[731] _A Sermon preached at Billerica, November 29, 1798, being the day of the Anniversary Thanksgiving throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts._ By Henry Cumings, A. M., pastor of the church in said town. Boston. 1798, p. 22.
[733] The following excerpt from a letter of Jedediah Morse to Timothy Pickering, under date of Feb. 11, 1799, is significant in this connection: “An editn. of 450 of my Sermon and Appendix is nearly gone—& a second of 800 is in the press. A number of gentlemen in Boston have thought it might be useful to send a copy to every clergyman in the commonwealth, & have agreed with the printer to furnish them, & they will be distributed when the members of the Legislature return home.” (_Pickering Papers_, vol. xxiv, 71.)
[734] The full title of this journal was _The Columbian Centinel and Massachusetts Federalist_. Here was an instance in which Masonic affiliations quite overrode ardent Federalist loyalty. To this the following letter of editor Benjamin Russell to William Bentley testifies:
... As to Morse, I think him meddling in an affair which but little concerns him, and of which he has less knowledge. It would be better to let him flounder on, and he will speedily blow himself out. He cannot hurt the craft,—and his wit is as pointless, as his holy zeal is unchangeable. Although I wish not to engage in a controversy, which has no politick in its ingredients, I should nevertheless have published your communication had I received it.—As it is it may be best that the controversy should be carried on in one paper. You will see by this day’s Mercury, that M. is still floundering.—I intend to barb him a little at the Installation at Reading, if he is present. If not he shall _hear_ of a toast or two.” (_William Bentley Correspondence_, vol. iv, 117).
[735] _Columbian Centinel_, Sept. 8, 1798.
[739] _Columbian Centinel_, Jan. 5, 1799. This communication including the Böttiger letter, was promptly copied by the _Massachusetts Mercury_, and thus given a wider publicity. _Cf._ the _Mercury_ of Jan. 11, 1799.
[741] Somewhat later the _Mercury_ offered to its readers relevant passages from Lathrop’s sermon of the preceding September and from French’s thanksgiving sermon. _Cf._ the _Mercury_ for Jan. 11 and Feb. 26, 1799.