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 -TVATZRTOWN, MASSACHUSETTS^::'";; :^y 
 
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 y-,'^"--- *>- vi- 
 
 ■.^-^. Jcg^'/^^-^r^i:: f 
 
 ■~J ■ •- * ~ : 
 
 COMPILED 1!Y , ■' ', V ^ 
 
 ARTHUR B. FULLERi^^ 
 
 MiXieTER OF THE FIRFT PABIPH. 
 
 WATERTOWN : 
 1861. 
 
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 J\:\'\ ■,:-v^'<'- 
 
 
 MOCST AUBURN-: 
 PEISTED AT THE MEMORIAL OFFICE. 
 

 CONTENTS. 
 
 t r- 
 
 5 
 
 I...H1STOBICAI. Sketch : 
 
 2.. .COTEXAST OF THB ChURCH, 
 
 3... Names op Chukch Mejibebs, 
 
 4...Str!!DAT School Organization, 
 
 5... Parish Officers. Chosen April I860, for the 
 
 12 
 
 Ensciso Year 
 
 6... Constitution and By-Latvs op the Social Bb, 
 
 12 
 HEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, 
 
 7... List of Officers op Association, 13 
 
 8... Female Society for Relief of the Sick 13 
 
 9.. .Brief Statement of the Unitarian Belief,... 14 
 
 \i: 
 
OF THE 
 
 FIRST PARISH (IIJaTARIAN), IN WATERTOWN. 
 
 ^^-!> 
 
 A COMPANY of early emigrants from England, whose prin- 
 cipal leaders were bir Richard Saltonstall, Rev. George 
 Phillips, and Elder Richard Browne, came to Watertown, as 
 settlers, in 1630. The towD was incorporated, after the manner 
 of that day, by a colonial enactment, Sept. 17, 1G30. The First 
 Pai-ish (now "the Unitarian Societj) was established the same 
 vear, and its affaire were then identified with those of the town. 
 Watertown was so called from its ab\indanee of water in the 
 river, and the spring.-:, and ponds in its then limits. It orig- 
 inally included in its boundaries what now are the towns of 
 Waltham, Weston, Belmont, and a portion of territoiy since form- 
 ing a part of Lincoln and Cambridge, besides what is to-da\ the 
 town of Watertown. There were ako the " Watertown taiius," 
 or lands given by the colonial legislature to this town in Prince- 
 ton, near Wachusett mountain. It will be seen that our town 
 has been largely shorn of its original possessions, and much ci> 
 cumscribed in territory. Tlie Church in this Parish, which word 
 was then sj-non\-mou3 with that of township, was organized 
 July 28, 1630, and is the mo^t ancient in the colony of Massa- 
 chusetts Bay, except one — the First Church in Salem. It was 
 the only ChurcU in Watertown for si.\ty-sLx years. Rev. George 
 Phillips became its pastor on the day of its organization. He 
 had previously been settled in England. He was extremely 
 liberal and charitable in his theological opinions, and the earliest 
 advocate of strict Concresationali-^m and Independency in the 
 colony. Indeed, untU the arrival of Rev. John Cotton from 
 England, he stood, in this resi)ect, alone among the clergy in 
 New England. He also, in advising the town to resist a colo- 
 nial tax, was the earhest asserter, in colonial affairs, of the doc- 
 trine that " taxation without representation is tyranny," the 
 ground-principle, many years subsequently, of our American 
 Revolutionary struggle, ilr. Phillips died July 1, 1644. 
 
