•15 
 
 f5fc'*7i 
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON, 
 
 1630— 1880. 
 
 By ARTHUR B. ELLIS. 
 
 SEit!) a ^Preface, 
 By GEORGE E. ELLIS. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 HALL AND WHITING. 
 
 1880. 
 
 /I 
 

 Copyright^ 1880, 
 By Arthur B. Ellis. 
 
 University Press : 
 John Wilson and Son, Cambridge. 
 
BOSTON, November 10, 1880. 
 
 It is proposed to publish a History of the First 
 Ohurch of Boston, from its formation to the present 
 time, including an account of the building of the house 
 of worship now occupied by it, and of the proceedings 
 in ccmmemoration of its 250th Anniversary. 
 
 The work has been prepared by Arthur B. Ellis, 
 Esq., and will have an Introduction by George E. Ellis. 
 
 The volume will be of between four and fve hundred 
 pages, in the style of this, its frst chapter 
 
 Its price will be between three and fve dollars a 
 copy, depending upon the number of copies subscribed 
 for 
 
 Early subscriptions are solicited. 
 
 Messrs. Hall & Whiting, 
 
 PUBLISHER-, 
 32 BROM FIELD STREET. 
 
HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON, 
 1 630-1 880. 
 
" And if any tax me for wasting paper with recording 
 
 these small matters, such may consider that little mothers bring 
 
 forth little children, small commonwealths matters of small 
 
 moment, the reading whereof yet is not to be despised by the 
 
 judicious ; because small things, in the beginning of natural 
 
 or politic bodies, are as remarkable as greater in bodies 
 
 full-grown." 
 
 Gov. Dudley's Letter to the Countess of Lincoln. 
 
HISTORY 
 
 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 1630-1632. 
 
 JOHN WILSON. 
 
 Origin and Foundation of First Church in Boston. — Wor- 
 ship, Discipline, and Government. 
 
 ' I ^HE history of First Church in Boston begins 
 with the occupation of Charlestown by the 
 EngHsh colonists under Winthrop. It was there 
 that the founders of our church signed the covenant 
 and became a body of worshippers. The Arbella, 
 the vessel in which they crossed the ocean, put into 
 Salem harbor the 12th day of June, 1630, and 
 "went to Mattachusetts " the 17th of the month. 
 After exploring the latter neighborhood, she returned 
 to Salem the next day but one, and, joined by the 
 rest of the fleet, again set sail, and came to anchor 
 in Charlton harbor, as Winthrop calls it, early in 
 July. They found that other Englishmen had 
 visited the spot before them. The Sprague broth- 
 ers, Ralph, Richard, and William, together with 
 others, had made their way to the place, through 
 
2 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 the woods, from Salem, two years before, in the 
 summer of 1628. At that time the town records de- 
 scribe it as " a neck of land, generally full of stately 
 timber, and the country round about an uncouth 
 wilderness." But the Spragues found that they 
 too had been preceded by one Thomas Walford, 
 a smith, who with his family was the first white 
 settler in the place. In the year previous to Win- 
 throp's arrival, in June, 1629, one Thomas Graves, 
 an experienced engineer, came from Salem, and 
 built a house called the Great House. This was a 
 two-storied wooden block structure, the lower part 
 used for storage purposes, and the upper story for 
 civil, and if the weather was so unpleasant as to 
 prevent worship out of doors, for religious, meet- 
 ings. 
 
 Our pioneers came poorly prepared to contend 
 with the hardships of their new situation. They had 
 brought over small provision with them, trusting to 
 a report that they would find plenty on their arrival 
 in the new country; and what they had was badly 
 damaged by the voyage. Their means of shelter 
 were poor, and the long confinement on shipboard 
 had made many of them diseased. " And although 
 the people were loving and pitiful," says the old 
 record, " yet the sickness did so prevail, that the 
 whole were not able to tend the sick as they should 
 be tended, upon which many perished and died and 
 were buried about the Town Hill." To meet the 
 scarcity of provisions, the Governor despatched 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 3 
 
 Captain Pearce to the coast of Ireland in quest of a 
 fresh supply. It must have been that that country- 
 was thought to be nearer than any other, otherwise 
 there would seem to be some reason for thinkinof 
 with Cotton Mather, that perhaps there were other 
 places more overflowing with milk and honey, to 
 which it would have been wiser to send. However 
 as afterwards appears, the errand proved fruitful of 
 success. 
 
 In spite of these adversities — we might rather 
 say because of them — the people hurried on the 
 organization of the church. The 30th of July was 
 set apart as a day of fasting and prayer, and after 
 appropriate religious exercises, Governor Winthrop, 
 Deputy-Governor Dudley, Mr. Isaac Johnson, and 
 Mr. John Wilson subscribed the following church 
 covenant, the same which is continued with us to- 
 day : — 
 
 •'* In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, & in Obedience 
 to His holy will & Divine Ordinaunce. 
 
