USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The history of the First Baptist church of Boston (1665-1899) > Part 9
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Att a Church Meeting the 10th of 12mo 1678 Itt was Agreed by the Church that the Brethren in Boston should goe on in Building a Meeting House in Boston.1 . .
Att ye same Church meeting itt was agreed that Brother John Russell & Mr Myles with severall of ye Brethren consult how Brother Russell and Mr Myles may dispose themselves in order to provide for ye carriing on ye work of ye ministry in Boston. 1
The secret of this renewed activity on the part of the church, and especially their plan of attempting the dangerous task of building a meeting-house, was the fact that the Colony of Massachusetts Bay had become entangled in a most serious dispute with the
1 " Church Record."
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mother country, and its charter was in danger. Both the politicians and the ministers were divided in opinion. One party favored the strongest possible assertion of the king's prerogatives, and the other favored the most radical demands of Colonial rights. It was a time of violent political agitation, which ab- sorbed public attention. The king in council had directed that adherents of the Church of England in Massachusetts "be declared capable of all freedoms and privileges as any other person whosoever." It was, therefore, impossible for the Colonial govern- inent to enforce the laws against Baptists without traversing the king's command in regard to Episco- palians, for they also were nonconformists in New England. The king had no love for Baptists, but he desired that his faithful Church of England subjects should have freedom of worship on Massachusetts soil. Under cover of this order of the king, Baptists believed themselves also entitled to the open liberty of public worship, and had the audacity to plan the erection of a house for meetings. They also planned the necessary arrangements for having a settled ministry over them.
Upon the 26th of 12m0 1678 according to the Church Appoint- ment Brother Russell & M' Myles with severall of ye Brethren Mett and upon consideration how the Church att Boston might have supply to carry on the work of the Ministry Brother Russell came to this conclusion and made this Promisse that if necessity did require and noe other provision might be found for Boston that then he did comply with the Churches call att Boston. M Myles came to this conclusion and made this promisse that If providence did soe order and dispose that Brother Russell were removed to Swansey to there content that he would continue with
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the Church att Boston till they should be providded to there con- tent.1 . .
The conclusions and Promisses made by M' Myles and Brother Russell on ye other syde of this leafe were made with this pro- visall that the Church according to there capassityes take care of them and theres. 1
They had strong hope of retaining Mr. Myles as their pastor, for two weeks later this record occurs :
Ye Ioth of Ist mº 1678
Upon consideration of A Promise made by Mr Myles of his Redy and willingness to serve ye lord Amongst this Church, we think itt very rationable to signify our Redy free and thankfull Acknowledgm" of such A favor and doe declare our willing Ac- ceptation thereof that If the Lord shall be pleased to work A re- lease for M' Myles from Swansey according to ye mind of god, that then we whose names are und written doe freely and withall thankfullness owne ourselves Ingaged to our Abillityes to take care of him and his.
ISAACK HULL JOHN FARNUM CENT
EDWARD DRINKER BENJ. SWETTZER
JAMES LANDON THOMAS SKINNER
PHILLIPP SQUIRE JOHN RUSSELL
THOMAS OSBORNE HERCULES CORSER
JOSEPH HILLER JOSEPH WILLSON CENT
ELLIS CALLENDER. 1
Nothing came of all these negotiations. The church in Swansea was unwilling to give up its pastor, and soon after the date of the last record he returned to his former home. Mr. Myles and the church parted with mutual affection, and soon after John Russell was ordained to be their pastor. "On July 28th 1679 was ye day of Solemnizeing that work of ordination of our beloved Brother John Russell to
1 " Church Record."
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the place of An Elder."1 It is not known who took part in the ordination service, but it is reasonably cer- tain that Mr. Myles was present.
Toward the end of December, 1679, the royal order commanding toleration for all who "desire to serve God in the way of the Church of England . ... or any other of his majesty's subjects (not being Pa- pists) who do not agree in the Congregational way " reached Boston. The Colonial authorities must, therefore, either cease persecution or else openly rebel against royal authority. They endeavored to keep a middle course. They were not in an obedient mnood, but wisdom dictated acquiescence in the letter, if not in the spirit, of the royal mandate. Episcopalians were no longer disturbed. Baptists were harried for a while longer, but more guardedly.
