MAGLTMHarris
Contents
THADDEUS MASON HARRIS 1768-1842
Junior Grand Warden, 1800
Deputy Grand Master, 1812
Grand Chaplain 1797, 1798, 1799, 1804, 1839, 1840.
MEMORIAL
From the Proceedings, 1842, Page V-544:
Whereas: — Death having suddenly removed from the Masonic family, him who may well deserve the distinction of being our "venerable father in Masonry" — who, for more than half a century, was the undeviating advocate of our cherished principles, & whose whole life was a practical exposition of what "good may come from our Nazareth.—
Therefore. Resolved. — That we deeply lament the decease of our aged & highly respected Br. the Rev. Thaddeus. Mason. Harris, & that we view this dispensation as an extinction of one of the brightest lights in Masonry.
Resolved. — That this Gr, Lodge deeply & most sincerely sympathise with the family of our late distinguished Brother, & respectfully tender them our fraternal condolence in the severe affliction which through the dispensation of Divine Providence, they have been called to sustain.
Resolved. — That the Grand Secretary be requested to furnish the family of Dr. Harris, with a copy of the above resolutions.
BIOGRAPHY
From the Proceedings 1873, Page 1873-185ff; in the Biographies of Grand Chaplains, compiled by John T. Heard, Past Grand Master.
REV. THADDEUS M. HARRIS, D.D., was born in Charlestown, Mass., July 7, 1768, and graduated at Harvard University, 1787. On the 23d of October, 1793, he was ordained over the Congregational Society in Dorchester. He died in Boston April 3, 1842, in the 74th year of his age, and was buried in the cemetery at Dorchester. In the eulogy pronounced before the Grand Lodge, by Bro. Huntoon, to commemorate the virtues of Bro. Harris, it is truthfully said : "His first great Masonic work was the editing of a collation, revision and publication of the Constitutions of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons; a quarto volume printed at Worcester, Mass., 1792; a work which he accomplished with the accustomed diligence and known fidelity with which he performed every enterprise confided to his care. His various occasional addresses, while Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge, Masonic defences, and his volume of Masonic Discourses, published in 1801, constitute a large part and valuable portion of the Masonic literature of America."
The "History of Columbian Lodge " contains an Address of Bro. Harris delivered before the Lodge, June 24, 1800, on the occasion of the dedication of the new hall then situated on Ann Street. The building in which the hall was is now standing.
Previous to Dec. 12, 1796, the devotional services were conducted by clergymen appointed from time to time by the Grand Master, as occasion might demand, of whom several were members of the Grand Lodge. In 1804, 1805, and 1812, no Chaplain was appointed; but Bro. Harris, who was Corresponding Grand Secretary, often served in that capacity. He was Deputy Grand Master in 1812, and Corresponding Grand Secretary during eleven years.
The following letter, now published for the first time, has recently been discovered: —
DORCHESTER, Aug. 30, 1806.
DEAR SIR AND BRO.: —
As it will not be in my power to attend this day, the meeting of the Comee. of the G-. L. at your house, I take the liberty of transmitting my present opinion on the subject of their commission. I consider the District Deputy G. Master as the entire representative of the M. W. G. M. in the District for which he is appointed; and empowered to form a G. L. in due form, for tho purposes of installing officers or consecrating Lodges, when that service is assigned him. But in visiting Lodges and inspecting their records, etc., not to take the Master's chair and govern a Lodge, which he only reviews. I consider, however, that if the M. W. G. M. sends the Dy. G. M. of the G. L., the District D. G. M. gives him precedence; that in his District, he takes rank of the Senior or Junior G. Warden, but not in the G. L. at Quarterly Communications; for in the latter place he is only a REPRESENTATIVE of his District, and not invested with prerogatives. As a member, however, of the G. L., he takes the rank of Past Deputy Grand Master. I know not if I have clearly expressed my ideas, nor am I positive that they are correct; but they are formed by consulting all the authorities in my possession, and is the best statement I can give on the subject.
With much respect,
Your Friend and Brother,
ISAIAH THOMAS, ESQ., T. M. HARRIS.
Newbury Street, Boston.
