^;4:?:- \. A4?**:«fe;:-^^ ^^Vri%%. -fi^.*:;;^-^^ ^^^IT^^^O'^ ^t."^^^\t^ %.''^^**aO'^ ^^'^i^^ bV £.^*C« ^-e.n't *Ov9*° DR. PIERCE'S SECOND CENTURY DISCOURSE. 1830. DISCOURSE DELIVERED AT DO RC TI E ST EiJ, ! : ON 17 JUNE, 1830, \ (To coinincmovnlc tl)c completion of tijc SECOND CENTURY FRO:\r [TS SETTLEMENT 4 / ^ ipaaidj^aaiiii i^iis^ssiQa BY JOHN PIERCE, D. D. Congregationnl Miniilcr of Brooklinc. -r^Q^^- BOSTON : FROM TIIR OFTICK OF THE DAILY ADVERTrSKR W. \,. liOwia, I'rintcr. 830. 1 ^ Dorchester, J 3 May, 1830. To Rev. John Pierce, D. D. Dear Sir, — The town of Dorchester, at a meeting on the 10th instant, voted to celebrate the first settlement of tlie town by a publick address commemorative of that event, and by other appropriate services, and selected 17 June next, P. M. as the most suitable day, that being about the termination of two centuries, since the commencement of the settle- ment. At the same time, the subscribers were appointed a Committee to select a speaker, and to make the necessary arrangements. The Committee have met, and chosen you to deliver the address ; and now, in behalf of the town, and of themselves individually, respectfully request, that you will gratify the inhabitants of your native town by an acceptance of the appointment. Your sincere friends and humble servants, SAMUEL P. LOUD, ^ DANIEL WITHINGTON, Committee WALTER BAKER, } of ABEL GUSHING, | Jlrrangemcnts. EBENEZER EATON, J Dorchester, 17 June, 1830. Dear Sir, — The Committee of Arrangements, in behalf of the inhabit- ants of Dorchester, tender to you their thanks for the very interesting and instructive Discourse, this day, delivered by you, in commemoration of the first settlement of the town, and request, that you will favour them with a co])y for publication. With great respect your obedient servants, SAMUEL P. LOUD, "1 DANIEL WITHINGTON, Committee WALTER BAKER, \ of ABEL GUSHING, | Jirrangements. EBENEZER EATON, J Brooklinc, 28 June, 1830. Gentlemen, The Discourse, delivered by your invitation, is submitted to your re- quest, with devout wishes for the best good of the town, whose inhabit- ants you represent, by your and their sincere friend, Samuel P. Loud, Esq. JOHN PIERCE Mr Daniel Withington, Col. Walter Baker, Abel Gushing, Esq. Capt. Ebenezer Eaton. Bo4 Pub. Lit. SECOND CENTURY DISCOURSE. On an occasion fraught with so many interesting associations, no topick has appeared to nic more appropriate to the season, or the place, or to llie assembly, whom 1 am invited to addrcs;;?, tlian that, suggested by PllOVERlJS xvii. (i. 'the (;lory (if cuii-DRr.N aue theiii fatiieus.' Think not, from the subject proposed, that I am about to enter upon an extravagant and unqualified eulogy of our venerable ancestors. It would be unjust to their memories to treat with such praise those, who, with imaflccted humility and contrition, were so ready to lament their many imperfections. IMucli lesfe shall I be expected to particularize or reprobate their foibles or their vices. A much more suitable ex|^ression of filial piety is it, while we spread the mantle of oblivion or of charity over their failings, as men, to propose, as worthy of careful imitation, of everlasting remem- brance, their pre-eminent virtues, as christians. It may be proper here to premise the glory, which is claimed for the fathers of our risinii^ Re- publick. An imperfect ac(|uaintance with their history will convince us, that they were not inflated with the 'pomp and vain glory of this world.' So far Ironi allecling to shine iti courts, they were willing, in pursuit of tlieir darling object, to bo treated, as the ' oftscouring of all things.' So far from cov- eting the fame of military heroes, their highest ambition was to become ' good soldiers of Jesus Christ?' A respectable portion of them were per- sons of independent property and of distinction, in their native land ; yet such wq.s the simplicity of their manners, and dress, and style of living, as to excite the inconsiderate ridicule of some descend- ants, who know not how to estimate their virtues. Indeed who can contemplate their characters, and not be struck with their similarity to the He- brew worthies, commemorated by the Apostle ? Like the great father of the faithful, when believ- ing themselves ' called to go out into places, which they should after receive for an inheritance, obey- ed ; and they went out, not knowing whither they went.' Like Moses, ' they chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the re- proach of Christ greater riches,' in following the impulse of duty, ' than all the treasures of their native land, purchased, or secured, at the sacrifice of conscience. In short, who can attentively con- sider their various trials, and their manner of en- countering them, in the land of their birth, on the trackless ocean, and in this then unexplored wilderness, and not find many circumstances to remind him of those ancients, ' who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtain- ed promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of aliens ; and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they nnght obtain a better resurrection ; and others had trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonments ; they were tempted, were slain with the sword ; tliey wandered about destitute, ailhctcd, tormented ; of wliom tlic world was not worthy !' It was then the true glory of our fathers to view every thing in the light of eternity. The more you become acquainted with their principles, their manner of life, their conscientious and uniform re- sistance to the mandates of prelatical power, their motives in settling this land, and tlieir provision for posterity, the more will you be convinced, that all was dictated by a spirit of piety. The Retormation from Popery, under Henry the Vlllth, ellected much ; but it left many glaring abuses to bo reformed. Under his own, and some subsequent reigns, there was too much reason for the scrupulous to complain, that, in many respects, there was but a transfer of power from tlie tiara at Rome to the English crown. Hence nearly equal dominion was claimed over the riglits of conscience by the British monarch and by tJie Roman Pontiil". Time would fail me, were I barely to allude to the leading abuses, wliich were intolerable to our puritan fathers, and which impelled them, at every hazard, to meditate and finally to eifect the settle- ment of this country.* Suffice it, at present, to remark, that, when Henry the VHIth, Queens Mary and Elizabeth, Kings James I and Charles 1 resolved, with a perseverance, which no resistance could subdue, upon a hopeless uniformity in faith and in wor- ship ; and, in the accomplishment of their favourite purpose, punished all dissenters with lines, civil disabilities, cor[)oral punishment, imprisonment, and martyrdom, under its most frightful forms ; then was it submitted to our fathers, either tamely * Wlioever wishes for a minute tlescripliou of tiiese events may have his curiosity amply gratified by perusing Neale's invaluable History of the I'uritans. 