Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1886-07-08

i"e foHo"ing copy VI all ancient iettef
will be read with much interest, as contain
ing In its gossip rare portrayal of the re-
ligious and social peculiarties of our FORE
fathers. 1t contains an account Of the ordi-
nation of "Rev. Mr.. Benjamin Prescott as
pastor Of the Old South Church in Danvers,
Mass, and was written by one Of the ordain-
ing council. 1t will be seen that Rev. Cot
ton Ma,her was one of the officiating clergy
men, and that the disturbances in the church,
and the treatment of the dsturbers, were in
keeping with the doctrines professed, and so
strictly practiced by our puritan ancestors:
SALEM, 25th Sept, 1928.
Hond. and Dear Friend,
Through ye goodness Of Providence we
arrived in this Place after Dark Tuesday
night, and are now staying with your
Brother Thomas at ye Precinct-The rea-
son We got here so late was because we were
detained long Time at ye Ferry as ye
Boat was on ye Charlestown side, and ye
Roads were very bad and We Streams very
high on account of ye great Rains. Mr..
Appleton Of Cambridge did not get here till
Wednesday morning at 8 o'clock his Horse
being weary, so he tarried all Night at
Reading. Your Brother Thomas says ye
place has grown very much since you lived
here and that ye Church has got 40 Mem.
bers who came off from Mr.. Noyess Church
IN Salem Town, l3 men and y Women, and
ye Town has granted ye Precinct ) Acres Of
Land and ye Province Is a Year for 5
Years for ye Support Of ye Gospel in ye
Precinct The Church have made Choice Of
Rev. Mr.. Benz. Prescott for their Pastor,
and voted him f60 and - Cords of Wood
for his salary when single, and f15 when he
shall be Married. Mr.. Prescott is the oldest
Son of Esquire iona Prescott, Of Concord.
and is a promising young Man, about p
Years old, and betrothed to Elizabeth Hig-
ginsou. comely Daughter of Mr.. John
HIggInson. The New Meeting House is
situated in pleasant Valley near Stream
of Water on We Village Road about a Mile
from Town Bridge. services in We
Meeting House began By reading part Of
ye 10Th Psalm BY Rev. G.. Mather. after
which he read Portion from Thomas
Aliens "Inrtatlon fo IhirSfg Sinners
Mr.. Hubbard, Your excellent Pastor, then
offered up Fervent Prayer. and Psalm
was sung 70 Solen.n Tune, ye Oldest Dea-
con reading Line by Line in a Solemn Voice
so that We whole Congregation could joyn.-
Mr.. Bowers of Beverly next offered We
Prayer Of Ordination and Consecl alton, with
ye Laying on Of Hands of ye Elders. Mr..
Appleton of Cambridge preached We Ser
mon from ID Cor. % Chap. Is Verse, last
clause. Hho IS sufficient for these things.
Another Psalm was then sung, and then Nr
shepard gave ye Charse, and Rev. Nr.
Green Of Ne Village ye Hand Of Fellowship,
and Mr. Grrrssh OF Wenham made ye Con
Guiding Frazer here was an Immense
Concour'c VI People IN * House 50 tina:
every fari was crowded, and Some were on
s. Beams eyer le Heads u Sc Congregation.
NJ GoNr vas IN 81 House and Her
MajestN'' Commissioner ot Sc Customs, and
they sa' together On nigh seat by " Pu-
p.i stars The Govr appeared very deyout,
although he taNors Eplscopacy and tolerate1
le Quakers and BhptiSts, but i strong op-
poser Of te Pap!'ts. lie was dressed in 4
htaeA Velvet Goat Reu Natstcoat' border
ed with Gold Lace, and Buh Breeches with
gold Buckles at We knees, and white silk
Stockings. There was Disturbance IN ye
Gallery, where It was filled with divers
Negroes, Muliattoes, and Indians. and
Negro called Pomp Shorter, belonging to
Mr.. Gardiner, was called forth and placed IN
sc broad AisIe, where he was reproved with
great Awfulness and Soiemnity. He was
then Pat n Ne Deacon Seat, between ,e two
Dracon~, n view Of !e whole congregation,
bul !e Sexton was ordered by Nr. Prescott
TO take nm out because OF MS ieyity aud
strange Contortlons Of Countenance giving
great scandal 10 the grave Deaconsl, and
put nm IN ye Lobby under We Stars. Some
Children and W oman were reprimanaed
Tor laughing at Pomp Shorter.
Nnen ye services at We house were end
ed, ye Council and ye other DIgnltarjes
were entertained at ye House OF Mr. Epe,.
on ye Hdl near by, and we had Bountytul
Table With Bears Meat and Neuuiseu, the
last Of which was from fine Buck shot in
The Woods near by " Bear vas killed in
Lynn Woods near Reading. Atter We bless
ing was craved By Mr. GerrIsh Of Wenham, /
word came that sc Buck was shot on ve
Lord Day BY Pequoit, an lndlan,who came
TO Mr. tpes with l.ye IN his mouth Ike
Annanlas Of old. Ie Council thereupon re
fused 70 eat ye Nennlsen, but Il was after
ward agreed that Pequolt should receive 10
Stripes save one for Lyelng and prophanlng
ye Lords Day, and restore TO Mr. Epes We
cost OF ye Deer, and considering this Just
and Righteous Sentence on yer sinful
heather, and that Blessing had been
crayed on ye Meat, ye Council all partook
OF II but Mr. Shepard, whose CONSCIENCE
was tender on sc point Of vc Nsnnisen.
The People are much reloyced to have
Gospel Ordinances established among them,
and ye House j. well Built, Storys high,3N
by II feet, with good Oak Timber, and COY
cred with II inch PIanks and with Clay
boards upon that, and i i intended 10 have
ye Inside FINISHED with PlaysterIng when ye
Precinct are able. The Pulpit and We
Deacon Seat are made Of good oak, and
green Gushing on ye Pulpit was given by i,
Mr.. Higginson. had the above Particu-
lars from Mr. lrask We Head Builder ofye /
House, who is Man of Substance and /
consyderabe Requirements. He also told /
me that he prepared a Box to put under !e /
Foundation contaynlng We Year Of our Lord !
that ye Building was begun. and various
Particulars about ye forming OF We Precinct F.!