USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 18
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1 In the early history of this church the pastor performed the duties of clerk.
2 Mr. Blanchard, the pastor, died August 7, 1862, and, September 7, Henry Howard was elected clerk pro tem.
187
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
CHAPTER X.
CAMPELLO.
South Congregational Society-Original Members-First Meeting House-Dedication of the Same-Second Meeting House-Dedication of thic Same-Dates of the Annual Parish Meetings-Moderators-Committees-Clerks-Treasurers -- List of Officers for 1893-South Congregational Church -Original Menbers-Articles of Faith and Church Covenant-Ministry of Rev. John Dwight-Rev. Daniel Huntington-Rev. David Temple Packard-Rev. Charles W. Wood-Rev. Leverett S. Woodworth - Rev. John T. Blades-Deacons of the Church-Ministers-Clerks-Sabbath School-Semi-Cen- tennial Celebration, 1887 -- Re-Dedication of the Meeting House, 1889.
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY .- This society was composed of members who belonged to the First Congregational Society, in the Cen- tre Village, under the pastoral care of Rev. Paul Couch. The people in the southerly portion of the town having become quite numerous, and the inconvenience of attending constantly upon public worship at a distance was such that a new and more convenient means was thought of. Hence, after much consultation and many meetings, thirty-four persons petitioned to a justice of the peace to call a meeting for the purpose of organizing them into a new society. The following persons were the original members :
Josiah W. Kingman. Bela Keith.
Oliver Jackson.
John Millett.
Nahum Hayward.
Stafford Drake.
Zıba Keith.
Pardon Keith.
Robert Packard, jr.
Benjamin Keitlı.
Jonathan Snell.
Aaron B. Drake.
Azor Packard.
Abijah Holmes.
Stephen D. Soule.
Thomas Packard.
Calvin Hatch. John W. Snell.
Ephraim Jackson.
Charles Keith. Jason Keith. Albert Hunt.
A bijah Thayer.
Vinal Lyon.
Sylvanus French.
Freeman Holmes.
Isaac K. Frencli. Cary Howard.
Davis Kingman. Charles Williams. Zina Hayward.
Josiah Dunbar.
Fearing W. Bent.
Jonas Keith.
188
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Agrecable to the petition above referred to, Hon. Jesse Perkins, esq , issued a warrant calling a meeting, to be held at the house of Bela Keith, esq., December 3, 1836, at one o'clock P. M., when the following officers were chosen: Josiah W. Kingman, esq., moderator ; Jason Keith, clerk; Charles Keith, treasurer; Azor Packard, Ziba Keith, Charles Keith, parish committee.
FIRST MEETING HOUSE .- The first step taken toward erecting a house of worship was to obtain a spot of land upon which to build. For this purpose Isaac Keith gave the society the lot now owned and occupied by them, on the corner of South and Main streets, Campello, on condition that they pay him the interest on the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars, annually, until the decease of Mr. Keith and wife, then it was to become the property of the society.
The first house of worship was built by subscription, and cost $4,307.37, of which sum three thousand dollars only was subscribed. The house was built under the direction of Bela Keith, esq., as master - builder, in 1836, who paid the balance ($1,307.37) over the subscrip- tion. The frame was raised July 4, 1836, was a plain, substantial building, sixty feet in length, forty-three feet in width, and twenty-one feet posts, with a spire eighty-five feet in height, had a bell weighing one thousand and thirty-two pounds, manufactured by George Hol- brook, of East Medway, Mass. The house had sixty pews, besides the choir gallery. The basement was used as a vestry for evening meet- ings.
This house of worship was dedicated November 29, 1836, with the following order of exercises, as printed at the time :
ORDER OF EXERCISES
FOR THE DEDICATION OF THE
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
NOVEMBER 29, 1836.
I. ANTHEM.
Sing unto the Lord and praise His name: be telling of his salvation from day to day.
II. INVOCATION AND READING OF THE SCRIPTURE.
189
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
III. ANTHEM.
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts; will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth ? Behold heaven, and the heaven of heavens cannot contain thee, how much less this house! Have respect, therefore, to the prayer which thy servants pray before thec, that thine eyes may be open upon this house, day and night. Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and be ye lift np, ye everlasting doors, and the King of Glory shall come in. Who is the King, the King of Glory ? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts! he is the king of glory, he is the King.
