members of this body into another and separate church, agreeably to their request." Churches to form the council were called, by pastor and delegate, from Berkley, Boston (Central Church), Easton, Fairhaven, New Bedford, Newport, Providence (High Street and Richmond Street), Seekonk, Taunton, and Randolph.

Organization of Central Church

November 16, A.D. 1842

The council met November 16, 1842, and organized by choosing Rev. Luther Sheldon, of Easton, moderator; Rev. Erastus Maltby, of Taunton, scribe; and Deacon R. S. Bourne, of Providence, " attestant" scribe. After listening to, and duly considering, the statements of pastor and people, the council voted " that it is expedient to organize the members requesting it into another church, to be called the CENTRAL CHURCH IN FALL RIVER." The articles of faith and covenant presented by persons applying, and approved by the council, were the same as those of the mother church. Voted, "to proceed to the organization of the new church this evening at seven o'clock."

The following persons, seventy in number, were dismissed from the First Church for the purpose of organization, namely: Samuel Barnard, Mrs. Ann Barnard, Mrs. Abby W. Borden, Mrs. Phoebe B. Borden, Melvin Borden, Israel Brayton, Slade Brayton, Tillinghast Briggs, Mrs. Parnell Briggs, Samuel Chace, S. Angier Chace, Miss Elizabeth G. Chace, Miss Minerva Chace, William Coggeshall, Mrs. M. A. Coggeshall, Miss Hannah E. Coggeshall, Miss Betsey Cook, Miss Mary A. Carer, John S. Cotton, Williams A. Burt, Mrs. C. B. Brayton, Charles C. Dillingham, Mrs. Mary A. Dillingham, Nathan Durfee, Mrs. Delane B. Durfee, Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee, Mrs. Sylvia B. Durfee, Mrs. Lucinda T. Durfee, Mrs. Mary S. Durfee, Joseph Durfee,

Mrs. Ruth Durfee, Miss Harriet A. Durfee, Miss Elizabeth V. Durfee (Mrs. William Carr), Mrs. Sarah Durfee, Miss Eliza Dean, Miss Frances M. Dunlap, Miss Lucretia D. Dean, Jesse Eddy, Mrs. Sarah P. Eddy, Benjamin Earl, Mrs. Nancy S. Earl, Henry H. Fish, Mrs. Eliza Ann Fish, Amery Glazier, Mrs. Ann C. Glazier, Miss Mary E. Gardner, Miss Eleanor Gray, Miss Prudence Gray, Harvey Harnden, Prince G. Hayden, Mrs. Ann Hayden, Mrs. Hannah Hathaway, Mrs. Susan Hathaway, Daniel Leonard, Mrs. Anna R. Leonard, Miss M. A. Leach, Miss Mahala T. Manchester, William T. Nichols, Mrs. Welthe Paine, Hale Remington, Mrs. Catharine G. Remington, Mrs. Amelia Simmons, Mrs. Hannah Sweet, Miss Ann Smith, Nicholas Taylor, Mrs. Hannah M. Winslow, Henry Woodward, Mrs. Eliza A. Wood, Lucas C. Young, Mrs. Mary Ann Young. Only one of this number is now living, Miss Elizabeth V. Durfee (Mrs. William Carr). Subsequently other members from the First Church joined the Central Church.

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Did space permit, mention might well be made of many pleasant reminiscences of our charter members. Of them it can be said, in the words of Paul to the Corinthians, cording to the grace of God which was given unto us, as wise master builders, we have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon." They builded well; ours was a strong foundation, built on a "City of Rocks."

Most of them have gone on to know more and more about the perfect service given in the upper house.

They have fought the good fight of faith and won the victory, and "their works do follow them."

Others, since, have borne the heat and the burden of their day. Others, still, are now giving their strength and energy to the great structure, building wisely and well, remembering the promise,

"He that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto eternal life: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together."

The public exercises of the organization of the Church were as follows: Prayer, Rev. J. O. Barney, of Seekonk; sermon, Rev. William M. Rogers, Central Church, Boston; formation of the Church, Rev. Luther Sheldon, Easton; consecrating prayer, Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, Richmond Street Church, Providence; right hand of fellowship, Rev. Charles Hitchcock, D.D., Randolph; concluding prayer, Rev. Charles Chamberlain, Berkley. The Church was thus duly organized in accordance with established usage, and the council adjourned.