 The Church also fully sympathized with its pastor in hberal 
 
 r 
 
 it 
 
RECORD OF THE FIKST PARISH 
 
 views and love for strict independency. It was the first church 
 which adopted thorough Congregationalism ami entire indepen- 
 dency of other churches and human authority as its basis, and 
 for along time stood alone in their advocacy ; it was regarded 
 as somewhat heretical in ecclesiastical matters then, though it3 
 Congregational system is now prevalent tliroughout ><ew Eng- 
 land as the method of church government. Some of the eai-Uer 
 members of the church were distinguished for their liberality of 
 views, and tolerant spirit. Among these, Hon. Richard Salton- 
 stall, who, after his return to England, wrote a letter to the 
 magistrates of this colony in favor of toleration, and Elder Rich- 
 ard Browne, who averred that eveu the Romish churches, in 
 spite of many errors, were nevertheless churches of Christ, were 
 preeminent The pai-ish and its ministers were also uniformly 
 m favor of civil freedom, so that the town, then identical with 
 the Parish, was selected as a place of refuge for the Gener^ 
 Court during the Revolutionary struggle. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Phillips was sole minister of the church and parish 
 till Dec. 19, 1639, -when Rev. John Knowles was ordained by 
 the Church as a colleague pastor with Rev. Mr. Phillips. Mr. 
 Knowles had never been settled elsewhere. It -was an early 
 custom to have two ministers of each church, one as pastor, the 
 other as teacher, but this distinction was never observed in this 
 Parish, iilr. Knowles was set apart to the work of the minis- 
 try by the action of his own chiu-ch and ])arish only ; no minis- 
 terial council was called, nor were the neighboringchurches and 
 ministers asked to assist, or even notified. This is in con- 
 formity to the principles of strict Conn;regationalism, though it 
 caused some complaint by other ministers at the time. The 
 r\"\it of each congregation to ordain or install its own ministers, 
 wholly by itself, is clear and unquestionable, the expediency is a 
 separate consideration. 
 
 ilr. Knowles continued colleague pastor till the death of Mr. 
 Phillips, and for some years subsequent, but in 1650 he re- 
 tiuTied to England, where he died, April 10, 1/85. He also 
 was a strict Congregationalist, and esteemed in his day, too liberal 
 in ecclesiastical matters. 
 
 Rev. John Sherman became colleague with llr. Knowles in 
 1647, and remained pastor after Mr. Knowles's return to Eng- 
 land, until his (Mr. Sherman's) decease, Aug. 8, 1685. He was a 
 good, and a just man, and of marked intellectual, ability, as had 
 been his predecessors. These three pastors were the sole minis- 
 ters of Watertown, for the first fifty-five years after its settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Rev: John Bailey was installed as Mr. Sherman's successor, 
 Oct. 6, 1686. This was the first inslallaiion in Massachusetts. 
 It differs- from ordination by the ombsion of the practice of 
 
my> 
 
 '^1 
 
 IX WATERTONVN. 
 
 " layin- on of hands." ^!r. Bailey took the ground a"^ strenu- 
 ous^ maint^ned it.hJs Church assenting, that ^-J-? J^^" «°^^ 
 ordained, consecration anew to the work of the °> "f 'T ^^ 
 ^ne^sskrj-, and seemingly called in ouestion the validity of the 
 r^T^t.' Rev. Tl.omi^ Bailev lis brother, wa. a so em- 
 Xved as his coUea-ue, until his (Thomas') death, Jan, 21 ,1689- 
 frd^s nrappcar^from the records that he was ever ordained 
 or Tm ov^ the church, though he was one of lU regular 
 
 P^^eS tr/ohnBSy lea Wa,enown,.nd rettjrned^ 
 B^ton and became there the assL^nt minister of the F^ 
 rtareh. His chan-^e of residence and pastorship was doubtless 
 Sa^oned bv his depression of spirits, owing to the death of h.^ 
 Gloved wife and of L brother, which led him to feel that change 
 Siene and labor was absolutely rec^uisile. No d>^a"^f^t'°" 
 ^t^veen him and his people is anywhere mentioned, and we 
 have h"s private journil, as weU as official records He died 
 
 ^ Rel^'Uenn- Gibbs was invited to bo assistant pastor with 
 Mr Biley "n 1C91. He accepted the call, and entered at onc^e 
 ;fpon duties, but was not Uained or installed unt. Oct. 6, 
 1697 He continued pastor till his death, Oct. 21,1 . ii. 
 ^v. Seth Storer wL ordained July 22, 1724. . He died Nov. 
 97 1774 aged seventv-two, after a usefol "^■"'^"T, ^^ °I" 
 IftV V^ After his death, Rev. Dr. C<x,per, of Brattle S&eet 
 ChU^oston, resided in this town for some time, Boston being 
 Tnth^ possession of the British. He supphed this P; P>t du"°| 
 hi t«m^rarv residence here, and it ^^%"°t"ntd April 29 
 1778 that any successor to Mr. Storer was found. On that day 
 i^e Rev D^iel Adams was ordained. His ministry was of 
 Sort duration, for he was stricken down by the fatal hand of 
 death the same year, and died Sept 16, 1778, after a mimstry 
 
 °'£;%icWr£wel. Eliot was ordained pastor.of tins 
 chim:h, June 21. 1780. He died Oct 21, 1818, aged sixty-six, 
 after a ministry of thirtv-eight years. 
 
