Plymouth County, Massachusetts - Chapter 4, 1884

First .Mceting-llouse in the North Parish - Its Appearance - Second llousi. - Description - Sale of I'ows - First Bell - Seating of Colored People - Third Meeting-House - Pow- Holdcra - Clock - First Stoves - Erection of the Fourth Meeting-llousc in 1354 - Dedication - Description of the Same - Sale of Pt'ws.

Meeting-Houses of the First Congregational Parish. - Tlie tirst uieetiug- house io the North Parish was built in 1737, ou or near the spot where the present edifice now .xtands. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Dutibar, of Stou^'hton, from Solomon's Song viii. 8 : " We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts : what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?"

From the best information' gained, it was a small, plain structure, in keeping with the times, facing south, without steeple, bell, or chimney ; the windows

To this place the people of the parish gathered from Sabbath to Sabbath, with cumiucndablc regularity, on horseback or on foot. Thoy '- kept the Sabbath and reverenced the Sanctuai-y."

At the time of the incorporation of the parish the house was '- Erected and Inclosed," but not finished. At a meeting held iMarch 12, 1739, '- Timoiliy Keith, Benjamin Edson, David Packard, Daniel Howard, Edward Curtis, were cho.sen a committee for the finishing of the meeting-house in s'' Precinct;" also " voted to raise two Hundred and fifty pounds for the finishing of the same, to be paid by the last of August ;" chose Abiel Packard " Recover of .stuf and meterels." March 26, 1739 :

"The committee appointed to tinisb the ineeting-housc made demand of the several inhabitants how they would pay their Keats, or what they would percure tords the proseculii<n of the work of hnishing the meeting-house. In order to pay their Raits Whare upon a number subscribed what they would percure, as Krst ;

"James Packard to do the Glazing of tlio House, and what it amounts to more than his Reals Come to, to take his pay at the forge. In Iron ore or Cole next fall Insewing. Juhn Johnson and John Kingman to do the uiasing work and nails, and to take his pay over and Abuv his Ruits at the fornes or forge, In Labour, or Cole, or Iron ore the next fall Iii.-cwing. David Packard, Solomon Packard, and Jacob Allen to tiiid Lime.

"Joshua Warren, to find llenges; Timothy Keith, David Packard, Solomon Packard, Jacob Allen, Benjamin Edson, Daniel llaward, to find all the sheet work."

Iluit3." Oci. 8, 1739, "Voted to sell roooie for pews in the rneetiDg-liouse." Dec. 10, 1739, "Voted to sell room for pews ia order to Ruise money to buy a Gushing."' Jan. 15, 1740, "Voted to chuse three men to set a prise upon the pews to be Gin to Bid at, so that no man should Beed below the prise thay should set, maid chuise of James Packard, Abicl Packard, and Isaac Kingman for the same." Jan. 21, 17-tO, " Meeting held to-day," and " voted to sell the pews to the highest bidder." " John Kingman, veiidue-master, who sest up the first pew on the west aide of the pulpit to be sold to the highest Beder, and so all the Rest Sucksesevely Round the meetin-hou^re to the

Vi'ted, that W'cddow Ledah Packarii .'-hould have the ninth pew. It being 6 ft. 10 inches frout and 4 ft. 7 inches deep, for (Nu amount given.)

"January 12, 1741. 'Voted that John Colly should have Thirty-five shillings for sweeping the meeting-house the year lusuing.' March 23, 1742, Abiel Packard to swee)) the meeting-house the present year fur 35 shillings.

"June 6, 1743. A meeting was held * to see whetlicr the precinct would vote to Buld Seat^ In the Galiryes, and it was voted in the negative.' It was then put to vote to see whether the precinct would ' sell Roouie over the stairs and behind tlie front Galiry next to the wall for pews and it was voteil in the Affirmative."

