[3]   February 7, 1841.

At a church meeting held this day, immediately after the Communion service, communications were read from the proprietors of Hollis Street Meeting House, inviting the church to sit in council with the other churches that had been invited before as a mutual council, but are now requested to come as an ex-parte Council, in order “to consider the question of the dissolution of the Reverend John Pierpont’s connexion with said Society.” Whereupon, it was unanimously and without debate Voted that the First Church accedes to the request of the proprietors of Hollis Street Meeting House, and will sit in council at the time and place proposed; viz. at the United States Court Room, on Monday the 15th day of February inst. at 10 o’Clock A.M.

Adjourned.

(The Reverend Dr. Harris was chosen as the Delegate to accompany the Minister; but, on his declining, Mr. Samuel H. Babcock was appointed in his stead. This council, after various trials and many adjournments, came to its Result on Monday, the 9th day of August, 1841.)

February 6th, 1842.

At a meeting of the brethren of the Church, held immediately after the Communion Service, it was unanimously voted, to accept the invitation of the Church in Purchase Street, to attend the ordination of Mr. James I. T. Coolidge as their “pastor and teacher” on Wednesday evening, the 9th instant; the First Church to be represented in council by its minister, and Mr. S. H. Babcock as delegate.

August 29, 1842.

A meeting of the members of the First Church was held this evening at the house of the pastor. Present Deacon Foster, and Messrs. James Phillips, Daniel Messinger, Samuel Bradlee, Moses Everett and Ephraim Hall. A Committee consisting of Mr. S. H. Babcock and Mr. S. Bradlee, to which the pastor was added, was appointed to examine the Deacon’s accounts, and report on the first Monday in October. The same Committee, to which Deacon Foster was added, was directed to devise some suitable place, in which to keep the silver vessels belonging to the communion furniture of the church; the pastor having signified that he could no longer furnish convenient accommodation for them in his own house. It was Voted That an annual meeting of the Church shall [4] be held, on or about the 27th of August, that being the anniversary of the gathering of the Church, in order to attend to the Deacon’s report, and to consider such questions as may arise, touching the welfare of this Christian body. Adjourned, to meet in the same place on the first Monday in October.

Sunday, October 2, 1842.

The brethren remained after Communion; and Voted unanimously to accept the invitation of the South Congregational Church, to attend the Ordination of Mr. Frederick D. Huntington as their “pastor,” on Wednesday the 19th instant.

Monday, October 3, 1842.

Met according to adjournment. Present, Deacon Foster, and Messrs. Phillips, Messinger, Gibbens, Bradlee, Everett, I. Hall, E. Hall, Francis, Babcock, Paine, Thayer and Allen. The deacon presented the following:

[5]   March 5, 1842.

The Amount of the Fund for the Poor at this date is $5290. Invested as follows: In State Bank 3760, Union ditto 900. Market ditto 630 = 5290.

The Committee appointed to examine the accounts offered a Report, that they found them correctly cast and well vouched, and that the Funds, with which the Deacon is in trust, are in a satisfactory condition; which Report was accepted. The Deacon offered also a Schedule, of which the following is a copy:

On the subject of finding a new place of deposit for the Church Plate, the minister gave notice that a suitable place had been provided in his own house; which was satisfactory to the Committee, and was adopted by the church. With respect to the time of holding the annual meeting, the minister mentioned, that he had ascertained from an additional volume of the Church Records, recently put into his hands, that the first Monday in October had been the time formerly assigned for holding such meeting. Wherefore, upon reconsideration, it was Voted That the first Monday in October shall be the fixed time for the Annual Meeting of the Church.

[6]   The minister read to the meeting a paper, prepared some time since by our brother Charles C. Paine Esq. giving an account of benefactions successively made to the Church. Of this document the following is a copy:

Sunday, December 4th, 1842.

The brethren of the Church remained after the communion service, and accepted an invitation from the New North Church and Society to attend the ordination of Mr. Amos Smith as colleague pastor with Reverend Dr. Parkman. Colonel Messinger was appointed the delegate. Dissolved.

[14]   October 2, 1843.

The Annual Meeting of the Church was held this evening at the house of the pastor. Present, Deacon Foster, and of the brethren Messrs. J. Phillips, D. Messinger, D. L. Gibbens, D. Francis, E. Hall, M. Everett, S. H. Babcock, W. B. Fowle and T. Eaton.

The following account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor, was submitted by the Deacon of the Church.

This Report was unanimously accepted.

A Letter was read from the Third Parish in Roxbury, inviting this Church to attend the Ordination of Mr. Joseph H. Allen, on Wednesday the 18th inst. The invitation was accepted, and Mr. William B. Fowle chosen as delegate to accompany the pastor. The minister then called the attention of the brethren to the Church Covenant, which is subscribed to by our communicants, and objected to all that part of it, which follows the confession of Faith, on the ground that it implies a closeness of relation that does not really exist, that it professes an oversight of one another that we do not admit, and that it is pervaded with an air of sentimentality not altogether becoming so solemn an instrument. He then read the primitive covenant of the Church, drawn up in 1630, and signified his preference of it over its modern successor. His objections were considered by the brethren to have some weight in them, and a general opinion was expressed in favour of the ancient covenant, on account of its beautiful simplicity, and its earnest but liberal spirit. After a long and interesting conversation on the subject, it was unanimously Voted That the minister be requested to give [15] further attention to the form of the present Church covenant, as compared with that which was first in use, and to offer some modification of it, or substitute for it, at a special meeting of the brethren, to be called for that purpose.

The meeting was then dissolved.

