USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol I > Part 44
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Mr. Murray was the first to suggest the holding of these con- ventions, in 1783. His remark was : " Indeed, it would gladden my heart if every one who stands forth a public witness of the truth as it is in Jesus, could have an opportunity of seeing and conversing, one with another, at least once every year." In September, 1785, he thus writes : " Well, I have been at Oxford, and the assembly convened there was truly primitive." "We deliberated, first, on a name ; secondly, on the propriety of being united in our common defense; thirdly, upon the utility of an annual meeting of representatives from the different societies ; and, fourthly, upon keeping up a constant correspondence by letter."
He further remarked : "Mr. Winchester delivered a most ex- cellent sermon; his subject was, 'But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you, let him be ac-
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cursed.' By the desire of Mr. Winchester, I closed the services." Thus was a convention formed, and, we may add, organized by the aid of the father of this denomination in this country.
This convention was held the 14th of September, 1785, at Oxford; the Rev. Elhanan Winchester, of Philadelphia, was chosen Moderator. This was the first convention of this de- nomination, and, as has been stated in another place, it was held in Oxford in the years 1791, 1793, and 1794, but has not been held there since .* At this time, 1804, it is presumed that this religious sect had risen to the height of its influence in this vicinity.
Mr. Murray was born the 10th of December, 1741, in the town of Alton, in Hampshire, England, about forty-eight miles south-west of London ; his father was an Episcopalian, but his mother favored Presbyterianism ; they moved into Ireland, and becoming acquainted with the preaching of John Wesley and George Whitfield, they became Methodists, but wavered between the Calvinism of Whitfield and the Arminianism of Wesley, still were earnest and devout Christians.
Their son, till some time after the death of his father, held to the faith of his parents; but before coming to America had heard the preacher JAMES RELLY, a Universalist, then in much disrepute, and regarded as blasphemous by the other religious denominations, but of a highly moral and devotional character. Relly's peculiar faith and preaching at once had the force of conviction and firm belief with Murray; but having lost by death his wife and an only child, and being much embarrassed in his pecuniary affairs, he fell into a condition of melancholy, desiring seclusion from society, and in this state of mind sailed for America, arriving in September, 1770, and by accident the vessel ran ashore in Cranberry Inlet, on the south coast of New
* See "Historical Collections," Vol. I., pp. 222 and 223.
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Jersey, where he became acquainted with an eccentric, but evi- dently religious man, Thomas Potter, yet destitute of education either sufficient to read or write ; still a man of much intellect- ual power, who had accumulated considerable property, and who by intuition had the foresight of discovering the peculiarities of the leading traits of the character of Murray. Without know- ing anything of the antecedents of him, declared that he was impressed with the fact that he was a minister; and from the time he discovered the strange vessel in the inlet, he was im- pressed with the idea that God had sent him a minister to preach in the meeting-house he had not long before erected in the woods near his house for religious worship.
The revelations, as expressed, excited Mr. Murray with aston- ishment ; and nothing he could say could change the convictions of this eccentric genius that he, Murray, was not sent by special Providence to preach in his meeting-house.
Finally, by urgent persuasion, Mr. Murray consented to preach, greatly to the satisfaction of his new friend. Differing with his neighbors, and earnest in his religious convictions, this man had worked out in his mind, alone, the faith of the univer- sal salvation of all men.
Here this man was born, lived, and died, and his grave may be found near the meeting-house he had erected for making- known his peculiar faith. It was here at Cranberry Inlet, at a place known as Good Luck, that John Murray preached his first sermon in America.
Mr. Murray was a settled minister at Gloucester, and from there became the pastor of the Universalist church and society at Boston, where he died the 3d of September, 1815.
Mr. Murray had preached as an itinerant quite extensively before these settlements .*
* See " Life of John Murray," by himself, published in 1870. New edition, pp. 195-212.
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For 1805, Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, B., 7 Sab- baths.
Rev. EDWARD TURNER, Sturbridge, U., 10 Sabbaths.
Rev. THADDEUS FAIRBANKS, itinerant, C., 6 Sabbaths.
Rev. ELISHIA CODINGTON, South Brimfield, B., 1 Sabbath. Rev. EZRA WILLIAMS, unknown, 1 Sabbath.
