before every communion day, to assist them in their prepa- rations for the Sacrament of ye Supper by prayer and a Discourse suitable to the occasion, to which he consented. 1
This preparatory lecture or discourse was long ob- served in New England, and is observed even now in many places ; but in recent years has given place to the covenant meeting which is commonly observed in Baptist churches.
In the autumn of 1740 Rev. George Whitfield landed at Newport and began to preach wherever op- portunity offered. The "great revival " sprang up and spread to every part of New England. It was met by fierce opposition in many of the orthodox churches. The two colleges, Harvard and Yale, by official action arrayed themselves against it. Dr. Charles Chauncy, the leading minister of Boston, wrote a volume in opposition. The legislature of Connecticut passed laws intended to shut Whitfield and all other itinerant evangelists out of the State. Pamphlets flew thick and fast. Pulpits sought to ig- nore the movement, and ministers privately dissuaded their members from attending the meetings. But the fiercer the opposition the more the flame of revival spread. · It seemed to sweep everything before it. It was not a revival in the churches but affected un- churched people. The climax was reached when Whitfield preached on Boston Common to twenty thousand people. New England was mightily stirred not only by the revival, but also by the controversies which it evoked. It has been estimated that between thirty and forty thousand persons were converted
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within the two years of his ministry. The term "New Lights," given somewhat in derision, was ap- plied to the movement. Many converts not finding a welcome in the orthodox churches established new churches, some of which soon became Baptist.
Unfortunately the pastors of the Newport Church and of this church did not sympathize with the New Lights movement. Their opposition resulted in the failure of these churches to profit by the great revival. Few new members were added during these two nota- ble years, and in general there was a distinct decline in numbers and influence in this church. It soon be- came engrossed with the work of discipline, for many of its members refused to walk with the church or to return to its fellowship. The preaching of Mr. Condy had much to do with this state of affairs. The mem- bers who sympathized with the New Lights revival found no encouragement, nor even tolerance, from their pastor. This led inevitably to the organization of a second Baptist church in Boston, with which the more aggressive and evangelistic members united, and the First Church still further declined in numbers and in power.
Mr. Condy was, however, abundant in labors in Boston and elsewhere. In March, 1740, several breth- ren in Bellingham sent a letter requesting him, to- gether with some of his brethren, to make them a visit, and preach to them and administer the Lord's Supper. In April he visited them, "and two dis- courses were preached upon ye Lords day in the pub- lic meeting house of said town."1 He did not admin-
1 " Church Record."
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ister the Supper but referred the matter to his own church for further consideration. The Baptists in Bellingham had organized themselves into a church, but he did not find their condition sufficiently satis- factory to warrant his recognition of them. He went again, September, 1741, and baptized five persons, and again in April, 1743, for the same purpose, and there- after visited them occasionally.
August 4, 1740, the Baptists in Springfield, many of whom were members of this church, wrote request- ing a separate church organization. They requested that the pastor and messengers might be sent to help them "ordain the Rev M' Edward Upham whom we have unanimously made choice of to be our pastor." 1 They also invited to the council the Baptist churches in Newport, Rehoboth, and New London.
Springfield Oct 14. 1740 at the house of Mr Lamberton Cooper the Church of Boston and the Church of Newport under the pas- toral care of Mr. John Callender, being met by their Elders and messengers, and formed into a Council, of which Mr John Callen- der was chosen moderator, after Solemn prayer for the divine blessing on the important affair going to be transacted, the request of the Brethren of the Baptist denomination resident in and about Springfield to the church in Boston requesting their dismission for ye end aforesaid was read, and an attested Copy of the Vote of the church in Boston requesting yr dismission was produced-upon which the following persons appeared and Signified their desire to be dismissed for ye purpose abovementioned, namely.
EDWARD UPHAM VICTORY SYKES
DANIEL LEONARD
JOHN LEONARD JOSEPH BALE
MARTHA LEONARD
ELIAKIM COOLEY
JOHN REMINGTON
SARAH LEONARD
EBENEZER LEONARD
ABEL LEONARD
MERCY BALE
JOSEPH ELY
LAMBERTON COOPER RACHAEL LEONARD 1
1 "Church Record."
