Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1816-10-28
From the Boston Evening 6azetts'
PLAIN PREACHING.

Us 80 =
PLAIN PREACHING.
Rey:ew.-A Century sermon delivered
81 Hepkinton on the Lords day Decea
Der 24th, 1915 by the Rev. N Vat
Howe, A, M. pastor Of the Church.
The sermon in a singular and even
grotesque style givesa history oi the
Town Of Hopkinton, since its hrst lncor.
aoration in I7I5. "Therc was formerly
!, man living in the kingdom of Great
Bri1;an >, saws our author, /" whose name
vas Hopkins, he lived in England, bui
ne tbouaht Of the difficulties which musf
he experienced in educating youth in a.
perica. After mentioning the establish
100 Of Harvard college in 1856, Mr.,
Howe gees on to observe" In the year
|;642. the General Court established 9
beard of overseers. In 1859 the chil'
ter ofthe Corporation was granted. AMI
in the year 1867, Edward Hopkins made
bis will.
g Squire Hopkins was man Of great
wealth his estate was estimated at 90,
1ooI sterling. Eight hundred pounds
his properly was given be laid out N
ands. three fourths for the benefit OF the
oleee and one fourth to the &c man
school in Cambridge. "Ihis donation
1f squire Hopkins to Hazard Collase
was the money wtich first purchases
Iopkinton. :" AS the town was purcha,-
ed by the donation of Squire Hopkins to
award College, the lands were TO be
eased out to tenants at one penny ster-
ling per acre, TO be Annually paid to the
college II the year 1928, and three pence
of like money afterwards"
Our author then gives tb.' details OF
the history oFthe town as to It's parochlai
AID secular concerns, from 1923. to the
present time. The most amusing part
of the sermon relates to the reverend au.
thors own connection with the parish
since 1871. lie complains that he could
cot get his first years salary paid him,
until long after the year had expired and
" Another difficulty your mi
aister has had to encounter was the want
Of support. A vast change has taken
place in the expense of dressing and liy'
ing since my ordination, and yet no ad
dition has been made to my salary
When candidate, ] determined ] never
would settle till saw a reasonable pros
pect of a comfortable support, and when
settled 4 never would complain of my
salary. remained of this mind till l
had been your minister for fifteen years.
g Borne down with the fatisues OF ma
nual labor, pressed into the woods in the
winter. to the plough in spring, and to the
meadow in the summer, to support my
fanny comfortably, felt the business Of
The ministry was greatly neglected that
t was impossible for me to do what ought
% be done in my profession, unless the
people did SO towards my support"
He then applied to the town, who Fl !
rally refused TO do any thing to assist
i'm, He attacks those persons who vot
d against the increase Of his salary byl
latne. lie then continues,
" My brethren, may | ask plain, SIM
lie question How shall i obtain yoar|
onsent ? Your ceuntenaaces discover
willingness.
" The question is this do you know
" what means / have become so rich, as
o have a.great house finished and fur
ished !; larm, a herd of cattle, a flock
f sheep, horses, and money at interest );
sag nothing shout my debts to day.
" Shall answer this question: TheI
principal reason is this: because | have
een doing your business and neglectingl
ny own. Your business is to support
'our minister, and that | have been do
ng for more than 90 years. And my bu-
mess is to study aid preach: and in
his [ have never abounded." | have
administered reproof. both to
he Church and the Society, in manner
hat has been thought to discover some
legree Of severity but in this case you
ave already had good sense enough to|
Low you richly deserved il.
!. He concludes his discourse by some
.dnpnition; respecting their choice and
reatment of another minister, after his
ieath or dismission, which are equally re
for quaintness and originality
We copy the following article from
New York Courier. 1t will
ns~er extremely we'll for our r,eredian
LITTLE PLAIN ADVICE TO PLAIN
PEOPLE.
" 1t is acarm day, but it aoiH be cold
n the acinter therefore keep good
aok-out in time, aud prepare for the
worst. s God HELMS them that helm them.