5o6 n I STORY OF COH ASSET. 



faithfulness to it before the two new parishes were split 

 off had been hard enough to endure, but when a con- 

 siderable number from the most devout members of the 

 first parish transferred their allegiance to the new ones, 

 the loss was irreparable. 



Moreover, the State laws passed at various times had 

 removed the church taxes so that those who preferred to 

 support no church, as well as those who preferred* a dif- 

 ferent church, were free to neglect the old one. Those 

 who remained loyal had to increase their voluntary con- 

 tributions to make up for these losses. 



But there is no evidence that their losses diminished 

 the number of worshipers in the old church. 



The number admitted into full communion during the 

 nine years 1825-34 was thirty-five, nearly equal to the 

 number during the preceding period of nine years. 

 When to this thirty-five we add the seventy-three mem- 

 bers which were admitted into full communion in the new 

 Congregational Church during the same nine years 1825- 

 34, it becomes evident that the religious interest of the 

 town was much increased by the rupture in the old 

 parish.* 



Measuring also by the standard of money contributed, 

 the religious efforts of the town were much increased; 

 for while the salary of the old parish was not diminished 

 but rather increased, that of the new one upon the plain 

 soon grew to be six hundred dollars a year in addition. 

 This, moreover, leaves out of the count the financial sup- 



* A LIST OF PASTORS OF THE FIRST PARISH (UNITARIAN) 

 CHURCH. 



Rev. Nehemiah Hobart, December 13, 1721-May 31, 1740, 



John Fowle, December 31, 1741 1746. 



John Brown, September 2, 1747-October 22, 1791. 



Josiah C. Shaw, October 3, 1792-June 3, 1796. 



Jacob Flint, January 10, 1798-October, 1835. 



Harrison G. O. Phipps, November 18, 1835-December, 1841. 



Joseph Osgood, D.D., October 26, 1842-August 2, 1898. 



William R. Cole, December 9, 1896- 