The first case of church discipline recorded in our annals is given in full. It illustrates the spirit and method of that far-off time. It is as follows :
Att A Church Meeting the 11th of the 9"nº 1677 Itt was Agreed that Brother Drinker Brother Foster Brother Russell and Brother Skinner should goe in ye name of the Church to sister Watts to see whether shee remaines in that obstinate frame of spiritt against god and his Church as formerly they left her and soe made re- turne to the Church of her Answer. 2
1 "Church Record." Note. The early New England churches often had besides a pastor, a teaching elder and a ruling elder. The work of the latter was to visit the sick and distressed, to keep careful watchcare over the flock, and, when necessary, to rebuke and administer discipline. The term elder is applied to each of the three officers, and early church records are accordingly confusing to the historian. John Russell, Jr., was a teaching elder before he became pastor. John Russell, Sr., seems to have been a ruling elder only.
2 "Church Record."
.
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A Coppy of A letter sent to sister Watts from Charlestowne att A Church meeting the 6th day of 1010 1678.
SISTER WATTS,
These few lynes are to Acquaint you that we have considered yo' condison and as we are informed and undestand that you de- sire to speake with ye Church If you please to appoint ye time and place, the Church will accordingly appoint some in there behalfe to give you a meeting unless some extraordinary provi- dence doe prevent soe with our kind love to you we rest yo' Brethren in ye best relations.
Signed by us in ye behalfe of ye rest ISAACK HULL THOMAS FOSTER JOHN RUSSELL
having Receved severall Resons from sister Watts by our Brethren for her withdrawing from ye Church which were groundless and of a raileing nature they took itt into consideration and proceeded as followeth,
The Church of Christ att Boston being assembled att Charles- towne the 10th of 12mo 1678 takeing into consideration the un- christian carriages of Elizabeth Watts and upon serious and solemn consideration doe find that for a long space of time she has binn A disorderly walker toward the Church she belongs unto and that by her groundless rejection of the Church as alsoe rail- ingly charging ye Church with great evills without ye least ground of proofe and taking part with her husband in condemning ye Church in such Acts passed by them according to ye rules of Christ and therefore ye Church doe soe declare to all itt may con- cern that they look upon her as a disorderly walker and they soe vote her and without her repentance will have noe communion with her and therefore to unfeigned repentance for these evills doe Admonish her in ye name of our Lord Jesus that we may injoy her as a sister. Signed in ye name of ye rest by us
ISAACK HULL THOMAS OSBORNE JAMES LANDON THOMAS SKINNER. 1
1 " Church Record."
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Sister Watts proved that she had a stubborn will, and it is not recorded that she ever repented and re- turned to the fellowship of the church. She remains on our records with the unhappy epithet "disorderly walker " attached to lier, which constitutes her sole title to this little posthumous fame.
The church was on the watch for promising minis- terial talent, and encouraged the brother who appeared to have gifts for preaching. Such persons were likely to appear in an assembly where every one was en- couraged "to prophesie " and to exhort. The first record of official encouragement is as follows :
A Coppy of A letter sent to Brother Pearce
Boston Ioth of Ist Mº 1678
Brother Pearce upon the consideration of A credible testimony given by severall Brethren, of A gift which god hath given you, the improvement of which might be for the edification of the Church we have thought meete upon due consideration to pass A Church Act that you might be Improving in the work of ye lord as opportunity shall pesent Amongs ye Brethren there and these lynes are to request that you stirr up that gift given you in ye Exercise thereof which is ye joynt Agreement and request of this Church and ye Brethren in gospel Bonds
Signed by us in ye name of ye Church ISAACK HULL EDWARD DRINKER THOMAS SKINNER
Att ye same Church Meeting the same Act passed concerning Brother Osborne that he should be Improved in ye Exercise of his gift att Woborne. 1
John Pearce united with the church in 1678 and was a resident of Woburn. We know nothing of
1 " Church Record."
K
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what was the result of the "exercise of his gifts." He lias left no earthly record. Thomas Osborne was the steadfast helper of Thomas Goold, and liad en- dured with unwavering patience all of the early trials of the church. As late as October, 1676, he and his wife were fined forty shillings for being Baptists.1 He was a trusted and lionored leader.
