Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-04-23

The following letter, written 100 years ago
by member of the ordaining council at the
settlement of the first pastor over the 'Old
South Society," in Danvers, Mass, cannot
fail to interest our readers 1t happily illus
tratcs the strictness and couscientousness Of
the Puritan clergy of New England
"SALEM, Sept. 10Th, 1913.
HOnd dHd Dear Friead Through ye
goodness of Providence We arrived in this
place after dark, Tuesday night and are now
staying with your brother Thomas at ye Pre-
cinct We church have made choice of Rev
Mr.. BENZ Prescott for their Pastor, and vo-
ted him ego year, and IL cords of wood
for his salary when single, and c7j when he
shall be married. Ne new meeting house is
situated in pleasant valley, near a stream Of
water, on ye village road about a mile from
'rownbrdge Ye services in the meeting
house began by reading a part of ye ll9
Psalm by Rev. G. Mather after which he
read portion of Mr.. Thomas Aliens "Invi-
tation to Thirsty Sinners" Mr. Hubbard
your excellent Pastor, then offered up a fer
vent prayer, aud Psalm was sung to a most
solemn tune, ye oldest deacon reading line
by line, in solemn voice. so that ye whole
congregation could join. Mr. Bowers of Bev-
erly, next offered ye prayer Of ordination and
consecration with ye laying of ye hands of ye
elders. Mr.. Appleton of Cambridge, preach
ed ye sermon from I'd Cor ID chap. lG verse;
last clause-"Who is sufficient for these
things - Another Psalm was then sung, and
then Mr.. Shepard gave ye charge, and Rev
Mr. Green of ye village, ye hand Of fellow
ship and Mr.. Gerrish OF Wenham, made ye
concluding prayer.
There was an immense concourse of peo-
pie in ye house, so that every part of it was
crowded and some were on ye beams over
ye heads of ye congregation Ye Governor
was in ye house. and Her Najestys Commis-
sioner Of ye Customs, and they sat on high
seat by ye pulpit stairs. Ye Governor ap-
peared very deyout and attentive, although
lie fayors Episcopacy, and toleratts ye Qua
kers and Baptists, but is a strong opposer of
| We Papsts. He was dressed in u black vel
| vet coat. red wastcoat bordered with gold
lace, and buff breeches with gold buckles Mt
! ye knees, and white silk stockings. There
was disturbance in ye gallery, where it was
| filled with divers negroes, mulattocs and In
dians and Il negro. called Pomp Shorter, be-
| longing to Mr.. Gardner was called forth and
placed in ye broad aisle, where he was re-
| proved with great sOlemnity. He was then
| put in the Dtacon's scat, bet E,eu two Dea-
cons, in view of ye whole congregation, but
| We sexton was ordered by Mr. Prescott to
! take him out, because of his levity and
strange contortions Of countcnance, giving
great scandal to ye grave Deacons, and put
| him in We lobby under ye stairs Some chill
dreu aud mulatto woman were reprimand-
ed for laughing at Pomp Shorter.
When ye services at ye house were ended,
| ye Council and other dignitaries were enter
tanned at ye house Of Mr.. Epes on ye hill
near 10y, and We had a bountlful table, with
| Bears meat and Nenison; the last Of which
was from fine Buck and was shot in ye
woods near by. Ye Bear was killed in Lynn
woods, near Reading. After ye blessing was
/ craved by Mr.. Gerrish, word came that We
Buck was shot on ye Lords day by Pequot,
an Indian, who came to Mr.. Epes with lye
| in his mouth, like Ananias of old. Ee Coun-
Gil therefore refused to eat ye Nenison; but
! it was afterwards agreed that ye Pequot
should receive 40 stripes save one, for lying
and profanng ye Lords day restore Mr..
| Epes the cost of yc Deer and considering
! this Just and righteous sentence We sin
! full Heather, and that blessing had been
! craved upon We meat, ye Council all partook
of it except Mr. Shepard, whose conscience
was tender on ye point of Nenison
| Ye people here are much rejoiced TO have
| Gospel ordinances established among them
and yc house is well bHilt, 3 stories high, 2S
| by - feet with good oak timber. and cover.
ed with ! inch planks, and with clapboards
! upon that, and it is intended TO have ye in
side finished with plastering when yc Pre-
! cinct is able. We pulpit and ye Deacon seat
are made Of good oak and ye green cushion
on ye Pulpit was giveDby Mr.. Hgginsou |
had ye above particulars from Mr.. Trask ye
head builder of We house, who is a man of
substance and considerable requirements.
He also told me that he prepared box to
| put under We foundation, containing We year
of our Lord that the building was begun, and
various particulars about ye forming ye Pre-
| ciuct Church lie also put in We Copper
| Coynos of ye Reign of our blessed sovereign
! Queen Ann, and an epistle to ye Sovereign
| who shall be over these Provinces when ye
| box shall be found, and another to We House
| hold Of Faith in ye Salem Middle Precinct,
eXhOrtiug them to maintain ye doctrines Of ye
| Founders, to We utter confusion and shame
of all Pdpist Nuss MoHgefs, and other heret-
ical misbelievers Mr. Trask who is himself
a Cody man, and member of ye Church,
would not agree to put ye box under ye house,
as they thought it savored of presumption
and vain glorying; and some of them would
not agree to ye sentiments Of We letter to ye
| Household of Faith but he privily put ye box
| under ye pulpit, when ye house was near
| built, enclosed in bricks with good clay NOR
tar, without ye knowledge of ye Church. Mr..
| Trask thinks ye frame of ye house will stand
| two or three hundred years, if it is well COW
cred from ye weather.
| There have been great rejocings with us
| in Boston, on account of ye glorious news of
Peace; and may ye Lord long continue ye
blessing aud avert ye judgments we deserve.
LAWRENCE CoNANT.