Social Library-1794.

In the year following he formed the design of es tablishing a social Library. Having communicated his intention and obtained a sufficient number of subscribers, on the 6th of January 1794, a meeting was called and the society organized.

1812

A voluntary annual assessment on the shares, together with a constant accession of new members, enable the executive Committee to make yearly additions to the Library and provide for necessary repairs. In January 1812, the Society was incorporated by the name and style of the "Proprietors of the Social Library in the town of Chelmsford." The Library consists of 350 volumes, and is a collection of well chosen, useful books. Among which is Doctor Rees' Cyclopædia, the most valuable and expensive work, ever printed in this country. The number of members is about eighty. The price of a new share three dollars and fifty cts. The Library may be estimated at about a thousand dollars.

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The writer laments the necessity he is under, as an historian, to record an event, which sullies the well earned reputation of the town for justice and kindness to their ministers.

For one hundred and forty years no record is to be found of the town's refusing to make up depreciations in the stated salary or to grant the requests

1794-Maj. John Minot gave ten dollars to the town, for the purchase of a new pall.

1794-A plan of the town was taken by order of Court.--95,a committee of 12 chosen to inspect schools.

1799-Voted to lay out a road from the meeting house to golden cove. It was accordingly laid out but not made.

1800-"The town voted that the petitioners from the north east part of Chelmsford be set off to unite with a part of Dracut; and that the little canal, so called, should be the line between Chelmsford and the con templated parish

1801-The Hearse built.

of their Pastors for needed assistance.* This This year the Rev. Mr. Packard requested the town to make up the depreciations in his salary; but the town dismissed the article without acting upon it. At a subsequent meeting they agreed to add 201, to his salary for six years. This vote was reconsidered at the next meeting, and the addition granted was not assessed until after it was found to be recoverable by a legal pro

Dec.

Mar.

cess.

Mr. Packard's pecuniary embarrassments conspiring with the general aspect of the times and peculiar circumstances of the place seemed to intimate to him the imperious duty of dissolving his ministerial relation with this people and church and seeking an establishment in some part of the Vineyard of the Lord, which promised a more ample reward for his labors, and held out a brighter prospect of useful

ness.

The best illustration of his views and feelings and the most honorable testimony, we can give of his correct sentiments and feelings on this momentous subject, will be found in the proposals he made to the town for a dismission.

July 5, 1802.

"You cannot be unacquainted with my embarrassments, nor with my wishes and endeavours to extricate myself from them and secure a comfortable living among you. You all must be sensible that the means of building, buying, or securing any permanent place of residence are without my reach.

"When I take into view my own situation and that of the town I am led to hope that my removal on the whole will not disserve the cause of religion in this place, and I am persuaded will be to my

See Memorial in 1817.

own advantage. My good wishes will attend you and your children; and I hope that every step we take will be such as will bear reflection!

As my ministry has been short in this place, it may be expected by many that I refund a part or the whole of my settlement. This subject I acknowledge deserves enquiry and adjustment. And I now declare myself willing to pay to the town whatever part of that sum may appear due after the following reasonable deductions.

I. The usual period of ministerial life is found by calculation to be 28 years. The part of that period I have spent with you claims its proportion of my

settlement.

II. To retain the spirit of the civil contract between a minister and his people the value of his salary must be preserved. The town therefore will not shrink from an impartial enquiry into the depreciations of my salary, nor decline an allowance equal to their just amount.

III. Having put the ministerial lot into a better condition, it is reasonable that the money laid out upon it over and above the receipts should be refunded."

On the foregoing principles an adjustment was made between the town and Mr. Packard, and the civil contract dissolved July 5, 1802*

July 11

"The church chose a committee and in

vested them with powers to dismiss and recommend their Pastor."-A council being called, sanctioned the foregoing transactions, and together with the aforesaid Committee recommended the Rev. Mr. Packard to the work of the Ministry wherever Divine providence might call him.

A door of more extensive usefulness was providentially opened to him at Wiscasset in the District of Maine, where he was installed Sept. 8, 1802.

Mr. Packard's valedictory sermon, was preached Aug. 1, 1802, from Rom. 15; 1, 2, 3

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SECTION VÍ

AT no period perhaps since the first settlement of the town were the minds of the people so disaffected towards one another as after the dismission of Rev. Mr. Packard; neither were they ever placed in circumstances so unfavorable to the re-establishment of the gospel ministry. Grieved and sadly disappointed by his removal, many could hardly brook the thought of a successor. Some were indifferent to religion, and indisposed to encourage the maintenance of its institutions. The north eastern section of the town were desirous of uniting with ɛ part of Dracut to form a new Society; and had been aking great exertions for several years to accomplish their object. Under these circumstances the prespect of a speedy resettlement of the christian ministry was doubtful and gloomy.

But time, which often changes men's feelings as it does their circumstances, had in the course of a year altered in some degree their dispositions towards one another; and the force of habit, uniting with a sense of duty and love of order, produced a general wish to re-establish the stated ministrations of the

pas

word and ordinances of God. Accordingly the church and town with a harmony hardly to have been expected, invited the compiler to take the toral care of them. They offered him for his support a salary of 500 dollars per year, and a settlement of 333 dollars. He accepted their invitation and proposals, and was ordained Nov. 16, 1803.

First Carding Machine.

THOSE discoveries and improvements in the mechanic arts which facilitate the attainment of the necessaries and conveniences of life, deserve the care and patronage of the friends and benefactors of mankind. Mr. Moses Hale in 1801, first set up a carding machine in his mill on river meadow brook. During the year 1802, he carded eight thousand pounds, and between ten and eleven thousand the succeeding year.

Lodge-1808.

SOMETIME in the year 1808, sundry brethren from the towns of Chelmsford, Dracut and Tewksbury, petitioned the grand Lodge of Massachusetts for leave to erect a new Lodge in Chelmsford at Pawtuckett falls. The grand Lodge, having taken this request into their most serious consideration, granted a charter, authorising certain persons from the aforesaid towns to constitute and organize a Lodge under the superintendance of Capt. Isaac Coburn, Master, and by the name of Pawtuckett Lodge in Chelmsford. Oct. 12, 1809, the Lodge was consecrated in Due Form. In 1815, it was removed to the centre of the town, where its meetings are now regularly holden.*

*The grand Lodge was conducted by the most worshipful Timothy Whiting, Esq. of Lancaster, as grand Master. It was opened in the morning with prayer by the Rev. E. Ripley, grand Chaplain of Concord.The public solemnities were introduced by an address to the throne of grace, from Rev. Thomas Beede of Wilton. A discourse was delivered by the Compiler, from Philip. 4-8, and published at the request of the fraternity.

1812 -The desk was newly trimmed. The front and sides were coyered with red damask silk, the floor with a carpet, the seat with a cushion, and the window ornamented with curtains. A suit of clothes was also given to the pastor. All at the expence of the Ladies, amounting about $89.

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