LETTERS
The following letters are copied from Sprague's Annals of American Unitarian Pulpit: —
FROM THE REV. JOHN PIERCE, D.D.
BROOKLINE, March 1, 1849.
MT DEAR SIR: — Doctor Harris was the friend of both my earlier and later years. He passed the whole period of his ministry in the congregation in the bosom of which I was born, and baptized, and spent the days of my youth. I respected, reverenced, loved him; and you may well suppose that it costs me no self-denial to perform the service you have requested of me, in giving you a brief sketch of his life and character.
Thaddeus Mason Harris was a descendant, of the sixth generation, from William Harris, who came to this country at an early period, was a barrister, accompanied Roger Williams to Providence, was taken captive by the Algerines on his return to England, was redeemed for two hundred dollars, and died in London, in 1680. His grandfather, Cary Harris, died in 1750, under somewhat peculiar circumstances. He had invited company to commemorate his nuptials. On asking a blessing at the table one of his friends removed his chair, and he fell backwards, which occasioned his immediate death. His father, William Harris, born in 1744, was first assistant teacher of a school in Boston, and afterwards preceptor of a school in Charlestown. Here he built a small house, and married Rebeckah Mason, daughter of Thaddeus Mason, of Cambridge, for many years Clerk of the Courts for Middlesex County. Here the subject of this sketch was born, on the 7th of July, 1768. After the first hostile demonstrations on the part of the mother country, at Lexington, fears were entertained for the safety of Charlestown; so that, just before the battle of Bunker Hill, Mr. Harris fled, with his family, in the hope that they might somewhere find a refuge from the threatening danger.
Accordingly, with a few necessary articles of clothing, such as they could carry in their hands, they set out on foot, — Thaddeus, then not quito seven years old, leading his twin sisters next in age to himself, the father and mother each carrying a child, and an aged grandmother also making one of the company. They spent the first night at Lexington with a remote relative; and, while there, an empty wagon was about leaving, in which they bespoke a passage to any place to which the owner was bound. Accordingly, they were carried to Chookset, part of Sterling, where Mr. Harris took a small house, and supported his family by keeping a district school. Meanwhile, he went to Charlestown, and brought away a few articles of value which he had left behind. But soon the Battle of Bunker Hill took place, Charlestown was laid in ashes, and the house of Mr. Harris, with whatever of its contents remained, was demolished. Shortly after this, he joined the army as captain and paymaster; and, on a visit to his family, died of a fever, October 30, 1778, aged thirty-four years.
Thaddeus then went to live with a farmer by the name of Haughton. Here he went to school with the farmer's children; and, as they lived at some distance from school, he used to be furnished with dinner to stay at noon, which he invariably carried to his mother, depending on his schoolmates to supply his own wants. As soon as the family with which he lived discovered this, they generously made such provision for the Harrises as kept them from want. After having resided a short time at Westminster, and afterwards at Templeton, he went back, in the latter part of the year 1779, to Chookset, and was soon introduced into the family of Dr. Ebenezer Morse of Boylston (Note: Ebenezer Morse was a native of Medfield; was graduated at Harvard College in 1737; was ordained and installed pastor of the church in Boylston, October 26, 1743; was dismissed November 10, 1775; and died January 3,1802, aged eighty-four.), who had been obliged to leave the ministry, on suspicion of Toryism, and was supporting his family by the practice of medicine, and by fitting young men for college. This good man kindly took this unprotected orphan into his study, and assisted him to go through the preparatory course for college, with his own son. While here, young Harris did something for his own support, by different kinds of manual labor.
In July, 1782, he went to visit his mother, who, in the mean time, had married Samuel Wait, of Malden, and informed her that he was fitted for college by Dr. Morse, who had advised him to enter at Cambridge, trusting to the provision there made for the education of the indigent. She, however, strongly disapproved of such a course, and at once put him to learn a mechanical trade; but, in consequence of an accident that happened to him, he was obliged to leave the place, and went to write in his grandfather Mason's office, with the intention of becoming a merchant. With a view to qualify himself for this occupation, he contracted with his grandfather to pay for his board by writing, and went to Cambridge school, then kept by Mr. Samuel Kendal, afterwards the Rev. Dr. Kendal, of Weston. Finding him an apt scholar, his teacher strongly urged his taking a collegiate course. By his recommendation, the late Doctors Stillman and Thacher, of Boston, issued subscription papers, which procured him the means of defraying his college expenses. He entered college in July, 1783.