5 ministers supplied this year, 25 Sabbaths.
For 1806, Rev. ALVAN UNDERWOOD, W. Woodstock, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, B., 4 Sabbaths.
Rev. EDWARD TURNER, Sturbridge, U., 8 Sabbaths.
Rev. THADDEUS FAIRBANKS, itinerant, C., 5 Sabbaths. Rev. WILLIAM WILDE, unknown, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. DAVID BATCHELLOR, itinerant, C., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Batchellor was installed pastor, in 1816, over the 1st Congregational church in Oxford, and continued his services there till his decease in 1822.
Rev. SAMUEL JUDSON, Uxbridge, C., 3 Sabbaths.
Mr. Judson was pastor of 1st Congregational church in Ux- bridge; was ordained there in 1792.
7 ministers supplied preaching this year, 23 Sabbaths.
For 1807, Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, B., 8 Sab- baths.
Rev. EDWARD TURNER, Sturbridge, U., 3 Sabbaths.
Rev. HOSEA BALLOU, Portsmouth, N. II., U., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. JOHN NICHOLS, uncertain as to his faith, 10 Sabbaths. Rev. WILLIAM WILDE, unknown, 1 Sabbath. Rev. EDWARDS WHIPPLE, Charlton, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. Mr. RIDDLE, unknown, 3 Sabbaths.
Rev. Mr. NOYES, uncertain, 1 Sabbath.
8 ministers supplied preaching this year, 28 Sabbaths.
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For 1808, Rev. ALVAN UNDERWOOD, W. Woodstock, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, B., 3 Sabbaths.
Rev. EDWARD TURNER, Sturbridge, 3 Sabbaths.
Rev. ELISHA SABINE, unknown, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. JOHN NICHOLS, uncertain, 12 Sabbaths.
Rev. WILLIAM GRAVES, E. Woodstock, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. LUTHER WILSON, Brooklyn, Ct., C., 3 Sabbaths.
Rev. ABISHA SAMPSON, Rutland, Mass., B., 1 Sabbath. 8 ministers supplied this year, 25 Sabbaths.
For 1809, Rev. EDWARDS WHIPPLE, Charlton, C., 1 Sabbath. Rev. EDWARD TURNER, Salem, Mass., U., 2 Sabbatlıs. Rev. JOHN NICHOLS, uncertain, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. DAVID BATCHELLOR, itinerant, C., 6 Sabbaths.
Rev. LUTHER WILSON, Brooklyn, Ct., C., 2 Sabbaths.
Dea. NATHAN GROSVENOR, Sturbridge, 6 Sabbaths.
6 ministers supplied preaching this year, 18 Sabbaths
For 1810, Rev. JOSHUA FLAGG, itinerant, U., 1 Sabbath. Rev. EDWARDS WHIPPLE, Charlton, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. ABISHA SAMPSON, Rutland, B., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. BILLY HIBBARD, a noted traveling Methodist, 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Hibbard preached mostly in the towns west of Connect- icut River in Massachusetts, at Chester, Alford, Hinsdale, and Pittsfield. He was an acquaintance of Rev. Daniel Bromley, who had preceded him here.
Rev. PETER WHITNEY, Northborough, Mass., C., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Whitney was ordained pastor of the Congregational church there in 1767, and died there in 1815, aged 71. He was the historian of Worcester County ; his work was published in 1793.
Rev. ELISHA SWEET, unknown, 13 Sabbaths.
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Rev. I. S. POMEROY, Worthington, Mass., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Pomeroy was a native of Fairfield, Ct., and settled over the church there Nov. 26, 1794, and continued till 1832, when he received dismission.
7 ministers supplied preaching this year, 19 Sabbaths.
For 1811, Rev. ALVAN UNDERWOOD, W. Woodstock, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. LUCIAN BOLLS, Salem, Mass., B., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. PRESERVED SMITH, Mendon, C., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Smith was a native of Alford, Mass .; a graduate of Brown University in 1786; ordained pastor of the Congrega- tional church in Rowe, Mass., in 1787, and dismissed in 1804; installed at Mendon, Oct. 2, 1805, and dismissed there Oct. 12, 1812; settled at Warwick, Mass., in 1814.