 " Wee whose names are herevnder written, being by His 
 most wise, & good Providence brought together into this 
 part of America in the Bay of Masachusetts, & desirous 
 to vnite ourselves into one Congregation, or Church, vnder 
 the Lord Jesus Christ our Head, in such sort as becometh 
 all those whom He hath Redeemed, & Sanctifyed to Him- 
 selfe, do hereby solemnly, & religiously (as in His most holy 
 Proesence) Promisse, & bind o'selves, to walke in all our 
 wayes according to the Rule of the Gospell, & in all sin- 
 cere Conformity to His holy Ordinaunces, & in mutuall 
 love, & respect each to other, so neere as God shall give 
 vs grace." 
 
4 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 Of the first four signers of this covenant it is un- 
 necessary to say much. Their history is bound up 
 with that of the Commonwealth. John Winthrop, 
 the first Governor, and the first who signed the 
 church covenant, was of good family and possessed 
 of what was then regarded as a large estate, amount- 
 ing to six or seven hundred pounds a year. He 
 was bred a lawyer, and was some forty-three years of 
 age when he came from England. Thomas Dudley 
 was first Deputy-Governor, and afterwards for four 
 years Governor of the colony. He was bred a sol- 
 dier, and served under Queen Elizabeth in the wars 
 with France. He was fifty-three years of age when 
 he came to this country. Isaac Johnson was a gen- 
 tleman by birth and of fortune, and had married a 
 daughter of the Earl of Lincoln. The sad death 
 of the Lady Arbella, followed shortly after by that 
 of her grief-stricken husband,^ was the first shadow 
 which spread a gloom over the colony. 
 
 The Rev. John Wilson, the first pastor of the 
 church, was born and bred in clerical atmosphere, 
 and, had it not been for his non-conformity, would 
 doubtless have held some high position in the 
 Church of England, as did his immediate ancestors. 
 But, like other strong and scrupulous characters of 
 the period, he preferred a life in the wilderness to 
 the enjoyment of clerical preferment at the sacrifice 
 
 ^ September 30, 1630, about one month after his wife. " He was a holy 
 man, and wise ; and died in sweet peace, leaving some part of his substance 
 to the colony." — Winthrop's yoiirnal. 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 5 
 
 of his religious convictions. He shares the epi- 
 thet, affixed by Cotton Mather to the first four min- 
 isters of our church, of "Johannes in eremo." Of 
 his immediate ancestors, his grandfather, " WilHam 
 Wilson late of Wellsbourne in the co. of Lincoln, 
 Gentleman, departed this life within the Castle of 
 Windsor in the yeare of our Lord 1587 the 27 Day 
 of August and lyeth buried in this place." (Tomb- 
 stone in the chapel of Windsor Castle.) Wells- 
 bourne is not far from Lincoln and Boston, and this 
 fact indicates some special tie among the early set- 
 tlers who came from Lincolnshire. 
 
 His father, William Wilson, D.D., of Merton Col- 
 lege, Oxford, Prebendary of Rochester, Rector of 
 Cliffe, Chancellor of St. Paul's, and Canon of his 
 King's Majesty's free chapel of St. George, within 
 his castle of Windsor, where he lies buried, died 
 May 15, 16 1 5, aged seventy-three years. 
 
 John Wilson,' our minister, was born at Windsor 
 in 1588. His mother was Isabel Woodhal, niece of 
 Edmund Grindal, the celebrated Puritan Archbishop 
 of Canterbury. He was educated at Eton and 
 King's College, Cambridge, and married Elizabeth, 
 daughter of Sir John Mansfield. He was the fourth 
 sicrner of the covenant, pastor of the church for 
 thirty-seven years, and died the 7th day of August, 
 1667, aged seventy-eight years. 
 
 1 His life is described in a later chapter. This little sketch of his family 
 and antecedents was partly furnished by Mr. Thomas Minns, a descendant 
 of Wilson. 
 
6 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 Dr. Edmund Wilson, brother of Rev. John Wilson, 
 died in England soon after the arrival in this coun- 
 try, leaving ^1000 to the infant colony.^ 
 
 Mrs. Wilson, the pastor's wife, died June 6, 1660. 
 
 " On the I St of August, Increase Nowell and four 
 others united with the church and signed the cove- 
 nant, .and soon the number amounted to sixty-four 
 men and half as many women." 
 
