32 History of Hingham. 



unanimous. " Behold, there ariseth a little cloud, like a man's 

 hand," and soon "the heaven was black with clouds and wind, 

 and there was a great rain." There was great disaffection on 

 the part of a large minority, and an eventual separation of those 

 opposed to Mr. Richardson's settlement. The controversy has 

 been described as the second " sad, unbrotherly contention " in 

 the town ; and it is certainly to be regretted that a more con- 

 ciliatory spirit was not shown on both sides. At this distant 

 day, more than three quarters of a century after this unfortunate 

 event, we may look calmly and without prejudice upon the jeal- 

 ousies and unwise actions of our ancestors. Whether the differ- 

 ing sentiments and opinions of the members of the parish 

 upon matters not pertaining to their spiritual welfare would have 

 ultimately found some other cause for dissension, or whether the 

 season was already ripe for action, of course, it is impossible to 

 say. History, however, deals with facts and not opinions, and 

 the statement of the cause of this unhappy difference must be 

 confined to the fact that a large number of the members of the 

 church and congregation found it impossible to continue their 

 connection with their ancestral religious home under the minis- 

 trations of Mr. Richardson. The result was the formation of the 

 " Third Congregational Society," which was incorporated Feb. 27, 

 1807. The effects of this separation were of long continued dura- 

 tion. The harmony of the town was disturbed in consequence of 

 it. Happily the olive branch of peace was long since held out 

 and accepted and we may well hope that the words of Scripture 

 may find in this town no verification in " visiting the iniquity of 

 the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, 

 unto the third and to the fourth generation." 



Rev. Joseph Richardson, the fifth minister, was born in Bille- 

 rica, Feb. 1, 1778. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 

 1802, and was ordained pastor July 2, 1806. During his ministry 

 he filled various public offices. He was a member of the conven- 

 tion for the revision of the State Constitution, in 1820-21. He 

 was a member, by repeated elections, of the Senate and House of 

 Representatives of Massachusetts, and was elected to Congress 

 for the term commencing March 4, 1827, and was re-elected for 

 the term commencing March 4, 1829. He continued to per- 

 form his parochial duties until the spring of 1855, when, on ac- 

 count of increasing infirmities of age, his active ministry ceased, 

 and Rev. Calvin Lincoln was, with Mr. Richardson's consent and 

 approval, settled as associate pastor. Mr. Richardson's official 

 connection with the parish ended with his death, Sept. 25, 1871, 

 in the ninety-fourth year of his age, and the sixty-sixth of his 

 ministry. Appropriate services were held in commemoration of 

 the completion of the fiftieth year of his ministry, on which occa- 

 sion Mr. Richardson delivered a discourse ; and on Feb. 1, 1863, a 

 sermon prepared by him was read by the associate pastor, from 

 the text, " And now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years 