From the above it appears that the house iiad j:alleries put up, but not finished. The usual practice in building churches in early times was to finish the inside and sell " pew-room" or sections, whicii each purchaser would finish to suit himself Hence we frequently find votes in the records as follows:

June 20, 1743. '* It was put to vote by the nioderatoi- of the meeting to see wiietlier the precinct would vote to sell fore pews Uehind the front Galary, and over the Stayers at a publick vandue to the highest licder. The Demctishions of s'* Pews are as followotb : 'over the woim-n's Stairs 0 feet front and live feet and half deep, liehiiid wmuen'.-i front Lialary, S feet front and five feet deep. Behind men's front Galary si.x feet and a half front, and five feet deep, over the men's stairs >i.\ feet front, and five and a half deep, alowing Convenunt Pto(»mc to pasc up and down the stairs.' Voted in the affirmative."

" The pew over the men's stairs was sect up by the moderator to sail and Timothy Keith Budiiig two pounds and ten shillings upon s'' pew. It was struck of to him, he being the highest Beder."

" The pew behind the women's front galary was set up by the moderator to sail, and Constant Suuihworth Beding twenty pounds and five shillings upon s'' pow. It was struck ofi" to him, he being the highest Beder."

June 28, 1746. It was put to vote " to see If the Precinct would vote to'finish the meeting-house this year, and it was voted in the affirmative."

What tlie effect of the above vote was we find no record, and are left to judge that it was never carried into effect, as appears by the following record, uimiug at the same thing, namely, - to have the " meeting- House" Completed.

Aug. 15, 1748. "Voted that Abiel Packard, Constant Sdiuhworth, and Samuel Brett be a committee to finish the meeting-house the pi'csent year."

The following persons were supposed to have worked . upon the house in the completion of the same, as it appears March 27, 1749. The following sums were voted lo be paid: To Samuel Brett, for work " Don In the uieecing- House," £6 7s. To Luke Perkins, £1 10s. March 29, 1750, "money voted to Simeon Cary for Labour Don abought the Meeting-House, to be Drawed out of the Treasury, £8 1 4." " Voted to Archabiel Rob.son for Bannisters for the Meeting- House £4 10 shillings Lasvfull Money."

At a meeting held Sept. 27, 175G, it was " voted that the Petition between the men and women's frount Gallery Slmld be bult up a gain where it fir.'st stood. Also Voted that the Rumc on the women's side of tlie Petition should be for the women."

By the above votes we see the custom prevailed of keeping the men and women in separate pews, aud have no doubt the work was completed, and that they were kept in their proper places, for we find Barnabas Pratt was allowed £3 8«. for putting up a " petition" between the " Gallereyes and the Hind Sects."

At a meeting of the precinct held Dec. 4, 1758, " voted that the committee provide an Iron Latch and Bolt for the South Dorc of the Uieeting-house."

Second Meeting-House. - The subject of building a new church, or of enlarging the old one, was talked of in 17U0, and a meeting called to see what the precinct would do, which was held Dec. 1, 1760:

" To dee if the Preuinct will vote to enlarge the Moeting- Housu by splittioguf It In tow, or making ua addition to it, or botii, unJ al:io to Seo if any person ur perdona will under. take the Doin;^ of it for the Uuine In the addition that shall be maid to the uieetiug-house, and in case the Precinct should not vote to Inlargu the meeting-house, then to see if the Precinct will vote to Iluld a new Meeting-House, and when and where it shall be set, and uf what Bigness it shall be bult." The vote was first put '* to see if the Preeinot would build a new House, which was voted iu the negative." ** Then lo see if the Precinct would rote to Inlarge the Meeting-House by splitting of it. Voted in the negative."

Thus things remained for over a year, when the subject was again brought up at a meeting held Dec. 29, 17G1, at ten o'clock a.m., " To see what sum of money can be raised towards the Bulding a new Mectiuir-Hou.se. In the North Precinct of Brid^rewater, by selling the pew Rome to the Highest

After the sale of the above pews " the Precinct aGorned the meeting to Monday the forth Day of Jenuary, at twelve o'ck, M." "Agreeably to agornment the precinct gathered together, and the vanduemaster, chosen by the precinct for the sail of the

Description of the New House. - Jan. 5, 1762. " Voted to Buld a meeting house of the same demenslions of the South meetin<,'-liouse In Bridgewater, excepting two side Gallary to be bult in sects ;" also " voted to Buld the meeting-House the next summer, within twelve month Irom the aforsaid Date hereof;" and " voted that ail the posts of the Body of the meeting- House shuld be sawed and the house faced South." Robert Eaward, Capt. Simeon Gary, and Mr. Abia Keith were chosen a committee for " prosicuting the Buldiug the meeting-House in the North Precinct." " Voted that the house shuld be Shilingled with sedar shingles."