 From the very start religion was uppermost in the 
 minds of the colonists. Religion planted the colony. 
 When the first General Court was held on the 23d 
 of August, before any measures had been taken to 
 provide for support or shelter, the first topic of dis- 
 cussion was, " How shall the ministers be main- 
 tained ? " And it was ordered that houses be built 
 for them with convenient speed at the public charge, 
 and salaries provided at ^30 for Mr. Phillips of 
 Watertown, and £10 for Mr. Wilson of Boston till 
 his wife come over. Sir Richard Saltonstall under- 
 took to see the former part of this order carried 
 out for Mr. Phillips, and the Governor for Mr. 
 Wilson. 
 
 " On the 27th of August another fast was ob- 
 served, and the church duly organized by the appoint- 
 ment of the proper officers." The list of regularly 
 appointed church officers at this date included pas- 
 tors, teachers, ruling elders, deacons, and sometimes 
 
 1 Mr. Wilson made a second and last voyage to England in 1634, partly 
 to secure this legacy; and returned in 1635, '^^^'^ time with his wife and 
 family. His first voyage in 1631 was unsuccessful in the special object 
 sought for. See infra, 9. 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 7 
 
 deaconesses or widows. The functions of the widows, 
 as laid down by a quaint writer, were "to show mercie 
 with chearfuhiesse and to minister to the sick and 
 poore brethren." In another place the writer adds, 
 " No church there [meaning Boston] hath a widow 
 as far as I know ; " an observation which we must be 
 careful not to construe too literally. The distinc- 
 tion between pastor and teacher is somewhat nice.i 
 The same writer says: " It is the duty of the pastor 
 to exhort and besides to rule ; the teacher to instruct 
 in knowledo-e and likewise to rule." The elders were 
 the Levites, or governing officers of the church, and 
 the deacons performed the same duties as they do 
 to-day, viz. received the contributions and accounted 
 for the same. 
 
 The following were duly qualified : John Wilson 
 as teacher; Increase Nowell, ruHng elder; William 
 Gao-er and William Aspinwall, deacons. Gager 
 died September 20, 1630, a few days after his 
 appointment. In the case of Mr. Wilson it was 
 expressly understood that the ceremony should 
 have no effect on his previous ordination by the 
 bishop in England. 
 
 1 Palfrey, in his chapter on " Primitive Institutions and Customs of New 
 England," says : " A church fully furnished had a pastor and a teacher whose 
 duty it was to preach and administer the ordinances, the distinctive function 
 of the former being private and public exhortation, of the latter doctrinal 
 and scriptural explanation." The reading of the Bible, or dumb reading, as 
 it was called, was not generally approved, but thought to be too much in 
 conformity with the Church of England practice, hence one of the functions 
 of the teacher, viz. scriptural explanation or expounding, as it was called. 
 — History of New England, ed. iS6o, Vol. II. 37, 42. See also " History of 
 Second Church in Boston," note to 22. 
 
8 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 We now find the church fairly organized, the 
 minister provided for, and nothing wanting but 
 a place of worship. " The first meeting-place of 
 the congregation was in the umbrage of a large 
 tree." 
 
 In the month of August many of the colonists 
 removed across the river to Boston ; and soon a 
 majority of the inhabitants of Charlestown, includ- 
 ing the Governor, had made the change. " The 
 principal cause which led to this removal was the 
 want of running springs of water. The notion pre- 
 vailed that no water was good for a town but run- 
 ning springs ; and they were at that time acquainted 
 with but one spring in Charlestown," which was on 
 the margin of the river, in the sand, and when the 
 tide was high could not be come at, and at other 
 times was very brackish. Mr. William Blaxton, the 
 first white inhabitant of Boston, first called the 
 attention of the Governor to the existence of a pure 
 spring of water on his side of the river. This in- 
 formation, combined with the increasing sickness, 
 induced the Governor to make the change. From 
 this period up to the time of separation, the people 
 of Charlestown were obliged to cross the river to 
 attend meetings, — an operation, in the winter time at 
 least, involvinor much hazard. Provisions had now 
 become very scarce, and had it not been for the 
 timely arrival of Captain Pearce with an abundant 
 supply, they would have had hard work to keep 
 alive. 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 9 
 
 " The people were compelled to live upon clams and 
 muscles, ground nuts and acorns, and these were obtained 
 with much difficulty in the winter time, and upon these 
 accounts they became much tired and discouraged, espe- 
 cially when they heard that the Governor had his last batch 
 of bread in the oven. And many were the fears of the peo- 
 ple that Mr. Pearce, who was sent to Ireland to fetch pro- 
 visions, was cast away or taken by pirates ; but God, who 
 delights to appear in greatest straits, did work marvellously 
 at this time, for before the very day appointed to seek the 
 Lord by fasting and prayer, about the month of February 
 or March, in comes Mr. Pearce, laden with provisions; 
 upon which occasion the day of fast was changed and 
 ordered to be kept as a day of thanksgiving." 
 
