USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Little Compton > The Two-hundredth anniversary of the organization of the United Congregational Church, Little Compton, Rhode Island, September 7, 1904 > Part 1
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Gc 974.502 L72u 1151692
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 00084 6953
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/twohundredthanni00buxt
T HE TWO-HUNDREDTH ANNIVER- SARY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED CONGREGA- TIONAL CHURCH, LITTLE COMPTON, RHODE ISLAND, SEPTEMBER 7, 1904
Published by The United Congregational Society Little Compton, R. I.
THE PROVIDENCE PRESS SNOW & FARNHAM COMPANY PRINTERS 1906
CONTENTS.
1151692
PAGE
Introductory Notice
5
Committees
7
Order of Exercises 9 .
Historical Discourse, The Little Compton United Congre-
gational Church, Rev. Wilson R. Buxton . Addresses :
11.
Rev. Augustus M. Rice 37
Rev. William D. Hart 42
Rev. Thomas F. Norris
46
Rev. James H. Lyon 48 ·
Rev. Thomas R. Slicer, D. D.
53
Horace G. Shaw
55
Abstract of Sermon, Rev. Albert H. Plumb, D. D. 57
Historical Address, The Town of Little Compton R. B. Burchard 61
The Historical Exhibit
·
.
109
Catalogue of the Historical Exhibit
.
.
112
ILLUSTRATIONS.
The Church Frontispiece
Rev. Wilson R. Buxton
page 11
The Old Town Hall, old print
16
Rev. Samuel Beane
66
28
Rev. William D. Hart
66
42
" Betty Alden " Monument . .
66 76
Grave of Col. Benjamin Church
78
Graves of " Elizabeth, who should have been," and
Lidia who was, the wife of Simeon Palmer 66 80
Commission of Col. Sylvester Richmond 66 82
Interior of Old Town Hall, old print. 66
84
Commission of Col. Sylvester Brownell, as Major
66 89
The Governor's Grandsons, painting by E. H.
Blashfield
66 101
George S. Burleigh
.
107
INTRODUCTORY.
THE UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH of Little Compton, R. I., was organized November 30, 1704. In order to avoid so far as possible the likelihood of inclement weather, the church appointed September 7, 1904, as the day of cele- bration of its bi-centennial.
In preparation for that event a general committee was chosen by the church consisting of Rev. Wilson R. Buxton, pastor ; Deacon Erastus S. Bailey, J. Webster Coombs, Ros- well B. Burchard, Joshua B. Richmond, and James E. Osborne. Other committees and chairmen were named as follows : Reception, Deacon Geo. W. Church; entertainment, Mrs. Oliver H. Wilbor; refreshments, Mrs. William H. Briggs; conveyance, Clarence C. Wordell; music, William H. Briggs; historical exhibit, Mrs. Forbes W. Manchester; finance, George Harlan Simmons; decorations, Henry A. Groth.
The entire church and congregation, as well as many summer residents enthusiastically co-operated and by their unstinted generosity and labor helped to make the pre- parations complete.
On the day of the celebation, the weather being favor- able, large audiences assembled, forenoon, afternoon and evening in the auditorium which had been beautifully de- corated with flowers, green pine and the Stars and Stripes.
Among those present were Miss Flora L. Mason and Miss Montgomery, of Taunton, and Rev. William J. Batt, of Con- cord, Mass., descendants of Rev. Richard Billings, first pastor of the church; Miss Helen L. Shepard and Miss Fanny W. Burr, of Melrose, Mass., grand-nieces of Rev. Mase Shepard third pastor of the church; Rev. Augustus M. Rice, of Dunstable, Mass .; Rev. William D. Hart, of Wilton, Conn .; Rev. Thomas F. Norris of Riverside, R. I., and Rev. James Lade, of Hanover, Mass., these being the four living ex-pastors of the church; the Hon. Lucius F. C. Garvin, Governor of Rhode Island who made congratulatory remarks, and Rev. Albert H. Plumb, D. D., pastor of the
6
INTRODUCTORY.
