[233] Mr. Turell was not pleased with the conduct of the popular Whitefield, and did not scruple to say so. Mr. Turell Tufts, son of Dr. Simon Tufts, writes thus concerning this subject:--
There were some zealots in Medford, who were desirous that their minister should invite Mr. Whitefield to preach in his pulpit; but he opposed it strongly; and, to justify himself, he preached a sermon from this text: “I will magnify my office.” And I remember, on a day when Drs. Thatcher and Osgood dined with my father, he read some striking passages to them from that sermon; and they said that it was probably the best sermon that Mr. Turell ever delivered.When Mr. Turell was ill, Mr. Whitefield did get into his pulpit. Oct. 7, 1770, Mr. Turell preached a sermon on the death of Mr. Whitefield, from this text: “Verily, every man at his best estate is altogether vanity.” April 18, 1768: The number of church-members was 49 males, and 74 females; total, 123. March 7, 1774: “Voted, that the singers have the two hind seats of the women's seats below;” and the Committee shall designate who shall occupy said seats. May 20, 1776: “Voted, that the singers have one-half of the three front seats in the women's gallery, next to the women.” Age, with its accompaniments, gathered upon the pastor; and he was frequently obliged to ask assistance from the young preachers of the college, who cheerfully bestowed the “labor of love.” As he was known to possess some property, the town voted the annual salary of £ 80 with less zeal than they should. May 14, 1772, the vote stood 18 yeas, and 14 nays; but, as Mr. Turell was unwell, they voted £ 50 to supply the pulpit. May 24, 1773: Mr. Turell continues sick, and the following is “Voted, unanimously, to grant the Rev. Mr. Turell the sum of £ 66. 13s. 4d., annually, for his salary during his continuance in the ministry in said town.” In September, 1774, he received a colleague, on whom the chief labor devolved, and for four years enjoyed his release from ministerial anxieties. On the 5th December, 1778, he died of old age, having reached the seventy-seventh year of his life, and the fifty-fourth of his ministry. He was buried on the 8th. “Mr. Lawrence prayed; the President of Harvard College, Rev. Mr. Cushing, Rev. Mr. Clark, and Rev. Mr. Woodward, bore the pall.” The following Sunday, Mr. Osgood
