Mather, Samuel (2)

Mather, Samuel (2), D.D., minister of the Trinitarian Congregational Church, son of Cotton Mather, was born in Boston, Oct. 30, 1706; graduated at Harvard College in 1723, having studied theology probably under the direction of his father; was licensed to preach, and in 1732 became colleague-pastor with the Rev. Mr. Gee, of the Second Church in Boston, and was ordained in the same year. In 1741 a dissatisfaction arose against him in this church, partly from the charge of looseness of doctrine, and also of impropriety of conduct, and he, with the smaller part of his membership, withdrew, and established a separate Church in Hanover Street, on the corner of North Bennet. "The fact," says Robbins, in his History of the Second Church, "that so many persons of good character supported Mr. Mather, affords good reason to doubt whether the charges of impropriety were well founded." He sustained his relation as pastor of Hanover Street Church usntil his death, June 27,1785. Dr. Mather published A Sermon on the Death of Cotton Mather (1728): — Life of Cotton Mather (1729): — An Essay concerning Gratitude (1732): — Vita A. H. Franckii, cui adjecta est narratio rerum memorabilium in Ecclesiis Evangelicis per Germaniam, etc. (1733): — An Apology for the Liberties of the Churches in New England (1738): — and Sermons on various Subjects (1738, '39, '40, '51, '53, '60, '2, '66, and '68. Also a Poem, in five parts, The Sacred Minister, by Aurelius Prudentius Americanus (1773): — Answer to a Pamphlet entitled Salvation for all Men (1782). — Sprague, Annals Amer. Pulpit, 1:371.