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ONSECRATIOll
·+
of-the·Fourth•Church·
Ediflee··
TRINITY·PARISI\·
-------
NEWTOWN.·
CONR.··
·-- ~
and· Celebration·of··the ·Qne-.
flundred-and-fiftieth ·Anniversaty•
of·its •foundation•·
·.MEJV\ORIAL·
I
~ith
•
SER/-\01'···
.•
�)
I,...
�FOURTH CHURCH EDIFICE,
%xinitg ~axish, ~,erotourn, C!tonn.,
AND
CELEBRATION
OF THE
ANNIVERSARY
ONE HUNDRED
AND
OF ITS FOUNDATION,
WITH
MEMORIAL
SERMON
BY
REV.
RE CTO R
OF
D.
P. SANFORD,
ST .
AN DR EW ' S C H URC H ,
IN
COMMEM ORATION
REV.
JOHN
PRINTED
E.
&
J.
OF
1732
CO N N .,
·
BEACH,
MIS S. O F T Hl J; VEN.
FRO:JY.r
D.D.,
T HO M P SONV IL LE,
A.M ..
SO C. P . G .
TO
1782.
BY
NEW YORK:
B. YOUNG
1882.
(
/
&
CO .
FIFTIETH
/
/
��CONSECRATION
OF
Till':
FOURTHCHURCHEDIFICE,TRINITYPARISH.
T
HE Vestry of Trinity Parish having obtained for publication the Memorial Sermon delivered at their request
in the ·Parish Church by the R ev. David P. Sanford, D.D., on
th e One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the foundation
of the Parish, it has been deem ed desirable to publish with it,
and so, permanently record, certain other facts of interest,
some of which have already appeared in the local pap er, p ertaining to this Anniversary, when, the present Church Edifice,
recently freed from debt, with its complete decorations, and
bearing on its walls memorials to distinguished worthies of
days gone by, was duly consecrated and set apart for the
worship of Almighty God.
In I 863, the third Church _Edifice of the Parish, which was
built of wood, having passed the Seventy-seventh Anniversary
of its erection, the subject of raising funds for the building of a
more comfortable and commodious church began to be discussed, and the following spring several informal meetings
were held and a subscription started, but it soon fell through.
In the autumn of this year, by the death of an old parishioner, the sum of $3,000 was left, by will, "for the erection
of a new church ." This led to the renewal, in the spring of
1865, of the subscription for that purpose.
The foundation
was laid and the basement erected the following summer.
�4
Consecratz'on of the
In December, 1868, the exterior was completed, with the
exception of the tower.
A year later the church was finished,
and a new bell, weighing 2,577 pounds was raised to its place,
bearing the inscription
" I to the church the living call,
And to the grave do summon all."
The last service in the old church, which was consecrated
by Bishop Seabury, September 19, I 793, was held on the 30th
of January, 1870, when the venerable and beloved Rector, the
Rev. Newton E. Marble, D.D., delivered an appropriate discourse, taking for his text, 1 St. John ii. 18, "It is the last time."
The occasion was one of special interest, and every part of
the old Parish, extending over sixty-three square miles, was
well represented in the large congregation assembled for "the
last time" in the old church, round which clustered so many
memories of the past.
The opening of the present new stone Church for Divine
Worship, by the Rt. Rev. John Wi'lliams, D.D., took place on
the 3d of February, 1870; the consecration having been necessarily postponed in consequence of a debt incurred _in building.
Twenty-two clergymen were present.
The Rev. E. Edwards
-Beardsley, D.D., Rector of St. Thomas' Church, New Haven,
preached an admirable sermon on the occasion, which · was
afterward published, throwing much light on the early history
of the Parish.
- With the beginning of the year 1872, a plan was resorted
to for the reduction of the church debt ·by subscription, which
raised $12,625.
After a lapse of ten years, a final subscription paper was
started, dated November 19th, 1881, by which the whole · indebtedness of the Parish was extinguish 'ed, and the · way paved
for the consecration of. the church.
It was conditioned on
raising the $9,000 needed, and its actual payment before February 1st of the present year.
The amount secure~ was
$9,844.51.
Thus making the cost of the church, including th~
tablets, handsome iron fence, walks, grading, and other work
about the church grounds upwards of sixty thousand dollars. '
The Consecration took place June 8th, 1882. ·Nature and
'
I
I
�Fourth
Church Edifice,
Trinity
Parish.
.
5
a careful planning of every detail beforehand combined to make
it a success in every particular.
More than a thousand people gathered
from this and
neighboring Dioceses to celebrate this · day of special interest
i.n the history of the church in Connecticut.
Fifty-two clergymen were present.
The clergy robed at
the Rectory, some distance from the church, and the imposing
body, marching two and two, led by the Bishop and the Rector, entered the church and began the impressive service that
was to separate it henceforth from all unhallowed, ordinary, and
common wses, and dedicate it to the worship and service of
Almighty God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
The following were the appointments
of the services :
The request to consecrate was read by the Rector.
Prayer, by the RT. REv. JoHN WILLIAMS, D.D., LL.D.,
of the Diocese.
Bishop
Sentence o.f Consecration, by the REV. FRANCIS T. RussELL,
Rector of St. Margaret's
School for Girls, Waterbury,
Conn.
Morning Prayer, by the REv. W. N. ACKLEY, Rector
Mark's Parish, Warren, R. I.
of St.
First Lesson, by the REV. S. 0. SEYMOUR,Rector of Michael's
Parish, Litchfield, Conn.
Second Lesson, by the REv. E. L. WHITCOME, Rector
Paul's Parish, Brookfield, Conn.
of St.
Creed and Prayer, by the REv. BYRONJ. HALL, Rector of St.
J a.mes' Parish, Danbury, Conn.
The Commandments,
Rector of Trinity
by the REv. EDWIN HARWOOD, D.D.,
Parish, New Haven, Conn.
The Epistle, by the REv. SYLVESTERCLARK, Rector of Trinity
Parish, Bridgeport, Conn.
The Gospel, by the REv. S. STEBBINS STOCKING, of Jamaica,
L. I.
�6
Consecration
of the
The Sermon was preached by the Bishop of the Diocese, from
Joshua xxiv. 7 and 14. In the celebration of the holy
communion the Bishop was assisted in the distribution of
the ·elements by DRS. LORENZO T. BENNETT, of Guilford,
and EDWIN HARWOODof New Haven, the REv. SYLVESTER
CLARK, of Bridgeport, and the Rector.
The Clos£ng· Prayer and Benediction,
by the Bishop .
The following is an extract from the Bishop's
sermon:
"This beautiful church, now consecrated forever to the glory of the holy
and undivided Trinity, bears on its walls memorials of the dead that carry us
back to three different periods of the history, not of this place only, but of our
Church in this western world.
"The tablet which commemorates the first honored• rector of this ancient
parish tells of labors and trials, nay, of sufferings and dangers, of the early
period of struggle and c9ntest when the Church was winning its way, inch by
inch, in the face of manifold _forms of opposition;
when before holy orders
could be obtained the dangers of three thousand miles of ocean travel-so
different then from what it is to-day-had
to be incurred;
when the baptized
members of the Church went unconfirmed because there was no bishop here
to lay on hands; when all work was maimed and crippled from within and
scorned and baffled from without.
"The next in order of time carries us back to the period immediately
following the Revolution, when the Church was 'scattered
and peeled,' and it
scarcely seemed as if it would survive the shock of the separation from the
mother Church.
"The third, bearing as it does the name of a deacon ordained by the first
bishop of this diocese and in the United States, a name well remembered, and
one whom many of us have seen, brings down the line of succession to our own
day and time.
And these three rectorships, it is well to rememqer in these
uneasy and changeful times, embrace the years of almost a century.
"The fourth commemorates
that long and faithful pastorate which is in
all your memories to-day and will forever be united with this church, the erection of which it witnessed.
might wish to dwell on these memorials with their stirring
"Much as
stories and <lear associations, I cannot but remember that their story was well
and fully told when this church was first opened for holy services.
I bethink
myself also that they will be brought to you in another service than the present, and so I leave them, with this brief mention, to my ,brother, whose duty it
will be to tell you the story of the past as it mingles itself with the present and
culminates in the service of this <lay. But I ask you not to forget that these
memorials of past labors in · this parish, connected with the crowning effort
which ·well deserves to take its place with them, and which has made it possi-
/
I
�Fourth
Church Edifice,
Trinity
Parish.
7
ble to do and say what has been done and said here to-day, bring us to just
that point of connection which enables us to pass from the narrower to the
wider field, from the human memory to the divi1;1epurpose, from man to God."
Trinity Church now has a fine interior, and the Parish has
cause to congratulate itself on having secured the services of a
decorator and designer for this work who is at once an artist
and a churchman.
The interiors of other churches may be more costly than
this, but few can rival it in its ability to wear well, that is, to
please the eye as the general harmonies of design and color
come to be more carefully noticed.
The idea of the artist has
been to give a quiet, subdued, and churchlike effect to his work,
avoiding all strong and bright colors and harsh contrasts.
The
general tones are greenish, which ·are easy to the eye. The
details of all ornament are conventional, but in all cases have
been given a touch of originality and are not mere copies of
medi~val decorations, although in the same spirit and boldness.
As has been said, the prevailing tones of the church are greenish, brownish green on the side walls, with brownish red and
soft dark green for decorations.
The general treatment is very
simple, the same greens, reds, blues, and other colors being
used all the way through.
All the woodwork within the church
has been painted a sort of light chocolate color. The ceiling
of the nave has a groundwork of greenish buff, spangled with
radiating devices, in which are placed symbols of the Trinity,
sacred monograms, etc., in a soft green, interspersed with small,
starlike devices, of red. The ceiling of the side aisles is in
the same colors, with different devices, the principal ornament
being the monogram I H S and a large star. A frieze of green
divides the ceiling of the nave from the clear story designed
after oak. The spandrels or spaces dividing the nave from the
side aisle are spangled withjleur-de-lz"s in red, the arches themselves being painted with rich, greens, blue and red. The side
walls are a brownish green, with a band running through them,
at the spring of the window arches, of plain green, with a red
ornament at the edge.
This and other points within reach of
the floor have been left in such a condition that at any future
time additions may be made without painting out or destroying
what has been done.
�8
•
Consecration
o.f the
The chancel has received the greatest amount of work,
making it, as it should be, the chief point of attraction.
Entering the chancel, over the arch, is a broad band of dead gold,
upon which are the words, "Be thou faithful unto death and I
will give thee a crown of life." The chancel ceiling is a soft,
greenish gray, ornamented with an entirely new and original
treatment.
The design is the passion-flower and vine, covering the entire ceiling in green, purple, white, and gold.
The
side wall is divided from the ceiling at the spring of the arch
by bands of greenish blue and white, underneath which runs a
band of decoration formed of the monogram I H S in red.
From this band to within four or five feet of the floor, the walls
are entirely covered with the diaper in green, the design being
the crown of thorns, blazing sun, etc., typical of the humiliation
of the Son of Righteousness,
with vertical bands of red and
green, the ornament being formed of Jleur-de-lis,
symbol of
purity.
From this decoration to the floor is a heavy dado of a
deep red with a band of decoration, which runs entirely around
the chancel.
It is formed of the grapevine, in green and gold,
with bands of blue, white, and gold on either side. This band
of decoration is very elaborate and is interlaced and woven together in an almost indescribable manner.
The richest decoration, nevertheless,
is at the back or
east wall of the chancel.
The space above the spring of the
chancel arch on this east wall is spangled with a diaper of
curious stars.
At the spring of the arch is a large panel of
dead gold, painted upon which is the W<?rd,"Alleluiah" on either
side. At the top and bottom of this panel are broad bands of
decoration
in white, blue, and gold, blue being the groundwork.
This is carried over the top of the window arch, upon
and Beauty
it appearing in white medi~val letters, "Strength
are in His Sanctuary."
From this work to the bottom of the
window the wall is covered with dead gold, decorated with a
soft blue and red, strong and bold in design, with an aureola in
the centre, the background of which is deep blue.
Upon this,
on the left or gospel side, is painted in white and gold the
monogram "Alpha and Omega," and on the epistle or right
side, iri the same colors, the monogram I H S. The windowjamb is painted in a rich blue green, the bead, or moulding,
�Fourth . Church Edifice,
Trinity
Parish.
9
running around the entire window being covered with dead
gold.
The space underneath
the window, above the altar, is
divided into three panels by bands of buff, brown, and gold.
The extreme panels have a large Greek cross in brown and
gold, at the junction of the arms of which is a golden crown,
symbolizing the crown gained by faith.
Upon the centre
panel is painted a large, flaming scroll, upon which appear the
words, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty," and in the
extreme centre is a quatrefoil device in which is placed, in a
curious and original manner, a Latin cross and the letters
I HS in gold.
The organ pipes are covered with gold, upon which is
painted a mass of decoration in blue and green, representing
the reed, symbol of music, the case being stained in a mahogany tone.
.
The Sunday-school
room in the basement
has been
decorated in the same quiet manner as the nave of the
church, though the colors are lighter.
The ceiling is laid
out in squares, in which appear the conventional forms of the
rose.
The four tablets to the memory of Revs. John Beach and
Philo Perry, and Drs. Burhans and Marble are very elaborate
in design and detail.
Each one has been made after a different design, conforming each to the character of the time in
which the clergyman lived.
They are the fitting consummation of all the work of the artist who has designed the whole,
and, though occupying but a comparatively
small space, are
the most artistic and valuable decoration in the church.
It is
rarely that so costly tablets are placed in a church four at once,
and it is interesting to notice the means that have been taken
to have them of different appearance.
In Rev. John Beach's tablet, most of the decoration is in
the stone.
The brasswork is simply a polished plate with the
inscription, and but slight ornament.
The letters of Rev.John
Beach's tablet are in black enamel, in keeping with his times,
but the others · are in black, red, and blue.
In the tablet of
Rev. Dr. Burhans the artist has put the design partly in the
stone, partly in the brass.
The prevailing colors in the brass
are black and red enamel, with a very little blue at the corners.
J
�Consecration
IO
o.f lhe
In the case of Rev. Dr. Marble the design is very little in the
·stone and mostly in the brass.
The colors are a different
shade of red and blue, with black letters, the blue being much
more prominent
than in the others.
In Rev. Mr. Perry's
tablet the design is altogether
in the brass, the predominant
colors red and black, with a very little blue, the dark marble
background being without decoration.
The following
is a list of the Rectors
of the Parish :
The REV. JoHN BEACH, A.M., appointed
March 19, 1782.
Missionary
The REv. PHILO PERRY, chosen
October 26, I 798.
January
Rector
The REV. DANIEL BURHANS, D.D., chosen
1799, resigned November I, 1830.
The
REV. SAMUEL C. SntATTON, chosen
1831, resigned October I, 1839.
The
REv. S. STEBBINS STOCKING, chosen
1841, resigned Septe~ber
24, 1848.
The REv. HORACE HILLS, chosen
signed November,
I I, I 849.
Rector
I 732, died
9, I 787, died
Rector
Rector
October
I,
October
I,
April
1 I,
Rector
January
The REV. WILLIAM M. CARMICHAEL,D.D., chosen
vember 6, 1850, resigned November 6, 1852.
7, 1849, reRector
No-
The REv. BENJAMIN W. STONE, D.D., chosen Rector
ber 29, 1852, resigned November 17, 1856.
Novem
The REv. NEWTON E. MARBLE, D.D., chosen
18s7, resigned September
1, 1878.
April I,
· The REv. THOMAS W. HASKINS, chosen
1878, resigned October I, 1880.
The
Rector
Rector
September
REV. GouvERNEUR MORRIS WILKINS, present
chosen Easter, 188 I.
