CHAPTER I.

1750-1758.

A NEW PSALM BOOK.

END OF A LONG

TORATE.

CO - PAS

THE PRINCE

LIBRARY.

IGHTY years had

EIGH

passed since the formation of the Third or South Church and the installation of its first minister, the Rev. Thomas Thacher. During this period, it had received eleven or twelve hundred members into its fellowship, more than eight hundred persons had owned the covenant in the presence of its congregation, and more than five thousand children had received the ordinance of baptism from its pastors. Emerging from the storm of strife in which it had been organized, it had taken its place immediately as one of the leading forces in the moral, social, and religious life of the town, and at the middle of the eighteenth century it was second to no church in New England in its Christian activity and usefulness. Another quarter of a century of great prosperity lay before it, and then, at the beginning of the American Revolution, with many other interests and institutions, it was to enter upon an experience of depression and loss.

We return now to the records of the church:

Lord's Day March 4. 1749-50

The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stayed, and Voted

That twenty pounds be laid out in Bibles, and given to the Poor of this Church and Congregation; and that the Remainder of the last Collection be given to the Poor of this Church and Congregation in Wood and other Necessaries of life, by the Deacons according to their best Discretion.

J. SEWALL.

The Rev. John Webb died, April 16, after a pastorate at the New North Church of thirty-six years. His surviving colleague, the Rev. Andrew Eliot, said of him, "I cannot but think him one of the best of Christians, and one of the best ministers." Mr. Eliot now became sole pastor, and so continued until the close of his ministry.

Lord's Day Augt. 26. and by adjournment Septr 2. and 9. 1750. The Brethren of the Church stay'd: And the Hon. Josiah Willard, Deacon Henchman, Mr. Jonathan Loring, Mr. Isaac Walker, and Mr. John Kneeland were chosen to be the Church-Committee for the year ensuing.

Lord's Day Octr 21. 1750

J. SEWALL.

The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stay'd, and Voted

That there be a Collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Novr. 1. next, and that the Rest of the Congregation be notified of this vote next Lord's Day, and be desir'd to assist in said Collection. JOSEPH SEWALL.

COUNCIL AT NORTHAMPTON.

Lord's Day March 10 1750-1

3

The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stayed, and Voted

That £160. 15. 5 O. T. out of the last collection be given to the Poor of this Church and Congregation in Wood, and other Necessaries of life, by the Deacons according to their best Discretion.

Then the Meeting was adjourn'd to Monday, come Fortnight 11. cl. A. M. JOSEPH SEWALL.

March 25. 1751

The Brethren of the Church and Congregation met and Voted - That Messrs Oxenb: Thacher junr.1 Benj: Dolbeare and Joseph Jackson be a committee to consider and inquire what are the deficiencies in the weekly contributions, whence they arise, and what may be the best method to make them up, and report to the adjournment of this Meeting; and to receive any money which may be offered to make good the deficiencies: And that the same Gentlemen be a committee to audit the Deacons Accounts.

Voted Unanimously, That the Contributors mark their money, and that those of the Church and Congregation who are now absent, be acquainted that every Person present in this very full meeting vocally express'd themselves desirous that all the contribution-money should be marked.

Voted, That the Deacons be desir'd to put to interest the Donation of Mr. Nathl. Cunningham deceas'd, being £500 O. T.; to keep good the Principall, and distribute the Interest among the poor of this Church and Congregation annually, according to their best discretion. Voted, That this Meeting be adjourned to Monday April 22 next at 11. o. cl. A. M. JOSEPH SEWALL.

April 21. The Meeting was further adjourned to the 29 this Instant II. o. cl. A. M.

Lord's Day April 28. 1751

The Church stayed, when Letters were communicated from several Brethren of the first Church in Northampton and from the Rev'd Mr.

penalty of suffering for every exertion at the bar, or in the legislature, of which he was a member, he entered into the struggle for liberty with an earnest heart, and his life was shortened by his anxiety and efforts in the cause. He died of disease of the lungs at the age of forty-five, equally conspicuous for his unaffected piety and sterling patriotism." Samuel Adams was elected to the legislature in 1765, to take the place made vacant by Mr. Thacher's death. Wells's Life of Samuel Adams, vol. i. p. 70.]

Edwards, desiring our Assistance in Council. Voted. Messengers chosen, One of the Deacons, Messrs. Joseph Jackson, David Jeffries and John Kneeland.

Mr. Edwards had aroused violent opposition in his church and parish, first, in 1744, by an endeavor to call some of the young people to account for improprieties of conduct which had become the occasion of public scandal; and, later, and more especially, by the views entertained by him- contrary to those which had been taught and practised by his predecessor, Mr. Stoddard on the proper qualifications for approach to the Lord's Table. On this subject he wished to preach a course of sermons to his congregation, explaining and defending his position; but the church-committee, with which he had consulted, objected, because of the intense feeling which existed and which was already dividing the town into two hostile parties. Reluctantly the committee consented to his giving his views to the public through the press, and agreed to await the publication before having recourse to a council, which the church had been anxious to call, and which the pastor was willing to accept, after all other methods of reconciliation should have been exhausted. In 1749 he published An Humble Inquiry Into the Rules of the Word of God Concerning the Qualifications Requisite to Full Communion in the Church, a quarto, of about a hundred and fifty pages.1 A long and learned letter from Mr. Foxcroft to

the iniquity does lie. We may see cause to alter some practices of our fathers, without despising of them, without priding ourselves in our wisdom, without apostacy, without abusing the advantages God has given us, without a spirit of compliance with corrupt men, without inclinations to superstition, without making disturbance in the church of God: And there is no reason, that it should be turned as a reproach upon us. Surely 'tis commendable for us to examine the practices of our fathers, we have no sufficient reason to take practices upon trust from them. Let them have as high a character as belongs to them; yet we may not look upon their principles as oracles. Nathan himself miss'd it in his conjecture about building the House of God. He that believes principles because they affirm them, makes idols of them. And it would be no humility, but baseness of spirit, for us to judge our