IV. DEDICATORY PRAYER.
V. HYMN.
I.
Here, in thy name, eternal God, We build this carthly house for thee ;
Oh choose it for thy fixed abodc,
Let heaven with earth the strain prolong,
Hosanna ! let the angels sing.
And guard it long from error free. 2. Here, when thy people seek thy face,
5. But will, indeed, Jehovah deign Here to abide, no transient guest ?
And dying sinners pray to live,
Hear, thou, in heaven, thy dwelling-place,
Here will our great Redeemer reign,
And when thou hearest, Lord, forgive. 3. Herc, when thy messengers proclaim The blessed Gospel of thy Son,
And here the Holy Spirit rest ? 6. Thy glory never hence depart ! Yet choose not, Lord, this house alone ;
Thy kingdom come to every heart,
Still by the power of his great name Be mighty signs and wonders done.
In every bosom fix thy throne.
VI. SERMON-BY REV. PAUL COUCHI.
VII. ANTHEM.
When the Lord shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. O pray for the peace of Jerusalem-they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls,-and plenteousness within thy palaces. Here will I dwell, for I delight therein.
VIII. PRAYER. IX. HYMN.
I.
Praise the Lord ! ye heavens adore him ; Praise him, angels in the height ; Sun and moon rejoice before him ; Praise him all ye stars of light ! Hallelujah, Amen. 2. Praise the Lord-for he hath spoken : Worlds his mighty voice obeyed ; Laws which never can be broken, For their guidance he liath made. Hallelujah, Amen.
3. Praise the Lord for he is glorious ; Never shall his promise fail ; God hath made his saints victorious, Sin and death shall not prevail. Hallelujah, Amen.
4 . Praise God of our salvation, Hosts on high his power proclaim ; Heaven and earth, and all creation, Praise and magnify his name ! Hallelujah, Amen.
X. BENEDICTION.
SECOND MEETING-HOUSE .- On the 23d day of May, 1853, the people of Campello were visited by one of the most disastrous fires that
4. When children's voices raise the song, Hosanna ! to their heavenly King,
190
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
ever occurred in the county, destroying several buildings, among which was their house of worship. The time had come, something must be done,-no pastor, no house in which to hold their meetings. The people of that place, always enterprising, did not long remain thus. A meeting of the parish was called June 1. At this meeting a committee of five was chosen to proceed at once in the erection of a house, name- ly, Bela Keith, Martin L. Keith, Cary Howard, Aaron B. Drake, Vinal Lyon, with Josiah W. Kingman, esq., and Dr. Horatio Bryant as an ad- visory committee. This committee set themselves immediately at work, the result of which was the erection of the present edifice, which is of wood, painted in imitation of freestone, eighty-four feet long, fifty-six feet wide, with posts forty feet high, and a spire one hundred and eighty-five feet high.
The spire of the church, as first erected, was blown down in the great snow-storm of January, 1857. The present spire is one hundred and thirty-five feet high. Rebuilt by W. R. Penniman, of South Braintree.
On entering the building, we find on the first floor one large vestry, one small vestry, and a large, carpeted, well-furnished room for the use of the "Ladies' Benevolent Society." Ascending from the main entrance, on either side, a very easy flight of steps, we find ourselves in a vestibule, from which we ascend to the choir-gallery or enter the auditory. The interior aspect of this house is fine. The spacious floor, well- arranged slips, neatly carpeted and upholstered, the chaste and elegant pulpit, manufactured by Josiah W. Kingman, esq., was of rose- wood, of an elegant design, and polished in the highest style, and the finely frescoed walls, gave the place an air of pleasantness quite in con- trast with the churches of earlier days.
The original outlay in the construction of this house was sixteen thousand dollars. It is built in the Romanesque style of architecture, from plans drawn by Messrs. Towle & Foster, of Boston. The builder was Mr. William Drake, of Stoughton. The bell was cast at the foundry of Mr. George Holbrook, of East Medway, Mass., and weighs thirty-two hundred pounds. A marble-faced clock was presented to the society by Henry K. Keith, of Kingston, a native of this village, in 1854, which was placed in front of the choir gallery. Benjamin Frank- lin Hayward, Freeman Howland Shiverick, and Samuel French were a committee appointed to make arrangements for the ordination of Rev.
