Page:History of Gardner, Massachusetts (1860) - Glazier.djvu/159

Rh was chosen Moderator, and the Rev. Abiel Fisher, now a member, but then pastor of the West Boylston church, was chosen Scribe.

The Moderator,—"Father Andrews,"—"exhibited the state of the brethren requesting the council, and the peculiar views of the Templeton church in relation thereto."

The question, "Shall a church be constituted at South Gardner?" was argued at great length, some doubting as to the expediency, but on the whole, it was finally voted in the affirmative, and the council proceeded to recognize the church by a public meeting in the south-west district school-house. Brother Fisher preached; Bro. Appleton Morse, pastor of the church in Princeton, gave the hand of fellowship, and "Father Andrews," the charge.

At the same time Bro. Sullivan Jackson was ordained as deacon of the church,—and among its early friends, no name is more fragrant than the name of this beloved brother; his house and his heart were always open to its demands.

The first regular pastor of the church was Rev. Samuel Glover, who was settled in the spring of 1831; he labored with them until the year 1834, and during his connection with the church, nineteen individuals were baptized; and