in consequence, but infrequent church services on the Lord's day, and a gradual decline of all religious interest became apparent. This condition of things continued until 1829, when Rev. Russell Streeter of Watertown purchased a farm in Shirley, and became a resident here. He was at once engaged to statedly supply the pulpit of the Universalist Society, and became its minister without the usual form of induction. He continued his pulpit and pastoral duties, with varied success, until 1834, when he removed to Woodstock, Vermont. There he resided and preached until 1847, when he removed to Portland, Maine, the place where he had previously labored in the gospel.

During the eleven years that intervened between the dismissal of Mr. Streeter and the remodelling of the meeting-house in 1846, the society availed itself of the partial services of ministers from other towns. For a part of this time it employed, every alternate Sunday, Mr. John Pierce of Lunenburg, a young man of much promise, who early fell a victim to consumption. It also secured the labors of Rev. Mr. Pope of Sterling, half the time, for one or two years; and for a similar time Mr. Harriman of Harvard was employed-since governor of New Hampshire. But after the completion of the improvements in the meeting-house, Mr. Josiah A. Coolidge, -late of Petersham,-was engaged to constantly supply the pulpit. He accordingly removed to town, and was connected with the society for two years, when the connection was dissolved, and he removed to Lexington, where he obtained a more permanent settlement.

In 1849 Rev. Benton Smith, who had been ministering in Hardwick, received an invitation to make Shirley his place of residence and become the pastor of the First Universalist Parish. He accepted the call, and very acceptably performed the duties of the sacred office for the space of five years. At his own request his connection with the society was then dissolved; and he removed, first to South Reading, and then to Chatham, situated on

Cape Cod. He now resides in Boston, as agent of the Universalist Publishing House. Mr. Smith has always retained a warm interest in the welfare of the society, and has kindly labored in its behalf, both by word and deed.

Soon after the departure of Mr. Smith, the society engaged the Rev. Orren Perkins to supply their pulpit for one year. Mr. Perkins was a man of urbane manners, of pleasing address, and possessed a well-cultivated intellect. He was a frequent contributor to the periodicals of his denomination, and while he resided in Shirley published a sermon occasioned by the loss of the steamer Arctic, which was a highly creditable performance.

In 1855 Rev. E. W. Coffin, who had previously labored with a society in Gloucester, became minister of the Universalist Society in Shirley. His connection with it, however, lasted but two years, when he received a dismission and removed to Jaffrey, New Hampshire. During a part of the second year of his engagement in Shirley he connected with his ecclesiastical responsibilities the care of a day-school. His fidelity in the discharge of his duties, in both departments of labor, secured for him the merited esteem of his patrons and friends. His removal from town was a source of general regret.

Soon after the departure of Mr. Coffin from the pastorship of the society Mr. George F. Jenks of Salem was appointed to discharge the duties of the vacant office. After a probation of several months he was invited to accept a permanent settlement. He was accordingly ordained May 5, 1858. The following order of exercises was observed on the occasion:

Invocation and reading of the scriptures by Rev. H. A. Eaton; sermon by Rev. G. H. Emerson-text, I Cor., i, 21: "For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." The prayer of ordination was offered by Rev. Sylvanus Cobb, who also gave the charge to the people; charge to the pastor by Rev. S. Ellis; right-hand of fellowship by Rev. Quincy

Whitney, and benediction by the pastor installed. After a quiet and successful ministry of over three years Mr. Jenks was dismissed from his charge, and entered another field of labor and usefulness. His retiring habits, unobtrusive manners and truly Christian demeanor, commended him to the respect of his parishioners and to the good-will of the entire community.

In April of the year 1861 Mr. Cyrus B. Lombard came to Shirley, and was engaged as a minister of the Universalist Society for an indefinite period. He entered upon the duties of his engagement without the usual form of induction, and for two years labored in word and deed with a due degree of acceptance to the people of his charge. His pulpit talents were creditable, and his voice and graceful delivery commended him as a public teacher of divine truth. His whole term of service was five years: yet he had periods of absence for months in succession during the latter half of his engagement. During his residence in Shirley he buried his wife, who was a very interesting and worthy woman. He removed to Springfield, Illinois, and became a resident of that city.

In the year 1866 Ezekiel Fitzgerald entered upon ministerial relations with the Universalists of Shirley, and sustained those relations a little less than two years. He began his labors under what was considered favorable auspices, but before long found it congenial with his interest and happiness to dissolve his connection, which promised but little of gospel fruit to either party. He soon entered into an engagement with the Congregational (Unitarian) Society at Bolton, and removed to that town.

After the completion of the new church, Mr. H. A. Philbrook became the resident minister of the Universalist Society. He sustained that relation with honor to himself and success to his parishioners for nearly two years, when he removed to Nashua, New Hampshire, where he found a larger and more congenial sphere for his ministerial operations.

From the time that Mr. Philbrook left town, which was December 7th, 1872, until the close of the year 1874, the pulpit was supplied by transient preachers, living in and out of town; but, at a meeting holden January 1st, 1875, it was voted "on account of the embarrassing times and stagnation in business," to suspend public services in the church for a season. In May, 1876, these services were resumed, and during the October following Mr. J. W. Keyes was engaged as preacher. He was a native of Dunstable, New Hampshire, but came to Shirley from Auburn, New York. He continued his ministrations until April 1, 1879, when he removed to Pawtucket, Rhode Island. From that time to December, 1880, the pulpit was supplied by transient ministers, chiefly undergraduates from Tufts College. At this latter date Mr. James Vincent was appointed the pastor of the society on a salary of $900.

This latter settlement gives some promise of permanency; a result devoutly to be desired, in view of the evil of frequent changes, such as have been recorded in this chapter. Certain advantages may be derived from such a course which are not realized under more lasting engagements; but these advantages are offset by evils that cannot be numbered for multitude. To make the connection what it was designed to be-a thorough relationship between pastor and people-time must be allowed for thorough acquaintance which cannot be the work of a few years.

The first church connected with the Universalist parish was gathered under the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Wood; and, while his connection with the society lasted, the ordinances were duly observed; but, during the long interval which subsequently occurred, when the people were without a stated ministry, the ordinances were discontinued, and the church, as a separate organization, became extinct.

During the pastorship of Mr. Coolidge a new church was organized, consisting of twenty-one members. This

church was publicly recognized on the first Sunday in January, 1847; and it then received the gift of a new communion service, presented by Mr. Joshua B. Fowle of Boston.

At its second organization there were but two persons left of the former communion, established by Mr. Wood; all the others having left town or been carried to their long homes.

Under the ministry of Mr. Smith, five persons were added to the number of communicants, and during the pastorship of Mr. Jenks twelve more made a public profession of religion.

Connected with this parish is a Sunday-school. It was established when the society was without a stated ministry, but has been quickened and enlarged under the care and oversight of the several resident pastors. For the use of this school, and for adult reading, a library has been gathered, consisting of from seven to eight hundred volumes. These books have been carefully covered and kept, and as arranged upon shelves make an imposing appearance. A good library is of inestimable worth to a religious community.

A ladies' charitable association is also connected with this assembly of worshippers. Through the labors of this institution the upholstery of the second meeting-house was furnished, and some other important fixtures for the church were also supplied. The wants of the Sundayschool have been met from the same source; so, likewise, have the funds of the parish been relieved, from year to year, by this ever-ready charity.

On the whole this may be set down as a working ecclesiastical community, through whose well-directed labors much personal as well as general good has undoubtedly been realized, and from whose labors an influence will continue to go forth by which the town will be variously and essentially benefited.