USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The history of the First Baptist church of Boston (1665-1899) > Part 16
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The year did not pass without some friction be- tween the friends of the two pastors. When, there- fore, at the end of his year, the First Church invited Mr. Stillman to become its pastor, lie readily ac- cepted, although not without vehement protest from the Second Church, which had hoped that he would ultimately become its sole pastor. Many members of the Second Church followed Mr. Stillman to his new charge and united with the First Church. Some of them obtained letters of dismission, and some of them did not. The breach between the two churches was greatly widened. They had never been reconciled to each other from the time of their separation. Their meeting-houses were less than a block apart. The
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First Church was on the corner of Salem and Still- man streets, and the Second was in Baldwin Place, just off from Salem Street.
Mr. Stillman was subjected to much unmerited criticism, and the unhappy feeling between the two societies ran high. There is nothing whatever to in- dicate that Mr. Stillman acted in any other than an honorable and Christian manner. The Second Church saw with chagrin when it was too late that they had lost their brilliant junior pastor. The First Church, which so long had been in a decline, entered at once on a career of great prosperity, which the fervid evan- gelistic gifts of the pastor greatly accelerated, while the Second Church as steadily declined. For some years they were unfortunate in their choice of pastors, and their history was disheartening.
In 1772 they became somewhat softened in their feeling toward Mr. Stillman, and voted that "he might preach in our meeting house," but he did not avail himself of this somewhat reluctant permission. The fourth pastor of the Second Church was Rev. Thomas Gair, who had been baptized while a youth into the First Church by Mr. Stillman. When lie was installed, in April, 1788, the pastor of the First Church was among the officiating ministers, and from that time the breach was formally healed. The two churches have had only most loving relations in all the years since that day.
In December, 1764, arrangements were consum- mated for the installation of Mr. Stillman, and the precedents set at the installations of Mr. Callender and Mr. Condy were followed. The ministers of the
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orthodox churches in Boston were invited to conduct the service. The following letter was sent to them :
To the Church of Christ in Boston under the Pastoral Care of the Revd Mr Ebenezer Pemberton. The Church of Christ in Boston under the care of the Revd M' Condy, sendeth Greeting ; Revd Honoured & Beloved, whereas our worthy Pastor the Revd Mr Jeremiah Condy who hath served us for 26 years in the Pas- toral office, inclines to resign his Care of us (which indeed we mention with affection and regret) we have with his entire appro- bation made choice of the Revd Mr Samuel Stillman to the Pastoral office amongst us : To which he hath consented : we have there- fore agreed to appoint, Wednesday the 9 of January, if the Lord will, to be the Time of his Solemn & public Installment to that ' Sacred Charge. We therefore now humbly ask the Presence of your Revd Elders & such other Delegates as you shall think proper to send with him to join in Council with the Revd Elders & mes- sengers of several other Churches in carrying on the Business of the Day. In the meantime we request your prayers & wish Grace, Mercy, & Peace may rest upon you & the whole Israel of God, thro Jesus Christ our Lord to whom be Glory forever, amen. we are your affectionate Brethren in the Gospel. Signed by Order & in Behalf of the Church Deacon SHEM DROWNE Deacon JOHN BULFINCH Deacon NATHAN HANCOCK Boston Dec. 13. 1764. THOS. CRAFTS ELIEZER CALLENDER.
P. S. The other Churches applied to, are the Church of Christ in Brattle Street, the Old North Church & the New North Church all in Boston. 1 .
For some unknown reason the Old South Church was not invited.
January 9, 1765. The Reverend Elders & Delegates met at the House of Brother Thomas Crafts, formed themselves into a
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Council, & after having adjusted everything previously necessary to the Installment, were about to proceed to the Meeting House, but finding it so full that there was not Room sufficient to accom- modate the Council, it was agreed to adjourn to the Old North Meeting House, where the Solemnity was thus conducted : The Revª Mr Cooper began with prayer, Mr Stillman preached from 2 Cor. 1. 24. The Revd Mr Pemberton gave the Charge. The Revd M' Eliot the Right Hand of Fellowship, the Revd Mr Checkley, Jun, made the last prayer & the Revd M' Condy took his leave of the Church with an affectionate Address. 1
The Old North Church, where they met, was the second church of Boston, and was then located on Middle Street, and was the nearest church.
