" I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord ; he that belieyeth in me. though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whosoever hveth and heheveth in me, shall never die."

" The graves of his saint3 were blessed, When in the grave He lay ; And rising theflce, their hopes He raised To everlasting day.

» Soar we now where Christ has led, Following our exalted Head ; Made lite Him, HKe Him we rise, Ours the cross, the grave the sties.'

We have reason to believe 'that a Presbyterian congregation was gathered in this town not'long after its settlement, or between the years 1750 and 1760.

Among the founders of this congregation was Mr. Solomon Close,* the father of three Presbyterian ministers-- John, David and Tompkins ; (David was settled at Patterson, New York.)

From the first mention of this people, in 1765, they appear to have been destitute of a settled ministry. Other adverse circumstances are also referred to in the minutes of the Presbytery. The congregation continued under the care of the Presbytery for, at least, ten years; during which application was made repeatedly for advice and aid. In 1772, John Blydenburgh, a candidate, was permitted by the Presbytery to preach for a while at North Salem. In 1774 the people again applied for direction, but the Presbytery declared itself unable to fefer them to a candidate, and granted them supplies for two months.6

In the church register-book, entitled " The Records of the Congregational Church at Upper Salem, now North Salem, copied in the year 1814," occurs the following memoranda : " Upper Salem, August 20th, 1779. At a meeting of the church members living In Upper Salem,