At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation adjourned to this day, The Report of the aforesaid Committee [the deacons] was laid before them. It was the opinion of the Committee that the repairing of the Steeple would cost fifteen hundred Dollars, and that it would be proper to open a subscription in the Society for raising this money.

Voted, That a subscription be opened for this purpose.

At said meeting of which previous notice had been given William Phillips Junr. Esqr. was chosen Treasurer of the Society in the room of the Hon. Jonathan Mason Esqr. Deceased.

A subscription paper was prepared, as follows:

Whereas it is found necessary to make sundry repairs to the Steeple and other parts of the South meeting House in Marlborough Street and also to the Ministerial House, which upon calculation will probably amount to fifteen hundred dollars - We the Subscribers do promise to pay unto the Deacons of the South Society or their order the sums affixed to our names when by them demanded: to be applied for the purpose of said repairs.1

A THANKSGIVING SERMON.

267

Dr. Eckley preached a sermon on Thanksgiving Day, November 29, from Gal. v. 1: "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." The times were critical. The excesses and horrors of the French Revolution were in fresh remembrance. Bonaparte was in Egypt, and was soon to return to France and to become First Consul. All Europe was in arms, and it was no easy matter for the United States to maintain a strict neutrality. Said Dr. Eckley: "Whilst at the zenith we have discerned the aspect of our political sky to be enlivening and clear, we have heard the distant rumbling thunder; and in the horizon we may now see the forked lightnings shoot their fire. Never has there been a time more urgent than the present, in which the duty has been strengthened by the necessity of defending the privileges communicated by our gracious Lord." The young republic, he said, had seen "its treaties violated, its commerce plundered, its envoys insulted, its inhabitants threatened;" but what the preacher deplored even more was "the uncommon advancement of irreligion, both theoretical and practical," throughout the land.

Fast Day 4th April 1799.

The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed after service in the Afternoon.

Voted that the Deacons be a Committee to endeavour to obtain by subscription a sum sufficient for the purpose of opening a School for improvement in singing.

Voted, That seven persons from the Church and Congregation be chosen as a Committee for a Year to attend to the concerns of the Society. The following persons were chosen, Vizt. Mr. Homes, Copeland, Coverly, Judge Dawes, Winslow, Thurston and Pierce.

Voted, That the said Committee take into consideration the propriety of building a number of Stores on the land belonging to the Society adjoining the meeting House, and make report of their proceedings and opinion when they are prepared.

ing-House. His daughter, Mrs. Robert C. Waterston, thinks that about the year 1800 he removed from the Old South to the New South; he continued at the latter church until Dr. Kirkland was called to the presidency at Cambridge, and then joined Federal Street Church, of which Mr. Channing was the minister. "When my grandmother, Mrs. Morton," writes Mrs. Waterston, November 3, 1886, "came to live with us in 1820, she had a seat offered her by Mr. Phillips, in his

pew [the front pew in the right-hand aisle], and one of us, her granddaughters, always went with her on Sunday morning. How well I recall the Old South as it looked then! Like everything else, it is changed, and not for the better!"

Josiah Quincy, the patriot, also, was baptized at the South Church: "1743-4, Feb. 26. Josiah, of Josiah and Hannah [Sturgis] Quincy."]

1 Nelson had won the battle of the Nile on the 1st and 2d of August, 1798.

Voted, That the same assessment be laid on the Pews for the Year 1798 as for 1797, for the purpose of supporting the public Worship. THOMAS DAWES Moderator.

N. B. 250 Dollars was presented to the Minister as an addition to his Sallary for the year 1798.

On the 28th of May, 1799, the Massachusetts Missionary Society was organized with the Rev. Nathanael Emmons, of Franklin, for its first president. Its original object, as set forth in the second article of the first constitution, was "to diffuse the knowledge of the Gospel among the heathens, as well as other people in the remote parts of our country, where Christ is seldom or never preached," an object, says Dr. Clark, comprehending the whole range of foreign and domestic missions, as the work was then understood. The same breadth of design was retained, when, in 1804, that article was so amended as to read: "The object of the Society is to diffuse the Gospel among the people of the newly settled and remote parts of our country, among the Indians of the country, and through the distant regions of the earth, as circumstances shall invite, and the ability of the society shall admit." "Its membership and patronage were derived wholly from ministers and churches familiarly called 'evangelical,' as distinguished from others named 'liberal,' — terms at that time interchangeable with Calvinist and Arminian, though each embraced persons of considerable theological difference." 1 Sabbath Day 7 July 1799.

