- Greenleaf Daniel
- Adams Charles F
Mr Daniel
Greenleaf called on me this morning, and invited me to
dine with him— I was diverted from the proper occupation of redeeming
the arrears of this Diary, by researches, to ascertain the definition of
the word Orphan— The Greek Lexicons, Latin Dictionaries, that of the
French Academy, the Epistle of James in the New Testament, Calvin’s Lexicon Juridicum, Euripides and the French Don Quixot, were referred to and
consulted— A Child who has lost both parents or either is an Orphan; in
the strict acceptation of the word— In common parlance an orphan is a
fatherless child. I had consumed the morning till noon in these
enquiries, when my Son Charles
came in from Boston; his wife
having gone to her father’s at
Medford to spend the day.— We both dined at Mr Daniel Greenleaf’s with his brother Thomas— At three in the afternoon
we attended the adjourned meeting of the Committee of the Parish; I was
obliged to leave Charles to amuse himself in my Library, and he returned
to Boston, before the Committee adjourned. They sat till near Sunset—
All present excepting Nathan
Josselyn, and Henry Wood.
The Sub-committee appointed to confer with Mr Whitney reported that
they had called upon him on Wednesday, and mentioned to him the
dissatisfaction which existed among some of the Parishioners, with some
of his Clerical brethren with whom he exchanges; and some complain that
they are not able to hear him— They inclined therefore either to settle
a Colleague with him, or to employ occasional assistance to him to
supply the 72pulpit, part of the time— Mr Whitney had asked time to consider the
proposition till this day at 2 O’Clock, and then he had declared his
willingness to relinquish part of his Salary, to obtain assistance for
half the time. By Mr Whitney’s original
Settlement in 1800 he was to receive 500 dollars a year— From 1813 to
1816 additional grants were made to him of 250 dollars a year, and in
1816 a vote was passed, allowing him 250 dollars a year while he should
supply the Pulpit. He is now willing to relinquish 150 dollars of this
additional allowance, to relieve him from preaching half the time— The
proposal is to raise by subscription about an equal amount, and to
employ occasional Candidates, at ten dollars a day, with some further
charges which for half the year may amount to 300 dollars— There was
much discussion upon this report without coming to any decision— And so
with regard to making provision for payment of the debt, there were
various proposals, but no conclusion— Mr
Thomas Greenleaf at last reminded the Committee that neither of the
subjects on which they had been deliberating had been inserted in the
Warrant for calling the Parish Meeting, at the adjournment of which this
Committee was appointed, and therefore nothing could be done with legal
effect upon these Subjects, at the Meeting to which this Committee are
to report— There are 30 pews yet unsold—appraised at a reduced valuation
at 3750 dollars, but which cannot produce so much— It was proposed to
sell them at Auction, but objected that they would not thus fetch 2000
dollars— A paper was handed round for making up a Subscription to
purchase them for 3000 dollars to be held in common by the Subscribers—
I subscribed to this paper 500 dollars, and an effort is to be made to
get the Subscriptions filled, before the Parish Meeting next Monday,
when the Committee are to report. It was agreed to report a
recommendation that a Meeting should be called competent to take
measures on the subjects irregularly referred to this Committee, and to
state the substance of the conference with Mr Whitney— At near Sunset I came home. Charles was gone, and I
spent the Evening till near Midnight, in writing.