 H a" hes^Christian mraisters have now gone to their Ion- 
 home,Tt is proper to add that all were of irreproachable rnor^ 
 a^d^ligious character, and most of them were men of distin- 
 truished mental ability and pastoral gifts. . „f *!,« 
 
 ^Rev. Convers/ Francis, D.D., was ordamed pi^ or of^e 
 First Church and parish in VS atertown f °%23, 1819. AJ^er 
 twenty-three years pastorate, he resigned Juue 21, 1842, m order 
 racclptThe imJrtant professorslSp of Pulpit Eloquence and 
 T^^J Care. iJ the Divinity School of Harvard \jniven.ty. 
 His fareweU discourse was preached Au|^ 21 ,\»*^- 
 
 Rev. John Weiss, Jr., was ordained Oct 2o, 18^3. tie re 
 
 i 
 
RECOUD OF TUE FIRST PARISH 
 
 1-^ 
 
 sijjned Oct. 3, 1S45, but resiimsJ hi,s pastorate, oji invitation of 
 the parish, in 1S16, and continued in the work of the miuistry 
 here, until his resignation in Xov. 1S47. 
 
 Kev. Hasbrouck Davis was ordained iSIarch 28, 1S49. He re- 
 signed May 11, 1853. 
 
 Rev. George Bradford was ordained ISov. 6, 1 8-56. He died 
 Feb. 17, 185y, after a brief but useful ministry. 
 
 Rev. Arthur B. Fuller, f irnierly pastor of the IN'ew North 
 Church, Boston, became pastor of the First Parish, "Watertowu, 
 March 1, ISliO. Following the precedents of lormer pa.stors in 
 the parish, and by his own e.xp.ess desire, there was no-formal 
 installation-service by a council fi-om abi-oacl, but he preached 
 discourses, defining the mutual duties of pa.-tor and people, oa 
 the first Sundav in March, at which time his letter of acceptance 
 of then- call, was read to the parish and congregation. 
 
 There have, of course, been several houses of worship for the 
 First Parish in this town. The first meetiug-hrjuse of the parish 
 ■was probably built soon after the settlement of the town, as in 
 the earliest town records, in 1G35, a vote of £S0 is ordered for 
 the charge of the new meeting-house, pliiinlv implying that there 
 had been another, and older one, previous to that date. It was 
 probably a very humble aliair, and fit only for a few years oc- 
 cupation in the infant state of the settlement. We are satisfied 
 that the first two meeting-houses were built upon a rising knoll 
 ofground belonging to the old Coolidge estate, on the main 
 road, near Mr. tieorge Frazar's house. The oldest pai-soaage 
 house is now the resilience of Joshua Coo'idge. Jr. 
 
 The principal part of the earlier sottlere of AVatertown, lived 
 in the part of the town near Jit. Auburn, early called Sweet Au- 
 burn, nearly all of which wa-s originally comprised in the territory 
 of Watertown. The second meeting-house, probably the first of 
 any pretension, was erected at a very early date, and was doubt- 
 less quite humble in its ardiitectural character. As early as 
 1654, a new meeting-house was ordered by the town, but owing 
 to a fierce contention about its site, it was not built and occupied 
 until Nov. 1 G56. It stood near, or upon the old site, in the vicinity 
 of the ancient burial ground. After an exciting controversy about 
 location, another meeting-house was built for the parish, and subse- 
 quently accepted February 4, 1«96. It had probably _ been 
 occupied before that time, as a town-meeting was held " in the^ 
 ■ new meeting-house," Dec. 20, 1095. It stood at the crossing of 
 Lexington and Belmont streets, at a place called fi-equently the 
 " Four Corners." The building of this church led to a parish 
 division and the formation of a society, over which Mr. Angier 
 was pastor, and which subsequently became the first society in 
 Waltham. But it is not to our present purpose to follow the 
 historj- of any other parish than our own. The parish records 
 
^■^ 
 
 nf WATERTOV'X. 
 
 remainiuir wkli our church and society, and the minister employed 
 bv the town (Mr. Gibbs), as colleague with Rev. ^Ir Bailey, 
 coQtiuuins to minister to thi~ parbh, and bemg ordained over it, 
 are facts (feclslve as to tlie que.<tioQ whether this, or the Waltham 
 parish, is the ori<riual sotietv in Waterlown. 
 
