the Stone Church for a time; afterward they occupied Mr. Babcock's hall. June 18, 1846, the Second Evangelical Congregational Parish was organized and the church edifice erected. This was during the ministry of Rev. W. M. Harding. Rov. Samuel Cozzens, after leaving the First Church, preached here from the fall of 1848 till April, 1851. Rev. Edwin Leonard was ordained and installed pastor of the church, March 25, 1852. Rev. Mr. Wheeler was acting pastor for about two years. The pastor of the First Evangelical Church, Rev. Mr. Teele, had charge of this church in connection with the First, commencing afternoon services April 30, 1865, and continuing till Dec. 19, 1872. Then followed Rev. Hilary Bygrave and several others. Rev. George P. Gilman, the last resident clergyman, was with the church for three years or more. It is now without a settled pastor. THE LOWER MILLS BAPTIST CHURCH OF DORCHESTER AND MILTON. This church, having been a mission enterprise for two years, was organized Nov. 13, 1882, with twenty-five members, and Nathan Hunt was ordained as pastor. Mr. Hunt was born in Scott's Woods, Milton. He is remembered with great affection as connected with the Sabbath School of the First Evangelical Church in his boyhood. The pastor of this church has followed him with the watchful interest of a sincere friend in his education and progress onward to the place he now occupies. From the humble walks of life he has risen to the position of clergyman in his own native town, respected and beloved by his people and fellow-citizens, a record of fidelity and earnest purpose in life worthy of recognition. The place of worship at the present time, 1884, is Associates Hall, Milton Lower Mills. Since the above date a handsome church edifice has been erected on the Dorchester side, where the shepherd gathers his Milton and Dorchester flock. May the prophetic words come to pass: "There shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture shall they feed." - Ezekiel xxxiv. 14. RETROSPECT. Here closes the long record of two and a quarter centuries, covering the four extended pastorates of the town church, and the four pastorates of each of its branches. Thus have we travelled down amid the denizens of the past, through all the changes of these centuries of time. It is well thus to do, to turn awhile and look upon the great past, to have our souls filled and thronged with its glorious solemn visions. Pastors and people, shepherds and flocks, - all, all departed, all silent! The past holds them. Their bodies lie in our burialgrounds, and there will remain till the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The venerable Thacher and many of his family and name; the gentle Taylor; Robbins, ardent and earnest in all his life; Gile, Cozzens, Angier, and Washburn, with their people around them, a vast congregation of once sincere, earnest, high-minded actors in this place of our sojourn. Venerable men and women of sturdy nature, of determined purpose, and unfaltering loyalty to the King of kings. They helped to form and fashion the country, the commonwealth, the town now the heritage of their descendants. They left the impress of their character on the institutions and men that followed them. We are sometimes disposed to speak severely of the harsher traits of their characters; but even their infirmities, their sternness of temper, their religious exaltation, their disregard of the graces of life, were important factors in the work to be wrought out. "A thousand gay insects flutter in the summer sun, which the blasts of winter sweep from the face of the earth." Could men of gentler stamp have breasted the obstacles, and performed the arduous labors, and laid broad and deep the carth-fast foundations of this Republic, now so strong and fair? "The diamond, rough, unfashioned, in the mine, CHAPTER X. ORGANIZATION OF CHURCH, MEETING-HOUSES, AND VARIOUS TOWN AFFAIRS. HAT the early inhabitants of Milton were church-goers and church lovers is manifest from all their history. It was not then, as it is now, an occasional custom to attend public worship on the Sabbath, but a settled habit. The fathers, with the sons, and all the family, as often as the Sabbath returned, were prompt in attendance as earnest and devout worshippers through the long service. And when the fathers passed away, the sons, inspired by the same reverence for the sanctuary and its observances, took up their work. Indeed, such was the spirit of the times that they were constrained to this observance in order to hold rank as good citizens; but, far more than this, they drew strength from the service for the robust Christian work then demanded. The spirit of genuine religion is a spirit of great power. It attracts the admiration, and conquers the affections of men not by effeminacy, but by strength. It held their minds and hearts in perfect sway. In illustration of this I here present from the original manuscript the Sunday note of Deacon Ebenezer Wadsworth, who died in 1717. This was publicly read from the pulpit, according to the custom of the times, which custom has passed away within thirty years. SUNDAY NOTE OF DEACON EBENEZER WADSWORTH. The earnest prayers of the children of God in this place for Ebenezer Wadsworth are desired he being in a very Weak & low Condition that God would be pleased of his infinite Mercy to show forth his Power to the Glory of his Grace in Removing of his pain and Weakness and distress which he is exercised with, but if God had otherwise Determined that he would of his Sovereign free Mercy & grace