30,
Rector,
�Fourth
Church Edifice,
Trinity
Parish .
l I
TO•THE•Jl,iLESSD>•MEMORY•
~•-
:IU'.V • JOHH • BEACH
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�I2
Co,ns ecration of the
�Foui'th
Church
Edifice,
Trinity
· Parish.
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. 13
�14
Consecration
o/ the
'
Fourlh
Chitrch
Edifice.
�SERMON.
"l
HAVE
FORTH
CHOSEN
FRUIT,
YOU,
AND
AND
THAT
ORDAINED
YOUR
YOU,
FRUIT
THAT
SHOULD
YOU
SHOULD
REMAIN."-St.
GO AND BR ING
John, chap.
xv., verse r.6.
I
N the providence of God there are, in every age and country, men raised up who stand out distinct from their
fellows, not in natural gifts alone, but in the successful use of
those gifts in the work of Christ-typical
men, whose bright ·
path points the way of usefulness to those who come after them
- •men who live on in deeds and graces springing
anew in
others through the ages.
It is good for us, as well as a pious duty, to keep fre!;>htheir
memory, not by graving upon lasting stone and metal only,
but upon living immortal minds, reproducing before each passing generation a picture of each of these great and good.
Among those who were instrumental in laying the foundations of the Protestant Episcopal Church in Connecticut, there
were two who stood out markedly above and distinct from all
others-_Rev.
Dr. Johnson and Rev. John Beach.
They were
typical men. Johnson was the type of that class of clergymen
who master the great questions of theology and philosophy
which agitate their times-who
hav e the heaven.:.bestowed gift
;>f shaping the minds of those who shall be the immediate
t eachers of the people.
They are in the noblest sense educators.
They are men whose felt executive ability and wide
comprehension
of their times is a divine designation to leadership.
Beach, on the other hand , was a typical pioneer pastor ;
�r6
Consecration
o_f the
one of-that class so absolutely . and immediately necessary to
the work of bringing men into the Lord's kingdom of grace, and
to fitting them for his kingdom of glory; one whose native
powers would enable him to win distinction in almost any calling, but who, at the call of God, without demur throws himself
with undivided heart into the pious pastoral work, 'and who
feels thankful in all his life that the Lord had given him to
share in his own toils and trials ; a man with an intuitive
knowledge of human nature, and the love of God in his heart, so
that he both understands and sympathizes with his fellow-men ;
whose unswerving purpose is to learn and teach the truth as ,
it is in Jesus, at whatever peril-to
defend it at any cost; a
man with the largest measure of that most uncommon gift,
commdn-sense, and the grace of God to apply it in all the details of his life and ministry.
Such a man was John Beach, the
first pastor of this cure, the most successful, probably, in per. sona1ly winning men to our fold in Connecticut, of all that noble
band of missionaries who labored during fifty years before the
close of the American Revolution.
Like Samuel and Timothy, he began his religious life from
· The son of religious parents, he was carefully
the beginning.
trained from infancy in the way he should go. Tradition relates that from his youth he had his habit o( being alorie for
reading and prayer, while others were pursuing their diversions;
He was eager in searching the Scriptures and in seeking such
knowledge as is needful for their correct interpretation.
His
thirst for biblical knowledge was irrepressible.
With zeal he .
learned the will of God, with unfeigned faith he embraced it;
with . a devoted heart he lived it.
As he grew up he gave such promise, that under the ad-'
vice of the Rev. Dr. Cutler, who had been for ten yea ·rs their
pastor, and was just entering
upon the rectorship
of Yale
College, his parents determined to bestow upon him a liberal
education.
He graduated at the age of twenty-one.
He laid
a solid foundation for his future work, especially in ·a knowl ~
edge of the Hebrew language, for proficiency in which he was
noted among his brethren.
'
While Mr. · Beach was in Yale College, that remarkable
I
movement
began
there which caused intl'.nse exr.itement
�Fourth
Church Edifice,
Trz°nity Parish.
17
throughout the colony, and gave to our Church in Connecticut
an impulse and character which it has never lost. The movement resulted in the conformity of the Rector, Dr. Cutler, and
Revs. Johnson and Brown, to the Church of England.
They
were three of the most distinguished men in the colony for
clearness of intellect, attainments in science and theology, and
for the moral and Christian virtues.
Men needed to be made of stern stuff to surrender thus
their earthly prospects, brave the dangers of the sea and of disease, part from their families for a long period, with the certainty, if spared to return, of laboring for the rest of their
days in the midst of an embittered and hostile people.
The sincerity and devotion of such men were manifest.
Their welltried characte ·rs, coupled with their acknowledged
talents and
scholarship, were a tower of strength to the cause they espoused.
Mr. Johnson, on his return from England, in holy orders,
settled as missionary at Stratford of the venerable Society for
the Propagation of the Gospel.
Stratford was then the only
Episcopal parish in the colony of Connecticut.
Here he
became familiarly acquainted
with Mr. Beach, who had
taken his degree of A.B., and was preparing himself for the
Congregational
ministry.
This acquaintance was destined
to work in Mr. Beach's life a great, but not an immediate,
change.
The stir and discussion attendant upon the conformity of Mr.
Johnson and his friends occurring while he was at Yale College, of course his attention was strongly attracted to the subjects connected with the distinctive polity and doctrines of the
church-and
the more so as Cutler had been his pastor and
friend.
He was thus made somewhat doubtful in regard to
the system in which he had been trained.
He thus states his
frame of mind when, at twenty-four years of age, he was admitted
to the Congregational
ministry: " Having studied the controversy with the best helps I could get, though I had some doubts
about the lawfulness of Presbyterian ordination, yet my doubts
about the lawfulness of clerical conformity in the Church of
England were stronger."
The quarterly visits here of Mr. Johnson, from Stratford,
�..
Consecralion of the
18
to minister to those who were inclined to the Church of England were making considerable impression, and it became a
matter of solicitude with the Independents to settle an able and
popular pastor at Newtown.
Mr. Beach, now at the age of twenty-four, was looked upon
as a young man of unusual promise, and was settled by the Congregational society without a dissenting voice. -It would seem
that his kindly feeling toward the Church of England commended him to some, who, under more favorable circumstances,
would have conformed, but who were willing to unite in settling him with Presbyterian
ordination.
The result was for a
time answerable to their expectations.
All united u_nder the
new minister except five families of decided Church people.
These continued to meet in a private house for worship, and
were ministered to occasionally by Mr. Johnson.
/
Mr. Beach was successful in his ministry.
Carefully avoid ing controversial topics, which were then rife in all New England, he preacbed the simple: gospel of Chr _ist, and, living as
he preached, was respected and beloved.
But the churchly tendencies which had been a cogent reason for his settlement began to produce their legitimate fruit in
himself.
He was of that honest make-up that his practice followed closely upon his belief-truth
with him was for use-not
for mere speculation and discussion.
He was noticed to use frequently in his public ministrations the Lord's Prayer, to read whole chapters from the Bible,
and to employ sentences in his prayers which the Church people said were taken from the Prayer Book. He began to find
that he could not teach without mitigating explanations the
doctrines laid down in the Westminster
Catechism and - Say brook Platform, the then accepted standards of the Puritan establishment in Connecticut.
After eight years · of acceptable
service, he felt compelled by his convictions to give up his position in a communion with whose doctrines and usages he was
no longer in accord, and he became a communicant in the
Church at Stratford on Easter day, 1732.
On. his avowal of his conformity a storm broke upo_n him
from his former brethren, which ceased not entirely during
the remaining half century of his life-a bitterness of assault
.
.
�- Fourth
Church Edifice, Trinity
Parish.
19
which bore witness to the greatness of the man by the felt greatness of his loss.
He was attacked in scurrilous and abusive pamphlets, to
which he temperately and calmly replied.
.
So soon as arrangements could be made, he left his family
and embarked for England to receive such a commission to
minister as could alone satisfy his conscience.
He carried with
him from his Church of England brethren the amplest testimo- .
nials to his learning, worth, and reputation.
A petition was also sent from Chestnut Ridge, now Redding Ridge, by the Churchmen there, that Mr. Beach might be
appointed to serve as Missionary of the venerable Society in
this region, and that they might share in the benefit of his ministrations.
These requests were granted, and in September,
I 73 2, he returned
in holy orders, and with a commission as
Missionary at Newtown and Redding.
Now, at the age of thirty-two, he began his true work in
life. All that went before he had profited by as a providential
training and fitting for his true mission while he yet knew
it not.
By eight years' experience, he was skilled as a pastor-by
faithful and loving study from his youth, he was learned in the
Holy Scriptures-by
them, in their sense as witnessed by the
historical church, he had tried and corrected the theology received from his immediate ancestors-to
satisfy the demands of
his own conscience he had studied and weighed well the claims
of the Church of England to be the living representative of the
Church founded in Britain by apostolic men within apostolic
times. ~Tith him religious truth received on adequate evidence
became part of his life, to be yielded only with lifo-all this
combined with natural abilities of a high order, by God's grace,
made him a power for good-he
was like them to whom our
Lord said, " I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you
should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should
. "
remam.
He had need of all his resources of nature, education, and
grace, for the outlook at the beginning of his new career was
anything but cheering.
The efforts of his late brethren had
been but too successful in embittering the minds of many toward
I
I
�20
Consecration
of the
him. He had been denounced as a hypocrite, heretic, and
bigot-the
institutions of the church to which he had conformed as rags of popery, and the Prayer Book as merely the
Romish mass-book translated.
When he returned to the community where he had labored,
he found that by the mass his labors of love seemed forgotten.
He found the people cold and reserved, and some hostile to
such a degree that they would not shake hands with him in
common civility. Even a tribe of heathen Indians, to whom by
direction of the venerable Society he tried to be useful , were
stirred to hostility by false reports.
But he met all this with
godly patience, and quietly set himself to such work as Provi dence left open to him.
His appointed cure was Newtown and Redding, but this
Beginnin ~
was not the li:11-itof his labors for many years.
from the southern lines of these towns, there was no northern
or eastern or western limit, but the limit of his time and
strength.
At Redding, he found a small band of Church people who
had been ministered to occasionally by Mr. Caner, of Fairfield,
and for whom it is claimed that they were the first religious
body organized in that town.
At any rate, one hundred and
fifty years ag-o John Beach found the Church ·seated in quiet
determination
on the summit of Redding Ridge, and there
through storm and sunshine it lives unto this day.
There Mr. Beach ministered on each alternate Sunday to
the Church people gathered from far and near, some from a
distance of ten or fifteen miles. Those who lived too remote
to come and return home on the Lord's day, came on Saturday,
bringing their needful supplies, and were given house-room by
their brethern near the church.
At Newtown, also, we learn
that churchmen gathered for worship, in those first years, from
New Milford and other remote places.
Ministering to such
earnest people must have been one of the chief alleviations in
the hard lot_ of the lone missionary.
A church was built at Redding in the first year of his
mm1stry.
At Newtown he began his work with the five families of Church people to whom Mr. Johnson had ministered
while Mr. Beach was yet a Congregationalist.
Having no
�Fourth
Church Edifice,
Trim·ty
Parish.
21
church, Mr. Beach opened his own house for public worship,
and ministered to the faithful few who resorted to him.
He was diligent in this day of small things. ' Three years
later he reports to the venerable Society: " I have constantly
preached one Sunday at Newtown and the other at Redding,
and after I have preached at Redding in the daytime, I
·
preach at Newtown in the evening."
Besides his work at these places, he preached and administered the sacraments at Ridgefield, Danbury, and Waterbury,
and founded the· church from which afterward sprung the
parishes of Woodbury and Roxbury.
Wherever there were
Church people scattered, between here and the Massachusetts
line, and even beyond, he sought them out and ministered to
their spiritual needs.
There seems to have been scattered
here and there over all the colony children of the Church, or
those weary of the prevailing system, and the presence of the
faithful missionary encouraged these to avow themselves, and
to gather round him.
His field was a very different country then and now. Much
the larger portion was still covered with forest, the roads mere
bridle-paths or cart tracks ; streams -were oftener crossed by
fords than by bridges.
In one instance, at least, the missionary was near losing his life in crossing an unbridged river.
The winter then also brought its peculiar toils and perils.
Its snows fell to depths greater than this generation has seen,
covering fences out of sight, rendering the roads impassable to
horsemen, compelling the missionary sometimes to make his
journey of eight miles to Redding on snow-shoes.
I have
heard in my boyhood aged people in Redding say that he
reached his appointment in this manner when near fourscore
years of age.
Such an example shamed the most easy-going
of his people into regular attendance at the house of God.
"He was a pastor untiring." ,
Such zeal was not long fruitless, though · nearly a year
elapsed before other than the five before-mentioned
families
were added to his flock in this place; a lost Prayer Book falling
into the hands of a Congregational
family attracted curiosity,
to see what this mass-book, as it was nicknamed by the
Puritans, contained.
The curiosity was · met by a free dis-
�22
Consecration
of the
tribution of copies of it, and the book itself, as it always will
be to candid minds, was the most effective answer to its traducers;
The consequence in this case was the addition of
eight families, raising the number of the little flock to seventy
souls.
With increased numbers came the absolute need of a
church, and the need was promptly met by a willi~g people.
Within one week the materials were gathered, the frame up,
and the roof-boards nailed on, and the following Lord's day,
the churchmen worshipped under this roof, using the floor-timbers as seats.
Ridicule from some of their better prov "ided
neighbors stimulated their zeal, and led some of kindlier feeling to join and aid them.
Within two weeks their church was
enclosed, furnished with benches and desk, and Trinity Church,
Newtown, had a habitation, and not a name only, but a sub /
stantial existence. From that time its course has been onward.
It has had its trials, but it has passed each trial with strength
undiminished or increased.
In twelve years from the erection of the first church
another of more than double its capacity was . required and
bui lt . . Such growth in such circumstances proves the missionary to have been of unusual powers, as well as of uqflinching
purpose.
Five years later still a like prosperity called for the erection of the second and larger edifice at Redding Ridge.
At
that place there was then a more numerous and able population than now, the majority of whom became attached to the
Church.
The building then erected remained till I 83 2 unaltered, except that, near the close of the last century, its bellturret was replaced by a tall, gaunt steeple.
Well do I remember ' that venerable building.
Like many
another old church in Connecticut, it was, as to the exterior,
an imitation in wood of . St. Paul's, New York.
It was an
honest church.
Its builders offered to the Lord the best lumber their woods afforded, and they did not by paint pass it off
for stone.
Its interior was noble and impressive in its simplicity.
Its high arched roof was sustained by huge square
pillars of white · oak, on which the marks of those who "lifted
the axe upon the thick trees" were to be seen. Through the
.
•
�I
Fourth
,
Church Edifice, Trinity
Parish.
23
centre were ranged the benches, framed and pinned together
_ with oak, and worn bright by generations
of worshippers.
Along the sides were ranged the square family pews, built of
the fine white lumber of the tulip-tree-sheep-pens
they were
Within
called, and each Lord's _ day they were fuU of sheep.
the chancel-rail the three-decker
arrangement
of holy table,
desk, and pulpit, and above all the sounding-board,
all remaining as when John Beach ministered, come up in the mind's
vision; and in that full and devout congregation
at that date
here and there lingered a gray-headed
worshipper who had
listened to -his stirring speech and been signed with the cross
by his saintly hand.
In how short a time have we passed on
into a new and strange world!
_
During about twenty years of his ministry he lived near
that church, and within its shadow, in 1756, he laid the mortal
remains of her who had shared the toils and trials of his early
manhood and _middle life. Soon after 1 760 he appears to have
resumed his residence at Newtown, which was thenceforth his
home.
Though devoted to his work as a missionary pastor, the
exigencies of the times compelled him to engage in . controversy to repel the attacks upon himself and upon the Church
of his choice.
The care with which he had investigated the claims of her
polity, and the scriptural and primitive character of her doctrines and usages, admirably fitted him for this work.