October 7, 1844.

The Annual Meeting of the Communicant members of the Church was held this evening at the house of the pastor, and opened with prayer. Present, Deacon Foster, and brothers Daniel Messinger, D. L. Gibbens, Samuel Bradlee, David Francis, Ephraim Hall, J. P. Bigelow, Charles Brooks and Edward F. Weld.

This Report was unanimously accepted.

The minister called the attention of the brethren to the difficulty that existed in deciding who were to be considered members of the Church and invited as such to attend its annual and special meetings; since there were several persons, who attended regularly our Communion services, who were yet not enrolled as belonging to the church, having never signed its Covenant. In conversing upon the subject, it appeared to be thought desireable that such of our fellow worshippers should be invited to connect themselves more perfectly with us by setting their names to the articles under which we come together. It was then Resolved, as the sense of the meeting, that the [16] pastor should feel authorized to receive the names of all those who were previously members of other churches; using only his own discretion, and without any other formality than that of announcing to the Church the names so added. The subject of the Covenant of the Church then came up, which had been considered at the Annual Meeting of the last year. The pastor, after giving his reasons for the innovation which he proposed to make—if it were indeed an innovation, and not rather a return to the ancient order which had been forsaken, offered the following form as a substitute for the Articles which are at present in use.

[17]   October 6, 1845.

The Annual Meeting of the Communicant Members of the First Church was held this evening, at the house of the pastor, and opened with Prayer. Present, Deacon Foster, and brothers Daniel Messinger, D. L. Gibbens, Samuel Bradlee, William B. Fowle, J. T. Hayward, Samuel H. Babcock, J. T. Bigelow, Charles Brooks, J. G. Hallet, Jesse Chickering, Edward F. Weld and Edward Hamilton.

The following Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor was submitted by the Deacon of the Church:

The Report was unanimously accepted.

The evening was spent in desultory, but not unprofitable conversation, on the manner of conducting public worship; especially on the singing of the church, and the most becoming posture of attending to that part of the service. At the close of the evening, the pastor having expressed an opinion in favor of the expediency of causing an accurate Transcript to be made of the Ancient Records of the Church, on motion of brother Gibbens it was Voted That the Pastor of the church be authorized and requested to cause such a copy to be made; the expence of the same to be defrayed from such sums as may be at the disposal of the Treasurer.

The meeting was then dissolved.

N. L. Frothingham.

[18]   Sunday, July 5, 1846.

The brethren remained after the Communion, at the request of the pastor, who read a communication from the Massachusetts Historical Society, begging of the ministers of the First, Second and Third Churches to furnish the Society with copies of their Church Records for the first fifty years from their several foundations. The pastor represented, that in anticipation of their willingness to grant this request, he had secured the services, conditionally, of Mr. David Pulsifer, who had been recommended to him, on the highest authority in such matters, as a person eminently qualified for so difficult and delicate a task. He mentioned, at the same time Mr. Pulsifer’s earnest wish to be allowed to have the use of the invaluable Original in the Library of the Historical Society, where he might have the advantage of conferring in case of difficulty with the learned Librarian, Mr. Felt. After hearing a full statement on the subject, the Church unanimously adopted the following Vote, which was offered by Deacon Foster.

The “Historical Society” having made a request to the Pastors of First Church, Second Church, and Old South Church, for a Copy of their Records for the first fifty years of said churches, Voted That the Pastor of this Church give permission to have such copy taken, and in such way as he shall approve. The Meeting was then dissolved.

N. L. Frothingham.

Sunday, January 3, 1847.466

The church remained after the Communion Service, at the invitation of the pastor, who gave information that the copy of the Church Records for the first fifty years, from 1630 to 1680, had been completed by Mr. Pulsifer, and was now ready for the inspection of any who might wish to see them.

N. L. Frothingham.

[19]   Monday, October 5, 1846.

The Annual Meeting of the Communicant Members of the First Church was held this evening at the house of the Pastor, and opened with Prayer. It was well attended; but the List of the names of those who were present has by some accident been mislaid. We painfully missed one of our number, who was never willingly absent, our worthy brother Daniel Messinger, who was removed from us by death in June last.

The following Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor was submitted by the Deacon of the Church:

The Report was unanimously accepted.

No subject having come up, of special interest to this body, the pastor took occasion to mention the feeble condition of the Sunday School belonging to this Society. The evening was spent chiefly in conversation upon the causes of this debility and the means of remedy; when, on motion of brother Thomas B. Wales, the whole matter was committed to the minister of the Church and to our brother Rev. Charles Brooks.

The meeting was then dissolved.

N. L. Frothingham.

See opposite page.

[20]   Sunday, March 7, 1847.

The Church remained after the Communion Service today, to hear read a Letter Missive from the North Church and Society in Salem, inviting them to be present, by their pastor and delegate, at the Ordination of Mr. Octavius B. Frothingham, on the coming Wednesday, March 10th.

The invitation was accepted. Our brother P. C. Brooks was chosen delegate for that occasion; but excusing himself on the account of ill health, Rev. Charles Brooks was appointed in his place.

N. L. Frothingham.

Monday, October 4, 1847.

The Annual Meeting of the Communicant Members of the First Church was held this evening at the pastor’s house, and opened with prayer. Present, Deacon Foster, and of the other brethren, Thomas B. Wales, Pelham W. Warren and Jesse Chickering. The deacon of the Church offered the following account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the poor:

This Report was accepted.

