68 FACTS RELATING TO GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS. 



DEDICATION AT GROTON. 



The meeting house of the First Parish in Groton, having been 

 thoroughly repaired and remodelled into a more commodious and 

 beautiful church, was dedicated on Wednesday, May 20, to the service 

 of Almighty God and the religion of His Son. Rev. Mr. Chandler of 

 Shirley made the Introductory Prayer and read the Scriptures. Rev. 

 Mr. Bates of Ashby made the Dedicatory Prayer. Rev. Mr. Wells, the 

 pastor, preached the Sermon. Rev. Mr. Babbidge of Pepperell offered 

 the concluding Prayer. After some happy allusions to the thoughts 

 that must fill the minds of the worshippers in leaving their old seats, 

 and to their present anticipations and prospects, the preacher took 

 for his text, i Cor. iii. 11, " For other foundation can no man lay than 

 that is laid, which is Jesus Christ," and divided his sermon into three 

 heads, viz. Jesus Christ the foundation of our faith, practise and peace, 

 — each of which was forcibly and happily illustrated. The discourse 

 was well adapted to the occasion, was characterized throughout by its 

 charitable spirit and practical bearing, and listened to with profound 

 attention and interest by a large audience. The day was pleasant, the 

 house was full, and the singing was of high order. We sincerely con- 

 gratulate this ancient society in their efforts to secure the blessings of 

 Public worship and a more convenient church. A floor has been 

 thrown under the galleries, the lower part is finished off for a town 

 house and vestry, and the upper part taken for the church, which is 

 neat and finished. The pulpit, with the communion table and chairs 

 are of black walnut, the expense of which was over $300. May the 

 society long enjoy the worship of God in the church they have thus 

 fitted up for his service, and long be blessed with the ministrations 

 of their devoted Pastor. We hope their example will be followed by 

 other parishes, who worship in those large and inconvenient houses 

 which were erected for the use of the town, when there was but one 

 religious society ; have pulpits of some twelve or fifteen steps ; pews 

 several feet square and seats facing in every direction ; in which the 

 worshippers are annoyed by the heavy falling of seats ; which require 

 double the amount of fuel that modern churches do, to warm them in 

 the winter, and in which, with all the means used to warm them, the 

 worshippers are shivering with the cold and consequently can profit 

 but little by the instructions imparted. No pains ought to be spared 

 to render our places of Public Worship attractive, not by their splen- 