He
knew every inch of the ground, for he had carefully surveyed
it for the satisfaction of his own conscience.
He knew the
force and value of every objection, for they had dwelt in his
own mind till expelled by truthful investigation.
He was
patient with assailants and opponents, and allowed for their
prejudices, for he had once shared them.
_As we read the pieces which remain of his cc;mtroversia
writings, we are surprised that amidst such a life of toil, i.
such a widespread
field of pastoral work, and with attention •
to the cultivation of the soil to eke out his moderate income,
he could have found time for a scholarship wide and accurate
as he displayed.
In this respect the scholar! y Johnson was
his only superior among our Connecticut clergy of his time; and
�C onsecrat _ion o_f the
in his clear and popular way of putting thiP gs, so as to arrest
and convince common minds, he had among them no equal.
To store up rare learning till one becomes an encyclopcedia, has been the achievement of many a man who has left
the world neither wiser nor better than he found it; but Beach
had that gift by which a truly great mind makes its hardearned stores of learning the readily grasped possession
of
plain people.
His freedom from bitterness
and vituperation,
his fairness
in stating his own and his adversaries'
positions, when contrasted with the tone and temper often shown by his opponents,
all told in favor of his cause.
There is in our Saxon make-up
a love of fairness and justice, which was won upon by his style
and method, and which the bitterness of his opponents turned
in his favor.
/
Nor was the purity of his personal character of small
weight.
When a pamphlet had been circulated in his parish
traducing the Church and her ministers, it was remarked by a
sage old man of the standing order: " Mr. Beach is too good
a man to be thus deceived.
The 'king and parliament also are
churchmen, and can they all be so wicked?
I doubt it. Let
us examine the subject a little more."
The result was that he
and several others at that time came into the Church.
That was an age when pamphlets
supplied, in a degree,
the place now filled by the newspaper.
In the scarcity of mis. cellaneous reading, and in the people's isolation from the great
world, each of these little missives was read and re-read
and carefully treasured
up. The assailants of the Episcopal
Church were diligent in circulating their pamphlets, and every
few years there was a new issue of them.
Several of these
Mr. Beach answered,
and his answers were diligently circulated and read.
Copies of several of these were to be found
in the old church homesteads of this diocese within the memory
of persons still living.
To these tracts is, in no small degree,
owing the conservative
and intelligent churchmanship
·which
has distinguished
our diocese · from the beginning.
And no
individual of our colonial clergy wielded through this means so
long--continued
and so effective an influence as John Beach.
" He was a controversialist-able
!"
�Fourth
Church Edifice,
Trinity
Parisfi.
25
But the controversies of those times were not limited to
matters ·of church government or usages in worship.
The system of Calvinism as enunciated in the Assembly's Catechism
and the Saybrook Platform did not content many of the most
thoughtful minds. With its doctrines of limited atonement and
unconditional election and reprobation, it failed to meet the demands of our nature in so far as it remains as God made itand failed to meet its wants in the fearful condition into which
it is come by the fall. This system was a bed shorter than humanity in its cravings could stretch itself on-a
covering too
narrow to enwrap its misery and woe. On the other hand,
Beach and his compeers taught an atonement wide as the race
in its · offers, and limited only by man's free and wilful rejection in its effects.
But many of Mr. Beach's publicati~ns on such topics were
in the form of sermons, and belonged to the domain of the
preacher as much as to that of the controversialist.
These
productions had their origin rather in the purpose of guarding
the Church people from error, than in any love for polemics.
The extreme doctrines of the standing order led to the errors of Antinomianism on the one hand, and to Socinianism on
the other.
These ill tendencies were quickened to new vitality
on the coming of the Rev. George Whitefield.
He shot like a
meteor through the colonies, throwing society into a ferment.
He had thrown off the restraints of his ordination vows in Eng•
land, and had there denounced, without stint, the authorities of
the Church of England, to which he belonged.
Here he went to
such lengths of extravagance as to draw forth, finally, protests
from a considerable ...
portion of the divines of the Congregational order, whom in turn he denounced as heartily as he had
the Bishops.
Division and disorder were still further increased
Many of the Conby the preac~ers who followed in his wake.
gregational churches were rent in sunder, and the whole people
were excited and disturbed with strange teachings and resulting controversies.
Our ,Church people were in a· degree affected by this state
of things, and Mr. Beach and others of the clergy shaped their
preaching in such wise as to guard their flocks: At the request
of a convention of his brethreny Mr. Beach prepared a sermon
�Consecrat£on of the
vindicating the fundamental principles of the Christian faith, as
against several heretical and latitudinarian views which were
becoming rife. This sermon was published and circulated as
a tract, with the endorsement
of his clerical brethren.
Quite a number of his other sermons survive to attest his
qualities as a preacher.
His style was clear and flowing, his
words well chosen, his matter well arranged.
He had evidently drunk at the fountains of English undefiled.
His teaching
was drawn from Holy Scripture, and was in accord with that
of the best divines of our mother Church.
He dwelt mainly on
practical themes which have to do with conversion, a holy
life, and salvation through Christ crucified.
As we read we
feel that he is in earnest, and in passages he rises to an impassioned eloquence.
Moreover,
tradition
assures us that his
delivery was in keeping with his matter, and, says Dr. Mansfield, his was "an unaffected and commanding e1oquence."
The estimation in which he was held is attested by r·epeated proposals to him to remove to more desirable
and
less arduous fields in this and neighboring colonies.
But, like
Moses, "he loved his people."
For their good he lived, and
with them he would die. The history of the Church affords few
more noble examples of life-long attachment
between pastor
and people.
Such a life-work could not fail of abundant fruit. His ministry in the Church had now spanned the period between r 73 2
and the Revolutionary
War, and he was a man of threescore
and fifteen years.
He was worn out with unremitting
labors
· and the wearier endurance of an intolerance and hostility which
never slept.
He se ems by some of his letters at this period to
have stood, like Moses on Pisgah, looking back upon the course
of his pilgrim-warfare,
and wistfully forward to a rest in the
heavenly Canaan. And , like Moses, he could justly feel a thankful satisfaction in the present and in the review of the past.
Forty years before, he had begun a work here, to ·human view
almost hopeless ; his flock but five families, with no church,
and walled round wit};l prejudice.
He was alone in all the
northwestern
quarter of Connecticut, and with but three fellow laborers in the ; hole colony.
N S)W he has within his own
cure one-half of its whole population, and more than three
�Fourth
Church Edifice, Trinity
27
Parish.
hundred communicants.
All round him is a cordon of parishes;
and one in every thirteen of the population of the colony is a
child of that Church for which he has toiled.
But though the
aged ·toiler may desire to depart, his work is not yet done ;
he has run with pat£ence his race, he must end it as a Christian
hero.
The time has come when we can afford to deal fairly by the
actors on both sides of the strife which severed these colonies from Great Britain, that they might in God's Providence
become greater than Britain. In the veins of many, if not most
of us, flows commingled tlie blood of loyalist and patriot, and
we may proudly claim that the true men on both sides were
loyal to principle and lovers of their country.
He was not the
less so who looked upon severance from Great Britain as the
sure ruin of the colonies, and revolt as grievous sin, than he
who was ready to die for principles of free government, which
were not universally admitted as correct till established and
.
settled as the rich outcome of that fieri trial.
Beach, like the most of his brethren, sought by peaceable
means to secure concession to the demands of the colonies
from the home government;
but when war was precipitated
his conscience compelled him to stand aloof from revolt against
that government- ·a government to which he was bound at his
ordination by a special oath, from which he knew no release
but remission by the authority which imposed it.
With a heart undismayed, though the flesh was tremulous
with age, he entered into the storm.
He was no hireling to
flee, but stayed with his flock, and his flock, won by his love
and labor, stood by him . Other pastors fled, and still others
closed their churches when the colonies declared their independence, becaus e they dared not use the Liturgy which required them to pray for the rulers they believed to be in legi timate authority.
Beach alone quailed not. Though the
bitterness which had followed him so long was intensified by
the internecine war, he went his way ministering the comforts
and counsel which so many sorely needed.
Each Lord's dar
he kneeled in th e house of God, "a nd prayed as he did afore )
1
time; " the threat of death once and again blanched
0t his
cheek nor hushed his voice. The crack of the rifle a d th '
.\
11 1
,
1<P
, .t:
J
�28
Consec.ration o/ thf Fourth
Church Edifice.
whirr of the .bullet.neither ~tirred nor stopped him as in the holy
hous~ he delivered _his_ Mast~r's message.
At length, when thqse years of.strife were almost done, at
fourscore years and two, tµe po_or worn qut body could no
longer retain the heroic s.oul. . In tr\lth and fitness, as he passed
from earth, might he use the words, too high for most mortal
lips : "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course,
I have kept .the faith: Henceforth there is l~id up for me a,
crown of righteousne$s, which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day."
i.
...... ,
I
�I
�
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Consecration of the fourth church edifice, Trinity Parish, Newtown, Conn., and celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its foundation, with memorial sermon / by Rev. D.P. Sandford, D.D
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F104.N78 S26 1882
34023001507021
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28 p. : ill. 24 cm
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Church buildings -- Connecticut -- Newtown
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Trinity Episcopal Church in Newtown, Connecticut was established in 1732. Its first rector was John Beech, Newtown's former Congregational pastor, who had converted to the Anglican Church.<br /><a title="http://www.trinitynewtownct.org/index.asp?history" href="http://www.trinitynewtownct.org/index.asp?history">http://www.trinitynewtownct.org/index.asp?history</a><a title="http://historicbuildingsct.com/?p=4983" href="http://historicbuildingsct.com/?p=4983"><br />http://historicbuildingsct.com/?p=4983</a>
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New York : E. & J.B. Young,
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1882
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Connecticut Churches
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PDF Text
Text
Cizhlbration
Of thiz Chureh
of thiz
l3uilding,
On Oetobizr 2 and
'
and thiz
3, 1897 .
/
\~
�THE
NEWINGTON
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
AND
ADDITIONS,
1897.
�Cllhibration
Of th1Z Chure!h
of th1Z
l3uildin9,
On Ot!tob1Zr 2 and
PRESS
OF
WM.
J.
HOLDEN,
3,
SOUTHINGTON,
and
1897.
CONN.
th1Z
�(
{
'
j
�QDrbernf £.erui.c.es fnr ®.ctob.er 2nb1 1897.
/"\orning
at
10:30.
Voluntary.
Invocatjon,
Rev. J. W. Cooper.
By the Congregation.
Hymn 929, Music, Duke Street,
Greeting,
By Pastor, Rev. Herbert Macy.
Fraternal
Salutations.
From Hartford Theological Seminary, Pres. 0. D. Hartranft.
Wethersfield, Rev. W. M. Baker.
Sister Churches
Farmington, Rev. Geo. L. Clark.
Hartford, First Church, Rev. 0. M. Lamson.
Anthem.
By Choir.
l
Papers
Re lating
to
the
Early
Church.
The Two Meeting Houses,
Roger Welles.
Alterations of present Meeting House, Dea. Levi S. Deming.
Music of the Church in early days,
John G. Stoddard.
Collation and Social Hour from 12:30 to 2:30.
/\fternoon
/"\eeting--1\
/"\emoria!
Anthem,
Prayer,
Service.
By Choir.
Rev. J. 0. Barrows.
/\ddresses.
The First Pastor, Rev. Elisha Williams, 1720-1726,
Rev. 0. H. Williams.
The Second Pastor, Rev. Simon Backus, 1726-1746,
Oswald P. Backus.
The Third Pastor, Rev. Joshua Belden, 1747-1803,
Joshua Belden.
By the Congregation.
Hymn 1162,
The Fourth Pastor, Rev. Joab Brace, 1805-1855,
Reminiscences by several members of the Congregation.
Anthem,
By Choir.
The Fifth Pastor, Rev. W. P. Aikin, 1857-1867,
E. Stanley Welles.
The Seventh Pastor, Rev. W. J. Thomson, 1875-1879,
John S. Kirkham.
Miss Agnes W. Belden.
Rev. John E. Elliott, 1879-1884,
�$unbet1J,
Morning
QD.ctoher 3rb,
Serv ice
at
1897.
10:30
Voluntary.
Invocation,
The Ancient Covenant.
Anthem,
Scripture Lesson .
Prayer,
Offertory.
Hymn,
Historical Sermon,
Hymn,
Benediction.
O'c lock.
Rev. J. 0. Barrows.
By Choir.
Rev . Sanford S. Martyn.
By the Congregation.
Rev. Herbert Macy.
y the Congregation.
f
Sho:r:t Session of the Sunday School immediately after
morning service, with paper on the S unday Schoo l by
Deacon C. K. Atwood.
Eve n ing
Serv ice
at
7
Mrs. F. C. Latimer.
The Euncean Society,
/\ddresses
The Sixth Pastor,
O ' clock.
by
Rev. Sanford S. Martyn,
1868-1870.
-AND-
The Eighth
Pastor,
Rev. J. 0. Barrows, 1885-1891.
�Nevvington's
1722 Church
'
Celebration.
Organized.
[FROM
THE
1797 Church
RELIGIOUS
Built.
HERALD.]
Bea utiful for situation,
n ea t, cosy and furnished
with pipe organ, a light and bright chapel with upright piano,
infant
class room with cabinet
organ,
parlor,
kitchen,
and
dining
room,
the
N ewington church
presented
an inviting
appearance,
for
und er the tasteful fing ers of Mrs. Joshua
Belden and
her helpers the woods and gardens lent th eir beauty
and fragrance to the scene, - clematis, golden rod, and
ferns, marigolds, chrysanthemums,
yellow roses, and pot ted palms.
A b ea utiful whit e silk bann er with gold
fringe an d heavy gold tassels stood at one side of the
desk, in scrib ed in jew eled letters , "The Lord our God
be with us, as he was with our fathers,"
and on the
other side a motto, " 1722-1797 -1897. "
Th e exe rcis es lasted two days, and wer e of deep
and uniform inter est, eve n to a stranger.
The pastor,
Rev . H erbert Macy, who, as one of his parishioners
said , " has never pre ached a dull sermon, " pr esided,
gave gree ting, and pr eac hed th e historical sermon.
The
music, planned by the organist, Mrs. Ell en S. Deming,
Mrs. Macy and Mrs. Arthur
Merrill, embraced
some
grand old anthems and hymns.
The Newington people, who are wonderfully polite and well bred, outdid
th emselves in hospitality
and court esy to th eir guests .
Preside nt 0. D. Hartr anft of the Hartford semin ary, where Mr. Macy graduated, congratulated
the church
on its main t enance of th e holy faith, and the small
numb er of its pastors - nine
settled
pastors m 175
years.
Rev. W m. M. Baker, as pastor
of the mother
church at Wethersfield,
gave greeting.
Rev. G eorge
L. Clark, of Farmington,
in a witty and charming
speech, r efer red to Isaac Watts as the patron saint of
Newington an d quoted, "Let dogs delight to bark and
bit e, " and other of his po ems.
m
Dr. Lamson,
as pastor
of the oldest church
�6
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
Connecticut,
gave Mr . Macy th e right hand of fellowship.
Dr . Lamson said hi s father rece iv ed 200 cents
from an aunt for committing
200 of Is aac Watt 's hy mns ,
an d afte rw ar d some one of the family killed a dog and
borrowed th e $2 to p ay a lawyer to sh ield him from
the conseq u ence of his crime, and n ever returned
it .
Dr . L amso n suggested the id ea of a society of the colonial church.
rrh e secr et of Dr. Lamson's popularity
lies
deeper than his rare ability, even his kindlin ess of h ea rt ,
which never varies.
Th e r ende rin g of th e grand old anthem, "B efore J ehovah's awful thron e, " by th e choir was fine .
Roger Welles
had prepared two valuable papers on the tw o meeting h ou ses,
both of which we publish, but, owing to lack of time, h e
dee m ed it advisabl e to r ea d only th e second.
