MR. BARSTOW'S DEDICATION SERMON. 7 1 



The heartiness and zeal which the people manifested in building 

 the house recall the spirit of those who built the Tabernacle in the 

 Wilderness and the first Temple in Jerusalem. For all the other 

 church buildings the money had been raised by votes of the town, 

 and it was made a town matter. Now no money would the town 

 appropriate, and the money must be raised by voluntary contribution. 

 We can get some idea of the enthusiasm that was manifested and of 

 the sacrifices that were made when we read " that almost all the 

 active women and girls cut off half of the long fringe of their shawls 

 to make a rug for the pulpit." " Many a poor girl offers to give half 

 she is worth for the object," and " one lady said she would rather her 

 husband should sell half his farm than that the undertaking should 

 fail." And it did not fail. At the beginning of the following year 

 Mr. Todd could write, in addition to all the labor they expended, 

 " In one year my people have raised $8,873." The union of the 

 two churches, which was contemplated at the time when the name 

 was given to this church, was not consummated until the year 1830, 

 when one pastor of the first Orthodox Church (so called to distinguish 

 it from the present first Parish Church) with several of his flock was 

 formally received into the Union Congregational Church, and the two 

 churches became one in name, as they had been from the first in 

 sympathy and fellowship.^ 



During the sixty-two years that this house has stood, there have 

 been nine pastors, who have labored with the church for a year or 

 longer, all but two of whom have been regularly installed. The 

 longest pastorates have been those of Reverend Mr. Bulkley, of 

 thirteen years and four months ; Mr. Phelps, twelve years and eleven 

 months ; and Mr. Robie, nine years and eight months. The average 

 term of service has been six years and four months. The church 

 building itself has been remodelled three times. In 1846 the ques- 

 tion was agitated about raising the building, but it was finally decided 

 to raise the floor four feet, and the old Vestry was then put in. Be- 

 fore that time the prayer meetings were held in the little room over 

 the church. 



The greatest change in the audience room was made in 1S69, 

 when the choir-gallery was lowered, the old-fashioned pulpit taken 

 away, and new and more comfortable seats put in. 



^ This refers to those members of the First Parish Church who had 

 from the beginning sympathized with the new Society, but who had not 

 as yet dissolved their connection with the old one. — Editor. 



