THE SEPTEMBER GALE, 1815.

387

but for their privations during the late war, and their contributions to neighbors who not long ago had lost their all by fire, especially in Portsmouth and Newburyport."

What is known as the equinoctial storm was exceptionally severe in September of this year, and proved fatal to the Old South bell, which had called three generations of worshippers to the house of prayer.

The Public Buildings, though much exposed, and for which great anxiety was expressed, did not sustain material injuries. One of the high arches of the tower of the Meeting-House in Hollis Street, sprung and hazarded the fall of the steeple; but it stood, and may probably be repaired without being taken down. The Third Baptist, Park Street and Old South Meeting Houses; the Church in Summer Street, the Chapel, and some at the North End, lost many panes of glass, had the leads removed from their ridges and edges, and some of their Venetian blinds destroyed. . . . On land, the most impressive scene was exhibited in the Common and vicinity. About twenty of the stately trees which form the Mall, and skirted the Common, were torn up by their roots and prostrated, carrying the fences with them; and five of the Elms which form what is called Paddock's Walk, in front of the Granary burial-ground, shared the same fate. The overthrow of these trees is perhaps one of the strongest proofs of the fury of the tempest.1 Boston, Nov. 20. 1815.

At a meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Congregation called by the request of the Standing Committee, from the Desk, to meet this day at 3 O Clock PM. on the Subject of procuring a New Bell, the present Bell being crack't, supposed by the late Tempest on the 23d of September last, the Bell being Ringing for Fire at that Time, Voted, Unanimously,

That a New Bell be procured for the use of this House.

Voted, That Joseph Peirce, Josiah Salisbury and Edward Phillips be a Committee to procure a New Bell, as near the size and sound of the Old Bell as possible, in any way and manner that they may see proper.

Voted, That the Committee put on the New Bell any inscription they may think proper.

Motion being made and seconded that this meeting be dissolved, and it was dissolved accordingly; 13 Members present.

The brethren met December

1 [Centinel, Sept. 27, 1815. The trees which had been uprooted were replanted, with the prospect of preserving them.

Att. JOHN WINSLOW Clk.

12, to consider further the

See Dr. Holmes's poem, "The September Gale," for the humorous side of this visitation.]

case of the late teller of the Massachusetts Bank. He had addressed a communication to the church in July, which was not satisfactory, and the pastor was requested to inform him that the church was desirous to see an exhibition in his life and conduct of that repentance towards God for his great sin whereby he had brought reproach upon religion, which would justify his restoration to its communion and fellowship; also, that evidence of this repentance would appear, when he should seek an opportunity to confess his sin before the church, and ask for forgiveness. At the end of the year he wrote a letter, full of expressions of sorrow and shame, which was read at a meeting January 3, and being within call, he was invited to appear before the brethren. He then made oral confession of his sin, asked the forgiveness of the church, and its prayers in his behalf, declared that he cheerfully submitted himself to its government and discipline, and most solemnly professed that his offence towards God, and the reproach which he had brought upon the cause of Christ, bore more heavily and painfully on his mind than any human censure. Whereupon it was voted, nem. con.

That brother be restor❜d to the full communion and cordial fellowship of the Church, and that an outline of the Church's proceedings in relation to him, for the honor of our holy religion, thus deeply wounded in the house of its friends, be communicated from the pulpit as soon as convenient, at the close of the public service of the Lord's day, and that said be notified to attend on the

occasion.

It adds to our interest in these proceedings to remember that the two deacons of the church which passed thus leniently upon the offender were stockholders and directors (one of them was the president) in the bank whose funds had been taken, and, therefore, were personal sufferers by the defalcation.

At the meeting at which the vote just given was adopted further action was taken, as follows:

Voted, that all persons who apply for a transfer of their relation from any other church to the Old South Church, shall, in addition to a written testimonial from the church or Pastor of the church to which they belong, of their good standing in said church, give to the Pastor of this, the Old South Church, and to a joint committee of the same, hereafter to be chosen, satisfactory evidence that they approve of the covenant, and are disposed to conform to the faith and government of this church. After which their certificate shall be publicly read before the church as heretofore, and the minds of the brethren taken in the

ABSENT MEMBERS.