The dis sen sions of th e fath ers concerning
th e site of the present
structure caused much amusement.
Th e aged D ea. L evi S .
D eming, a former r esident, but now of Middl etown, was wisely chos en to r ehears e th e various changes of the ed ific e, from
its cold and bare but r eve r en tly lov ed room, to its pr ese nt
mod ern and comfortable auditorium.
Two hours were now delightfully
spent in greetings and
feas tin g, after which cam e the " Music of th e Church in
early days, " by John G. Stoddard.
Words would fail to
pictur e th e indescribabl e charm of this pap er.
R ev . 0. H. Williams gave a somewhat leng thy, extem poran eo us address on th e first pastor, Rev . Elisha Williams,
which was list ened to with unflagging attention and int eres t.
Oswald P. Ba ckus of Rom e, N. Y ., a man of fini sh ed
and scholarly app ea ranc e, gave an int eresting pap er on his
anc es tor, R ev . Simon Backus, th e second p asto r , who served
N ewin gto n for 20 years.
·
Joshua Belden, the fourth, of N ewin gton, great-grandson of R ev . Joshua B eld en, th e third pastor , who served ·in
this field from his 23rd year until h e was 79, and then as
pastor emeritus for t en yea rs more, gave a bri ef and excellent
paper.
Th e int er est of the day cent er ed abo ut th e r em inisc ence s
of th e fourth pastor, R ev. Dr. Joab Brace, by D ea . Levi S.
D emin g. It was a sight lon g to b e rem ember ed , the age d
man standing with the glorious light of th e autumnal day
about him and th e larg e audience, every fac e showing strong
feelin g as th e speaker d epict ed the wonderful lif e of th e man
whom h e had lov ed with a r eve ren t affection.
Although not
as historically valuabl e, it was the gem of th e day .
�NE WIN GTON,
CONNE CTIC UT,
1897.
7
J. S. Kirkham follow ed with a bri ef addr ess showing
D r. Br ace' s influ enc e in th e sch ools, in whi ch Mr . Kirkh am
was a form er teach er; also sp eaking of Dr . Brac e' s eccentric
ab ru p tn ess.
Fa th er K emp 's " J erusal em, my happy hom e" was well
sung by th e ch oir.
E . St anl ey W elles' paper on th e fifth pa stor, R ev. W. P.
Aik in , was ch oice, and we take pl easur e in givin g it to you
tha t it may sp eak for it self ; as also th e pap er on th e seventh
pasto r by John S. Kirkham.
Miss Agnes W. B eld en 's pap er on R ev. John E . Elliott
had n ot a sup erfluous word. It was no w past five, and thus
close d an eventful day in the church 's history . Lett ers of
regre t were read from R ev. Dr. Coop er of N ew Britain , R ev.
Cyru s W. Francis of Brookfi eld Cent er and ex-Pr esid ent
Grove r Cleveland, whos e ancestor once pr each ed at N ewington, and oth ers.
·
Sund ay bright and beautiful dr ew tog ether a lar ge audience to list en to R ev. Mr. Macy's historical address.
All
were satisfi ed, as our readers will und erstand when th ey read
T HE RELIGIOUS HERALD. Mr. Macy has an inter esting family of bri ght little ones and Mrs. Macy is a true h elpmeet in
every good work.
N ewin gton Sunday school is lar ge and prosp erous, J oshua B eld en, superint endent. We regr et that lack of space
which compels us to omit the pap er on th e Sunday school,
by D ea. C. K. Atwood, form er superintendent.
R evs. S.S. Martyn of D erby and J. 0. Barrows of the
Roa d church, Stonington, form er pastors, occupi ed positions
of promin ence and made address es. Sunday evening Mrs. F.
C. L atim er describ ed the Eunman benevolent soci ety named
by Mary Brace.
Th e repr esentativ ~ of THE RELIGIOUS HERALD voices
the general sentim ent of gratitud e at th e fri endly ho spitality
an d genuine court esy shown by th e N ewington people to
the ir guests.
COMMITTEES.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
- R ev. H erb ert
Kir kh am.
Macy,
R oger Well es,
J . S.
I NVITATION CoMMITTEE.- E . Stanl ef Welle s, Miss Agn es W. B eld en,
Alfre d B. F is h .
F LORAL COMMITTEE
- Mrs. Jo shu a B eld en, Mrs. A. P . Fr an cis, Mrs.
A. H . Merrill, Mr s. Ell en Demin g.
�8
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES.
ENTERTAINMENTCoMMITTEE-F. C. Latimer, J. Belden, George W.
Seymour, H. L. Kellogg, Elbert W. Atwood.
CoLLATION COMMITTEE-Mrs. A. H. Merrill, Mrs. M. L. Stoddard,
Mr.s. C. L. Robbins, Mrs. H. M. Robbins, Mrs. Joanna Luce.
Musrc COMMITTEE-Mrs. Ellen S. Deming,
Arthur Merrill.
Mrs. Herbert Macy, Mrs.
DELEGATES.
HARTFORDTHEOLOGICALSEMINARY-Pres. Dr. Hartranft.
BERLIN-Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Webster.
MERIDEN-First, T. W. Kilbourne, H. A. Curtis;
H. Grant, Mrs. G. Crittenden, Mrs. C. N. Winslow.
Center,
Rev. John
MIDDLETOWN-Third, Rev. D. B. Hubbard.
KENSINGTON-Mr. and Mrs. L. J. Peck.
FARMINGTON-Rev. Geo. L. Clark, Rev. Dr. J. W. Backus, Mrs. Lucy
Woodruff.
HARTFORD-First, Rev. Dr. C. M. Lamson,
Dea. Roland Swift;
South, Rev. Magee Pratt.
NEW BRITAIN-First,
Rev. M. B. Boardman,
Cornelius Andrews;
South, J. H. Kirkham, Mrs M. R. Eddy.
RocKY HILL-Rev.
H. H. Davies, Mrs. Louis Griswold ..
WETHERSFIELD-Rev. W. M. Baker, S. Frank Willard, F. A. Griswold.
WEST HARTFORD-Henry
C. Butler,
Wm . H. Hall.
WALLINGFORD-Rev. J. J. Blair, A. D. Judd.
PLANTSVILLE-Geo. F. Smith,
H. D. Smith.
�REV.
HERBERT
MACY.
Rev. M. Aacy's Mistorical Sermon.
I Timothy iii, 15 (last clause), "The church of the living God, the pillar
and ground of the truth."
•
This text is certainly appropriate for such a celebration
as this. It points us to the main thing to be considered, not
allowing us to ~top with anything external or subsidiary.
It
takes us at once to the very heart and reason of our rejoicing.
We have been congratulating ourselves upon the long exist-
�10
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
ence of this venerable edifice, but the reason we do it honor
is because it has been for a century the home of a church.
We have reviewed with interest and affection many things in
connection with this building ; the various pastorates, the
organizations that found birth and life here, the forms of devotion, the corporate life of the society and the early methods
in contrast with those of to-day, and the justification
for our
celebr~ting any one of these things is that they have been
bound up within the bundle of the church's life.
They are
significant because related to the church of the living God.
What is more worthy of celebration than a church ?
Nothing.
Because the church comprehends
such precious
interests.
The school touches life on one side, the state
another side, but the church touches life in all its diameter
and circumference.
It is this which has enlisted our hearts
in this celebration.
We none of us can repress emotion when
we remember what the church is to us, our homes and the
world.
In our youth the church was a wonder to us, a presence
like the sky that we felt but did not understand.
But soon
it came to us with its imperatives and prohibitions, its fearful
warnings and sweet gospel.
And we grew into the consciousness of what the church was, the voice of God, the steward of
His manifold wisdom, the custodian of His revelation of
grace, the instrument for the world's redemption.
And when
we went out into life and began to see into the relation of
things, we found that where the sky was bright and the earth
was sacred and time such an opportunity, it was because the
church of the living God had been some time in the world,
doing its blessed work.
We yielded ourselves to its claims and it began to identify
itself with all that was vital and precious in our experience.
It blessed our friendships, cemented our home ties, recorded
our vows, comforted us in sorrow, stood with us by the open
grave, pointed our shrinking souls to heaven.
This is why
the celebration of a chur~h thrills our souls. It has not affected surface and temporary interests only, but those which
are deep and eternal.
But can we appl:}1 these large words of my text, which
express such an exalted conception, holding up our gaze to a
divinely related and possessed body, with the high mission of
supporting eternal truth in the world-can
we apply these to
a local church like this ? Is this church, a church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth ? Paul used this
language of a•local church, to that body of believers, meeting
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
11
in one place, over which Timothy had the oversight.
And
as this church is the creation of the Holy Spirit, and through
all these years has been maintained by that life-giving breath,
it is fitly described 'in these words.
So our gaze is upon this local body which celebrates on
this day the completion of a period of 175 years. Is such a
period in the life of a local church worthy of special notice ?
We claim it is. Viewed merely as a period of time it is not
insignificant.
It might be to a Methuselah, but not to us
whose alloted years are only three score and ten. The veneration that belongs to age is invoked for this building, whose
years outnumber those of any living member of the church.
It is evoked still more for the organization itself, whose life
is twice the length of the oldest member. We have only to
count a little over ten such periods and lo! we are back in
the first century when the gospel was getting its first hearing
and churches were being established.
But the number of our years is not the chief reason for
this celebration ; there have been churches with longer histories than our with no special claim to mention.
There have
been other centuries than this which spans the age of this
edifice which have no special interest attaching to them, but
our century, and our century and three -quarters, have been
periods of tremendous significance.
No monotonous flights
of time were these.
Every decade marks some change of
thrilling interest, and some of them chronicle events not exceeded in importance by anything'since the planting of Christianity.
Measure it how you will, you shall see this.
Take the
events connected with our national life and see how many
fall within this period. In 1722 only a beginning had been
made on this continent. .There was a little fringe of settlements along the Atlantic coast; but that vast domain which
was to furnish, as Gladstone has said, "the greatest natural
base of empire known in history" .was all unsettled and mostly undiscovered.
No census of the people had been taken
and was not until the decade within which this building was
erected. Estimates of population are only guesses, but it is
probable that some of our American cities to-day number
more people than inhabited these shores in 1722. Beginnings had been made in settling the land, dispossessing the
Indians, clearing the forests ; beginnings in experiment of
self-government, in development of new forms of church polity and new educational methods.
But almost everything in the way of development falls in
�12
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
the period covered by our church life. The successive generations 0£ this people have witnessed them all,-surging
tides
0£ immigration rolling over the land, every year farther westward till they met the waves 0£ the Pacific ; the struggles
with Spanish and French which kept the land the home 0£
Protestantism ; then the revolt against the mild tyranny 0£
the Mother Country, which could no longer be endured by
men who had breathed £or a few years the free air 0£ America; then the adjustments 0£ the people to dearly-bought conditions 0£ liberty ; formation 0£ State constitutions and welding 0£ these into the splendid framework 0£ the Republic
only ten years before the corner stone 0£ this church was
laid; then the development 0£ the country's resources; extension 0£ lines 0£ travel, marvelous progress in invention, education and business, till the nation stood £ace to £ace with the
question 0£ its very right to exist, bound up as that was with
the moral question 0£ slavery. It could not exist, as Lincoln
had said, half slave and half free, and so the Civil War with
all its horrors and £earful cost in blood and treasure had to
be £ought.
We can hardly realize the changes unless we stop and
resort to some comparisons.
In how infantile a state was the
system 0£ education,
to-day so magnificent ! We get a
point 0£ contrast when we reflect that Mr. Williams, the
first year after going from here to the head 0£ Yale college,
and a single tutor did the work 0£ that institution.
What
progress in the arts and industries!
When this church was
built there was in use in the homes 0£ this people the
same primitive means £or reducing wool and fl.ax to yarn
which had been used £or thousands
0£ years. What a
change in facilities 0£ travel ! We only get a faint perception 0£ it as we see the swiftly movi:µg car propelled by an invisible and silent force past our church, and then think back
to the time when the fathers and mothers 0£ this place
walked across Cedar mountain to church, with their shoes in
their hands, or rode along the bridle path upon the ancient
pillion.
Marvelous period it is within which our local history
£alls ! We agree with Tennyson, "Better fifty years 0£ Europe; than a cycle 0£ Cathay;"
and with another English
writer, who exclaims, "Ten years in the history 0£ America
equals half a century 0£ European progress."
All these
mighty movements, these thrilling changes, which mean so
much £or America and the world, have been witnessed by the
successive generations 0£ this church.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
13
Measure the sign\ficance of this period by the march of
ecclesiastical events and we conclude that this has been a
marvelous period in the history of Christendom.
The development of modern missionary activity all falls within
this period. The founding of the American Board and its
first meeting in the parsonage of Dr. Porter of Farmington,
during Dr. Brace's pastorate, brought this church into
touch with the movement for evangelizing the nations and it
has kept in touch and in generous support of that movement
ever since. The organization of the Sunday school; rich discoveries in sacred antiquities, by which our knowledge of the
original Scriptures has been wonderfully increased and great
stimulus given to Bible study; the birth of the scientific
spirit, with its passion for truth; the expansion of the conception of the church's mission in the world and its ready
adaptation to every new need,-all
these things fall within
this period. The men and women of this church who have
come and gone here have been identified with them and given a large hospitality and loyal support to every change that
promised to speed on the Kingdom of God.
Changing our gaze now from this wide range and fixing
it upon the local history, it seems as if here it was nothing
but change that we saw. Everything
appears in a state of
flux. The fathers, where are they ? Where are their church,
their forms of worship, their methods of activity ? We often
say, they would not know the place, should they come back
to it. They would be strangers in this building they erected,
as much as if they had never lived here, could they step into
it now.
There is not time to detail the history and· it has been
well done by others. My purpose is to select certain changes
through which the church has passed and see how within all
there were certain essential and undying elements. This is a
church of the living God. If it be a live church, it will
change. But it is the pillar al'!d ground of the truth and so
through all the changes, the truth will abide. There will be
an element of permanency and unity, underneath and surviving ewiry change.
First (to begin with that which is most external), this
building has changed and its changes but marl, the other
changes of the organism. The first church was but a rough,
unplastered, barn-like structure, and from the first there has
been a steady evolution in the form and adaptations of the
two buildings till we have this well-appointed,
tasteful edifice. There is an advantage in a history like ours over
�14
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
churches recently organized, in that we can see, step by step,
the successive improvements.
When a church is organized
to-day, it starts off with all the things which have come to
It is just like the
this church slowly and at great cost.
young couples to-day, who want to begin where their parents
ended, in the possession of every modern convenience.
But
this church got its good things in the old -fashioned way, lit. Why, they did not even have a pulpit and
tle by little.
deacons' seat when Mr. Williams began his ministrations.
A.nd for some time the galleries were unfinished and there
were no windows in the upper story.
A.nd when the church was organized, "that solemnity,"
building.
as Dr. Brace would say, was in an unfurnished
For 80 years it was the spiritual home of this people.
The
snow sifted through the cracks, the swallows built their nests
and twittered under the eaves.
The building that followed
was not much what it is to-day.
For years it knew no heat
except that from the living bodies of the worshipers.
'Ihose
were the days when in winter the sermon could not only be
heard;
it could be seen pouring forth from the preacher's
lips in wreaths of warm mist, that penetrated the frosty air.
The communion bread would sometimes freeze on the plates.
Judge Sewall, in his diary, pathetically
records, "The communion bread was frozen pretty hard and rattled sadly into
the plates. "
A.nd yet with all their uncouth surroundings,
their discomforts, the icy temperature,
the old meeting house was a
temple of God. The sacred Shechinah, which lent a heavenly glory to the temple in Jerusalem, shined into the hearts of
the worshipers.
