The call was accepted and Mr. S. was installed Nov. 21, 1821, the council consisting of Rev. E. Smith, of Castleton, Rev. Dan Kent, of Benson, Rev. Mr. Cushinan, of Fairhaven, and ministers from Troy, Lansingburgh, Cambridge, Salem, and West Granville, N. Y. The sermon was preached by Rev. Mr. Tomb, of Salem, from 1 Cor. 4, 1.

The relations of Mr. Smith to the church seem to have gone on amicably for about 5 years. But at length—Nov. 3, 1826, a church meeting was held, at which the pastor "stated as a well known fact, that a misunderstanding had arisen between one of the deacons and himself, which they were unable amicably to adjust."

The circumstances are fully entered upon the records by Mr. Smith. At the church meeting referred to, Mr. S. asked that a mutual council might be called to hear and aid in the adjustment of the difficulties. The church by silence gave consent, and a council was called to consider the difficulties, and to meet November 16, '26.

This council consisted of the churches in Castleton, Brandon, Pawlet, Tinmouth, and Clarendon. When met the council seems to have justified Mr. S. in the course he had taken, except that his language in one instance was declared improper for which they add. Mr. Smith had made such concessions as the council think should have been satisfactory. At the close of the record of proceedings of council, Mr. Smith makes the following entry:

"N. B.—Inasmuch as the Pastor of this church had long known that many of his people were desirous of getting rid of their minister, and getting a young man, and inasmuch as the state of feeling of too many of his people had been eshibited in late scenes, as unfriendly to him, Mr. Smith immediately followed the reading of the result of council with the following, which was given into the hands of the stated Clerk of the society.

To the Congregational Church and Soc'y of Pualtney!

Brethren—I am now ready and willing to unite in a council to be mutally chosen to determine whether she relation between the church and soc'y and their Pastor shall be dissolved, and if so, the terms on which such dissolution shall be made."

Signed "Ethan Smith, Pastor, Poultney, Nov. 16, 1826."

At a church meeting, December 11, 1826, "Voted that the church agree with Mr. Smith in choosing a council who shall be authorized to dissolve the connection existing between Mr. S. and church and society."

The council was accordingly called and Mr. Smith seems to have been dismissed, though there is no record of it in the church book. But on Jan. 1, 1827, the pulpit seems to have been vacant, for a committee of supply was chosen.

The same day it was "voted by the church that they disapprove of a record made in the church book by the moderator," including the entire account of Mr. Smith's difficulty with the church.