[111] In this year thirty dollars were drawn for the purpose of encouraging singing. The following memorandum was made on the Precinct Records: ‘July 1804, the Meeting House belonging to the Rev. Thaddeus Fiske's Society was raised and no man hurt thereby.’
The record book of the Northwest Parish of Cambridge Singing Society contains the Constitution of the Society, with this preamble: ‘As music constitutes one very essential part of public devotion, and as its spirit is become something languid, and its genius seems about to withdraw; we, the subscribers, being fully inspired with these ideas, do form ourselves into a Society for the purpose of reviving the spirit, and improving ourselves in the art of music. Justice our principle, Reason our guide and Honor our law.’ The first article of the Constitution provides for an annual meeting of the Society on the first Monday in December. The second, for a president, secretary and treasurer; and to be chosen every six months, one chorister and four assistants, one for the tenor, two for the bass, and one for the treble, whose duty was to instruct in their respective parts of music, also to select the music, appoint meetings for practice, and purchase requisite materials. Article fifth imposes a fine for nonattendance of members, &c., and every member shall sit in the singing seat on Sundays when he is at meeting. The articles number eleven, and are dated June, 1804, when the names of the members were,— Artemas Kennedy, Ephraim Cutter, Benjamin Harrington, James Hill, Daniel Locke, Jason Kennedy, John Perry, Isaac Locke, Timothy Swan, Amos Locke, William Hill, Jr., David Hill, Joseph Adams, Amos Hill, William Wyeth, Amos Davis, Ichabod Fessenden, Ebenezer Hall, Jr., William Adams, Jr., Samuel Hill, Walter Russell, James Russell, Jr., Francis Locke, Jr., Thomas Fillebrown, Daniel Wilson, Moses Cutter, Joseph Hill, James Cutter, Jr., George Swan, Benjamin Cutter, Jr., John Wilson, Joel Frost, James Fillebrown. On Dec. 5, 1804, Artemas Kennedy was chosen president, Isaac Locke secretary, A. Kennedy chorister, Daniel Locke and John Perry bass assistants, Isaac Locke tenor assistant, Jason Kennedy treble assistant, James Hill treasurer.1