6 to yield to such arbitrary claims ; or else, at the sacrifice of every inferiour good, resolutely to resist them. Nor did they hesitate in the choice of evils. After every possible attempt to soften the obdu- rate hearts of their persecutors by a blameless life, by a careful submission to all laws, but such, as involved the inalienable rights of conscience, by mild persuasion, by firm remonstrance, by re- tired worship, like the primitive christians, so as to shun, instead of courting observation, they hesi- tated no longer, what course to pursue. They nobly resolved to forsake everything of an earthly nature, which might tempt them to prove traitorous to their God and Saviour ; they 'took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves, that they had in heaven a better, and an enduring substance;' and to their wise determination, under heaven, are we indebted for the early and perma- nent settlement of New England. It is to religion then, the religion of the gospel, so dear to the hearts of our fathers, that we owe the colonizing of these borders, under such fa- vourable auspices ; and, above all, our invaluable civil, literary, and religious institutions, which, un- der God, are the firm foundations of our pros- perity, as a people, and which will always consti- tute our highest glory. Say not, that worldly views mingled with higher motives in settling this land. Adventurous specu- lators* were then, as at all other times, ready to avail themselves of circumstances. They accord- ingly, at various periods, invested large sums in traffick. But so unproductive were investments of this nature, at that early period, that, were it not for sublimer motives, this portion of our land * See an account of Mr Weston's company, who were sent to what has shice been called Weymouth, in Dudley's Letter to the Countess of Lincoln, in His. Coll. First Series, Vol. Vlll. p. 37. could not have l)cen tlius early colonized, much less could it have been settled by such a pious and hardy race, abounding in such noble enterprises. Akin to the first European inliabitants of this town, in the same 'darling enterprise engaged,' and but ten years their precursors, was that sacred band, which first setded Plymouth. At the very commencement of the seventeenth century, they had fled, first to Amsterdam, then to Leyden, in Holland, for the uninterrupted enjoyment of privi- leges, which had been inhumanly denied them in their native land. In this latter place they re- mained, eleven years ; where*, having no oppor- tunity to follow husbandry, to wdiicli most of them had been accustomed; finding the climate insalu- brious ; residing among foreigners, with whom there were so few sympathies ; and, above all, having such examples set before their youth of licentiousness on the Lord's day, they resolved upon a still farther removal. After many prayers and inquiries, they applied to the Virginia Com- pany to ascertain, 'whether King James would grant them liberty of conscience in his American dominions. t Their petition is couched in these afi'ecting terms ;t that they were so 'weaned from the deli- cate milk of their own country, and so inured to the difi[iculties of a strange land, that no small things would discourage them, or make them wish to return home ; that they had acquired habits of frugality, industry, and self-denial, and were united in a solemn covenant, by which they were bound to seek the welfare of the whole company, and of every individual person.' * For a full account of tiieir motivos in leaving Holland, spe Morton's New England's Memorial, Judge Uavis's Edition, p. 19, &.c. which is the fifth edition ; as also for a most satisfactory history of Plymouth Colony. I Soe liflkna])'s American Biography, Vol. II. p. 109. 1 Hazard, 52. 8 A favourable answer having been given to their petition, on projecting a transportation, it was found, that the major part of them could not be prepared.^ It was therefore determined, that Elder Brewster sliould accompany the minority ; and that the Rev. John Robinson should continue with the larger portion, till a favourable opportunity should arrive for their removal. By the inscruta- ble Providence of God, his premature death pre- vented the execution of his darling purpose.! But in his farewell addresst to the beloved pil- grims, as they were about to depart for these American shores, 'he being dead, yet speaketh.' Would to God, that its sentiments were engraven on every heart, 'as with a pen of iron, and the point of a diamond.' I will not be negligent to put you, my beloved hearers, in remembrance of them, though ye already know them ; for I shall take it for granted, that you can never read, or hear them, without deep emotion, and a lively interest. ' Brethren,'^ said he, ' we are now quickly to part from one another ; and whether I may ever live to see your faces on earth any more, the God of heaven only knows. But whether the Lord hath appointed that, or not, I charge you before God and his blessed angels, that you follow me no farther, than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. 'If God reveal any thing to you by any other instrument, be as ready to receive it, as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry ; for I am verily persuaded, I am very confident, that the ■" Belknap's American Biography, Vol. II. p. 171. i He died 1 March, 1G25, ajred 50. X Neale's History of New-England, Vol. I. p. 78. § This is an extract from his Fast sermon, delivered, July, 1020. In this connexion shonld be read his Farewell Letter to the Plymouth Pil- grims, as contained in Morton's Memorial, p. 24. Lord lias more truth yet to break forlli from his lioly word. For my i)art, I cannot sufllciently be- wail the condition of the Reformed Churches, who arc come to a period in religion, and will go at present no farther, than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw. Whatever part of his will our good God has revealed to Calvin, they will rather die, than embrace it. And the Calvin- ists, you see, stick fast, where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all tilings. ' This is a misery much to be lamented, for though they were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God ; but, were they now living, would be as willing to embrace farther light, as that, which they first received. I beseech you, remember, it is an article of your church covenant, " that you be ready to re- ceive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the written word of God." llcmembcr that and every other article of your sacred covenant. But I must here exhort you to take heed, what you receive as truth. Examine it, consider it, compare it with other scriptures of truth, before you receive it ; for it is not possible, that the christian world should come so lately out of such thick antichris- tian darkness, and that perfection of knowledge should break forth at once.'" With such sentiments on toleration so far in ad- vance of his period, who can help regretting, that he had not lived to contribute his mighty inlluence toward the promotion of similar sentiments in the * ' Words almost astonisliinjr in that age of low and universal bigotr}', which then prevailed in the English nation ; wherein this truly great and learned man seems to be almost tiie only divine, who was capable of rising into a noble freedom of thinking and practising in religious matters, and even of uriring such an erjual lilierty on his own jieople. Jle labours to take them otl' from their .-iltariiment to liim, that lliey uiiirlit be more entirely free to search and lollow the scriptures.' Prince's New England Chro- nology, p. 17G. 2 10 minds of cotcmporaries ? For it cannot be denied, and need not bo concealed, that our first settlers, exemplary as they were in other respects, had juster notions in claiming liberty of conscience for themselves, than in granting it to others. Even the excellent Governour Winthrop,* that invaluable historian of our early fathers, during the nineteen years, in which he lived among them, with all his enlargement of mind, and his mildness of spirit in his native land, was carried away by the intolerant spirit prevailing here, so as loo much to favour it. It is refreshing, however, to hnd him, in the latter part of his life, returning to juster sentiments. ' In the time of his last sickness, when Dudley, the deputy governour, pressed him to sign an order for the banishment of a person, who was deemed het- erodox, he refused, saying that he had done too much of that work already. 