Monday, Nov. 8, 17tJ2. " A meeting was called to sec if the precinct will vote to Buld a Bclfree to the nioetiug-house," and it was voted to " Build one over the East Dore," also " voted to Buld a porch over the west Dore, and to sell the stairways for pews to the highest Bcder." it seems nothing had been done towards I'orwarding the building of the " Belfree" in January, as another meeting was called to meet January 17th, " to see if the precinct will vote to buld the Belfree, and spire, already voted to be built, provided it can be don by subscription, and without taxing the precinct," which was voted iu the afErmative; also "voted that the Belfry should be twelve feet square, and eighty-five feet high from the grown." Capt. Simeon Gary, Isaac Packard, and Barnabas Howard were chosen a committee to -' Buld" the same. In the spriug of 17G2 the building was commenced. The frame was raised iu June, 1763, and in December of the same year the house was completed and dedicated to the woi-ship of God the lust week of that month. Rev. Mr. Dunbar preached tlie sermon in the forenoon of the day of dedication, from the text, Isaiah Ix. 7 : " I will glorify the house of my glory." Rev. John Angier, of the East Parish, preaclied a sermon in the afternoon from the text. Psalms cxxii. 1 : " I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." The first sermon preached in the new raeeting-house by Rev. Mr. Porter was from text, Haggui ii. 9 : " The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former." The carpenters that performed the carpenter-work upon this house were Deacon Jonathan Gary, Benjamiu Packard, Micuh Packard, Sclli Packard, Barnabas Pratt, Thomas Pratt, Job Biyant, Gamaliel Bryant, Samuel Hayden, PhiiiLhas Paiiic-, Jeremiah Beals. Col. Josiali Hayden was the master-workman of the inside of the hou.-,e. Cul. Simeon Gary, who was one of the building cuinniiltee, was master of the outside of the house. Col. Hayden also built the pulpit and sounding-board. All uf the above mechanics belonged in the town.

We have already seen that the precinct voted to have a steeple built by subscription, but for some reason which does not appear on record it was not all paid in. For this purpose the pew back of the " Deckon seet" was put up for " sail" to liul[i pay the committee that built it what expense had been incurred. May 17, 1764, " Voted to sell the old meeting-house for the use of the precinct in jcnerail."

First Bell. - Also voted the same day to " Gect a Bell for the New Meeting House, not exceeding six hundred Wale." Daniel Howard, E.sq., Ca|)t. Abiel Packard, and Lieut. Henry Kingmau were chosen a committee to purchase the same. Oct. '1\, 176"), " Voted to Build stairs to the BellVee." It aeeiiis ilie bell of the new meeting-house became broken from some cause, and at a meeting held Oct. lU, 1768, to see if the precinct would vote to mend the bell, voted in the afifirmative, also " voted that Lieut. Henry Kingman should gect it mended." We presume that the bell was past mending, aa we afterwards find, Dec. 11, 1769, a vote " to geet a new Bell of Seven hundred wate. Lieut. Henry Kingman, Col. Simeon Gary, and Capt. Isaac Packard were appointed a committee to go and agree with Mr. Hubbard, for the making and taking down of the old Bell and hanging the new one." Jan. 11, 1770, " Voted to Imploy Mr. Aaron Iluburd and Mr. Gellomer to new Run the Bell, and that it shall bo of Seven hundred wate." In the early part of 1772, a number of persons became " larned" in the rules of " musick" under Mr. Billings, and asked that seats might be as^iigued to them iu tliL' south part of the women's pallery. This request WU.1 complied with as follows: Nov. 30, 1772, " Voted to the singers the South part of the women's Galiary During pleasure." We find this produced some dia.-iatisraction, and efforts were made to restore the seats back to the women. Various meetings were called until, April 8. 1778, a special meeting being called, the (|uestion was put by the moderator to see if the precinct will vote to restore the Southerly part of the womens galiary to the womens use again." It wa.s " voted in the negative." April 3, 1775, The above vote was reconsidered, and a vote passed " allowing the north part of the womens seets During the pleasure of the Parish," also " voted to build a pair of stairs in the Belfree." Dec. 11, 1788, " Voted to sell the Deef Seet." Also " voted to sell the two hind seets each side of the Broad alley." Now the parish begin to think that some jepairs are needed, and a committee of three were chosen to report what repairs were necessary. Job Bryant, Moses Cary, and Jeremiah Beals were that committee, who reported the following to be done : -' new .sett the Glass in putty, paint the Door, windows, and walls, and the platform of the Belfree be covered with Led." Voted '- that the window frames and sa.shes be painted white."