Walnut Avenue Congregational Church, Boston; Rev. J. H. Lyon, of Central Falls, who brought the greetings of the sister churches of the Congregational order in the state; Rev. Dr. Thomas R. Slicer, minister of All Souls' Church, New York ; Rev. Martin L. Williston, of Barrington; Rev. Edgar F. Clark, of the Methodist Episcopal Church in this town, and Mr. Horace G. Shaw, of New Jersey.
There were present many other distinguished visitors as well as a large number of summer residents. The towns- people were numerously represented in the audience, taking a deep interest in honoring the church that to their fathers had been the gate to heaven throughout many generations.
The exercises began at 10.30 A. M., Mrs. Henry A. Groth presiding at the organ, and the order of exercises as found on a subsequent page was carried out.
During the intermissions for refreshments many availed themselves of the opportunity to visit the Grange Hall, where was exhibited a remarkable collection of antique furniture and many articles of historic interest from families in the town.
Of the addresses which followed only the historical dis- course and the historical address are printed in full. Of some of the others, delivered without manuscript, it has been impossible to reproduce more than an abstract.
Mr. Burchard's address contains some material that he had prepared but which for lack of time was omitted in the delivery. This material is inserted at the request of the committee. The sermon by Dr. Plumb was replete with anecdote and illustration, but being delivered without notes, it has been impossible to reproduce more than an abstract. In general it may be stated that many items of interest have been omitted from other addresses for the reason that they already appear in the published report of the proceedings of the 175th anniversary.
COMMITTEES.
General Committee.
REV. WILSON R. BUXTON,
DEACON ERASTUS S. BAILEY, J. WEBSTER COOMBS,
ROSWELL B. BURCHARD,
JOSHUA B. RICHMOND, JAMES E. OSBORN.
Reception-DEACON GEORGE W. CHURCH, DEACON THOS. HOWARD, ARTHUR SEABURY, HENRY PAGE WILBUR, THOMAS BRIGGS, JAMES I. BAILEY, CHARLES BONE, GALEN T. BROWN- ELL, MISS ARDELIA WILBUR, MRS. CAROLINE TOLLES, MRS. MERIBAH CHASE, MISS MIRANDA PIERCE, MRS. DEBORAH OTIS, MRS. SARAH BORDEN, MRS. J. I. BAILEY, A. B. SIM- MONS, G. M. GRAY, NATH. CHURCH, MRS. MARY N. BRIGGS, MRS. THOMAS BRIGGS, MRS. ISAAC C. WILBOUR, MRS. HENRY PAGE WILBUR, MRS. CHRISTIANA BROWNELL, MRS. G. T. BROWNELL, MRS. LIZZIE MCFARLAND, MRS. JOHN BROWN, MRS. CHARLES BONE, MISS ALICE C. GRAY, MISS ETHEL WORDELL, MRS. F. R. BROWNELL, JR., MISS CHARLOTTE BROWNELL, MRS. F. L. PATTEN, MRS. J. B. SPRINGER, MRS. LYSANDER W. MANCHESTER.
Refreshment-MRS. W. H. BRIGGS, MRS. A. B. SIMMONS, MRS. NATH. CHURCH, MRS. E. S. BAILEY, MRS. G. M. GRAY, MRS. J. W. COOMBS, MRS. J. B. WILBUR, MRS. J. W. HUNT, MRS. F. L. SHERMAN, MRS. ELVA HUMPHREY, MRS. GEORGE SHAW, MRS. SARAH BUNDY, MRS. HARRY MCFARLAND, MISS REBECCA TRIPP, MRS. W. C. WILBUR, MISS FANNIE BROWN, MRS. E. W. MERSEY, MISS BESSIE HUNT, MRS. LESTER SEA- BURY, MISS ETHEL SNELL, MISS ANNIE DYER, MISS ALICE GRAY, MISS LILIAN DUNBAR, MISS ETHEL WORDELL, LESTER WILBUR, LESLIE B. COOMBS, ELTON GRAY, HARLEY DAVIS, HOMER DAVIS, ARTHUR SEABURY, ALLEN SEABURY, ROBERT SHAW, KARL F. WORDELL.
8
COMMITTEES.