'f Much may be said in extenuation of the intoler- ant principles and practices, withwdiich our fathers were juslly chargeable. Theirs was the spirit of the age. To condemn them, therefore, without mercy, without regard to the mitigating circum- stances of their case, would savour of the bigotry, which we agree to reprobate. To criminate them unreservedly, on account of their severity toward Roger Williams, the Antinomians, the Friends, and the Baj)tists would amount to the senseless com- plaint, that they were not born a century and a half later. t The heaviest charges, which can be justly alleged against them only add one more proof to what will be always found true, that ' the best of men are but men at the best ! ' * For a most satisfactory account of tlie early settlement of Massachu- setts Colony, see his History of New England from 1C30 to 1C49, tran- scribed with immense labour and skill from the original manuscripts by James Savage, Esq. and enriched by him with copious notes. t Belknap's Amer. Biog. Art. Winthrop, Vol. II. p. 356. t For an admirable vindication of our Fathers in these and other respects, the reader is referred to Judge Story's Centennial Discourse at Salem 18 September, 1828. 11 For, as remarks one of their justest and most considerate bioiiraphers,''^' ' toleration liad not then been introduced into any of the Protestant coun- tries ; and even the wisest and best men were afraid of it, as tlie parent of all errour and mischief. They maintained, that all men had liberty to do rii^ht, but no liberty to do icrong. However true this principle may be in j)oint of morality, yet in matters of opinion, in modes of faith, worshi[), and ecclesiastical order, the question is, who shall bo the judge of right and wrong ? And it is too evident from their conduct, that they supposed the power of judging to be in those, who were vested with authority ; a principle destructive of liberty of conscience and the right of private judg- ment, and big with all the horrours of persecution. The exercise of such authority they condemned in the high church party, who had oj)pressed them in England ; and yet, such is the frailty of human nature, they held the same principles, and prac- tised the same oppressions on those, who dissented from them.' Within eight years from tlie settlement of Ply- mouth Colony, and before she had increased to 300 souls, the Council for New England sold the Massacliusetts Patent,t on 19 March, 1(328, to certain proprietors. In September, of this year. Captain John Endi- cotj and company arrived at Salem, and com- menced the first permanent settlement of Massa- chusetts Colony. On G August, 1029, was gathered, in Salem, the first Congregational church^ ever organized in America. * Belknap, in his Amer. Biog. Vol. 11. pp. 350, 355. t Prince's New Enjr. Chron. p. 247. t Judge Story s Centennial Discourse. § This church ' celebrated the first century,' in a Lecture delivered by their pastor, the Rev. Samuel Fisk, (3 August, 1729. On the completion 12 Early in the year 1630, a church was gathered, at the new hospital, at Plymouth, in England, un- der the direction of the Rev. John White, prepara- tory to the embarkation of the first settlers in this town.* The Rev. John Maverick and the Rev. John Warham were, at the same time, set apart, as ministers of this church, they bearing a part in the solemnities of the occasion. They had been previously ordained by bishops of the church of England ; so that it is probable, that the solemni- ties of this occasion amounted to what is now termed an Installation. During this year, seventeen ships,t full of pass- engers and their effects, sailed from various ports, in England, for the settlement of this country ; and all, without one exception, arrived in safety. The first, which sailed, was the Lion, Captain Peirce, in February, from Bristol. But she being engaged in the service of the Plymouth Colony, the lirst vessel for the Massachusetts Colony was the Mary and John, of 400 tons, commanded by Captain Squeb. She sailed from Plymouth, in England, on 20 March, O. S., and arrived at Nantasket 30 May. These Avere subsequently the first settlers of this town. The captain had engaged to land them up Charles River ; but he perfidiously set them on shore at Nantasket. J The principal events, which happened, till their permanent settlement in this place, were detailed with much force and with touching pathos by Cap- of the second century, August, 1829, the Rev. Charles Wentworth Uphara, junior pastor of the church, delivered the second ce'ntury Lecture, which is printed, and which contains an elahorate history of this ancient church. See also his Dedication Sermon, IG November, 182G. * For many interesting particulars, see ' Chronological and Topographi- cal Account of Dorchester,' by the Rev. Dr. Harris, in His. Coll. Old Se- ries, Vol. IX. p. 147, &c. t For the names of these ships, whence and when they sailed, and when and where they arrived, consult Prince's Chron. p. 32!). t ' Captain Squeb was, afterwards, obliged to pay damages for this con- duct.' Trumbull's His. Conn. Vol. I. p. 23. tain Roncr Clap,* a passenjicr in this vessel, one of the lirst settlers, and whose descendants with liis collateral relations liavc been, from that time to the j)r(^sent, amoni^- the most numerous and rcs[)cct- ablc families in this town. This book, entitled Clap's Memoirs, has been repeatedly published, and, it is probable, is in many families in this place. It is well adapted to impress us with our obligations to the merciful Disposer of our lot for making the circumstances of this people so different from their early beginnings, on this day, which we celebrate, as the completion of the second century from the settlement of the town. A more particular account of this town is still extant, in manuscript, written by James Blake, for many years town-clerk, town-treasurer, and prin- cipal selectman in this town.f He begins with describing the motives and projects of the first set- tlers, gives a very minute account of the principal events and transactions here, for 120 years, to the time of his death, in 1750. This manuscript has been the principal authority for all the early ac- counts which have been published of Dorchester to this day. This town was called DorcLester,t in honour of * See his Memoirs republislied, in 1507. In the Appendix is ;i minute account of his family by James IJlake. t James Blake was the son of James, the grandson of James, the great- grandson of \Villiam and Agnes, who were some of the first settlers. He was horn 30 A[>ril, Ki*^':*, and died 4 Deceniher, IT.jO, aged (il?. His Annals have been much rpioted. Many j):irts of them have been jirintedin diflerent works, and at diH'erent times. He surveyed many farms in Dor- chester ; and the projections ingeniously and elegantly made are amono- the most valuable documents of his native town. From Cla|)'s Memoirs and Blake's Annals most of the authorities, not otherwiHC |)articularized, are derived. t The Indian name was Matapaii. This is also the name ol the south- most ca])e in Greece. William Wood, who left this country for England, 1.") August, 1G33, in a book called New England's Prospect, p. 42, remarks, 'Dorchester is the greatest town in New England, (but I am informed that others equal it, since [ came awiiy.) well wooded and watered ; very good arable grounds, and hay ground, i'air ciirn-fields, rind ])lfasnnt giirdcns witli kitchen gar- dens. The inhabitants of this town were the first that set upon the trade 14 the Rev. John White, minister of the town bearing this name in England, and who has ah-eady been mentioned as the principal agent in setting apart the first ministers who were settled here. He is supposed also to have been the author of a cele- brated state paper, published and signed by Gov- ernour Winthrop and others, entitled, 'The humble request of his Majesty's loyal subjects, the Gover- nour and Company late gone for New England to the rest of their brethren in and of the Church of England, for the obtaining of their prayers, and the removal of suspicions and misconstructions of their intentions.'