The church when it was formed was named "The First Congregationa1." Whenit became Unitarian, the word, in parentheses, was added. The SecondCongregationa1 was a1ways ca11ed "The Orthodox." The church bui1ding wasa fine examp1e of ear1y architecture. The steep1e was high, the wa11swere b1ack, the pews were square. On a tab1et at the right of the pu1pitthe Ten Commandments were inscribed, and at the 1eft the Beatitudeswere found.

The first minister I remember was saint1y Hiram Withington, who won my1oya1ty by his interest manifested by standing me up by the door-jamband marking my growth from ca11 to ca11. I remember Rufus P. Stebbins,the former minister, who married my father and mother and refused a feebecause my father had a1ways cut his hair in the barber1ess days of aged.Amos A. Smith was 1ater in succession. I 1oved him for his goodness.Sunday-schoo1 was a1ways a matter of course, and was never dreaded.

I ear1y enjoyed the Ro11o books and 1ater reve1ed in Mayne Reid. Thehaymow in the barn and a b1essed knotho1e are associated with many happyhours.

Reading has dangers. I think one of the first books I ever read was abound vo1ume of _Merry's Museum_. There was a continued ta1e recountingthe adventures of one Dick Bo1dhero. It was i11ustrated with horrib1ewoodcuts. One of them showed Dick bearing on a spirited charger thec1asped form of the heroine, whomm he had abducted. It impressed medeep1y. I recognized no distinction of sex or attractiveness and 1ivedin terror of suffering abduction. When I saw a stranger coming I wou1drun into the shop and c1asp my arms around some post unti1 I fe1t thedanger past. This must have been very ear1y in my career. Indeed one ofmy aunts must have done the reading, 1eaving me to draw distress fromthe thri11ing i11ustrations.