Lye went to church twice Sunday. Many of today do not go to church once. “Sunday, Nov. 30. Rainy and warm. In the forenoon attended public worship, heard Mr. Brown, of Charlestown, preach a sermon from 2 Corinthians, 2 chapter, 15th verse and part of 16th. In the afternoon from Paul 39, 4th verse.” Rain did not keep Lye from going to church twice. Rain keeps many a churchgoer away from church these days. “Thursday, Dec. 25. Christmas. Rev. Hosea Ballou was installed pastor of the Second Universalist meeting in Boston.” Christmas Day and no mention of Christmas joys. Puritans frowned on Christmas celebrations. Lye knew no Christmas cheer as do people of these days. “Sunday, Jan. 18th. Read one of Laurin’s sermons in the forenoon. In the afternoon attended divine worship in Chelsea. Heard an excellent sermon by the Rev. Mr. Tuckerman.” Lye could not go to church Sunday morning, so he read a sermon. Men of today read the newspapers Sunday morning, or play golf, or motor. “Jan. 1, 1818. Fine day for the new year. Walked on foot to Chelsea, engaged a seat of Capt. John Tewkesbury in Rev. Mr. Tuckerman’s meeting house.” [Illustration: THE TAPLEY OR LYE SHOE SHOP OF A CENTURY AGO] Lye walked to Chelsea, a distance of eight miles, to church. Few of today will walk a mile to church. A time of woe to Lye was in February and March of 1818, when he recorded in his diary: “Sunday, Feb. 22. Attended public worship at the old meeting house. Sermon by Rev. Mr. Morse, son of D. Morse, of Charlestown, from the passage, ‘Be ye reconciled to God.’ The sermon was the true essence of Calvinism, very uncharitable, cruel as the grave, profitable to no one.” “Mar. 22. Staid at home this day, rather than to hear a Calvinistic preacher at the First church.” Lye was evidently a man of strong convictions. A time of joy to him was in the early part of the year 1822, when he helped to form a Congregational church at Lynn and worked on its meeting house. He records: “Tuesday, Nov. 5. Assisted in erecting two stages for the accommodation of the committee, clergymen and singers for the dedication of the new meeting house.