Samuel French
191
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
David Tempie Packard, and dedication of the new meeting house, which took place on Thursday, September 21, 1854, with the following appro- priate exercises :
Music ; invocation and reading the Scriptures, by Rev. S. L. Rock- wood, of Hanson ; prayer, by Rev. James W. Ward, of Abington ; hymn, read by Rev. Isaac C. White, of Abington :
Here, in thy name, eternal God, We build this earthly house for thee ; Oh l choose it for thy fixed abode, And guard it long from error free.
Here, when thy people seek thy face, And dying sinners pray to live, Hear, thou, in heaven, thy dwelling-place, Aud when thou hearest, Lord, forgive.
Here, when thy messengers proclaim The blessed gospel of thy Son,
Still by the power of his great name, Be mighty signs and wonders done.
When children's voices raise the song, Hosanna l to their heavenly King, Let heaven with earth the strain prolong, Hosanna! let the angels sing.
But will, indeed, Jehovah deign Here to abide, no transient guest ? HIcre will our great Redeemer reign, And here the Holy Spirit rest ?
Thy glory never hence depart! Yet choose not, Lord, this house alone ;
Thy kingdom come to every heart, In every bosom fix thy throne.
Sermon, by Rev. Ezekiel Russell, D.D., East Randolph; anthem ; dedicatory prayer, by Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D.D, of Braintree ; anthem ; closing prayer, by Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D.D., of Braintree ; anthem ; benediction.
Since the above dedication the society has increased rapidly, requir- ing more pew accommodations, and the few public-spirited individuals of the church, of which there is no lack in Campello, contributed enough to add to the length on the west end of the building, in which was placed the organ, in the rear of the pulpit. A new pulpit and fur- nishings were introduced, together with other improvements inside, such as frescoing the walls and ceiling, piping the house for gaslights, etc., rendering the house more attractive and roomy than it was origi- nally. The grounds around the building have been newly graded, a new fence surrounding the lot, which has granite curbstones and concrete walks. In fine, the church and society has been prosperous, and are in good standing, financially and otherwise, in the denomination to which they belong.
192
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
MODERATORS.
Annual meetings and moderators of the South Congregational Society, Campello :
Dec. 3, 1836. Josiah W. Kingman.
April 8, 1865. Daniel Dunbar.
66 23, 1866. Aaron B. Drake.
April 9, 1838. Lemuel B. Hatch.
66 15, 1867. Daniel Dunbar. 66 1, 1839. Davis Kingman.
27, 1868. 66
66
March 27, 1840.
April 12, 1841. Josiah W. Kingman.
66 18, 1842. Davis Kingman.
1, 1843. Charles Keith.
24, 1872. Galen Pratt.
8, 1844. 66
60 4, 1873. Daniel Dunbar. 66 13, 1874.
March 31, 1845.
April 6, 1846. Benjamin Keith. 7, 1847. Charles Keith.
17, 1848. .6 =
April 2, 1877.
9, 1878. S. Franklin Packard.
66 7, 1879. Dr. William Richards.
May 19, 1851.
66
16, 1880. S. Franklin Packard.
66 18, 1881.
66
April 12, 1852. 11,1853. 66 14, 1854. Aaron B. Drake.
4, 1882. Warren T. Copeland.
9, 1855.
66
18, 1884.
7, 1856. 66
17, 1885.
13, 1857. Josiah W. Kingman.
16, 1886.
66
66 2, 1858. 11, 1859. Russell Allen.
66
66
18, 1887.
16, 1888.
66 6, 1860. B. II. Gray.
9, 1889.
66
66
15, 1861. Bela Keith.
8, 1890.
14, 1862. Josiah W. Kingman.
66
4, 1892.
60
66
11, 1864. Nelson J. Foss.
1, 1893.
-
COMMITTEES.
Committee of the South Congregational Society, Campello :
Azor Packard, 1836, '37, '44.
Ziba Keith, 1836, '38, '44, '47, '60.
Charles Keith, 1836, '37, '40, '48, '49. Capt. Robert Packard, 1837, '39, '45, '51, '60, '76.
Zina Hayward, 1838, '43, '45, '46, '49, '60, '68, '74.
Davis Kingman, 1838, '42, '44.
