USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Essex County, Mass., 1865 > Part 23
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Mr. Seeley was married Oct. 7, 1843, to Catharine L. Cowles, daugh- ter of Timothy and Catharine (Deming) Cowles, of Farmington, Ct. She died May 19, 1854.
Their children are, -
1. Jennette Deming, b. July 25, 1844.
2. Frances Hooker, b. Aug. 31, 1846.
3. Raymond Cowles, b. Sept. 13, 1851; d. March, 1853.
4. Robert Channing, b. May 19, 1854.
He was married a second time Nov. 18, 1857, to Fanny Barton Stiles, daughter of Richard Wayne and Elizabeth (Cook) Stiles, of Mor- ristown, N. J.
Their children arc, -
5. Charles, b. Sept. 26, 1858; d. Jan., 1859.
6. Arthur Wayne, b. March 7, 1860; d. Sept. 2, 1860.
7. Elizabeth Worthington, b. July 24, 1861.
The publications of Mr. Seeley are, -
1. A Sermon in the National Preacher. Subject, " Characteristics of Natural Religion as distinguished from True Piety."
2. Election Sermon. 1857. Text, 2 Sam. 23 : 3 and 4.
3. Sermon on Christian Unity. Text, John 17: 21. Preached at the Dedication of the American Chapel in Paris, France.
EDWARD WILLIAM HOOKER,
Was born in Goshen, Ct., Nov. 24, 1794. He was the son of Rev. Asahel and Phebe (Edwards) Hooker, and was baptized in infancy.
SKETCHES OF MEMBERS. 217
Grad. at M. C., 1814, and at Andover Theo. Seminary, 1817 ; licensed to preach by the Londonderry Presbytery, April 30, 1817. He was or- dained at Green's Farms, Ct., Aug. 15, 1821; dismissed Jan. 27, 1829 ; in Associate General Agency for the American Temperance Society, and editorship of Journal of Humanity at Andover, during 1829; preached on temporary engagements in the North Church, Newburyport, and in Wiscasset, Maine, in 1830-31. Installed in Bennington, Vt., Feb. 22, 1832; dismissed May 14, 1844. Inaugurated Professor of Sacred Rhet- oric in the Theo. Seminary, East Windsor IIill, Aug. 25, 1844; resigned the professorship Aug. 24, 1848. . Installed pastor of the First Cong. Church, South Windsor, Ct., Sept. 5, 1849 ; dismissed April 16, 1856. Installed at Fairhaven, Vt., Aug. 20, 1856; dismissed Nov. 18, 1862, when he removed to Newburyport, where he now resides.
The hopeful religious change in Mr. Hooker occurred in 1813, shortly following the death of his father, Rev. Asahel Hooker, then of Norwich, Ct. He united with the Second Cong. Church in Norwich, Ct., in 1814.
Mr. Hooker was married at Norwich, Ct., Oct. 10, 1821, to Faith Trumbull Huntington, daughter of Jabez and Mary (Lanman) Hunting- ton. She died May 5, 1850, aged 54.
Their children are, -
1. Mary Lanman, b. Oct. 8, 1822.
2. Faith Huntington, b. Nov. 16, 1824.
3. Elizabeth Peck, b. Feb. 10, 1827 ; d. Dec. 31, 1849.
4. Elias Cornelius, b. July 9, 1832. See list of members of Associa- tion.
5. Sarah Huntington, b. April 6, 1835.
6. Edward Trumbull, b. Oet. 31, 1837 ; grad. W. C., 1860.
Mr. Hooker was married at Bennington, Vt., Nov. 19, 1850, to Mrs. Elizabeth Hunt (Lyman) Sheldon, daughter of William and Sarah (Holt) Sheldon, of Clinton, N. Y. She died Sept. 3, 1856, aged 45.
He was married at Newburyport, Dec. 28, 1857, to Lucy Bagley, daughter of Philip and Sarah (Bigelow) Bagley.
PUBLICATIONS OF DR. HOOKER.
I. BOOKS. Memoir of Mrs. Sarah L. H. Smith. Boston, 1840; and Amer. Tr. Soc., N. Y., 1844, to the present. - Life of Rev. Thomas Hooker. Mass. S. S. Soc., 1849. - Early Conversions. Mass. S. S. Soc., 1850. - Elihu Lewis ; or, the Fatal Christmas. Mass. S. S. Soc., 1851. - Thomas Hooker's " Doubting Christian." Revised, with Intro- ductory Article. Hartford, 1845. - Memorials of the Thompson Fam- ily. Hartford, 1854.
