USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Charlestown > The history of the First church, Charlestown, in nine lectures, with notes > Part 17
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baptism was that of the pastor's son, John James, 11th month, 9th day, 1632, old style; or, January 9, 1633, new style. In the course of this work I have not preserved the double dates, but have given the one which makes the year begin with January.
I should not have thought it necessary to be thus particular in explaining the difference of the styles, after so much has been written upon it, were it not evident that mistakes are still made in regard to it.
It has been customary to add 11 days in changing old style into new style, without regard to the century to which the date belongs. This was indeed the difference between the styles in the last century ; but it was only 10 days in the two preceding centuries. e. g. Washington was born February 11, 1732, old style; and we rightly observe the anniversary of his birth on the 22d of February, for the difference of styles was 11 days during the whole of the last century. The Pilgrimis landed on Plymouth Rock, Monday, December 11,1 1620, old style ; and it is an error to commemorate the anniversary of this event on December 22, because the difference of the styles was then 10, and not 11 days.
It has surprised me much, to find the same error committed in the inscription placed upon the monument erected to the memory of Har- vard, in our burying-ground, by the alumni of the college. Harvard died September 14, 1633, old style, as we learn from Danforth's Alma- nac for 1649, printed at Cambridge, a copy of which is in possession of Rev. Mr. Sewall, of Burlington. Gov. Everett, in his " address delivered at the erection of a monument to John Harvard, September 26, 1828," says, " He died on the 14th September, of the year follow- ing his arrival, corresponding in the new style, to the 20th of Septem- ber." This date, accordingly, is inscribed upon the granite shaft erected to his memory, as the date of his death.
But with deference to the eminent authority of the gentlemen con- cerned, may it not be said that this is evidently a mistake ?
It will be admitted, that at the time when Harvard died, there was a difference of 10 days between the reckoning of the old style and of the new ; in other words, that the day on which Harvard died, which was called in New England September 14th, was reckoned in Rome, and in all countries where the new style prevailed, September 24th, Harvard did not die, therefore, September 26, 1638, new style, unless that style, as then reckoned in Catholic countries, was incorrectly com- puted, which never has been maintained.
Perhaps it will be said, that although the difference of styles was only 10 days in the seventeenth century, it has now increased to 12 days. If this be true, the inscription upon the monument will still be incorrect, for it declares that Harvard died September 26, 1633, which was two days later than his death upon any supposition. But besides
1 Bradford and Winslow's journal, as published by the Rev. Mr. Young, in his valuable " Chronicles of the Pilgrims," gives the date of Monday as December 12, or the Saturday preceding, as December 10. p. 161. If this were the true date, December 22 would be the anniversary of the ever memorable landing. But it is obviously a mistake, as will appear from a comparison of the preceding and succeeding dates given in the journal -Wednesday being mentioned as December 6, while Saturday is given as December 10. Prince, quoting Bradford, gives the right date for Monday, December 11. The 21st of December, therefore, is the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrim, ou Plymouth Rock, the 22d having been fixed upon on the erroneous supposition that it corresponds to December 11, old style.
183
this, it is obviously a mistaken notion, that after a date of the 17th or 18th century has been changed to the new style in those centuries, by adding 10 or 11 days, any new correction is demanded for errors accumulated since. No such errors can be accumulated by the new style, but only by the old, which reckons one more leap year in four centuries than does the new style. February 22, 1832, is just one hundred years after February 22, 1732, new style, or February 11, 1732, old style. If it were not so, we ought now to observe the anni- versary of Washington's birthday, February 23d, on the supposition that there are 12 days difference now between new and old style, which is plainly absurd. Just so, September 24, 1838, is the second cen- tennial anniversary of Harvard's death, being exactly two hundred years after September 24, 1638, new style, or September 14, 1638, old style.
I find these views corroborated in a brief but lucid note appended to Professor Kingsley's discourse, on the second centennial anniversary of the settlement of New Haven. See also a full and accurate explana- tion of new and old style, and double dating, by Rev. Samuel Sewall, of Burlington, in the American Quarterly Register, vol. xiv. p. 254.
NOTE 14, page 21.
THE RECORDS AND COMPARATIVE AGE OF THE CHURCH.
THE following very accurate and minute description of the first volume of our church records, was drawn up with great labor by the Rev. Samuel Sewall, for the American Quarterly Register, volume xii., page 247.
