“Jan. 1, 1818. Fine day for the new year. Walked on foot to Chelsea, engaged a seat of Capt. John Tewkesbury in Rev. Mr. Tuckerman’s meeting house.”
THE TAPLEY OR LYE SHOE SHOP OF A CENTURY AGO
Lye walked to Chelsea, a distance of eight miles, to church. Few of today will walk a mile to church.
A time of woe to Lye was in February and March of 1818, when he recorded in his diary:
“Sunday, Feb. 22. Attended public worship at the old meeting house. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Morse, son of D. Morse, of Charlestown, from the passage, ‘Be ye reconciled to God.’ The sermon was the true essence of Calvinism, very uncharitable, cruel as the grave, profitable to no one.”
“Mar. 22. Staid at home this day, rather than to hear a Calvinistic preacher at the First church.”
Lye was evidently a man of strong convictions.
A time of joy to him was in the early part of the year 1822, when he helped to form a Congregational church at Lynn and worked on its meeting house. He records:
“Tuesday, Nov. 5. Assisted in erecting two stages for the accommodation of the committee, clergymen and singers for the dedication of the new meeting house.