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HISTORY OF ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
II. TRACTS. 1. Of Amer. Tract Soc., Nos. 326, 353, 377, 429, 480. 2. Of Cong. Board of Publication, Nos. 25, 32, 38. 3. Of Presb. Board of Publication, Philadelphia : Love to Divine Truth an Element in Christian Character. 4. Occasional : To the Spectator of a Public Exe- cution. Troy, N. Y. 5. Of Amer. Board of Comm. for Foreign Mis- sions : Use of Maps in the Monthly Concert. - Cultivation of the Spirit of Missions in Literary and Theological Institutions.
III. DISCOURSES. MISCELLANEOUS. Preaching the Word. Gen. Asso. Conn., 1828, Andover. - The Sinner Insane, not the Christian. National Preacher, 1833. - The Spirit of the Ministry ; Alumni of An- dover Theo. Sem., 1837. In Lit. and Theo. Rev., N. Y. - Duties to the Aged ; funeral of Geo. D. Robinson, 1843, Bennington. - The Christian called Home ; following funeral of daughter Elizabeth, 1850. Hartford. - God Glorified in the Christian's Death; funeral of Dea. A. Thompson, S. Windsor, Conn. Hartford, 1851. -- The Lord's Voice ; catastrophe of the U. S. ship-of-war Princeton, 1844, Troy, N. Y. - Regeneration and Conversion Theologically distinguished. Hartford, 1853.
IV. ADDRESSES ON SACRED MUSIC. Sacred Music a Medium of Worship; Theo. Institute, Conn. Hartford, 1839. - Advancement of Sacred Music ; Pittsfield, Mass., 1837. - Embarrassments and Encour- agements in Cultivation of Sacred Music; Rutland Co. Conv., 1843, Windsor, Vt. - Progress of Music in America ; Amer. Mus. Conven- tion, 1845, N. Y. - Music as Part of Female Education ; Anniv. Gothic Sem., Northampton, Mass., 1843. - Historic Sketch of Sacred Music ; Gen. Conv. N. Hampshire and Vermont, 1852, Windsor.
V. ADDRESSES BEFORE SOCIETIES, LYCEUMS, SCHOOL INSTI- TUTES, &c. Union of Religion and Scholarship; Philadelphian So- ciety, Midd. Coll. Vermont, 1835, Windsor, Vt. - Development of Character in Literary Men ; Soc. of Alumni, Midd. Coll., 1840. - De- velopment of Character under the Influence of Popular Education ; Young Men's Lyceum, Troy, N. Y. Boston, 1840. - Divine Discipline of the Christian Ministry ; Soc. Inquiry, Theo. Inst., Conn., 1839, Hart- ford. - Address at Anniv. Amer. Ed. Soc., 1823, Boston. - Speech be- fore Fairfield Co., Conn., Miss. Soc., 1824, Norwalk. - Delineations of Religious Society in Litchfield Co., Conn., for Century ending 1847; at Centennial of the Consociations of that County, Hartford. - Review of the Temperance Reformation ; Rutland Co. Temp. Soc., 1860, Rutland. - Lecture on the Bible and Daily Devotions in Schools ; to School In- stitute Rutland Co., 1861, Burlington, Vt.
VI. ARTICLES IN MONTHLY AND QUARTERLY MAGAZINES. 1. In American Quarterly Register, 1830, &c., Boston : Love an Element in
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SKETCHES OF MEMBERS.
