USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The history of the First Baptist church of Boston (1665-1899) > Part 19
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their interest in foreign missions. It helped also to prepare the way for the organization, a little later, of a distinctively American Baptist foreign missionary work. In the latter part of 1806, Dr. Stillman be- came convinced that he had not long to live, and was exceedingly desirous that the church should settle a colleague, who should assume the full pastorate after liis decease. In October the church gave a unani- 1nous call to Rev. Josephi Clay (commonly called Judge Clay), of Savannalı, Georgia. He was a native of Georgia and a graduate of Princeton in 1784, where he took the highest honors of his class. He became a lawyer of distinction, and for some years was United States District Judge for Georgia. In 1803 he made a public profession of religion and shortly thereafter began to preach. He was ordained as an assistant pastor to the Rev. Dr. Holcombe in the First Baptist Church of Savannah. In 1806 he made a preaching tour of New England and was heard with special sat- isfaction by this church. Both Dr. Stillinan and his people were delighted with him, so that all hearts turned toward him as a colleague for the aged min- ister. An invitation was extended and sent by Dr. Stillman's own hand to him. He had often said, "When you are provided for I can die in peace." His desire was gratified, for Mr. Clay accepted the call, but before lie could reach Boston the beloved Still- man had passed away. The following detailed ac- count is from the Church Records :
Dr. Stillman died March 12. 1807 at 40 minutes after 12 o'clock in the morning of that day : having been dangerously ill about 12 or 13 hours before. He was seized with a stroke of the palsy at
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about eleven o'clock in the forenoon. It was first discovered by a little alteration in his speech. He gradually became more in- disposed, but was able at two o'clock to write a billet to his physician, requesting his immediate attendance. His physician prescribed an emetic ; and after its operation he was so much ex- hausted as hardly to be able to speak. Dr Baldwin was immedi- ately called, who, on noticing his critical situation, observed to him that he hoped he would have comfort in the everlasting love of God. He replied, " I desire to have no will of my own : Gods government is infinitely perfect." He spoke not distinctly after this : but laid as in a slumber till 20 minutes before one o'clock the next morning, when his holy soul was dismissed from its frail tabernacle, and entered the house not made with hands, there to behold the face of that Divine Redeemer whose Gospel he de- lighted to preach.
The customs of the time are set forth in the funeral service :
In the public exercises on the Monday after the Thursday of Dr Stillmans death, the corpse was carried into the First Baptist Meeting house .- Rev M' Grafton made the first prayer : Dr Bald- win preached the funeral sermon : and the Revd Elisha Williams made the concluding prayer. Funeral music was performed on the occasion, and the meeting-house (viz. the pulpit and singers seat, and the minister's pew) dressed in mourning for seven weeks. The pall bearers at the funeral were Rev Dr Lathrop, Dr Eckley, Dr Morse, Rev M' Grafton, Revd Elisha Williams, and Rev Mr Mervin methodist minister. Order of Funeral Procession I. all the Males of the congregation, youngest first, three abreast. 2. all the females of do. do. 3. singing society, same order. 4. mem- bers of the church, females first. 5. Committee of arrangements. 6. Corpse. 7. mourners. 8. Clergy. 9. Gentlemen of distinction. IO. Dr Baldwins Church and Congregation. 11. Rev M' Colliers. do. 12. Neighbors and citizens. The procession formed in the North Church and proceeded to the Ist Baptist Meeting House. The lower wall and side-pews were for the society, the females on the right and the males on the left. The youngest took the first
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pews and proceeded till all were filled. The broad aisle pews were for the mourners, ministers, strangers, & etc, after service the procession formed in the same order, and proceeded up Rich- mond street through Middle, Hanover, and Court Streets. through Cornhill, up School street, to the Granary burying ground, where the body was deposited in the deceased's tomb. . Capt Daniel Badger, Mr Aaron Richardson and Andrew Johannot were ap- pointed Marshalls. The Church and Congregation wore a black crape on the left arm below the elbows, (the males)-the females wore black bonnets-for six weeks on Lords Days. The shops and stores of many members of the Society were closed on the afternoon of the funeral. In fact, the town seemed in mourning.