[21]   In consideration of the large overplus of this Fund beyond the expenditure—not much more than half of it being required for the Society’s poor, Mr. Wales offered a Motion that The Deacon with the Pastor be authorized to distribute such portion of this surplus as they may see fit, to deserving poor females who are not connected with our Congregation. Whereupon, it was Voted unanimously to adopt that resolution.

The Pastor gave notice that Mr. Pulsifer had completed the Copy of the Church Records, according to instructions. It was produced for examination, as yet unbound; and the bills for the cost of the same, amounting to $161.25, were shown to have been paid. It was thereupon Agreed, that this Copy of the Records, after having been bound, may be deposited in the Library of the Historical Society. The Church was also informed, that Mr. Pulsifer, through some misapprehension on his part, had made a duplicate copy of that part of the Records, which embraces the first fifty years. The question then arose, what should be done with the same—whether it should be purchased for their use, or left with the Writer to be disposed of according to his pleasure, subject however to their approbation. This question was left to the decision of the pastor and deacon of the Church, to act therein as they should think best.

The Meeting was then dissolved.

N. L. Frothingham.

Sunday, December 3d.

The Church remained after the Communion Service, to hear a Letter Missive read from the Church in Hollis Street, inviting them to be present by their Pastor and a Delegate, at the Installation of Rev. Thomas S. King, on the following Wednesday. The Invitation was accepted, and Mr. Samuel Bradlee was chosen to be the Delegate.

N. L. Frothingham.

[22]   December 4, 1848.

The Annual Meeting of the Communicant Members of the First Church was held this evening at the house of the Pastor, and opened with prayer. Present—Deacon Foster, and of the brethren, Thomas B. Wales, Samuel Bradlee, Ephraim Hall, Jesse Chickering, Charles C. Paine, John E. Thayer and Edward F. Weld. The Deacon of the church offered the following Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor:

This Report was accepted. Before it was read, however, the pastor explained the reason why the time of meeting had been deferred till now. It was that the members of the Church who spent their Summer in the Country did not all return to their places at an earlier period. The Records of the two preceding meetings were then read. The Pastor gave notice, that while the full Copy of the Church Record was kept under the care of the Deacon, in order to have the protection of a different place of deposit from the original, the Copy for the first Fifty years had been presented to the Historical Society of Massachusetts. The following Vote of that Society was then read:

[23] Massachusetts Historical Society.

January Meeting, 1848.

Rev. Dr. Frothingham made the following communication, viz.

And it was thereupon Voted, on motion of Mr. Ticknor, that the thanks of the Society be presented to the First Church in Boston for their liberal donation; and that the Manuscript be suitably bound under the direction of the Librarian.

A Copy of Record,

Attest Joseph Willard

Recording Secretary, M.H.S.

Rev. Dr. Frothingham

Minister of the First Church in Boston.

The Pastor then announced, that in conformity with a vote adopted at the last meeting, on motion of Mr. Wales, the sum of $50 from the Poor’s fund had been granted to the “Needle Woman’s Friend Society”; that being the sum for which he had given his receipt, according to the item of October 27 in the Deacon’s last account. A question hereupon arose, whether there was any right to divert, in this manner or any other, a fund appropriated to the Poor of our own Society. The objection was strongly urged by Mr. Paine, and acknowledged to be so far valid as to discountenance any further proceeding of a like kind. At the same time, it was the expressed judgment of the Meeting, that this fund should not be allowed to accumulate for the future. Dr. Chickering suggested that there might be persons in the Society not classed among “the poor,” and who would of themselves make no application for aid, to whom it might occasionally be of great convenience to receive a portion of its dividend. This idea was recommended, without a formal vote, to the attention of the officers of the Church.

The Meeting was then dissolved.

N. L. Frothingham.

[24]   Lord’s Day, January 28, 1849.

After the Morning Service a Letter Missive was read from the “New North” Church; being an invitation to attend the Ordination of Mr. Joshua Young as its Pastor on the Thursday following. On motion of the Deacon, Mr. John Eliot Thayer was chosen delegate to accompany the Pastor on that occasion.

N. L. Frothingham.

November 19, 1849.

The Annual Meeting of the Communicant members of the First Church was called for this evening at the minister’s house; but a violent storm prevented the attendance of the brethren. None were present but Messrs. John E. Thayer and Henry W. Torrey. The Meeting was accordingly deferred.

Monday, December 3, 1849.

The deferred meeting was held this evening at the house of the pastor, and opened with prayer. Present, Messrs. Francis, Babcock, Bradlee, Thayer, Brooks, Torrey and Weld. Deacon Foster was detained at home by illness, but sent the following “account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor of First Church.”

[25] This report was accepted. The minister mentioned that the number of beneficiaries had increased from four to seven; and took occasion to bear witness to the uniform care and kindness, with which the deacon of the Church fulfilled this part of his official duty. The subject of the Church plate was then brought up. This precious and unique treasure of silver, valuable for its antiquity, and for its historical and sacred associations, still more than for its weight, has been in the keeping of the minister for a great number of years. The charge of it he has always felt to involve a serious, and sometimes an anxious responsibility. He therefore requested that a new place of deposit might be found for it, that would make it more secure than it could be in any private dwelling. This was unanimously agreed to; and a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Samuel Bradlee and John E. Thayer, was appointed, with full powers to carry this measure into effect.

This meeting, rendered thin by another stormy evening, was then dissolved.

N. L. Frothingham.

March 20, 1853.

