Ecclesiastical History. 61 



Rev. Sylvanus E. Frohock was the next minister. He was 

 graduated from Brown University, in 1889. His first settlement 

 was in Old Warwick, R. I., where he was ordained in 1886. He 

 was pastor of this church from April 6, 1890, to Feb. 14, 1892. 

 During his pastorate, in the winter of 1891-92, extensive im- 

 provements were made in the interior of the meeting-house. 

 New pews, a baptistery, and an organ were put in and the in- 

 terior otherwise made attractive and convenient. 



Rev. Irving Eugene Usher entered upon the duties of pastor 

 August 28, 1892. He was graduated at Madison (now Colgate) 

 University, Hamilton, N.Y. in 1887, and took a partial course in 

 the theological seminary there. He was first settled in Charles- 

 ton, N. Y., where he was ordained in 1887, and remained there 

 two years. From June, 1889, to June, 1892, he was at McGran- 

 ville, N. Y. Since his settlement here four persons have been 

 admitted to the church, two of them by baptism. 



All the settled ministers, with the exception of Mr. McLean, 

 Mr. Ufford, and Mr. Usher, have been graduates of the Newton 

 Theological Institution. 



A church library was established as early as 1830. 



Deacon Joshua Thayer died Feb. 26, 1874. ' By his will, he de- 

 vised his homestead, on Elm Street, near the meeting-house, to 

 the deacons of the church and their successors forever, in trust 

 for the church and society, for the purposes of a parsonage. The 

 first deacons to receive a deed of this property were Joseph Ripley 

 and Levi Hersey. 



The first deacons were chosen in 1835. The following per- 

 sons have held that office : Joshua Thayer, Nicholas Litchfield, 

 Issacher Fuller, Joseph Ripley, Levi Hersey, Walton V. Mead, 

 Martin T. Stoddard, and George W. Horton. 



This society has never been large, and its growth has not at 

 any time in its history been rapid, yet an earnest purpose to 

 adhere unswervingly to evangelical truth has always prevailed 

 among its members ; and from a small beginning amid opposi- 

 tion which amounted to persecution, the growth has been healthy 

 and full of promise to those who have felt that they were devoutly 

 " contending for the faith once for all delivered to the saints." 