Entertainment-P. H. WILBOUR, MRS. O. H. WILBOR, MRS. P. H. WILBOUR, MRS. F. A. H. BODINGTON, MISS MARY K. BEABURY, MRS. ANNIE D. BROWNELL, MRS. CAROLINE DRUM- MOND.
Conveyance CLARENCE C. WORDELL, JOHN W. HUNT, HORACE F. DYER, OLIVER H. WILBOR, D. F. GIFFORD, PHILIP W. ALMY, DON H. GRAY, HERBERT W. PIERCE, F. A. H. BOD- INGTON, FREDERICK L. SHERMAN, WILLIAM C. WILBUR, JAMES B. SPRINGER.
Finance-GEORGE H. SIMMONS, F. R. BROWNELL, JR., L. W. MANCHESTER, FRANK W. TRIPP, HARRY MCFARLAND, CHARLES HUMPHREY.
Music-WILLIAM H. BRIGGS, J. G. HATHAWAY, MRS. H. A. GROTH, MRS. C. C. WORDELL, MRS. D. FRANK GIFFORD, MRS. P. W. ALMY, MRS. HERBERT PIERCE, MISS ELIZABETH F. SOWLE, E. W. MERSEY, MISS LILIAN DUNBAR.
Decorations-HENRY A. GROTH, MRS. LYDIA J. WARNER, ROY M. GRAY, MISS A. A. LATHROP, MRS. F. W. TRIPP.
Historical Exhibit-MRS. FORBES W. MANCHESTER, MRS. R. B. BURCHARD, MRS. LYSANDER W. MANCHESTER.
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
10.30 A. M.
Organ Voluntary. Welcome, by the Pastor.
Anthem, " Oh, How Lovely,"- W. A. Ogden.
Responsive Reading, led by Rev. Augustus M. Rice. Prayer, by Rev. William D. Hart.
Hymn, " O God, Our Help in Ages Past."
Historical Discourse, " The Little Compton United Con- gregational Church," by the Pastor, Rev. Wilson R. Buxton. Hymn, " O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand." Addresses, by former Pastors :
REV. AUGUSTUS M. RICE, REV. WILLIAM D. HART, REV. THOMAS F. NORRIS, REV. JAMES LADE.
Hymn, " Blest be the Tie that Binds." Doxology.
A Collation served in the Vestry after the morning Ser- vice. Historical Exhibit in the Grange Hall.
2.30 P. M.
Organ Voluntary. Anthem, " Rock of Ages,"- E. O. Excell.
Prayer, by Rev. James Lade. Hymn, "My Faith Looks up to Thee." Address, by Rev. J. H. Lyon. Solo, by Mrs. Walter J. Bullock.
10
ORDER OF EXERCISES.
Address, by His Excellency Hon. Lucius F. C. Garvin, Governor of Rhode Island.
Historical Discourse, "The Town of Little Compton," by Roswell B. Burchard.
Hymn, "My Country, 'tis of Thee."
Addresses, by :
REV. THOMAS R. SLICER, D. D.,
REV. EDGAR F. CLARK,
REV. MARTIN L. WILLISTON,
REV. WILLIAM J. BATT,
MR. HORACE G. SHAW.
Hymn, "I love Thy Kingdom, Lord."
A Collation in the Vestry and an Historical Exhibit in the Grange Hall.
7.30 P. M.
Organ Voluntary.
Invocation.
Scripture Reading, by Rev. Thomas F. Norris.
Anthem, " Nearer, My God, to Thee," - John R. Sweeney.
Prayer, by Rev. Augustus M. Rice.
Hymn, "Rock of Ages."
Sermon, by Rev. Albert H. Plumb, D. D.
Hymn, " All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name." Benediction, by Rev. Dr. Plumb.
REV. WILSON R. BUXTON Pastor
HISTORICAL DISCOURSE1
THE LITTLE COMPTON UNITED CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
BY REV. WILSON R. BUXTON.
WHEN Ruth in company with her mother-in-law Naomi had come from the land of Moab to Bethlehem and had seen the grain-fields of Boaz and the reapers in them, her wish was, "Let me now go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor." And Naomi said unto her, "Go, my daughter. And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers." And when Boaz had come from Bethlehem, he said unto Ruth, "Go not to glean in another field, neither pass from hence. Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them." "And at meal time Boaz said unto her, Come hither and eat the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers; and they reached her parched grain, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left thereof. And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach her not: And also pull out some for her from the bundles, and leave it, and let her glean, and rebuke her not."
