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[p. 78] Foster and Taylor succeeded the firm of Sprague and James in the ‘Labor in Vain’ yard.
After Mr. Taylor went to Chelsea, Mr. Foster carried on the business there and built the last Medford ship, in 1872.
Other apprentices well known in Medford for years were Roland Jacobs, John Stetson and Elijah Ewell.
In youth, Mr. James attended the Congregational church in South Scituate, which his mother joined in 1813, but the old school clergyman there never attracted his interest.
Very early in life he left home, as I have said, to work in various places, and in Salem he boarded with Baptists and attended church with them.
He became interested in their methods but never subscribed to their creed.
From that time, however, he became interested in religious matters.
While in Milton, he attended the church of Mr. (afterward Dr.) Codman, in Dorchester.
He preached the orthodox doctrine of predestination and its attendant beliefs.
His congregation was divided for and against him. A council was called which decided that he should remain in his pulpit.
The next Sunday, Mr. Codman found eight men at the foot of the pulpit stairs blocking his entrance.
He established himself in the deacon's seat.
There he conducted the opening services, during which another preacher was admitted to the pulpit.
Mr. Codman continued, preached his sermon, pronounced the benediction and retired with his followers.
Then the second minister carried on another service, after which he lunched in the pulpit and as soon as possible conducted the afternoon worship.
At the usual hour Mr. Codman again appeared and delivered his afternoon discourse.
Galen James, the young apprentice, attended this quadruple service, and I have told the story because I think the incidents of that day made an impression on his mind which was the key to his later actions in regard to religious controversy and his adoption of his creed.
In this time of excitement, Galen James determined to read the Bible and formulate a theory of his own, rather
Medford, MA. 1908.
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