[241] and patiently heard and duly considered, proceeded to the business of ordination. In the meeting-house the church publicly renewed their call; and Mr. Osgood publicly accepted. Introductory prayer, by Rev. Mr. Willis, of Malden; sermon, by Rev. Mr. French, of Andover; ordaining prayer and charge, by Rev. Dr. Appleton, of Cambridge; right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Cook, of Cambridge; concluding prayer, by Rev. Mr. Searl, of Stoneham. The result of this council was right. The charges against the character of Mr. Osgood were not sustained so as to disqualify him for the office of a Christian minister; and the charges against his Calvinistic opinions were such objections to them as all Arminians would offer. It was not to be expected that a town would be defeated in its choice of a pastor, when sixty-seven votes out of seventy-two were for a favorite candidate. It was certainly a high compliment to the “quality and rank of the opposers” that they induced Mr. Osgood to give a negative answer to the first invitation; and it appears from all the documents that the aggrieved party were sincere and reluctant opposers of their fellow-communicants. They deemed loyalty to truth and obedience to Christ paramount to all earthly and personal considerations; and however we, at this day, may differ from them, we must accord to them a conscientious desire to promote the glory of God and the good of the church. A proof of their love of peace was found in the fact, that, on the morning after the ordination, three of the opposers of it waited together upon the new pastor; when Thomas Brooks, jun., Esq., addressed him thus:--
Rev. Sir,--We opposed the giving you a call, and we opposed your ordination; we did thus from our deepest convictions of duty to Christ and his church ; but, as we have failed in all our efforts, and you are now to begin your ministry among us, we have come here to tell you that our opposition to you ceases, and that you will find us constant attendants on your ministrations, and ready to aid you in your holy work.Dr. Osgood toll the writer of this, that he found these gentlemen among his most generous and attentive parishioners. The ministry of Mr. Osgood commenced just as the revolutionary earthquake began to terrify the Colonies; and politics seemed to devour all other topics. He early took side with the friends of freedom ; and, for many years during
