Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-11
SECOND CHURCH IN AMERICA.
About to Celebrate Its Two Hundred
and Fiftieth Anniversary.

From the Boston tIlohe
The Second Church. now situated on Cop
ley SQUARE will celebrate the 2J0th ami
versary Of its founding November Il, 10
and Il. in Copley Hall, and November ID
and 20 In it's church edifice.
The Second Church is the second society
in America, and has occupied Il command
ing position in Boston history.
This society was founded in 1919. the
same year that Charles I was beheaded and
Cromwell came into power. The king had
been one of the bitterest prosecutors of the
Puritans. and they felt that they had been
signally favored when his death was re-
ported 10 them.
There had been a large immigration of
strict Puritans into the Boston colony be-
tween the time Of the establishment of the
First Church, 1929 and 1649. and they felt
that the time had come to establish a new
and second church society.
Consequently an edifiCe was built at the
head of North Square. and was dedicated IN
June, 1863. 1t was supposed for long
time that no painting or other representa-
ton of this building was in existence, but
"a picture Of il was recently found. II is d
curious old building.
Samuel Mather its pastor and
preached the dedicatory sermon. which
called forth warm encVmiums even from
the grave lips of the Rev. John Cotton.
But this young man did not remain long
the minister Of this parish
After a period. when Michael Powell. one
of the founders, preached. but was not or
dainej on account Of the interference of
the civil authorities, as he was not eduCat-
ed the Rev John Mayo became the pastor
He was ordained in 1865, and remained
there till his death. His successor was the
Rev. Increase Mather, VINO IOr SlXty-tWo
years ruled the pulpit of the Second
Church. ma king ii the most powerful &c
C.esiasJicsl influence i'll American Puritan
ism
lob fvar
Charles IL with The message, backed UP by
force that The colony of Massachusetts
must resign its charter The question was
referred to the minister Of the Second
Church after considerable debate among
the people
He SAID: You will act neither the
part II good Christians nor Of true Eng
Iishmeu # by any act Of yours you are ac-
Ccssory to the plot now managing 10 pro-
duce "a general shipwreck OF liberties.
This speech reused the wrath of the
crown out ne was not 10 be troubled by
that.
When the vote was taken. ii unani-
nous against resigning the charter. But
the charter was revoked and Andres sent
MaJher was arrested in a suit for $500 for
defamation. but the jury acquitted him
lie was afterward sent TO England, where
he succeeded in having the charter re-
stored and came back stronger than ever
lie was president OF Harvard for sixteen
years. HIS son. Cotton Mather-of witch
craft fame-succeeded him. He had thrown
OF some of his fathers theology, but he
could not get rid of the fact that the
Scriptures plainly recognized witchcraft
and demoniacal possession.
The next pastor was Lathrop. whose
strong words won for him General Howe's
epithet that his church was NEST Of
traitors" General Howe pulled down the
church known then as the odd North -
and the second church occupied by the
s ce:y was built on Hanover street, where
they wOrshiped till 1874
Succeeding Lathrop were Henry Ware,
jr.. and Ralph Waldo Emerson The Rev.
Chandler Robbins succeeded him. and for
forty years was a beloved pastor. The re-
cent paStorates were filled by the Rev. Ed
ward Augustus Horton and the Rev. Thos.
Van Ness.