* He must have been considered a distinguished man indeed, whose agency should have been esteemed necessary to draw a paper for the signature of such a scholar and civilian, as Governour Winthrop. Clap, Blake, Winthrop, and Prince, all speak of the arrival of the passengers in the Mary and John, for permanent settlement here, in the begin- ning of June, 1630. But none of them mention the precise day.f This, then, is the season, two hundred years ago, when our fathers first settled down in this then desolate wilderness ; and they first chose the land separated from the main body of the town, because they could tiiere the more easily preserve their cattle from wandering, and defend their fam- ilies from the incursions of the aboriginals. How astonishing the changes, when, in one hun- dred and fortyfive years after this, just fiftyfive years ago, this day, a few raw and undisciplined of fishing in the hay, who received so much fruit of their labours, tliat they encouraged others to the same undertakings.' * Tills instrument may be found in Histor. Coll. Second Series, Vol. V. p. 126. It was read at tlie second centennial celebration, by the Rev. Dr. Harris. t Doubtless because, having been dispersed, they came together in successive days. 15 troops of New England, on the flimod licin-hts of Cliarlcstown, wcro cnablc() to sustain and rc])cl, with immense liavock, rc[)eate(l onsets from select corps of the veteran British army, and disdained to yield to snperiour numbers and disciplin(^, till their means of resistance had wholly failed tliem ! It is a well ascertained fact, that 'Dorchester* was the first settled churchf and town in the county of SuH'olk,' of which she formed a part till 1793. Hence, as Prince remarks, 'in all military musters, or civil assemblies, where dignity is re- garded, she used to have the precedency.' To this fact is it owing, that, after much controversy respecting the rank of her troops, it was finally decided, tliat they belonged to the first regiment of the first brigade of the first division in the State. Accordingly it is settled that, witli those of Rox- bury and Brookline, they constitute the first regi- ment of the militia in Massachusetts. It is observable, that the passengers in the Mary and John, as well as the pilgrim fathers at Ply- mouth, arrived on these shores, on the Lord's day. From their known habits, we cannot doubt, what was their first delightful enniloyment. They, whose meat and drink it was, on every day of the week, to worship God ; they, who, according to their annalist, J made their 'long passage comforta- ble by having preaching or expounding of the scriptures, every day of their passage, performed l)y their ministers,' must have joined with no com- mon delight in the religious services of their first sabbath on these American shores. Though the coast, on which they were landed, was far dif- * Prince's New England Chronology, p. 278. t Dorchester churcTi is second only to Salem church in the Massachu- setts colony. See the arrangrenient of churches by James Savage, Esq. in Winthrops History of New England, Vol. 1. p. 05. 1 lilake's Annals. 16 ferent from what they had anticipated ; though they had no guide, even a cloud by day, nor a pillar of fire by night, but simply the leadings of Providence, about which they were still uncertain ; yet they doubtless felt, that they had many causes for devout gratitude. In imagination we hear them presenting united homage to their merciful Deliverer ; 'Lowly tliey bowed, adoring, and began Their orisons,' enlivened by sacred musick, sung in strains derived from their homely, yet scriptural psalmody. Their affection for the land of their fathers' sepulchres is chastened, yet not subdued, by the persecutions they suffered. They pray for their dear native country, that she may know the things, which concern her peace and prosperity. They render hearty thanks for the mercies of their long and perilous voyage ; and they devoutly implore the God of their fathers to give success to their haz- ardous enterprise. It is here natural to inquire, who were the people that, two hundred years ago, settled in these now pleasant places, but then, alas ! fields of labour, of self-denial, and of doubtful success ? Many of us feel a more than common curiosity in this investigation, as from the pilgrim settlers of this town we trace our origin, in both lines, in uninterrupted succession to the present time. Were they then, as their enemies basely and unfeelingly represented them,* fugitives from jus- tice in their native land, whom vengeance suffered not there to live ? Were they greedy speculators, who hoped here to acquire a livelihood, in ease and indulgence, not to be obtained in the country * For an ample refutation of this slander, see Morton's New England's Memorial, p. 20, &c. 17 whence they came? Were tliey unprincipled mal- contents, unwilling- to submit to the just restraints of religion and good government, and who were im[)elled, in a fit of resentment, to try any change, that ofiered ? We admit, that some of these descriptions, by mistake, followed our fathers into this western world. But they soon found themselves out of their element. They soon ascertained, to their cost, that this was no place for idlers, vairrants, druidvards, rebels, nor infidels ; and with all con- venient despatch they went away, and walked no more witli these followers of Jesus. Tiie result of such experiments never failed to verify the statements of Elder Brewster, as to the kind of men, who should not, and those, who should, come to settle here. Thus in the preface to his Sermon preached at Plymouth, and printed first in England, in 1622, he observes, ' That for men, which have a large heart, and look aft(u- great riches, ease, pleasure, dainties, and jollity in this world, (except they will live by other men's sweat, or have great riches,) I would not advise them to come here ; for as yet the country will aflbrd no such matters. But if there be any, who are con- tented to lay out their estates, spend their lime, labours, and endeavours for the benefit of them, that shall come after, and in desire to fin-ther the Gos[)el among these poor lujathens, (luietly con- tenting themselves with such hardshif)s and difii- culties, as by God's providence shall fall upon them, beiufT yet young and in their strength, such men I would advise and encourage to go ; for their ends cannot fail them.' Similar sentiments are expressed by Thomas Dudley, the first Lieutenant Governour of this Col- ony. In a letter to the Countess of Lincoln, 28 r> O 18 March, 1631,* he writes, 'If any come hitherto plant for worldly ends, that can live well at home, he commits an errour, of which he will soon repent him. But if for spiritual, he may find here, what may well content him, namely, materials to build, fuel to burn, ground to plant, seas and rivers to fish in, a pure air to breathe in, good water to drink, till wine or beer can be made. In a word, we yet enjoy little to be envied, but much to be pitied in the sickness and mortality of our people. If any godly men out of religious ends will come over to help us in the good work we are about, I think they cannot dis- pose of themselves, nor their estates more to God's glory and the furtherance of their own reckoning. But they must not be of the poorer sort yet, for divers years. And for profane and debauched persons, their oversight in coming hither is won- dered at, where they shalTfind nothing to content them. If there be any endued with grace, and furnished with means to feed themselves and theirs, for eighteen months, and to build and plant, let them come into our Macedonia and help us ; and not spend themselves and their estates in a less profitable employment. For others, I conceive, that they are not fitted for this business.' That such, as is here desired, was the actual character of the first settlers, might be proved from numberless unquestionable testimonies. I shall content myself with a few. Thus in an addressf of the General Court of this Colony to Charles II, in 1661, they appeal to his Majesty and to the world, that ' they are not seditious, as to the interests of Csesar, nor schis- * Prince's New England Chron. p. 348. t Neal's His. of New Eng. as quoted by Dr Colman, in the preface to his Election Sermon, in 1723. See also Prince's Election Sermon, in 1730, a century from the settle- ment of Boston. 