 This was on the 2 2d of February (O.S.)/ The 
 provisions were distributed among the people in 
 proportion to their necessities. To show what a 
 good face they kept under all their trials, we are 
 told of a man, "inviting his Friends to a dish of 
 Clams, at the Table gave thanks to Heaven, who 
 had given them to suck the abundance of the Seas, 
 and of the Treasures hid in the Sands." 
 
 In March, 1631, Mr. Wilson went to England 
 to bring his wife. Before embarking, "Mr. Cod- 
 dington [afterwards for many years Governor of 
 Rhode Island] and Mr. Wilson, and divers of the 
 congregation, met at the Governor's, and there Mr. 
 Wilson, praying and exhorting the congregation to 
 
 1 In quotinjr from old records no attempt has been made to alter the date 
 from Old to New Style. The simple process of adjustment is this : " To change 
 from Old to New, add ten days to any date from 1600 to 1700, and eleven 
 days to a date from 1700 to September 14, 1752- 
 
lO FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 love, etc., commended to them the exercise of proph- 
 ecy In his absence, and designed those whom he 
 thought most fit to it, viz. the Governor, Mr. Dud- 
 ley, and Mr. Nowell the elder. Then he desired the 
 Governor to commend himself and the rest to God 
 by prayer; which being done, they accompanied 
 him to the boat ; and so they went over to Charles- 
 town, to go by land to the ship. This ship set sail 
 from Salem April i, and arrived at London (all 
 safe), April 29." The apostle Eliot filled the va- 
 cancy caused by the absence of Mr. Wilson. The 
 famous Roger Williams lays claim to the first invi- 
 tation to fill this post. The statement, however, 
 rests on his own assertion, and we find no corrob- 
 oration of it on the church records or elsewhere. 
 The reason he gives for declining the honor is per- 
 haps worth noticing, as coming from a man so noted 
 for his liberality in religion ; he says it was be- 
 cause they (members of First Church) would not 
 humble themselves for having held communion 
 with the Church of England. 
 
 Mr. Wilson took with him to England a letter 
 from Deputy-Governor Dudley to the Countess of 
 Lincoln, — one of the most authentic documents 
 touching upon this early period.^ The date of it is 
 March 12, 1630. It contains a very minute account 
 of the condition of the colony. It begins: — 
 
 " For the satisfaction of your Honor and some friends, 
 and for the use of such as shall hereafter intend to increase 
 
 1 Young's Chronicles of Massachusetts, 304. 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. II 
 
 our Plantation in New-England, I have, in the throng of 
 domestic, and not altogether free from public, business, 
 thought fit to commit to memory our present condition, 
 and what hath befallen us since our arrival here ; which I 
 will do shortly, after my usual manner, and must do rudely, 
 having yet no table, nor other room to write in than by 
 the fireside, upon my knee, in this sharp winter ; to which 
 my family must have leave to resort, though they break 
 good manners and make me many times forget what I 
 would say, and say what I would not." 
 
 He then proceeds to give an account of the hard- 
 ships they endure: — 
 
 " The ships being gone, victuals wasting, and mortality 
 inci easing, we held divers fasts in our several congrega- 
 tions. But the Lord would not yet be deprecated ; for 
 about the beginning of September died Mr. Gager, a right 
 godly man, a skilful chirurgeon, and one of the deacons of 
 our congregation, Mr. Johnson, one of the five undertakers 
 (the Lady Arbella, his wife, being dead a month before). 
 This gentleman was a prime man amongst us, having the 
 best estate of any, zealous for religion, and the greatest 
 furtherer of this plantation." 
 
 And then, towards the close, he says : — 
 
 " But now, having some leisure to discourse of the mo- 
 tives for other men's coming to this place, or their abstain- 
 ing from it, after my brief manner, I say this, that if any 
 come hither to plant for worldly ends, that can live well at 
 home, he commits an error, of which he will soon repent 
 him ; but if for spiritual, and that no particular obstacles 
 hinder his removal, he may find here what may well con- 
 tent him, viz. 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, which, 
 
12 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 together with the cows, hogs, and goats brought hither 
 already, may suffice for food ; for as for fowl and venison, 
 they are dainties here as well as in England. For clothes 
 and bedding they must bring them with them, till time and 
 industry produce them here. In a word, we yet enjoy 
 little to be envied, but endure 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 dispose of 
 themselves nor of 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 ; for we have 
 found by experience that they have hindered, not fur- 
 thered the work. And for profane and debauched persons, 
 their oversight in coming hither is wondered at, where 
 they shall find nothing to content them. If there be any 
 endued with grace, and furnished with means to feed them- 
 selves and theirs for eighteen months, and to build and 
 plant, let them come over into our Macedonia and help us, 
 and not spend themselves and their estates in a less profit- 
 able employment. For others, I conceive, they are not 
 yet fitted for this business." ^ 
 