 Jan. 14, 1723° it was voted to build a church on Meeting- 
 House hill, then called S.hool-House hill, and a church was ac- 
 cordioMy erected there- In Koi, after renewed controversies, 
 a chuivh was erected, on land siven for the purpose, on Mt. 
 Auburn St., near the new burjing ground m this towii, Dut 
 before its entire completion, May, 1754, it was burned to -the 
 ground by some incendiary. Another church was built on tne 
 same spot, and completed Feb., 1155. 
 
 SepT-, 183fl. 1 church, on the snot where our present 
 one stands, was completed and dedicated. On the day ot dedi- 
 cation, the bell for the church, was broken m the raising. 
 The edifice itself was destroved by fire, July 21, 1841. lue 
 fire broke out, not in the church, but in a bam in the rear 
 of the Spriu" Hotel, and in less than an hour the church was in 
 ashes, making the second church belonging to this parish thus 
 lo^t; one eutirelv new, and the second only a few years old. 
 The Orthodox church, during the present year (1861), makes 
 the third thus destroyed in town. Our present church was UeU- 
 icated Au2. 3, 1842.' , , r, r> 
 
 In the foregoing historical sketch. I have consulted K«v. Ur. 
 Francis' ffistorica! Sketch, published 1830, Bond's Historj' of 
 Watertown, Mr. De F. SaiTord's lecture, and the pansh rec- 
 ords. Manv points are involved in obscuritv-, and the authori- 
 ties do not' always coincide respecting dates, in which ca.ses 1 
 have sought to decidfi according to the weight of evidence and 
 'latest research. 
 
CHUKCH COVENANT, 
 
 FOKM OF ADMISSION TO THE CHUKCH. 
 
 ADOPTED Dec. 28^ 1856. 
 
 I>- the presence of God and thia church, you confess your be- 
 lief in the only living aud true God, and your desire to live ac- 
 cording to his will. 
 
 You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testa- 
 ments contain the records of God"s revelations to mankind, and 
 alFord the only perfect rule of faith and practice. 
 
 You affirm your faith in oiu- Lord Jesus Chiist as the prom- 
 ised Messiah, "and the Saviour of the world, and you desiieto 
 manifest your love and gratitude toward him, by becoming his 
 faithfid disciple. 
 
 You profess a true and earnest repentance of your sins, and 
 you promise that you will endeavor henceforth to observe all 
 God's holy ordinances, and to yield obedience to every trath of 
 His, which has been, or shall be made known to you as your 
 duty, the Lord assisting you by his spirit and rrrace._ 
 
 We, then, the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, in this place, 
 receive you into fellowship with us, to watch over you in the 
 Lord, as becometh our sacred relation to you, and this we do 
 with our prayers to the God of all grace, that you, and that we, 
 may be faithfid to our religious engagements. Amen. 
 
 LIST OF CHUECH MEMBERS, 
 
 (auh-vbeticallt akeasced.) 
 
 Ivers J. Austin. 
 Arad Bailey, 
 Charles J. Barry. 
 Charles Bemla. 
 Tyler Bijelow. 
 Morton \V. Brown. 
 George Fraz;ur. 
 Hiram Hosmer. 
 
 MALES. 
 
 Daniel Tjeamed. 
 Daniel F. Learned. 
 EUsha Livermore. 
 Siimiiel Richardson, 
 Thomas Livermore. 
 Sumner Sargent. 
 Asa Stone. 
 Nathaniel R. Whitney. 
 
i 
 
 i 
 

 RSCMRO OF FinST PARISH ES WATZRTOWN. 11 
 
 
 FEMALES. 
 
 Mrs. Eliiabeth T. Auftin. 
 
 Miss Hannah Ljvennore. 
 
 
 " Harriet E. AttwiU. 
 
 " Eliza Livennora. 
 
