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450 HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE.
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the church after its establishment. He was subsequent-
ly licensed to preach, and in 1809, ordained to the work
of the ministry, and is now the settled preacher to this
church and society. The present number of the church -
is 78, of whom 38 live in this town, and the rest in the
towns around us. ‘They have a meeting-house, built in
1819.
In the town there are 5 district schools, for the sup-
fo port of ehich, from 390 to 350 dollars are annually
boo. raised. ‘This is expended in the hire of teachers, who
po | are boarded by the people ;.and wocd is also generally
provided, without drawing from the. public monies. Be-
tides these, a select school: is usually kept in the win-
ter, in which higher branches of study are pursued.
There is a pretty valuable and somewhat extensive
- public library, consisting of books generally well se-
Py lected.. A great portion of the families are proprietors,
and the books have a very general circulation.
The Rey.. Mr. Hinsdale, of whom mention has been
made, and in honor of whom the town was named, was
the son of Mr. John Hinsdale, of Berlin, Con. He was
born Nov. 25, 17388, O. S.; and in the 20th year of-hi#.
ave admitted a member of Yale College, where he sus-
tained a very respectable standing as a scholar and
christian. After he was graduated, he was employed
several years in teaching, and at the same time engaged
in preparing for the ministry, to which he was ordained
in the 29th year of his age, as pastor of a- church in
Windsor, Con. In a concio, delivered’ at Yale Col-
lege, he defended ably the divinity of the Scriptures, in
an argument from prophecy. After 23 years happily
spent. with his people, he was induced to consent to a
dismission, by a union of-his parish with the other Con-
gregational parish in that town. Being somewhat ad-
4 vanced in age, and having a numerous family of sons,
SE he came to this town-and settled. on a farm. It was
still his intention to have continued statedly in the minis-
try, but in providence a door never seemed to be open-
ed for his re-settlement. He therefore spent:his days
in the town,. occasionally preaching in different places.
In town. he exerted a very ‘happy influence ;- was. the:
principal agent in gathering the church, and in establish-
~ ing. religious order.. For a number of years he officia-
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