36 History of Hingham. 



the broad aisle, for the deacons. The two latter pews were re- 

 moved in 1828. The central space or body of the house was oc- 

 cupied by long oaken seats for the occupancy of males on one 

 side of the broad aisle and of females on the other. These seats 

 were removed from time to time, until the whole space was cov- 

 ered by pews. In 1799 five pews were built in the front of ench 

 side gallery, and in 1804 the same number in the rear of those 

 first built, making twenty in all. At subsequent dates all the 

 side gallery pews were removed and new pews built in their 

 places, viz. : eight in the eastern gallery in 1854, the same num- 

 ber in the western gallery in 1855, and in 1857 four were built in 

 the eastern, and four in the western, galleries. In 1859 four pews 

 were built in the front gallery, and in 1868 four more had been 

 built in the same gallery. 



In 1822 stoves were introduced for the purpose of heating the 

 house. 



In 1869 the present new pews were built on the floor of the 

 house, furnaces were introduced, and extensive repairs were made. 



On the occasion of the reopening of the meeting-house, Sept. 8, 

 1869, appropriate services were held to commemorate the event. 



In 1867 an organ was placed in the front gallery. Previously 

 to this date for many years the choir had been accompanied by a 

 flute, bass-viol, and other instruments at various times. In 1869, 

 at the time of the general repairs, the location of the organ was 

 changed to the platform on the easterly side of the pulpit, and in 

 1870 a new and larger organ was purchased. It is the one now 

 in use. 



The parish seal was adopted in 1869. It consists of a picture 

 of the meeting-house in the centre, surrounded by an ornamental 

 circular border, which is encircled by another, leaving a space 

 between the two in which is the following : — 



"LET THE WORK OF OUR FATHERS STAND, — 1681." 



In 1870 the Parish received from Hon. Albert Fearing the gift 

 of a lot of land adjoining its other land on the southerly side, 

 " being a part of the land granted to Robert Peck, Teacher of the 

 First Church in Hingham, in the year 1638," as the deed of the 

 same recites. 



Aug. 8, 1881, very interesting and impressive exercises were 

 held in the meeting-house in commemoration of the 200th anni- 

 versary of the building of the house. Mr. Charles Eliot Norton, 

 a lineal descendant of the second minister, during whose ministry 

 it was built, delivered the principal address. At this time a tab- 

 let of brass, set in mahogany, was placed upon the wall on the 

 westerly side of the pulpit, containing a list of the ministers, and 

 a statement relating to the building of the meeting-house. 



Jan. 8, 1882, a discourse was delivered by Rev. Edward A. Hor- 

 ton, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the opening of 

 the meeting-house for public worship. 