Att A Church Meeting the 30th of June 1679 Itt was concluded in orde to carry on ye work of god in Woborne that on the three lord's dayes between breaking of bread Elder Hull Brother Drinker & Brother Osborne should take their turne in orde to supply that place in carrying on ye work of god.2
It is evident that the church observed the Lord's Supper once every month, as is the custom at the present time.
In the latter part of the year 1678 the church began to build a meeting-house suitable for the use of its growing membership. They built it on private ground owned by Philip Squire and Ellis Callender, members of the church. It was situated on Back Street (now Salem Street) near the mill pond, and in appearance resembled a large private residence. They kept secret the purpose for which they designed the building lest the authorities should throw obsta- cles in their way, although at this time there was no law forbidding them.
Att A Church Meeting in Boston upon ye 9th of February 1679 itt was unanimously Agreed upon by the Church to make Improvem" of ye new howse built for the Publicque worshipp of
1 " Middlesex Court, Original Papers." 2 " Church Record."
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FIRST MEETING-HOUSE. 1679-1771.
From Gov. Pownall's " View of Boston,"
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god and to enter into itt ye 15th day of this Instant itt being ye next first day. 1 . .
Att ye same Church Meeting Above mentioned itt was alsoe Agreed upon by ye Church to take ye howse as theire owne Ingageing to pay all disbursmuts that hath binn out upon itt and to Improve Itt as a Publicque Meeting howse :
Itt is Alsoe Agreed upon by the Church Att ye same meeting that the Church Purchase the Land Appetaining to the howse & the Highway to it & pay 6ofs itt being agreed to pay ye ownes of itt viz, Phillip Squire & Ellis Callende sixty { in money in seven yeares time : The agreements above mentioned concern- ing the meeting howse and land belonging to it sighned and owned by us in the behalfe of the Church.
ISAACK HULL JOHN RUSSELL Elders to the said Church. 1
It seemed too good to be true that after fifteen years of wanderings and of meeting in private houses they were at last to have a meeting-house of their own for public worship. Back Street was then a shady country lane which wound along the shore of the mill pond. It led off from the inain thorough- fare from Boston to Charlestown, and was quickly lost among groves and gardens. The site chosen for the meeting-house was unobtrusive, and, as they thought, little likely to arrest the attention of the authorities. It was on private grounds and was held by private individuals. It seemed as unobjectionable as the use of the "house of Symon Lind," which they had rented in 1676. But the General Court had lost none of its watchfulness and soon discovered the new house. The story of the trouble is taken from the " Church Record " :
1 " Church Record."
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An Account of some troubles yt we mett in ye year of 1639.
In ye beginning of ye year 1679 haveing erected A howse to meet in to worshipp ye lord, there being y" noe law to prohibitt such a thing, butt soone After (viz) in ye 3ª month of said year att A generall Court we were called in Question for building sª howse, & forthwith A Law was enacted Against such howses to meet in, without license from ye Court on penalty of forfeiting such howses when mett in 3 days after conviction of breach of ye law : whereupon we did forbear to meet in our howse. (erected for yt use) for ye present, waiteing on & haveing our expectations from ye lord for his gracious Appearance to make our way plaine before us, and in ye winter following itt pleased ye lord to send us from our Brethren in England by lette that ye King had granted, we with other of his subjects should have our liberty, ye which he has sent in his letter to ye governm" as his will & pleasure & yt we should not be subjected to fines forfeitures or any other In- capassityes, & ye generall Court being called and not voteing a nonconcurrence we proceeded to make use of our howse butt after we had mett in itt fower dayes, we were summonsed to ye Court of Assistants held in boston in ye beginning of ye year 80 to Answer for our breach of the Aforesd law : the Court calling us in private (as itt. was usual) Required to give them A possitive Answer whether we would Ingage for ye whole in generall or for ourselves in particular to desist meeting in sd howse untill ye gen" Court satt ye next may. we Answered we were incapable to give A possi- tive Answer by reson we knew not ye mind of our Church butt desired some time to speak with our brethren concerning itt, which was then denyed us, butt ye next morning we sent in this our former request in a few lynes humbly Intreating ye favor yt we might have liberty to Answer these Questions till ye beginning of ye weeke following, which was y" granted, and one ye 2ª day of ye weeke we had A Church meeting where we did seriously con- sider of ye matter & did with one consent Agree not to turn our- selves out from our howse, but concluded to send A humble Re- quest for our liberty as our Answer which is As followeth : To the Honorables ye Governor & Magistrates now Assembled at Boston att ye Court of Assistants this 8th march 1678 the petition &
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declaration of ye society of people commonly knowne or distin- guished by ye name of Baptists resideing in & About Boston, Humbly Sheweth :
Impem [In primum] that whereas ye onely wise god haveing by his providence led us into yt orde & way of ye gospel of gath- ering into Church fellowshipp, we doe hereby confess yt what we did was not out of opposition to or contempt of ye Churches of Christ in New England, butt in a holy Imitation meerly for ye better enjoym" of ye liberty of our conshiences, ye great motive to this removeall att first into this wilderness.
