“1702.—­In December, the pastor spake to the church, on the sabbath, as followeth:  ’Brethren, I find in your church-book a record of Martha Corey’s being excommunicated for witchcraft; and, the generality of the land being sensible of the errors that prevailed in that day, some of her friends have moved me several times to propose to the church whether it be not our duty to recall that sentence, that so it may not stand against her to all generations; and I myself being a stranger to her, and being ignorant of what was alleged against her, I shall now only leave it to your consideration, and shall determine the matter by a vote the next convenient opportunity.’

“Feb. 14, 1702/3.—­The major part of the brethren consented to the following:  ’Whereas this church passed a vote, Sept. 11, 1692, for the excommunication of Martha Corey, and that sentence was pronounced against her Sept. 14, by Mr. Samuel Parris, formerly the pastor of this church; she being, before her excommunication, condemned, and afterwards executed, for supposed witchcraft; and there being a record of this in our church-book, page 12, we being moved hereunto, do freely consent and heartily desire that the same sentence may be revoked, and that it may stand no longer against her; for we are, through God’s mercy to us, convinced that we were at that dark day under the power of those errors which then prevailed in the land; and we are sensible that we had not sufficient grounds to think her guilty of that crime for which she was condemned and executed; and that her excommunication was not according to the mind of God, and therefore we desire that this may be entered in our church-book, to take off that odium that is cast on her name, and that so God may forgive our sin, and may be atoned for the land; and we humbly pray that God will not leave us any more to such errors and sins, but will teach and enable us always to do that which is right in his sight.’

     “There was a major part voted, and six or seven dissented.

     “J.  GR., Pr.”

The First Church in Salem rescinded its votes of excommunication of Rebecca Nurse and Giles Corey, in March, 1712.  The church at the village was nearly ten years before it, in this act of justice to itself and to the memory of the injured dead.  Mr. Green did not wait until the public sentiment drove him to it.  He regarded it as his duty to lead, and keep in front of that sentiment, in the right direction.  He did not wait until everybody demanded it to be done, but instantly began to prepare his people for it.  At the proper time, he gave notice that he was about to bring the question before them; and he accordingly did so.  He had no idea of allowing a few narrow-minded, obstinate individuals to keep the blot any longer upon the records