June 11, 1745

1745 June 11 (Tuesday).  I have discover’d that though Ebenezer performs his Tasks of Lessons, yet he has an inward heavyness and drops now and then a word how glad he Shall be to be at Work upon the place, how much better the place Should Soon be if he Should labour etc.  I therefore took the Opportunity this Morning to talk with him, and I once More still gave him Liberty to Choose what Method of Life Should Suit his Genius best.  I rode to Boston by the Way of Captain Barnards[1] of Marlborough, to Association.  The following were present.  Messrs. John Prentice,[2] Loring, Cushing, Cook, Barrett, Stone, Seccomb,[3] Smith, Goss, Marsh,[4] Morse, Millen; and Mr. Buckminster was voted in.  Mr. Martyn also and Mr. Nathaniel Gardner,[5] Candidates were there.  After Prayer arose a Sharp and Vehement insisting for my transcribing into the Association Book, the minutes of the Meeting[6] at Mr. Smiths in Marlborough, last January when a Testimony was drawn up against Mr. Whitefield, but which I Strenuously deny’d and gave my Reasons for my Refusal of it.  It was desir’d that Mr. Stone would but he refus’d also; and though his Reason was that he had no more authority than anybody Else, he being Clerk only for that Meeting, yet when it was about to be put to Vote that he might be authoriz’d by the Association to do it, he still refus’d.  I repeatedly offer’d, and entreated that I might resign the office of Clerk.  I had now that the Burthen of it for 20 years, and it was Time Somebody else Should take a Turn.  But it was not granted — except by a Member or Two — of which Mr. Marsh was chief, who several Times desir’d that a New Clerk might be Chose.  After long Contest about recording those Minutes (it being of an out-of-Season, out-of-place Meeting, and when besides the Business of that Meeting, Two Members were admitted and one old Member dismissed) Mr. Barrett offer’d himself that if the Association Should appoint him to transcribe Mr. Stones Minutes into the Book, he would do it, which accordingly they did.  Then Mr. Martyn (the Concionator not being present) deliver’d an Exercise on Mat. 16.27, which no one Member (I think) was Satisfy’d with, he therein advancing that there would be no rewards in the future world according to Mens Works, untill the General Judgment.  But the Chief Subject of Conversation was Mr. Whitefield.  Collections were unthought of (I Suppose) by the Moderator.  They were never call’d for.  After Supper at Mr. Goss’s, Mr. Stone and I went home with Mr. Martyn and lodged there.

[1]Robert Barnard was a miller and tavern keeper. Hudson, Marlborough, 313.

[2]Rev. John Prentice of Lancaster.

[3]Rev. John Seccomb of Harvard.

[4]Thomas Marsh of Mansfield, Conn.

[5]Nathaniel Gardner (HC 1739), a Boston schoolmaster. SHG 10:366-368.

[6]See Allen, Worcester Association, 24.