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He left behind him many aching hearts, and many warm friends, who will not forget how he labored among them as “ a good minister of Jesus Christ” in all faithfulness and love.
Mr. Bigelow baptized 66 persons; married 37 couples; officiated at 105 funerals; and admitted 26 communicants to the church.
The parish-committee, consisting of
Messrs. John Symmes,
Jonathan Brooks, and
John King, engage
Mr. Caleb Stetson, a graduate of Harvard College in 1822, to preach as a candidate for five sabbaths.
At the close of his engagement, the parish passed the following votes :--
Jan. 8, 1827: “Voted unanimously to give Mr. Caleb Stetson an invitation to settle with us as our minister in the gospel.”
“Voted unanimously to give Mr. Stetson one thousand dollars salary.”
“Voted to give Mr. Stetson one thousand dollars over and above his salary, to be paid on the day of his settlement with us; which sum has been raised by subscription for that purpose.”
Jan. 16:
Mr. Stetson accepts the invitation, and on the 28th of February, 1827, was ordained.
The council was composed of the following clergymen, with their delegates:
Rev. Dr. Kirkland and
Dr. Ware,
Cambridge;
Dr. Holmes,
Cambridge;
Dr. Lowell,
Boston;
Rev. Aaron Greene,
Malden;
Rev. Henry Ware,
Boston;
Rev. James Walker,
Charlestown;
Rev. Convers Francis,
Watertown;
Rev. Joseph Field,
Weston;
Rev. George Ripley,
Boston;
Rev. Samuel Ripley,
Waltham;
Dr. Fiske,
West Cambridge;
Rev. Charles Brooks,
Hingham;
Rev. Francis Parkman,
Boston;
Dr. Foster, Brighton;
Rev. Thomas B. Gannett,
Cambridgeport;
Rev. Bernard Whitman,
Waltham;
Rev. Charles Briggs,
Lexington;
Rev. Edward B. Hall,
Northampton;
Rev. Ira H. T. Blanchard, Harvard.
In the organization of the council,
Rev. President Kirkland was chosen Moderator; and
Rev. Charles Brooks, Scribe.
After the usual religious services, the council examined the doings of the church and congregation relative to the dissolution of the pastoral relation of
Rev. Andrew Bigelow, and found them regular.
They next examined the doings of the church and congregation relative to the call of
Mr. Stetson, and found them satisfactory; whereupon they voted to proceed to ordination.
The services were assigned as follows: Introductory prayer and reading of the Scriptures, by
Rev.