Josiah W. Kingman, 1839, '45, '46, '47, '48, '52, '54, '63, '69. Lemuel B. Hatch, 1839. Cary Howard, 1840, '48, '59. Franklin Keith, 1840, '55, '74. Bela Keith, 1841, '51, '62.
----
7,1891.
יר
20, 1863. Daniel Dunbar.
16
8, 1850.
16, 1849. Bela Keith.
March 31, 1875. 29, 1876. Dr. William Richards.
16, 1883. 66
66
66
66
66 24, 1871. 66
66 26, 1869. 66
66 18, 1870. יו 66
March 7, 1837. "
JK Campbell, Se, N.Y.
Charles F Keith
193
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
Pardon Keith, 1841, '43, '46. Benjamin Keith, 1841, '50, '51. Calvin Hatch, 1842. Samuel French, 1842, '62.
Abijah Holmes, 1843, '50.
Nelson J. Foss, 1847, '52, '56, '63, '69.
Sylvanus Keith, 1849, '58, '63, '78.
Martin L. Keith, 1850, '53.
Russell Alden, 1852, '56, '59. Anson Morse, 1853. Albert Keith, 1853, '71.
Freeman H. Shiverick, 1854.
Arza B. Keith, 1854, '57, '65, '67, '69, '70.
Bradford Kingman, 1855.
Samuel D. Keith, 1855, '66, '70. Sidney Packard, 1856, '61.
Daniel Dunbar, 1857, '72, '77.
Benjamin F. Hayward, 1857.
Barnabas H. Gray, 1858, '73.
Robert H. Packard, 1858, '86, '87.
Harrison Bryant, 1859. Charles P. Keith, 1861.
Henry Jackson, 1861.
Jonathan C. Keith, 1862, '63, '68.
Voted to elect four committee this year (1863). Otis Cobb, 1864, '81, '82, '83. Dr. J. F. Richards, 1864. George Sawyer, 1864, '67, '79.
Caleb H. Packard, 1865, '81, '82.
Henry S. Keith, 1865.
William S. Snell, 1866. Charles H. Cole, 1866, '80.
S. Franklin Packard, 1867, '70. Ziba C. Keith, 1868, '71, '77, '83.
Nathan H. Washburn, 1871, '78.
George Churchill, 1872, '80, '88.
Daniel N. Keith, 1872, '79.
A. B. Marston, 1873. John M. Wentworth, 1873. Charles W. Bacon, 1874.
Preston B. Keith, 1875.
Edmund B. Fanning, 1875, '83, '84, '91, '92, '93.
Lucas W. Alden, 1875.
Edwin Keith, 1876, '84, '85.
George E. Keith, 1876, '81, '82.
Rufus P. Keith, 1877, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93.
Austin C. Packard, 1878.
Flavel B. Keith, 1879.
Warren T. Copeland, 1880.
Joshua Reed, 1884, '85. Eugene B. Estes, 1885.
Winslow Gray, 1886, '87.
Nathan H. Washburn, 1886, '87.
George E. Taber, 1888, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93.
Elmer L. Keith, 1888, '89.
Edward II. Keith, 1890.
CLERKS.
Clerks of the South Congregational Society, Campello :
Jason Keith, 1836, '37, '38, '39, '40. Albert Keith, 1854, '55, '56, '57, '58, '59,
Cary Howard, 1841, '42, '43, '44, '45, '46, '60,'61, '62, '63, '64, '65, '66, '67, '68, '69, '70 ,'71 ,'72, '73 ,'74 ,'75 ,'76 ,'77 ,'78 , '79, '80, '81, '82, '83.1
'47, '48, '49, '50. Dr. Horatio Bryant, 1851, '52, '53. Myron L. Keith, 1884, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93.
TREASURERS.
Treasurers of the South Congregational Society, Campello : Charles Keith, 1836. Lemuel B. Hatch, 1839. Cary Howard, 1840, '41. Jason Keith, 1837.
! A vote of thanks to Mr. Keith was passed April 18, 1884, for thirty years of faithful service as clerk of the society .- B. K.
25
191
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Josiah W. Kingman, 1842, '43, '11, '45, '46, '47, '48, '49, '50.
Spencer W. Noyes, 1851.
Benjamin Keith, 1852, '53.
Samuel French, 1854, '55, '56, '57.
Freeman H. Shiverick, 1858.
Mary K. Keitlı.
Nelson J. Foss, 1860.
