First Church and Parish in Dedham
[4] Ezekiel Holliman, on the other hand, recognized that as a religious liberal that he was not going to be welcome in town and so moved to Rhode Island with Roger Williams.
"[7] On the fifth day of every week they would meet in a different home and would discuss any issues "as he felt the need, all 'humbly and with a teachable heart not with any mind of cavilling or contradicting.
"[10] Their understanding of the Bible led them to believe that they did, and so they continued to establish a church based on Christian love, but also one that had requirements for membership.
[15] After that, Kinsbury and Thomas Morse, members of the original ten, agreed at the end of the discussions to suspend their candidacies for the time being.
[24] Prior to Jason Haven becoming minister, the church had very infrequently enforced a provision requiring anyone who had sex before marriage to confess the sin before the entire congregation.
[26] In 1781, he preached a sermon condemning fornication and the then-common practice of women sleeping with men who professed their intention to marry.
The soil is good, the situation excellent for mechanics and such as wish to live retired in a pleasant village on the banks of the Charles River.
"[28] Among those who rented land were Deacon Martin Marsh, who built the Norfolk House, and the owners of the competing Phoenix Hotel.
[8] To become a member, a candidate must "pour out heart and soul in public confession" and subject every innermost desire to the scrutiny of their peers.
[32] Once the church was established, residents would gather several times a week to hear sermons and lectures in practical piety whether or not they were members.
[47] In 1717, the Town Meeting voted, in what was the first ever concession to outlying areas, to exempt residents from paying the minister's salary if they lived more than five miles from the meetinghouse.
[49] This was an act of dubious legality and the General Court once again stepped in, this time to grant them status as the third precinct and, with it, the right to establish their own church.
[53] An addition was ordered to be built in 1646, but the construction proceeded so slowly that town records quickly saw residents complaining.
[57] As a result of the bell being hung, the Town no longer needed to pay Ralph Day to beat a drum announcing the start of meetings.
[64] Samuel Dexter, the former minister's son, donated a clock that only tolled on the hour, which made it unlikely to interrupt a sermon.
"[69] While a lawsuit was still pending to determine which sect was the meetinghouse's rightful congregation, those in possession voted $2,000 to repair the roof within 30 days.
[75] In it, Haven entreated his flock as far as possible, to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace; that you may know how good and pleasant it is, for brethren to live together in love and harmony.
[77] Haven also noted that the tradition in New England had long been for a church to make a selection and then present its choice to the parish for ratification.
[76][h] The departing members included Deacon Samuel Fales, who took parish records, funds, and the valuable silver used for communion with him.
"[87] The court held that the property had to be returned to First Church, setting a precedent for future congregational splits that would arise as Unitarianism grew.
[97][92][110][111] On April 24, 1639, a day of fasting and prayer, Hunting and Allin were ordained in the presence of the Dedham congregation and the elders of other churches.
[120] Eventually the church would recant and accept the Half-Way Covenant [123] With their status as an "association of renegades and philosophical outlaws" removed, they became a more attractive option for a potential minister.
[123] In May, Lusher, Avery, and Fisher asked him again to settle in Dedham, but he again rejected the offering saying he could not find "his mind inclined to take upon me at present that work nor seeing the providence of God clearly directing me thereto.
[126] As a result, though a large number of preachers came on a guest basis, and even though several young men were offered the pulpit, the church could not find a minister to settle with them permanently.
[135] One was delivered before the Great and General Court, one before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, two preached in Dedham specifically for young people, and one at the ordination of Nathaniel Cotton in Bristol, Rhode Island.
[139] After the churches split his ministry was "calm and quiet," but before he did there were members of the community, whom he called "certain sons of ignorance and pride," who insulted him to his face.
[26][142] He addressed the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company at the election of their officers in 1761[26][143] and preached a sermon before the Great and General Court in 1769.
[104][144] He was first called to be the associate pastor with Jason Haven in 1802 and was ordained on March 16, 1803 "before a very crowded, but a remarkably civil and brilliant assembly.
[78] On August 31, 1818, at a meeting of the parish, or the inhabitants of the town who were taxed to pay the minister's salary, Lamson was elected by an 81-44 majority.
[107][106] In Dedham, he presided over the funeral of his predecessor, Alvan Lamson[153] and led the service at the 250th anniversary of the church's gathering in 1888 where he delivered an historical discourse.