It is a notable fact that Mr. Stillinan was asked to preach the sermon at his own installation, and is proof of the enviable position which he had already won as an eloquent preacher. The great crowd at the meeting-house shows that the long declining church with its "thin attendance" had once more be- come a center of popular interest.
It will be observed that no outside Baptist minister was invited to sit in the Council. It was doubtless due in part to the isolated position of the church, be- cause of Mr. Condy's views in regard to the New Lights movement. Mr. Stillman found himself at the beginning of his ministry confronted with several grave difficulties. The First and Second churches, located but a few rods apart, held no fraternal rela- tions. The First Church was also out of friendly relations with many other Baptist churches, and was itself in a low state. He conducted himself with singular wisdom and consecration. His ministry was
1 "Church Record."
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soon thronged with attendants. He preached the doctrines of grace after the manner of the earlier pas- tors of the church. Additions became numerous. His devout life and his courtly address gave him access to all classes of society. Fraternal relations were soon re-established with all the Baptist churches of New England. Even the Second Church could not with- stand his genial and catholic spirit. No church could have given stronger evidence of assent and gratifica- tion than was given to the preaching of Mr. Stillman. There was no dissent from his strong Calvinistic doc- trinal views. It is safe to infer that the church had not been led far astray by the more lax views of the former pastor, but that they had upheld him because of their loyalty to a pastor, and because of his many excellent personal qualities. There was the same steady loyalty toward Mr. Stillman, and during the forty-two and a half years of his pastorate there was unbroken harmony.
Oct. 17. 1764. Voted that all the Pews in the Meeting House (except the Ministerial Pews) be taxed for the support of the Gos- pel amongst us, and that the following Persons be a Committee for that Purpose, viz :
Mr JOHN BULFINCH NATHAN HANCOCK THOR CRAFTS PHILIP FREEMAN GERSHOM FLAGG.
Voted that Brother Tho' Crafts Sen' be a Standing Treasurer for the Church. 1
This is the first record of a "standing committee " that is found in our annals. It was empowered to
1 " Church Record."
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tax all pews, to collect moneys, to settle disputes about pews, to repair the meeting-house, and to meet the ex- penses of the church. Before this time the minister had been supported by the weekly contributions, and this was supplemented by special subscriptions to ineet deficiencies. The minister's salary had been very uncertain and his support precarious. The new sys- tem of a regularly paid salary and a definite financial support began with the beginning of Mr. Stillman's pastorate. It was found that the ineeting-house needed repairs to the amount of five hundred and thirty-three pounds and ten shillings (Old Tenor), and the work was done immediately. Previous to this time all financial matters had been in the care of the deacons. Since that time all the expenses for maintaining public worship have been in the care of a standing committee.
May 15, 1765, the church sent its pastor and dele- gates to aid in the recognition of a Baptist church in Haverhill. This body was gathered through the ministry of Rev. Hezekiah Smith. He had been an itinerant preacher and was in hearty sympathy with the New Lights movement. In the course of his preaching tours he came to Haverhill, and finding a number of Baptists, he organized them into a church and became their pastor. At his settlement his friends tried to secure the use of the First Parish Meeting- house at such times as it might not be in use by the regular society, but the Parish Committee refused them and vigorously lectured the twenty-two petition- ers, although some of them were leading citizens of the town, "for having itching ears and heaping one
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Anabaptist preacher upon another, and for holding evening lectures which are oftentimes attended with a confused noise and indecent gestures." They re- fused the meeting-house as "a theatre for enthusiasts and fanatics to act all their wild and extravagant tricks in." This illustrates the attitude of the ma- jority of the churches of the Standing Order toward Baptists at this period.
Mr. Smith was a graduate of Princeton in 1762, and took his M. A. degree there in 1765. He was a man of fine culture, of courtly manners, a notable gentleman, and of undoubted scholarship. He was tall and very impressive in personal appearance. He was one of the noblest Christian ministers of his generation. But all these things availed little in the face of the intense prejudice against dissent from the Congregationalist Church. He met with violent opposition. His life was often threatened and often assailed. He was stoned and mobbed, and otherwise maltreated because he had the temerity to plant Bap- tist churches within the geographical bounds of the regular parish churches. His career is a romance of dangers, of dauntless courage, of unwearied devotion, and of singular usefulness. He was a man of com- manding eloquence, of fervid piety, and of unblem- ished life. He made Haverhill the center of his work, but constantly preached over a wide extent of territory.