Seats for Colored People. - March 19, 1789. " Voted to build a porch provided it can be Don without expense to the parish, and also to put seats in the porch and Belfree for the negroes, and sell the room where the .stairs and negro pew now are." Thus we see that in this year the negroes were to sit in the loft provided on purpose, which created no little feeling on the part of the colored population.

In the year 1800 we again find a disagreement between the colored people attending worship and sitting in the same seat with the white people, which very much annoyed some of them, and to remedy this trouble a meeting was held August 4th, " To see what measures the Parish will take to prevent the bluc/cs from occupying the seats appropriated to the use of the white people, so as to prevent any disturbance in time of Public woi'shipe," at which time it was " Voted that the side galleries and the seats in the Body of the meeting house be appropriated to the use of the white people, and the seals in the porch above to the use of the blacks."

Jan. 19, 1801, "Voted to erect seats in the front gallery for the singers, in front of the front pews," and " voted that they be erected in a surkerler forme."

April 30, 1801, " Voted to paint the inside work that ha.s heretofore been painted, to be under the direction of the Parbh Committee." Early in the year 1805, the people of the parish, wishing to improve the looks of their house of worship, called a meeting, which was held March 11, 1805, "To see if the Parish will repair the meeting Hous, and what repairs they will make the year in.suing." At this meeting a committee of nine was chosen to view the house and report at the adjournment of the meeting. This committee consisted of the following persons : Capt. Abel Kingman, Capt. Howard Cary, Maj. Caleb Howard, Jeremiah Beal, Jesse Perkins, Gideon Howard, Esq., Perez Southworth, Silas Packard, Daniel Packard. This committee report " that it wa.s necessary to make new the wast bords and water table from the north east corner of the meeting hous, and on the South side, to the South side of the Porch door, that as many of the sashes as are defective should be made new, and such repairs on the doors as shall be found necessary; that the bell fraim, banisters, &c., be made new, and all the trimmings together with the spire be painted, that the body of the house together with the rouff be painted." A committee of five were appointed to select a color for painting, who reported " white, one shade on the yallow." Moses Cary, Jonathan Beals, and John Wales were chosen a committee to carry the above repairs into execution. Aug. 30, 1805, " Voted to Polish the Vain."

Dec. 5, 1816. We again find a vote respecting the seating of the colored people, as follows : Voted " that the People of color may occupy the two Back seats in the west gallery of our meeting house & no other seats, or that they may have ground for one pew in the northwest corner of the Gallery, and ground for another pew in the North East corner of the Gallery as they Choose, and that the Parish clerk serve the people of color with a copy of this vote."