Azra B. Keith, 1862.
Daniel Dunbar, 1862, '64.
George Sawyer, 1865, '66, '67, '68. ('69, '70 no record.)
S. Franklin Packard, 1871, '75, '78, '79, '80, '81, '82, '83, '84, '85, '86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '92, '93.
Franklin Keith, 1872.
Preston B. Keith, 1872.
George E. Keith, 1873.
William S. Green, 1874.
Austin C. Packard, 1876, '77.
· George W. Packard, 1877. (A. C. Pack- ard elected to fill his place.)
LIST OF OFFICERS FOR THE YEAR 1893.
Rev. Napoleon B. Thompson, pastor. Time expired July 15, 1893.
Nathan Washburn, George A. Morse, Albert W. Gibbs, John M. Wentworth, deacons. Rufus P. Keith, clerk.
Myron L. Keith, clerk of society.
S. Franklin Packard, treasurer and collector.
George E. Taber, Edmund B. Fanning, Rufus P. Keith, parish committee.
Rev. Adelbert F. Keith, superintendent of Sunday school.
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (CAMPELLO )-The society having been duly organized, and a house of worship erected, it was thought best to form a new church among themselves. For this pur- pose the following persons made application to be dismissed from the First Church, with suitable testimonials, to be formed into another church, and to use a similar creed as the one which they leave: Syl- vanus French, Mercy E. Keith, Abigail Keith, Olive Jackson, Martha Keith, Charles Keith, Mehitabel Keith, Ziba Keith, Polly Keith, Mary Keith, Sylvia Howard, Huldah Howard, Keziah Hayward, Charles Williams, Zilpha Hatch, Josiah W. Kingman, Joanna Packard, Robert Packard, Sarah Packard, Mary Packard, Josiah Dunbar, Sybil Dunbar, Anna Dunbar. This request was granted. A council was next called, for the purpose of organization, which met at the house of Josiah W. Kingman, esq., on Tuesday, January 3, 1837, at one o'clock P. M., at which time and place it took the name of the "South Congregational Church," of North Bridgewater, now known by the above title.
The members of the council present at the organization of the church in Campello, January 3, 1837, were as follows :
1
195
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCII.
First Church in Randolph : Rev. Calvin Hitchcock, pastor ; W. Thayer, delegate.
Church in East Bridgewater : A. Shaw, delegate.
First Church of North Bridgewater: Rev. Paul Couch, pastor ; Dr. Abel W. Kingman, delegate.
Rev. Calvin Hitchcock was moderator.
Rev. Paul Couch, scribe.
The following Articles of Faith and Covenant were adopted by them at that time :
ARTICLES OF FAITH AND COVENANT.
Confession of Faith and Covenant of the South Congregationat Church, North Bridge- water, Mass.
We solemnly profess our unfeigned belief of the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, as given by divine inspiration ; our acceptance of all the doctrines con- tained in them, and our submission to the whole will of God, therein revealed. Par- ticularly, we profess to believe that the Lord Jehovah, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, is the one living and true God; that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, essentially equal with the Father, and the only Saviour of men; that the Holy Ghost is also God, and that he is the only Sanctifier of those who believe in Christ to the salvation of their souls.
We believe that, in consequence of the fall of man from his primitive state of inno- cence, all the human race, while unregenerate, are destitute of holiness, and therefore that a renovation of heart, during the present life, through sanctification of the Spirit of God, is necessary to fit mankind for union and communion with the visible Church of Christ on earth, and for admittance into the kingdom of heaven.
We believe that, in order to effect our deliverance from the bondage of corruption and from the curse of the law, under which we all have fallen by transgression, the Eternal Word, who in the beginning was with God, and was God, was made flesh, and dwelt among men on earth, uniting with his divinity the whole human nature (yet without sin) in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. That this mysterious and adora- ble personage, having magnified and honored the divine law by his doctrine and exam- ple, at length died on the cross, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, and that it is through the efficacy of his propitiatory sacrifice alone his people obtain the divine favor and blessing.
We believe that, having thus laid down his life, he took it again, being declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, and that he is now at the right hand of the Father, a prince and a Saviour, bestowing repentance and remission of sins, through the agency of the Holy Spirit attending the ministry of his word, on those whom the Father hath given him, in the everlasting covenant of redemption, as a seed to serve him.