the Christian Ministry. - Moral Estimate of the Character of Payson. - Clerical Habits of Study. - Pastoral Labor in Colleges. - Review of Orne's Life of Richard Baxter. 2. In Amer. Quarterly Observer, 1830: Duties of the Christian Citizen. 3. In Baptist Missionary Magazine, 1836, &c. : Sympathy in the Trials of Missionaries. - Influ- ence of the Missionary Character on the Home Ministry. - Review of Sharp's Counsels and Cautions. 4. In the Christian Review (Baptist) : Instrumentality of the Ministry in the Formation of Christian Charac- ter. 5. In the Christian Observatory, 1849, &c .: Intellectual Indepen- dence in the Minister. - Review of Tyler's Letters to Burbank on Chris- tian Nurture. - The Prospects of the Cause of Religious Truth. 6. In the Spirit of the Pilgrims, 1829 : Review of Payson's Sermons. 7. In the Princeton Theo. Repertory, 1854 : Review of Life of Augustine, il- lustrating Ministerial Fidelity to the Truth. 8. In Amer. Theo. Review, 1858-59 : Condition of the Jewish Mind relative to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments. 3 Nos. - Natural Manner in Pulpit Deliv- ery. 9. In the Panoplist, New Series, 1850-52: Preaching the Doc- trine of Atonement ; 2 Nos. - " The Spirit of the Lord [not] Strait- ened." - Conviction of Sin a Part of Christian Experience. - The Christian Conflict. - New England Theological Education with Pastors prior to the Establishment of Theo. Seminaries. - Instinctiveness as a Characteristic in Preaching. - Conviction of Sin through the Law. - Conviction of Sin through the Cross. - Reflections on the Memoir of David Garrick as a History of the Histrionic Art. 10. In the Christian Sentinel, 1845-46 : a. Vol. I. Why do I Pray in Secret ? - The Guile- less Man. - Wandering Thoughts in Prayer. - " Change of Govern- ing Purpose." - The Preaching of Rev. Nathan Strong, D. D., of Hartford. - Notice of Life of Evarts. - Reasons for the Study of Westminster Catechism. - Meeting of the Amer. Board of Missions at Norwich. - Catechetical Instruction in the Olden Times. - Two Ques- tions on the Spiritual Conflict. - Confession of Theological Errors. - The Bible the best Prayer-Book. -- The Personal and the Professional Character distinguished. - Telling Secret Trials. - Prayer for Semina- ries. b. Vol. II. "No Difference." - Christianity a Distinct Religion. - Injury to Spiritual Frames. - Four Stages of Human Life. - Why Christians love Searching Preaching. - Fragment from a Note-Book. -- The Inquirer and his Teachers. - Kind of Preaching needed in a Revi- val. - Study of Revivals. - Sin Embittered to the Revived Soul. - Notices of Jew's Lectures. 11. In Congregational Quarterly: Sacred Music in Andover Theological Seminary.
A DISCOURSE
DELIVERED AT THE
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE ESSEX NORTH ASSOCIATION.
BY REV. D. T. FISKE.
OF the numerous streams flowing from the northern highlands of New England into the Atlantic, the fourth in size is the Merrimac. The historian, Hubbard, calls it "a gallant river." Manchester, and Lowell, and Lawrence, with their myriad spindles have proclaimed to the world its utilitarian virtues. Whittier, whose home is close by its " wooded rim," has sung its beauties. and made it classic, as "Our River."
The lower section of the valley of the Merrimac, extending from its mouth inland some twenty miles, with an average width of about twelve miles, is the " local habitation " of the Essex North Association. This region includes the following towns, viz. : on the northern bank of the river, Salisbury, Amesbury, and Haverhill ; on the southern bank, New- bury, Newburyport, West Newbury, Groveland, Bradford, Ipswich, Rowley, Georgetown, and the West Parish in Boxford.
But while I thus define the field which is now to be historically sur- veyed, it should be stated, that the territorial limits of our Association have been quite variable, enlarging and contracting from time to time, as the pastors of the several churches in this neighborhood have, or have not, chosen to connect themselves with this body. Two pastors of the church in Essex, and three pastors of the church in Topsfield, were among our early members ; while none of the pastors of what is now the First Church in Newburyport, and none of the pastors of the First Church in Salisbury were ever connected with this Association; and neither of the present pastors of the churches in Ipswich is now con- nected with it.
Still, it has seemed to me, that the proper field from which to gather items of ecclesiastical history for this Centennial Celebration, is that, whose geographical boundaries have just been given. To it I shall, therefore, confine myself.
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EXTINCT CHURCHES.
Within this territory, a century ago, there were to be found twenty Orthodox Congregational churches. Of these, five had then been in ex- istence more than a hundred years, viz. : the First Church in Ipswich, formed in 1634, being the twelfth church gathered in Massachusetts (in- cluding both the Plymouth and the Bay Colonies) ; the First Church in Newbury, formed in 1635, being the fourteenth church gathered in Massa- chusetts ; the First Church in Salisbury, formed in 1638, being the twenty-third church gathered in Massachusetts ; the church in Rowley, formed in 1639, being the twenty-eighth church gathered in Massachu- setts ; the First Church in Haverhill, formed in 1645, being the thirty- seventh church formed in Massachusetts.
