by Increase and Cotton
Mather, and Mr. Sewall, and where he delivered his own ordination sermon
to admiring crowds, was not the historical structure of the present day,
although it occupied the same site. The street in front was lined with
beautiful mulberry trees, and bore the name of 'Marlboro', from the
great Duke and General. The parsonage was next door north, and opposite,
on Milk street, was the home of Josiah Franklin, where Benjamin was
born. There were handsome residences in the vicinity, and the streets
even then were paved with cobble-stones.

Rev. Mr. Wisner, on the one-hundredth anniversary of the erection of the
present Old South, gave a pleasing account of the lives and work of
Joseph Sewall and Thomas Prince. He said, "Forty years these excellent
men associated and labored for this congregation, in firm friendship, in
perfect unity, which few can emulate. Their journals show never a shadow
of difference. They had remarkable tempers. Mr. Sewall notes in his
journal that he and Mr. Prince always prayed together before their
different church services, and occasionally spent portions of a day
mutually devoted to private humiliation in united prayer."

The present meeting-house was erected in 1729. A day was set apart "to
humble themselves before God, for all their unfruitfulness under the
means of grace enjoyed in the old meeting-house, and to bless the
building of another one."

Mr. Sewall prayed with the workmen before they began to take down the
house. It is curious to note the remarkable faith in direct answer to
prayer in those days. President Dwight lays emphasis upon the fact, and
gives the following instance in the life of Mr. Prince as evidence: "It
was the destruction of the French fleet, under Duke D'Anville, in 1746.
Forty ships of war, destined for the destruction of New England, were
fitted out at Brest for the purpose. Our pious fathers, apprised of the
danger, called a meeting for fasting and prayer. While Mr. Prince was
officiating and praying most devoutly to God to avert the calamity, a
sudden gust of wind arose (the day had been perfectly calm and clear),
so violent as to cause a loud clattering of the windows. The reverend
pastor paused in his prayer, and, looking around upon the congregation
with a countenance of hope, he again commenced, and with great
devotional ardor supplicated the Almighty to cause that wind to
frustrate the object of our enemies, and save the country from conqu