A History of the Church in Brattle Street Boston

r the death of Dr. Cooper, December 12th, 1783, the pulpit was supplied for some weeks by the ministers of the association and neighborhood, who, in turn, preached to the bereaved flock. What arrangements were then made for the supply of the pulpit, I cannot ascertain. In the following spring, Wednesday, the 12th of May, was set apart to be observed, say the records, "as a day of solemn humiliation and prayer, to implore the blessing of God upon this society, and the influences of his Holy Spirit to direct us to the choice of such a minister as shall adorn the Christian character, promote thehonor and interest of his Divine Master, and be of the most important advantage to us and to our children." The deacons were appointed a committee "to ask the favor of the pastors of the associated churches, and the Rev. Mr. Howard of this town to lead in the solemn exercises of the day." It does not appear, however, that this observance was followed by any immediate steps towards the choice of a pastor. Indeed, so far as the records show, nothing more was done in relation to this subject till the following October, when a movement was made to obtain the services of the Rev. Peter Thacher, then settled in the neighboring town of Malden. Dr. Palfrey, in alluding to the circumstances attending this call, says in a note to his sermon, " As this transaction is recent, and many of those whose judgments differed upon it survive, I do not give a detailed account of it." Thes...