In 1818 the subject of warming the meeting-liouse came up in the following manner: Some of the churches in the neighboring towns having fouud it a luxury to have the house of God warmed and made comfortable, thought it would not be too much of a sin to enjoy the same comfort. The idea at first met with .serious opposition ; for the first article in a warrant concerning the purchasing of a cast-iron stove was negatived, which move was made Dec. 10, 1818, as follows : " Voted to have the article of getting a stove inserted in a warrant for the next spring meeting," and in the following spring, March 25, 1819, " voted the stove or stoves to a committee of five," consisting of Col. Caleb Howard, Daniel Howard, Esq., Abel Kingman, Esq., Capt. Zachariah Gurney, Eliphalet

KiDgmaD. Dec. 13, 1819. This committee reported it " iuexpedient to p;et a Stove." March 7, 1S22. " Voted the South part of the East Gallery for the use of the youu<^ womeu." Previous to Februaiy, 1823, this Parish had beeu known by the name of the " North Parish iu Bridj;e\vater." Dec. 22, 1S22, The pari.sh " voted to take measures to alter the name of the North Parish of Bridpewater. aud that it be called the ' First Parish iu North liridgewater ;' also voted that the Parish take measures to petition the Legislature to carry tiie above into eS'ect." Caleb Howard, Esq., Perez Crocker, and Perez Southworth Were appointed to petition the Legislature in behalf of said parish ; so that from that time forward it was known as the " First Parish iu North Bridgwater." Li the early part of 1824 the bell of this parish was found broken, aud Abel Kingman, Esq., Caleb Howard, Esq., and Rev. Daniel Huntington were chosen a committee to purchase a new one, JMarch 2, 1824, with discretionary power to " gitt a Bell of the wate of from 10 to 12 cwt." A bell was purchased of George H. Holbrook, of West Medway, Ma.ss., April 17, 1824, which was warranted for one year with fair common usage, and weighing twelve hundred and forty-two pounds, at an expense of $465.75. An article was inserted in a warrant for parish meeting, March 2, 1824, "To see if the Parish will agree to make any alteration in the form or shape of the Meeting House, either inside or out, or to make any repairs to either." This was the first movement toward rebuilding or repairing the old house. At this meeting it wa.s voted to make some alteration, providing that they can agree witli the pew-holders on reasonable terms. For this purpose a committee was chosen to see upon what terms the pew-holders would consent to " give up thare pews." This committee consisted of Howard Gary, Silas Packard, Capt. David Ames, Nathaniel Littlefield, Bela Keith, Eliphalet Kingman, Capt. John Packard, Capt. Asa Jones, Col. E. Southworth, Israel Packard, Capt. Jeremiah Beals, who were to report at the next meeting, which report was as follows : " 25 were willing to have their pews appraised, 24 willing to sell, 13 willing to exchange their old for new ones." " Voted not to accept of the committee's report," and also " Voted they wouldn't make any alteration iu the Meeting-House." Feb. 25, 1S25. " Voted to dismiss the article concerning alteration of the Meeting House." Sept. 4, 1820, the subject was again brought before the parish, '- To see if the Parish will agree to alter, repair, or rebuild their Meeting-House." Third Meeting-House. - A committee of fil'teen were chosen to take the subject into consideration, who reported in favor of building a new house. Oct. 23, 182(j. Voted to choose a committee of five out of town to appraise the pews in said meeting-house. Col. Royal Turner, of Randolph ; Ezra Forbes, of Bridgowater ; Wade Daley, of Easton, John Belcher, Micah Nash, of Abington, were appointed said committee, who proceeded to their duty Nov. 7, 182(), and appraised the whole, amounting to two thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. Feb. Ifi, 1827. Chose a committee of eleven to nominate three as building committee, au J six iis advising. Abel Kingman, Lieut. Isaac Packard, aud Benjamin Kingman were appointed as the building committee, and the two first named rcsiLiiiing, B. Kingman was chosen as agent to build the house, aud Belah Keith, Esq., Asa Jones, Daniel II. Gary, Col. Isaac Littlefield, Lieut. Ephraim Cole, and John Tilden, Jr., were chosen as advising committee. A committee of. five were appointed to locate the house, consisting of the following persons: Slla.s Packard, Jesse Perkins, Esq., Col. Edward Southworth, Col. Cyrus Porter, Abel Kingman, lisq , who reported in favor of setting the house its width south, and half its length west. Report accepted Jlarch 16, 1S27.