They never thought of suspending their devotions, or even shortening them. A.nd such is the power of
the spirit over matter that the weather-beaten
beams and
time-eaten timbers took on an attractiveness
and a glory in
. the eyes of these devout souls. The building does not make
the worship.
It is the spirit of the worshipers; truer yet, it
is the Spirit of the Living God, coming down into the midst
of His saints and uniting them in the fellowship of Christ.
Second, a change of polity has taken place.
Things
were a good deal mixed in the early days as to principles and
It was inevitaforms of church government and fellowship.
ble. There was the church that had come over in the Mayflower, that had become in practice, if not in theory, a Congregational church, self-governing
and recognizing only the
authority of Christ.
But the other churches of Massachusetts and Connecticut had a tincture of Presbyterianism
about
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
15
them. And it was asserted in the Cambridge platform that
the ordinary power of government belongs only to the elders.
It took the free air of America and a clearer grasp of the
truth that Christ reveals his will through the different members of his body to shake the churches loose from the vestiges
of an aristocratic form of government and come on to the
platform of a pure democracy in church affairs.
I think I discover vestiges of this Presbyterian form of
government in the early history of this church. The records
of the church are lost for the early days and so we have only
hints. But I think the note made by Mr. Backus on one of
the sermons of his that has come down to us, that it was
"presented to ye reverend elders antecedent to my ordination," shows that the church had ruling elders. The society
or parish called Mr. Backus, but those elders evidently had
something to say as to whether he was the proper person to
be settled over them. Then as late as 1809, in the last will
and testament of Rosanna Deming, making a bequest to the
Newington society, there is a clause, which hints again at
some uncertainty in her mind as to just what this church
The
was, whether it was Congregational or Presbyterian.
clause is that she gives and beque:1ths to the ecclesiastical society in Newington such and such lands, the avails of them
to be given to the Presbyterian or Congregational minister
of said society.
It took time, therefore, £or the church to
determine its own character.
Then when we consider the functions of the ecclesiastical society in the early times, we see what a change has taken
place. It would cause a revolt in the church to-day if the society whose offices are now limited to the temporalities of the
church, should attempt to do some of the things the Newington society once did without question.
Something of the
notion of a theocracy doubtless came in here and the union
of church and state.
But the society in those early days was a kind of man of
all work. It shrunk from nothing that needed to be done.
It went ahead in a free and easy, large kind of way about
everything, from laying a tax to calling a minister.
It appointed the fast days, built and maintained the pound, had
charge of the schools, established libraries, appointed constables, looked after the burying ground, selected sheep masters, received public bequests, petitioned the Legislature
numberless times and did pretty much everything that had
to be done. Here certainly is a change, for to-day the ecclesiastical society has become a }rind of moribund affair,
�16
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
whose decent death and burial have been provided for by
legislative enactment and are actually taking place throughout the state.
of the church
with sister churches has
The relation
been changed.
The Consociation
once existed, made up of
pastors and one lay delegate from each church.
It was a
permanent body and, unlike a council, was supposed to have
It gradually fell away and the
more than advisory powers.
church voted in 1862 to withdraw from that body, and in
1868 it was represented in a meeting which formed the Conference of churches to which we now belong, and whose
churches were invited to this celebration.
of the
The Half Way Covenant,
that sad blunder
fathers, left its traces upon our records and was attended by
about the same unfortunate
results as marked its course
I£ you scan the records during
throughout
New England.
Mr. Belden's
ministry,
you will be struck by the disproportion between baptisms and admissions
to the church.
He baptized in the 58 years he was pastor 622 persons, but only received
into full membership
169. The
church at the close of his ministry only humbered 51. He
gives a long list of those who simply owned the covenant, but
did not come into full fellowship with the church and were
not admitted to the communion.
Now if you turn to the records of Dr. Brace, you will see how different the proportion
between those baptized and those received to membership.
He baptized 401 and received to membership 321.
There was only a difference of 60, while under Mr. Belden was a difference of 453. That tells the sad story of New
England's
decline when there were thousands of people in
this merely formal, moral, half-way relation to the church,
and the actual membership, who gave evidence of the regenerative power of the Spirit, was so meagre in comparison.
All credit is due to Mr. Belden and to the church of his
time that they discovered
their error so soon-sooner
by
many years than the churches in general.
Dr. Walker affirms that as late as 1797 the system was still largely in operation among the churches and the last vestiges did not disappear till 1825-28. But as early as 1775, the Newington
church abandoned it. The record says: "On motion of the
pastor, the brethren and this church manifested their opinion that the practice of this and many other churches of New
England, called the Half Way Covenant, was unwarrantable,
not authorized by any scriptural
precept or example, and
therefore agreed that said practice should be laid aside in
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
17
this church."
And the record of the last person so admitted
appears for that year 1775.
For the benefit of the younger portion of the congregation I ought to explain what this practice was which was attended by such sad results.
It came about because of the
attitude of the church to the children of its members. They
were regarded, having been baptized in infancy, as really
members of the church, and saints.
But when they grew
older and some of them in character and life were not saintly at all, the question arose as to their relation to the church
and the relation of their children. The desire was strong to
extend to them the privileges of church membership, but
they did not give evidence of a spiritual change and what
should be done for them?
The question was answered
by a compromise. They might "own the covenant" and
have their children baptized, but were not admitted to the
privilege of voting or the communion and were not expected
to have experienced God's converting grace. So there were
two forms of the covenant, one for the full membership of
those who gave evidence of a spiritual change, and the other,
called Half Way, for those who only promised to do the best
they could. It led to formalism and a trust in forms, wholly
alien to Puritanism.
And we see the strange spectacle of a
people who had come out from the formalism of the established church, falling into a similar error themselves. It had
a fearful effect in cheapening church membership and weakening the obligation of personal religion.
All this review shows how experimental and tentative
things were in the early days. And it shows us that forms
and methods are important after all. One might say of the
parish system that it did not matter who did things, as long
as they were done; but it did matter and when the Unitarian
defection came, the churches of Massachusetts, with those
old parishes in full control, found themselves turned out of
doors, with no legal title to the building they had erected, or
even the communion plate from which they had eaten the
sacred emblems.
It made a difference as to what theories of church membership were held. The dearth in spiritual results, the depleted church membership, the formalism and immoralities
of the Puritan decline, condemned the Half Way Covenant
as an offense in the sight of heaven.
But through all their mistakes, the church lived.
They
were not sure what it ought to be called, Congregational, or
Independent, or Presbyterian.
They knew this, that it was
�18
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
"the Church of Christ. " They held on to that and studied
the New Testament and found a way out of their clifficulties.
God had His faithful remnant and soon the breath of powerand. such
ful revivals began to be felt upon the churches
quickenings
of conscience
resulted,
such illuminations
of
the written Word, as swept the unfortunate
practices
into
oblivion.
Another change is noted in the worship of the church.
It was very simple in the early time.
There were no prayer
meetings, in which women, as well as men, take part.
In
those days, the weekly meeting was a lecture.
The congregation had very little part in the worship except to listen; the
minister
did it all. Responsive
readings
were unknown;
even the reading of the Scripture
without exposition was for
a long time resisted.
Such a thing as using the Lord's
Prayer or reciting the Apostles' Creed would have horrified
the good people and been taken as sure sign of Papery.
But if the congregation
had no share, aside from the
singing, the minister did not fail in his duty.
The quantity
was never stinted.
Brevity of utterance
either in prayer or
sermon was not insisted on.
The atmosphere
might be at
the freezing point, but the good man went on and on, to all
his divisions and sub-divisions,
absolutely
procligal in the
use of time.
Cotton Mather had over his study door the
legend, "Be short, " but he did not have it over his pulpit
any more than other New England ministers and he records
that at his ordinatian
he prayed for an hour and a quarter
and preached an hour and three quarters.
That was a moderate length for a sermon, I suppose.
Some ministers
are reported to have turned the hour glass four times before they
were through.
I estimate that Mr. Backus' sermon, preached in 1736,
contains upward of 7000 words, three times the number in the
longest I preach.
Mr. Williams' sermon, that has come down
to us, is quite moderate in length, though it was preached to
the General Assembly, where ministers were not given to curtailing their exhortations
to the legislators.
As that sermon
has not in it a single reference to the occasion, but is a doctrinal discourse on grace, I have no doubt it was preached
first in Newington
and that without change the good man
thought it good enough for the Legislature.
But the people could sing if they had no other part of
the worship and from the first much attention
was given to
church music.
I suppose the Bay Psalm Book was first employed, the Dr. Watts Psalms and Hymns, as revised by Dr.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
19
Dwight under authority of the General Association.
In 1839
the people voted to drop Dwight's collection and adopt Dr.
Watts entire. Dr. Watts has always been a favorite among
hymn writers and his residence gave the place its name of
Newington.
To the credit of the past be it said there is no
hint 0£ such convulsions over changes in singing and introas wracked some places. Contention
duction of instruments
was hot in many a church when it came to dropping the cusSome resisted the innovation
tom of lining off the Psalms.
as stoutly as they resisted the British.
One old soldier,
when the choir had sung down the deacon in his attempts to
line the hymn, rose in his might and, opening the Psalm book,
said, " Now let the people of the Lord sing ! "
That was a pathetic preamble to a vote in one town meeting, "That we take into consideration the broken state of
this town with regard to singing on the Sabbath Day."
In
some places there was a compromise and lining off permitted
at one service and omitted at the other. I suppose the explanation why changes were adopted here without a quarrel,
and as fast as reason £or them was shown, was the general inIt was not because they did not
telligence 0£ the people.
prize the service 0£ song as much as other places that £ought
over the matter.
On the whole changes that have come in public worship
have been improvements.
The variety introduced, more even
of the
balance and unity of the parts, greater participation
congregation, are all gains. The brevity we demand is not to
be too much bemoaned.
We may be in too much of a hurry
to get through with our worship, but the fathers were certainly extremists, considering the shortness 0£ this mortal life.
We may cut down the number of verses we sing too much,
but when a hymn was so long that a minister who had forgotten his sermon, and lived a quarter 0£ a mile from church,
could go after it and get back before the people got through
the hymn he gave out, that was overdoing it. But the vital
element 0£ true worship was not wanting in the old days,
whether the people did little or much, sang by rule or counter. They made melody with their hearts to the Lord, i£
they offended the laws 0£ musical expression; and their souls
went winging their way upward in true praise.
Changes in the organizations within the church I hardly need to mention.
These have most of them come in our
own day. The church and the society,-that
was all at first.
The Sunday service and the weekly lecture made up the list
of religious exercises.
Now multiplication
0£ societies and
�20
CONGREGATIONAL
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ANNIVERSARIES,
committees and meetings is the rule. Some 0£ the organizations we could not surrender, so signally have they been owned
0£ God. The Sunday school, the Endeavor society, the missionary circles,-they
all seem essential to the activity 0£ the
church.
But it helps us to go back to that early simplicity
to see how, after all, religion is an individual matter between
the soul and God, and it must be cultivated by the individual,
and i£ it is not, no number 0£ organizations
can compensate
for the loss 0£ that vital, personal devotion 0£ the soul.
So I might go on affirming the changes that have come
in every department 0£ church life.
There is hardly anything that has not changed as to its
form and expression except the celebration 0£ the ordinance
0£ the Lord's Supper.
That is one service in which the
dead yonder, could they come out 0£ their graves and join
with us here, would £eel at home, for formula and celebration
are practically the same.
Even 0£ the preaching, we cannot affirm that is quite the
same. The same old gospel, but in quite a different dr.ess
and phraseology.
This is inevitable.
The sermons 0£ yore
were doctrinal treatises, that might have been taken out 0£
some handbook 0£ theology.
They were theological arguments.
They assumed a high average 0£ intelligence on the
part 0£ the people.
And they were fitted to the temper 0£
the times, for, as Dr. Walker says, "Times have been, these
indeed were 0£ long continuance, when nothing would so stir
the blood 0£ a New England congregation
as a thoroughgoing discussion 0£ some controverted
point in dogmatic
divinity.
Amid the alarms 0£ Indian wars, and tumults 0£
Revolutionary struggles, place and interest and absorbing attention could be found for the sharp distinctions 0£ doctrinal
analysis."
But now a sermon that can be called doctrinal is
a novelty.
I have read two 0£ Mr. Williams' sermons, and one 0£ Mr.
Backus', and two 0£ Dr. Brace's, and a change even in these,
as you go from one to the other, can be noted. Mr. Williams
leaned toward the school 0£ theology called the " New
Lights."
Where Mr. Backus and Mr. Welden would be ·
placed is difficult to say; probably in what was called the Old
Calvanistic
school. Dr. Brace was a thorough-going
Calvanist as he affirms, but, while holding on to the great doctrines distinguished as Calvanistic, he was a progressive man
I£ there was any good thing
in the temper 0£ his mind.
which appeared in the unfolding 0£ Providence, there was a
large hospitality for it in Dr. Brace's bosom. I unearthed a
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
21
sermon of his preached before the Peace Society in West
Hartford, the other day, and there are views there on the
adoption of arbitration in place of settling disputes by war,
which would not have been out of place in the discussion recently held in the United States Senate.
But the preaching of the early days differed from the
preaching of to-day in other points besides its doctrinal
character.
It was more daring.
It was more philosophical.
It was harsher.
It never shied off, as do we, from great problems. The modes of the divine existence, the eternal decrees,
the nature of man's freedom, the consequences of a final renever went 'round any of these
jection of the gospel,-it
themes, it grappled with them.
But the merit of the old time sermons was their biblical
character.
They made their appeal to Scripture.
Their
hearers had the privilege, if they did not accept the positions
advanced, to search the Scriptures to see if these things were
so. And above all, the preaching of the past, and all the
preaching in this church, has had the heart of the gospel in it,
the proclamation of salvation through
the mediation and
sacrifice of Christ. Mr. Williams might be a New Divinity
man, and Mr. Belden an Old Calvanist;
Mr. Backus might
(which is
sympathize with the condemnation of Whitefield
one of the unenviable episodes of the General Association
when it met in Newington in 1745), ~nd, in spite of that action, Mr. Belden afterward received Whitefield to his house
and went with him when he preached in Farmington.
The
successive ministers might thus differ from each other on
and they might have a different
points of expediency,
phraseology and a different philosophy; but when it came to
man's sinful condition, God's provision in Christ and the regenerative influences of the Holy Spirit, they are at one.
They stand in the same fellowship.
This has been one of the glories of this church from the
beginning.
It has had a pure gospel preached.
It has been
in this community the pillar- and ground of the truth, and no
one of the generations that have come and gone, many of
whom sleep in God's Acre yonder, could have failed to have
heard of the way of salvation through faith in a crucified and
risen Redeemer.
Here is the unity within all the changes.
This is what constitutes this a Church of Christ through all
its 175 years of history,-that
the gospel has been preached
and lived.
·
Has this seemed a somewhat dry and tedious narrative?
I know it needs the kindling touch of your imaginations to
�22
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
give it interest.
The records of the past do not fairly reflect
the church life. A vote to build a church, to buy a drum; to
pay Widow Andrus one pound and 12 shillings for sweeping
our meeting house; to pay the minister's rate in wheat at six
shillings, rye at four shillings and six-pence, and Indian corn
at -four shillings per bushel; that the committee shall appoint
three several days between now and the first of March for
carrying- the minister's
wood; that the committee
seat the
meeting house by list, age, parentage
and usefulness,-all
these are items of interest, but they are only the bones of
the history.
Dates and votes and petitions, these give a poor reflection
of the struggles, the sacrifices, the heartaches,
the warm enthusiasms, the actual life of the past. There are little touches
here and there which show how human they were, those
serious, solemn people.
It seems that some of them were inclined to cheat the minister on his wood pile, and so a society
meeting voted to appoint a committee to watch the loads of
wood, and see that full loads were drawn.
