[703] _A Sermon, Preached at Charlestown, November 29, 1798, on the Anniversary Thanksgiving in Massachusetts. With an Appendix, designed to illustrate some parts of the Discourse; exhibiting proofs of the early existence, progress, and deleterious effects of French intrigue and influence in the United States._ By Jedediah Morse, D. D., pastor of the church in Charlestown.... Boston, December, 1798. Two reprints of the sermon were issued early in the next year. [704] Morse, _op. cit._, p. 9. [705] _Ibid._, pp. 10–14. [706] Morse, _op. cit._, p. 15. [707] _Ibid._ [708] _Ibid._ [709] _Ibid._, p. 16. [710] _Ibid._, p. 18. [711] The sermon was preached in two parts, morning and afternoon, and concerning Morse’s discussion of the Christian religion this explanatory mote appears in the printed report: “The last article, respecting the _Christian Religion_, which constituted the whole of the forenoon sermon, being a _common_, though always _interesting_ subject, has been considerably abridged.” (_Ibid._, p. 4.) This is only one of many marks of the great care Morse took to get the printed report of the sermon before the public in the most impressive form possible. He was fully conscious of the fact that he had an allegation to defend as well as a demurrer to oppose. [712] Morse, _op. cit._, pp. 20–22. [713] Morse’s _Anniversary Thanksgiving Sermon_, pp. 22 _et seq._ The sermon of Lathrop referred to bears the following title: _A Sermon, on the Dangers of the Times, from Infidelity and Immorality; and especially from a lately discovered Conspiracy against Religion and Government, delivered at West-Springfield and afterward at Springfield_. By Joseph Lathrop, D. D., Springfield, September, 1798. The statement that Morse quotes appears on page 14 of Lathrop’s sermon. _Cf._ Cunningham, Abner, _Practical Infidelity Portrayed and the Judgments of God Made Manifest_, (3rd. edition), New York, 1836, pp. 42–46, where a somewhat similar situation in Orange County, New York, is referred to, and with suggestions of secret revolutionary designs not unlike those made by Lathrop. The situation referred to by Cunningham is also dealt with by F. M. Ruttenber, in his _History of the County of Orange, with a History of the Town and City of Newburgh ..._. Newburgh, N. Y., 1875, pp. 164 _et seq._ Woodbridge Riley’s article on _Early Free-Thinking Societies in America_ (Harvard Theological Review, July, 1918, pp. 247–284) came to the attention of the author of this study when the entire dissertation was in page proof. [714] Some of these dated as far back as 1782, and none of them need have been disturbing to a calm mind. [715] The following letter, written by Morse to Timothy Pickering, throws considerable light upon the sources from which the most of these documents were derived and the manner and spirit in which they were compiled. “Charlestown, Jan. 22^d, 1799. _Dear Sir_,