A letter was communicated from the Church in Federal Street (formerly called Long Lane 2) requesting the presence and assistance of this Church on the 10th instant at the Ordination of Mr. John S. Popkin as successor of the Rev. Dr. Jeremy Belknap, deceased.

The Pastor and Deacons were chosen to attend on the occasion.3

1 Clark's Hist. Sketch, pp. 229, 230. 2 [The State Convention, called for the purpose of passing upon the Federal Constitution which had just been submitted to the States for their approval, met in 1788 in Dr. Belknap's meetinghouse in Long Lane, the name of which was then changed to Federal Street. The meeting-house, which was of wood, was built in 1744, and taken down in 1809, when a new one of brick, and Gothic in style, was erected in its place.]

3 [The letter missive, signed by Francis Wright, Henry Homer, Thomas Davis,

JOSEPH ECKLEY.

John Davis, Thomas Lamb, Thomas Thompson, and Russell Sturgis, was in the following terms:

"Honoured and Beloved

"As it has Pleased the Great Head of the Church to preserve our Peace and Happiness (as a Society) in our destitute state since the Death of our late worthy Pastor, and to lead us to the Choice of Mr. John Snelling Popkin to take the Charge and oversight of us in the Lord, and him to accept our united invitation

"These are therefore to desire your Presence and Assistance, by your Pastor

DEATH OF DR. BELKNAP.

269

Dr. Belknap was attacked with apoplexy, June 20, 1798, and died in a few hours. He had had premonitions of a sudden death, and had made preparation for it in the arrangement of his papers and the settlement of his domestic affairs. His ministry in Boston was a successful one, and he left a permanent impression upon the best thought and culture of the town.

He was an evangelical preacher, but his sermons were filled with a rich variety of observations on human life and manners. He never aimed at a splendid diction, but a vein of piety ran through his discourses, and his style was uncommonly elegant and perspicuous; his arrangement clear and luminous, and his language adapted to the subject. He was sure to gratify equally the taste of the best judges of composition, and the humble inquirers after truth. He had a great readiness in quoting and applying texts of Scripture, and had read much of casuistic, systematic and polemical divinity; but he chose to give every sentiment a practical turn, and to diffuse that wisdom which is profitable to direct.1

The enduring monument of this distinguished man of Old South lineage and training is the Massachusetts Historical Society, of which he was the founder. The mantle of Thomas Prince would seem to have fallen on him.

The Historical Society have lost their most laborious and diligent member, and the founder of their institution. No man had ever collected a greater number of facts, circumstances and anecdotes, or a more valuable compilation of manuscripts, which might give information and entertainment to all those who wish to know the history of their own country.2

Sabbath Day 6 October 1799.

A letter was communicated from the first Church, requesting the and Delegates on Wednesday the Tenth day of July next to join with other Churches in Solemnly Separating him to the Work of the Gospel Ministry. Wishing Grace, Mercy, and Peace may be Multiplied to you and all the Churches, we Subscribe your Brethren in the Gospel"

Dr. Eliot "delivered a liberal, judicious and appropriate sermon" from 1 Cor. xiii. I. Dr. Howard gave the charge, and Mr. Kirkland the right hand of fellowship. On the day following, Mr. William Collier was ordained as a Baptist minister in Mr. Baldwin's meeting-house. "Select choirs of vocal per

formers at both places of worship gratified polished and attentive audiences with several pieces of exquisite music. The decorum of the spectators of the solemnities marked the liberality of the times, and the urbanity of the people; while it demonstrated that the seeds of French Philosophy, though plentifully sown will not vegetate in the true American soil." - Col. Centinel, July 13, 1799.] 1 [Ibid., June 25, 1798.]

2 [Ibid. He was the first of the original members of the society to die. His friend Ebenezer Hazard stands first on the list of corresponding members; he was elected May 29, 1792.]

presence and assistance of this Church by the Pastor and such other Delegates as might be chosen, at the Installation of the Revd. William Emerson on the 16 instant, as successor in said Church of the Rev: Dr. John Clarke, deceased.

The Deacons, Mr. Samuel Whitwell, Mr. Samuel Bass, Mr. William Holmes, were appointed to attend, with the Pastor, on the occasion. JOSEPH ECKLEY.

Mr. Emerson was a son of the Rev. William Emerson, of Concord. He was ordained pastor of the church in Harvard in 1792, but seems never to have been “quite at home” there. His removal to Boston, however, was strongly opposed, very much as Dr. Thacher's removal from Malden had been in 1785. The Rev. Nathaniel Thayer, of Lancaster, preached the installation sermon; the Rev. Ezra Ripley, of Concord, gave the charge, and Dr. Thacher the right hand of fellowship.

1 See ante, vol. ii. p. 77.