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Sept. 3, 1767: “At a church meeting, the brethren unanimously agreed to sing Dr. Brady and Mr. Tate's version of the Psalms in the forenoon of the Lord's Day (only), and the New England version in the afternoon, for six months; and, if no objection shall be made to it, then to sing Dr. Brady and Mr. Tate's version for the future.” April, 17, 1768: “No objection being made, we began this day to sing them.”These few copies of the church records comprise all the facts touching the action of the Medford church during Mr. Turell's ministry. They show a period of remarkable peace, in agreeable contrast with the sharp divisions of an earlier time. The following facts, gathered from various sources, are interesting, as they show us the ideas and conduct of our fathers. April 26, 1730: Mr. Turell preached a sensible and timely discourse in favor of inoculation for the smallpox. Aug. 7, 1730: Catechism day, Friday, Mr. Turell preached a sermon to the children, after he had questioned each one from the catechism. This annual exercise, or rather annual fright, served to recommend religion to the young much as a dose of medicine foreshadowed health. “March 5, 1739: Captain Ebenezer Brooks, Mr. John Willis, and Mr. Jonathan Watson, chosen a Committee to report what is necessary to be done to Mr. Turell's fences.” When the Rev. George Whitefield, of England, came to this country, as a missionary of the cross, to wake up the dead churches, and pour the breath of life into the clergy, he spoke as one who had authority to blow the trumpet of doom. He returned to England, in 1741, for a visit, but left behind him followers who had neither his wisdom, nor his eloquence, nor his piety. Against these preachers many good men arrayed themselves, and Mr. Turell among the rest. He published, 1742, a pamphlet called “A Direction to my People in Relation to the Present Times.” In this book, he calls on his people to distinguish between the fervors of their excited imaginations and the still small voice of God's effectual grace; he also cautions them against believing in multitudinous meetings as the best places for true gospel learning and Christian piety; he furthermore suggests the expediency of not narrating their religious experiences, for fear that spiritual pride will take the place of humility; he openly blames those preachers who travel about, and, without being asked, go and act the bishop in other men's dioceses. In this pamphlet,
