Medford Historical Society Papers, Volume 11.

After the death of Mr. Fay, the firm was reorganized with C. A. Richardson and W. L. Greene as partners. This co-partnership, with Mr. Richardson as office editor, continued until 1867, when Mr. James at the age of seventy-seven retired. It was with great reluctance that Mr. James severed these ties of business. In July, 1866, he wrote his partners: ‘I had hoped that our present arrangement and ownership in the Congregationalist might have remained as they are during the short remainder of my life, or at least till my son found himself so circumstanced as to be able deliberately and uninfluenced to either accept or reject a partial interest in the concern. . . . Not merely as an investment but because the paper has become dear to me as the object of much anxiety, interest, expenditure and prayer.’

At that time he sold to Messrs. Richardson and Greene each a twelfth part of the paper, making them equal partners with himself; and made an agreement to sell the third, which he retained, on July 1, 1868, provided his son did not wish to continue in the business.

He writes further, ‘I have confidence in your judgment and ability. I believe I give you credit for all that you have done for the paper. I hope the paper may continue to increase in prosperity just as much for your sakes as my own; and still more, for the good it may do.’

In 1867 Rev. Horace James, having returned from the south, was able to carry out his father's dearest wish and assume his place in the business. Each of the three partners then contributed equally to merge the Boston Recorder—the oldest religious paper in the country—with the Congregationalist. Rev. Henry Martin Dexter was admitted as the fourth member of the firm and the name was changed to W. L. Greene and Company.

After his memory was breaking down, the deacon still clung to his Congregationalist, and would read it straight