THE TOWN'S CHURCH AND ITS DIVORCE. 363 



In valley of death's shade although 



I walk, I '11 fear none ill : 

 For thou me with thy rod also 



Thy staff me comfort will. 



Thou hast 'fore me a Table spread, 



In presence of my foes 

 Thou dost anoint with oyle mine head. 



My cup it overflows. 



Goodness and mercy my days all 



Shall surely follow me : 

 And in the Lord's house dwell I shall 



So long as days shall be. 



Harmony in singing was much desired by the more 

 ambitious ones, and it was partially procured by getting 

 the singers to sit nearer together. 



In the year 1771, when we had become a town, it was 

 ordered that " the Singers should sett in those two hind 

 seats in the body of the Meeting-house, the Women's 

 side." 



This move was so popular that another seat was added 

 the next month by putting them closer together. 



Three years later, 1774, the town again regulated its 

 worship by a vote " not to omit the portion of Psalms 

 read by the Deacons in time of Divine Service." Thus 

 both in externals and internals the town provided public 

 worship. 



The next year, 1775, the noon intermission was regu- 

 lated by vote to be two hours long in the summer from 

 the first Sunday in April to the first Sunday in October. 

 The rest of the year the intermission was to be but one 

 hour long. 



In 1 78 1 the singers asked to be allowed to sit in the 

 front gallery, but they were not permitted to do so. 

 They gained their purpose, however, at last, for seven 

 years later, in 1788, they had evidently moved into the 



