History Of The "Old High School" 1828-1840
by Charles Wells Chapin






cause of this "breach of peace." It soon appeared that "Jim" A________ was the guilty one. The teacher ordered him to come forward, and to hold out his right hand, with the palm of it up, on which he struck two or three hard blows with the ferule, which A________ received with Spartan firmness, then smilingly took his seat.
        Sardis B. Morley became the next instructor. He remained about one year. His salary was the same as his predecessor's.
        A near relative writes as follows: "Rev. S. B. Morley was born in Otis, Mass., Sept. 17th, 1804. He graduated at Williams College in 1829, and at Yale Theological Seminary in 1833. He fitted himself for college and supported himself by teaching. While in college and afterwards he taught in various places, especially in Springfield, Mass., and Winsted, Conn. He supplied the Congregational churches at Bloomfield, Conn., 1833-4, and Attleborough, Mass., for a part of the time during 1834-7, where he was ordained and installed in 1851, remaining until 1857. He was city missionary in New York 1837-8. On account of ill health he was obliged to rest for ten years, 1841-51, during which time he was engaged in farming at West Hartford, Conn., where he was prominent in religious work, often preaching there and in neighboring towns. From 1857 till his death he lived at Williamstown and Pittsfield, Mass. While living at Williamstown he supplied the Congregational churches in Becket and in West Cummington, Mass., each a year, where his ministry was blessed in both cases with revivals and many conversions. He was clear and pungent in his preaching, profound in his religious convictions, sturdy in his principles. He belonged to the Christian wing of the anti-slavery reform, where he did good service. He was an earnest supporter of temperance. He was rugged in his nature, lacking some of the niceties of smoother and more polished men, but possessing marked ability and when roused capable of speaking with great eloquence. Mr. Morley evinced marked aptitude for teaching.

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