The pew proprietors "voted a special tax of $450. on the pews to defray the expense of the funeral." 1
All this is a graphic picture of the funeral honors paid to a good man almost a hundred years ago. He was a man of slight form, weighing less than a hun- dred pounds. " The glow of his affection,-the fervor of his devotion,-the power of his elocution,-the tenderness of his feelings, and the frankness of his disposition, combined with his affability and erudi- tion to render him one of the most agreeable and dis- tinguished men of his age." 2 He was alert and graceful in his movements. He was always the polite and attentive Christian gentleman. He was a diligent pastor and student. He was an ardent patriot. No pulpit orator was heard with greater delight in the stormy times preceding the Revolution. He deemed it his duty to preach upon the political questions which agitated the people, and spoke with no compromising voice. He was a born leader of men. He was greatly sought after by distinguished
1 "Proprietors' Record." 2 Winchell, " Hist. Discourses," p. 30.
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strangers who visited Boston. The elder President Adams, General Knox, and Governor John Hancock were admirers, and often listened to his sermons. Governor Hancock in his later years had a pew in his meeting-house. Dr. Stillman was deeply interested in philanthropies and was officially connected with the Massachusetts Humane Society, The Charitable Fire Society, Boston Dispensary, Boston Female Asy- lum, etc.
The great work of his life, apart from his immedi- ate ministry in this church, was the decisive part which he took in the founding of Brown University, of the Warren Association, of the Baptist Ministerial Education Society, and of the Massachusetts Baptist Missionary Society, which finally grew into the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies. These were great and far-seeing endeavors, and mark Dr. Stillman as a man of large and noble mold. The range of his Christian sympathies was broad, his spirit was cath- olic, and his labors unceasing. He had a sensitive physical organisin, and sometimes suffered from de- pression of spirit. The following instance is related by Dr. Neale :
One Sunday morning he preached, as he thought, a poor ser- mon. It is very likely that it was so, for ministers sometimes do such things, but they have different ways of meeting the humilia- tion. Some put on a bold face, and pretend to care nothing about it ; some look dignified as if they had said something solemn and deep ; others comfort themselves with, the thought that they will do better next time ; but Dr. Stillman was so morti- fied with his failure that he could not eat his dinner and was sick in bed. "Jephthah," 1 he faintly said, "I shall not be able to
1 Dr. Stillman's Negro body servant.
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preach this afternoon. You must see the deacons and ask them to get some other minister to supply my pulpit, Mr. Chauncy, Mr. Kirkland, or Mr. Eckly." Jephthah, who understood the case perfectly, said, very respectfully, " He would go. Dr. Still- man ought to have rest, dear man ; but I feel bad for the people ; they will be disappointed, but folks is queer ; they doesn't want to hear anybody else. I hearn Mrs. Smith say this morning what a beautiful sermon the doctor preached. But I'll tell the deacons Massa Stillman is wearin' hisself out." "You needn't go," said the doctor, brightening up. "I feel better. Brush my boots, Jephthah, and I'll try to preach myself." He went into the pulpit, and never preached more powerfully or eloquently than he did that afternoon.
He was a man of extremely delicate constitution, but outlived all his contemporaries in the ministry in Boston. Such a man was a gift of commanding power to Baptists, to evangelical religion, and to the Boston which he loved. A volume of his sermons was published after his death by the deacons. Many sermons on special occasions are also printed.1 He received into the church five hundred and nineteen new members.
In June, 1807, Rev. Joseph Clay began his ministry under the most favorable auspices. His salary " was fixed at $1800 per year, payable quarterly, including house rent and wood."2 On his first Sunday "he preached three sermons from this text, for I deter- inined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and him crucified." 3 In August he was in- stalled by a council of Baptist churches, viz : Read- ing, Newton, Beverly, Danvers, Charlestown, Salem,
1 See Boston Public Library. 2 "Proprietors' Record."
3 "Church Record."