Rev. ZEPHANIAH SWIFT MOORE, Leicester, C., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Moore was born in Palmer, Mass. ; a graduate of Dart- mouth College; preceptor of the academy of Londonderry, N. H. Hle studied theology with Rev. Dr. Backus, of Somers, Ct., and Jan. 10, 1798, was ordained as pastor of the Congrega- tional church in Leicester, and was preceptor of Leicester Academy from July, 1806, to Oct., 1807, when he was ap- pointed professor of languages at Dartmouth College, and served there from 1811 to 1815. He was then elected President of Williams College, and served till 1821, and then elected to the presidency of Amherst College, where he continued till his de- cease, June 20, 1823, aged 58 years.
Rev. WARREN FAY, Brimfield, Mass., C., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Fay was ordained pastor of the Congregational church there Nov. 2, 1808, and dismissed, at his request, June 26, 1811 ; he preceded Rev. Joseph Vaill. He was then installed over the church at Harvard, Mass., in 1814.
Rev. EBENEZER SAWYER, Dighton, Mass., B., 1 Sabbath.
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Rev. FESTUS FOSTER, Petersham, Mass., C., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Foster was ordained there in 1802, and continued his pas- torate till 1819.
Rev. JOHN NICHOLS, uncertain as to his faith, 11 Sabbaths.
Rev. DAVID BATCHELLOR, itinerant, C., 2 Sabbaths.
Rev. ELISHA SWEET, unknown, 4 Sabbaths.
Dea. NATHAN GROSVENOR, Sturbridge, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. LUTHER WILSON, Brooklyn, Ct., C., 2 Sabbaths.
Rev. EDWARDS WHIPPLE, Charlton, C., 1 Sabbath.
13 ministers supplied preaching this year, 28 Sabbaths.
For 1812, Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, B., half Sab- bath.
Rev. ABIAL WILLIAMS, Dudley, C., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Williams was a native of Raynham, Mass. ; a graduate of Brown University in 1795 ; he was ordained pastor of the Con- gregational church in Dudley June 12, 1799, and dismissed March 16, 1831.
Rev. LUCIUS BOLLES, Salem, Mass., B., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. ZEPHANIAH SWIFT MOORE, Leicester, C., 6 Sabbaths.
Rev. WARREN FAY, itinerant, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. GEORGE ANGELL, South Woodstock, B., 1 Sabbath.
This was Mr. Angell's first appearance as a preacher in this parish ; an historical sketch of him has been given in Vol. II. of this writer's " Historical Collections," pp. 510 and 511.
Rev. EZRA WILLIAMS, unknown to this writer, 1 Sabbath. Rev. DAVID A. CLARK, Braintree, Mass., C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. D. T. KIMBALL, Ipswich, Mass., C., 1 Sabbath. Rev. OTIS LANE, Sturbridge, Mass., C., 1 Sabbath. Rev. JACOB RICE, no knowledge of him, 2 Sabbaths. Rev. PHILAMON MUNGER, no knowledge of him, 1 Sabbath. Rev. ABISHA SAMPSON, Harvard, Mass., B., 1 Sabbath. Rev. FESTUS FOSTER, Petersham, Mass., C., 4 Sabbaths.
14 ministers supplied preaching this year, 22} Sabbaths.
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For 1813, Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, Baptist, 2 Sab- baths.
Rev. GEORGE ANGELL, Woodstock, Baptist, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. OTIS LANE, Sturbridge, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. DAVID BATCHELLOR, itinerant, C., 2 Sabbaths. Rev. WARREN FAY, itinerant, C., 2 Sabbaths.
Rev. SAMUEL AUSTIN, D.D., Worcester, C., 1 Sabbath.
Dr. Austin was a graduate of Yale College in 1783 ; a pastor at Fairhaven, Ct., three years ; then pastor of the First Congre- gational church, Worcester, Mass., 25 years ; in 1815 was elected to, and accepted, the Presidency of the University of Ver- mont, and continued six years ; he died December 4, 1830, aged 70.
Rev. JORDON DODGE, Baptist, 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Dodge was for a time pastor of the Baptist church in Sturbridge.
