Sunday, and on Monday the church was stripped of its pews and its whole interior.

"The work advanced more slowly than we had hoped. Delays of various kinds interposed. At length, however, on the 26th of October, the work was finished, and on Thursday, the 27th, the house in its new form was solemnly dedicated to 'the service of Almighty God." "It was to us a season of heartfelt joy, of gratitude to God and of mutual congratulation. The work of our hands had been prospered. A new temple had been raised up for us, and we, who had held our religious festivals under the most uncomfortable and disheartening circumstances, were now permitted to worship God amid the beauty of the sanctuary." "It is only giving honor to whom honor is due to record in this place, that by the generosity of the ladies of this parish, the pulpit was trimmed and the aisles carpeted throughout." "The Bible in two volun es was a generous donation from Mrs. E. Bass of Boston, a daughter of the Rev. Mr. Bullard, a former pastor of this church. The communion table was a present from Mrs. Thomas Bancroft of this town."

A handsome silver goblet was presented by Madam Prescott of Boston, March, 1846.

In the year 1831, a large number of the inhabitants of the town, including a great majority of the members of the church, withdrew from public worship in the meeting-house, and held meetings for a time in a private hall. They "signed off," as the phrase is, from the town, or first parish, and formed a second parish by the name of the "Evangelical Congregational Society." In 1832, they built a commodious meeting-house, finished in modern style, having a steeple and clock. It was dedicated October 31, 1832.

40

CHAPTER XV.

Ministers, Churches, &c.-First preaching in Dwelling-Houses-A Call to Mr. Vinal-Call to Mr. Emerson-Ordination-Organization of the Church-Mr. E.'s Salary-Military trait-Death and Character-Deacons Mr. Bullard's Call and Ordination-His MinistryDeacons-Death and Character-Choice of Mr. Howe-Exclusive System-Cautious Measures-Ordination-Breach of PromiseDivision of the Town-Mr. Babbidge's Call and Ordination-Deacons--Centennial Celebration-Mr. Howe recognized as Pastor of the Evangelical Congregational Society-Sickness, Death, and Character-Mr. Andrew's Ordination-Deacons-Anniversary Fes

tival.

THE first provision for having preaching in Groton west parish, which appears on record, is under date of February 16, 1742, when the parish "voted, that Samuel Wright be a committee to provide preaching till the last day of April next." It appears by the records, that the house of Enosh Lawrence, who lived in what is now the east village, and the house of Nehemiah Hobart, who lived where David R. Shattuck now lives, were used as places of worship before a meeting-house was built.

March 13, 1744, the parish "voted to keep the last day of March instant, a day of fasting and prayer to Almighty God for direction in the important affair of settling a minister""chose a committee to take advice of the neighboring ministers, and to invite them to assist in said fast, and to make provision for them."

Soon after, "voted to give the Rev. Mr. Vinal a call to settle in the work of the ministry." Why he did not accept the call, does not appear.

"September 25, 1746, voted to give the Rev. Mr. Joseph Emerson, of Malden, a call to settle in the gospel ministry in said parish, and to give him one hundred and twenty pounds settlement, and sixty-two pounds ten shillings salary yearly, and thirty cords of fire-wood, cut and delivered at his door." In January following, the parish voted to give Mr. Emerson forty acres of land within a mile of the meeting-house, and to increase his salary twelve pounds ten shillings when the parish should contain one hundred ratable families. At that time it contained seventy-two families. Mr. Emerson's answer to the call was in the affirmative, and he was ordained February 25, 1746-7. The sermon on the occasion was preached by his father, the minister of Malden, from this text: "Thou, therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." A church had been organized (or gathered, according to the technical phrase of the times) on the 29th of January next preceding the ordination, and Mr. Emerson was formally admitted a member of it on the morning of his ordination. The church at this time consisted of fifteen male members, eleven of whom had been dismissed from the church in Groton for the purpose of forming this. The number of females is not exactly known, but it is supposed there were nearly as many as males.1

Mr. Emerson's salary was regulated something in the manner of Dr. Chaplin's of Groton; according to the price of produce, provisions, and other necessaries of life; but with a little more propriety and justice in the quantities of articles stated, upon which to make the calculation.

1 By a paragraph in a discourse delivered by the Rev. Mr. Andrews, at Pepperell, January 29, 1847, it would seem there were no females, vid. p. 23. But the names of the wives of at least ten of the males are named in the records as original members, and not under the head of admissions. This seems to be proof positive, that there were female members at the time of organization.

The following lists were made out by a committee for that purpose, which were accepted by the parish and by Mr. Emerson.

It was doubtless a troublesome business to estimate the salary annually upon such a basis, and the district wisely. voted in the year 1767 to abandon the plan, and give Mr. Emerson £73 6s. 8d. annually, computing silver at 6s. per dollar, and 6s. 8d. per ounce. Upon this change in his compensation Mr. Emerson remarks: "I heartily rejoice that you have seen fit to set aside the old contract, which hath been the occasion of so much trouble. As to the sum you offer me instead of it, I thankfully accept of it. All things considered, it is honorable and kind, and is a token, that after so many years, my labors are yet acceptable among you. I hope, through divine grace, to go on with more cheerfulness in the work of the ministry, and while I am partaking of your carnal things, that the Lord may abundantly shower down spiritual blessings, is the sincere prayer of your affectionate pastor. I desire this may be recorded in the parish book."

The service of Mr. Emerson in the expedition to Cape Breton as chaplain, in 1745, undoubtedly had an influence on his whole life and character afterwards; and that influence was imparted, in an eminent degree, to the people of his charge. Hence the great number of brave officers and courageous soldiers in Pepperell in the French and

While there, he took

Revolutionary wars, and down to the present time. Immediately upon the assembling of the army at Cambridge, he repaired thither to visit his numerous parishioners there in arms, and is said to have offered the first prayer ever made in the American camp. a cold, which induced the disease of which he died, October 29, 1775, æt. 51. He left a widow and five children, four sons and a daughter. He appears to have been a very useful, faithful, and successful minister; beloved, esteemed, reverenced by the church and people of his charge. His religious views and principles undoubtedly harmonized with those of most of the clergy of his time in New England; though if we may judge from his writings, and the plain, simple, practical covenant of his church, we must suppose that he had more liberality and Christian charity, and less dogmatism and bigotry, than many of them. Ultra Calvinism had not, however, at that time been portrayed in the unscriptural and metaphysical language of Edwards, Hopkins, and Emmons; nor had the absurd and contradictory dogmas of these found their way into the creeds and covenants of so many churches, as they afterwards did.

During the twenty-nine years of his ministry he baptized eight hundred and seven persons, admitted one hundred and ninety-six to the church, and solemnized one hundred and seventy-three marriages. Eight deacons were elected by the church, and by him inducted into office, viz.: Jeremiah Lawrence, John Spafford, January 11, 1747-8; Josiah Fiske, January 18, 1754; Peleg Lawrence, August 21, 1754; Thomas Laughton, August 3, 1759; David Blood, April 9, 1762; Daniel Fiske, April 23, 1773; Edmund Parker, October 8, 1773.

It was customary for one chosen deacon to give his acceptance in writing, drawn out into quite an epistle, which was read to the congregation, and then the candi