To the twenty churches existing within the territorial bounds of the Asso- ciation in 1761, eleven have since been added, making thirty-one in all ; while, during the century, five of these have become extinct, and two, having apostatized from their primitive faith, are now connected with another denomination ; so that the present number of churches is twenty- four, only four more than there were a hundred years ago.
I will now give a list of these thirty-one churches in chronological or- der, with the date of their organization, and the name of their several pastors, with the dates of their settlement and removal.
[This list is here omitted, as the facts contained in it are found else- where in this volume. ]
EXTINCT CHURCHES.
It has been stated, that five of these churches have become extinct during the century. It seems proper that some biographical and obitu- ary notice of them should have a place in this discourse.
THE FIFTHI CHURCH IN NEWBURY.
This church stands first in this mortuary list. It was organized July 22, 1762, in that part of Newbury (now Newburyport), called "The Plains." It had but one settled minister, Rev. Oliver Noble, who was installed Sept. 1, 1762, and dismissed April 28, 1784.
The following is a part of the Confession of Faith and Covenant, adopted by the church at the time of its formation.1
" Forasmuch as it has pleased God in his holy Providence, to ordain a
1 This Confession and Covenant, and those given in the sketches of the other " Extinct Churches," were not originally included in this discourse, but are inserted to render these sketches more uniform with those of existing churches to be found in another part of this volume.
222
THE CHURCHES OF ESSEX NORTH.
new Parish in this part of the Town, we unanimously agree to unite to- gether to uphold the Worship and Ordinances of God by ourselves. To this end, we look upon it necessary to enter into an explicit Covenant, binding ourselves to the Lord, and to one another, according to his will. Therefore, we, whose names are hereunto subscribed, in a sense of our inability to do any thing acceptable to God, of ourselves, would humbly rely upon Divine Grace for all help requisite to fulfil our engagements agreeable to his will, thankfully taking hold of his Covenant, and choos- ing the things that please him.
" We declare our serious belief in the Christian Religion contained in the Sacred Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments ; and with such a view thereof, as the Protestant Confessions of Faith have exhibited, especially as contained in the Westminster Confession of Faith and Cat- echism, or the Confession of Faith annexed to the Cambridge Plat- form ; all which we look upon as materially the same, and esteem them evident summaries of Christian Doctrine and Duty ; - heartily resolv- ing to conform our lives to the rules of our holy religion as long as we live in the world. And with dependence on the promised grace of God, we engage to walk together as a church of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the Faith and Order of the Gospel, conscientiously attending to the public worship of God, the Sacraments of the New Testament, and sub- mitting to the discipline -" The remainder is torn from the Records.
At a meeting of the church, Aug. 13, 1862, the following heads or ar- ticles were unanimously agreed upon, viz. :
"1. That the Congregational church discipline, or the platform thereof, we receive (as to the substance of it) as a good directory, and so calculated, as well to answer the ordinance of discipline.
" 2. That (accordingly) it appears to the church very expedient, that, as soon as is convenient, the church choose out such a number of the wise and judicious among themselves, as they judge sufficient, with whom they may intrust the care and management of difficulties that may at any time arise in the church ; which brethren, so chosen yearly, shall be a committee for the purposes aforesaid.
"3. That the pastor, by the advice of the brethren so intrusted to manage and advise in different cases, may, ex-officio, call before them any member of the church as appears to them necessary for the honor of God and the purity and welfare of the church, and may deal with such member, i. e., either by advising, affording light to, or giving their judgment concerning, and sentiments respecting, such member, according to the rules of the gospel.
" 4. That if such person or persons are dissatisfied with the opinion, judgment, or advice of the pastor and brethren, so intrusted respecting
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EXTINCT CHURCHES.
him or them (or others), desire it, they may have the whole affair, with the proceedings of the committee thereupon, laid before the church for their hearing ; and, by their vote, they shall have liberty to join with the judgment or doings of the pastor and brethren so intrusted, or to dissent from them; and if so 'the majority of the church' (i. e., dissent), 'the person whom it doth immediately concern, or any dissatisfied party shall have liberty of a mutual council to help, according to the next article.'