During the Revolutionary War he was one of the most famous of the chaplains in Washington's army. He was often in Boston, and maintained a close friendship with Mr. Stillman until his death. At
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the recognition of Mr. Smith as pastor, in November, 1766, Mr. Stillman, Mr. John Gano, of New York, and Dr. Manning, president of Rhode Island College, were the officiating ministers. In 1772 the Haverhill Church had grown to have the largest membership of any Baptist church in Massachusetts.
"Nov. 28. 1766 Voted that the Overplus of the Collection made after the Communion Service, after paying for the Bread & Wine, be deposited in the hands of the Church Treasurer for the Poor of the Church." This is the first record of a regular offer- ing for the poor, although there are constant nien- tions of assistance rendered to them. Such aid must have been through private beneficence. It was found that there were sixty pounds which under the preced- ing vote could be divided among those in need. There liad been also a few small bequests to the church for the same purpose.
In November, 1766, the deacons reported that Mrs. Condy, wife of the late pastor, explained her absence from church "that she did not like ye Doctrines that were preached by our Minister & that she shod choose her own Minister." 1 Mrs. Condy evidently had her own mind as to which of the two ministers she liked the better, and who shall blame her for loyalty to the former pastor and for her wifely devotion? The church, however, " voted her answer not satisfactory," and evidently thought that admiration for her hus- band could not take the place of hier covenant obliga- tions to the church.
In February, 1764, the legislature of Rhode Island
1 "Church Record."
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granted a charter to the Rhode Island College, now known as Brown University. This was the culmina- tion of an effort made by various Baptists in Phila- delphia, New Jersey, New York, and New England. It was established in Rhode Island because of the larger freedom of its laws and because Baptists were somewhat numerous in that Colony. Mr. James Man- ning, a graduate of Princeton in 1762, was invited to become the head of the new institution, and in the summer of 1764 began his work. Funds were scarce, and it was deemed best to have the presidency com- bined with the pastorate of a church. The college was located in Warren, and the president became pastor of the church in that town, but both offices scarcely sufficed to give him adequate support. Two pastors in Massachusetts were his most active coadju- tors in forwarding this first educational work among Baptists on this continent. Rev. Samuel Stillman and Rev. Hezekiah Smith were indefatigable in their efforts to sustain the nascent school. Mr. Stillman's name appears as the second among the trustees named in the Act of Incorporation, and the next year he was elected a Fellow, which office he held until his death. He was invariably present at the meetings of the corporation. He preached at every other com- mencement for many years, alternating in that serv- ice with Mr. Smith. In 1788 it conferred on him the degree of doctor of divinity. When the agitation for the removal of the college to Providence came to its climax, he was one of the most influential of the men who favored its relocation. He was on the com- mittee appointed to request the president to remove
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with the college and to remain at its head. He was the close friend and adviser of the president.
No words can adequately describe the value of the services of these three noble men in the interests of Christian education. They lifted the whole body of Baptists into a higher plane of influence and useful- ness. They gave the initial impetus which has re- sulted in the wonderful extension of the denomination into every part of the United States. They were a triumvirate singularly trained of the Lord for their great task, and they wrought together with unbroken harmony to the end. They were as fervidly evangel- istic as they were earnestly educational in their sympa- thies, and this union was strangely powerful. They taught, they preached, they prayed, they planned for the extension of Christ's kingdom.
In 1767 President Manning conceived the idea of uniting the Baptist churches of New England in an Association. It was a task more difficult than would at first appear. Those who were classed as Bap- tists held somewhat diverse views. Some believed in the laying on of hands and some did not. Some were almost Arminian in doctrine, and others were strongly Calvinistic, while some were Six Principle Baptists. Moreover they all had a great dread of synods, councils, or associations of any sort which assumed a supervisory relation to the individual church. The varied persecutions which they had suffered had come through such organizations of their adversaries. They were exceedingly jealous of their liberties, and feared that an association of churches might in some unknown fashion pave the way to a
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new tyranny. It had to them what Roger Williams called "a mnost sowre and uncomely deformed looke of a meare human invention,"' and was therefore held in suspicion. But Manning, after consultation with many brethren, and with the fraternal encouragement of the Philadelphia Association, from which organiza- tion (made sixty years before) no harm had come to the churches, called a meeting of ministers and ines- sengers to assemble in Warren, R. I., on the eighth day of September, 1767. He had a three-fold pur- pose. He desired an organization through which a united effort might be made to mitigate the severities which the Standing Order still practised in the tax- ing of Baptists for its support. In many parts of New England and in almost every part of Massachusetts, except in Boston, the Puritans rigorously applied this ecclesiastical taxation to Baptists. He desired also through organization and fraternal co-operation to strengthen the churches themselves, and to bring them into a closer doctrinal unity. But he desired especially through this organization to gather about the infant college all the sympathies and resources of Baptists. It would not be unnatural to suppose that the last was the chief reason in his mind. Yet it must not be forgotten that the pastoral instinct and habit were almost as strong as the educational throughout his whole life.