19 niatical as to matters of religion. We distinguish,' say tlu^y, * between ciiiirches and their injpuritics. We could not live without the publick worshij) of God, nor be permitted the publick worship without such a yoke of subscription and conformity, as wo could not consent unto without sin. That we might therefore enjoy divine worship without human mixtures, without olfence to God, man, and our own consciences, we with leave, but not without tears, departed from our country, kindred, and fatiiers' house into this Patmos.' In an election sermon, 16G8, by William Stough- ton,* born in this town, in 1632, who was Lieutenant Governour of this Commonwealth, Chief Justice of the S^upreme Court, an agent to the court of Great Britain, a preaclier of the gospel in this place, an eminent scholar, civilian, and divine, there is this testimony of our fathers by one, who knew them well. ' O what parents and predeces- sors may we, the most of us, look back unto. Those, that have gone before us, in the cause of God here, who, and what were they ? Certainly choice and picked ones, whom he eminently pre- pared, and trained up, and (jualified for this ser- vice. They were worthies, men of singular ac- complishments, and of long and great experience. Yet did they walk with fear and trembling before "On 10 Anirust, 1(502. the old age of Mr Mather. Mr Stoughton was invited to preach, in liis native town, ' in a constant way.' In the Clnirch Records there is an account of'si.\ di.stinct calls, which he received, at different times, to settle in the ministry. On :W October, IGGi), the year of Mr Mather's death, the church hear- ing, that Mr Stoughton was about to give a negative answer to their si.xth call, appointed a committee to desire the Boston ministers and churches to persuade him to accept. But he persevered in his refusal, assignimr no other caune, than ' for some reasons within myself lie continued to sup- ply, till Mr Flint's ordination, in 1G7I. When sent an agent to England, the church appointed a day of fasting and prayer on his account. Dor- chester Church Records. After the death of Mr Mitchel,at Cambridge, in 1()G8, 'the church and society invited .Mr WiUi;iiii Stoughton to become their minister ; but they were denied.' His. of Cambridge in His. Coll. Vol. VII. p. 30. 20 the Lord in the sense of their own nothingness, and insufficiency for the work here to be done. O what were the open professions of the Lord's peo- ple, that first entered this wilderness ? How did our fathers entertain the gospel, and all the pure institutions thereof, and those liberties, which they brought over ? What was their communion and fellowship in the administrations of the kingdom of Jesus Christ? What was the pitch of their brotherly love, of their zeal for God and his ways, and against ways destructive of truth and holiness ? What was their humility, their mortification, their exemplariness ? How much of holiness to the Lord was written upon all their ways and transac- tions ! God sifted a whole nation, that he might send choice grain over into this wilderness.' By a powerful writer in modern times, the Puri- tans of those days are thus described. ' They were men, whose minds had derived a peculiar character from the daily contemplation ofsuperiour beings and eternal interests. Not content with acknowledging, in general terms, an overruling Providence, they habitually ascribed every event to the will of the great Being, for whose power noth- ing was too vast ; for whose inspection nothing was too minute. To know him, to serve him, to enjoy him, was with them the great end of existence. They rejected with contempt the ceremonious hom- age, which other sects substituted for the pure worship of the soul. Instead of catching occa- sional glimpses of the Deity through an obscuring veil, they aspired to gaze full on the intolerable brightness, and to commune with him face to face. Hence originated their contempt for terrestrial dis- tinctions. The difference between the greatest and the meanest of mankind seemed to vanish, when compared with the boundless interval, which separated the whole race from him, on whom their 21 own eyes were constantly fixed. They recognized no title to superiority, hut his favour ; and coiifi(hint of that fav(jur, they desj)ised all the accomplisii- ments and all the dignities of the world.'* These testimonies a[)ply to the first settlers of this Colony g(Mierally, including our fatlicrs of this town. Blake, who was of the third generation from them, remarks, 'that they were a very godly and religious people ; and many of them persons of note and figure, being dignified with the title of Mr, which but few in those days were.' I must not omit to mention, that our fathers were scrupulous in purchasing the lands, which they set- tled, from the natives, and procuring fair titles. Evidence of this fact will abundantly appear from the town records, and from other sources ; also of their assignment of lands, within their borders, for the benefit of those natives, who, from improvi- dence and other causes, had become destitute. The natural consequence was, that they lived in j)eace with these sons of the forest ; and all the testimonies extant, in relation to them, are of a y^acifick character. The territory of Dorchester was originally so large, that it now comprises the most of six towns.f Besides, a part of wdiat was originally settled, has been annexed to our neighbouring capital. J But so memorable are the associations with a por- tion of that territory, at the commencement of our struggle for independence, that, whatever else it may be called, it can never lose the name, in his- tory, nor the glory attached to it, of Dorchester Heights. The fundamental principles of our fathers, by which they justified the Reformation from Popery, * Ed. Rev. Vol. XLII. p. 339. t Dorchester, Milton, Canton, Stoughton, Sharon, and a part of Fox- borough. X Soutli Boston. 22 and their removal from the Church of England, notwithstanding tliey embraced tlie same doctrinal sentiments with this latter church, are thus stated by Prince, in Jiis New England Chronology.* ' They were in the sentiments, which since, the famous Mr Chillingworth tells us, that, after long study, he also came into; namely, that the inspired scriptures only contain the true religion ; and espe- cially nothing is to be accounted the Protestant religion, respecting either faith or worship, but what is taught in them ; as also in the same senti- ments, which the present celebrated bishop Hoadly and many other great men have so nobly defended, as the right of human nature, as the very basis of the Reformation, and indeed of all sincere religion, namely, that every man has a right of judging for himself, of trying doctrines by them, and of wor- shipping according to his apprehension of the meaning of them.' Lest any should ascribe undue credit to Mr Rob- inson for defending these principles, Mr Prince re- marks, 'As for Mr Robinson's being the author of Independency, Mr Cotton replies, that the New Testament was the author of it, and it was receiv- ed in the times of purest, primitive antiquity, many hundreds of years before Mr Robinson was born ; and Governour Winslow says, that the primitive churches in the apostolick age are the only pattern, which the churches of Christ in New England have in their eye ; not following Luther, Calvin, Knox, Ainsworth, Robinson, Ames, or any other, farther than tliey followed Christ and his apostles.' In the exercise of this liberty, so rationally expressed, and so nobly maintained, our ancestors in England separated from the Roman Catholick hierarchy, and our Puritan fathers renounced the * Page 176. 