In March, 1786, his junior year, his mother came to his room in college to examine his wardrobe. Finding it very destitute, she proposed to take the money which he had earned, by writing for his grandfather, and purchase some necessary articles of clothing. Arrangements were, accordingly, made, that he should obtain his dues from his grandfather, meet his mother on a certain day at Charlestown, and accompany her to Boston.
But he neglected to call on his grandfather for the money till the morning of the appointed day, when he found he was out of town. He tried in vain to borrow what he needed, and started for Charlestown with a heavy heart, indulging many rash and even impious reflections on his hard lot. On his way he cut a stick for a cane, and, as he was passing Charlestown Neck, with gloomy thoughts and weary steps, he perceived something at the end of his stick, which he in vain attempted to shake off. On examining it, he found that it was some kind of metal — he knew not what—but thought it might be an ornament for a negro, by whose hut he was then passing. Without much thought he put it into his pocket. On crossing the ferry, as he was leaning on the side of the boat, the thing in his pocket hurt him. He took it out and found that it had become bright by friction. On entering Boston he carried it to a goldsmith who, cutting it open, pronounced it to be gold, and showed him the motto, which was, " God speed thee, friend;" and added, "Here are two dollars for you, sir, which is the worth of the ring." This affected the young man to tears; for he felt that Providence was rebuking him for his despondence and fretfulness, and was providing for him in a way which ought to excite his warmest gratitude. The goldsmith, finding him so much affected, added another dollar. Mr. Harris then hastened to his mother with the joyful news; and she at once resolved to call upon the goldsmith and inspect the ring. On seeing it she also wept; whereupon, the goldsmith added three dollars more, making six dollars in all. This was amply sufficient for the present supply of his necessities.
This remarkable occurrence made so deep an impression on his mind that, in May following, he felt it his duty to unite, and, accordingly, did unite, with the Cambridge Church; the Rev. Timothy Hilliard, the pastor, preaching an appropriate sermon on the occasion, from Psalm cxix. 9: " Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word."
He was graduated in July, 1787, at the age of nineteen, with John Quincy Adams, Judge Putnam, Judge Cranch, James Lloyd, etc., among whom he sustained a highly respectable rank. He delivered a poem at Commencement which attracted no small attention, insomuch that Dr. Belknap and Dr. Thacher unitedly solicited a copy for publication in the "Columbian Magazine," at Philadelphia, and urged their request on the ground that they were "fully persuaded tljat it would tend to increase the reputation of the college at the southward." This request, however, he promptly declined.
On leaving college he taught a school for a year at Worcester; and, at the end of that time, was applied to to become General Washington's Private Secretary. He had consented to serve; but, in consequence of taking the small-pox, he was prevented from entering at once on the duties of the place, and it was filled by Tobias Lear.
After studying theology a while with the Rev. Samuel Kendal, of Weston, he went, by advice of President Willard, to Cambridge, to continue his studies there. He was soon appointed sub-librarian, and, in 1791, librarian, of the University. He received approbation to preach, from the Cambridge Association, in June, 1789, — a little before he was twenty-one years of age; and he preached, for the first time, on the 26th of July following, in the pulpit of my predecessor, the Rev. Joseph Jackson. After preaching in several of the neighboring parishes, he accepted a call from the church in Dorchester, where he was ordained as sole pastor, October 23, 1793, — the Rev. Moses Everett having resigned his charge in the early part of the same year.
Mr. Harris was married on the 28th of January, 1795, to Mary, only daughter of Dr. Elijah and Dorothy (Lynde) Dix, of Worcester, Mass. They had eight children,— five sons and three daughters. Their eldest son {Thaddeus William), the only one who received a collegiate education, was graduated at Harvard College in 1815, studied medicine and practised the same till the summer of 1831, when he was elected librarian of Harvard College, which office he still retains. (note: he died in 1856.) Being appointed one of the administrators of the estate of his wife's father, he was obliged to make a voyage to England, on business relating to the settlement of this estate. He improved the opportunity to visit various parts of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland; leaving New York for the voyage, August 7, 1810, and returning there again, May 13, 1811, after an absence of about nine months. During this time, he made many friends in the places he visited, and left (as is said by one of the Boston clergy who soon afterwards followed him) very favorable impressions upon some of the leading minds of the independent denomination there.
