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There was, indeed, one decoration which he wished to see within the church," the cross, -the symbol of Christ's love,

suffering, redeeming death, and victory. Our dread of this most interesting and suggestive remembrancer has endured long enough. The first Protestants never entertained the dread, and it is time that we had discarded it."1

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THE PAIGE CROSS. 8

1 On this occasion the Senior Warden received a curious anonymous letter dated November, 1841, signed "A Conservative Unitarian." It is as follows:

"The union which has for so long a time subsisted in the Unitarian Society worshipping at the Stone Chapel, it will not be denied, is a matter of too much consequence to the Society and to the Unitarian sect at large, to allow of its being jeoparded by the admission into it of novelties, the tendency of which may be to impair the unanimity of its mem

2 The office of Clerk had been discontinued at Easter, 1825, but the Clerk's desk was not transformed into a pew (an enlargement of No. 82) until after May 1, 1859. In August, 1840, it was ordered that a new mahogany top-rail be placed on the reading-desk and the Clerk's desk, and that the outside of the pews be

On Easter Sunday, 1837, the pulpit, which had been enlarged the week previous, was clothed with a new red silk-damask covering, and curtains of the same material were put up in front of the organ loft. A similar covering was given to the reading-desk.2 At the close of Dr. Greenwood's ministry, the Church still remained without addition or change as it had been before the Revolution. Its only monuments were those of Vassall, Apthorp, and Shirley. Speaking in 1840, Dr. Greenwood said:

bers, and which may perhaps be the cause of a fatal severance of the Society.

"Referring to a late suggestion of Dr. Greenwood, there is, it is well known, a very justly reasonable difference of opinion in regard to the introduction of the cross within a Christian church. Many deem it the ignominious engine used for the destruction of our Saviour, and on that account hold it as anything but an object of veneration; many would view its introduction as an unworthy departure from the principles of our fathers; and many of more watchful jealousy would

painted in imitation of dark oak. See p. 522, post.

3 Our engraving represents a richly wrought silver cross, given to the Church in 1875 by Mr. James William Paige, for whom it was made in Paris expressly in accordance with his purpose of giving it to the Church he loved so well.

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"Surely the time has not gone by for such durable records of affection and respect; and if they were properly introduced in the former age, as every one who looks at these tablets must feel that they were, they may just as properly and as beneficially be erected now. When the lineaments of the deceased can be given to surmount the inscription, as is the case with the busts on the Vassall monument and Shirley tablet, the interest of the memorial is greatly augmented; for then it seems as if the place had real inhabitants, 'dwelling alway in the house of the Lord,' while years and generations passed away. These busts bring to my mind the words which are said to have been addressed by an old Jeronimite to Wilkie the painter, when the latter visited Titian's picture of the Last Supper in the Refectory of the Escurial. I have sate daily,' said the monk, in sight of that picture for now nearly threescore years. During that time my companions have dropt off, one after another, all who were my seniors, all who were my contemporaries, and many of those who were younger than myself; more than one generation has passed away, and there the figures in the picture have remained unchanged! I look at them till I sometimes think that they are the realities, and we but shadows!' How natural and how striking is the thought! And I know not that it is not suggested even more forcibly by marble portraitures than by the figures of a picture. On some winter's afternoon, as I have remained here after the congregation have retired, and sate, while the early darkness was falling, and the low murmur of the Sunday scholars alone broke the silence, and have gazed on those still features, so calm, so passionless, so substantial and enduring, I could not resist the momentary impression that they were indeed the realities, and we the poor shadows, flitting shadowlike before them."1

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Within the church, one unfortunate change was made in 1826 by the demolition of the Governor's pew. This was raised on a dais higher by two steps than the rest of the church, and hung with crimson curtains surmounted, before the Revolution, by the royal crown. It was a most characteristic relic, the only one of its kind in America. For many years it had been let by the Church; but it being now desired on account of the demand for pews, consequent on Mr. Greenwood's settlement, to sell the pew, it was found impracticable to do so without degrading it to uniformity with its neighbors.2

look upon it as the first step towards our subjection to the Pope of Rome.

"It is trusted that the influential men of our Society, witnessing the quarrels which

have divided other congregations, will actively do their duty by opposing and preventing any schemes which may hazard the harmony of our Church, - the oldest of the Unitarian sect in the country, and whose unvarying steadiness is a pattern to all Societies of all sects."

Shortly after Dr.Greenwood's death, his own bust and that of Dr. Freeman were placed in the chancel.

then prevailed is shown by the letter in 2 The indifference to antiquities which

which the Hon. William Sullivan declined to buy the Governor's pew: —

April 13, 1826.

"I suppose there may be differences of opinion as to the expediency of demolishing

In the early years of Dr. Greenwood's ministry, Boston was just ceasing to be a quiet town, with its still peaceful New England Sunday, and growing into the larger and more restless city life which we have known in recent days. This change could not be without the frequent discomfort and the occasional grave protest of those to whom the old way was the dearer. As early as 1822, this protest had taken form in united Church action, of which the following record is preserved:

At a meeting of the Deacons and Wardens of eighteen of the Churches in Boston on Monday 11th March, 1822 —

This meeting having taken into consideration the great annoyance which many of the churches in this City experience from the unlawful driving of carriages with rapidity during Divine Service on the Sabbath, it was therefore Voted to refer the consideration of this subject to the several Societies, and to recommend to them to adopt measures to enforce the Law which prohibits unlawful driving on the Lord's day, so that this evil may be effectually prevented in future.

Attest:

PETER O. THACHER, Secretary.

Again, on the 9th of August, 1824, it was voted by the Proprietors of King's Chapel

that the Wardens be and they hereby are requested to prosecute any person who shall drive any Carriage in School Street or Tremont Street during the time of divine service on the Lord's Day, contrary to Law. And again, on the 29th of May, 1828, that

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Mr. Davis [be] a Committee to apply to the Legislature for authority to close School and Common [Tremont] Streets, both or either, against the passing of carriages during divine Service, on Sundays.

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"It is a great pity that the pew of the royal governors in the King's Chapel was removed, in order that two plebeian pews [Nos. 31 and 32] might be constructed upon its ample site. I used greatly to value this interesting relic, which was just opposite the pew that I occupied [No. 22]. It stood handsomely out, with ornamented pillars at the corners... I came too late into the world to see a royal governor enter this august pew; though the ghosts of some of them would occasionally seem to steal up the aisle

and creep into it during the drowsier passages of the afternoon sermon; but the fleshand-blood personage who occupied the pew in my day was, so to speak, as good a governor as the best of them. He was the son of a Massachusetts governor, too; and, surely, there could be no better ideal of those royal

qualities which should characterize the ruler of leader, William Sullivan. How that pew of a State than was presented in the Federal royal dignity used fairly to blossom with the large and lovely family of which he was the head! There was a noble poise about them all; and then they were so handsome that it seemed quite proper that they should sit a foot or two nearer heaven than the rest of us,"

It is not too much to hope that the pew may yet be restored hereafter by some generation anxious to preserve all the historical links which bind America to the past.

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