[937] Ibid., p. 3.
[938] Ibid.
[939] Ibid., p. 5. Ogden’s observations in this connection are caustic enough. “The people generally attended the public exercises in the meeting-houses, but had no share in the deliberations of the ministers. Dinners were prepared, by private donations, of the most delicious food of the season, which could be procured by the parishioners; and a day of conviviality was thus observed once a month by the clergy, to their gratification and the increase of their association.” (Ibid.)
[940] Ibid., pp. 4 et seq.
[941] Ogden, op. cit., p. 5. Ogden made a delicate thrust at this point. He professed to see an explanation of the prevalence of sceptical and deistical notions in New England in the discussions of the dark and obscure questions that consumed the attention of the clergy in their monthly meetings, before they became interested in the affairs of the French Revolution. Cf. ibid.
[942] Ibid., pp. 5 et seq.
[943] Ibid., p. 6.
[944] Ibid., p. 7.
[945] Ogden, op. cit., p. 7.
[946] Ibid., p. 8.