23 dominion of the Englisli Cliurch. In tlie exercise of this liberty, they also, with hardly a solitary exception, subscribed to the Confession of tlie Westminster Divines. By this, as a rule for inter- preting the scriptures, their ministers preached, and prayed, and catechised ; parents scrupulously instructetl their children; and ecclesiastical coun- cils, conventions, and synods formed their de- cisions. Thus far they acted consistently with their professions. They stood fast in the liberty, wherewith, they apprehended, Christ had made them free. But when they proceeded farther, and insisted on interpreting the scriptures for others, as well as for themselves ; and when, in the main- tenance of this claim, they fell to persecuting the Baptists, Friends, and other dissenters from their faith, greatly as we honour their memories, much as we glory in our descent from them, and desirous as we are to follow them, where we see, that they followed the Lord Jesus Christ, we are obliged here to pause ; and, while we drop a tear, we would draw a veil over the imperfections, which they shared with the very best men of their day. Should we be constrained to come to dilferent conclusions from themselves, we rejoice in the conviction, that it is in consistence with the very princij)les, with which they nobly burst the shackles of ecclesiastical usurpation, and gloriously asserted the religious liberties of mankind. Of the two first pastors of this church, Mav- erick and Warham, we know but little, as they remained here, but little more than five years. The Rev. John Warham, the junior pastor, went with so large a portion of his })eople and of his church to settle ^Vindsor, in Connecticut, that the people here were obliged to reorganize their church, the next year, on the settlement of Mr 24 Mather.* As the records of the church begin at this latter period, it is probable, that Mr Warham carried the original church records with him to Connecticut. He laboured there, beloved and re- spected, thirtyfive years, to the time of his de- cease.! The Rev. John Maverick, senior pastor, diedl the winter after the removal of his colleague, with the niajor part of the church. As one evi- dence of the estimation, in which he was holden, you may find his name, in the town records, stand first in all the instruments conveying lands to the. settlers, during his ministry. In 1G95, another company, sufficiently numerous to constitute a settlement, emigrated from this place to South Carolina, and settled a town on Ashley river, which they named after the place of their nativity.^ In a ^ew years the survivors mi- grated farther, to Midway || in Georgia. A respec- table divine, H now living, who was once their pastor, has remarked the striking similarity be- tween their descendants and the natives of this place ; and has been heard to observe, that the former differed as greatly from all the surrounding inhabitants, as did the Jews from the Canaanites. In the last century,** the town now called Ash- burnham 'was granted to heirs of those in Dor- chester, who perished in an unsuccessful expedi- tion against Canada, and was called Dorchester Canada.' One of the great evils to a country arising from * 23 August, 1636. t 1 April, 1670. t 3 February, 1636. § The church was gathered here, 22 October. 1695. See Harris's His. JDorch. His. Coll. Vol. IX. p. 156. Also Holmes' Amer. Annals, first edition, Vol. H. p. 34. II The Rev. Dr Codman not long since visited this place, and almost fancied himself among his own people. In the burial ground there, he was surprised to find so kw instances of longevity. II The Rev. Dr Holmes, of Cambridge. ** See a half-century sermon preached at Ashburnham, 3 November, 1818, by the Rev. John Cushing, its second minister. 'In 1690, lost at sea fortysix soldiers, that went to Canada." Blake's Annals. 25 persecution for conscience' sake is the expulsion of lier best citizens, who are obliged to seek in other places an asylum, which is inhumanly denied them at home. Tlius at the revocation of the edict of Nantz, in 1085, many of the most useful inhabitants of France fled for their lives and liberties to Europe, and some to the United States, whose descendants have been some of our most highly respected people. How many also of this description were banished by the late sangui- nary French revolution ! In like manner, to the persecution of Bishop Laud and others of a kindred spirit, are we in- debted for some of the most distinguished early settlers. To this cause does this town owe the early set- tlement of the Rev. Richard Mather among them, a divine, who would have done honour to any na- tion or to any age. Such was his catholick spirit at that intolerant period, that in a controversy, which he maintained with the greatest divines of the country about baptism, a subject which is seldom discussed in a right temper, old Mr ITig- ginson, of Salem, remarked, that Mie was a pattern for all the answerers in the world.'* He had been settled in the ministry, about fifteen years, in the land of his nativity, 'Nor e'er had chanf^od, nor wisliod to clianjTc his place.' But his bishop at length found, that he had not worn the surplice, for fifteen years, and accordingly suspended him, and obliged him to flee for refuge to New England.! Nor is this strange, as but two years before, ' when the famous .fohn Cotton,'! afterwards the * Eliot's New Enorland Biography, article, Ricliard Mather. 1 Neal'a History of the Puritans, Vol. II. p. 201. t Ibid. p. 27'J. 4 26 distinguished minister of the first church in Bos- ton, ' appealed to the Earl of Dorset for his inter- est with the archbishop, he sent him word, that if he had been guilty of drunkenness, uncleanness, or any such lesser fault, he could have obtained his pardon ; but the sin of puritanism and noncon- formity is unpardonable ; and therefore you must fly for your safety.' To the persecuting spirit of the times in the mother country are we then indebted for the dis- tinguished civilians, who were among the first set- tlers of New England ; as also for a large portion of her early divines, who were some of the most celebrated scholars, preachers, and men of the age, in which they flourished. In proof of this, I need but mention the names of Brewster,* the Higgin- sons, Harvard, Wilson, Norton, Cotton, Phillips, Hooker, Shepard, Weld, Eliot, Williams, Peters, Maverick, Warham, Mather, who were the glory of their age, of the nation, which gave them birth, and of the country, which hails them, as, under God, the founders of our republick. In the treatment, which banished them from the land of their nativity, and in the blessings, which they were the honoured instruments of procuring for their adopted country, we perceive a striking instance of the manner, in which the wise Disposer of events educes good from evil, and makes even the wrath of man to praise him. The Rev. Richard Mather continued in the min- istry here, about one third of a century, a useful and highly celebrated divine. He was the princi- * Elder Brewster, of Plymouth ; the Rev. Francis Higginson, and his son Rev. John Higginson of Salem ; Rev. John Wilson, Rev. John Nor- ton, Rev. John Cotton, of Boston ; Rev. George Phillips, of Watertown ; Rev. Thomas Hooker, first of Cambridge, then of Hartford, Conn. ; Rev. Thomas Shepard, of Cambridge ; Rev. Thomas Weld and the Rev. John Eliot, of Roxbury ; Rev. Roger Williams and Rev. Hugh Peters, of Salem ; Rev. John Maverick, Rev. John Warham, and Rev. Richard Mather, of Dorchester. 