 Soon after Mr. Wilson's return from England, 
 which took place on the 26th of May, some time in 
 
 ' " 1631, July 21. The governor, deputy-governor, and Mr. Nowell, the 
 elder of the congregation at Boston, go to Watertown, to confer with Mr. 
 Phillips the pastor and Mr. Brown the elder of the congregation there 
 about an opinion they had published, that the churches of Rome were true 
 churches ; the matter is debated before many of both congregations, and by 
 the apjjrobation of all the assembly, except three, is concluded an error." — 
 Prince's Annals of N'ew England, 358. 
 
 " 1632, July 3. The congregation (i.e. the church) at Boston, wrote to 
 the elders and brethren of the churches of Plymouth, Salem, etc., for their 
 advice in three questions : First, whether one person might be a civil mag- 
 istrate and a ruling elder at the same time ? Second, if not, then which 
 should he lay down ? Third, whether there might be divers pastors in the 
 same church ? The first was agreed by all negatively, the second and third 
 doubtful ." — Ibid. -ioS. 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 13 
 
 the month of August, 1632, the congregation of Bos- 
 ton and Charlestown began to build the first meet- 
 ing-house. The situation chosen was on the south 
 side of State Street, in Boston, where Brazer s Build- 
 ing now stands.^ The walls were of stone, plastered 
 with clay, and the roof thatched. This building, 
 together with a parsonage^ erected at the same time 
 on what was formerly known as Wilson's Lane, in 
 the immediate neighborhood of the church, was 
 provided for by contributions amounting in all to 
 £120. The winter, which was now setting in, 
 proved so severe that passage over the river was 
 often impracticable. This, no doubt, hastened the 
 inevitable separation. The church in Charlestown 
 became a distinct body on the 2d of November, 
 1632, withdrawing from the parent church about one 
 fourth of the congregation. " Those of the church 
 who stayed behind still retained their relation to the 
 [old church] until October, 1632 ; when those mem- 
 bers desiring a dismission from the congregation, 
 to enter into a new church-body at Charlestown, 
 and having first sought solemnly unto God, with 
 the rest of the church, for direction herein, they 
 were accordingly dismissed upon the 14th day of 
 the said month." ^ 
 
 1 " A plan of the church lot as existing at this time, but as made out by 
 Francis Jackson of late years, is in the library of the New England Histor- 
 ical and Genealogical Society. See the Register, April, i860, 152." — Memo- 
 rial History of Boston (1880), Vol. I. 119, note. 
 
 '•^ "Wilson lived where the Merchants' Bank now stands." — Memorial 
 History of Boston (1880), Vol. I. 119, note. 
 
 * " 1632, November 2 (Friday). Mr, Increase Nowell, Mr. Thomas James, 
 and other Church members at Charlestown, who had been dismissed from the 
 
14 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 " And now upon this separation," says Foxcroft, 
 in his centennial sermon in 1730, " I find the num- 
 ber of males in the church of Boston (after nigh 
 two years' continuance here, in which time, doubt- 
 less, additions were made to it) amounted but to 
 about seventy or eighty, the body of the inhabitants." 
 Endeavors were at this time made to obtain the 
 apostle Eliot for teacher, and there is very good rea- 
 son to suppose that he would have accepted, had he 
 not felt bound by an agreement made on the pas- 
 sage over from England to settle in Roxbury.^ 
 
 The 2 2d of November was solemnized as a fast, 
 on which Mr. Wilson, hitherto the teacher, was or- 
 dained the pastor of the church. At the same time 
 Mr. Oliver was chosen ruling elder, and two dea- 
 cons were elected ; on all of whom hands were 
 imposed as a token of designation. 
 
 We have now witnessed the transplanting of the 
 church from Charlestown to Boston, — the little seed 
 out of which grew up such an abundant harvest. 
 We find the congregation somewhat diminished, it 
 is true, but from no internal causes. That harmony 
 of thought and purpose of which Foxcroft speaks so 
 
 church at Boston, now embody into a (new) distinct Congregational Church, 
 enter into covenant ; and (the said) Mr. James is elected and ordained their 
 pastor." — Prince's A;nia/s of A^ew England, 407. 
 
 1 " Mr. John Eliot, a member of Boston congregation, and one whom the 
 congregation intended presently to call to the office of teacher, was called to 
 be a teacher to the church at Roxbury ; and though Boston laboured all they 
 could, both with the congregation of Roxbury, and with Mr. Eliot himself, 
 alleging their want of him, and the covenant between them, &c., yet he could 
 not be diverted from accepting the call of Roxbury, November 5. So he was 
 dismissed." — Winthrop's Journal, Vol. I. 93. 
 