Owing to ill health I resigned my pastoral charge in March, 1850; and for the three following years no meeting of the Communicant Members of the First Church was held. In consequence of the happy unanimity of the Society in inviting Reverend Rufus Ellis of Northampton to be my successor, and his acceptance of that invitation, a meeting was called by the Deacon of the Church, Mr. James H. Foster, and held this evening in my Library. Present, Deacon Foster, who was appointed chairman, Thomas B. Wales, John E. Thayer, Henry W. Torrey, Dr. Palmer, Edward R. Hall, Caleb D. Bradlee and myself. The following Vote, offered by Mr. Torrey, was unanimously adopted, and Mr. F. was requested to send it inclosed in a letter to Mr. Ellis.

Voted That the Communicant members of the First Church in Boston offer their Pastor elect their hearty welcome, and assure him of their cheerful fellowship; that they rejoice in the hope of his public teaching, his private counsel and his friendly sympathy; and that they pray that this new connection may be crowned with the blessing of God, and with all the fruits of Christian unity and zeal.

[26]   The meeting, after about an hour’s further conversation, was dissolved.

[27]   May 11, 1853.

I continue to-day the Record of the doings of First Church, in accordance with the Excellent plan of my predecessor in the sacred office which has providentially fallen to me. On the twenty fifth page of this book I find the details of a Meeting of Communicants called by the Deacon of the Church for the purpose of extending to me, in advance of my coming amongst them, a right hand of Christian welcome. I received the vote passed at that meeting, in a very kind letter from Mr. H. W. Torrey. A paragraph from my reply to this communication is here inserted in testimony of the high estimate which I set upon Church-Life.

May 11, 1853.

Passing from the days of preparation to the Day of Installation, I must transcribe the Record of the Council which was called together on the Fourth of May 1853 for the purpose of uniting with the First Church in establishing me as their Pastor.

“4. May 1853.

The Council met at the residence of Dr. Frothingham at 10.A.M. and came to order upon the call of Dr. F. according to whose motion Reverend Dr. Flint of Salem was appointed Moderator, and Reverend Mr. Ware of Cambridge, Scribe. The List of the Churches having been here called the following were found to be [28] represented.

• Second Church in Boston, Rev. Chandler Robbins
• Brattle Street Church, Boston, Rev. Dr. Lothrop and Richard Sullivan
• New South Church, Boston, Rev. Dr. Young and B. A. Gould
• Federal Street Church, Boston, Rev. Dr. Gannett, Jonathan Phillips, James Savage
• Hollis Street Church, Boston, Reverend T. Starr King and A. Ball
• West Church, Boston
• Bulfinch Street Church, Boston, Rev. F. T. Gray and Samuel Conder
• Twelfth Church, Boston, Rev. Samuel Barrett and L. G. Pray
• Thirteenth Church, Boston, Rev. J. I. T. Coolidge and G. G. Smith
• South Congregational Church, Boston, Rev. F. D. Huntington and Jabez Ellis
• Harvard Church, Charlestown, Reverend G. E. Ellis and William Eager
• First Church in Roxbury, Rev. Dr. Putnam and S. C. Thwing
• First Church in Dorchester, Rev. N. Hall and Henry Humphreys
• First Church in Quincy, —Baxter
• First Church in Salem, Reverend G. W. Briggs and D. A. White
• East Church in Salem, Reverend Dr. Flint, Reverend D. Clapp and T. Downing
• North Church in Salem, Reverend O. B. Frothingham and C. Foote
• Church in Barton Square, Salem, Rev. James Thompson and Joseph Chamberlain
• Church in Cambridge Port, Rev. J. F. W. Ware and George Livermore
• First Church in Cambridge, Rev. William Newell and R. H. Hodges
• New North Church, J. P. Hammatt
• Church of the Savior, G. W. Warren

A letter was read by Dr. Frothingham from the Wardens of the Stone Chapel in which they (Expressed in behalf of the Church their interest in the Services of the Day but declined) acknowledge “the kindness and courtesy of the invitation but in conformity with all previous usage on similar occasions respectfully decline the sending of a delegate.”

The following letter was read from Rev. Dr. Lowell

A Letter from the Church in Northampton, granting the request of Mr. Ellis for a dissolution of his connexion with them was read and [30] accepted as satisfactory.

The Records of the Church not being produced and being temporarily inaccessible, a verbal statement from Dr. Frothingham with reference to the call of Mr. Ellis and his acceptance thereof, was after some conversation accepted in their place.

Reverend F. D. Huntington was appointed to give the Right Hand of Fellowship and the Order of Exercises as appointed by the Society was approved.

The Council then voted themselves ready to attend the Services, and a Committee being in waiting, they proceeded to the Church at 11. A.M.

(Signed) James Flint, Moderator.

J. F. W. Ware, Scribe.”

In the words and in the arrangement, though not in the matter, the above varies a little from the document which was put into my hands, I have therefore placed the original paper with the accompanying letters etc. on file.

I subjoin an “Order of Services,” not only for the sake of recording the names of those who took part but to ensure the Hymn and Psalm against all the perils that threaten loose leaves.

After the Services in the Church which commended themselves to a very respectable audience as pervaded by an elevated and pure Christian spirit, the Pastors and Delegates from the Churches and invited guests dined with the Committee of First Church in Chapman Hall, Hon. Edward Everett presiding at the Table. At the close of the entertainment Mr. Everett briefly and happily addressed the assembled friends in behalf of the Society, and was followed in a very few words by Dr. Gannett, Mr. James Savage, Rev. Mr. Ellis of Charlestown and the Pastor. I should have written that Rev. Mr. Morison, of Milton, asked the blessing at the Table.

