A day of solemn fasting was held, by the governor's appointment, for the choice of pastor and teacher, and after prayer the two recognized candidates for the two offices, Skelton and Higginson, were called upon to give their views as to a divine call to the ministry.

"They acknowledged there was a twofold calling: the one, an inward calling, when the Lord moved the heart of a man to take that calling upon him, and fitted him with gifts for the same; the second (the outward calling) was from the people, when a company of believers are joined together in covenant to walk together in all the ways of God." Thereupon the assembly proceeded to a written ballot, and its choice fell upon Mr.Skelton and Mr.Higginson.

It remained for the ministers elect to be solemnly inducted into office, which was done with prayer and the laying on of hands in benediction.
But presently there were searchings of heart over the anterior question as to the constituency of the church.

Were all the population of Salem to be reckoned as of the church of Salem?
and if not, who should "discern between the righteous and the wicked"?
The result of study of this question, in the light of the New Testament, was this--that it was "necessary for those who intended to be of the church solemnly to enter into a covenant engagement one with another, in the presence of God, to walk together before him according to his Word." Thirty persons were chosen to be the first members of the church, who in a set form of words made public vows of faithfulness to each other and to Christ.

By the church thus constituted the pastor and teacher, already installed in office in the parish, were instituted as ministers of the church.[96:1] Before the solemnities of that notable day were concluded, a belated vessel that had been eagerly awaited landed on the beach at Salem the "messengers of the church at Plymouth." They came into the assembly, Governor Bradford at the head, and in the name of the Pilgrim church declared their "approbation and concurrence," and greeted the new church, the first-born in America, with "the right hand of fellowship." A thoughtful and devoted student declares this day's proceedings to be "the beginning of a distinctively American church history."[97:1] The immediate sequel of this transaction is characteristic and instructive.