Rev. EPHRAIM T. WOODRUFF, Coventry, Ct., 4 Sabbaths. Rev. STEPHEN HARKELL, Sturbridge, Baptist, 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Harkell was a farmer, and had but little education ; he belonged to that class of the Baptists who did not believe it necessary to have the ministry educated, but to speak by the force of inspiration, as the Spirit moved them.
Rev. JOHN TAYLOR, itinerant, C., 4 Sabbaths.
Mr. Taylor was a native of New Salem, Mass .; a graduate of Brown University in 1809; was settled in Shutesbury, Mass., January 17, 1816 ; he was dismissed May 15, 1822.
Rev. THOMAS PAUL, a colored man, Boston, B., 1 Sabbath.
He was pastor of the African Baptist church in Belknap Street many years, and much respected by the other Boston churches. Hle occasionally visited this part of Worcester County as a revivalist preacher.
Rev. RICHARD CARIQUE, Oxford, U., 1 Sabbath.
12 ministers supplied preaching this year, 21 Sabbaths.
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THE POLL PARISH AND MEETING-HOUSE.
For 1814, Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, B., 7 Sab- baths.
Rev. GEORGE ANGELL, Woodstock, B., 7 Sabbaths.
Rev. CALEB KNIGHT, Hinsdale, Mass., C., 6 Sabbaths.
Mr. Knight was invited to supply preaching for the church at Hinsdale in 1801, and was ordained in April, 1802; he was dis- missed, at his own request, in 1816 ; he was born in Lisbon, Ct. ; graduated at Williams College in 1800. From 1816 to 1836 there has not been found any record of him, but June 22, 1836, he was installed over the Congregational church in Montgomery, in Hampden County, Mass .; and dismissed in 1839.
Rev. JOSEPH FIELD, Charlemont, Mass., C., 2 Sabbaths.
Mr. Field was a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1792 ; or- dained there the 4th of December, 1799 ; he became a Unitarian, and was dismissed July 10, 1823.
Rev. NICHOLAS BRANCH, West Woodstock, B., 1 Sabbath.
He was a young licensed minister from the First Baptist. church in Providence; commenced a supply for this Baptist church in 1814, and admitted to membership there June 26, 1815, and next day ordained as pastor; he continued with this church six years, and after preaching in different places many years, was a preacher at Shutesbury two years ; he returned to this church in W. Woodstock in 1858, and served there two years more.
Rev. DAVID BATCHELLOR, itinerant, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. STEPHEN WILLIAMS, no knowledge of him, 2 Sabbaths. Rev. WILLIAM BENTLEY, Worcester, B., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. Mr. Bentley was born in Newport, R. I., March 3, 1775, and was ordained at Salem, Mass., in 1807; his first pastorate was at Tiverton, R. I. ; he preached the first time in Worcester, in May, 1812, and in June, July, and August, same year, occasionally ; and on the 12th of October he was requested to return, and November 5th, following, a church was formed,
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known as the First Baptist church in Worcester. He was in- stalled the same day ; Dr. Gano, of Providence, gave the ser- mon ; there were present, Rev. Zenas L. Leonard, of Sturbridge, and Rev. James Boomer, of Charlton.
S ministers supplied preaching this year, 27 Sabbaths.
For 1815, Rev. JASON PARK, Canterbury, Ct., C., 20 Sabbaths.
This was the first appearance of Mr. Park, as a preacher, in this parish. Born in Canterbury, Ct., in 1779, died in Barre, Mich., May 11, 1849. A more particular sketch of his history has been given in another place in this work, Vol. II., p. 485.
Rev. ALVAN UNDERWOOD, W. Woodstock, Ct., C., 1 Sabbath. Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, B., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. CALEB RICH, Warwick, Universalist, 9 Sabbaths.
Rev. EDWARD MILLS, Sutton, Mass., C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. GEORGE ANGELL, S. Woodstock, B., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. OTIS LANE, Sturbridge, C., 2 Sabbaths.
Rev. JOSHUA JOHNSON, formerly of Dudley, C., 1 Sabbath.
Mr. Johnson was installed over the Congregational church at Dudley, in December, 1790; he was settled first over the church at E. Woodstock, where he was ordained December 20, 1780, and dismissed September 28, 1790, and from thence to Dudley, where he was dismissed in May, 1796. He was a gradu- ate of Yale College in 1775.