[33]   November 10, 1853

On account of the confusion incident to my absence from the City during the week days of the Summer I neglected to record a Communication bearing date May 10, 1853, received from the ‘New North’ Church and Society inviting the First Church to be present by Pastor and Delegate at the Installation of Reverend Arthur B. Fuller as their Pastor. Brother John E. Thayer was appointed to represent the Church in connexion with the Pastor. The Installation, as appointed, was solemnized on the First Day of June 1853, and the Church appeared through the above named Delegate.

Rufus Ellis.

April 11, 1854.

The Annual Meeting of the Communicant members of First Church was held this evening at the Minister’s house. Present: Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Dea. Foster, and Messrs. Thayer, Bates, Hall, Palmer, Eaton, Weld, Torrey, Abbot, and Bradlee. The Pastor offered prayer. In answer to the usual call, the deacon of the Church presented the accounts of receipts and disbursements of the interest of the fund for the poor, during the years 1849–50, –51, –52, –53, the meetings of the Church having been suspended during this interval. The accounts are recorded below. The brethren unanimously voted I. “That said accounts be received and entered in the Pastor’s Book.” II. “That the distribution of the proceeds of our Charity Fund be left to the discretion of the Pastor and Deacon.” III. “That the Pastor and Deacon are requested to engage as speedily and as earnestly as may be in the work of supplying the vacancy in the Deacon’s office, and making good the number of Church officers.” The brethren engaged in some discussion of the different modes of administering the Communion Service, with special reference to Liturgical Worship, and separated at 10. P.M. With reference to the Annual Meeting, it was unanimously decided “That it shall be held hereafter on some convenient evening of the week immediately pre[34]ceding Easter Sunday, to be determined by the Pastor and Deacon.”

Account of Receipts and Disbursements of Fund for the poor of First Church.

[35]   Account of Receipts and Disbursements of Fund for the Poor of First Church.

[36] Account of Records and Disbursements of Fund for Poor of First Church.

Rufus Ellis.

December 11, 1854.

First Church was represented by Pastor and brother Samuel Bradlee at the Ordination of Mr. Caleb Davis Bradlee over the Allen St. Church, North Cambridge. Preacher, Rev. T. Starr King.

January 14, 1855.

First Church was represented by Bro. Henry C. Torrey at the Ordination of Mr. William G. Scandlin, as a Minister at Large in the Employment of the Benevolent Fraternity of Churches. Services in Hollis St. House of Worship. Preacher, Rev. Dr. Gannett.

[37]   April 5, 1855.

The Annual Meeting of the male Communicants of the First Church was held this Evening at the house of the Pastor. Present: Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Messrs. Bates, Thayer, Abbot and Palmer. On account of the unfavorable weather Dea. James H. Foster was not able to be with us but sent in the usual statements of receipts and Expenditures in the matters of the Church Fund and the Church poor. The Pastor offered prayer. The brethren then gave their attention to the financial report just referred to, and which will be found appended to this record. The following votes were then passed.

I. A strong, locked trunk shall be provided for the safe keeping of the original Book of Records of First Church; said trunk shall be marked with the name of the Church and with its contents shall be deposited in the safe of our plate-keeper or of one of the City banks.

II. The copy of this original Book now in the keeping of Dea. Foster shall be deposited with the Pastor who shall be at liberty to lend it to any person who may have occasion in the course of historical or other inquiries to make use of it—provided always that the borrower shall sign an obligation to make good the copy in case any harm shall come to it.

[38]   Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the poor of the First Church.

Rufus Ellis.

First Church received an invitation from the South Congregational Church in Nantucket to assist by Pastor and Delegate at the Ordination of Mr. George W. Hepworth, September 12. Voted “To be present by the Pastor and Rev. Dr. Frothingham.” Neither the Pastor nor his Delegate was able to carry out this vote. Preacher: Rev. Dr. E. S. Gannett.

First Church received an invitation from the North Church, Salem to assist by Pastor and Delegate at the Installation of Rev. Charles Lowe, October 25th.

Voted “To be present by Pastor and Dr. George Bates”; and the Pastor was present. Preacher: Rev. Dr. A. P. Peabody.

[39]   March 21, 1856.

The Annual Meeting of the male communicants of the First Church was held this evening at the house of the Pastor and opened by him with prayer. Present, Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Dea. James H. Foster, Messrs. John Eliot Thayer, Samuel L. Abbot, Joseph Palmer, John P. Bigelow, Hermann J. Warner and William Everett and Joseph M. Sherburne. Dea. Foster presented the following:

“Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor of the First Church”

James H. Foster, Deacon.

And it was moved that said account be accepted and placed on record, and so the brethren voted. Dr. Samuel L. Abbot called attention to certain poor children from an Institution in Kneeland Street known as the “Temporary Home for destitute children,” who, it appears, have for more than a year attended Divine Service and Sunday School with us, and commended them as fit objects for the Charity Fund. The brethren accorded in this opinion, with the understanding that no appropriation should be made to the Institution as an Institution, but only to the children, and this in order to satisfy the terms of Trust under which we hold our Charity-monies. It was the general opinion of those present that [40] the accumulation of the Fund is not a thing to be desired. The Church next proceeded to the election of a second Deacon and made choice of Dr. George Bates. Upon the representation of the Pastor that the demand of a subscription to a covenant before an allowance of Communion at the Lord’s Table is an offence to some tender consciences, Rev. Dr. Frothingham proposed the following Vote “That our Pastor may feel authorized to admit any persons to our service of Communion on their application and at his discretion.” And it was passed with one dissenting voice. After some discussion upon the Subject of the use of a Liturgy in our Sunday Worship, the meeting was dissolved.