The Records of this Church are, it is believed, the only records in exist- ence of any church in the County of Middlesex formed as early as the seven- teenth century, which have been kept in regular, and (in the main) unbroken series from the beginning, except the records of the Church of Lexington, gathered 1696. The Church of South Reading, (formerly First Church, Reading,) gathered 1645, has some very ancient records, but they are not entire ; nor do they reach quite back to its foundation.
This precious relic of antiquity is a small quarto volume of 386 pages, of which 381 are numbered. Of these, the first 357 pages are occupied by the Title, Table of Contents, Covenants, Admissions to the Church, Owners of the Covenant, Baptisms, and Marriages solemnized by Mr. Morton. The remaining pages, commencing with the last page, (the book being inverted,) are appropriated to recording Church votes, censures, the choice and ordina- tions of Church officers, (as pastors and deacons,) &c., though several of the last named matters of record are inserted among the Admissions.
Subjoined are copies or accounts of some interesting matters of record, contained in this venerable volume.
I. THE TITLE.
"The book that belongs unto the Church of God in Charltowne: which Church was gathered, and did enter into Church Covenant the 2d. day of the 9th. month 1632."-Elder Green, Ist page of blank leaf at the beginning.
1844
II. "THE CONTENTS.
" 1631. The names of those who did Enter into ye Covenant first, . p. 1 "The Covenant to particular persons for their Consent, when they are to be admitted 2
" 1632. Names of persons admitted . 3
" 1632. Names of the Baptized . 201
" 1665. Names of ye Baptized as have publiquely renewed Cove- nant with God & this Church, yet not taken into 101
Communion in ye Lord's Supper 179
" 1677. Names of such as have been admitted into this Church, but not unto full Communion
" 1658. Church Censures & Votes past in Weigty" other end of
(Weighty) "Cases by this Church of
Christ at Charles Town ye book.
" 1687. Names of persons Married by ye minister Mr. Morton, Ist page of blank leaf at beginning.
283"
The above Table of Contents is in the hand writing of Mr. Morton, who was the first and the only minister that recorded marriages in this book. Before his day, ministers in this country were not authorized to solemnize marriages. It is remarkable, that he should have prefixed the date '1631 ' to the two first articles of record, when, according to the title of the book just above it, the Church was not gathered till 1632.
III. " THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO DID ENTER INTO THE COVENANT FIRST.
" Increase, Parnel, Nowell.
The forme of the Covenant.
" Tho:, Christian, Beecher.
" Abra:, Grace, Palmer. <
" Ralph, Jone, Sprague.
" Edward, Sarah, Convers.
" Nicholas, Amy, Stowers.
" Ezek:, Susan, Richeson.
" Henery, Elizabeth, Harwood.
" Robert, Jone, Hale.
" Geo:, Margerit, Hucheson.
" Tho:, Elizab:, James.
" William, Ann:, Frothingam.
" Ralph, Alice, Mousall.
" Rice, Arrold, Cole.
" Richard, Mary, Sprague.
" Juhn, Bethiah, Ilaule.
" William Dade.
"Thomas Minor.
" Thomas Squire.
" These were dismissed from Boston Church the 14th of the eaight moneth 1632."
Page Ist.
IV. ADMISSIONS.
Among the Admissions to this church recorded in this book, are those of almost all its ministers before Mr. Paine, ordained in 1787, (when a new vol- ume had been substituted), and also of many others, both clergymen and laymen, who were men of eminence in their day.
Subjoined is the sum of admissions to full communion in this church down to the year 1768, as recorded in this first volume of its records. The occa- sional omission of given names in the records, or the occurrence of such as
" Wee whose names are heer written Beeing by his most wise and good provi- dence brought together, and desirous to unile or. selus into one Congregalion or Church, under or. Lord Jesus Christ our llead : In such sort as becometh all those whom he hath Redeemed and Sanctified unto himselfe, Doe heer Sollemnly and Keligeously as in his most holy presence, Promice and bynde or. selus lo walke in all or. wayes according to the Rules of the Gospell, and in all sinceer conformity to his holy Ordinances ; and in muluall Love and Respect each to other : so near as God shall give us grace."
" In the Name of or. Lord God, and in obedience to his holy will and divine ordi- nances.
185
Faintnot, Suretrust, Gardy, Manes, Menry, Randoll, Shippy, has rendered it impossible, in a few instances, to determine with certainty the sex of the members referred to.
Aggregate of Admissions.
Recorded by
Years.
Males.
Females. Uncertain. Total.