2ª That ye building A Convenyent place for our publique Church Assembly was noe thought of Affronting Authority, there being noe law in ye Country Against any such practise att ye erecting of this howse, & did therefore think as ye Apostle saith, Where there is noe law there is noe transgression, the dictates of nature or common prudence belonging to mankind, and ye Ex- ample or practise of ye Country throughout led to the seeking of this Convenyence.
3ª That there being a Law made in May last Against our meet- ing in ye place built we did Accordingly submitt to ye same, untill we did fully undestand by letters from severall in London yt itt was his Majestyes pleasure & command (ye common sup- sedeas to all Corporation lawes, in ye English nation yt have not had ye royall Assent) y we should enjoy ye liberty of our meetings in like manner as other of his protestant subjects, and ye generall Court att their last meeting not having voted A nonconcurrence.
4thly As therefore ye two tribes & halfe did humbly and meekly vindicate themselves upon ye erecting of there Alter when Chal- lenged for itt by Eleazer and ye messengers of ye tenn tribes, soe doe we hereby confess in like manner yt we have not designed by this Act Any Contempt of Authority nor Any departing from ye living god or change of his worshipp, excepting our owne opin- ion, ye lord god of gods he knows itt, Joshua 22. 22 : tho itt be our lott (with ye Apostles) in ye way yt some call heresy soe to worshipp ye god of our Fathers.
Yor peticioners therefore haveing noe designe Against ye peace of this place butt being still as redy as ever, to hazard our lives for ye defence of ye ruelers of ye people of god here, doe humbly
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request that this our Confession & declaration may find acceptance with this honoeble Court, as that of ye two tribes did with Eleazer, & yt we may still through yor Allowance & Protection Enjoy ye libertyes of gods worshipp in such places as god hath Afforded us, which will greatly obleidg y' peticoners as in duty bound humbly to pray
Signed by us in ye name & consent of ye Church
ISAACK HULL JOHN RUSSELL EDWARD DRINKER THOMAS SKINNER
Butt notwithstanding this our Answer they had upon the 6th day before ordered, If we would not leave our howse to nayle up ye dores and According Impowered ye Marshall by warrant and sent him the same weeke to doe itt, who performed his office by A forcible Entry through Phillipp Squires ground to come to sd howse by reson ye gates were lockt, we required a Coppy of his warrant butt were denyed itt & two of our Brethren went to the secretary desireing we might have a Coppy of ye warrant who Answered he was not to lett us have any. Our dores being now shutt we were Expected the next lords day to meete out In ye yard Itt being a cold wind yt day butt through grace none sus- tained any harm as for the Courts order which they sent to be nayled upon ye dore itt is as followeth : 'All Psons are to take notice yt by orde of ye Court ye dores of this howse are shutt up & yt they are Inhibitted to hold any meeting therein or to open ye dores thereof, without lishence from Authority, till ye gennerall Court take further order as they will answer ye Contrary att theire p'ill, dated in boston 8th march 1680, by orde of ye Councell
EDWARD RAWSON Secretary.'
Itt is to be observed that in ye year 79 there was A Synod called who in orde to bring us to ruing Published in print our practise to be one Cause of ye judgmtts of god upon ye land & alsoe in ye beginning of ye year 80 in March M' Mather teacher of ye north Church in Boston putt forth a Book against us wherein did endevoe (by casting all ye Dirt & filth possible) to render us odious declareing our opinion to come from Satan & that they had noe more love for us than Christ hath for Antichrist. Butt to re-
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turne our Dores being nayled up we provided A shedd which we made Against ye howse with bords, butt comeing ye next lords day expecting to meete under our shedd, we found our dores sett open & consulting by ourselves whether to goe in, we considered the Court had not donn itt legally Acting by noe Law, & yt we were denyed a Coppy of ye councells orde & marshalls warrant. Where- upon we Concluded to goe into ye howse itt being our owne have- ing A Civell right to itt & accordingly did & mett with noe dis- turbance yt day.