Rufus Ellis.

April 9, 1857.

The Annual Meeting of the Male Communicants of the First Church was held this Evening at the house of the Pastor and opened by him with prayer. Present, Reverend Dr. Frothingham, Dea. James H. Foster, Samuel L. Abbot, M.D., George O. Harris, Hermann J. Warner, Charles L. Hayward.

Deacon Foster presented the Annual Account of Receipts and Disbursements as exhibited on the opposite page. The Pastor read a Communication from Dr. George Bates declining the office of Deacon to which he was chosen at the Annual Meeting of 1856.

Some conversation was had touching the children from the Temporary Home and the aid to be afforded them and the following motion was submitted and passed—Voted That a sum not exceeding ($150) one hundred and fifty dollars be paid this year from the Charity Fund to our Pastor as he may call for it, to be by him used as he may think proper for the benefit of the poor children who may form part of our congregation or attend Sunday School with us.

[41]   Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Funds for the Poor of the First Church.

James H. Foster, Deacon.

Rufus Ellis.

April 1, 1858.

The Annual Meeting of the Male Communicants of the First Church was held this evening at the house of the Pastor and opened by him with prayer. Present Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Dea. James H. Foster, Dr. Samuel L. Abbot, Peter Allen, Dr. Joseph Palmer, Charles L. Hayward, Hermann J. Warner, and George O. Shattuck.

Deacon Foster presented the Annual Account of Receipts and Disbursements as appended. The Vote of the last year with reference to poor children who are or may be in attendance upon our Religious Services or connected with our Sunday School was renewed for the current year.

[42]   Dr. Frothingham proposed that our Invitation to the Communion Service be modified so that it shall be substantially as follows—“The Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper will be administered after the Benediction and in behalf of the Church, I invite all who desire to commemorate the love of the Lord Jesus to take part with us in the observance.” After some discussion it was voted “That the subject be brought before an adjourned meeting to be held a week from to-night at the same hour and in the same place.” The attention of the brethren was then called to the use of the Gloria Patri in our Church Service and objection was made to it by several as unsuitable to the worship of a Unitarian Congregation, and then the meeting was adjourned to be brought together again on the 8th inst.

Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for Poor of First Church.

E. E. James H. Foster, Deacon.

Rufus Ellis.

[43]   April 8, 1858.

Met at the house of the Pastor according to adjournment. Present Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Messrs. Piper, Eaton, Palmer, Everett and Harris. The proposition made at our last meeting by Dr. Frothingham with reference to the Invitation to the Communion Service was taken up and it was ascertained that nine of our communicants members are in favor of it whilst four deem it unadvisable and it was Voted at the request of the Pastor “that it be left to his discretion to introduce the alteration or to retain the present form” and thereupon the Meeting was dissolved.

April 21, 1859.

The Annual Meeting of the Male Communicants of the First Church was held this Evening at the house of the Pastor and was opened by him with prayer. Present Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Dea. James H. Foster, Dr. Samuel L. Abbot, Dr. Joseph Palmer, Messrs. Hermann J. Warner, E. R. Hall, Geo. Callender, Geo. Fowle, George O. Harris, D. Waldo Salisbury, William Everett and J. Ellery Piper.

Deacon Foster presented the annual account of receipts and Expenditures, as appended. Messrs. Abbot and Harris were appointed a Committee to inquire into the conditions upon which this Church receives its portion of the Quarterly Charity Lecture distributions, especially to learn whether we must confine ourselves in dispensing the same to the poor of our Society.

Deacon Foster was requested to appropriate, as the Pastor may ask, a sum not exceeding $150 for the current year to be used in clothing poor children who are or may be in attendance upon our Sunday School or Religious Services.

[44]   After conversation upon the character of our Church Music the meeting was dissolved.

Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor of First Church.

E. E. James H. Foster, Deacon.

Rufus Ellis.

April 5, 1860.

Met for our annual assembling at the house of the Pastor. After prayers it was found that there were present Messrs. Foster, Palmer, Austin, Collamore, Hall, Abbot, Harris, Rice, Piper and Paine (R. T. Jr.) Dea. Foster presented his annual account of Receipts and disbursements and the same will be found appended. The Committee upon the Charity Lecture appointed at our last Annual Meeting reported upon the subjects assigned to them for inquiry, recommending no change in our relation to that Institution or in our employment of our portion of the receipts. [45] It was Voted That Dea. Foster be and hereby is requested to appropriate, as the Pastor may ask, a sum not exceeding $150 for the current year to be used in clothing poor children who are or may be in attendance upon our Sunday School or Religious Services. The brethren conversed upon the missionary work of the Church, the means of extending it, the establishment of Sunday Schools for the poor and the ways by which a larger number can be brought to the ordinance of the Supper and then the meeting was dissolved.

Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the poor of First Church.

James H. Foster, Deacon.

Rufus Ellis.

[46] June 17, 1860.

The First Church was represented this evening by Pastor and Delegate Dr. Samuel L. Abbot in the Council for the Ordination of Mr. Joseph F. Lovering as Colleague of Rev. Dr. Barrett in the Pastoral Care of the Twelfth Congregational Church in this City.

April 4, 1861.

The Annual Meeting of the Male Communicants of the First Church was held this evening at the house of the Pastor. Present Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Messrs. J. P. Bigelow, J. E. Piper, H. B. Rice, John Collamore, Joseph Palmer and George O. Harris.

After Prayer from the Pastor the Annual Account of Receipts and Expenditures was presented on behalf of Dea. Foster who was unable to be present.