But the penchant
for driving a sharp bargain, that undying characteristic
of
Yankee folks, came out in one transaction, when they fixed
upon the month of August as the month when the equivalent
in grain for the minister's
salary should be reckoned, that
being the month in the year when grain was highest.
But
the minister was not caught napping, and diplomatically suggested that, as that was the month when grain bore the
highest price, it might be ground of uneasiness to some, and
so he would pitch upon the month of June as coming betwixt the extremes.
·
I cannot help feeling drawn closer to these people, when
any little weakness or disability
appears.
And so, while I
feel far enough away from Mr. Williams when I read his
stilted phrases, and recall his majestic presence, I am drawn
quite near to him when I learn of his resigning from the rectorship of Yale because violent headaches had been growing
upon him.
Headaches!
Why, if we had not come upon
some such record as this, we should never have dreamed they
ever had any kind of an ache. And then the poverty of Mr.
Backus, how pathetic that was! He often carried a load of
anxiety into the pulpit.
And, finally, he was so sore perplexed, that they sent up a petition to the General Assembly,
always their resort in a tight place, setting forth that, as they
had lost their first pastor to Yale college, who had a good and
large estate of his own, and so could serve them much cheaper in the ministry than any other, and their present minister
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
23
only had a small settlement, and did run considerably into
debt, and was daily exposed to be sued, they would like their
country rates released for four years, that they might relieve
their reverend pastor in his difficulties.
And sorrow came in those days just as it comes to -day,
with its smiting stroke. The record is very meagre of those
afflictions, and time has almost obliterated it. But how much
it meant, when we read, "Died, my second daughter Anne,"
and then, only three years after, "Died my eldest daughter
Martha."
And the infant mortality; it must have been £earful, judging by the old records, and a great majority of the
mounds in yonder yard were very little ones, for the children.
But we must not linger over these things which bind the past
and the present together in loving sympathy.
The old days
were not all good, any more than ours are all bad. There is
the mingling of light and shadow. And we see a steady gain in
many particulars.
But ours is not the glory. We stand upon the shoulders of the past. We begin at the point to which
the fathers toiled with painful step and slow.
The thing that kept them true, that led them on, that
enabled them to correct their mistakes, was that glory of
Puritanism,
loyalty to the written Word. They tested everything by that, theories and practice and life itself, and so
they did their grand work. We can follow in their steps,
transmit the inheritance they have bequeathed to us, only as
we have a like loyalty to God's revelation of truth in Christ.
The
Two
Meeting
Roger
THE
FIRST
Mouses.
Welles.
MEETING
HOUSE.
The town of Wethersfield, at a town meeting, Dec. 24,
1712, voted to grant the petition of those persons that inhabited the west divisions of lands in the town, "that they
should be a distinct parish by themselves for the carrying on
At the same meetthe worship of God amongst themselves."
ing a committee was appointed "to look out a convenient
place on the commons between the two last divisions, whereon the west £armers shall erect their meeting house."
�24
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
This committee, on January
8, 1713, viewed several
places in the commons between the two west divisions and
selected a site "on that piece of cleared land adjacent to the
house of Joseph Hurlbut and John Griswold, westerly, about
the middle of said land, on the west side of a small black oak
tree."
The committee made their report to a town meeting
held March 23, 1713, when their report was accepted.
The
parish was incorporated in May, 1713. This choice of the site
was confirmed by the committee of the General Court in a
report made to that body in October, 1715, and accepted and
an act was passed to carry it into effect.
There was some opposition to the site, however, from the
south end of the parish, then called Beckley Quarter.
The
_frame of the church was raised in April, 1716, on a location a
few rods southeast of the site of the present meeting house.
At a society meeting held May 6, 1716, a committee was appointed "to take care to cover the meeting house."
When
this was done an attempt was made to rtjlmove the meeting
house farther south.
At a town meeting held Dec. 10, 1718,
the following action was taken:
"The town did then by vote release the inhabitants of
the West Society, in said Wethersfield,
from paying their
part in the ministerial charge for the year past upon this
condition; that they convene and consent that their meeting
house should be brought to John Waples' Hill. It is to be
understood by ministerial charge, the charge for the support
of the minister in Wethersfield."
(2 .Wethersfield Town
Votes, 5.)
This appeal to the pockets of our Newington fathers did
not succeed.
The meeting house was not removed. · When
the question of its removal was finally settled, the society, at
a meeting held April 21, 1720, voted "to get hewed planks
and lay a floor in our meeting house and to get window frames
and glass for the lower tier of windows and also to make
doors for our meeting house."
A committee was appointed
to carry this vote into effect.
At a society meeting held May 3, 1720, it was voted to
substitute pine boards for planks for the floor and to get two
summers and joists.
In 1678 a saw mill had been established
at the north end of the mill pond in the center of Newington
and a saw mill path led from the mill to the site of the
church, a little more than a quarter of a mile, so that pine
boards could be easily obtained.
Dr. Joseph Andrus and
James Francis were appointed a committee to buy the boards.
When these votes had been passed and perhaps had actually
•
�,
NEWINGTON,
CO~NECTICU'l ',
1897.
25
been carried into effect, the society , on Aug. 5, 1720, made
choice of Rev. Elisha Williams to be their m1nister and appointed a committee to agree with him as to his settlement
and maintenance.
In the meantime, on Sept. 15, 1720, the
society voted to make hollow walls to the meeting house and
appointed a committee "to lath and plaster said walls" and
another committee to lay the floor of the meeting house. On
Dec. 6, 1720, the society appointed a new committee, consisting of Samuel Hunn and John Camp, to treat with Mr. Williams, "in order to a settlement and make return to this Society," and they were also to endeavor to get a piece of land
for him from the town.
This committee made a successful arrangement with Mr.
Williams and the terms of his settlement were formally ratified by the society on Dec. 21, 1720. Liberty was granted to
Mr. Williams on Feb. 16, 1721, to make a seat or pew for his
family in the meeting house.
The town on March 6, 1721, made a grant of eight acres ,
of land to Mr. Williams "to be laid out in the common land,
near to the Widow Elizabeth Andrus ' dwelling house, northwestwardly."
For the next year the society were so busy in building a
house and barn for Mr. Williams, that there is no record of
anything being done toward the completion of the meeting
house.
On Feb. 8, 1722, the society voted to lay out 50 pounds in
the meeting house, "to build a pulpit and deacon seat, and to
prepare timber and nails for the finishing the lower part of
our meeting house."
On Sept. 5, 1722, it was voted to put
the windows that were in the lower part of the meeting house
in the upper part, and make new windows for the lower part.
On Sept. 12, 1722, the society voted to hold a fast on
Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1722, to implore divine assistance in
gathering a church here, and in the ordination of Mr. Williams, which was appointed for Wednesday, Oct. 17, 1722.
The point to which the meeting house had then been
completed seems to have been about as follows: The floor
had been laid, a pulpit and deacon seat had been built, and
probably rude seats for the people; the walls were not yet
plastered up to the galleries, as ordered. No floors had been
laid in the galleries.
The walls above the galleries were not
lathed or plastered.
Overhead two huge beams , called summers, crossed from plate to plate, and upon them were laid
the joi,sts, but they were not lathed or plastered.
No windows had yet been put in the upper story as had been order .-
�26
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
ed. There was no paint upon the house inside or out. Under these unfinished conditions of the meeting house the
church was organized and Mr. Williams ordained in October,
1722.
On March 1, 1723, another vote was passed "to fill the
walls and lath and plaster the lower part of our meeting
house."
On Dec. 1, 1723, the prudential committee was instructed to purchase a drum, and thereafter we may imagine the
pastor accompanied to the meeting house at the morning and
afternoon service on the Sabbath, and on lecture days, by the
measured beat of the drum. followed by the gathering
people, to hear him beat the drum ecclesiastic in his pulpit.
On Jan. 6, 1726, it was voted, "to provide all joists and
boards for the galleries' floor of our meeting house, and to
lathe and plaster the walls of our meeting house up to the
plate, and the new windows to be put up below, and the present windows of our meeting house to be put up above."
This was all that had been done towards the completion
of the meeting house in the ten years since it had been
raised.
Mr. Williams ceased to act as pastor in May, 1726, having been chosen rector of Yale college.
His successor, Rev.
Simon Backus, was called "upon probation for our minister,"
by vote passed May 25, 1726. A positive call was voted on
Aug. 24, 1726, and he was ordained Jan. 25, 1727, 170 years
ago. When Mr. Backus was ordained the galleries of the
meeting house were still unfinished, the walls above the galleries and overhead were not lathed or plastered, and so remained for at least seven -or eight years longer.
Ori Dec. 16, 1734, the society voted, "to finish the galleries in our meeting house, and lath and plaster the walls
up to the plates and beams, and lath and plaster our meeting
house overhead, and to glass the lower windows of our meeting house. "
When this was done the meeting house was considered
completed, as no further votes are recorded relating to it, except ordinary repairs.
It does not appear to have had a
steeple, or ever to have been painted.
On Dec. 2, 1765, it was voted, "that the seats be taken
up in the meeting house, and pews be made in the body of
the meeting house," which
was the first material change
made.
The house was then nearly fifty years old.
On Dec. 12, 1770, it was voted, "that men and their
wives be seated together."
Before that date the sexes had
�NEWINGTON.
CONNECTI CUT.
1897.
2i
been separated during divine service.
Perhaps
it was
thought that the high pews would hid e from public observation all und evotional conduct, and so pr eve nt int erfer ence
with th e public worship of oth ers. Capt. Dani el Willard,
in his r eminisc enc es, says : " Th e old meeting hous e was very
much dilapidated.
When a child I watched the swallows as
th ey flew in and out , wh ere some clapboards had fall en off
near th e ridg e, chirping and twittering to th eir young, in
th eir n ests und er th e ridg e pol e. " This would indicate that
the ridg e pol e was in sight of th e audience; if so, the vote
to lath and plaster overhead had never b een carried into effect. H e says furth er: " Th e hous e was not finish ed inside
except the pulpit, p ews, galleries and ga llery stairs, which
were at the northeast and southeast corners of the house.
Children were often seated on th e stairs, in full view of their
parents and the minister.
The tithing men had the oversight of thos e in th e galleries.
" There was a very wid e sounding board over the
pulpit , suspended in part by an iron rod running from the
board to the side of the house. I was not the only child
who was afraid that the rod would br eak or draw from its
fastenings, and let th e sounding board fall on the minister's
h ead."
("Annals, " pp . 143-4.) Such was the humble temple where th e gospel was preach ed for nearly 80 years by
Williams, Backus, and B elden, as settled pastors, and occasionally by Rev. Nathani el Burnham of K ensington, Rev.
Timothy Edwards of East Windsor , th e Rev. Jonathan Edwards, author of the famous treatise on the will, and other
minist ers of th e neighboring churches.
Wh en Mr. Belden
was settled in 1747, there were 151 members of th e church ,
and less than 70 families in the parish, which proves that
the power of religion p ervaded th e hearts of the people, despite th e pov9rty which surround ed them.
THE SECOND MEETING
HOUSE.
The first movement .toward building the second meeting
house was mad e at a soci ety meeting h eld Dec . 14, 1779,
when the soci ety committ ee were instructed to warn a me eting "to consider about building a new meeting house or repairing th e old on e. "
Such a m eeting was h eld on Jan. 26, 1780, which was adjourned from time to tim e, but nothing was done except to
order r epairs upon the old m eeting hous e. At a m eet ing
held Dec. 6, 1784, the soci ety committee were again in-
�28
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES ,
structed to warn a meeting "£or the purpose of agreeing upon building a new meeting house, or repairing the old one. "
Such a meeting was duly called, and was held Dec. 20, 1784,
when it was voted, "by a majority of more than two-thirds
of the voters, to build a new meeting house for divine worship. " At that time the law required application to be made
to the county court, to fix the site of a new meeting house.
The county court, on such application,
would usually
appoint a committee to select a site after a hearing of all
parties and an inspection of the various proposed sites.
The society appointed
a committee
to apply to the
court £or a committee to make the selection , and ordered a
survey and plan of the society to be made, to be laid before
them.
The site chosen was near the dwelling house of Luther
Latimer on Back Lane, southwest of the mill pond.
On Oct. 12, 1785, this site was formally disapproved, by
vote of the society.
On Oct. 25, 1785, it was voted to make
a second application to the court £or another committee to
fix the site. On this application Blinn's hill was selected.
This hill is in the fields southwest of the present parsonage.
On Dec. 19, 1785, this site was also disapproved
by the
society.
On Oct. 29, 1787, it was voted to made a third application to the court £or a new committee to fix a site, and the
society named the committee of non-residents
to be nominated to the court as satisfactory to the society.
This committee, appointed by the court, "pitched a stake" for the
site in James Lusk's lot, "by the school house," about where
the house of Ed win Welles now stands.
On April 14, 1788, this site was approved, 40 yeas to 33
nays. This majority was not decisive enough to settle the
question.
Greater unanimity was desired and on March 31,
1789, a committee was appointed to measure the society and
compute as nearly as possible the center of travel.
This committee set a stake a little southeast of the first site selected
by the court on Back Lane.
September
21, 1789, the
society voted to build on this location.
The building did
not materialize, however.
The society determined to make another attempt at harmony. ·February 2, 1790, a committee of nine from all parts
of the parish, representing
all interests,
was appointed to
agree on a site and report.
This committee
apparently reported in favor of a site in the fields near the burying
ground, for Feb. 16, 1790, the society voted to build on that
�NEWINGTON,
CONNEC'.rICUT,
1897 .
29
sit e, an d "to have a highway laid out, running North W es t
from th e old Meeting Hous e, leaving the Burying
Yard
No rth of said high way. " Th e vot e would indicate that the
si te was eith er south or west of th e burying yard.
Th e difficulty of laying out a highway complicated
a matt er sufficiently involv ed and intricat e of its e lf, and this proj ec t
fa iled.
March 2, 1790 , another committee was appointed to form
a plan, " in order to recon ci le the society, " and to repo rt.
They apparently report ed in favor of th e site in Jam es Lusk 's
lo t , nea r th e school hous e, and a vote was pass ed to build
the r e. This was the second time that site had b een approved . Nothing was done , how eve r, to carry th e vot e into
effect .
·
April 9, 1790, an advisory
committee
chosen from
ne ighboring
parishes was appointed
" to determirie where
sa id house ought to stand , " and "to use their influence to
reconci le and unit e the soci ety. "
This committee per.form ed th e d elicate duty confided to
the m, and agreed on a sit e "n ea r th e west end of the burying
ya rd ."
This site was approved April 15, 1790, by 25 yeas to 19
na ys. A n e w difficulty now pr esen ted its elf.
The county
c::>urt had th e final w0rd on choice of site, and th eir approval must be obtained, to mak e th e selection legal.
A committee was appointed May 25, 1790, to apply to th e court to
es tablish the - location thus selected.
Before this was ac co mplished the society, Oct. 25, 1790, revoked the votes to
buil d ther e, and to appoint th e committee to apply to the
co urt . This of course left th e whol e matter " all at sea. "
Th e prospect of harmony seemed hopeless.
Th e " diIP
an d shadowy future " was confronting
them, but what it
portended was beyond th eir mortal ken. The peac e of d espa ir r eign ed supreme for n ea rly a year, without th e word
"mee ting hous e" being m eption ed in the records.
July 7, 1791, another att empt was made to settl e th e
vexe d questi,:;11.
Cap t. Martin Kellogg laid b efor e the meeting his writt en
ob ligation to give 90 pounds toward th e frame of a me eting
house, to b e located on the west side of the old green , where
the present edifice stands.
This was met on the instant by a counter obligation in
writ ing signed by Lieut. L em uel Whittl ese y, promising
to
give 100 pounds for the new building , if it should be locat ed
near th e first site, by Luther Latim er 's.