27 pal framcr of the Plattbrni* of Church Discipline, agreed ii})on by the eklcrs and messengers of tlio churches, at Cambridge, in 1G48, and afterwards approved by tlie Ceneral Court ; and it brcatlies the excellent caiholick s[)irit, for whicli he was so conspicuous. t A similar observation may be made of his church covenant, at his settlement; of the form of admis- sion into this church ; and of the covenant, as re- newed, in 1G77, under the ministry of the Rev. .lo- siah Flynt. They seem to sliow the scrupulosity of these excellent men about imposing terms difficult to be subscribed, and grievous to be borne by oth- ers, when they had themselves so lately suffered from such impositions upon the conscience. In October, 1636, the first year of Mr. Mather's ministry here, and doubtless with his most earnest recommendation and agency, the General Court made generous appropriations for the establish- ment of our neighbouring university. When we consider,! that this was but six years after the set- tlement of Boston, in the midst of the war with the Pecjuot Indians, at the beginning of the Anti- nomian controversy; and that the sum voted by the court, £400, was equal to a whole year's rate ; and when, at the same time, we take into view the very humble pecuniary circumstances of the peo- * Tlic following testimony to tiie members of the synod, whicli framed it, is given by the Rev. John Higginson, of Salem, and the Rev. William Ilvibbiird, of Ipswich. ' Above seventy years have passed away, since one of us, and above si.xty years, since the other of us came into New England. We, that saw the persons, who from four famous colonies assembled in the synod, that agreed on our Platform of Church Discipline, cannot forget their excellent character. They were men of great renown in the nation, irom whence the Laudean persecution exiled them. Their learning, their holiness, their gravity struck all men, that knew them, with admiration. Tiiey were Timothies in their houses, Chrysostoms in their pulpits, Augustines in their disputations.' Prince's Election Sermon, 1730, p. 4'2. \ He died, '>2 April, KIGD, aged 73. t Note by James Savage, Esq. in Winthrop's His. of New Eng. Vol. II. p. 88. 28 pie, what admiration is not due to our fathers for their love of learning and of religion ; for their magnanimity, their perseverance, and self-denial, in promoting these great objects ? In a memorial* sent to England, under the title of New England's First Fruits, in 1643, the year after the first Commencement, at Cambridge, v/e have this plain and touching statement concerning this interesting project. 'After God had carried us safe to New England, and we had builded our houses, provided necessaries for our livelihood, reared convenient places for God's worship, and settled the civil government, one of the next things we longed for, and looked after, was to advance learning, and to perpetuate it to posterity ; dread- ing to leave an illiterate ministry to the churches, when our present ministers shall lie in the dust. And as we were thinking and consulting how to effect this great work, it pleased God to stir up the heart of one Mr Harvard, (a godly gentleman, and lover of learning there living amongst us) to give the one half of his estate towards the erecting of a college, and all his library.' At this university eightyfour of your sons have received a publick education, besides four, who have been educated in other colleges. Of these, thirtytwo have been settled in the ministry ; four have been tutors of their alma mater, one for the space of fiftyfive years ; two have been lieutenant governours of the Commonwealth ; one has been bishop of the Episcopal church ; one a professor at our university, and now a distinguished member of Congress ; one an eminent President of Har- vard College, and one Chief Justice of the Su- preme Court. Nor must it be forgotten, that the memorable ■" His. Coll. Vol. I. p. 242. Stoughton, one of her earliest sons, in 1G98, erectctl the second Hall, which bore his name, at the expense of one thousand pounds,* prol)ably a larger sum, than was derived from all other sources united, when the College was founded. Besides this, he made generous provision for aid- ing the sons of Dorchester in procuring an educa- tion at the university, for which many, with the speaker, should never be unmindful of their obli- gations. When his sepulchre among us was going to decay, it is honourable to the Corporation of our University, that they have decently repaired it, not as the sons of those, who killed the prophets, but of those, who evince their desire to hold this prophet in everlasting remembrance. Israel Stoughton, the father of the lieutenant governour, was also an eminent magistrate, and he is noted, as the builder of the first mill on Nepon- set river ever built in New England. Ludlow and Rossiter, two eminent magistrates, though they settled here with the first pastors, yet removed, in process of time, so that their sepul- chres are not among us. It is well known, that the first of the four meet- ing houses, which have been built by the First Society in this town, was nearly a mile north east of the present location, and that a burial ground was situated in its immediate vicinity. The second house was erected, more than one hundred and fifty years ago ; and none can now tell the pre- cise spot, where the first was located ; nor does a single stone survive to designate the site of the original burial ground. It is probable, that the present ancient cemetery was devoted to its pre- sent use, before the erection of the second house of worship, as an inscription is now distinctly * Allen's Biog. and His. Dictionary, article, Stoughton. 30 legible, of the date of 1644. The oldest I could find in the old town of Plymouth, is 1681, thirty- seven years posterior. Our old burial ground has long been an inter- esting resort for antiquaries, especially for natives of the town, and their descendants. Would it not, my friends, be worth the pains and expense requisite to render the very curious inscriptions it contains still more legible, that we and our chil- dren may find an increasing interest in visiting this place of our fathers' sepulchres, and, as we step over the mouldering ruins of the honoured dead, receive additional mementos from their silent retreats ? Of the twelve Congregational ministers, who have been settled, in this town, nine have gone to their final account; the mortal remains of six lie deposited in our ancient burial ground ; and it is not a little remarkable, that more than one hun- dred years have now passed away, since one* of your pastors has died in the ministry. May the time be distant, when another shall be added to the number ! Our fathers were not content with early provid- ing a university. They were equally solicitous about common schools. One of the first objects with the Plymouth settlers, after procuring the simplest necessaries of life, was to establish ele- mentary schools for their children. The same spirit has been generally diffused among us ; so that New England is, to the present day, the most remarkable section of the globe for the general diffusion of literature among all classes. As early, as 1647, provision was made by law for schools throughout the colony. In 1672, the Rev. Thomas * The last, who died here in the ministry, is the Rev. John Danforth, who died, 20 May, 1730. 51 Shcpard, of Charlcstown, who preached the elec- tion sermon, under one head of his sermon, 'Let the scliools flourisli,' enlarges upon their indispen- sable importance to the college and the country. One hundred and fiftysix years ago, died a noted schoolmaster, in this town, Mr William Poole, aged eightyone. He had been, for many years, a teacher of youth here. How often has his epitaph, written by himself, in poetry far superiour to his times, arrested the attention of many, who, in the spirit of Old Mortality, have inspected it, as, in the closing strain, he exhorts, 'Be warned ; be armed ; believe ; repent ; farewell.' Our fathers were remarkably abstemious in the use of spiritous li(iuors. Heaven grant, that the reformation in their use, which seems, as if by special interposition of Providence, prevailing among us, may advance, till in this, as in other things, we may be more faithful followers of our venerable ancestors, in those respects, in which they have left us examples worthy of imitation ! Among the instances of laudable regard to the religious institutions of our fathers, you will permit me to select two, which, for their antiquity, and uninterrupted continuance down to the present times, are probably without a parallel in our land. I allude to the religious societies of young men and to the family meetings. The origin of each, it is supposed, is coeval with the first settlement of the town. The young men's meetings, for religious pur- poses, at the north part of the town, became organized, and their regular records began, so early as, 25 December, 1098, one hundred and thirtytwo years ago. It is understood, that, at that period, they had been maintained from time im- memorial. 