[250] Cambridge; Dr. Abiel Holmes, Cambridge; Dr. Thaddeus Fiske, West Cambridge; Dr. John Foster, Brighton; Dr. Charles Lowell, Boston; Rev. Francis Parkman, Boston; Rev. James Walker, Charlestown; Rev. Aaron Greene, Malden; Dr. Aaron Bancroft, Worcester; Dr. Ezra Ripley, Concord; Rev. Convers Francis, Watertown; and Rev. Charles Brooks, Hingham. The council met on this day. Rev. Dr. Ripley, Moderator; and Rev. Mr. Francis, Scribe. After all the doings of the town and church relating to the call of Mr. Bigelow had been considered, and all other requisite inquiries had been made and answered, the record says,--
It was then moved, that the council, being satisfied with the doings of the church and society, and with the literary, moral, and theological qualifications of the Rev. Andrew Bigelow, do now vote that they are ready to proceed to installation. Before this motion was put, some discussion took place relative to the manner in which a dissolution of the pastoral tie (between the minister elect and people), should that event ever occur, should be conducted; and it was objected to by some members of the council, that nothing was provided in the terms of settlement respecting the calling, in the above event, an ecclesiastical council. After this discussion, the original motion was so far modified as to stand as follows:-- Voted, that though this council deem it expedient, in ordinary cases, that the separation of a minister from a people be the result of an ecclesiastical council, yet they are so far satisfied with the doings of the church and society, and with the qualifications of the candidate, that they are ready to proceed with the installation of the Rev. Andrew Bigelow as pastor of the church and congregation in this town.The religious exercises were in the following order: Introductory prayer, by Rev. Charles Brooks; sermon, by Rev. Dr. Bancroft; prayer of installation, by Rev. Dr. Holmes; charge, by Rev. Dr. Ripley; right hand of fellow-ship, by Rev. James Walker; concluding prayer, by Rev. Convers Francis; benediction, by the pastor. These several services (the prayers excepted) were published together by a vote of the parish. Mr. Bigelow was born in Groton, Mass., May 7, 1795, and graduated at Harvard College 1814. After studying law for a short time, he turned with his whole soul to the study of divinity, and spent some time at Edinburgh, Scotland. May, 1820, he was ordained as an evangelist, and labored with zeal and success at Eastport, Maine, and at
