[218] Jan. 4, 1714: It was voted “that such persons as shall read the psalm in the meeting-house shall sit in the deacon's seat.”
June 17, 1715: Voted that such persons as shall contribute on the sabbath-days any silver money or black-dogs towards Mr. Porter's salary, shall be allowed, out of the minister's rate, what he thus contributes.A deposition was made before the authorities at Boston, July 29, 1701, that “dog or lion dollars had been counterfeited.” March 9, 1720: Deacon Thomas Willis, on account of old age, resigns his office in the church; and in the next month, April 6, Mr. Percival Hall is chosen in his place. Before this choice was made, the church voted that not a plurality of votes among the candidates, but a majority of all the votes cast, should be required to constitute a choice. At this time it was voted by the church, that--
Such members of other churches as come to reside among us, with a desire to continue with us, should be required to obtain a recommendation from the churches they came from, and so put themselves under the watch of the church in this place; and if they refuse to do so within one year after their coming among us, without giving the church a satisfactory reason for their neglect, they shall be denied the privileges of members here.May 17, 1721: The town passed the following vote:--
To invite Mr. John Tufts, of Charlestown, to sit at the table in our meeting-house; and also his wife to sit in Captain Tufts's pew, by his consent.Aug. 2, 1721: “At a church-meeting, Thomas Willis, jun., was chosen a deacon for this church.” There are no records of marriages or funerals during the ministry of Mr. Porter. He baptized one hundred and twelve persons, and admitted twenty-six to the church. The above extracts contain all the facts of general ecclesiastical importance recorded during the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Porter. They prove to us several interesting particulars. They leave us to infer that our Medford ancestors selected the right man for their first teacher and pastor,--a peacemaker, who poured the oil of Christian love upon the troubled waves of the Woodbridge storm. His learning, discrimination, and wisdom are seen in his decision of the case brought
