CHAPTER X.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY CONTINUED.

THE FIRST PARISH.

AFTER the death of Dr. Osgood, the minds of so many turned to REV. Andrew BIGELOW as the next pastor, that the town secured his services as a candidate for settlement in the early part of 1823. In less than two months, the town voted to invite him to become the permanent minister, by a vote of ninety-five to seventy, on a salary of eight hundred dollars. Two days later the church voted to concur with the action of the town; and thus, in due form, Mr. Bigelow was invited to settle over the church in Medford as its gospel minister. The last vote stood twenty to three.

On the 14th of June, seven days after said last-named action, Mr. Bigelow accepted this invitation by a long and able letter, properly noticing a condition which, at a subsequent meeting, had been coupled with the first vote of the town. The condition was, that either party may dissolve the connection by giving six months' notice to that effect. Mr. Bigelow in his letter says, "After a painful view of the subject, and a strong internal conflict, my conclusion is to accept the invitation."

July 9, 1823, the ecclesiastical council, invited by the town and church to install the pastor elect, was composed of the following clergymen, with delegates: President Kirkland, Cambridge; Dr. Abiel Holmes, Cambridge; Dr. Thaddeus Fiske, West Cambridge; Dr. John Foster, Brighton; Dr. Charles Lowell, Boston; Rev. Francis Parkman, Boston; Rev. James Walker, Charlestown; Rev. Aaron Greene, Malden; Dr. Aaron Bancroft, Worcester; Dr. Ezra Ripley, Concord; Rev. Convers Francis, Watertown; and Rev. Charles Brooks, Hingham.

The council met on this day. Rev. Dr. Ripley, moder

ator; and Rev. Mr. Francis, scribe. After all the doings of the town and church relating to the call of Mr. Bigelow had been considered, and all other requisite inquiries had been made and answered, the record says,

"It was then moved, that the council, being satisfied with the doings of the church and society, and with the literary, moral, and theological qualifications of the Rev. Andrew Bigelow, do now vote that they are ready to proceed to installation. Before this motion was put, some discussion took place relative to the manner in which a dissolution of the pastoral tie (between the minister elect and people), should that event ever occur, should be conducted; and it was objected to by some members of the council, that nothing was provided in the terms of settlement respecting the calling, in the above event, an ecclesiastical council. After this discussion, the original motion was so far modified as to stand as follows:

"Voted, that though this council deem it expedient, in ordinary cases, that the separation of a minister from a people be the result of an ecclesiastical council, yet they are so far satisfied with the doings of the church and society, and with the qualifications of the candidate, that they are ready to proceed with the installation of the Rev. Andrew Bigelow as pastor of the church and congregation in this town."

The religious exercises were in the following order: Introductory prayer, by Rev. Charles Brooks; sermon, by Rev. Dr. Bancroft; prayer of installation, by Rev. Dr. Holmes; charge, by Rev. Dr. Ripley; right hand of fellowship, by Rev. James Walker; concluding prayer, by Rev. Convers Francis; benediction, by the pastor.

These several services (the prayers excepted) were published together by a vote of the parish.

Mr. Bigelow was born in Groton, Mass., May 7, 1795, and graduated at Harvard College 1814. After studying law for a short time, he turned with his whole soul to the study of divinity, and spent some time at Edinburgh, Scotland. May, 1820, he was ordained as an evangelist, and labored with zeal and success at Eastport, Me., and at Gloucester, Mass.; from which last place he married Miss Amelia Sargent Stanwood.

Coming with reputation and experience to the work of the ministry in Medford, he did all that could be done for making the divided waters mingle in peace; but, as irreconcilable differences of opinion were developed in the congregation, it was thought best that the dissentients should quietly withdraw, and provide for themselves a separate and satisfactory ministration of the Word.

We cannot write into this chapter all the facts touching this division. It was manifest in the time of the settle

ment of Dr. Osgood, and it caused more or less ferment during the whole of his pastorate. It arose out of the fact that the primitive church in Medford was the town church. All the freemen of the town had a voice in its management, and paid a tax to help support its ministrations. But when the time came for an honest difference of religious opinion in the town, those who did not agree with the majority did not wish to pay for preaching that conflicted with their opinions; and it was evident that the church first organized could not remain, as it had been for nearly two centuries, the only church in Medford. Separation was inevitable; and on the 25th of August, 1823, seventeen of the original church united in the following letter:

"Reverend and Beloved, -It becomes our painful duty, in the providence of God, differing as we do in our views of the essential doctrines of the gospel from what we believe to be the views and preaching of the Rev. Mr. Bigelow, to separate ourselves from the fellowship and communion of the church with which we now stand connected. Under these impressions, dear brethren, we, conscientiously and in the fear of God, ask letters or a letter of dismission, for the purpose of forming ourselves, in a regular manner, into a new and separate church.