In spite of the obvious advantages which would accrue to the churches from such an associational union, the whole enterprise was regarded with the gravest suspicion. Eleven churches sent represent-
1 " Bloudy Tenent, " p. 226.
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atives, viz: Warren, Second Rehoboth, Haverhill, Norton, Bellingham, First and Second Middleboro, Cumberland, First and Second Boston, Attleborough. This church was represented only by Philip Freeman. There is no record of his having received an appoint- ment by the church. It is nearly certain that he went merely by private understanding among his brethren. After consideration of the union, four only of the eleven churches represented ventured to join in an Association, viz : Warren, Haverhill, Bellingham, Second Middleboro.
Mr. Freeman evidently was-not authorized to com- init this church to any course of action, but he inade a favorable report of what he heard at Warren, for
Aug 14, 1768, the Church stopped & having considered the Plan on which an association was formed at Warren in the Colony of Rhode Island Sepr 8 1767, approved it & voted to join it : and for this Purpose that the Minister prepare a Letter to be sent to Sª association of Baptist Churches at their next meeting, signifying their approbation of it & Desire to become a member. Voted that the Minister & Deacon Nathan Hancock be Messengers from the Church on this Occasion, duly authorised to represent it. The Minister went according to the appointment of ye Chh and was received in Behalf of it. 1
This was at the second meeting of the Association (Sept. 13, 1768), and three other churches were re- ceived at the same time, viz: Sutton, Leicester, and Ware. The Association was to meet annually on the Tuesday following the commencement of the college, so that the messengers could attend both these public gatherings. This was the first Baptist Association in
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New England, and at its very inception was firmly wedded to the support of Christian education. It was the nursing mother of Brown University. The next meeting of the Association (1769), coming as it did after the first commencement of the college, was a notable occasion. Distinguished Baptists from Phil- adelphia were present. The reports from the churches "mentioned grievous oppressions and persecutions from the Standing Order, especially the one from Ashfield, where religious tyranny had been carried to great lengths."1 A committee was appointed to seek redress from the General Court, viz: Rev. Samuel Stillman, Philip Freeman, Philip Freeman, Jr., John Proctor, Nathan Spear. The first three named were from this church. This was the beginning of that long service which Mr. Stillman rendered in behalf of oppressed churches. For many years he was chair- man of the committee on grievances, and presented petition after petition to the General Court for redress. His voice and pen were always active in this service. His brethren in the Association entrusted to him this difficult mission and always gave him their ardent support. He was unwearied in this service of pro- test and defense. He afterward had the Rev. Isaac Backus, the eminent Baptist historian, as his indefat- igable coadjutor in the work of obtaining liberty for Baptists in this commonwealth.
1 Guild, " Brown University and Manning," p. 78.
CHAPTER XII
A NEW MEETING-HOUSE. REVOLUTIONARY WAR. SIEGE OF BOSTON. ELECTION SERMON. GIFT OF MRS. BROWN. EDUCATION SOCIETY. PRAYER MEETINGS.
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IN 1770 the old meeting-house, which had stood more than ninety years, was found to be inadequate to the needs of the church, and conferences began concerning a new and larger house. By gift and ex- change the size of the original lot of land was much increased, and preparations were made to remove the old house with which so many tender memories were associated. Every pastor of the church had preached in it, excepting Thomas Goold. Its doors had been nailed up by order of the General Court. It had witnessed the long struggle of the church and also its prosperous triumph. The proprietors appointed the following
Committee on Subscriptions for building the new meeting- house.
