tions,"
set down for their guidance.

In all matters coming within the province and jurisdiction of the
colonial church the law was even more exacting than in merely civil
affairs; and singularly enough, the town authorities took it upon
themselves to seat all persons who attended divine service in the
meeting-house where it seemed to them most proper. With the full
approbation of the selectmen, responsible persons were sometimes allowed
to construct pews or seats for themselves and their families in the
meeting-house; but it appears on one occasion that three citizens
undertook to "make a seat in y'e meeting-house," without first getting
the full permission and consent of the town fathers, an act deemed
exceedingly sinful, and for which they were arraigned before the town at
a special meeting and publicly censured. After duly considering the case
it was decided to allow the seat to remain, provided it should not be
disposed of to any person but such as the town should approve of, and
that the offending parties acknowledge their "too much forwardness," in
writing, which they did in the following manner:

"We whose names are underwritten, do acknowledge that it was our
weakness that we were so inconsiderate as to make a small seat in the
meeting-house without more clear and full approbation of the town and
selectmen thereof, though we thought upon the conference we had with
some of the selectmen apart, and elders, we had satisfying ground for
our proceeding therein; w'ch we now see was not sufficent; therefore we
do desire that our failing therein may be passed by; and if the town
will grant our seat that we have been at so much cost in setting up, we
thankfully acknowledge your love unto us therein, and we do hereupon
further engage ourselves that we will not give up nor sell any of our
places in that seat to any person or persons but whom the elders shall
approve of, or such as shall have power to place men in seats in the
assembly.

[Signed]. INCREASE ATHERTON,
SAMUEL PROCTOR,
THOMAS BIRD.

At another time one Joseph Leeds, a member of the church, was accused of
maltreating his wife; the charge was sustained, and after the case had
been considered at several special meetings, it was settled by his
confessing and promising "to carry it more lovingly to her for time to
come." But Jonathan Blackman, another erring brother, was charged with
misdemeanors that could not be so easily