The old house was taken down in -Vpril of this year. On the first day of the week in which this was to be done, and the ground cleared for another house, a sermon was delivered by Rev. D. Huntington, the pastor of the church, from Zachariah xii. U : And Jerusalem shall be inhabited again iu her own place, even in Jerusalem." Aud as many of the society could not go abroad to worship while the new house was in process of building, it was thought best to provide temporary accommodations. For this purpo.-c an addition was made to the sheds at the southwest corner of the green, in which seats were provided I'ur the congregation, and to which the pulpit of the old house was removed. And the author has often been told that in that humble place there were many precious hours spent, and some of the most interesting seasons of religious exercise enjoyed there that ever they experienced. The new house of worship was completed iu November, so that the sheds were occupied by them during the interval of time between those dates. The house was dedicated Nov. 27, 1827, with highly appropriate aud iuteresting exercises.

Nov. 15, 1827. At a meeting of the parish the following persons were chosen a commitiee of arrangements for the dedication of the new hou.se, namely, Benjamin Kingman, Capt. David Ames, Col. Nathan Jones, Col. Isaac Littlefield, Lieut. Ephraim Cole ; also Silas Packard and Benjamin Kingman were appointed and authorized to convey the pews to those that purchased. Voted that the sale of pews take young woiuen. And again the subject of seating the colored people comes up, and it was " Voted that the South west and North west pews be reserved for the people of Colour." Jan. 14, 1828. At a meeting held this day, " To see if the parish will vote to procure a timepiece,'' it was " voted to defer the subject of getting a timepiece to a future meeting." January 2Sth, the same subject was brought Itefore the parish for action, when it was " voted not to do any thing re.specting getting a timepiece."

-' The total cost of the new house, including the furniture, as furnished at the expense of the parish, was seven thousand five hundred and nine dollars and seventeen cents. The old house sold for four hundred and three dollars and thirty-seven cents, which, deducted from the cost of the new building, leaves the nett cost seven thousaud and nincty-tive dollars and eighty cents."

Also at the same time " voted that the Parish committee be instructed to build Horse sheds for those that want them at cost. Benjamin Kingman cho.seu as agent to build them." March 24, 1828. Jes.se Perkins, Col. Edward Southworth, and Benjamin Kingman were appointed to view the ground in i'ront of the meeting-house with reference to erecting a fence, who reported in favor of erecting one, " to extend 40 feet front of the house of a circular form, of 20 Stone Posts, and Iron rods or chains." Jan. 24, 1832, a new bell was procured. Thomas Gurney and Abel Kingman, Esq., were the purchasing coniuiittee. The bell was manufactured by George Holbrook, of Medway, Mass. Also, in April of the same year, a clock was procured by subscription, which was made by George Holbrook above named, costing three hundred dollars, placed upon the church April 11, 1832. The proprietors of the clock offered it to the parish upon their paying what outstanding accounts were unpaid, which offer was accepted, and 862.88 paid for the same Monday, Jan. 21, 1833. The subject of warming the house was brought before the .society again, " To see if the Parish will procure a stove or any other apparatus for warming their meeting house." A committee of five were chosen " to get information respecting the best mode of warming their Meeting House, and to what course is pursued in other Societies, and report at the next March meeting." Turner Torrey, Lysander Howard, Darius Littlefield, Elipbalet Kingman, and Ephraim Cole committee for the above. After report of committee, Dec. 30, 1833, " Voted that they would uot consent to have a stove in our meeting house provid- injr it was done free of expense to the Parish." Monday, Au^. 10, 1835. Chose a buildin"; cotuinittee of five persons to build a parsonage-house, - Edward Soutliworth, Abel Kingman, Beojumio Kingman, Bela Keith, and Rositer Jones, committee. At last tlie parish concluded to warm tlie house, which appears by a vote passed Nov. 28, 1835. Ileman Packard, Col. E. Soutliworth, and Ephraini Cole wore chosen a committee to provide stoves for the meeting-house, - truly a moat remarkable innovation when compared with the former custonj of sitting during long sormons shivering and shaking, us though it were wicked to be made comfortable. Judging by the records this people, like most other societies, were occasionally troubled with naughty boys, a.-* April 13, 1844, " Voted to choose a number of persons to take care of the boys in the gallery." March 8, 1852 All article was inserted in the warrant, calling a inuetiiig of the parish, "To .see if tlie Parish will make a general repair and revision of their meeting hou.se, and take meiisures that may be proper to settle with the pew holders." " Voted unanimously to make u general repair and revision of their meeting house." " Also made choice of Benjamin Kingman, Cakes S. Soule, and Marcus Packard a committee to procure, plans for reseating and repairing the meeting house, and report at a future meeting." March 22, 1852. The committee appointed to get a plan for reseating and repairing " reported in favor of building a new house, and recommended that the Paris^h thoroughly review the whole subject deliberately." This report was accepted, .ind the same committee were appointed to investigate and get such information in relation to the whole matter of building and repairing their house as they may think best calculated to enable the parish to judge correctly as to what is best to be done, to examine modern built hou.ses at their discretion."

