[123] which contained a cursory sketch of the town and parish. The title is this:—
‘A Discourse, delivered April 23, 1809, completing just Twenty-one years from the Author's settlement in the work of the ministry, being the Anniversary day of his Ordination.—By Thaddeus Fiske, A. M., Pastor of the Congregational Church and Society in West Cambridge.—Published by Request.—Cambridge: Printed by Hilliard and Metcalf, 1809.’ Pp. 34. Text: Job XVI. 22.After enlarging on his duties as a minister to the church and society, he proceeds as follows:—
Many changes and events have taken place in this church and congregation, and many alterations and improvements been made in this town, within the term of twenty-one years, to the review of which I now proceed. The incidents of our own lives, though trivial in themselves and unimportant to others, are often very interesting and important to ourselves. Almost an entire change has appeared on the face of society here. The inhabitants are in a great measure changed. Twenty-one years ago this place was noticeable for aged people. There were then twenty-eight persons from about seventy years and upwards. There is now but four men who have arrived to seventy years. There is one woman,1 in her eighty-seventh year; and five others who have reached the common term of life. “Your fathers, where are they?” They are gathered to the great congregation. The children have risen up in their stead, and occupy the places they have left. “One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh.” The members of this church also are mostly changed. But ten males and thirteen females, who then were resident members, now remain among us; they are either dead, or removed to other churches. The church then consisted of twenty-six males and thirty-one females; thirteen have been removed to other churches, eighty-eight still remain. One hundred and fifty-one couples have been joined in marriage by your pastor, one or both of which belonged to this parish or town. Four hundred and nineteen have been baptized;2 of which number thirty-one were adult persons. Three hundred and forty-three have died; of this number two lived to the great age of one hundred and one years [Anna Winship, d. Feb. 2, 1806, and Thomas Williams, d. Feb. 5, 1809]; four between ninety and one hundred; nineteen between eighty and ninety; and twenty-six between seventy and eighty; hence fifty-one reached or survived seventy years. From