The Ruling Elder from 1632
to 1656,
136
189
9
334
Mr. Symmes,
1658
1660,
8
11
1
20
Mr. Shepard, sen.
1660
1677,
51
11%
166
Mr. Shepard, jun.
1680
1685,
20
40
0
60
Mr. Morton,
1686
1697,
27
41
1
69
Mr. Bradstreet,
1698
1731,
1.11
351
0
492
Mr. Abbot,
1731
1768,
128
305
435
514
1,049
13
1,576
The largest number of admissions in any one year, recorded in this ancient volume, was in 1741, the period of the revivals in the time of White- field. In that year, 66 persons were admitted. In 1639, there were 38 adınissions ; in 1652, 30 admissions ; in 1714, 25 admissions ; and in 1728, the year after "the Great Earthquake," October 29, 1727, there were 65 admissions. During the same year, (viz. 1728,) a corresponding increased attention to religion, and extraordinary additions to the churches, were observable very generally throughout New England. On the other hand, in 1649, 1651, 1653, 1651, 1663, and 1693, no addition to First Church Charles- town, are found upon record.
Before 1663, all admissions to this church were understood to be admis- sions to all the privileges of church members. But the adoption by the church that year, of the Result of the Synod of 1662, respecting Baptism, &c., led to a threefold distinction of its members in the subsequent arrange- ments of its records ; viz.,
1. " Persons admitted into full Communion."
2. "The names of such Children of the Covenant as have publickly renew'd their Covenant wth God and this Church, yet not taken unto Com- munion in ye Lds. Supp."-p. 101.
3. "The names of such persons as have been admitted into this Church, but not unto full Communion."-p. 179.
By the second distinction, persons appear to have been intended, who having in infancy been offered in baptism by their parents, being church members, were considered as virtually members of the church themselves, and subject to its inspection and discipline ; and who owning the covenant at mature age, were adınitted to the privilege of baptism for their children, but not as yet to the Lord's Table.
By the third distinction, all other persons were apparently denoted, who owning the covenant, were taken under the watch and discipline of the church, and obtained in it the privilege of baptism for themselves and their children, but did not commune in the Lord's supper.
Apparently however, both these distinctions were sometimes confounded in recording, especially by Mr. Morton; and his successors, Rev. Messrs. Brad- street and Abbot, recorded the names of persons of both descriptions, with- out discrimination, under the common title of " Renewers of the Covenant."
V. BAPTISMS.
The following is a copy of a memorandum respecting the number of bap- tisms in this church, entered at the close of the book, p. 381, apparently by Mr. Abbot.
24
186
" Memorandum, taken 21 Aug. 1771.
"The Rev. Mr. Gordon who came from London, came to visit me on the day abovesaid and borrowed the Ch. Books, that he might find by the Bap- tisms, the Proportion of Males to Females, that had been born among us. And upon search he found them equal from the Year 1632, when the Old Book was begun. And from that year to the present year 1771 according to his Calculation there were 2889 males, and 2889 females baptized. N. B. he found a Chasm in the Records, wherein no Entries were made of the Chil- dren Baptiz'd for 17 years. This Acct he gave me, when he return'd the Books unto me."
Subjoined is the result of an enumeration by the writer of this article, of the baptisms recorded in the " Old Book " alone : premising, that the occur- rence in the records of unusual given names has sometimes left the sex of the persons baptized undetermined; and that the occasional omission both of names and of numbers has in a few other instances made it uncertain how many were baptized. In cases of the latter description, the smallest number possible, under the circumstances given, has been assumed as the true one.
Sum of Baptisms.
Recorded by
Years.
1642,
81
82
0
0
163
163 0
The Ruling Elder from 1633
1653
1663,
5
6
5
5
16
16
0
Mr. Shepard, sen.
1659
1677,
301
271
0
0
575
569
6
Mr. Shepard, jun.
1680
1685,
135
149
14
11 993
286
12
Mr. Morton,
16
1636
1697,
985
338
0
0
623
562
61
Mr. Bradstreet,
1698
1731,
952
911
0
0
1,896
1,792
104
Mr. Abbot,
1731
1768,
1,093
1,075
0
5
2,173
2,132
41
Total recorded during 135 years,
2,852
2,868
19
21
5,744
5,520
224
In the above schedule of baptisms, all have been reckoned among adults, who are noticed expressly as being "young men," wives, widows, persons of 14 years old and upwards, or whose names are given alone, without the names of their parents, as well as those who are expressly called adults. All are accounted as " Infants," who are said to be the sons or daughters or chil- dren of such, or of such parents ; both those whose age is stated to be less than 14, and those whose age is not mentioned, and who constitute more than nineteen-twentieths of the whole. The earliest adult baptism recorded in this ancient volume, that has been observed, was in 1673.