"5. That, considering the ' Third way of Communion,' mentioned in our platform (as we understand), is looked upon impracticable in our churches, we think it very expedient, that in case any difficulty should arise in the church, or with any member of it, that cannot be accommoda- ted by the pastor and brethren, as aforesaid, the dissatisfied shall have free liberty of a mutual council of churches, if he or they desire it, to advise and help in such difficulty; which churches, for a mutual council (if either party desire it), shall be of Presbyterian, as well as of Congregational churches, and to which a Christian regard shall be paid by all concerned. And if either party hinder such mutual council, either by being the major- ity, or refusing to choose such mutual council, so that a council, as afore- said, cannot be obtained according to the true intent of this article, the injured and dissatisfied (we look upon it), is at liberty to call in such ec- clesiastical help as he or they shall think proper for their own safety.
" 6. That we cheerfully hold communion with Presbyterian churches, and churches of all denominations that expressly adhere to the Orthodox confessions of faith, that have been approved of in the Reformed churches, and walk in the order of the gospel."
Many of those with whom this church and parish originated, had been Episcopalians ; or, at least, had been connected with the church and so- ciety worshipping in " Queen Ann's Chapel." When Episcopal service was removed to St. Paul's, nearer the centre of the town, unwilling to go so far to meeting, some thirty families agreed to embody themselves into a society to worship God in a dissenting way, as it is commonly called. The Fifth Parish was incorporated April 17, 1761. The church was never very large. But few statistics concerning its growth and decay can be given, as only a mutilated fragment of its records has been found. It is known, however, that a committee was appointed in 1784 to purchase a new book, and transfer the records to it, and complete them wherein they were defective. If such a copy was made it cannot now be found.
During the latter part of Mr. Noble's ministry, many of his people were alienated from him by some injudicious business transactions, in which he was involved. After ineffectual efforts to restore mutual confi- dence, it was decided to call a council " to recognize a friendly separa- tion, which the said Mr. Noble, and the said church and parish have
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THE CHURCHES OF ESSEX NORTH.
agreed should take place between them, as what they judge in their pres- ent circumstances and difficulties will be for their mutual comfort, and the interests of religion." Only two churches appeared by pastor and dele- gates at the appointed time. April 28, 1784. These, not deeming them- selves " a sufficient number to constitute an ecclesiastical council in form," gave their advice " only as individual churches," which was. that the sep- aration take place.
After Mr. Noble left, no serious effort appears to have been made to settle another minister. For nine years, money was annually raised to supply the pulpit a part of the time. Then for three years there seems to have been no preaching. In April, 1796, it was voted "to hire preaching six months." This was the last action taken on the subject, so far as parish records show. Annual parish meetings were held till 1800, and were then discontinued eight years, when the parish was re- suscitated, at the formation of a new church within its limits, now the Belleville Church, Newburyport. Probably the Fifth Church was never formally disbanded, but gradually died out. The meeting-house was blown down in 1808.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN SALISBURY.
This was the second church of Essex North to become defunct. It was formed in 1638. Had five settled ministers : Rev. Wm. Worcester, ordained 1638, died Oct. 25, 1662; Rev. John Wheelright, ordained Dec. 9. 1662, died Nov. 15, 1679 ; Rev. James Allen, ordained May 4, 1687, died March 4, 1696; Rev. Caleb Cushing, ordained Nov. 9, 1698, died Jan. 25, 1752 ; Rev. Edmund Noyes, ordained Nov. 20, 1751, dismissed Aug. 3, 1790. As the records of this church cannot now be found, it is impossible to ascertain what its first Covenant was. The following is on the fly-leaf of a Bible belonging to Rev. Mr. Noyes, and was doubtless used by him, and may have been the one used by his predecessors :
" The Covenant for Full Communion. - You and each of you, pro- fessing a firm belief in the Christian religion, do now, in an everlasting covenant, give up yourself unto God, in our Lord Jesus Christ, humbly asking of God, through the blood of Christ, pardon for all your sins ; solemnly promising, before God and the holy angels, and in the presence of this assembly, that, by the assistance of the Divine Spirit, you will forsake the vanities and follies of this evil world, and approve yourself the true disciple of Jesus Christ in all good carriage, both toward God and man. And, particularly, you promise, so long as God shall continue you among us, to walk in communion with the church of Christ in this place, and, as you have opportunity, in love to watch over your fellow-
225
EXTINCT CHURCHES.
members ; as also to submit yourself to the discipline and government of Christ in his church, and duly to attend the seals and censures, and whatsoever ordinances Christ has appointed to be observed by his peo- ple, so far as God has, or shall, by his Word and Spirit, reveal unto you to be your duty, - adorning the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things, and avoiding even the very appearance of evil. This you promise.