�30
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
The meeting accepted Capt. Kellogg's proposal, 24 yeas
to 14 nays, and a committee was appointed to apply to the
county court to establish this site. This was the fourth application to that honorable
tribunal.
The judges of the
court at that time were Stephen M. Mitchell of Wethersfield,
chief judge; John Treadwell of Farmington, John Chester of
Wethersfield, Roger Newberry of Wmdsor, and Thomas Seymour of Hartford.
The two Wethersfield judges were disqualified by interest to act. The other three judges came to
Newington and personally viewed the society and heard all
parties concerned.
Two of these judges concurred in fixing the
sitenear Luther Latimer's, overruling the vote of the society,
and they passed an imperative order that the house should
be erected at that place.
This judgment was spread upon
It was rendered at the time of
the records of the society.
the court held on the third Tuesday of January, 1792.
The society acted very promptly, and at a meeting held
Feb. 6, 1792, disapproved of the judgment of the court, 49 to
20.
March 13, 1792, the society voted to apply to the General As3embly to obtain, if possible, the site on the old green,
which had been agreed upon.
Agents were appointed to
make the application.
A memorial or petition was presented
to the Assembly which stated the case very fi;illy in favor of
the old green.
The Assembly appointed a committee to
view the society, hear all parties concerned and report.
This committee reported in accordance with the vote of
the society, in favor of the old green.
The Assembly accepted the report, and passed a resolution to carry it into effect, in October, 1792. At a meeting of the society held Dec.
31, 1792, this resolve was approved, 39 to 3. Apparently
those opposed to that location did not attend the meeting.
The victors were disposed to be magnanimous,
and renewed
attempts were made to reconcile opposing interests.
Jan. 9, 1794, the society voted to cast lots between the
three sites near Luther Latimer's, on Blinn's hill, and on the
old green.
The lots were cast, and we can imagine the
breathless interest of our fathers , as they awaited th .e decision of this appeal to the Lord of all the earth.
The announcement was made that the lot fell on Blinn's hill. The
meeting loyally accepted this decision, and voted to build
upon that eminence.
A meeting was held Jan. 21, 1794, on
Blinn's hill itself, in the open air, when the precise spot was
selected and a stake driven, to be enclosed by the new
structure.
A committee was appointed to apply to the town
11(1
�,;
NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897 .
31
£or highways to accommodate the inhabitants in getting to
church, £or there was no ·road to Blinn's hill. This would
necessarily take time , and delays are dangerous.
This case
proved no exception to the rule.
Dec. 22, 1794, a committee was appointed to -find the
center 0£ the land, lists, polls, and travel, and make a ce·nter
out 0£ these £our centers, and it was voted to build the
house at the nearest convenient place to this grand center.
Jan. 5, 1795, the committee reported in favor 0£ a site in
Abel Andrus' lot. He lived in the old Andrus house south
0£ the pound.
This report was accepted and the usual committee appointed to apply to the court or Assembly £or liberty to build on this new location.
This committee £ailed to
go either to the court or Assembly, and, April 14, 1795, the
old green was again chosen as the Hill of Zion where the
temple £or divine worship should be located.
This was the
third time this location had been chosen, but it was again
repudiated,
Jan. 5, 1796, when it was voted to build either
at Luther Latimer's or at the green, - that one to be chosen
which should receive the largest amount 0£ subscriptions.
At a meeting held Jan. 26, 1796, the subscriptions were
closed, when the account footed up in favor 0£ ihe site near
Luther Latimer's.
Here again a new difficulty presented itself. The Legislature had decided in favor 0£ the old green.
It was deCould this decision be set aside by the society?
termined, in this dilemma, to send another committee to the
Assembly to get the necessary order to build at the last
place chosen.
and
March 29, 1796, such a committee was appoinfad,
they presented a memorial to the Assembly, but that body
£ailed to grant the petition.
·
June 17, 1796, the site at the west end 0£ the burying
ground was chosen conditionally.
The condition was not
complied with.
Feb. 20, 1797, it was voted to build at Blinn's hill and to
move the timber there.
April 27, 1797, the site on the Lusk lot was again chosen, by subscription.
May 22, 1797, the site on the old green was again chosen,
and the tim her £or the frame was ordered moved there, and a
building committee appointed.
June 12, 1797, the same site was again chosen.
Aug. 7, 1797, it was voted that the foundation stones 0£
the old house be applied to the new.
Aug. 28, 1797, the site on the green was again chosen.
�32
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
As this was the fourth meeting in succession which adhered
to this site, the question was considered finally settled, and
the wearisome controversy at an end.
Nov. 12, 1798, the old meeting house was ordered sold to
defray in part the charges of the new one, described as "now
It was probably soon occupied.
building."
March 31, 1800, it was ordered to be seated, and March
23, 1801, it was ordered painted.
The first church bell was not put into position till Feb.
9, 1828. The tall spire was taken down August 4, 1837; and
the church, after extensive repairs, was formally dedicated
August 23, 1837.
Dr. Brace preached in the morning from Haggai ii: 9,
" The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the
former, saith the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give
peace, saith the Lord of hosts."
There were in that congregation many who remembered the "former house," and the
contests over the location of the "latter house" . and no doubt
devoutly rejoiced in the " glory of this latter house" as compared with the poverty of the former house, and the prospect of
peace which then seemed assured. That prophecy has been
since fulfilled.
Dr. Todd preached in the evening from Hebrews xiii: 8,
"Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, to-day and forever."
The foregoing recital shows some of the difficulties and
trials with which our fathers grappled and which they successfully overcame. A century has passed away and the house
they erected still stands, more glorious in its beauty and in
the peace which settled down upon it than ever before. For
all these years it has been a place of worship where the people of this parish have statedly assembled to lift their hearts
to Him who was their fathers' God.
They may have been influenced by the inspired words:
"The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof
is of the Lord."-Prov.
xvi: 33. "Except the Lord build the
house, they labor in vain that build it."-Psa.
cxxvii: 1.
•
�{
.
Changes 1n Newington
Dea. Levi
S.
Church.
Deming.
We meet to review the work of our fathers in building
this church edifice.
We s~y it is 100 years old, but without the definite idea
of its duration time. It will help us to remember that it covers all but 22 years of our national life. Why, it is less than
19 such periods since angels were singing the birthday song
of Jesus, the son of Mary, our Saviour.
In my early years, I was with many who talked about the
time and way in which this house was built. My own life
runs back to within 20 years of the date. I was 20 before
any alterations, and hence have a distinct remembrance of
this building as at first made. To describe it briefly is the
part assigned to me.
The hewn timbers of the frame were massive and furnished by citizens. The house was well built upon its present foundation and "no stone out of the wall cries out, and
no beam of the timber answers it in controversy and strife ."
The buHding was in a parallelogram form with a square
tower in front, rising from the ground to the bell deck and
surmounted with a very plain spire.
The clapboards that covered the building were split
from logs and shaved by hand, about six feet in length, with
shiplapped ends and fastened in place by nails wrought upon home anvils. The windows were of large size, but with
small lights of glass and in two stories, upper and lower.
There were three entrance ways to the audience roomone with double doors through the front tower and one direct from the outside, north and south of it. In the tower,
also, were the gallery staits on the right and left of the entrance way.
As was common in that day, the largest timbers of the
frame were in sight as you entered the audience room.
They were cased with pine boards, but unpainted.
On the
side walls, the posts stood like pillars between the windows
and on the end wall all the large timbers were seen. The
spaces between and the overhead ceiling had a lath and
plaster covering.
The floor was divided by three aisles. The center or
broad aisle led from the front porch; the side aisles from the
outside doors. The seats were benches upon three sides of
�34
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
square boxes or pews, with floors raised above the aisles. In
a full assembly, one-third must sit with backs to the minister.
The galleries were high and broad upon three sides of
. the room and nearly covered the part below. The front seat
of the galleries extended around the whole and had back of
it an aisle that was two step3 above it. Upon a still higher
floor was a row of square pews like those below.
The singers occupied the front gallery opposite the pulpit and were numerous enough to extend the row on either
side right and left. Back of the singers and between the
gallery doors was a noted pew called the "high pew." The
heads only of those seated there could be seen by the minister or any one in the audience. It was not always occupied
by Sabbath keeping young men, for it was said that sometimes cards were played and wine drunk during the sermon.
The pulpit was a high box and reached by stairs on
either side exposed to view. Back of it was a window with
a circular top. It had hanging before it a green slat curtain
that became dilapidated and was removed. One hot Sabbath
afternoon the sun's rays beat vehemently upon the head and
back of the preacher and he had to move from his place. He
said to some of us after the service, "I couldn't stand it-the
sweat ran down into my boots." We couldn't stand it either,
and a few of us placed at the window that week handsome
outside blinds. This, so far as I know, was the first change
ever made in the appearance of the room.
.
In front of the pulpit, at the head of the broad aisle, was
a special seat occupied by the deacons during the service preceding the communion. On its front was a hinged shelf that
was raised to receive the memorial bread and wine of the sacramental service.
Such is the description of this place of worship as built
in 1797, and as it continued until rearranged in the year
1837. It had no preparation for lighting in a dark night and
no arrangement for heating in a cold day, yet it was an honorable structure and far in advance of the one preceding it.
It was during the ministry of Dr. Brace that two important changes were. made in the church edifice and in different
years. The first was in 1837, the second in 1853. Faithful
men in each instance took the contracts for materials and
work and the improvements were well made. For about 40
years after erection, the spire had pointed upward, exposed
to wind and storm and with only its first meager coat of paint.
It swayed in the wind with loosened joints and decay had
commenced.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT ,
1897,
35
A heavy iron rod ran from the ground, with knuckle
joints, not fastened to the building until reaching the spire,
and made its highest termination in three-forked prongs for
It was a grand feat for the boys to
the use of the lightning.
climb upward on that rod, by holding it firmly with hand
over hand. and with feet making step by step on the side of
the building.
One boy, more daring than others, reached
the bell deck and his fame at the same time.
But the spire must come down, and the task of removing
it was committed to Robert Rockwell, then a young man.
He took his ax and his saw to the open bell deck, where the
spire stood upon its eight bare posts, and felled it as unconcernedly as he would have cut a large tree in the woods. A
strained rope had inclined it toward the street, and the two
posts on that side were first sawed squarely through, to make
· a supporting base from which the spire might topple to its
£all when all other posts were successively cut. And when
the last blow of the ax was struck, it sailed off magnificently
into space and plunged earthward to its own destruction.
Striking the ground in a horizontal position it crushed into
splinters and the event furnished the crowd of witnesses an
hour of excitement.
Instead of the spire the tower _ received an additional
section that covered the heretofore open bell deck. The outside doors on the right and left of the tower were closed and
the double doors in front greatly enlarged.
Only these
changes were made upon the outside at that time.
But within, the gallery stairs were taken out of the tower porch and enough of the audience room taken in to admit
of rebuilding the stairs in the corners of the new part.
The
square pews were removed and plain slips built upon the
floor in the audience room. The wide and high galleries
were lowered and lessened in width and supplied with new
seats.
The front breastwork was made new, as were the
square posts beneath it. The pulpit was also lowered and
rebuilt, but the side walls and overhead ceiling were not
changed.
Sixteen years later, a large amount was e:xpended and large
improvements were secured.
A new frame surrounded the
tower in front and brought out the corners of the building
to • its present form and size. The part of the tower left
above the roof was newly covered and another section added
to the height.
The entire building was newly covered also
with cornices and casings and clapboards, without removing
the old. New window frames aud large glass were used.
�36
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
The edifice outside had the appearance of being entirely
new.
The inside improvement was equally great. The windows were closed in the west end wall and the large timbers
of the frame concealed by a level surface, with only one
arched panel behind the pulpit.
The projecting posts of the
side walls were hewed back, and all walls and overhead ceiling covered by new lath and plastering, but yet without removing the old.
The east gallery was moved still farther back and the
audience room very much enlarged in that direction.
A
handsome breastwork and turned posts completed the gallery
front. A very good pattern of fresco work covered all walls
and ceiling, giving to the room as finished the appearance of
one newly built, on the inside as well as outside .
The additional covering within and without greatly
strengthened
the building.
Before that was done heavy
winds would bring perceptible vibrations and sometimes a
weird creaking music, not agreeable to listening ears.
The house was rededicated when these improvements
were completed and Dr. Todd in his address told our citizens ·
that, when tired of the new coverings, they could remove
them and have back again the old.
That day has never come, for all these changes were well
approved, and many others more recent have kept pace with
advancing society. One mem her only objected at the time
the frescoing was done, and his objection was that it was
"out of keeping with plain slips and a country congregation."
We smiled at his criticism, but couldn't help noticing that
the improvements did help Dr. Brace to preach the Gospel
and the spiritually minded to profit thereby.
One other feature of change in the building I must particularly notice, for many of our oldest mem hers will remember a small room prepared in the second story of the tower,
over the porch, for the Monday evening meeting of Dr.
Brace's Bible class.
The first change of which I have spoken, by moving the
gallery stairs, gave it a place; but the second great change
brought it into the audience room as at present.
Dr. Brace
in that little room harvested for his Master precious fruits.
Here also was weekly gathered an infant class of the Sunday
school, and in seasons of religious revival it was often filled
with inquirers after the way of life. It continued to be much
used until, as I have said, it was included in the audience
room.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
3'i
Looking at the present structure you notice as thA recent improvements the long windows, the improved slips, the
newer frescoing, the new platform and desk, the new singing
gallery and organ (a generous gift), the heating and lighting
provisions,-all
woven in very happily as features of a wellappointed place of worship.
And last, but not least, the splendid additions of the
last year, that place our church edifice well abreast of those
building at the present day.
A century old ! Yes, and good for another, unless a
greatly increased community so crowd the courts of the Lord
as imperatively to demand enlargement.
Church
Music of the
Century.
c.lohn G. Stoddard.
What was the music, and who were the singers, in this
meeting house, 100 years ago ?
·
I£ we consult the ecclesiastical record we find on!y a little about the church music, the choir, or the chorister; but
many votes concerning the meeting house, the minister, and
the minister's salary.
Occasionally there is a record of a
small sum appropriated to defray the expense of a singing
school to bring in new recruits for the choir.
About the time this meeting house was built, there was a
vote of the society appointing John Kirkham leader of the
music. Perhaps we may be warranted in assuming that he
was the first man to make a musical sound, or pitch a tune
in the new building.
This John Kirkham was a progenitor.
Men are said to live in a long line of descendants.
In this
sense John Kirkham is not gone, and he may yet pitch many
tunes. In this sense he has been alive during the whole century. He came down from Springfield and made the new
bass viol boom, and his son Albert came at one time to show
how a violin would sound fo the Newington meeting house.
Then John Kirkham managed the double bass before he was
taken down with the gold £ever, and since, in female disguise, he has presided at the cabinet organ and the pipe organ very acceptably.
�38
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
How long Chorister Kirkham blew the pitch pipe or
marked time for the Newington choir I cannot tell.
Directly after the erection of this meeting house there
was a period of 25 years for which time it is difficult to relate anything accurate and interesting about the music.
I have examined several old music books published about
that time, and those indicate what music was performed on
Sunday in the meeting house.
There was the Bridgewater
Collection, and I have a collection of music published previous to this, worn and yellow with age. Probably this was
In
the bobk of 100 years ago when Kirkham was leader.
that old book, without cover and without date, I find some of
the good old tunes sung slowly by our Puritan ancestors before the Mayflower first crossed the ocean, Windsor, Rochester, Little Marlboro, Wells, Old Hundred, Mear, Dundee,
China and others. In that old book I find some anthems.
Also what elderly people called "set pieces."
I can have faith that there was powerful singing in this
meeting house 100 years ago. When the people were joyful, thankful and glad, as was King David when he danced,
they sang a fugue; when they were cast down and the world
seemed dark, they sang tunes in the minor key; and when
their hearts swelled with lofty praise and adoration. what
better could they do than sing Old Hundred?