Perhaps I shall find no more appropriate place to make a few remarks respecting the seniority of our churches.
The first church of Plymouth was gathered in 1602, or in 1606,1 when the original church became two. This church removed, after its organization, to Holland, and thence to Plymouth; and although the majority of the church, with their pastor, John Robinson, remained in Holland, yet it was determined that " those who go first, should be an absolute church of themselves, as well as those that stay; with this proviso, that as any go over or return, they shall be reputed as mem- bers, without further dismission or testimonial; and those who tarry to follow the rest as soon as they can."? This was obviously not an organization of a new church, but a temporary arrangement, created by the exigency of their situation, and designed to cease with it.
The first church of Salem was organized August 6, 1629.
2 Young's Chronicles, 77.
1 Prince, 100.
Mules. Females.
Unc. Unc. No. Sex.
T'otal. Infants. Adults.
Mr. Symmes,
187
The first church of Dorchester was organized in Jannary, 1630,1 in the New Hospital at Plymouth, in England. They set sail March, and settled in Dorchester, in June, the same year. In 1635, however, this church removed to Connecticut, and settled the town of Windsor. The present first church of Dorchester was formed August 23, 1636.
On the 30th July, 1630, church covenants were formed and sub- scribed in Charlestown and Watertown.
The Charlestown church, with their pastor, Rev. John Wilson, soon held their meetings in Boston. The present first church of Charles- town was formed from the Boston church, November 2, 1632. The writers upon our early history, before Mr. Savage,2 have represented our church as being the original, and the Boston church as the off- shoot. But this is disproved by the records of the respective churches,
The church in Roxbury was gathered in 1632, and another in Lynn the same year ; the last, however, was reorganized a few years after.
The church in Cambridge was organized October 11, 1633 ; but in 1636, they went with their pastor, Mr. Hooker, as the Dorchester people had done, to Connecticut, and settled the town of Hartford. The present first church of Cambridge was formed Feburary 1, 1636.
From the above, it will appear that the order of the churches, in respect of age, is as follows : 1. Plymouth ; 2 Salem; 3. Windsor, Connecticut ; 4. Boston and Watertown; 6. Roxbury ; 7. Charles- town ; 8. Hartford, Connecticut. After these, come, 9. Ipswich, 1634; 10. Newbury, 1635; 11. Weymouth, 1635, July; 12. Hingham, 1635, September; 13. Cambridge, February, 1636; 14. Concord, 1636, July ; 15. Dorchester, August, 1636.
NOTE 15, page 22.
THE NEW ENGLAND VERSION OF THE PSALMS.
THE version of Psalms, commonly used by the Fathers of New England in public worship, was that by Sternhold and Hopkins, which was printed at the end of their Bibles. With this translation they were dissatisfied, because it altered in so many instances, both the text and sense of the inspired Psalmist; and it was agreed upon, therefore, by the magistrates and ministers, that a new version should be pre- pared. The chief divines of the country took each of them a portion to translate ; but Mr. Welde and Mr. Eliot of Roxbury, and Mr. Mather of Dorchester, were the responsible editors of the work. Their poetic ability, however, seems not to have met with general commendation ; Mr. Shepard of Cambridge, addressed to them the following lines :
" You Roxbury poets, keep clear of the crime,
Of missing lo give us very good rhyme. And you of Dorchester, your verses lengthen, Bul with the lext's own words, you will them strengthen."
1 1 Hist. Coll. v. 166, and ix. 148.
2 Winthrop i. 94.
188
This version was printed at Cambridge, 1640, and was the first book published in New England. The first thing which was printed was the freeman's oath ; the next was an Almanac, made for New England, by Mr. William Peirce, mariner ; the next was the New Version of the Psalms. The work being thought, however, to require " a little more art," it was committed to Mr. Dunster, president of Harvard College, whose edition was in use among our churches till supplanted by Watts.