 
 " Joan Bailey. 
 
 Jlrs. Sarah Livertnore. 
 
 
 " Frances Barnard. 
 
 " Hannah Livennore. 
 
 
 Miss Sarah A. Barnard. 
 
 Miss Maria Livennore. 
 
 
 Mrs. Sarah Barrett. 
 
 Mrs. Sarah May. 
 
 
 Miss Sarah W. Barrett. 
 
 " Mary Jane Meacham. 
 
 
 Jlrs. Anne V. Bemis. 
 
 " Jane Anne Meacham. 
 
 
 " Mary Bird. 
 
 " Mary Richardson. 
 
 
 " Mary Brigham. 
 
 " Roxey Robinson. 
 
 
 Miss Scsan Briehara. 
 Mrs. Susannah Bright. 
 
 " Sarah Robbing. 
 
 
 Miss Lois Robbins. 
 
 
 " Mary Brood. 
 
 Mrs. Lucy Rogers. 
 
 
 " Ann Bromi. 
 
 Miss Caroline A. Rogers. 
 Mis. Roxanna Russell. 
 
 
 ". Rachel Carlron. 
 
 
 Miss Sarah G. Qarke. 
 
 Miss Elizabeth Sanger. 
 
 
 Jlrs. L. F. Chenerr. 
 
 " Martha Sanger. 
 
 
 " Sally Chenerv. 
 JGss Sarah Cook. ' 
 
 Jfo. Marj- A. Sargent. 
 
 
 Miss Lvdia Sprague. 
 
 
 Mrs. Ruth Dana. 
 
 Mrs. Jfary A. Sherman. 
 
 
 " Lydia B. Farmer. 
 
 Miss Sarah Steams. 
 
 
 " ■ Caroline C. Harrington. 
 
 Mrs. Abigail S. Stone. 
 
 
 " Lydia Harrington. 
 
 " Mary Stone. 
 
 
 " .Jane Holden. 
 
 Miss Nancy Swift. 
 
 
 " Emily Horn. 
 
 Mrs. Lucy'Thaxter. 
 
 
 " . Margaret V. Kendall. 
 
 " Lucy Titcorab. 
 
 
 " Eleanor Learned. 
 
 Miss Abby B. Vose. 
 
 
 " Lncy Learned. 
 
 Jlrs. Rebecca Whiting. 
 
 
 Miss Lucy A. Learned. 
 
 Miss Addie Whiting. 
 
 
 " Helen A. Learned. 
 
 iMrs. Sally Whitney. 
 
 
 • " Marv Elizabeth Learned. 
 
 " Ruth Whitn^. 
 
 " JUrtha G. ^hitney. . 
 
 
 Mrs. Sarali S. Lincoln. 
 
 
 ■ SUNDAY-SCHOOL ORGANIZATION 
 
 
 FOR 18G1. A' 
 
 
 SUPERINTENDENT. 
 
 
 W. H. IX GRAHAM. 
 
 
 LIBRARIANS. 
 
 
 D. F. LEARNED, | THOJLAS CAMPBELL. 
 
 
 TEACHERS. 
 
 
 MALES. 
 
 
 IVERS J. ArSTEN". 
 
 AMOS HOLBROOK, Jr. 
 
 
 GEORGE FRAZAR. 
 
 W. n. INGRAHAM. 
 
 
 J. B. GOODRICH. 
 
 A. LLNXOLN. 
 
 
 
 1^ 
 
 t 
 
4 
 
 I 
 
RECORD OF FIRST PARISH 
 
 FEMALES. 
 Mis* M. E 
 
 
 Mr3. 1. J. AUSTEf. 
 Miis LUCY D. BAILEY. 
 Mrs. GEORGE BRADFORD 
 Mis8 >[. BRIGHT. 
 
 " S. BROWN. 
 Mrs. B. DANA. I 
 
 " A. B. FULLER. i 
 
 No. of Scholars, 
 " " Teachers, 
 " " Vols, in Library, 
 
 LEARNED. 
 MARIA LIVERMORE. 
 " C. S.,VNGER. 
 Mrs. M. A. SARGENT. 
 >[iss LYDIA SPRAGUE. 
 " M. WHITNEY. 
 
 108. 
 
 20. 
 
 860. 
 
