He says that the committee accepted these terms, and agreed to them, expressing their belief that the people also would.  No record appears on the parish-books of the appointment of this committee of the “younger men,” or of the action of the society on their report, or of any report having been made at that time.  In the mean while, Mr. Parris continued to preach and act as the minister of the society until his ordination, near the close of the year.  There was a meeting on the 21st of May; but the record consists of but a single entry,—­the appointment of a committee “as overseers for the year ensuing, to take care of our meeting-house and other public charges, and to make return according to law.”  The next entry is of a general meeting of the inhabitants, on the 18th of June, 1689.  The choice of the regular standing committee for the year is recorded.  Immediately following this entry, are these words:—­

“At the same meeting,—­the 18th of June, 1689,—­it was agreed and voted by general concurrence, that, for Mr. Parris, his encouragement and settlement in the work of the ministry amongst us, we will give him sixty six pounds for his yearly salary,—­one-third paid in money, the other two-third parts for provisions, &c.; and Mr. Parris to find himself firewood, and Mr. Parris to keep the ministry-house in good repair; and that Mr. Parris shall also have the use of the ministry-pasture, and the inhabitants to keep the fence in repair; and that we will keep up our contributions, and our inhabitants to put their money in papers, and this to continue so long as Mr. Parris continues in the work of the ministry amongst us, and all productions to be good and merchantable.  And, if it please God to bless the inhabitants, we shall be willing to give more; and to expect, that if God shall diminish the estates of the people, that then Mr. Parris do abate of his salary according to proportion.”

Comparing this record with the account given by Mr. Parris of the eight conditions upon which he agreed, in conference with the committee of the “younger” sort, on the 29th of April, to accept the call of the parish, the difference is not very essential.  The matter of firewood was arranged, according to his account, by mutual agreement, they to add six pounds to his salary, and he to find his own wood.  The rates of “the inhabitants” were to be paid “in papers.”  The only point of difference, touching this matter, is that the record is silent about contributions by outsiders and strangers; whereas he says it was agreed, on the 29th of April, that they should not go towards making up his salary.  The idea of his salary rising with the growth and sinking with the decline of the society is expressed in the record substantially as it is by him, only it is made exact; and, in case of a decline in the means of the people, a corresponding decline is to be in the aggregate of his salary, and not by abatements made by him in individual cases.  The variations are nearly, if not quite, all unimportant in their nature, and such as a regard to mutual convenience would suggest.  Yet there was something in the above record which highly exasperated Mr. Parris.