389

usual form on the question of their admission. Provided, however, that persons thus admitted shall not thereby become entitled to any of the property appropriated for the relief of the poor belonging to this Church.

The Deacons and Brother Benjamin Whitman, with the Pastor, were chosen a committee for the purpose aforesaid.

Voted, also, that all members of this church, who have for a year ending December 31, 1815, or longer, absented themselves from the communion of this church, and associated with any other church, while their relation and consequent obligations to this church have never been dissolved, shall be requested to apply for a dismission from this church, in order to their regular admission to the churches with which they statedly worship and commune.

Voted, also, that the pastor be requested to communicate this vote to all members affected by it, together with a request that they comply with the same. J. HUNTINGTON.

T the beginning of the new year Dr. Lathrop, the pastor

of the Second Church, departed this life, after a ministry of nearly fifty years. One of his successors has said of him: "His light shone with a mild and steady, rather than a brilliant lustre. As a preacher, he instructed, rather than delighted; wisely counselled and gently led his hearers, rather than powerfully moved them. Without being remarkable for learning, he was respected for the soundness of his thoughts, the weight of his opinions, and the soberness of his judgment." 1 He was contemporary with five ministers of the Old South, and with one of them, Dr. Eckley, whose pastorate had been by much the longest of the five, he was on terms of intimate friendship.

At his entrance on the ministry his tenets were strictly such as were then commonly reputed Calvinistical. In some respects afterwards they underwent a considerable alteration. This, however, had no effect on his good opinion of those who differed from him. Whatever sentiments of a religious nature in the course of life he imbibed, and thought proper to avow, they were never accompanied with the bitter 1 Robbins's History of the Second Church, p. 127.

DEATH OF DR. LATHROP.

391

spirit of censoriousness and reproach. He embraced good men of every persuasion, for in every persuasion he doubted not there were such, in the arms of charity and love, and wished rather to enlarge and strengthen than to loosen and dissolve the bonds of Christian fellowship and communion. A more striking pattern of candour and catholicism is not perhaps often to be found among Christians of any denomination.1

At a meeting of the Brethren of the Old South Church and Congregation Fast Evening, April 4th 1816,

Deacon William Phillips Moderator.

Voted, That John Winslow be requested to do the Duty of Clerk for the year ensuing.

The Committee chosen by the Society April 6, 1815, to take the care and direction of all the temporal concerns of said Society, as the time for which they were chosen has expired, beg leave to report their doings the last Year, Vizt.

First, They have expended three hundred Dollars for the Support of a Choir of Singers.2

2d They have laid out Nine hundred and twenty five Dollars 29 on repairs of the Meeting House, Parsonage House and Stores, which have been completely repaired, and are at present in perfect order -and they would inform the Society, that the Leases on which they were let for five Years, will expire on the first of October next, when they may be rented at a higher rate than is now paid for them.

3d They have rented the Cellars under the Meeting House for four hundred Dollars pr Annum.

4th. They have been able to let most of the Gallery Pews belonging to the Society, the proceeds of which amounted to upwards of three hundred Dollars, and has been paid into the Treasury—and they have the satisfaction to state, that with very few exceptions, the Taxes have been collected from the Pews on the lower floor to 31 December last.

Finally your Committee have attended to all matters and things relating to the Society, entrusted to them.

All which is submitted.

Sign'd

FRANCIS WELCH pr order.

Voted, The report of the Committee be accepted.

Voted, To proceed to the Choice of a Standing Committee for the Year.

Voted, That Deacon Ticknor and Mr. Cleveland be a Committee

1 [Col. Centinel, January 24, 1816. Dr. Lathrop's successor was the Rev. Henry Ware, Jr., whose ordination took place January 1, 1817.]

2 [At the Fourth of July celebration

at the Old South, in 1816, the oration was given by George Sullivan, and it is said that "several excellent pieces of music" were sung by the Old South Choir. ExPresident John Adams was present.]