Fourth Meetings-House. - The above-named persons were chosen as building committee. April 26, 1852, Benjamin Kingman, Ozen Gurney, and Marcus Packard were appointed to settle with pew-holders, sell the old house, and provide another place of worship. Dec. 27, 1852, " Voted to instruct the building committee to proceed in building a house when the sum of Eight Thousand Dollars is subscribed." March 17, 1853, made choice of three persons to appraise the old pews, - namely, John W. Loud, of Weymouth ; Joseph Lewis, of Duxbury ; Nathan Randall, of Duxbury, were chosen.

society held a levee for social intercourse and fellowship at the Satucket Hall, Feb. 15, 1833. The object of the meeting was to increase the fund for furnishing the new meeting-house which was then talked of building. The meeting was largely attended, the weather mild, the traveling good, with a bright mooD. The meeting made choice of William P. Howard as president. The North Bridgewater Brass Band was present, and made the first impression ; then prayer was offered by Rev. Paul Couch ; then a musical treat by Isaac T. Packard ; remarks appropriate to the occasion by Rev. Paul Couch ; amusements ; refreshments for five hundred persons ; and a little later in the evening the following song was sung by Isaac T. Packard, the organist of the church :

" The storms they li;ive beat on that sacred icticut, AVhile its inmates have bowed in prayer; The lii^btnings have Hashed and the deep thunder crabbed With the notes of the chanting choir.

"Memory now can look back through time's beaten track And remember the joyful day When its frame was reared, while the workuien cheered, - To them it was sport and play.

"They saw the tower rise, pointing up to the skies, AVhile within the duep-toiied bell Gave forth the glad sound to Iho people around That the building was iinishcd well.

"Then a song for the church, the old village chmcli, Which has stood full many a year. NVe'Il sing to its praise in the loftiest lays. For we love its portals dear.

" But old Father Time, he thinks it uo crime To crumble the stateliest towers; In silence he's spaced, and the beauty defaced That was onco in this temple of ours.

"And progression appears in these later ycais To make it our duty clear That we must in our might, while contending for right, A fine new structure rear.

"Then a song for the church, for the new village church Which we hope we then shall see. In which wo may raise glad notes of praise To thee, Great One in Three.

"The work has begun, and the ladies have done, And are doing from day to day. An honorable part to encourage each heart To labor without delay.

"They have invited us here, and with right good cheer We respond to titeir festive call; And we'll do nothing worse than to till their purse, To discount in the fall,

1853, in the afternoon, wlieu the following ceremony took pluee : 1, hviun, sunf; by the children; '1, prayer, hy Rov. Charles L. Mills, of the Porter Church ; M, prayer, by Rev. A. B. Wiiceler, of the Second Methodist Kiii.scopul Church; 4, hymn, written by I.-<;iae 'I'. Packard, the oryaui.st ot the church :

'* Here on this hallowed ground we meet, And now thy blessing we entreat; Oh, may these walls in order rise, Through help that cometh from the skiea.

'' Oh, build this house, this house of prayer ! Make it the object of thy care ; Here with thy })euple ever dwell ; Here may thy saints thy glories tell.

The old iiieetinii-house was sold to Messrs. Winthrop S. Baker and Rufus P. Kingman for $1226.00, who took a lease of the land upoD which the building stood, a few feet south of where the present building DOW stands, for the term of fifty years from March 21 ,

1854, at the rate of one hundred dollars per year. The building was reniodeled and used as a hall for public nieetings until destroyed by fire Nov. 7, 1860.

