Memoir of REV. John Moore; With Selections from His Correspondence, and Other Writings (Paperback)

Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV. MINISTRY IN DANVERS. Mr. Moore commenced his residence in Danvers on the 22d of February, 1833. This town is one of the oldest in New England, and was formerly a portion of Salem. One of its late historians says: Danvers is both city and country. The South Parish extends into Salem, and is essentially one with Salem; while further north the scenery presents so rural an aspect, that the stranger can scarcely fancy himself so near the cities and the seas. Beholding the air of comfort and independence, and witnessing the enterprise and business zeal for which the town has become a proverb, and feeling the bosom expand with the generous liberal spirit which surrounds the community like an atmosphere, the beholder of today can scarcely realize that he stands where witches were tried and executed, and bigotry, an ugly fiend, once poisoned the air with his breath. Formerly distinguished for intolerance, austerity, and gloom, the town is now equally known for its enterprise, and the spirit of liberality which it breathes. That part called the South Parish, where Mr. Moore was settled, has since been incorporated into a town named Danvers. Other portions of the old town are North Danvers and Danversport. The meeting-house of the First Universalist Society is in the last-named place. The society was organized in 1815. The house which it now occupies was dedicated in June, 1833. The Second Society, in the South Parish, of which Mr. Moore was called to be pastor, was formed in March, 1832. During this year a good and commodious house of worship was erected, at a cost of four thousand dollars. This house was dedicated January 10th, 1833. Mr. Moore preached the dedication sermon. His text was Psalms 36: 7, 8. How excellent is thy loving-kindness, O God therefore do ...