It was Voted That Dea. Foster be and hereby is requested to appropriate, as the Pastor may ask, a sum not exceeding $150 for the current year to be used in clothing poor children who are or may be in attendance upon our Sunday School or Religious Services.

Much satisfaction was expressed in view of the increased expenditure of money for the poor, and the reduction of our yearly balance.

The Account will be found on the opposite page.

[47]   Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor of the First Church.

E. E. James H. Foster.

Rufus Ellis.

April 27, 1862.

The annual meeting of the male communicants of the First Church was held this evening at the house of the Pastor. Present Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Messrs. C. W. Clark, H. B. Rice, George O. Harris, George W. Wales, J. E. Piper, E. R. Hall, George O. Shattuck, D. Waldo Salisbury, George Fowle. After prayer from the Pastor the Annual Account of Receipts and Expenditures was presented on behalf of Dea. Foster who was unable to be present. It was Voted That Dea. Foster be and hereby is requested to appropriate, as the Pastor may ask, a sum not exceeding $150 for the current year to be used in clothing poor children who are or may be in attendance upon our Sunday School or Religious [48] Services. The Pastor called the attention of the brethren to the fact that the brother who has so long served the Church in the office of the Deacon, alone and unaided, needs now by reason of the increasing infirmities of advanced age efficient helpers. It was unanimously Voted thereupon That the Pastor nominate two who shall be with himself a Committee to propose to the brethren the names of such persons as they may deem fitted to perform the duties of Deacons in this Church.

Messrs. Wales and Shattuck were selected for this purpose and presented the names of Calvin W. Clark and E. R. Hall. Both of these gentlemen declining to be candidates for the office, the Committee again withdrew and upon their return offered again the name of our brother Clark in connection with that of George O. Shattuck. These gentlemen, not having considered the matter and being unwilling to accept the trust it was Voted That this meeting be and hereby is adjourned to Sunday Evening May 11, at 7½ o’clock in the same place; in the hope that our friends may yet consent to serve us in the office of Deacon.

The account will be found on the opposite page.

Rufus Ellis.

[49] Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor of the First Church.

E. E. James H. Foster, Deacon.

May 11, 1862.

A meeting of the male communicants of First Church was held by adjournment this evening at the house of the Pastor. Present Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Messrs. C. W. Clark, J. E. Piper, E. R. Hall, George Fowle, George O. Shattuck, J. P. Bigelow, H. B. Rice, G. W. Wales, D. W. Salisbury and Dr. S. L. Abbot. Neither of the gentlemen nominated for the office of Deacon was found willing to accept the nomination. The brethren then appointed a nominating committee consisting of the following gentlemen—Dr. S. L. Abbot, D. W. Salisbury, George O. Shattuck. They nominated the following brethren Messrs. C. W. Clark, J. B. Richardson, G. O. Harris and Dr. Joseph Palmer. Mr. Clark still declined to serve. Mr. John Collamore’s name was then substituted. These gentlemen were then chosen; but as it appeared that Mr. Collamore will in all probability be absent from us for some years his election was reconsidered. It was understood that in case any one of these gentlemen [50] shall decline the office the Pastor shall call a meeting of the brethren immediately after morning service on Sunday next for further action in the premises. Adjourned.

Rufus Ellis.

May 18, 1862.

A meeting of the male communicants of First Church was held this day in the vestry of the Church after Morning Service.

The Pastor reported that Brothers Richardson and Palmer have declined whilst Bro. Harris has accepted the office of Deacon in our Church. It was Voted That Bros. Hall, Shattuck, and Abbot be a Committee to select and report names of brethren who shall seem to them eligible for this service and that when they shall have reported such names to the Pastor a meeting of the Male Communicants shall be called by him.

Adjourned. Rufus Ellis.

December 15, 1862.

The Communicant Members of the Church were requested to remain after Divine Service yesterday morning and the Pastor announced to them the removal by death of our Senior Deacon467 at the advanced age of eighty nine, he having served the Church in this capacity since the 5th of March 1815. The Pastor then requested the Committee having in charge the nomination of brethren for the office of Deacon to use all diligence in a work which now becomes especially pressing, and asked whether any member had a word to offer with reference to the loss which our Church has experienced in the death of our aged friend. The Rev. Dr. Frothingham rose in response to the inquiry and referred in the kindest manner to the pleasant relations which had ever been maintained between himself and the late Senior Deacon whose Diaconate commenced at about [51] the same time with his Pastorate and then begged leave to present a word of Acknowledgement which was accepted by the Church to be spread upon our Record and transmitted to the only surviving member of the household of the deceased. It is herewith subjoined.

The First Church took part through the Pastor and Delegate, G. O. Harris in the ordination of Mr. Charles W. Buck as an Evangelist. The Services were in the Hollis St. Church. The Pastor of First Church gave the charge.

[52]   April 15, 1863.

The Church had been summoned to the usual Annual Meeting; but the attendance proving from some cause to be very small it was deemed best to adjourn until Wednesday of the next week.

Rufus Ellis.

April 22, 1863.

The Annual Meeting was held this Evening by adjournment at the House of the Pastor. There were present Rev. Dr. Frothingham, Messrs. Fowle, Rice, Salisbury, J. P. Bigelow and P. Bigelow, Palmer, Piper, Hall and Harris. After prayer from the Pastor the Deacon presented to the Communicants the Account of Receipts and Disbursements for the Poor etc. during the past year. It was accepted and will be found upon the Record. It was Voted That it is the wish of the Church that the income of our Fund for the relief of the Poor should be so employed at the discretion of the Pastor and Deacon as to relieve children who may be gathered for regular attendance in the Sunday School, and for the parents of the children who may be habitual worshippers.