fit and prepare him for his Holy Will and Pleasure, and that he would afford his gracious presence unto him, unto & through that important hour when he changes time for eternity, and that the Comforter that should receive him may never be far from him, but take up its abode with him and not at any time leave him Comfortless. Regular preaching services were held in Unquity and Milton at least twenty-two years before a church was organized. The long delay in so important a matter as the formation of a church seems almost unaccountable. We can only explain it on the supposition that they were waiting for a settled pastor. Mr. Mighill's ministry was but from year to year; at one time he removed from the place, and returned again at the solicitation of a part of the town. With the hope and reasonable expectation of a permanent settlement, after his return, the majority determined upon the formation of a church. To accomplish this great and serious object they sought the aid of the mother church, and held the service in the old church home. The records of that church, describing the organizations, are literally copied. CHURCH ORGANIZATION. The 24. 2. 78 ther was a Church gathered by some of o' breatheren y' livd at Milton it was done in o' meeting hous at Dorchester becaus of some opposission y' did appeare; y Persons wh they sent unto weer the Elders & messengers of y' three Churches in Boston & waymoth Brantree & Deadham y Majestrats weer accquainted with it but only y govenor was heer by reason of ye wett and Snow season. Mr Allen did first pray and then Mr Flint did preach from y & then prayed, afterward the breatheren weer Called on one after another to declare y work of grace y' god had wrought on them to y° number of Seaven, but before they began, it was put to y' whole assembly both messengers and others whether any had any Just reason against their proceeding, but all weer silent, after they had made their relations, a confession of faith was read by o' Elder unto wh they all Consented by lifting up of hands, then thos Seaven breatheren weer Called downe into y body of y' assembly and a Covenant was read unto them unto which they all Consented by lifting up of hands, y' breatheren y' entered into this Covenant & made publique relation weer thes: Rob' Tucker member of waymoth William Blake Georg Sumner Edward Blake member of y' 2 Church of Boston Ebenezer Clap members of Dorchester Church After this was done ther weer more of o' Breatheren y' did at y' same time enter into y' same Covenant with the former namly And then Mr Tory was appointed to give y right hand of Fellowship & Mr Mather prayed & a psalme sung & y assembly dismissed. COVENANT. The following is the Covenant to which they assented: We whose names are subscribed being called of God to join ourselves together in Chh. communion from our hearts acknowledging our owne unworthynesse of such a priviledge, or of y Least of gods mercys, & likewise acknowledging our owne disability to keep Covenant, with God, or to perform any spirituall duty, whee calleth us unto, unlesse, y Lord Jesus doe inable, thereunto, by his spirit dwelling in us. Doe In y name of Christ Jesus our Lord, & in trust & confidence of his free grace assisting us : Freely Covenant & bind oursclues, solemnly in y' presence of God hims., his holy Angells & all his servants here present, y' weo will by his Grace, assisting Indeavour constantly to walk together as a right ordered Congregation of Christ, according to all y holy rules of a Church body: rightly Established so farre as wee doe already know it to be our duty: Or shall further understand it out of gods holy word: Promising first & above all to give up ourselues & our ofspring unto y° Lord God, father Son & HolyGhost, y only true and liueving God & to cleave unto him as our cheafe & only Good, and unto our Lord Jesus Christ as our only Saviour our Prophit Preist & King our spirituall head & Husband; & for y furthering of us to Keep y blessed Communion with God & his son Jesus Christ & to grow up more fully herein, wee doe likewise promise, by his Grace Assisting us to Endeavour y Establishing amongst ourselves of all his holy Ordinances, w hee hath appointed for his Chh here on Earth & to Observe all & every of y", in such sort, as shall bee most agreeable unto his will: Opposeing unto y' utmost of our chh power y° Contrary. And, lastly wee doc hereby Covenant & promise, to further unto y utmost of our power y best spirituall good, of such other, & of all & Every One, y' may become members of y' Congregation by mutual Instruction, reprehension, Exhortation, Consolation, & spirituall watchfullnesse over one another for good; & to be subject in & for y Lord to all y Administrations & Censures, of y' Chh. soe far as y same shall be guides according to y Rules of Gods most holy word in a way of order peace & vnion; with all promising to walk orderly in a way of fellowshipe & Communion with all y Chhs of Christ among us according to Rule. yy Lord may be one & his name be one in all y Chhs: This Covenant wee doe by solemne act of Chh Confederation Enter unto with full purpose of heart [as y Lord shall help us] to keep it forever, & where wee shall faile, y" to waite upon our Lord Jesus, for healing & pardon for his Names sake. The names to this Covenant are: ANTHONY NEWTON [Member of Dorchester Church] ROBERT TUCKER [Member of Weymouth Church] WILLIAM BLACKE [Member of Dorchester Church] EBENEZER CLAP [Member of Dorchester Church] [Member of 2a Church, Boston] JAMES TUCKER EPHRAIM TUCKER MANASSEII TUCKER |