Jason Haven, ordained February 6, 1756.
"Revolutionary times having produced a disposition to investigate all
the former principles and opinions of men, in politics and church
government, Mr. Haven caused the mode of admission into the church to be
altered. This was done in 1793. The new method required the candidate to
be propounded to the congregation by the minister. If no objections
within fourteen days were made, he was then of course admitted. At the
same time the church covenant and creed was altered, and made very
general in its expressions. This creed had so few articles, that all
persons professing and calling themselves Christians, would assent to it
without any objections. The church had ever in this place required of
its members guilty of unlawful cohabitation before marriage, a public
confession of that crime before the whole congregation. The offending
female stood in the broad aisle beside the partner of her guilt. If they
had been married, the declaration of the man was silently assented to by
the woman. This had always been a delicate and difficult subject for
church discipline. The public confession, if it operated as a
corrective, likewise produced merriment with the profane.
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