Until 1804 Mr. Harris' pastoral charge included the entire town, which then comprehended the whole of what is now called South Boston. He was truly "in labors more abundant;" writing more sermons than almost any of his brethren; more prolific in publications of various kinds than almost any contemporary divine; making frequent visits to the University, of which, during his whole pastorate, he was an overseer, — arranging its library, and presenting, nearly every year, an elaborate report. He spent much time, also, in superintending the common schools, and performed the laborious task of arranging Washington's papers, in one hundred and thirty-two volumes, and aiding Mr. Sparks, by copious indexes and notes, in preparing them for publication.
The secret of his accomplishing so much was his untiring industry, and a perfectly methodical arrangement of his time. He was an early riser, and had a time for everything, and took care that everything was done in its time. He was so remarkable for punctuality to his engagements that no instance can be recollected in which he was at any place of meeting, where his duty required him to be, one moment after the appointed hour.
An alarming attack of illness, in the winter of 1832-33, reduced him to a state of great debility, and it became necessary for him to seek the influence of a Southern climate during the following winter. He embarked at Boston for South Carolina, December, 1833, arrived at Charleston, passed some time there and at Savannah and Augusta, where he occasionally preached, and returned from Charleston, and reached home, May 31, 1834. During his visit to Savannah, he became interested in the life and labors of General Oglethorpe, and collected some materials for a biographical and historical account, which he finished, and published at Boston, in one volume, octavo, in May, 1811.
Mr. Nathaniel Hall was ordained his colleague on the 16th of July, 1835, when Dr. Harris was sixty-seven years of age. But this measure was altogether of his own choice, not a single member of his parish having so much as intimated even the expediency of it. So also, when he sought the dissolution of his pastoral relation, it was not only without the desire, but, in spite of the remonstrances, of all who took an active part in the concerns of the parish. A dismission was granted him, at his own earnest request, in October, 1836, when he had been settled just forty-three years. The separation was attended with mutual expressions of good will, of the pastors toward each other and toward their people. While he was librarian at Harvard University, he published, in a small duodecimo volume, the natural history of the Bible. In 1820, he issued a new edition of this work, greatly enlarged and improved, which is thought to be very complete of its kind. So at least thought a foreign publisher, who purloined the whole work, issuing it from the press under his own name, and realizing from its sale substantial profits.
During the early part of his ministry, he travelled, for the benefit of his health, to the State of Ohio, then a new country. On his return, he published an account of his tour, which was every way creditable to him. This work has been out of print for many years. The celebrated John Foster, of England, author of " Essays," etc., employed a friend, some years ago, to procure it for him; and, as it could not be found elsewhere, I reluctantly parted with my copy to gratify the curiosity of that distinguished man.
His last disease was peripneumony, which attacked him on the last Lord's day of his life, — seven days after his last appearance in the pulpit. It immediately prostrated his strength, and very soon deprived him of the use of his reason. This may truly be considered as a merciful interposition of Providence in his behalf; for such was his nervous excitability, that, notwithstanding his oft-repeated desire to be released from this body of sin and death, he would have instinctively shrunk from the pains which imagination associates with the last struggles of dissolving nature.
His funeral was attended in the meeting-house, where he had so long officiated, on the afternoon of the 7th of April, 1842, the day of the Annual Fast, — a prayer having been previously offered at his late residence in Boston, by the Rev. Dr. Frothingham, whose church he had attended. Though the weather was unfavorable the house was crowded; several clergymen in the neighborhood, and among them Dr. Codman, of the Second Church, having omitted their usual afternoon services that they might be present. It fell to me to offer the funeral prayer. His late colleague, and now his successor, the Rev. Nathaniel Hall, delivered an address, containing an outline of his life and character. In giving out the hymn, I remarked to the choir that, a few years before, their departed pastor, in the ordinary service of the Sabbath, set them a hymn which he desired them to sing to the tune of Jordan, and expressed the hope that they would sing the same hymn to the same tune at his funeral. Accordingly, I gave out the hymn: "There is a land of pure delight," etc. I could not perceive but that his former charge manifested as deep emotion as if he had been removed from them during his ministry, and in the midst of his days and usefulness.