It was Voted That the Pastor and Deacon with Mr. G. O. Shattuck be a Committee with full powers to take such action as they shall deem most suitable with regard to a Legacy of our late Deacon Foster of which our Deacons are constituted the Trustees.

An earnest and general desire was expressed that our Income for the Poor should be made use of as freely as regard to the terms of the Trust would allow.

[53]   Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor of First Church and Congregation.

E. E. George O. Harris, Deacon.

Rufus Ellis.

March 31, 1864.

The Annual Meeting of the male communicants of First Church was held this evening at the house of the Pastor. There were present Messrs. Gr. O. Harris, John Collamore, Nathaniel Thayer, E. R. Hall, S. L. Abbot, J. E. Piper, D. W. Salisbury, and T. B. Wales. The inclement weather prevented some of the members from attending. The Pastor offered Prayer. The Deacon presented the usual account of receipts and Expenditures. It was upon motion of Mr. Nathaniel Thayer Voted That a quarterly contribution be asked from the Congregation to be placed in the hands of the Pastor and Deacon for such Church purposes as may commend themselves to their judgement, in the way of relief for the poor and in other ways.

It was thought that our Church work would soon require the avails of such contributions.

[54]   Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Fund for the Poor of First Church and Congregation.

Boston, March 31, 1864. E. E. George O. Harris, Deacon.

May 28, 1865.

The Annual Meeting was called for this evening on account of a press of engagements during the week before Easter. There were present Messrs. Harris, Thayer, Shattuck, Everett, Fowle, Piper, Bigelow, and Storer, some of the members being absent from the city and others confined at home by illness. The Deacon read the Account of Receipts and Expenditures for the past year and it was accepted and ordered to be placed on file. The Pastor reported as to the result of our quarterly collections, that four have already been taken up and that many poor children have been aided. The Committee on the legacy of the late Deacon Foster for the use of poor students of Theology at Cambridge reported that the bequest had been paid, amounting to $1000 less tax, i.e. to $950 and properly invested.

[55]   Mr. William Everett presented with much earnestness the need of a new House of Worship in a more favorable location and the suggestion was very well received.

Account of Receipts and Disbursements of Fund for the Poor of First Church and Congregation.

Boston, March 31, 1865.

George O. Harris, Deacon of First Church.

April 6, 1866.

The Annual Meeting was called for this evening on account of a press of engagements during the week before Easter. There were present Messrs. T. B. Wales, John Collamore, N. Thayer, P. C. Brooks, J. E. Piper, George O. Shattuck, George Fowle, S. L. Abbot, D. W. Salisbury, H. B. Rice, James Bracken, and Otto Cuntz. The Deacon read the Report of the Receipts and Expenditures of the past year and it was [56] accepted and ordered to be placed on file. It was then unanimously Resolved That the members of First Church have heard with regret that our worthy Deacon and esteemed friend George O. Harris has left our City and that, for the present at least we shall be obliged to dispense with his valued services. We would put on record our high appreciation of his character and work, and would add an expression of our desire that he would retain, so far as may be convenient to him, his connexion with our Church. Our best wishes and prayers go with him for an absence which we hope will only be for a season. The Pastor then proposed a Committee to nominate Deacons subject to the vote of the Church. This Committee consisted of Messrs. Shattuck and Abbot and conferring with the Pastor and with one and another named below they reported to the Meeting and found acceptance for the following proposition, that Three of the Communicants in the subjoined list, and in the order as here set down, be requested to serve at the Table on Communion Days and that Mr. Collamore be asked to serve us as soon as he shall be able in the office of Deacon so far as relates to the care of our Church funds, it being hoped that Mr. Harris meanwhile will kindly retain this trust.

• James B. Richardson
• John Collamore
• Dr. S. L. Abbot
• J. Ellery Piper
• D. Waldo Salisbury
• George O. Shattuck

[57]   Account of Receipts and Disbursements of Fund for poor of First Church and Congregation.

E. E. Geo. O. Harris, Deacon of First Church, Mar. 31, 1866.

June 9, 1867.

In the hope of securing a more general attendance and that of both sexes, the Pastor called the meeting of communicants this year on a Lord’s Day after the morning service, and his course was sanctioned by vote of the Church at the time of the meeting, so that the coming together of which this is the record is to be regarded as the proper annual Church assembling. The Pastor presented the annual financial statement of the Deacon and informed the communicants of the disposition made of the Trust Moneys of the Church, including those appropriated by the testaments of the donors to the Education of students at Cambridge University and those designed for the relief of the poor of the Church and Congregation. He also made known to the meeting that the sum of five hundred (500) dollars had been put into his hands by the Executor of the late Miss Mary Caroline Tileston, a communicant member of the Church to be appropriated at his discretion in our Church charities. The Deacon’s statement will be found on the following page.

[58]   Account of Receipts and Disbursements of funds of First Church.

George O. Harris

Deacon of the “First Church”

On the 17th day of May, 1868 Farewell Services were attended by a large Congregation in our House of Worship on Chauncy St. The Pastor preached from Ps. 26. 8. The Sermon with the Scriptures read during the Service will be printed. Much sensibility was manifested by the worshippers many of whom had not attended at the Church for many years.

On the 17th day of May the Congregation gathered for the first time in our new and beautiful Chapel on Marlboro Street. We conducted our service with the aid of King’s Chapel Liturgy which is to be henceforth our Book of Common Prayer. The Text was the Inscription upon the Cloister-approach to the Chapel—“And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children.”