 PARISH ORGANIZATION 
 
 FOR I860, TILL ANNUAL MEETING IN 1861. 
 PARISH COMMITTEE. 
 
 ARAD BAILEY, H. P. PAGE, 
 
 ■ WM. H. INGRAHAiL 
 
 CLERK AND TREASURER. 
 ISAAC ROBBINS. 
 
 CONSTITUTION 
 
 OF THE 
 
 WATERTOWN SOCIAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION, 
 
 AS ADOPTED OCT. 9lh, 1S60. 
 
 Akt. 1. Name. The name of this Society shall be "The 
 WATERTOwy Social A>'D Bexevolest A5soci.\TioN." • 
 
 Art. 2. Objects. Our objects shall be the relief of the des- 
 titute, the support of religious institutions, and mutual acquaint- 
 ance and friendship. 
 
 Art. 3. Officers. The board of officers shall consist of 
 twenty directors (ten ladies, and ten gentlemen), one of whom 
 shall act as secretary, and one as treasurer ; and they shall be 
 chosen at the annual meeting of the association. 
 
 Art. 4. Duties. It shall be the duty of the officers to pre- 
 side at the meetings of the association, in rotation, and also to 
 arranfe work, devise plans, and, in general, to act for the wel- 
 fare of the Society. Upon them also, shall devolve the duty of 
 
Tytf?-.-."^ 
 
 IX WATERTOWN. 
 
 .13 
 
 visiting any families connected with the WatertowTi Unitarian 
 society, not members of the association, and inviting them to 
 become members. 
 
 The secreUr)- and treasurer shall present, at each meeting, 
 ar«portof the proceedin;;, and receipts at the previous meetmg. 
 
 Art. 5. Order. "While one of our objects is social inter- 
 course, yet as nothing can be accomplished without order, it 
 shall be the duty of both officers and members to nreserve quiet 
 and attention during the transaction of business, -which shall uni- 
 formly be conducted in an orderly and regular manner. 
 
 Abt. 6. Meinbership. This association shall consist of both 
 gentlemen and ladies, who shall become members by the pay- 
 ment, each of the sum of tnenty-five cents annually. 
 
 Art. 7. Meelings. The annual meeting of this association 
 shall be held on the third Wednesdar in November, and other 
 meetings on the third Wednesday of each month, at such place 
 as the association may determine, and a meeting may be called 
 at any time by a notice given from the pulpit. 
 
 Art. 8. Amei^dmenL^. This constitution may be amended 
 by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at any meetmg, 
 provided notice of the intended amendment has been given at 
 the previous meeting. 
 
 BY-LAWS. 
 
 Art. 2. This association shall meet the third Wednesday of 
 each month, at the vestry, or at private bouses, as shall be most 
 a<nveable to the partv entertaining the association. 
 
 Art. 2. Each member shall pay a monthly tax of five cents, 
 (or, if preferable, mav pay the entire simi for the )-ear m ad- 
 vance,) said tax to be collected by the treasurer. 
 
 Art. 3. The supper shall not exceed tea, bread and butter, 
 good cake and cheese. ^ ' 
 
 Art. 4. Tlie association shall convene atthi-ee o clock p. m., 
 and be dosed at ten, with singing or prayer. Tea at half-past 
 ax. 
 
 OFFICERS. 
 
 Treasurer, lliss ^L^.EI.l. Livermoee. 
 Secretary. Miss Etta Lincoln. 
 
 FEMALE SOCIETY FOR RELIEF OF THE SICK. 
 
 In 181G, the ladies of Watertown, witnessing around them 
 much distress arising from povertj-, aggravated by sickness, pro- 
 
» 
 
14 
 
 RECORD OF FIRST PARISH 
 
 p<»ed to unite under tte name of the Watertowa Female Sot 
 ciety for the relief of the indigent sick. Subscnbera having 
 been obtained, they met for the first time, at the hou^e of Mr. 
 E. W. Dana, Dec 17,1816, for the choice of otEcers. 
 