Dedication. - The present new and splendid edifice was opened to the public at two o'clock on Thursday, July 27, 1854. There were present from fifteen hundred to two thousand persons, and the exercises were in the following order: 1, voluntary on the organ ; 2. chant, - " Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts ;" 3, invocation and reading of the Scriptures; 4, anthem, - " Let all the nutioiis fear ;" 5, prayer; 6, hymn, -

7, Sermon by Rev. Paul Couch, text, Isaiah ii. 2-5, showing that the house of God is to be a central and controlling power in the world's reformation ; S, hymn, anthem, - " Peace be to this habitation ;" 9, dcdic;itury prayer; 10, anthem, - " Hark ! the song of jubilee ;" 11, closing prayer; 12, hymn and doxology by the congregation. - " From all that dwell below the skies ;" doxology, - " Praise God from whom all blessings flow;" 13, benediciion.

The sermon is spoken of as having been of the highest order. Many a golden thought was presented to the people, and will be treasured by them. The singing also was of the most excellent kind, and entitled to great praise. The last liymn was sung to the tune of "Old Hundred," iu wliich the congregation joined, and seldom has that tuue been sung with such great power and in such correct time as on that occasion. The organ poured forth a flood of harmony from which no deviation could be made, and every one present seemed pleased with the arrangements and detail of the exercises. The day was pleasant and the attendance very large.

Description of the Church. - Few hou.^^es are to be found in the country that will eomj)are favorably with this. Its exterior is rendered attractive and pleasing to the eye by its beauliful proportions, which, while they present and possess unusual strength, are so arranged that the whole appearance is not only satisfactory, but very graceful and imposing. The length of the building is ninetysix feet, width sixty-four feet, with a spire one hundred and eighty-five feet in height, and contains one hundred and sixteen pews on the floor and twentyeight in the gallery. It is built in the Romanesque style of architecture, designed by Messrs. Towle & Foster, of Boston ; was built by Samuel Vaughn, of Boston. The pews are all neatly carpeted, cushioned, and upholstered, both in the gallery and below. The gallery contains a large and beauliful organ, built by W. B. D. Simmons, of Cambridge Street, Boston, which was finished iMay 17, 1854. On entering the building we find on the first floor a vestry of good size and a large room, carpeted and well furnished, for the use of the Ladies' Association connected with the society. In tiie rear of these rooms are two convenient and well-;HTaiij;L'd tenements, which are rented. Aseendini; fioiu the luuin entrance on either side stairs of Very easy grade we find ourselves in the vestibule, truin which wo enter the auditory or ascend to the i^;cllcries. The interior effect is exceedingly fine. The spacious floor, well-arranged pews (all uuilorm and somewhat richly upholstered), the ample L'allerics (not pri^jectiiig from the sides with huge overshadowing effect, but rather relieving the height and presenting a corresponding finish j, the chaste and elegant pulpit, finely-frescoed walls and ceiling are in perfect harmony with each other and their desigu and uses, and beautifully wroULiht without glaring effect. Upon the west end of the building, on the ceiling to the left of the pulpit, is the following inscription : " Ye shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary. I am the Lord." To tlie right of the pulpit is the following : " The Lord hath chosen Ziou. He hath desired it for his habitation." The outlay in erecting this house, including the organ, was about twenty-four thousand dollars. The fir.-t sale of pews took place on Monday following the dedication, at which seventy-three pews were sold for the sum of $22,282.50. The choice-money paid Was S17-ll).50. After the sale there were fortythree pews remaining unsold on the floor of the auditory, many of which were very desirable, and several in the galleries, all of which were carpeted and furnished as below.

The bell that belonged on the old church, when sold, was transferred to the new house above described in June, 1854. The following legend was upon the same :

This bell, after having done many years of faithful service, gave out but a short time after it was removed ; for we find, Sept. 5, 1855, a new bell was purchased of Messrs. Henry N. Hooper & Co., of Boston, weighing two thousand and thirty-five pounds.