bered among the dead. Two others,* chosen into that office, within forty years past, after faithfully discharging the duties of it, for a length of time, are now by bodily infirmities, rendered unable to attend to them. We pray God to brighten the evening of their day, by the consolations of that religion which they have long professed, and endeavored to promote. Our brethren,† who now perform the benevolent services of that office, we wish may long continue to perform them, to their own reputation, and to the satisfaction of the church. Very precious to you, no doubt, is the memory of many in the catalogue of more than five hundred persons, deceased from among you, within forty years past. Their memory is dear to your pastor. In the number were included all the men, except five or six, who invited him into the office, which he now sustains among you. Not a few of them were his intimate and confidential friends, whom he often met, with great delight, in the house of God, and at the table of Christ, mingling hearts and affections, in the exercises of piety and devotion. The proofs of their sincere regard to him were so strong, and so multiplied, as to preclude all doubt of it. And he sometimes entertains the pleasing hope, that he may have been the feeble, unworthy instrument of good to their souls, in helping them forward to the heavenly world. If the names of those who have died, from among us, within the term often mentioned above, should be called over, most of us should hear some which designated our nearest and dearest connexions. Tender parents; beloved partners in life; dear children; affectionate brethren and sisters. Calling them to mind may afford a melancholy kind of pleasure. A care to be followers of them, so far as they were of Christ, excited and strengthened, will be essentially beneficial to us. We cannot see them again, in the flesh,"till the heavens be no more." How happy if we may then meet them, at the right hand of Christ, to unite, in tracing the mysterious steps of divine Providence; and in celebrating the wonders of redeeming love! Soon our bodies, like theirs, will be laid in the grave, and be mouldering in the dust. A successor to your present pastor, may perhaps, half a century hence, make remarks on our deaths, memory, and character, as we do now, on those of our friends, who are gone before us. It is earnestly to be wished, that these commemorative anecdotes, may not only afford transient amusement, but useful instruction, respecting the passing nature of time; the shortness of human life; and the importance of improving well every day as it passes. * Deacon William Avery, now in the 80th year of his age, and 37th of his office. Deacon Ebenezer Richards, in the 78th year of his age, and 27th of his office. + Deacons Joseph Whiting, Aaron Fuller, and Isaac Bullard. This particular society in which we dwell, is not exclusively the school, in which we may receive instruction of this serious and universally interesting kind. In neighboring churches and societies, particularly in those which originated from this,* Providence teaches the same things, by similar changes and events. "He that is wise, will observe these things." And if we extend our view to a larger circle, to mark the footsteps of divine Providence, in the vicissitudes which have taken place, within no very long At the beginning of the term which this discourse reviews, Rev. Jonathan Townsend was pastor of the church in Medfield. He was dismissed from his office, Oct. 9, 1769. Rev. Thomas Prentiss was inducted into the pastoral office in that town, Oct. 31, 1770; and continues to minister to that people in holy things. A small Baptist society has, for a number of years, existed in that town. The late Rev. Thomas Gair, was for several years the pastor. Since his removal, a Mr. Clarke resides there, and frequently preaches to them. In Wrentham, Rev. Joseph Bean was minister. On the 12th of Dec., 1784, his life, and his very faithful labors were terminated, in the 66th year of his age, and 34th of his ministry. Rev. David Avery was installed his successor, May 25, 1786, and his dismission voted by the town, agreeably to advice of council, April 21, 1794. It is painful to add, that that church and town, which for more than a century enjoyed great peace, harmony, and prosperity, are now in a very unhappy, divided, broken state. May they be led to know and pursue the things which are promotive of peace, and Christian edification! A small Baptist society is in the westerly part of that town. A Rev. Mr. Williams is their minister. The second parish in Wrentham continued vacant, after the death of Rev. Elias Haven, till June 4, 1760, when the Rev. Caleb Barnum was ordained their pastor. He obtained a dismission from the pastoral office after about nine years' service among them, and was, soon after, installed pastor of the church in Taunton. He went chaplain into the western army, in 1776, and died abroad. The Rev. Nathanael Emmons was ordained his successor, in Wrentham, April 21, 1773, and continues the beloved pastor of that flock. This second parish in Wrentham was, in the year 1778, made a town, by an act of incorporation, and the name Franklin given to it. In Needham, the Rev. Mr. Townsend continued his faithful labors till Sept. 30, 1762, when his Lord called him away by death, in the 65th year of his age, and 43d of his ministry. Rev. Samuel West was ordained his successor, April 25, 1764. He left Needham in Nov., 1788; and was soon installed pastor of a church in 'Boston, where he now officiates. The Rev. Stephen Palmer was ordained to the pastoral office, in Needham, Nov. 7, 1792, and there continues his ministrations. A number of the inhabitants of Needham got incorporated into a distinct precinct, about the year 1773. They were led to seek this, on account of some disagreement