We believe that, whosoever will may come and partake the blessings of this great salvation, as they are freely and sincerly offered in the Gospel, yet that none of our
196
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
apostate race are, of themselves, disposed to forsake sin and devote themselves to God, in heart and life, so that it rests with him, in the exercise of his sovereign wisdom and goodness, to have mercy on whom he will have mercy; making his Gospel effectnal to their conviction and conversion, by the attendant energy of his Holy Spirit.
We believe that none who are thus made partakers of the heavenly calling shall be finally deprived of the grace which was given them in Christ Jesus before the world began, but that they shall all be kept by the power of God, through faith unto salva- tion.
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ shall appear again at the last day to judge the quick and dead; that he will then receive to mansions of eternal rest all who have truly believed and obeyed his Gospel, and sentence to everlasting destruction from his presence, and from the glory of his power, all who have died, or who shall thien be found living in impenitence and unbelief.
Covenant.
Humbly hoping that these truths have come, not only to our understanding but to our hearts, "in power, and in the 'Holy Ghost, and in much assurance," and that we have been enabled to receive them with that faith which purifies the heart and works by love, and in the exercise of that repentance which is unto life, We do now solemnly avouch the Lord Jehovah to be our God, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to be our Re- deemer, and the Holy Spirit to be our Sanctifier.
Depending on divine grace for spiritual strength and comfort, we take the word of God as our only rule of faith and practice, avowing it to be our supreme desire and solemn determination to seek his glory and his favor in obedience to all his holy will. Accordingly, we engage to unite in maintaining and attending on the ministry of his word and ordinances, as he shall give us ability and opportunity, to be thereby edified in our holy faith We submit ourselves, individually, to the brotherly watch and dis- cipline of the community which we hereby form, and mutually engage to watch over, to exhort. to assist, comfort, and admonish each other in brotherly love, as our relation and circumstances may require.
The next thing done, after the formation of the church, was to find a man to preach to them. After hearing many candidates, at a meeting held January 9, 1837, the church and society "voted to give Rev. Thomas Kidder, of Waterbury, Vt., a call to settle with them in the ministry, and to give him a salary of five hundred and fifty dollars per year." This call was not accepted.
MINISTRY OF REV. JOHN DWIGHT .- Rev. John Dwight, of Medway, Mass., was then invited to become their pastor by a vote passed March 7, 1837, to whom the society offered six hundred dollars as a yearly salary. This was accepted, and Josiah W. Kingman, esq., Ziba Keith, Deacon Jacob Fuller, and Bela Keith, esq., were chosen a committee
197
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
to make arrangements for his installation. The day being fixed for the ordination, a council was called, who met at the house of Josiah W. Kingman, esq., consisting of the following persons, April 12, 1837, namely : Rev. Jacob Ide, of West Medway, Mass. ; Rev. Joseph Bennett, of Woburn; Rev. Paul Couch, of North Bridgewater; Rev. Luther Sheldon, of Easton ; Rev. Baalis Sanford, of East Bridgewater ; Rev. James W. Ward, of Abington ; Rev. Jonas Perkins, of Braintree ; Rev. Calvin Hitchcock, of Randolph; Rev. Ebenezer Gay, of Bridgewater; Rev. Calvin E. Park, of Stoughton ; and Rev. John Dwight was duly ordained as their pastor.
Mr. Dwight preached to this people in Campello until December 5, 1838, when finding a growing uneasiness in reference to his usefulness as a pastor, he addressed a letter to the church, asking that his rela- tions with them might be dissolved, that a council be called for that purpose on the 24th of December. A meeting was called to act on the letter from their pastor. and it was "Voted to accept the proposition made in the following communication from their pastor." Josiah W. Kingman and Galen Pratt were chosen to make arrangements to carry the above into effect.
DECEMBER 5, 1883. Letter.
South Church in North Bridgewater :
DEAR BRETHREN :- Whereas, to my great surprise and sorrow, I have become fully convinced that a disaffection on the part of this church seriously interferes with my usefulness in this part of my Master's vineyard. Therefore after anxiously and fer- vently consulting the throne of grace and the word of God, I feel it to be my duty, and do hereby request that my pastoral relation to this people be dissolved, and for this purpose I affectionately request this church to unite with me in calling a mutual eccle- siastical council.
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