Native Ministers. 351 



" Of this last meeting, David Sprague was chosen Moderator, and Isaac 

 Backus, Clerk. At the first meeting Elder Sprague was chosen in com- 

 pany with Elders Weeden, Lee, and Beck, to visit Middleborough, Mass., 

 and sit in council on the troubles there, in the church of Mr. Backus. The 

 decisions of these two councils in Exeter were in favor of open communion. 

 Elder Sprague, being a strict Baptist in his views, shortly after left not 

 only the New Lights, but the pastorate of the Exeter church. 



" The first record which we have been able to find is of a meeting 

 Sept. 17, 1757, at the meeting-house, to hear from their pastor, Elder 

 Sprague, the reasons for his long absence ; he not being present, the church 

 adjourned to Oct. 1, 1757. At this meeting, at the desire of Elder 

 Sprague, the proceedings of a council, held at the meeting-house July 15, 

 1757, were read, after which he 'read an epistle in which he laid down 

 many reasons for his not meeting with us for a long time, and also enjoined 

 many things for the church to remove, confess, and retract before he could 

 walk with us.' Deacon Joseph Rogers attempted some reply, which Elder 

 Sprague would not hear, and abruptly left the house. On the 19th of 

 November following the church next met, and after reading the result of 

 a council held on the 3d of November, which advised and entreated them 

 to withdraw from their pastor, they proceeded to read a letter of with- 

 drawal, which Deacons Joseph Rogers and Philip Jenkins had previously 

 prepared, which was adopted, and messengers appointed to carry it to 

 him. 



" Soon after, Deacon Philip Jenkins felt it to be his duty to preach the 

 gospel and take the watchcare of the church, but the church not being 

 agreed on this matter, he left it, together with a number of those who 

 were attached to him. Deacon Joseph Rogers about the same time had a 

 grievous difficulty with another brother, in consequence of which Rogers 

 also left the church. From this time, 1759, until 1763, it appears that no 

 business meetings of the church were held. 



"The records again commence May 21, 1763, with Solomon Sprague 

 for Moderator. Soon after this the church unanimously voted that they 

 felt that he was the man to lead them on and take the watchcare of the 

 church; but his mind as yet was not clear on that point. In July, 1766, 

 David Sprague, their former pastor, returned, and was cordially received 

 to their membership. He also in the same meeting offered himself and his 

 gifts to the church to lead them on as a pastor; but they declined the 

 offered service as evidently showing that their minds were fixed upon the 

 son as their choice for a leader. During his absence from the church he 

 had preached for a season at New London, Conn., and on Block Island. 

 After his return the church were evidently in accord with their former 

 pastor on those points which once divided them, they having adopted his 

 views, viz., that scriptural baptism was prerequisite to communion. He 

 died in Exeter, in 1777, after a ministry of forty years. He was a man of 

 pure character, superior abilities, happy address, and winning spirit." 



Joseph Thaxter [III. 233] was the son of Deacon Joseph 

 Thaxter, and was born in Hingham, April 23, 1744. He was 

 graduated at Harvard College in 1768, after which he taught 

 school for some time in Hingham. When the Revolutionary War 

 broke out, in 1775, he was preaching as a candidate for the ministry 

 at Westford, but on the advance of the British towards Lexington 

 he mounted a horse and rode to Concord, armed with a brace of 



