1746 May 21 (Wednesday). Rainy Morning. Mr. Gay and his sister set out when it was moderated. Mr. Barrett here going to the Ordination. My Wife went over with me. Met at Lieutenant Holloways. Messrs. Prentice, Cushing, Gardner,[1] there already. Mr. Loring and Mr. Hall[2] did not come, So that there were but 5 Churches. Mr. Prentice Moderator. Mr. Barrett Clerk. The Church of Westborough refus’d to join in the Council till the Votes of Said Church were Scann’d and judg’d of. The Council judg’d them Valid; yet they requested the advice of the Council whether all Things consider’d it could be, nevertheless, advisable for them to Act? Who Still advis’d to it. Upon which they join’d in Council. Objections were brought in (about 12 o’Clock) by Messrs. Wheeler, Jacob Rice, and Timothy Fay, but when debated on by the Council they were Voted insufficient to be any Barr to proceeding. We went to meeting 1/2 after 4 p.m. Mr. Barrett began with prayer. I preach’d on Heb. 13.17. Mr. Gardner gather’d the Church which consisted of Ten, viz. Ephraim Alen, John McAllister, Joshua Dowsing, Jonathan Livermore, John Caruth, Matthias Rice, Gershom Fay, Silas Fay, [blank] Shepherd and Samuel Allen. Mr. Prentice gave the Charge, Mr. Cushing the Fellowship of the Churches. Sung Ps. 66 from number 17 one staff and 1/2. It was almost night when we broke off. An unhappy accident befell a young man by the Fall of one of the Supporters of the Gallery. He was knock’d down to the Ground and seem’d Stunn’d for a while, but he was taken up and grew better. It was that son of Mr. Nathaniel Oake who has already met with Many Sad Disasters — but God be prais’d he yet survives! After Supper we were accompany’d home by Sir Williams and three young scholars more. Baldwin,[3] Cook,[4] and Richardson,[5] who all lodg’d here. And thus we have seen another Church founded in this Town and another Pastor ordain’d: And may the God of infinite Mercy forgive all my unfaithfulness to those who have been under my Care! may all that has been unrighteous, and blameworthy in them be pardon’d of God! May that Church be a Pure Golden Candlestick and the person Set up therein be a Starr, a burning and Shining Light! May we all be united in Faith and Love! that we may have Sweet Communion, mutual assistance and Consolation here, and meet together in the heavenly Glory at last — through Christ Jesus. Amen! Besides my having So much Company of late to Shorten my Pasture, a Number of Horses, chiefly from Captain Maynards, have broke in for Several Nights.
[1]Reverend John Gardner of Stow.
[2]Reverend David Hall of Sutton.
[3]William Baldwin (Harvard 1748).
[4]William Cooke (Harvard 1748).
[5]Gideon Richardson (Harvard 1749).