Dr. Harris was an early member of the Massachusetts Historical Society, and, after the close of his ministry, became its librarian. He was a member of the Humane Society; of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; of the Massachusetts Bible Society; of the Society for Propagating the Gospel; of the American Antiquarian Socioty; of the American Peace Society; Vice-President of the Congregational Charitable Society; overseer of Harvard University during his ministry; member of the Horticultural Society; corresponding member of the Georgia Historical Society, and of the Archaeological Society in Athens, Greece. Besides the works already referred to, Dr. Harris published the following:
Occasional Discourses
- a New Year's sermon, 1796;
- a sermon at the ordination of John Pierce, 1797;
- a sermon on occasion of the national fast, 1798;
- a century sermon addressed particularly to a religious society of young men, 1798;
- a sermon on the death of Washington, 1799;
- a sermon on the death of the author's mother, 1801;
- a sermon preached at Dedham, on the day after the execution of Jason Fairbanks, 1801;
- twelve Masonic discourses, with several charges, etc., 1801, 8vo;
- a sermon at the installation of the Rev. Abiel Abbot, Beverly, 1803;
- a sermon on the death of Deacon Abijah White, 1804;
- the artillery election sermon, 1805;
- a sermon before the Massachusetts Humane Society, 1806;
- a sermon at the dedication of the South meeting-house, Dorchester, 1806;
- a sermon at the ordination of C. H. Shearman, 1807;
- a sermon before the Union Union Lodge, Dorchester, 1807;
- a sermon at the ordination of Enoch Pratt, 1807;
- a Thanksgiving sermon, 1807;
- three sermons addressed to the Second Church in Dorchester, 1807;
- a sermon preached at Plymouth on the anniversary of the landing of the fathers, 1808;
- a sermon preached at the ordination of Samuel Osgood, at Springfield, 1809;
- tribute of respect to the memory of the Hon. James Bowdoin, 1811;
- a sermon against suicide, 1812;
- a sermon on sensibility, 1812;
- a sermon on the death of Ebenezer Wales, Esq., 1813;
- a discourse at the funeral of Moses Everett, Esq., 1813;
- a sermon before the Boston Female Asylum, 1813;
- a sermon at the ordination of Ephraim Randall, 1814;
- a sermon at the ordination of Lemuel Capen, 1815;
- pray for the Jews, Thursday lecture at Boston, 1816;
- two sermons, one on leaving the old church, the other on entering the new one, at Dorchester, 1816;
- a sermon on the death of Nathaniel Topliff, 1819;
- a sermon before the Society for Propagating the Gospel, 1823;
- a centennial discourse, 1830;
- a farewell sermon, 1836.
Other Miscellaneous Publications
- Triumphs of superstition, an elegy, 1790;
- a system of punctuation, 1797;
- an address on occasion of the drowning of three persons, 1803;
- history of Dorchester, 1804;
- an address before the Washington Benevolent Society, 1813;
- happy death of a child, 1815;
- a textuary for preachers, 1818;
- serious soliloquies, 1819;
- biography of Father Rasle (Mass. Hist. Coll.);
- an address at the installation of the Union Union Lodge, Dorchester, 1824;
- an account of the old book of records, 1834.
Compilations and Abridgments
- Constitution of the Masons, 1792, 1798;
- Massachusetts Magazine, edited by him, 1795, 1796;
- beauties of nature, by Sturm, 1800, 1801;
- hymns for the Lord's Supper, 1801-1820;
- Zollikoffer's exercises of piety, 1803, 1807;
- minor encyclopaedia, 4 vols., 1803;
- Sephora, a Hebrew tale, 1835.
I might add many interesting incidents in the life of my friend; but I suppose the above is all that your request contemplated.
Very sincerely your friend,
JOHN PIERCE.
Dorchester Atheneum bibliography
Oglethorpe biography (Gutenberg project)