1630-32] JOHN WILSON. 15 
 
 glowingly in 1730 was to remain unbroken for nearly 
 two centuries. It was not till after the dawn of the 
 nineteenth century that the ties were to be broken. 
 
 Our congregation, small as it was, constituted the 
 bulk of the population of Boston. The influence 
 which it had on the government of the colony may 
 Avell be imao;ined when we consider that no one was 
 a freeman until he became a member of a church;^ 
 that the minister was always consulted by the Gov- 
 ernor in any important emergency, and very often 
 his decision settled the matter entirely. 
 
 The growth of our church, from the foundation 
 down to the present time, and the various changes 
 which have taken place in the sentiments of the 
 worshippers, during a period of two centuries and a 
 half, open up another field of inquiry more prop- 
 erly included in a later period of our church his- 
 tory. All that concerns us in this connection is 
 simply to hint at the origin and foundation of this 
 church. 
 
 Who that reflects for one moment on the manner 
 of this planting will feel the least surprised at the 
 result } But will he not have reason to be proud of 
 that result ? Built on a sure foundation, the ark of 
 the Lord has continued during the space of two 
 centuries and a half The same covenant, the same 
 
 1 " We must be careful to bear in mind, however, that when this provis- 
 ion was passed, viz. in May, 1631, Massachusetts was a little community' of 
 traders, having no semblance to a state," so that the hardship of the depri- 
 vation did not count for much till the latter condition was realized. — Dex- 
 TEr's Congregationalism of the last Three Hundred Years, etc., 420 et seq. 
 
l6 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 principles of purity and liberty which our fathers 
 established, have come down to us from generation 
 to generation, shedding their blessings not only on 
 our own body of worshippers, but on the whole 
 community. Well may such an influence be called 
 one of the "distinguishing glories of New Eng- 
 land "' 
 
 And now, before we close this sketch, let us take 
 a glance at the mode of church worship and gov- 
 ernment peculiar to the Puritans. The order of 
 worship was common to all the churches, with per- 
 haps some slight variations. That of Boston Church 
 is thus described . " Every Sabbath or Lord's day, 
 they come together at Boston by wringing of a belV 
 about nine of the clock or before. The Pastor be- 
 gins with solemn prayer continuing about a quarter of 
 an houre. The Teacher then readeth and expound- 
 eth a chapter; then a Psalme is sung, which ever one 
 of the ruling Elders dictates. After that the Pastor 
 preacheth a sermon, and sometimes extempore ex- 
 horts. Then the Teacher concludes with prayer 
 and a blessing." Once a month they observed the 
 Lord's Supper, of which notice was given a fortnight 
 in advance. The ministers and ruling elders sat at 
 the table, the rest in their seats or upon forms. The 
 afternoon service began at two o'clock. The pastor 
 
 ^ At first by beat of the drum. For an account of the various ways (at 
 first of necessity) resorted to for summoning people to the meeting, e. g. by 
 blowing a shell or horn, and raising a flag, — methods resorted to as late 
 as the middle of the last century, — see an interesting note to Baxter's Con- 
 gregationalism, 452. 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 17 
 
 began as before noon ; a psalm was sung, and the 
 teacher preached his sermon. After and before the 
 sermon was a prayer. Then followed baptism, if 
 there was any. After this ceremony a contribution 
 was taken up ; one of the deacons saying, " Brethren 
 of the congregation, now there is time left for con- 
 tribution, wherefore as God hath prospered you, so 
 freely offer." The magistrates and chief gentlemen 
 then passed up, followed by the elders, and after 
 them the rest of the congregation, one by one, all 
 the men and all single persons, widows, and women 
 in absence of their husbands, and deposited their 
 offerings in a wooden box in charge of the deacon, 
 if money or papers promising money ; if anything 
 more bulky, then to one side ; ^ and, after doing this, 
 passed another way back to their seats. ^ Then fol- 
 lowed admission of members and hearing of com- 
 plaints. If not too late, they sang a psalm, and then 
 the pastor closed with a prayer and blessing. " Upon 
 the week dayes, there are Lectures in divers townes, 
 and in Boston, upon Thursdayes, when Master 
 Cotton teacheth out of the Revelation." ^ 
 
 As for the form of church government, " Every 
 church hath power of government in, and by itselffe, 
 and no church, or Officers, have power over one an- 
 
 1 " I have seen a faire gilt cup with a cover, offered there by one, which is 
 still used at the Communion." — Lechford's Plain Dealing, 15. This cup may 
 still be among the valuable collection of church silver, and, if so, would rival 
 in antiquity the famous Winthrop cup. 
 