It is, I confess, with feelings not unlike those which Ruth must have experienced that the historian this morn- ing, with sickle in hand, enters this field of fact and anec- dote with reference to the history of the Little Compton Congregational Church. For the field is very extensive, and a number of Boaz's skilled reapers, by name, Hart, Shepard, Palmer, Dexter, Walker, Goldsmith, and Beach, have already preceded me. And yet, taking my place to- day, I am encouraged by the thoughts that here and there I
(1) In the preparation of this historical discourse the author's thanks have been especially due to some elderly people in town at whose feet he sat while they unrolled the past and related to him the traditions of the elders.
·
12
BI CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE UNITED
shall find some barley standing that the sickles of these reapers have missed; that these gentlemen will grant me, as the reapers of Boaz granted to Ruth, the privilege of gleaning even among the shcaves that they have sickled, and will not reproach me for it; that they will allow me even to pull some from the bundles that they have cut and tastefully bound, and that at noon I also shall be called to eat of the bread and parched barley and dip my morsel in the vinegar. It is with such feelings of alternate discour- agement and joy that I enter to glean after the reapers who have preceded me by the space of twenty-five years.
It is now 1674. Fifty-four years have gone by since the Pilgrim fathers and mothers landed at Plymouth Rock. They have sought in their own way to win the Indians to Christ ; and when they have won a small number of them alout Plymouth, and killed a far greater number, they pro- ceed to increase the sphere of their religious influence. So that it is not to be wondered at that they meditate the con- version of the aborigines in this remote region, and espe- cially their great chieftain Philip living at a place since known as Bristol. And in his "Historical Collections of the Indians in New England," Gookin thus writes: "There are some that have hopes of their greatest and chiefest Sa- chem, named Philip, living at Pockanockett. Some of his chief men, as I hear, stand well inclined to hear the gospel : and himself is a person of good understanding and knowl- edge in the best things. I have heard him speak very good words, arguing that his conscience is convicted ; but vet, though his will is bowed to embrace Jesus Christ. his sens- ual and carnal lusts are strong bonds to hold him fast un- der Satan's dominions." And in a letter written Septem- ber 14, 1674, by Reverend John Cotton, pastor of the Eng- lish church at Plymouth, to Daniel Goodkin, magistrate, living in Cambridge, occurs the following: "When the courts are here there are usually great multitudes of Indi- ans from all parts of the Colony. At those seasons I preach to them; which I mention, because God hath so far blessed it, as to make it a means to encourage some that live very remote, to effect praying to God; viz., Manmanenat, Sa-
13
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LITTLE COMPTON.
chem of Sokonnett [Little Compton], and some principal Indians of Coquitt, who made their confessions, and de- clared their willingness to serve God; and they do improve all the opportunities they can get to hear the word. They came to hear me at Acushnett, when I preached there; and do desire further means of instruction." 1
But in another sense the colony at Plymouth is a believer in expansion; for " in 1672 a grant is obtained by cer- tain individuals from the General Court at Plymouth of a certain tract of land called by the Indians. Sogkonate, lying on the east of Narragansett Bay, adjoining the bay and ocean, with the view of making it their permanent place of residence. Col. Benjamin Church, of Duxbury, repairs thither in 1674, and, having purchased land for a plantation, erects a house and build- ings thereon. In June of the following year, Philip, the great Sachem of Pockanockett, declares war on the colon- ists, and Colonel Church, by reason of the hostility of the Sogkonate Indians, leaves his plantation and repairs to the colonists on the island of Rhode Island. After this war, which terminates with the death of Philip in 1676, some white people emigrate to Sogkonate from Plymouth and Rhode Island colonies, and six years later this tract of land is organized into a township by the name of Little Compton"2 -the same year in which Philadelphia is founded by William Penn.