The great characteristic of the New England version, was an exact conformity to the original Hebrew and Greek. " I must confess," says Mather, "that the Psalms have never yet seen a translation, that I know of, nearer to the Ilebrew original." Mr. Prince, who, at the request of the Old South church, prepared a revised edition of the work in 1757, says in his preface of the original authors, that " they not only had the happiness of approaching nearer to the inspired original, than all other versions in English rhyme ; but in many places of excel-
ling them in simplicity of style, and in affecting terms, being the words of God, which more strongly touch the soul ; on which accounts, I found in England, it was by some eminent congregations preferred to all others in their public worship, even down to 1717, when I last left that part of the British kingdom." Still, it must be confessed, not- withstanding its correctness as a translation, and the occasional excel- lence of its style, that it has but little beauty or elegance, and that many of the lines are filled out with insignificant particles which gen- erally enfeeble the style.
This version was long in use among our churches-having passed through more than twenty editions-and was reluctantly exchanged by some congregations only after the American Revolution.
The church of Plymouth used Ainsworth's version, and did not adopt the New England version till the latter part of the seventeenth century.1
It was the practice for one of the officers of the church to read the hymns and give out the tune. Sometimes other persons were desig- nated to perform this duty. March 7, 1731, it was voted by the town, " that Mr. Stephen Badger, Jr., be desired to read and set the Psalms in the meeting-house, in the time of public worship. Then voted that Mr. Badger be excused his poll-tax so long as he officiates in said work."
NOTE 16, page 30.
THE SPIRIT OF THE PURITANS.
I Do not flatter myself that the imperfect account I have given of the origin and character of the Puritans, will commend itself to all as being just even as far as it goes. It is not an easy matter, at any time, to portray the character of a body of men who have originated some great movement; much less is it so, while that movement is still felt, and its final issues are yet unknown. Another difficulty in the way of
1 Magnala i. 367. 1 Ilist. Coll. vii. xix. and viii. 10. Winthrop i. 289. Wisner's Ilist. O. S. church, p. 99.
£
189
forming a just estimate of the Puritan character, arises, I apprehend, from the great diversity of views which prevailed in their own ranks. They were, it is important to remember, the reforming party of the church, embracing almost every shade of opinion from those who were ready to conform in all, or nearly all particulars, to those whose conscientious seruples were so numerous and powerful as to make them sympathize with the Separatists, who denounced the whole English (church, like the Roman, as anti-Christian. We doubt not, therefore, that there was a wide diversity of views in the Puritan party, ranging from high views of church authority on the one hand, to a near alliance with rigid separation on the other ; and this diversity affords to partizan writers materials for the most opposite representa- tions. But it should be carefully borne in mind, that the Puritans, as a body, were friends-earnest and cordial friends of the church of England. They held to its articles of doctrinal belief without excep- tion-they would have submitted to the essential parts of its discipline and worship, and might have been retained as the most energetic and self-denying members of the church, at the expense of the abolition of a few forms, not at all essential in themselves, and important only as test questions of obedience to authority in matters of religion not sus- tained by the word of God, and as a tyrannical interference, therefore, with liberty of conscience.
The Puritans were not only distinct from the Separatists, but main- tained spirited controversies with them. The Separatists and Puritans were agreed in receiving the doctrinal articles of the church of Eng- land, and in opposing certain ceremonies of worship, and unscriptural powers of her courts and bishops. But the Separatists went further, and denied that the English church, as constituted by law, was a true church of Christ; and affinined that it was a duty to separate from her, and all who held communion with her. This the Puritans zealously opposed, judging that they ought to remain in the church and labor for its reformation. " A separation," said one of them in 1608, " we deny not from the corruption of the church wherein we live ; but the difference is, we (i. e., the Puritans) suffer for separating in the church ; you, (i. e., the Separatists) out of the church." 1
At first, Robinson and his church were Separatists. But in Holland he is said, by conversing with Dr. Ames and Mr. Parker, to have grown more moderate ; and it is certain that the views he afterwards inculcated upon his church, were enlightened and catholic. " He ever held," says Winslow, who lived three years under his ministry, " how wary persons ought to be in separating from a church; and that till Christ the Lord departed wholly from it, man ought not to leave it, only to bear witness against the corruption that was in it."2
It is not a matter of surprise, therefore, that the Plymouth and Massachusetts colonies, although in England of different and opposing religious views, came to agree upon the same principles of church order. " There will be no difference," said Robinson in his farewell advice to the Pilgrims, " between the unconformable ministers and you, when they come to the practice of the ordinances out of the kingdom. And so he advised us by all means, to endeavor to close
I See Prince's Chron. p. 303.
2 Chron. Pil. p. 388.
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