 - Until 17 10, and even later, careful attention was given to the seating of 
 people in meeting, with reference to social or civil dignity. 
 
 "* Winthrop's Journal gives the earliest notice of this lecture. 
 
 2 
 
l8 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 other but by way of advice or counsaile, voluntarily 
 given or besought, saving that the General Court, 
 now and then, over-rule some church matters ; and of 
 late, divers of the Ministerie have had set meetings 
 to order church matters; whereby it is conceived 
 they tend towards Presbyterian rule."^ 
 
 The governing body of officers has already been 
 alluded to, together with their proper functions. 
 The church endeavored to rule as much as possible 
 by unanimous consent. But where they could not 
 agree, as, for example, on the admission or censure 
 of a member, the matter was referred to a select 
 council to hear and pass upon privately, or in pres- 
 ence of such of the brethren as saw fit to attend. 
 The rules of admission and expulsion were very 
 strict, as instance the following, from the church 
 records : — 
 
 "The 17"* of 7*= 5"" Moneth (1636). Thomas Matsoii 
 formerly received by Comunion of churches, but now as a 
 member vpon y'' confession of his fayth & repentance & 
 pfessed subjection to y'' Lord Jesus Christ according to y^ 
 Covenant of the Gospell, was admitted. 
 
 "The 24*'' of y' same 5^ Moneth Robert Parker o' brother 
 whoe was Excomunicate y'- 6'of y*" 10"' Moneth (1635) for 
 scandalous oppression of his wives children in selling away 
 
 1 The first synod, or council of ministers and others, was held at Cam- 
 bridge (then Newtown), the 30th of August^ 1637, and just escaped dealing 
 with the famous Hutchinsonian controversy, which came up before the 
 General Court two months later. John Cotton, the " patriarch of New Eng- 
 land," at that time teacher of the church, attended with John Wilson, pastor, 
 as messengers to the council. John Davenport, then of New Haven, after- 
 wards of Boston Church, was also one of the twenty-five ministers summoned. 
 See chap. ii. 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 19 
 
 their inheritance from y™ & other hard vsage both of her 
 & y was this day vpon pfession of his repentance received 
 againe to y" fellowship of ye Church." 
 
 "The 29"' day of y'= 2'' Moneth 1638. Anne Walker y^ 
 wife of one Richard Walker & sometime y" wife & widdowe 
 of o' Brother Robert Houlton having before this day beene 
 often privately Admonished of sundry Scandalls, as of 
 Drunkenish, Intemperate, & vncleane or wantonish behav- 
 iors, & likewise of Cruelty towards her children & also of 
 manifold lyes & still to this day psisting impenitently 
 therein, was therefore now w'*^ Joynt Consent of y" Con- 
 gregation Cast out of y*" Church." 
 
 "The 13"^ of y'^ 11'' Moneth (1638). Our brother 
 Richard Wayte having purloyned out of buckskyn lether 
 brought vnto him, soe much thereof as would make 3. 
 mens gloves to y*" Scandall of sundry w"'out, as well as of 
 his brethren, & also having beene by some of y" brethren 
 dealt w"' all for it, did often deny & forsweare y" same, 
 w^'out barkening to their Convincings according to y" Rule, 
 or to y"" Church to w"*" it was brought, was therefore this day, 
 w"' Joynt Consent of y*" Congregation Cast out of y" Church. 
 
 " The 26"' day of y" same 9''* Moneth (1639) being a day 
 oi Piibliqiie fast {ox our Congregation, our brother Mr 
 Robert Keayne was Admonisht by o' Pasto' in y*" Name 
 of y^ Church for selling his wares at excessive Rates, to y" 
 Dishono' of Gods Name, y*" Offence of y^ Generall Co't, 
 & y*" Publique Scandall of y" Cuntry." 
 
 "The 8'" Day of y^ s^ i^' Moneth 1640. Also, o^ Sistar 
 Temperance Sweete y" wife of one John Sweete was by C 
 Pasto' (in y" Name of y° Lord & w"' y" Consent of y^ 
 Church (taken by their silence) Admonisht for having 
 received into house & given entertainm' vnto disorderly 
 Company & ministring vnto y" wine & strong waters even 
 vnto Drunkennesse & y' not w^'out some iniquity both in 
 y° measure & pryce thereof." ^ 
 
 1 Church Records, 8 et seq. 
 
20 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 Another instance is that of a gentlewoman who 
 was excommunicated for saying : " A brother and 
 others she feared, did conspire to arbitrate the price 
 of Joyners work of a chamber too high, and endeav- 
 oring to bring the same into Civill Cognizance, not 
 proceeding to take two or three to convince the 
 party, and so to tell the Church, (though the first 
 told the party of it) and this without her husband." 
 