in the town, respecting the place of building a meeting-house. This second precinct has not yet settled a minister. In Walpole, their first minister, Rey. Phillips Payson, died Jan. 22, 1778, in the 74th year of his age, and 50th of his ministry. The Rev. George Morey, his successor, was ordained Nov. 19, 1783, and continues the guide and overseer of that people. In the second parish in Dedham, the Rey. Thomas Balch continued his acceptable labors till Jan. 8, 1774, when he was removed by death, in the 63d year of his age, and 38th of his ministry, and was succeeded in office, by Rev. Jabez Chickering, the present pastor, who was ordained July 3, 1776. In the third parish in Dedham, of which the Rev. Andrew Tyler was pastor, some unhappy dissensions took place, about the year 1764. Attempts to restore peace and harmony not succeeding, Mr. Tyler was dismissed from office, about the close of the year 1772. He died in Boston in 1775. The Rev. Thomas Thacher was ordained his successor, June 7, 1780. The fourth parish in Dedham, had the Rev. Benjamin Caryl set over them in the Lord, as their first pastor, Nov. 10, 1762. He still labors among them in word and doctrine. That parish was incorporated, as a district, by the general court, July 7, 1784, and had the name Dover given to it. period of past time, more useful information will arise to our minds. Within the easy recollection of many of us, the grand American revolution hath been brought about, which has given our country a station among the sovereign and independent nations. of the earth. This forms an important era, and hath given, or confirmed to us, civil and religious privileges, equal, perhaps superior, to those enjoyed in any part of the world; especially taken in connection with those wise constitutions of government, which have been formed, in our country, and carried into operation, during, and since the revolution. The faithful page of history, it is hoped, will convey the knowledge of these great events to the latest generations. Do not the private events which relate more immediately to this society bear evident signatures of a kind Providence, rendering its condition prosperous? "Instead of the fathers are the children." Many respectable persons have finished their course. Many respectable ones have risen up in their stead. The number of births hath been more than double the number of deaths. The education of youth has had some share of attention paid to it; and a conviction of its importance appears to be increasing." Fourteen young men,† within the period we are retrospecting, received an education at the University in Cambridge. All of them, except one, are now living. Twelve of them entered into one or other of the three learned professions. Many improvements have been made in the society, tending to convenience and ornament. This decent house for public *A gentleman of respectable learning and abilities, Ebenezer Wight, Esq., hath opened an academy, in the parish, and hath devoted his time to the instruction of youths, of both sexes, in various branches of science. The institution, though new, and of a private kind, bids fair to be useful. ↑ Their names, time of being graduated, and profession, are in the following table: Names. George Daman, Nathaniel Ames, Nathaniel Fisher, *Seth Ames, Ebenezer Starr, Joseph Avery, Fisher Ames, Graduated. Profession. Names. Graduated. Profession. Ebenezer Battelle, 1775 Trade. 1776 Divinity. 1776 Civil Line. Sam. Shuttlesworth, 1777 Divinity. Ebenezer Wight, 1763 Divinity. Peter Woodward, 1764 Physic. 1768 Physic. Samuel Dexter, 1771 Divinity. Samuel Haven, Jonathan Fisher, 1781 Law. 1789 Law. 1792 Divinity. The first meeting-house, tradition says, was built 1638, where the present house stands. The people assembled in it for religious worship about thirty-four years. in the year 1672 they took it down, and erected another, in the same place, the first being too small to accommodate them. The second, which many of you remember, stood ninety years. In the year 1762 it was taken down, and this, in which we now assemble, was erected, in the same place. The spot fixed upon, by the proprietors, for the first, seems, by general consent, to have been deemed the most suitable, ever since. Soon after the present meeting-house was finished, the handsome clock now in it, was given to the parish, by Samuel Dexter, Esq. In the year 1775, Mr. Joshua Bracket, late of Boston, deceased, gave to the society, the christening bason, now in use, and the frame in which it stands. The aged and venerable Madam Catharina Barnard, (formerly Dexter,) March 16, 1789, presented to the society a large folio Bible, desiring a portion of it might be read, in public, on Lord's days. Her donation was gratefully received, and her desire complied with. worship hath been erected. More than half the dwelling-houses in the parish have been built, and most of the others repaired and enlarged. Few (I think but seven) have been consumed by fire.