After the organization of the Church and until a place for regular services could be provided, business and conference meetings were held at the dwelling houses of the members. Six days after organization, a church meeting was held at the house of Dr. Nathan Durfee, when the following officers were chosen: Samuel Chace, clerk; Nathan Durfee, Charles C. Dillingham, and Tillinghast Briggs, Prudential Committee; Samuel Chace, William Coggeshall, and Daniel Leonard, Financial Committee; Henry Woodward, treasurer. A committee of three was appointed, viz., Amery Glazier, Jesse Eddy, and Benjamin Earl, to draft a code of rules and regulations for the government of the Church, and report at an adjourned meeting, to be held ten days later. The adjourned meeting was held at the house of C. C. Dillingham, when the committee submitted their report. The report was accepted, its articles, rules and orders separately considered, and finally adopted as the code of regulations for the government of the Church. In the year 1833, the Pocasset Manufacturing Company erected a large brick building called the "Pocasset Block," on the corner of South Main and Pleasant streets. "The Pocasset House," a hotel, occupied the greater part of the block; but a large room on the second floor, with an entrance on Pleasant Street, was called "Pocasset Hall," and was let for meetings of various kinds, lectures, concerts, etc. When arrangements were made by the Church, in December, "to

hold services by ourselves on the Sabbath," Pocasset Hall was selected as the place best suited to the needs of the Church; Dr. Glazier was chosen to secure the hall; Dr. Durfee was appointed to procure pulpit supplies; Henry H. Fish was made treasurer of foreign missionary funds; and Benjamin Earl, Samuel Chace, Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee, and Mrs. Daniel Leonard were appointed collectors to solicit contributions for foreign missionary work. Thus early in the annals of the Church appears "The American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," in whose welfare it has ever had a deep and abiding interest, as the annual contributions for its support amply testify.

Organization of the Ecclesiastical Society

January 20, A.D. 1843

1843. About the middle of January, upon request of Amery Glazier and others, a warrant was issued by James Ford, Esq., justice of the peace in the county of Bristol, for a meeting to be held in Pocasset Hall, January 20, 1843, at half past seven o'clock in the evening, for the purpose of organizing the Ecclesiastical Society of the Church. The meeting was held at the time and place appointed, and the Society was legally organized and incorporated under the name of the "Central Congregational Society." The signers of the call

The applicants, and all others who had become members of the Society by subscribing to the by-laws, appointed the officers

A committee was appointed to

for the ensuing year, and transacted all business legally coming before them. Edward S. Chase was chosen treasurer and collector; and Richard Borden, Samuel Chace, and Samuel B. Hussey, assessors. The common seal was adopted as the seal of the corporation. report, at an adjourned meeting to be called three days later, what building lots could be obtained, and prices. At the time appointed, January 23, 1843, the committee reported that two lots were available, one situated on the west side of North Main Street, nearly opposite Bank Street, known as the "Bennett lot" which could be obtained for five thousand dollars; the other, known as the "Massasoit lot," situated on the northwest corner of Bedford and Rock streets, owned by Bradford Durfee, Nathan Durfee, Joseph Durfee, and Mrs. Fidelia B. Durfee, could be had as "a donation to the Central Congregational Society, for the erection of a house of public worship thereon, if said lot would answer the wishes of the Society."

The Society accepted the latter lot agreeably to the terms proposed, and chose a committee - Nathan Durfee, Harvey Harnden, Joseph Durfee, and Samuel Chace - to prepare a plan for a House of Worship, with probable cost thereof, and to report one week later. Benjamin Earl was appointed agent to receive the deeds of the lot in behalf of the Society. During the week allowed them, the committee consulted Mr. Russell Warren, an architect of Providence, R. I., who referred them to a meeting house recently erected by the First Baptist Society in Pawtucket, R. I., which he thought would meet their wishes. They visited the church, examined it in all its details; conferred with the committee who built it concerning the cost; procured a loan of the plans, and were ready to report at the time designated, their hearty approval of these plans, and to recommend their adoption in the main, as suitable for the Society. The report was accepted, and after an extended conference, and a thorough examination of the borrowed plans, they were adopted.