"I, then, in the name of Jesus Christ, do declare you to be a mem- ber in full communion with the church of Christ ; and, in the name of the church (here), do promise that we will, by the help of the Divine Spirit, carry it towards you as towards a member of the same body with ourselves, - watching over you, for your good, with a spirit of meekness, love, and tenderness, - earnestly praying that the glorious Head of the church would take delight to dwell among us; that his blessing may be upon us, and his glorious kingdom be advanced by us. Amen, amen."
How long the foregoing covenant continued in use is unknown. In 1817, June 19, a new covenant and a very full confession of faith, drawn up by Rev. Dr. Dana of Newburyport, were adopted. During the early part of Mr. Cushing's ministry, the families in the west end of the town began to feel that they had to go too far to meeting, and that they must have a meeting-house among themselves. After much contention and delay, the town finally voted to build a new house at " Rockie Hill." The house was not finished and occupied till 1716. In 1714, the town voted, instead of forming a new parish, to have two meeting-houses and two ministers, "the salaries of both to be paid by the. whole town." This vote was not carried into effect till 1718, when Mr. Parsons, hav- ing accepted a call, began to preach in the new church at the west end ; Mr. Cushing for the two previous years having preached there half of the time. This arrangement continued till 1793, when the town was di- vided into two distinct parishes, each supporting its own minister. This is believed to be the only instance in this vicinity in which there were two separate churches, each having its own meeting-house and minister, while all the expenses were defrayed by one parish.
Soon after the meeting-house at " Rockie Hill " was completed, meas- ures were taken to build a new house in place of the old one in the east part of the town. It was finished as early as 1721.
The most flourishing period in the history of this ancient and now ex- tinct church was from 1720 to 1760. In 1745, it had a membership of one hundred and seventy-five. From 1760 it steadily and rapidly declined.
In 1787, a difficulty arose between the town and the ministers of the two churches in regard to salaries. The ministers insisted that the town
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THE CHURCHES OF ESSEX NORTH.
ought to make up to them what they had lost by the depreciation of the currency of the country, to the amount of more than $1,300. This the town refused to do in full. Up to this time, the salaries of both minis- ters had been raised in pursuance of votes passed at the time of their settlement, no action being taken in regard to the matter from year to year. But now, in town meeting, the following significant vote was passed : " Voted, not to raise any more money for the support of min- isters by virtue of any vote or votes passed in the town in the year 1756, and prior thereto ; and also that the town call upon the Rev. Sam- uel Webster and the Rev. Edmund Noyes for a final settlement to this day." This vote seems to have had its designed effect. A settlement was soon made, the ministers deeming it prudent to materially abate their claims. But this settlement did not restore good feeling. Dec. 18, 1788, the town chose a committee "to treat with Rev. E. Noyes, to see if, on any terms, he will give up his ministerial relation to this people," &c. Mr. Noyes was unwilling. The matter continued to be agitated, till at length the people, being determined to get rid of Mr. Noyes, hav- ing almost entirely forsaken his meeting, took action in town meeting, Aug. 3, 1790, which seems to have terminated Mr. Noyes' ministerial relation to them. There is no evidence, however, that any council was ever called formally to dismiss him, and quite possibly he still considered himself pastor of the church. But, as there is subsequently no allusion to him in the town records, and none whatever in the parish records, which commence in 1793 ; and as, in repeated instances, the parish in- vited other men to settle with them in the ministry, and offered them the use of the parsonage and lands, as if there were no incumbent, it seems proper to infer that Mr. Noyes was actually dismissed, and that his min- istry terminated in 1790. The church was at this time in a very low state. The Methodists now began to get a foothold in the place, and at length to make their voice heard in the parish meetings. March 30, 1802, it was " Voted, that the Congregationalists shall have the meeting- house one half of the time, four or six Sabbaths at a time, as they shall choose ; and the Methodists the other half of the time." July 10, 1806, " Voted, that the committee let in and shut out what ministers they please." April 2, 1807, "Voted, that the Methodists have the house all the time this year." Oct. 1, 1813, a committee was chosen " to meet the Methodists, in order to settle the difficulties existing between this parish and the Methodist society." Feb. 28, 1833, " Voted, to unite with the Methodists in the support of the gospel, if we can compromise with them." Also, " Voted, to pull down the old meeting-house, if both societies agree to build a new one." Also, " Voted, to appoint a commit- tee of correspondence with the Methodists, and that this committee be
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