32 From this has sprung one or more societies of a kindred spirit. The family meetings, for the same pious ob- jects, are holden by heads of families, who agree to such a union, and meet alternately at each others' houses. ' Once a year, a season of fasting and prayer is observed, on a day distinct from the State fast, when it requires but little imagination to fancy, that the spirits of our fathers unite with approba- tion in the devout services of their children. The members of these societies, who, in these religious acts, neither court, nor dread observation, will forgive this publick notice of institutions, which they are happy to derive from the piety of their ancestors, and which they hope to perpetuate in their spirit. God grant, that the rage for inno- vation, which has abolished, or rendered unfash- ionable so many of their religious usages, may never lay its destroying hand on these pious relics of our fathers. My friends, I fear, I have exhausted your pa- tience, though I should never be weary myself, in reciting the deeds of our fathers, in which I con- sider them the glory of their children. You invited me to address you, not merely as a descendant, in uninterrupted succession, of the fathers, whom you wish to commemorate, but also as the son of one, who, for nearly two years and a half, has been the oldest male inhabitant of the town, and who has lived, within about twelve years, during one half of the period from its set- tlement by our ancestors. I could not, if I would, and I would not, if I could, have entertained you in a set oration, in which, the more successful I should have been, the more I should have wandered from the spirit and example of our fathers. I have endeavoured, as 33 is common in biographies, as much as possible, to let the persons to be commemorated speak for themselves. I have been obliged to omit many things, which I should have been interested in saying ; and I have said many things, which have been much better said by others. Your beloved and respected pastors, in what they have done,* and in what they purpose yet to do,t I am confi- dent, will not only supply all my defects, but will be more successful in awakening your attention to the wonderful providence of God toward our- selves and our fathers. The only improvement, I shall suggest of what has been said, shall be from Governour Stoughton, to whom I have repeatedly referred, in a sentence full of nteaning and solemnity. 'Consider and remember always, that the books, that shall be opened at the last day, will contain genealogies in them. There shall then be brought forth a register of the genealogies of New Eng- land's sons and daughters. How shall we, many of us, hold up our faces then, when there shall be a solemn rehearsal of our descent, as well as of our degeneracies ! To have it published, whose child thou art, will be cutting to thy soul, as well as to have the crimes reckoned up, that thou art guilty of My beloved fellow townsmen, four years ago, this ever memorable fourth of July, when a ven- erable father of our country was breathing his last, * Several from Dorchester, principally of the Second Church and Society, went to Nantasket, now Hull, on Friday, the lltli instant, to commemorate the landinjr of our fathers there by prayers, j>salmody, original hymns, and an address by the Rev. John Codman, D. D. They left, a record of their names, to the number of ninetyeight, to be deposited in the arcliives of tiie place. t The Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris, D. D. published a minute and faithful history of the town, in I'^Ol, in the IXth Volume of the Historical Collections. He also prepared two discourses for the next sabbath after the town celebration. 34 you invited me to a united political celebration of the day, in your second house of worship. The duty then assigned me was to read the declaration of our civil independence, as drafted by one of its leading promoters. On one side stood the most aged man of the town, as the representative of one class of politi- cians and christians ; and on the other, the second man in age, as the representative of another class of christians and politicians. You have invited me, on a day scarcely less memorable, to a united religious celebration of the completion of the second century from the settle- ment of this town ; and I have rehearsed to you the declaration of our religious independence, as drawn up by a father of the New England churches, so far as we allow ourselves to call any man father. We look around in vain for the former* of those ancients, who participated with such delight the joys of our former celebration. The latterf yet survives, and is with us, as a connecting link be- tween us and our early fathers. Are not these repeated acts of union a token for good, that, whatever may be your religious or political differences of opinion, you resolve, as the apostle exhorts, to be ^perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment ;' that is, says Dr McKnight, 'by mutual good affection ; for the same mind, in the sense of the same opinion, is not to be expected in any numerous society.' 'I therefore beseech you,' respected and beloved fathers and brethren, 'that ye walk worthy the vocation, wherewith ye are called, with all lowli- * Ezekiel Tolman, died, 27 December, 1827, aged eightyseven. t John Pierce, born, 22 September, O. S. 1742. 35 ness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, endeavouring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace,' so that, as 'the glory of children are their fathers,' it may ever redound to the glory of our fathers to be succeeded by such children. Order of Exercises, at the completion of the Second Century from the Settlement of Dorchester, 17 June, 1830. MUSICK.— 'God is our King,' &c. 3 H. & H. S. C. p. 111. Chorus.— '^o\v elevate the sign of Judah.' 2 H. & H. S. C. p. 68. PRAYER BY REV. DR CODMAN. PSALM CVII. L. M. FAREWELL ADDRESS BY THE PURITAN EMIGRANTS, ON THEIR LEAVING ENGLAND— READ BY REV. DR HARRIS. THE PILGRIM FATHERS. Bv Mrs. HEMANS. 'The breaking waves dash'd high, On a stern and rock-bound coast ; And the woods, against a stormy sky, Their giant branches tost ; And the hoa\-y night hung dark The hills and waters o'er. When a band of exiles moored their bark On the wUd New England shore. Not as the conqueror comes. They, the true-hearted camo. Not with the roll of the stirring drums, And the trumpet, that sings of fame ; Not as the flying come, In silenco and in fear, — They shook the deptlis of the desert's gloom With their hymns of lofly cheer. Amidst the storm they sang, And the stars heard and the sea ! And the sounding aislns of the dim woods rang To the anthem of the free ! 4—^ N 36 The ocean-eagle soared — From his nest by the white wave's foam, And the rocking pines of the forest roar'd — This was their welcome home ! What sought they thus afar ? Bright jewels of the mine ? The wealth of seas, the spoils of war ? — ^They sought a faith's pure shrine ! Ay, call it holy ground, The soil, where first they trod ! They have left unstained what there they found- Freedom to worship God !' DISCOURSE, BY REV. DR PIERCE. jjeci/,— 'Now the Philistines,' &,c. 3 H. & H. S. C. p. 53. and chorus. PRAYER BY REV. DR RICHMOND.* ORIGINAL HYMN. BY DR HARRIS. Long persecuted and oppressed, The exiled pUgrim band, In search of liberty and rest, Came to a desert land. God deigned their enterprise to bless, And gave the wished repose ; And, glad for them, the wilderness Soon blossomed as the rose. Schools, Churches, and the Ministry Their earliest cares engage ; The glory of their times to be, And of each coming age. The benefits, which hence arise. On us Heaven kindly showers, And shows us, by the rich supplies, Our Father's God is Ours. ANTHEM— 'Glory be to God on high,' 2 H. & H. S. C. p. 133. BENEDICTION, BY DR HARRIS. * Owing to the indisposition of Dr Richmond, this service was per- formed by Dr Harris. W 9 8?:- r Ffi 'i I 'O^ A-iiik^\ 00^-i^J>>o /Vi^^\ 0^^ V^^-'/ %**'^"^%°' \'^i^-y V' \/ >/§r« V , ♦ ^><^5^ lO "-^ '^♦\o'