 In 1817, it bein^ the wish of the ladies that the object of this 
 society be extended, it waa voted to expunge the word ">°di- 
 <rent," and that the society be known by the name of " The 
 ^Vatertown Female societj'for the relief of the sick." A desire 
 was alio expressed that any Imlividvial in town, who bad occa- 
 sion for any articles belonging to the society, should call up.m 
 the treasurer, with au order from the president, without heii- 
 
 Thb usefiil society, under the judicious direction of a lady 
 •who was one of the original members, continues at the present 
 time, its benevolent labors. 
 
 kM 
 
 A BRIEF STATEMENT. ■ 
 
 OP THE 
 
 UNITARIAN BELIEF. 
 
 Unitarians have often been accused of having no creed, and the 
 accusation as often denied. Our denomination are satistied with 
 nothino- less than the BiUe, which is always our ultimate appeal, in 
 matter? of relif ions faith and practice. We do object to imposing 
 any man-devised formularies of faith, any bodies of divmity (often 
 bodies without a soul), anv abstrur/s of doctrine, upon a church, and 
 makin<» these abstracts a test of fellowship and Christian ch.uracter. 
 In respect to human creeils. Unitarians have always contended that 
 if they contained more than the Scriptures, they contamed too much ; 
 if less, they were insufficient ; and if precisely as much, that they were 
 
 But while we have thus rejected the imposition of any arbitrary 
 test framed by men, be they never so pious and learned, we have at 
 aU suitable times been -svillins to utter most freely our sentiments, 
 and to oive a reason for the hope which is in us, making, however, 
 no snclT declaration binding upon the conscience of others. 
 
 The following brief statement of the Unitarian belief, -nntten by 
 an esteemed clergyman of our denomination, has already been -ividely 
 circulated among us. I have myself distributed many copies of it, 
 both in the Wesrem frontier settlements, and in New En^and. At 
 once definite and truthful, it has put to rest many a calumny agamst 
 our views —calumnies often ignorautly uttcretl,— and has been re- 
 ceived with acceptance by pious men of every denomination. I have 
 often thought that some such statement was needed, and have seen no 
 
Ef WATERTOWN. 
 
 15 
 
 Other which eo fully met the existing want Bs this. Its brevity se- 
 cures Rtlention, while its cleamosi and force cany with it conviction. 
 We as k of any, into wIkisb hands it may come, carefully to peruse it, 
 compare it with the sacred volume, and to receive its statements only 
 if found in conformity with Scripture ; bnt to read it withont preju- 
 dice, and with a feeling that truth, come from whom it may, is equaUf 
 valnable to each intelligent and immortal being. 
 
 ARTHDB B. FULLER. 
 
 ?53L> 
 
 DECLABA1TON OF FAITH. 
 
 " TJjriTiBIASS BELIEVE THE BiBLE, I. E., THE SCBIPTCKES Or 
 
 THE Old A.KD New Tesi.iments, to be a becoed of the Beve- 
 LATioxg, Dispensations, Purposes and Will op God to Has. 
 Thet receive this pueciocs tolcjie as their onlt guide IK 
 
 FAITH and practice. 
 
 " Unitarians 'believe in the Father, and in the Son, and in the 
 Holy Ghost.' 
 
 " They believe in God, the eternal and uncreated One, the Crea- 
 tor nud upholder of all thincs — the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and 
 of Jacob— Israel's God — Jehovah, revealed by Jesus of Nazareth as 
 not only such, bat alfo as the God and Father of the »hole human 
 fimily — that in and of himself, he possesses all those attributes and 
 perfections •which render him worthy of the homage, love and 
 obedience, which he requires of his children ; — they lelieve in his 
 power, wisdom, and goodness, in his providence, bounty and grace, — 
 that He only is entitled to supreme worship and veneration, the 
 hour having come, when all true worshippers are required to ' wor- 
 ship the Father in spirit and in truth.* 
 
 " They believe that Jesus of Naz.ireth is the Messiah promised of 
 Jehovah to the Jews — the Christ, ' the Son of the Living God ' — 
 sanctified and sent into the world by his Father, because ' God so 
 loved tlie world, that he guve his only begotten Son, that whoso- 
 ever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life ' — 
 tlmt he is the only Saviour of smners, the' only Mediator between 
 God asid man 'the way, the truth, and the life,' worthy to be loved, 
 honored, trusted and obeyed. — They believe that all their prayers 
 ti>oa\d be offered to the Father, in'the name of Christ — that thev 
 should possess his mind aud spirit, imitate his example, and throogn 
 him, look to God for pardon and eternal life. 
 