Now just as one fragment from the granite rock contains. all the essential characteristics of the original mass, so these settlers in Little Compton from Plymouth and else- where are imbued with the same ideas that are cherished by those kinsmen whom they have left; and, therefore, among the fundamental conditions for a vigorous community, they recognize the ministrations of the gospel and the establish- ment of a church. In accordance with this desire, "when the town is incorporated in 1682," as the Rev. William Em- erson, the father of Ralph Waldo Emerson, informs us, "a right of land is granted to the exclusive use of the minis-
(1) Gookin's Historical Collections of the Indians in New England; Mass. Hist .. Coll. I. Series, 1-2, pg. 199.
(2) Manual of The Little Compton United Congregational Church.
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BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE UNITED
try. This right is a thirty-second part of the whole town. Notwithstanding the appropriation, part of it by some means carly got into the hands of the town, now [1803] re- mains there, and, from the circumstances of its alienation, is called Pilfershire."' And further, at the General Court held at Plymouth the second day of June, 1685, it is "or- dered that Little Compton and the villages belonging to ye constablerick, pay this year fifteen pounds, to be raised ac- cording to law, for the encouragement of some to preach the Word of God among them, or otherwise to be disposed of, according as the law hath provided." 2
But even the presence here of a goodly number of Pil- grims and their descendants, together with the grant of land and the vote of money, is not adequate to the dispens- ing of the gospel to the community. For how are they to hear without a preacher? And a preacher is not long in coming to them. For "Eliphalet Adams is chosen their re- ligious teacher, in public town meeting, Sept. 7, 1697, and continues his labors until Sept. 21, 1700. On November the first, the Rev. Peter Thatcher, of Middleborough, Mass., and the Rev. John Danforth, of Taunton, visit this town and preach, and on the Sabbath following they administer the ordinance of baptism to sixty-five persons. In June, 1701, John Clarke is chosen minister,"3 who continues his labors for but five months, and is then succeeded by Richard Billings, Nov. 14, 1701, the same year in which Yale College is founded. Mr. Billings performs his duties as a religious teacher "to the satisfaction of the pious and well disposed," and in the autumn of 1704, a letter missive is sent to some neighboring churches requesting that they assemble in this town by their elders and messengers in order that Mr. Bill- ings may be ordained and some individuals, who have signi- fied their intention so to do, may enter into covenant with the Lord and with one another. The elders and messengers assemble Nov. 30, 1704, and on that day Mr. Billings is or- dained and this church is organized with ten male members.
(1) Notes on Little Compton, by Rev. William Emerson. Mass. Hist. Society Col lection, 1803.
(') Plymouth Colony Records, Vol. VI. pg. 170.
(1) Manual of the Little Compton United Congregational Church.
15
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LITTLE COMPTON.
And who is this young man thus ordained and installed first pastor of the Congregational Church in this town? And of what caliber and character are these ten men,-Wil- liam Pabodie, Thomas Gray, William Pabodie, Jun., Joseph Blackman, James Bennett, Joseph Church, Jonathan Dav- enport, John Palmer, John Church and Sylvester Rich- mond? And what are the times in which this company, building more largely than they know, embark on their great enterprise? As to the times, it may be said that in 1704 Salem has for twelve years been resting from her witch-hanging business; that Cotton Mather is preaching in Boston; that Jonathan Edwards is a little boy, one year old, at East Windsor, Connecticut, destined to become, according to Mr. John Fiske, "the greatest intelligence of the western world;" that Massachusetts has seventy-six Congregational churches and eight Indian churches, Con- necticut thirty-five Congregational churches, New Hamp- shire, seven; Maine, two; Boston, one Episcopal church and two Baptist churches, Rhode Island two or three Baptist churches, 1 and that in the last named State there are to welcome this newborn daughter of Plymouth four sister Congregational churches-the Newman Church at East Providence and those at Barrington, Bristol, and Kingston. And as to the men thus constituted a church, these bear Pilgrim names (one of them having married a daughter of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins), are Puritan in faith, and are destined to play a leading part in the growth of the town and the church. And of the minister thus authorized to marry and administer the ordinances, it may be said that he comes from Dorchester, Mass., has probably been born in England, is a graduate of Harvard College, with the class of 1698, and is not altogether devoid of personal charms, since Awashonks, the squaw-Sachem of the Sog- konate Indians, expresses to him her strong desire that he become the Sachem-Consort of the tribe, and is much sur- prised and mortified to learn that he prefers the position he already holds. 2
(1) Congregationalists in America, by Rev. A. E. Dunning, D. D., pg. 203.