Joseph Callender Philip Freeman
Samuel Setton
Deac" Nathan Hancock
Samuel Bangs Deac" John Bulfinch
John Harriss of Charlestown. 1
The Standing Committee at the same time was :
Capt John Matchett Mr Eliezer Callender
M' Thomas Crafts Mr John Ingersoll
M' Thomas Drowne Mª Joseph Callender
M' Philip Freeman. 1
The next step which the church took bears elo-
1 " Pew Proprietors' Book."
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quent testimony to the new position which it had won in the town. It was
Voted May 14, 1771, that a committee be appointed to wait upon our Brethren of the New Brick to ask ye Liberty of their Meeting- house after their Service is over, till such times as the new Meeting-house is fit to receive us. In case they should refuse, to apply to the old North Church & if they should deny, to go to ye Select Men & request ye use of Fanieul Hall. 1
At one time any one of these requests would have been the height of temerity, but that time had passed. The committee reported,
that our brethren of the New Brick thought it would introduce Confusion in the Town on the Lords Day, to meet after their service was over, therefore agreed that as they were a small As- sembly, we might meet at the same Time with them, Dr Pember- ton to preach half ye Day & M' Stillman half ye Day : the one Congregation to Mark S2 on their Money : & ye other P, & to make an equal Division of the loose Money. Voted to accept their kind Offer & meet with them upon the above Proposal. 3
This was certainly a most hospitable and generous proposal. The Brick Church, which thus kindly housed us, was located on Hanover Street near Nortlı Square, and its pastor was Dr. Ebenezer Pemberton. In 1776 it united with the Second Church (now on Copley Square), whose house of worship had been torn down by order of General Howe to provide fire- wood for the British troops. Both societies had been greatly depleted by the exodus of families when the British were besieged in Boston.
1 " Church Record." 2 S for Stillman, P for Pemberton.
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Lord's Day 16th June 1771. The Revª Samuel Stillman our Pastor Preached his last Sermon in the Old Meeting House which had been Built upward of Ninety Years, his discourse was well adapted to the Occasion & he particularly recommended Brotherly Love & Unity being the Cement of all Christian Societys. 1
The church
voted June 12 to request of our Brethren of the other Baptist Church ye Use of their Cistern for Baptism during the time that our Meeting house is building. 3
The other church had built a baptistery near the head of the broad aisle in their meeting-house about 1770. It was in use more than forty years. It is thought to have been the first baptistery in a meeting- house in this country.
It required no little courage for the church to pro- ceed with the building of a new meeting-house. The times were full of disquiet. Money was difficult to get. The country was restless with political agita- tion. The Stamp Act had been passed, rebelled against, and repealed. Two regiments of British troops had been quartered in the town as a kind of military police to overawe the people. The so-called "Boston Massacre " had taken place in the year pre- ceding, and American blood had flowed almost on the very spot where Obadiah Holmes had been whipped more than a hundred years before. This first collision between the British troops and the citizens of Boston liad left a spirit of bitterness and restlessness. The great Revolution was already foreshadowed, and its forerunners were already filling the land with a vague
1 " Pew Proprietors' Book."
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uneasiness and a foreboding disquiet. The need of more room must have been urgent indeed to lead the church to build in the midst of such difficulties.
The work was pursued with such dispatch that the house begun in May was ready for occupancy in December. It was fifty-seven feet long and fifty-three feet wide and very solidly built. It had against the wall a very high pulpit, the entrance to which was by a narrow winding stair. It stood back from Salem Street about one hundred and fourteen feet, so that there was a fine lawn in front. A wide plank walk led up to the front door from Salem Street. On one side of this walk was a fine well of water, to which there was much recourse by the whole neighborhood. The meeting-house pump was honored with constant use. The rear of the house was not far from the salt water. A small vestry was attached at the south- westerly side, and there was a small porch in front. Stillman Street ran along the side of the lot, which had a depth of two hundred and fifty feet. This house was twice enlarged during Dr. Stillman's ministry, in 1791 and in 1799. The first time twenty-four feet were added to the west end, making the dimensions fifty-seven by seventy-seven feet. The second time an additional vestry was added at the northwest corner, forty-six by nineteen feet. The house had a belfry or cupola in which hung a bell. It was a capacious and well-appointed meeting- house. It was lighted at night by means of candles. The following additional facts concerning the old meeting-house, which was removed to make way for the new house, are worthy of preservation.
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