History of the Second Congregational Church and Society in Leicester, Massachusetts

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1908. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III. DlABY OF THE REV. SAMUEL MAY. EXCEBPTS FROM. PART I. The Ephemeris of the ancient Greeks, literally 'of the day, ' down to the Diaries of our English and American forbears, more or less modelled thereupon, with all similar material that comes between, are among the most trustworthy and valuable of the sources of History, abounding in minute and interesting details which will be sought for in vain elsewhere. Diaries written in an abandonment of confidence, deeply introspective and self-centred, however valuable to the biographer, render slight service to the writer of local history, who would fain add the sparkle and flow of life and color to the meagre and attenuated data of the records. But the diary of the man of letters is a mine of wealth. It teems with references to current events, to men and manners, to his own comings and goings, and the means by which these are accomplished, and to the books he reads, with special or general criticism thereupon. Rich is it in the psychological element, without which all history is inert and inoperative. Of this character is the diary of the Rev. Samuel May, in which he gives, as only an actual participant can, the early story of the Second Congregational Church in Leicester. The young minister chronicles his departure from the Theological School in Cambridge, and steps forth into the world to do with his might such work as he shall find to do; fortunate in his birth, training, environment and friends; and fortunate above all his own natural endowments, aspirations, devotion to principle, and the conscientious use already made of his exceptional opportunities. These pages, in script almost as plain as print, are instinct with the thrill of life, a vehicle for things temporal and spiritual in a large, ...