History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts - citizen hylbom blog

144 HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY
ill order to a settlement." The record continues :
" We offer ourselves ready to do what may be com-
fortable either by obtaining a suitable place or
granting such gratuity as may procure that may be
satisfactory according to our present circumstances
in these troublous times." His acceptance drew
forth a formal and hearty expression of " their
thanks for his gratifying answer to their call," and,
more than this, the vote of a gratuity of £100.
Their choice proved eminently satisfactory; for
nearly twenty-seven years he labored among them,
and took rank among his brethren in the ministry
as a leader on account of liis talents, his high char-
acter, and his brilliant attainments. The Marlbo-
rough Association was formed at his house in 17:25 ;
it existed eighty-nine years. Mr. Breck published
four sermons : one preached at Slirewsbury hi 1720 ;
two discourses on the accession to the church of
fifty persons mostly in early life ; and the Election
Sermon of 1728.
He was a man of the prelatic type, a master in
the liumanities, a profound and orthodox tlieologian,
a trenchant polemic, an able preacher, of a grave
deportment, somewhat reticent, possessed of much
personal dignity, and devoted to the supjiort of
public order, withal catiiolic in spirit and given to
hospitality. His fondness and appreciation of the
sacred classics, as well as his linguistic skill, are
illustrated by the fact that it was his work to trans-
late the Hebrew liible to his family. The last line
of his epitaph indicates the veneration in which he
was held : " Prophetse ipsi non in seculum vivuiit."
He was a Harvard graduate of the class of 1700.
He died January 6, 17;31, aged forty-nine.
Mr. Benjamiu Kent Avas called, at a salary of
£180; and a gratuity of £400 was voted on his
settlement. His ordination took place October,
1733. In less than a year and a half he was de-
barred from the ministry on account of heretical
views concerning the doctrines of the Trinity and
election. He was a man more secular than sacer-
dotal or even religious in his modes of thought
and methods of action ; more fit for the profes-
sion of the law than of the Christian ministry of
that day. At the same time he was characterized
by loyalty to principle, breadth of vision, and mag-
nanimity of spirit. He would have a|>p('ar('d a
greater man at a later period.
Unha])pily, other than doctrinal dili'crenccs intervened
between Mr. Kent and his late charge. The
town record, March 22, 1736, sufficiently indicates
the state of aflair.s : "It was put to vole whether the
town would impoMer their committee lately chosen
to defend the town against Mr. Beiij. Kent in an
action said Mr. Kent had commenced against the
town for sallery : to bring forward an action or
actions against Mr. Kent for recovering from him
the money he has received of the said town as they
think by fraud and as set forth in the warrant and
it passed in the afHrmative." Much commotion
ensued on Mr. Kent's dismissal, September, 1735.
The second Wednesday was set apart to seek Divine
guidance by prayer and fasting, with the view of
preparing the way for the choice and settlement of
a new minister ; embarrassments constantly arose :
if the church was agreed on a candidate, the town
negatived the proposition; if both church and town
were agreed, the candidates declined. Two years
elapsed ; another fast-day was held, and neiglibor-
ing ministers were invited to advise them in their
difficulties. The cost of the first council was
£01, and the exjjenses of both were assumed by
the town.
In the following October the town chose Mr.
Joseph Rice as an agent to answer the present-
ment of the town of Marlborough, at the last Su-
perior Court held at Charlestown, for not having a
settled minister. But this interference was with-
out effect, for the church continued without a pastor
some two years longer ; not till December
24, 1739, was harmony restored and a minister
chosen.
Some thirty young people of the northeast part
withdrew from the strife, seeking mutual sj)iritual
edification in an association which met on Lord's
Day evenings and other times for religious wor"
ship. It is supposed that their ulterior aim was
to found a meeting in their neighborhood.
Rev. Aaron Smith was called, at a salary of £80
a year in bills of credit of the New Tenor and a
settlement of £400, Old Tenor. He was ordained
June 11, 1740. It is thought the house now owned
by Mr. William Gibbon was built for him; here
he lived throughout the time of his residence in
the town. He graduated at Harvard in 1735. His
pastorate was, on the whole, prosperous; the church
numbered, in 1767, one hundred and sixty-four
members ; toward its close his popularity waned,
owing, in part, to his enfeebled health, and the
suspicion of royalist sympathies; although in Dr.
Allen's judgment there was not sullieient reason
for callhig in question Iiis patriotistn.
The animosity of some unknown fanatical ])eo|)le
manifested itself in a brutal assault in 1777; two