Rev. EDWARDS WHIPPLE, Charlton. C., 5 Sabbaths.
Rev. DAVID BATCHELLOR, itinerant, C., 3 Sabbaths.
Rev. HENRY SMITH, Waterborough, Maine, B., 2 Sabbaths. Rev. SAMUEL BACKUS, E. Woodstock, C., 2 Sabbaths.
Mr. Backus was ordained over the church there, January 19, 1815, and was dismissed June 3, 1830. In 1832 he was installed over the Congregational church in Palmer, Mass.
Rev. JOSHUA BATES, Dedham, Congregationalist, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. Mr. Bates at this time was a distinguished preacher at Dedham ; he was born at Cohasset, March 26, 1776 ; a gradu-
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ate of Harvard University in 1800; and ordained pastor at . Dedham in 1803. He was dismissed, at his request, in 1818, and the same year, in March, was elected, and became the President of Middlebury College, Vermont, and soon after honored with the degree of D.D., by Yale College; in 1840 he resigned this office, after twenty-two years' service, at the age of 64. He was Chaplain in Congress in the year 1841, and soon after preached at Portland, Maine, and then supplied two years at Northborough, Mass. ; and from thence was installed at Dudley, where he continued' till his decease, January 14, 1854, aged 77 years. He was, probably, the most distinguished preacher that has been settled in that town.
13 ministers supplied preaching this year, 49 Sabbaths.
For 1816, Rev. JASON PARK, Canterbury, C., 17} Sabbaths. Rev. ZENAS L. LEONARD, Sturbridge, B., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. ABIAL WILLIAMS, Dudley, C., 2 Sabbaths.
Rev. MR. SPOONER, unknown, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. MR. PUTNAM, unknown, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. GEORGE ANGELL, Woodstock, B., 15 Sabbaths. Rev. ESECK. BROWN, unknown, 1 Sabbath.
Rev. NICHOLAS BRANCH, W. Woodstock, B., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. EDWARDS WHIPPLE, Charlton, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. DAVID BATCHIELLOR, Oxford, C., 1 Sabbath.
Rev. SAMUEL BACKUS, E. Woodstock, C., 2 Sabbaths. 11 ministers supplied this year, 43} Sabbaths.
The foregoing brings the history of the Parish Meeting- House down to the year of the incorporation of the town; the religious affairs at this time came under the control, mostly, of the Baptists and Congregationalists ; still, there were many who united in the support of these two religious bodies whose faith continued firm either as Methodists or Universalists, and it only required time, as has been shown by the history of these latter
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religious parties, that each soon grew in numbers and ability, sufficient to enable them to withdraw their support from the former religious bodies, and to erect houses, and support con- stant religious worship in accordance with their own particular faith.
The Parish Meeting-House continued as it was originally con- structed till the year 1835. At this time the old style of square pews gave place to the modern slips, and the old tower was taken down, and the modern spire erected in its place. An ex- penditure was made, in effecting this change, of $1,415.
This house continued in this changed condition till the year 1848, when the building was sold to Captain Luther Ammi- down & Sons, and removed by them about fifty feet to the west. The tower and spire were removed and the body of the house in size as originally built, was changed in its interior ; the lower part formed into stores and the upper part made into a hall.
This building, as now changed in its interior, received the name " Tammany Hall," and thus continued to be known till the evening of Nov. 13, 1863, when it caught fire and was to- tally destroyed, together with the new meeting-house, erected upon the location from which it was removed, and two other large buildings located westerly to Central Street.
Upon the location of Tammany Hall, which was the remains of the Parish Meeting-House, now stands the brick and stone building known as Ammidown Block, and in the westerly part thereof is the Free Public Library, Reading-room, and Museum of Natural History of the town of Southbridge. The Ammi- down Block was erected and finished in the year 1871, by Holmes Ammidown, of New York, a former resident, and a native of this town, who gave to the town, free of rent, a per- petual lease of that part of this block for the use of the Public Library and departments connected therewith. The Library
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apartments, including Library, Reading-room, and Museum, are built with iron floor beams, with brick arches, iron doors and frames, and iron window-shutters, all designed, as far as possible, to make these apartments fire-proof. This part of the block, including its share of ground on which the building stands, and roof over same, added about twenty thousand dollars to the original cost of the block.