* Some branches of manufactures have been introduced. Others have been extended and enlarged. There hath been an augmentation of property, in the church, and society. The cultivation of the soil hath been carried to greater perfection. The number and commodiousness of buildings have been increased. A church fund bath been established, and become considerable. This society is become the seat of the public business of a new-formed county. Hereby its figure and respectability are advanced. And to its honor, it may be mentioned, that a spirit of candor and accommodation hath generally marked its proceedings, to the maintaining peace and harmony. This was the case in building this house for public worship; and in settling the seats, apartments and conveniences to be enjoyed in it. This was the case when a change of the version of the psalms, to be used in public worship, was repeatedly made. And this hath been the case in regulating that agreeable part of religious service, singing the praises of God in his house. And, this also hath been the case when alterations were, more than once, proposed, and agreed to, as to terms and modes, T of admitting persons to church fellowship, *The houses burned belonged to the following persons, viz. Dr. John Sprague, Robert Smith and his son, Joseph Wight and his son, John Eaton, Israel Everett, Jr., Job Richards, and Isaac Eaton. The history of the origin and progress of the church's property, is to be found, partly in the records of the church, and partly in those of the original proprietors of those lands which constituted what was, at first, the town of Dedham. It is well understood that the fund, which the church now possesses, proceeded from the sale of a number of lots of land, which belonged to it. This sale was made more than thirty years ago. The money produced by it was let out upon interest. The interest, for a succession of years, was added to the principal. The annual interest now amounts to about $267, or £80. It is applied towards the support of the minister. It renders the burden of maintaining public worship light. The county of Norfolk was formed out of the county of Suffolk, by an act of the general court, passed March 26, 1793. Dedham was made the shire-town. The public county buildings were not completed, till a year or two after the incorporating act was passed. § About thirty-five years ago the society, with very little opposition, exchanged, what was generally called, the New England psalms, for the version of Tate and Brady, and a collection of Dr. Watts's hymns bound with it. About three years ago, without any opposition, they introduced Dr. Watts's version of the psalms, and his hymns, in the room of Tate and Brady's. || Much commendation and thanks are due to those who lead in that part of worship, for the judicious and pleasing manner in which the service is performed. ¶ March 7, 1742, the church voted not to insist on persons offering relations, as a term of admission into fellowship with them; and at the same time introduced a confession of faith, to be publicly assented to, by each person, when admitted, who did not offer a relation. This confession of faith, though excellent in general, was long, and contained some religious tenets, concerning which many pious persons have their doubts and difficulties. About the year 1767, it was suggested to the church, that something more concise, and expressed in more general terms, and Christian privileges. Few disputes and controversies have prevailed in the church or society. If the members have not always been "perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment," yet a disposition has prevailed, to permit every one freely to enjoy the right of his private opinion, provided he doth not break in upon the rights of others. This spirit of candor and mutual forbearance has happily tended to the peace of the community. God grant it may abound among us, more and more. But whether the scenes through which we pass, or the events upon which we are remarking, be pleasing or painful; one thing is certain we shall be here but a little while, to observe them. The fashion of the world changes, and passes away, and we are changing, and passing away with it. Your pastor need not tell you that he is in the decline of life. Evidences of it cannot escape his and your observation. He desires to adore that kind Providence, which has sustained him so long. And he takes this opportunity to express sentiments of gratitude to his beloved people, for the candor and friendship with which they have generally treated him. He wishes never to forget the many, many expressions of their kindness and affection. Unkindnesses, and injuries he desires to remember none. He wishes to be instrumental of promoting their best interest, during the short remaining period, God may continue him in the ministry. He earnestly requests their prayers that he may be so. He has no ground to calculate upon a long continuance. He can expect no other, than ere long to be laid by, as a broken, or worn out vessel. But while any considerable degree of bodily strength, and powers of mind, is continued to him, he hopes not to be a mere cumberer of the ground, or burden to society. To survive all capacity of usefulness, appears to him an event, by no means to be desired. might better answer the purpose. A substitute of that kind was proposed, and peaceably adopted. At a meeting of the church, April 11, 1793, it was suggested, whether it might not be advisable to make some alterations in the modes and forms of admitting persons into communion. A committee was chosen to consider the matter, and report what they think proper to be done. The committee, at an adjournment of the meeting, reported a general form of Christian union, and covenant engagements, in which all persons admitted are to agree. This was adopted without opposition. The said committee also reported the following method of admitting persons, as, in their opinion, proper and advisable, viz. "That a person, desiring admission, shall apply to the minister, and make his desire known; that the minister shall mention this, in public; and if no valid objection is offered against the person, within a fortnight, the name of the person shall be inserted in the church covenant, before mentioned. And when the minister hath notified the church, that this has been done, such person shall be considered as a member of the church, and be treated as such." This report was accepted by the church, the following clause being added, viz. “Provided however, that if any persons shall choose rather to be admitted into the church, in either of the methods which have been heretofore used, they shall readily be allowed their choice." |
