OLD HOMESTEAD 



but from private information I learned that Brother Van Ettan 

 had become too gay. 



The last two entries in the record are dated July 6 and 13, 

 1843, and relate to an unfortunate quarrel which had then sprung 

 up between Brother Alfred Webb and Brother Robert Piddock, 

 and, as usual, instead of making any attempt to settle and smooth 

 the matter over, the church very promptly voted to receive the 

 complaints and investigate the same. They had various meet- 

 ings and adjournments, and finally voted "to call a council of 

 ministers and delegates from four sister churches, in Rodman, 

 North Adams, Smithville and Mannsville," thus extending the 

 quarrel to neighboring towns. In fact, it seemed to be the most 

 interesting part of their church work and duties to discipline 

 their brethren. 



The charges generally were of a trivial character, as shown 

 by the extracts given. That the difficulty between Mr. Piddock 

 and Mr. Webb in itself amounted to nothing if the church had 

 let it alone, is shown by some loose papers in the case which I 

 found among my father's. I also found a statement drawn by 

 father and left with him, signed by both Piddock and Webb, 

 agreeing to be good friends and neighbors, and forgive each 

 other and live peaceably and friendly — a thing which would 

 have happened long before had not the church helped to make 

 *' mountains out of mole-hills;" but Deacon Webb and Brother 

 Piddock were good fighters, and when the church people ranged 

 themselves on one side or the other, they also braced in and 

 made a personal and church quarrel that lasted for a year or two 

 and resulted in the complete rupture and disorganization of the 

 institution. 



129 