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At 10 o'clock the next day they met at the house of Ebenezer Leonard, and Mr. Condy in behalf of the council gave them the hand of fellowship; by re- quest of the church, Mr. Callender gave the charge, and Mr. Maxwell, from Newport, offered prayer. After this they
proceeded to Rev M' Hopkins his meeting house, which was chearfully lent on this occasion, and Mr Upham was solemnly separated to the work of ye Gospel Ministry and the pastoral Care of the Baptist Ch. in Springfield 1
Nov. 4, 1741, Mr. Condy went to Brimfield to assist in the ordination of Mr. Ebenezer Moulton, their pastor-elect. This was the first Baptist church organ- ized in Hampshire County (organized 1736), and Mr. Moulton was its first pastor. In this, as in the Spring- field Council, only Baptists were represented. The precedent established in Boston was not followed.
At a church meeting, Nov. 12, 1742, the minister gave notice that he had a letter dated Sept. 29, 1742, which was signed by James Bound, Jolin Dabney, Thomas Boucher, John Proctor, and directed to him and the church. They declared that Mr. Condy and the members of the church had departed from the original faith of the founders, and that the preaching had become "so intermixed with Arminianism," that it was "like the high Arminian clergy." They de- manded categorical answers as to the minister's views on "eternal Election, Original Sin, Grace in Conver- sion, Justification by Faith, the Saints Perseverance," and declared that
1 " Church Record."
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their godly ancestors, the first founders of said church were strict Calvinists as to the points aforementioned, nor would they by any means, as we can prove, suffer a Free Willer, or Arminian, if they knew a person so to be, to join with the church. 1
The church voted unanimously that this letter should not be read and that no action should be taken. The minister pocketed the letter and the church inade strenuous efforts to win these brethren back to its fellowship. Messengers were sent to them, but all in vain. Sister Ruth Bound, when the messenger went to her, answered that "that Text, 'Come out from among them and be ye Separate,' had been much impressed upon her mind," 1 and she would not return to the church. Brother John Proc- tor was admonished, " but he was very stiff, and among other things which he said, asserted that they were all a parcel of Arminians."2 Mr. Proctor was a somewhat noted schoolmaster of the town, which may have had something to do with his being " very stiff " in his doctrinal assertiveness.
They were all finally "Suspended from Commun- ion " in 1743, and with others organized themselves, July 27, 1743, without the consent of this church, into an independent body. They inet in the house of Mr. James Bound at the corner of Sheafe and Snowhill Streets, where they continued to worship about three years. They then removed to the schoolhouse of Mr. Proctor, near the corner of Tremont and Court Streets, and in March, 1746, met in the new meeting-house which they had built in Baldwin Place. It is now known as the Warren Avenue Baptist Church. For
1 Letter in "Church Archives."
2 "Church Record."
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inany years they called themselves the First Baptist Church of Boston, because they claimed that the old church had so far departed from Baptist doctrine as held by the founders as to have lost right to the name. This claim was never made good. It is evident now that this church had not essentially changed its faith. Its leading members remained stanch Baptists throughout Mr. Condy's ministry and loyally sup- ported their pastor. It is doubtful if even he had changed as much as was charged. He did not sympa- thize with the "New Lights," nor did Jolin Callender of Newport, whose Baptist orthodoxy was never ques- tioned. Beyond this there is nothing to prove that the church did not hold the faith of the founders.
The new church called Mr. Ephraim Bound, son of James Bound, to be their pastor, but found it difficult to obtain his ordination. Alinost all of the older Baptist churches had been opposed to the "New Lights" movement and were prejudiced against the new church. I do not find that they applied to this church for assistance, but doubtless they would have been refused if they had applied. Finally, with the aid of Elder Wightman of Connecticut and Elder Greene of Leicester, Mr. Bound was ordained Sep- tember, 1743, in Warwick. The new church grew rapidly in members and zeal, so that it numbered about one hundred and twenty members in 1765, when its first pastor was taken from them by death, while the First Church declined until it had not more than sixty members.
Feb. 17, 1750, Mr. Condy informed the church that he was unable to support his family,
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that the weekly contributions therefor had been lessening for some considerable time, and he was several hundred pounds in debt for his necessary support, and inasmuch as there was no great proba- bility of his receiving sufficient from them and the congregation to pay the charges of his family, the Church and Congregation being small, the times being difficult and the Country Brethren doing nothing towards the maintenance of the ministry, it was necessary for him to relinquish his place and endeavor in some other way to procure a Living. 1
The church proposed to send word to all the country brethren and to see what could be done. Twenty-one of them were notified, but only five came to the meeting. Nevertheless a special subscription was made for the minister, and lie consented to re- main one year longer. He did remain fourteen years longer, but the records are so scant that there are 110 means of knowing how he maintained his family.
