1749 October 11 (Wednesday). Mr. Devotion and Cogswell to Boston. Mr. Whipple, one of the Delegates of the Church, came and accompany’d me to Shrewsbury. Captain Baker the other Delegate came afterwards. There met at Colonel Nahum Wards the following Churches. Mr. Lorings,[1] Mr. Williams’s[2] of Weston. Mr. Gays[3] of Hingham, Southborough, second of Bradford, and first of Westborough. We waited all the forenoon for the old South in Boston and the first Church in Cambridge, but they came not. After Dinner we form’d into Ecclesiastical Council. Mr. Loring was chose Moderator. Mr. Williams and I were chosen Clerks. Then proceeded to the Meeting House. Moderator pray’d and we had an Hearing of the Cause — the Complaint was by Mr. Isaac Stone[4] against Dr. Joshua Smith,[5] touching Original Sin. N.B. Mr. Balch[6] pastor of a church in Bradford, and of the Council, was observ’d to turn Advocate for Dr. Smith. At Eve I return’d home, there being a great Number of young Men husking my Corn this Evening.
[1]The Reverend Israel Loring of Sudbury.
[2]The Reverend William Williams.
[3]The Reverend Ebenezer Gay.
[4]Lieutenant Stone was one of the first selectmen of Shrewsbury.
[5]The physician of Shrewsbury.
[6]The Reverend William Balch of Groveland (Second Church in Bradford) was an Arminian in theology.