The Library was opened in these rooms, January 1, 1872.
SCHOOLS.
THE first school for the education of children within the lim- its of the territory, now Southbridge, was one of four schools provided for by the people of Sturbridge in the year 1742.
This school was located in the south-east part of that town, near where stands the residence of the late Captain Ralph Whee- lock, then a part of the farm of James Denison. This farm and residence has more recently been known as the place of the late Lovel Morse. Captain Wheelock married the daughter of Mr. Denison, the first white child born in that town.
The first school-mistress who had charge of this school was Margaret Manning. The school for a time was kept in Mr. Denison's barn.
The first school-house erected in this place, then a part of Sturbridge, was ordered by a vote of that town in 1753, being one of the first three school-houses built in Sturbridge.
In May, 1770, on a petition of Jeremiah Morse (grandfather of the late Francis S. Morse), Ephraim Bacon, and others, resi- dents in the south-east corner of that town, it was granted that the people in that vicinity may have the privilege of drawing their share of the school money (being the amount of school tax they paid the town), to be used in schooling their children.
This privilege and grant, by Sturbridge, in 1770, is the origin of what is known as the Pratt district, now in Southbridge. It included all that east part and Lebanon Hill.
In 1775 another district was established in this east part of Sturbridge, in what is now the Center Village of Southbridge, south of the residence of the late Benjamin Freeman, and about
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the locality of the house, now the residence of Frederick W. Batham, Esq.
The same year the school-house on the Denison place hav- ing been burned, the new school-house was erected farther south, near the residence of Ensign Ellis, and this is now the south- west school district in Southbridge.
This school was known in Sturbridge as No. 4, that by the late Col. Benjamin Freeman as No. 5, and the south-east school by Henry Pratt's residence, as No. 10. Showing that Stur- bridge, in the year 1775, had at least ten district schools.
In 1790 a district was formed in the south part of this terri- tory, and the school-house located near the residence of Mr. Jephthah Clark. This has since been known as the Clark district school.
About 1795 the west part of the Freeman district was set off, and a school-house erected in what is now the Globe Village.
Thus, in that part of the territory of Sturbridge taken to aid in forming Southbridge, there were five district schools.
In the part taken from Charlton, only one school, and that was located nearly half-way on the road between the late Joshua Vinton place and the Wm. Bradford place. This writer at- tended school during his school-days in that first old school- house, and was at the summer school in 1806, when occurred the total eclipse of the sun that was visible in that region that year.
In the part taken from Dudley, there was only one school, and that located in the pasture south of the house of Elisha Sabin, but later that of John Ammidown and his son, the late Lewis Ammidown, and has been known as the Ammidown school.
This writer was a teacher in that old school-house in the pas- ture in the year 1820, and had the late Deacon Marvin Cheeney for a scholar.
MASONIC INSTITUTIONS.
THE Fayette Lodge was granted by the Grand Lodge of Mas- sachusetts, on the petition of Ebenezer Philips and others, March 14, 1796-meetings to be held in Charlton.
June 10, 1799, leave was granted that the meetings may be held in either town-Charlton, Sturbridge, and Dudley, which composed this district.
The meetings, when this Lodge was first granted, were held in a room in General Salem Town's dwelling-house. Mr. Town erected his house the year this Lodge was granted, and fitted a room for its meetings. This dwelling-house is now standing in 1880, and is in good condition, as a substantial dwelling- house, now eighty-four years since it was built.
The motto of the seal of this Lodge is " Conjuncti fraterno amore." On the outside of this circular seal is the name, Fay- ette Lodge, Charlton, Mass. ; and within the circle are the com- pass and Bible, and the motto, " Nil Sine Dei."
In 1806 the Grand Master appointed R. W. Ebenezer Philips, of Charlton, Deputy Grand Master for the Sixth District. This office required of Mr. Philips to visit the several Lodges in the district (the extent of same and number of Lodges, not ascer- tained), and to report their standing and working condition to the Grand Master.
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