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they continued the pulpit supply, and saw that the ordinances of the church were attended to. From the time that the church was divided, the troubled waters of contention abated, the storm of confusion was stilled, and peace and order again restored in this house of the Lord; so that, from March 9th, 1824, when the receding party left, to the subsequent call of Mr. Hughes, everything went on as prosperously as could be expected under the circumstances that surrounded them; of course it must be presumed that, from the withdrawing from the communion of the church of so large a body as the minority was composed, it weakened considerably the church, and their efforts to some extent affected. To their credit, however, be it said, they staggered not at the promises of God; they knew in whom they believed, and on whose arm they leaned for support; they took courage from the past, and became hopeful of the future.
Their first act, after the division, was to renew the call to Mr. Cornish: they accordingly addressed a letter to him, and received an answer "that, as the matter of a call had been so long delayed, and that, as many changes had taken place since the commencement of the business, and on viewing the whole train of circumstances together, he thought it to be most prudent for him to decline the acceptance of the call," &c. This was reported in session, April 9, 1824, one month after the division took place. On the 14th April, 1824, the congregation met, Dr. Janeway presiding. After prayer by the chairman, he stated the object of the meeting, and, if agreeable to them, would proceed to take the votes of the electors for a pastor; they declared it by an unanimous vote. They then nominated Mr. Benjamin Hughes. There being no other person nominated, the congregation proceeded to ballot, when an unanimous