I have given in full this exact transcript from our records because of its intrinsic interest and because it has often suffered from inexact quotation.
In 1679 a law was passed, and made retroactive, "that no persons whatsoever, without the consent of the freemen of the town, where they live, first orderly had and obtained at a public meeting, assembled for that end, and license of the County Court, or, in defect of such consent and license, by the special order of the General Court, shall erect or make use of any (meeting) house," on penalty of forfeiting botlı the house and the land on which it was built. This was intended to give the sanction of law to action against the Baptists for having built this meeting- house. There had been no specific statute before under which the Court could act, and in order to meet this case (for the house was already built) the law was made.
The raw east wind of early March did not frighten our members from meeting in the open air on the green beside their meeting-house for worship. They had become accustomed to petty annoyances, and were not less courageous now than when they braved the terrors of the wintry prisons a few years before.
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The Court now scarcely dared venture beyond annoy- ances and threats.
The land upon which the meeting-house was built belonged to Philip Squire and Ellis Callender jointly, and was held by them as private persons until Febru- ary 22, 1682, when it was conveyed to the church. The land measured on the northeast about seventy- four feet, on the southeast about sixty feet, on the southwest about sixty-three feet, and on the northwest about fifty-five feet. "Together with the wharfe made up against the sª Land on that side next the mill pond, with the priviledge of a way of about twelve feet in breadth now laid out and leading from the street to the sd meeting-house." This they might hold "for and so long a time as ye sd Church shall hold to and walke in the faith which they now pro- fess," but if they should "decline from this faith and practice, or in case of their annihilation," then the property should revert. This original deed is now in the possession of the church. "The way of about twelve feet " is now known as Stillman Street, and "the street " is now Salem Street. The meeting- house stood on the corner of what is now Salem and Stillman Streets, on the back part of the lot and near the water. In front it had a considerable lawn, in which was a well and pump, to which the whole neighborhood resorted for sweet, fresh water. On this site the church worshiped for one hundred and fifty years. There is no record of the dimensions of this original meeting-house. In outward appearance it was built to resemble a private residence, and with some additions and changes stood until 1771, when a
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new house was erected on the same spot. The church continued to assemble in their meeting-house until May 19, when the Assembly before which they had been convented May II, declared its answer to their petition :
After the Court had heard their answer and plea, perused their petition and what else was produced, the parties were called in, the Courts sentence in the name of the Court was published to them, that the Court in answer to their petition, judged it meet and ordered, that the petitioners be admonished by the present honored Governor for their offence, and so granted them their petition so far as to forgive them their offence past, but still pro- hibited them as a society of themselves, or joined with others, to meet in that public place they have built, or any public house ex- cept such as are allowed by lawful authority ; and accordingly the Governor in open Court gave them their admonition. 1
This admonition being directly opposed to the king's late commands to his loyal subjects of the Bay Colony seemed stern and forbidding, but the Assembly could now only threaten. It dared not enforce its threat. The Baptists, therefore, quietly received the admonition, but continued to keep their meeting- house open and met regularly in it as an organized church. The cold March wind which blew upon them as they, locked out of their own house, stood in the meeting-house yard for their public worship did not harm them. They regarded themselves as under a divine care, which caused the governor's threats to become equally harmless.
Att A Church Meeting ye 28th of June 1680 Itt was Agreed that ye Church should continue Meeting in Brother Squire's
1 "Colony Records."
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howse, and If they should meet with any opposition then without Any further consideration of the Church, the Brethren in Boston may have there liberty to make use of there Publicque Meeting- howse and soe to continue till the Church shall meet and consider further About itt. 1
Its doors were never again closed by the civil authorities, nor were the members of the church haled before the Court for their use of it for public worship The peculiar kinds of persecution which they had suffered with little intermission for fifteen years came to a close with this public admonition by the Court. Social ostracism and false representations were still used against them, but persecution under the form of law was ended.
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