"And, while we deeply lament the necessity which we think exists for such a measure, we wish to adopt it from the sole desire of enjoying religious instructions which accord with our views of the system of truth laid down in the gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. "Asking your prayers, brethren, that we may be guided into all truth, we subscribe ourselves yours in the gospel,

"GALEN JAMES.

JESSE CROSBY.
THOMAS JAMESON.
GILBERT BLANCHARD.

MARY CLAY.

HEPZY FITCH.

NANCY S. FITCH.

MARY MAGOUN.

MARY BLANCHARD.

ELIZABETH BAYLEY.
HANNAH G. ROGERS.
ANN CLAY.
MARY R. JAEMS.
MARY BLANCHARD.
NANCY JAMESON.
HANNAH CROSBY.
MARY KIDDER."

The church received this short and respectful letter in the spirit in which it was written, and chose a committee of three to prepare a reply. The reply is long, argumentative, and affectionate; and concluded, with expressions of deepest regret, that they should be required to accede to the wishes of the petitioners if they still continued to desire separation. Their reply showed that the request had been made after mature deliberation, and they were accordingly released from all connection with the primitive

church of Medford. The withdrawal of many members of the congregation, to join the new society, occasioned a less amount of complaint, exasperation, and controversy on both sides, than might have been anticipated.

We may not doubt that both parties had justice and charity in view, and wished to display the Christian graces in their important acts. To suppose that the strong ties resulting from long-continued church-membership could be sundered without some sharp words and angry impulses, would be unreasonable: but, in the case under consideration, there were no violent manifestations of the stormy passions; and the agitation that was seen and felt purified the social atmosphere, and resulted in a more abundant religious fruitage. But the action had by those who withdrew made necessary a new organization for those who remained.

"In the early history of New England, the town and parish were identical. But the Supreme Court of the State have repeatedly decided, in many similar cases, that when a second parish, or religious society, was formed in a town, the identity of the town and parish was ended, and all that portion of the inhabitants who did not unite with the new society became, by the very act of separation and formation of a new parish, the First Parish, and as such became, without any further proceedings, the owner of all that portion of the town property which had been appropriated to parochial use. All that was required on their part was a formal organization according to law, and for this purpose."

On the 31st of March, 1824, ten male members of the "Original Parish" applied to James Russell, Esq., justice of the peace, to issue his warrant directing some one of the petitioners to notify all the legal voters of said parish to meet in their meeting-house, April 12, 1824, at two o'clock, P.M., for the purpose of electing officers, raising money, and doing all other necessary acts. The warrant was issued, and the first meeting held at the time specified; and Abner Bartlett, Esq., was chosen clerk; Messrs. Jonathan Brooks, John Symmes, Darius Wait, Nathan Adams, jun., and John King, parish committee; Messrs. J. Richardson, John Howe, and Ebenezer Hall, jun., assessors; William Ward, Esq., treasurer.

Thus the First Parish on this day became a separate body, under a legal organization, and was so named.

On this day also, "Voted to raise the sum of one thousand dollars, to discharge the minister's salary and other incidental expenses, the ensuing year.'

The following items from the First Parish records may be interesting to the reader :

"July 27, 1823: The Hon. Peter C. Brooks presented to the church two silver flagons; for which thanks were voted."

Sept. 3, 1824: The subject of a fund for the support of the gospel ministry was brought up and discussed by the church, and the wish expressed that one may be gathered.

July 3, 1825: The proposition to print the church covenant, and the covenant for baptism, brought up the consideration of that adopted Feb. 11, 1713, and that of March 15, 1782; and the result was a vote by the church, that they "do not find it needful to propose any alterations in their confessions of faith, either in their articles or terms. They conceive that the church-covenant especially combines the qualities of a true Protestant as well as gospel confession.

Dr. Osgood gave by will some valuable books to the church, "for the use of his successors in the ministry;" and these are added to those received from his predecessor.

Aug. 7, 1825: The pastor, Rev. Mr. Bigelow, proposed the formation of a parish and social library, and began with a donation.

Sept. 4: The proposition above was accepted, and a committee of five brethren of the church and six members of the congregation was chosen to collect subscriptions and receive donations.

Nov. 1, 1825: The parish voted to procure an organ, if four hundred and fifty dollars can be raised by subscription for that purpose. Committee to procure subscriptions: Messrs. George W. Porter, Turell Tufts, and Darius Wait. The organ was purchased for the amount, and gave satisfaction.

Jan. 2, 1826: Voted, that the money received from the sale of the new pews to be built in the gallery be the beginning of a permanent fund for the support of the ministry in said parish.

In April of this year, the question arose respecting the right of the town to hold town-meetings in the meetinghouse of the First Parish; the selectmen contending for the right, the parish against it; and the Supreme Court decided that upon the formation of the Second Parish, all rights of the town in property that had been held for parochial purposes vested in the First Parish alone.

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