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i gy Se gy ts
a i Ngee mamas
QRS - OMIST@RY-OF BERKSHIRE.
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furnished by the nature of the fact itself It is too re-
markable not to be introduced here. OS
“A Mr. Van Rensselacr, a young gentleman from
Albany, came one evening into an inn, kept bya Mr,
Root, just at the eastern end of the bridge. The inn-
keeper, who knew him, asked him where he had cross-
ed the river. He answered, ‘* on the bridge.” . Mr.
Root replied, that that was inipossible 3 because it had
been raised that very day; and that not a plank had
~ peen laid on it.. Mr. Van Rensselaer said that it could
not be true ; beeause his horse had come over without
anv difficulty or reluctance 5 thatthe night. was indeed
so profoundly dark, as to-prevent him’ from seeing any
thing distinetly ; but that it was incredible, if his horse
could see sufficiently. well to keep his footing any where,
that he should- not discern the danger, and impossible
for him to pass over the bridge in that condition. Each
weat to bed dissatisfied ; neither believing the story of
\ the other. In the anorning, Mr. Van Rensselaer went,
at the solicitation. of his host, to view the bridge 3 and
finding it a naked frame, gazed for a moment with as-
tonishment, and fainted.” —
Before a parish was formed in this place, the people
in the south part of the town doubtless attended public
worship in Sheffield, as they belonged there ; others
may have attended there or in Stockbridge... About
1742, the Rev. Thomas Strong, who afterwards settled
in New Marlborough, preached to them as a candidate.
In 1748, when there were only thirty families in the
place, they employed and settled the Rev. Samue
Hopkins, afterwards Dr. Hopkins.
He was ordained on the 23th of December in that
year, on which day the church was organized, consisting
of the pastor, John and Jonah Pixley, James Sexton,
Asahel King, and Jonathan Nash. On the 5th of Feb--
ruary following, twelve others were added to the church.
He remained in this charge until the 18th of January,
1769, when, at his own request, he was regularly and
honorably dismissed by a council; having admitted to
the church during his ministry, 116 members, 71 from
the world, and 45 by recommendation from other chur-
ches. Only one of this number now belongs to this
church. Probably no other is living. Co