 Still another instance is that of a good woman 
 who was severely dealt with because she absented 
 herself from meeting more than was thought proper. 
 Her reason for doing so was, in brief, because she 
 did not like the kind of preaching she heard. It 
 mattered not which of the two powers, civil or 
 ecclesiastical, first got jurisdiction. They both pro- 
 ceeded to try the cause, pari or non pari passu. 
 The views of church government and order, at first 
 indeterminate, were, by the powerful influence of 
 John Cotton and others, embodied in a platform 
 or religious constitution, called the Cambridge Plat- 
 form, afterwards tacitly adopted as authority in all 
 questions relating to church government. The 
 power of the church made itself felt in those days 
 against all who refused to conform to the established 
 church tenets. 
 
 Any such offender was first admonished, and then, 
 if he did not obey, was excommunicated, and there- 
 after had no more rights than an Indian. It is 
 curious to note how even the great John Cotton, 
 leader of the church and expounder of religion, barely 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 21 
 
 escaped censure for the sympathy which he was sup- 
 posed to have secretly entertained for the views of 
 the famous Anne Hutchinson. If we seek for the 
 causes of this antagonism, they will be found in the 
 temper of the age. The disorder, of which Puritan 
 intolerance was the exponent in New England, was 
 prevalent all over Christendom. All the religious 
 world was busy trying to separate the chaff from the 
 wheat. In New England, baptized in freedom of 
 religion, they had not yet wrought out the problem 
 how to unite toleration with a vigorous defence of 
 the truth. It was still the age of witchcraft as well 
 as of reformation. As long as the spirit of the 
 former was abroad in the land, so long must the 
 intolerance of the latter remain. 
 
 And yet, even in New England, allowance must 
 be made for the peculiar kind of experiment that 
 was set on foot. No scheme of the kind had ever 
 before been attempted. " By charter from the Eng- 
 lish crown, the land was theirs as against all other 
 civilized people, and they had a right to choose 
 according to their own rules the associates who 
 should help them to occupy and govern it. Exer- 
 cising this right, they determined that magistracy 
 and citizenship should belong only to Christian men, 
 ascertained to be such by the best test which they 
 knew how to apply." ^ All who could not come up 
 to their standard were excluded, and if any persisted 
 in staying where they were not wanted, more effect- 
 
 ^ Dexter's Congregationalism, 420, note. 
 
22 FIRST CHURCH IN BOSTON. [1630-32. 
 
 ive measures were tried. From this point of view 
 the charge of intolerance perhaps could hardly be 
 made out. 
 
 As we look back on that early church in the 
 wilderness, with its noble company of worshippers, 
 we strive in vain to recall a like picture. The severe 
 aspect of the structure called a meeting-house,^ rudely 
 fashioned from clay and stone, and thatched from 
 the weather, must have been in marked contrast 
 with what its occupants had been accustomed to 
 at home, and in only too sad keeping, with the 
 stern lot they had encountered from the moment of 
 setting foot on this virgin soil. 
 
 And that goodly company of men and women 
 gathered within its sacred walls ! Winthrop, Dudley, 
 Humphrey, Vane, Endicott, are but a few of those 
 most readily called to mind, whose presence filled 
 this little sanctuary, and whose delight it was to sit 
 and listen to John Cotton as he unfolded the Scrip- 
 tures for their guidance and action. 
 
 We, whose happy lot it is to enjoy the fruits of 
 their hard labors, can form but a faint conception 
 of the struggle it must have cost even these sturdy 
 zealots, to abandon their old home with its precious 
 memories and associations, all that they held most 
 dear, and with a wilderness around them, set them- 
 selves about a task full of nothing but anxieties and 
 uncertainties. We lose sight of the great responsi- 
 
 1 " Our fathers, from conscience, called their houses for worship ' meeting- 
 houses.' " — Dexter's Congregationalism, 454. 
 
1630-32.] JOHN WILSON. 23 
 
 bility they thereby incurred. Leaders in a vast en- 
 terprise, with no rule of action to guide them, and 
 a wilderness to tame before them. We call them 
 over-zealous, over-iirm, narrow, and bigoted. This 
 is the repelling side of their nature. Take a differ- 
 ent view, and we shall find that these Puritan fathers 
 were good and faithful men, " blameless and exem- 
 plary in character and life," and founders of a godly 
 commonwealth. " The household purity, the do- 
 mestic fidelity, the family discipline, the industry, 
 thrift, and steadily increasing prosperity," of the Bay 
 Colony, are all the fruits of their influence. 
 
 While we may be tempted to find fault with their 
 ways and methods, let us not keep out of sight their 
 true and noble natures. 
 
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