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Second and Third Boston, First Providence. Mr. Clay preached the sermon and Dr. Baldwin gave the hand of fellowship. This was the first time in the history of this church that none but Baptist churches were invited to participate in installing its pastor. This may have been at the particular desire of Mr. Clay, who being a Southern Baptist might have held somewhat stricter views than his predecessors. He gave promise at once by his learning, his eloquence, and his devoutness, of great usefulness in the com- inunity, and the church was very happy in the new relation. But unhappily dissensions arose over some cases of discipline, and especially did a certain Mr. E. L. Boyd become a center of disturbance and con- tention throughout the whole first year. Special meetings for prayer were held "for the Church in its present difficulties and distractions." 1
Although Mr. Clay was a man of learning and of singular eloquence, graceful in manners, generous in deeds, and a most genial Christian gentleman, he was nevertheless soon met on all sides by eulogiums of Dr. Stillman, and these were turned into disparage- inents of the present minister. The marked person- ality of the old pastor and his boundless influence liad cast a spell over the church which it was difficult to break. Under this strain the minister's health became poor. Cases of discipline multiplied, and especially from among the numerous additions during the great revival. The spirit of dissension and evil seemed to run riot in the church. Additions became few. Comparisons and criticismns were many. The
1 " Church Record."
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minister was finally compelled to go South for his health in November, 1808, and in the spring of 1809 proposed that he be released from his office. His re- quest was not acted on immediately, but after con- clusive evidence that he would not be able to resume his ministry in Boston, and because of the distracted state of the church, in October they voted "that he be affectionately dismissed from the pastoral charge of this Church."1 His ministry, which had lasted less than two years, left the church " in a low condi- tion." He had had to cope with very unusual diffi- culties, and it is not surprising that the flattering hopes of his beginnings were not realized. His health steadily declined, and he died in January, 18II, and was buried in Georgia.
June 16, 1809, the church elected Deacon James Loring church clerk. It had been the custom for the minister to act as the clerk. All the records up to this time are in the handwriting of the successive pastors, but with one brief exception that custom has never been resumed. The church passed through much trial, cases of discipline multiplied, counsels were divided, and they remained pastorless about five years. Dr. Baldwin sought to aid them in securing a pastor, and proved a loyal friend in this trying time. The country was now passing through great distrac- tions. Political agitation was intense, the war with Great Britain kept the people in a state of tension, and religion seemed to decline. The number of members in August, 1812, was two hundred and twenty-three.
An effort was made to secure as their minister the
1 " Church Record."
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distinguished Rev. Andrew Broaddus, of Virginia, but he declined the invitation. A similar effort with Rev. W. B. Johnson, of South Carolina, also failed. In Sep- tember, 1812, the church heard very favorable reports concerning Mr. James M. Winchell, who had just graduated from Brown University. He was invited to preach for them, but did not at once respond to their call. Meanwhile Mr. Elon Galusha was invited to preach for them and spent several Sundays with them. He was a son of the governor of Vermont, and after- ward became distinguished as a minister in New York State, but for some reason the church did not give him a call, although many desired him as pastor. Mem- bers began to withdraw to unite with other churches. Thirty-six left at one time to unite with the Third Church, under the pastoral care of Rev. Daniel Sharp. Meetings were appointed to pray for guidance in re- gard to a pastor, and hearts began to turn again to Mr. Winchell. In December, 1813, he was invited to become the pastor. In January the proprietors of pews concurred by a vote of twenty-eight to fourteen, and fixed the salary at one thousand dollars. (In 1816 it was raised to twelve hundred dollars.) This call was notable as being the first time that the sisters were allowed to express by vote their opinion. The breth- ren voted, and when an opportunity was given, "all the sisters rose in approbation of this vote."1 In March, 1814, Mr. Winchell accepted the call, yet with much hesitation on account of "their long trials " and "their afflicted state." The situation was far from promis- ing or hopeful. He was installed March 30, by a
1 " Church Record."
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large council. Rev. Dr. Baldwin preached the ser- mon. Rev. Stephen Gano, of Providence, gave the charge, and Rev. Lucius Bolles, of Salem, gave the hand of fellowship. In June two persons came for- ward for baptism, being the first who had offered themselves in more than two years, and the church was greatly cheered by the auspicious token. His administration of the church affairs was wise and con- ciliatory. Peace and a quiet activity soon appeared. Prosperity followed harmony of counsel. Mr. Win- chell's amiable disposition, his cultivated mind, his agreeable manners, his fervent piety, and his singular discretion, united to make him an acceptable guest in every social circle. He was a man of scholarly tastes and habits, and was much sought after by persons of literary attainments. His gracious and winsome per- sonality, and the charm of his deeply spiritual life, made him singularly attractive to people of every class. His whole ministry was marked by unity and progress.