" March II. 1759 This Day the congregation be- gan to sing without the Psalms being read, Line by Line, it being found most agreeable, tho the Church did not pass any vote respecting it."1 This was a great innovation, and doubtless might not have car- ried if it had been put to a vote, but the congregation finding it "most agreeable " never again went back to lining out the psalmn.
Fast Day, April 3, 1760, the church took up a "collection of 143. £s. for the sufferers by the great fire in Boston March 20."1 It would appear that tlie pastor's unsatisfactory salary was not due to the poverty of the members if they could make so large a contribution. In 1764 Mr. Condy resigned his office and lived in retirement in Boston until his
1 " Church Record."
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death in 1768. He was buried in the "Common Burying Ground." Upon his retirement a very ten- der and affectionate letter was presented to him by the church, expressing their undiminished regard for him. He had the warm attachment of his brethren. His ministry, however, had brought the church to a low state, although there were still left in it some strong and noble layınen. The additions during his ministry of twenty-six years, and covering the whole period of the great Whitfield revivals, were forty by baptism and three by letter.
Oct. 1, 1764, it was voted to sell sixteen pews which had been abandoned by the owners and pay " the Revd M' Jeremiah Condy on account of the long & great Deficiency of his Sallary."1 The sum of thirty-two pounds was realized and paid him. Fifty years before, under the conditions of a similar minis- try, the church had reached the lowest point since its organization, and God graciously raised up to be their pastor that eminent man, Rev. Elisha Callender. Again was the church favored with a pastor who proved to be the most notable one whom it has had in all its history. Aug. 21, 1764, the churchi called Rev. Samuel Stillman to be its minister. He was born in Philadelphia in February, 1737 (O. S.), and was brought up in South Carolina. His education was largely by private instructors, and was both thorough and liberal. He gave early promise of an unusual career. He was ordained in Charleston, S. C., in 1759. He received the degree of M. A. in 1760 from a college in Philadelphia, and in 1761 the
1 " Church Record."
SAMUEL STILLMAN, D. D. Minister, 1765-1807.
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same degree from Harvard College. He was received everywhere with great favor because of his unusual pulpit gifts. A change of climate becoming imperative, because of some pulmonary difficulty, he came first to New Jersey and preached two years at Bordentown. He was then invited to become associate pastor with Mr. Ephraim Bound of the Second Baptist Church in Boston, and in 1763 accepted the invitation. He continued in that relation about one year when he became the pastor of this church, Sept. 9, 1764, and continued in that office more than forty-two years, until his death, March 12, 1807.
The church voted to give him " ten dollars a week as his salary & to find him his Fire wood."1 In 1691 the salary of the minister of the First Parish Church was " 40 shillings per week, 1of fire wood per year, and the use of the ministry house." In 1726 the weekly salary had been increased to four pounds per week. The salary of Mr. Stillman was therefore re- spectable. When Mr. Thomas Baldwin was called to the Second Church in 1790, he was promised " $6 per week, the ministers house and 15 cords of wood annually." This was soon increased to twenty dol- lars per week.
Mr. Stillman had agreed to be associate pastor with Mr. Bound for one year, but it did not prove easy to arrange a satisfactory division of the pastoral duties. Some still clung to the old pastor, and a large number was greatly attracted to the eloquent young preacher. The church had very carefully pro- vided that during his life Mr. Bound should be known
1 " Church Record."
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as the senior pastor, and that he should share equally with his young associate in salary and emoluments. His honors, position, and support were so carefully guarded that those of his colleague seem to have been somewhat overlooked. It was not easy for a man of so brilliant gifts as Mr. Stillman to remain in a posi- tion of irksome subordination to a man of the most ordinary talents and acquirements. Nor was it agreeable to the crowd of friends and admirers wlio quickly gathered around him. It was not wholly easy for the old pastor to have associated with him a man of so exceptional and attractive parts as preacher and pastor, and who had won the unbounded admira- tion of all. In truth, no minister of his generation was more generally admired in Boston than Mr. Still- man. He was a man of eloquence, of culture, and of courtly breeding, in all of which things the senior pastor was lacking.
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