 "They believe in the Holt Ghost, that power of God, that di- 
 ■^Ine influence by which Christianity was established through mirac- 
 nloas aid, that spirit which was given to Christ without measure, 
 and which is stiU shed abroad and imparted to all who sincerely re- 
 pent of their sins, torn onto God, devote themselves to his service, 
 ai>d seek him in the way of Iiis appointment. 
 
 "Unitarians believe in human depraviry, not in innate and total 
 depravity and the imputation of Adam's fiii — bnt m the ver>- great 
 de|iravity of mankind, the deceitfulness and wickedness of the human 
 hsaut, tiie alienation of man from God through ignorance and sin. 
 
i^. 
 
 16 
 
 RECORD OP FIRST PARISH IX WATERTOWX. 
 
 "Unitarians believe in the Atonement or Reconciliation not 
 
 that Christ died to appease the wrutli, or satisfv the jnsiire of Gixl 
 to reconcile God to muTi, hut to reconcile in:in to God, to brin"- bncic 
 the ivandcrmg and sinful children of men to pr.tlis of obeilience «7id 
 holiness, to a oneness of feeling, aftbction and purpose irith their 
 Father m Heaven, ft-om whom their sins liail separated tliem. Tliej 
 believe that the plan of redemption bv Cln-ist, ori-inated ia the love 
 . of the Father, ' that God so Io^ od the world, that he <,-ave his only 
 begotten Son, that whosoever belicveth in him should not perish but 
 have everlasting life ; ' that the niissioQ of Christ was intended to 
 produce a change in man, b v an assarance of God's love and willin'»- 
 ness to forgive the returning penitent; 'that God was in Christ re- 
 conciling the worid uato himself,' that throngh-the blood of Christ, 
 all who are led by its influence npoij tlieir hearts to sincere repent- 
 ance and the renunciation of sin, have forgiveness from the Heav- 
 enly Father. Unitarians look for accei)tance, not for imv merit in 
 themselves, but from the free, unpurcliasei! grace or mercy of God 
 made known in the gospel, and sealed by tlie blood of Christ. Bnt 
 thev consider a life of uprightness, integrity, charity, devotion and 
 holiness, as the only satisfactory proof of a heart reconciled to God 
 — the only evidence that the atonement has been received. 
 
 " UxiTAKi.i.NS believe in regeneration, conversion, chano-e of 
 heart ; they believe that we are saved by grace, throitgh faith" and 
 that i5 is the gift of Gofl — that faith must be an active operatin" 
 principle — that all must repent of their sins — that tnie repentance 
 consists, not only in remorse of conscience and sorrow of heart bnt 
 also in amendment of life — in ceasing to do evil, and leamicf to do 
 • well. ° 
 
 "Unit-vbiaxs believe in experimental religion — not a mcraentarv 
 excitement — nor the experience of an hour or a dav — they rcmril 
 Jesus of Nazareth as its most perfect pattern — they see him iii'the 
 world, but not of it, humbly walking in the path of dutv — doing the 
 work given hira to do by his Father, tenijited, sconn^ and biritetetl by 
 the world — they see hun moving onward, trusting in his Father's 
 care, and only anxious to do his will — lalKuing for the salvation of 
 man — snflering for his sake, even to the cruel death of the cross, and 
 at that honr firaying to his Father to forgive his n^urderers. 
 
 " UxiTAHi.\>-s believe in the resurrection of the d^rad — a jcdgnjent 
 to come, ajid a life beyond the grave — ' that without holiness, no 
 man c;m see the Low! ' — that for the good, tliero is happiness withont 
 end ; for the evil, the impenitent, there is misery and woe bevond 
 the grave. 
 
 " UNITARIAN'S believe in the supreme and all-absorbiag impor- 
 tance of religion — that the sord's concern is the great concern — that 
 compared with this, all other things aie as nalliing — that the inter- 
 ests of vital, practical religion are the great interests of their h*inf 
 
 that the Almighty has made all nccessaiy provision for their ever- 
 lasting happiness, and that no anxiety is too deep, no care too heed- 
 ful, no effort too earliest, and no prayer too iniporfinate to obt:un its 
 blessing." 
 
 M. 
 
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