Wednesday, Sept. 4, 1816, a society was organized and called " The Sabbath School Society of the First Baptist Church and Congregation for the Instruction of Indigent Boys." They were to be instructed "in reading and spelling," and were to be "provided with books and Clothing." Within a year the range of in- struction was increased, and "the instructors are to teach the children, spelling, reading, the catechism & the doctrines & duties of the christian Religion."1 This school was not intended for boys from families of the church, but for neglected and indigent boys.
1 "Sunday-school Record."
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The officers and instructors were all men, and it was their duty to take these boys to the public worship 011 Lord's Days and sit with thein (usually in the gal- lery) to preserve order.1 This school became very popular and soon reported one hundred and twenty- five boys in attendance.
In 1818 the bass viol was introduced into the choir for use in worship. A singing society had been or- ganized in 1814, and the singers usually mnet one evening in the week, and also before the services, to practise the tunes. They carefully rehearsed Mear, China, Wyndham, Wantage, Jourdan, Silver Street, Oporto, Windsor, Plympton, St. Asaphs, etc., but sel- dom ventured upon an anthem, except on special oc- casions. The introduction of the bass viol was not without some opposition, but it soon became a regular accompaniment of the choir. Everywhere at the end of the last century and the beginning of this, there were commotions in churches over the introduction of the bass viol. "A venerable and hitherto decorous old deacon of Roxbury not only left the church when the hated bass viol began its accompanying notes, but he stood for a long time outside the church door stridently 'caterwauling' at the top of his lungs. When expostulated with for this unseemly and un- christianlike annoyance he explained that he 'was only mocking the banjo.' "> 2 One clergyman announced that "we will now sing and fiddle thie forty-fifth Psalın,"2 and another deplored that "now we have only catgut and resin religion."? The singers in this
1 For a full account of the Sunday-school see Chap. XV.
2 Mrs. Earle, "Sabbath in Puritan New England, " p. 226.
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church sat apart, first "in the singers seats," and after- ward in the gallery, and had not only the bass viol, but the " fiddle, the flute, and the clarionet " to assist them. "The singing Society" was a very vigorous organization, and was long presided over by Daniel Badger.1
In April, 1818, Mr. Winchell preached two histor- ical discourses, which were printed, giving the history of the church up to that time. It was the first and last attempt, until now, to give anything like an ac- curate statement of the course of historic events. They were necessarily brief, but are unusually reli- able. In 1819 "The penitent Female Refuge was cominenced by the laudable exertions and self-denying labors of brother Edmund Parsons of this Church." 2 He was baptized in 1816. The Refuge is still in active usefulness. In June, 1819, the minister brought for- ward a plan to provide a permanent fund for the care of the poor of the church. The interest only of this fund was to be used. The plan was adopted, and moneys were raised by subscription. In November Mrs. Lydia Sparhawk died and left to the church,
the sum of one thousand dollars, the interest of which is to be appropriated for the benefit of the poor of the Church, and five hundred dollars to the Sunday School of this Church, the interest of which is to be appropriated for the support of the said school, also fifteen hundred dollars to our pastor, Rev Mr Winchell. 2
" The Sparhawk Fund " is still doing its beneficent work for the poor and for the Sunday-school, and perpetuates the memory of the donor as a generous inember of this church.
1 Vide " Record of Singing Society." 2 " Church Record."
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REV. JAMES MANNING WINCHELL, A. M. Minister, 1814-1820.
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In this year Mr. Winchell issued the compilation of hymns and psalms known as " Winchell's Watts." It came into immediate public favor. It contained the six hundred and eighty-seven hymns and psalmns of "Dr. Watts' Collection," and a supplement of three hundred and twenty-seven others by various authors. It has also in addition "eighty hymns by Dr. Watts not before in use in this country." It quickly sup- planted " Rippon's Collection," which had been widely used. It contained no tunes. Its arrangement showed the literary taste and skill of the pastor, as well as his fervently devout mind. It was long and lovingly used by the Baptist churches in New England.
In July, 1819, in the midst of the most pleasing prospects of a useful ministry of years, the pastor was stricken with consumption, and all efforts to arrest its progress were of no avail. He was preparing to journey to a milder climate when he died, Feb. 22, 1820. He had been pastor six years. Rev. Dr. Baldwin preached the funeral service, and his body was laid away in the tomb of Deacon Prince Snow, Jr., in the North burying ground.