(2) From letter from Miss Flora L. Mason of Taunton.
16
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE UNITED
And what is the significance of this ecclesiastical union of the young Englishman and the ten Pilgrim descendants? First of all, Mr. Billings now has the power to marry the swains and sweethearts when they apply to him. Hitherto during the three years he has served the people as their re- ligious teacher he has in this respect been at a serious dis- advantage. For, on the second of October, 1689, at Ply- mouth, "Mr. Joseph Church is authorized by this Court to solemnize marriages in the Town of Little Compton until this Court shall otherwise order."1 And this Joseph Church, with respect to the matrimonial business, has a start of Mr. Billings by fifteen years and a lead of twenty-eight marriages. But the minister loses no time making a begin- ning. On the seventh of December, following his ordina- tion November thirtieth, he unites in holy matrimony Sus- ana Wilcox and Jonathan Head. Thenceforth there is a lively competition, first, between the minister and Joseph Church, then between the minister and Col. Benjamin and Thomas Church, and later between him and Sylvester and William Richmond. But Mr. Billings finishes the race in 1748 with a long lead over his successive competitors. he having at least two hundred and forty-two marriages to his credit in this town alone.
Then, too, in other ways the minister is equally stirring. He has some knowledge of medicine; and since, according to tradition, his residence is near the northeast corner of the Common, thither we can imagine his parishioners com- ing for succor to both soul and body. In 1723 the congre- gation votes to build a new meeting house "42 feet long, 38 feet wide and 20 feet between joists."? The edifice is com- pleted and the first meeting held in it on the last Saturday in 1724. The year previous Increase Mather dies in Bos- ton, declaring that "there is a grievous decay of piety in the land and a leaving of the first love, and the beauties of holi- ness are not to be seen as they once were. The very inter- est of New England seems to be changed from a religious
(1) I'lymouth Colony Records, Vol. VII, pg. 218.
(') Record of the One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Anniversary Celebration, pg. 12.
THE OLD TOWN HALL, LITTLE COMPTON. From an Old Print
17
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF LITTLE COMPTON.
to a worldly one." 1 Yet this is not true of the state of re- ligion in Little Compton. For here there is a turning of many to righteousness. The next year after Mr. Billings is ordained, the Priscillas of the parish, recognizing that in Christ Jesus there is neither bond nor free, male nor fe- male, begin to come into the church, heirs with the Aquil- las, their husbands and brothers, of the same promise. Nor are the Indians neglected. These swarthy residents are accustomed to assemble together for worship. They meet in a building of their own, and "once a month, on the Lord's Day, the minister instructs them." So the good work goes forward under the leadership of this man of God, the Lord adding from time to time of such as are being saved, until the year 1742-43, when, New England being already awakened by the great revival at Northampton under Ed- wards, and being further stirred by the appeals of George Whitfield, then visiting the colonies, this parish, remote from the centers of religious excitement, itself begins pow- erfully to feel the throbbeat of the divine life, and seventy- five souls are added to the church in demonstration of the truth that "My word shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." And so it is not surpris- ing that interest in religion extends beyond Compton; so that August eighteenth, 1746, eight male and fifteen female members are dismissed from this church to be organized into a church in an adjoining town. These twenty-three disciples take what falleth to them and depart, not into a far country, but to Tiverton. Nor do they spend their goods in riotous living. The church there is our own daughter, the branch of our planting.
But the time draws nigh when the good man and faithful shepherd must depart out of this world. He has received one hundred and ninety-six members into the church. He has baptized seven hundred and twenty eight. He has min- istered to the sick, comforted the dying, preached the gos- pel to the poor, and now, in the year 1748, in a good old age,
(1) Congregationalists in America, by Rev. A. E. Dunning, D. D., pg. 232.
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BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE UNITED
he is gathered to his fathers, and what is mortal is buried beside the church he loved so well.
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