He was born in Northeast, New York, in 1791, graduated from Brown University in 1812, after which he preached more than a year at Bristol, R. I., when he became pastor of this church. He was, therefore, not twenty-nine years old when he ceased from his labors. One who knew him well says: "Young Winchell's manner in the pulpit approached more nearly to that of Summerfield-that youthful prodigy of loveliness-than any other that I have ever wit- nessed. There was the same winning simplicity and
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naturalness in the one as in the other." He was below the medium size, was vivacious and urbane. He was fond of music and sang with a sweet voice. He liad been during nearly the whole of his pastorate here one of the editors of the Missionary Magazine. His early death was a great loss to the church, which within fourteen years had in this way lost three pas- tors. Eighty-four new members were received during this pastorate, and the pastor's death closed a life of varied promise and rare usefulness.
Rev. Joseph Elliot, of Vermont, preached so ac- ceptably to the church that in July they gave him a call to become the pastor. He hesitated long, but finally declined. They then inade overtures to Rev .. Elon Galusha, of Whitesborough, N. Y. He preached for them several Sundays, and a call was given him at "a salary of 1200 dollars and 100 dollars for the removal of his family." 1 He had given them en- couragement that he would accept, but finally de- clined because " of the unwillingness of the brethren in his neighborhood for his removal."2 Whites- borough was an insignificant village, but the ardent entreaties of his friends persuaded him to decline what seemed the great opportunity of liis life. Bos- ton at that time was the foremost town in the United States, and offered rare opportunities for influence and usefulness.
In January,' 1821, "the clerk mentioned to the church the information he had received respecting a young preacher, brother Francis Wayland, Jun. now a tutor in Union College, Schenectady N. Y. and wlio
1 " Proprietors' Record."
2 " Church Record."
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FRANCIS WAYLAND, JR., D. D. Minister, 1821-1826.
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had studied at Andover one year under Professor Stuart." 1 President Nott and Professor Stuart "ex- pressed their favorable opinion of him."1 Rev. B. B. Wisner, of the Old South Church, knew him well and spoke warmly of him to the officers of the church. They voted to ask him " to make us a friendly visit and preach for us eight or ten weeks."1 He came and preached four Sabbaths in April, and won the hearts of many of the people. Francis Wayland, Jr., the son of a Baptist minister, was born in New York City, in 1796. He graduated from Union College at the age of seventeen, and began the study of medi- cine, which he pursued during the next three years. He was converted in the last year of his medical studies, and at once felt called to preach the gospel. He put himself under the instruction of the cele- brated Prof. Moses Stuart, of Andover, but at the end of a year became a tutor in Union College, where he remained four years. He was a man of extraordinary force of character, of great moral sagacity, of fine culture, and of a striking personality. He was a master of thought and rhetorical expression. He be- came one of the greatest and most usefully influential men whom this country has produced. He was now twenty-five years old, and was already impressing men with those commanding powers of mind and charac- ter which afterward made him so distinguished as the eminent president of Brown University. The call to him, which the church extended in May, 1821, was by no means unanimous. The vote was fifteen for to ten against. The opposition desired a minister of
1 " Church Record."
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more popular pulpit gifts. The majority included the more substantial and influential members of the church. The concurrent vote of the Pew Proprietors was seventeen in the affirmative and fifteen in the negative, and was determined by the casting vote of the moderator, Deacon James Loring, always the de- voted friend of the young pastor. He was the famous publisher and bookseller, and was one of the founders of "The Watchman." In the call they say :
We request you to consider that in the large and populous town of Boston, it is greatly important that there should be an acces- sion of those labourers in the gospel ministry whose weight of character, ability, and piety, may contribute to the respectability of evangelical doctrine : and this is rendered the more necessary because in this place corrupt theological opinions are defended by men of high standing in society, and of distinguished talents and science. 1
In their letter to the Pew Proprietors they speak of him as one "whose eminent character for literature, talents, and piety is undoubted."
President Nott and Professor Stuart urged him to accept on broader grounds than the necessities of a single church. The latter wrote: "The cause here absolutely and imperiously demands a man like you, who has depth of exegetical lore, who can ineet the Unitarians on ground where he is unlikely to feel his inferiority, or to be put to the blush. Besides, Provi- dence College must have such trustees, or it is ruined forever. Radical changes must be made in order to save it. You want more weight, more literature here, to do this."
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