Indeed, what
better can we do now, after having heard the best of Handel,
Hayden and Mendelssohn ?
The grandfathers
and grandmother.s had first treble,
second treble and bass, counter and tenor.
At the beginning of the century, there was not much private musical instruction.
Pianos were scarcer than four-leaved clover, but
all the girls knew how to play on the spinning wheel. The
Now let us
singing school was ',a necessary institution.
consult with the oldest man in regard to what has happened
in his day. Some persons now living remember Col. Joseph
Camp, who, 70 years ago and some years previous, was leader
of music. The singers were the men and women of about
his own age,
Then Gen. Martin Kellogg was leader for a short period.
Don't you remember how anxiously he gave the pitch without an instrument,
and had confidence that his daughter
Mary would help him out ? When Gen. Kellogg resigned,
the leadership went very naturally and properly to the heir
apparent, his son Laurens, and his was a long, successful
reign like that of Queen Victoria.
It was the period familiar to those churchgoers who are now old or middle-aged.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICU'l',
1897.
39
This is a part of church history.
Historians
mention
the rulers, the generals, the epochs, and the battles.
Not
much is written about the common people.
Now, in this
our little musical history, who made up the rank and file ?
If you are an elderly man, say 70 or 75 years, you know that
three co-related families in this place consisted of seven
children each. Three times seven are 21. The members of
these families were mostly singers.
Let us skip the surnames and speak of them as kings and queens in Europe.
Let us gaze back at the singers' seats of 40, 50, 60 years ago.
Do you hear the rings rasp on the iron rod, as those red
curtains are drawn?
That is a token, and means that the sweet singers of Israel
are making preparations.
They sound the key note. They
rise. The members of the congregation rise and turn around.
Ah, my elderly friend, whorn did you see, and whorn did you
hear?
Do you remember Fanny, Charlotte, Julia, Abbie,
Electa, Edwin, Roger,
Laurens, Samuel, Mary, Sarah,
Charles, Elbert, Thomas, John, Harriet, Mary, Julia?
During half a century, you could not look up without seeing some
of those familiar faces. And there were others.
Who will
forget Nancy ? You can think of those singers as young;
the ladies with flaring bonnets, flowers inside, and the young
gentlemen with black satin waistcoats.
Thirty members of
the Newington choir. Those singers of 50 years ago (those
who have not gone to the promised land) may be seen in the
congregation now-a-days; a little bald, or slightly gray; and
they know good singing when they hear it. And now a word
about the instrumental music.
About 50 years ago, E. M.
Stoddard played the flute. This was the first of the instruments. Then a double bass viol was purchased, played successively by J. S. Kirkham, Stephen Saunders and Rufus
Stoddard.
George T. Davis played the violin. Then came the cabinet organ, and next the pipe organ. We might be very emphatic in saying that the organ has been, is now, and ever
shall be well played; but this does not need saying.
It is a
self-evident truth, an axiom.
about Newington
After all, what has been remarkable
church music ? It has been about like the music in the Congregational churches of surrounding
towns.
Newington
keeps along with the procession, even if the procession is
ahead.
What was the most striking
feature
of Newington
Congregational music 50 years ago? I warrant that a boy
�40
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES ,
with a musical ear, or a stranger in the congregation, would
say Mr. Brace and Mrs. Josiah Atwood singing Old HunIt seemed to me, when
dred after sacramental communion.
a youth, that those two voices were the warp, and that the
·others were merely filling.
Is there a bass singer in Newington now, who can put
in the power 0£ the half-century
parson ? Or is there a
soprano singer who can give the octave slide like Mrs.
Atwood ? "I£ any, speak, £or him have I offended."
Coming now to the church music 0£ these latter years,
the purchase and the erection 0£ the church organ challenges
our notice, and ought not to be lightly passed over. The
organ is a benefaction and a memorial.
It was placed in the
church through the liberality 0£ a family, and presented to
the society as a free-will gift, in memory 0£ a husband and
a father passed away.
Among all the musical instruments
devised by man,
none touches so many chords; none gives such a still small
voice, or swells with such resounding power 0£ praise as the
organ. Its tones seem sacred.
Mr. Aiken in one 0£ his sermons spoke 0£ the spirits 0£
those departed as alive, unseen, active and present with us;
perhaps exercising some silent influence amGng the living.
Some good spirit, perhaps in the "stilly night," may
have suggested to Newton, Abby, George and the loved
mother that the presentation 0£ this instrument would be the
most appropriate memorial 0£ the one, who though dead, yet
speaketh.
Whether this was a £act, or whether it was the result of
ordinary human impulse, the organ was ordered and the contract signed in December, 1883. The organ was built by
George Stephens 0£ East Cambridge, Mass., and set up in
March, 1884.
I£ the congregation would estimate the value 0£ the organ, let there be an exercise 0£ the imagination.
Think 0£
what the church music would be without it. There would
be "a goneness."
The organ leads, the organ accompanies,
the organ sustains.
Praise ye the Lord. Praise Him with the sound of the
trumpet; praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him
with stringed instruments and organs.
�-
REV.
ELISHA
Newington·s
Rev.
C.
WILLIAMS.
First
Pastor.
H. Williams.
At the centennial celebration of the Congregational
church in Longmeadow, Mass., 14 years ago, the historian
(who was then pastor), referring to the earliest of his predecessors, Rev. Stephen Williams, said: "He was one of that
remarkable family, 90 or more of whom appear upon the roll
of Harvard, 80 or more of "¥ale, and a like proportion in
other catalogues; eminent in every profession,
adorning
every rank, one the founder of Williams college, another a
signer of the Declaration of Independence,"-and
he might
-have added that has given to the diocese of Connecticut its
honored, and now venerable, bishop and, to the country at
large, innumerable Congregational bishops.
On the same occasion, Prof. Park affirmed that the family was not only widely esteemed, but held itself in high regard, also, and demanded this from others.
In illustration,
he told of one, of the name and blood, resident in Massachusetts and near that town, an officer in the French and Indian
�42
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIE8 ,
wars, who carried a substantial cane and, when the young
men failed to raise their hats to him, used it to remove them
summarily and forcibly.
I have brought a cane with me today, but do not intend to put it to such use.
I have emphasized, thus, the quality of the stock for a
double reason. It is a prolific stock.
The family tree has
very numerous branches.
The annalist of the family estimates (he does not make it as an exact statement) that we
have furnished
lineally and collaterally seven and a half
millions to the race. Think what a country this would be
to live in, if the quality of the Williams blood was inferior!
But further, Oliver Wendell Holmes, when asked, "At
what time should we begin the education of a boy?" wisely
made answer, "One hundred years before he is born." How
was it with this boy who, on reaching maturity, became the
first pastor of this church and of whom I am to speak?
Stephen and Margaret (Cooke) Williams of Great Yarmouth, England, were granted a son Robert, who married
(It is not strange that she was willing
Elizabeth Stalham.
to exchange that name for his.)
Presently he desired to go over the sea, but she, delicately reared and warmly attached to the home land, demurred
until, in a dream, it was made known to her that she might thus
become the mother, or ancestor, of many worthy ministers.
Then her hesitation vanished and they emigrated from Norwich, England, to Roxbury, Mass., where their subsequent
lives were spent and their bodies interred.
On Sept. 1, 1638, the year of their arrival, the third son
and fourth child was born to them and named Isaac. He, we
are told, represented his town for several years in the General Court and also commanded a troop of horse, th us earning
his title of captain.
He married Martha Parke, sister to his
brother Samuel's wife (who was the mother of John, known
in history as the "redeemed captive") and made his home in
Newtown, which then included Cambridge.
Of Robert, the emigrant ancestor, Ellis writes: "He was
one of the most influential men in town affairs;" and French,
that "he was much interested in education and made liberal
arrangements to assist the Free Schools, was a subscriber to
and for years a trustee of, the funds raised for their benefit."
"He is," says Farmer, "the common ancestor of the divines, civilians and warriors of the name, who have honored
the country by their birth."
William, grandson of Robert and son of Isaac and
Martha (Parke) Williams, was born Feb. 2, 1665, and
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
brought up, as was his cousin John, by the maternal grandfather, Dea. William Parke, one 0£ the wealthiest citizens of
Roxbury and, for more than 30 years, a member of the General Court.
He, with his cousin, was graduated
from Harvard college in 1683 and, two years later, began a pastorate at
Hatfield, Mass., which ended only with his death 56 years
after.
In the discourse at his funeral, Jonathan Edwards said
of him:
"He was a person of uncommon natural abilities
and distinguished
learning, a great divine 0£ very comprehensive knowledge and 0£ a solid, accurate judgment."
That
he was good, as well as great, appears from his parting message to the clerical association of which he had been so long
a member:" Love your Master, love your work and love one
another."
On the 8th of July, 1686, the Hatfield pastor was married to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Rev. Seaborn Cotton of
Hampton, N. H.
Mr. Cotton was born on the Griffin, while his parents,
Rev. John and Sarah (Story) Cotton were on their voyage
to this country.
Two days after landing, he was baptized at
St. Michael's church, Boston, and named, in view of the circumstances
0£ his birth, Seaborn.
He married Dorothy
Bradstreet, whose mother, Aura Dudley, wife of Simon Bradstreet, is known as the "Tenth Muse."
By her he had nine children, all girls but one,-Elizabeth, born Aug. 13, 1665, becoming the wife of William
Williams and bearing to him five children.
The fourth of
these, horn at Hatfield, Aug. 20, 1694, was named Elisha and
is the hero of my story.
.
Recurring to Dr. Holmes' oracular utterance, we find, as
factors in the pre-natal education of this boy, Robert, Isaac
and William Williams, William Parke, John Cotton, Simon
Bradstreet and Joseph Dudley, not to mention their wives.
How that education was continued, after he hacl a local
habitation and a name, must be more concisely stated.
Dr.
Sprague, who had earlier access than I to the family manuscripts and traditions, testifies thus: "His early intellectual
developments were more than ordinarily promising; and in
the year 1708 he was admitted a member of the Sophomore
class in Harvard college. During his collegiate course he
was an uncommonly diligent and successful student; and he
graduated with honor in the year 1711. After leaving college, his attention was directed to the study of theology under the guidance of his venerable father; and, while he
�44
CONGREGATIONAL
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ANNIVERSARIES,
studied the Bible as the only authoritative
standard of
ChristiP.,,., doctrine, he availed himself of the writings of the
early Retormers and of the Puritans, for which he had ever
after a strong relish."
Dr. Sprague fails to note, however, that he taught a
grammar school at Hadley the year after his graduation.
Two years later, he weds Eunice, daughter of Thomas Chester of Wethersfield, and settles down there to farming, reading law and teaching.
This life is interrupted, though, by a
voyage to Canso, an island on the southeast coast of Nova
Scotia, where he preached to fishermen for a season; and also
by service as deputy to the Assembly for five consecutive
terms, being clerk at all but one, when he was chosen auditor
of accounts.
The teaching referred to was chiefly, if not
wholly, of Yale students, the college at that time having no
certain dwelling place, but distributing
itself between Killingworth, Saybrook, Branford, and Milford.
In 1716, in
view of the discontent among the students at the unsatisfactory conditions, the trustees agreed "that those students
who were uneasy might go to other places for instruction
until the next Commencemen't."
Forthwith a majority came
to Mr; Williams and for two years, until the college was established at New Haven, he seems to have been the chief instructor-not
officially recognized as such, however, until
some years after, when his name appears upon the catalogue
as tutor, 1716-1718. In 1720, according to President Stiles,
Mr. Williams was "sanctified by a severe sickness."
The
same year he was invited, by a committee duly appointed, to
"come to Newington and be our minister."
As Dr. Sprague
suggests, the religious exercises, incident to the critical illness just mentioned, furnished a fit preparation for the active
ministry.
At all events, the invitation was accepted and the
work undertaken.
Two years later, Oct. 3, 1722, the church
was organized and, on the 17th of the same month, Mr. Williams installed as pastor. In less than three years from that
date, Sept. 29, 1725, he was elected rector of Yale college
and, a 12-month thereafter, inducted into office. The Assembly expressed their" joy in the good providence that led
the reverend trustees to choose a gentleman so agreeable to
the country and so very acceptable to the Assembly," and
voted to remit the taxes of the town for four years in compensation for their loss.
Of his life and work among the people I can tell very
little. Three of his seven children were born during those
years, one of whom, Mary, afterward married her cousin, the
•
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
45
Rev. Eliphalet
Williams, of East Hartford.
Two printed
sermons exist to show us his characteristics
as a preacher, one
"Divine Grace illustrated in the salvation qf sinners, "delivered before the Assembly in 1727, but, probably, originally
preached here; the other, occasioned by the death of Rev.
Thomas Ruggles, of Guilford, the next year. His Wethersfield pastor, in the sermon preached at his funeral, said: "His
diction and address were rational, nervous and convincing to
the understanding.
His preaching was chiefly on the great
doctrines."
Of him, as rector of the college, the same authority
affirmed: "He presided with wisdom, gravity, and authority;
applied himself with care and assiduity to guard and secure
the students both from whatever might blemish and wound
their moral character5, and from errors and mistakes in matters of religion ; and to form their minds, not only to useful
knowledge and learning, but to virtue and real piety."
"He
presided at Commencement,"
Dr. Stiles testifies, " with great
honor.
He spoke Latin freely and delivered orations gracefully and with animated dignity."
In 1739, having seen the last of his sons graduate, the
last of those born up to that time, he resigned on account of
impaired health.
The resignation
was accepted "with great
reluctance
and with hearty thankfulness
for all his past
good service in this capacity."
A merited tribute, says Mr.
Dexter, £or the college "had grown steadily in numbers and
reputation."
Returning to Wethersfield, he was sent to the Assembly,
where he was chosen Speaker and also Judge of the Superior
Court.
The latter office he held three years, while he served
as deputy through 22 sessions, five of them as Speaker.
At the instance of Sir Wm. Pepperell, he went as chaplain in the expedition to Cape Breton.
In 1746 the Assembly appointed him Colonel and Commander-in-Chief
of the
Connecticut forces for the projected expedition against Canada, and three years later, commissioned him to seek from the
He
Mother Country a return of the monies thus expended.
sailed on this mission in December of '49, empowered also to
solicit funds for the college of New Jersey.
He was at this time in business, being of the firm of
Williams, Trumbull & Pitkin.
Within five months of his departure, two of his children
died, one a daughter of 19, the other an infant, and last, his
faithful wife and the mother of his seven children, of whom
only two were then living.
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CONGREGATIONAL
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Detained in England by various causes, he made the
acquaintance and won the regard of many notable people,Isaac Watts, Lady Huntington,
and, especially, Dr. Philip
Doddridge, who introduced him, with warm commendation,
to that "elect lady," Elizabeth Scott, daughter of Rev. Thomas
Scott, an eminent dissenting minister of Norwich, though not
the commentator of that name. To her he was married January 29, 1751, and, with her, arrived at New London in April
of the next year.
Henceforth his home was in Wethersfield, where he fell
asleep July 24, 1755, within a month of his 61st birthday.
"A wise, great and good man," is one sentence in the epitaph
upon his tombstone.
May we not feel that this church was blest, in having, as
its first pastor and teacher, a man so versatile, so accomplished, so affable and so sincere ?
Rev.
Simon
Oswald
P.
Backus.
Backus.
/\.
/\\.
Sen.
Some one has said that the best part of a man who is
continually talking about his ancestors, is under ground, and
it has been alleged as undoubtedly
true, that the men who
fail to recall and recount the good and noble deeds of their
progenitors, will leave no record behind them of worthy
achievements, no "footprints on the sands of time."
Holy writ abounds with commands to "remember the
former things of old," and in Deut. xxxii: 7, 'tis thus expressed.
'· Remember the days of old, consider the years of
many generations; ask thy father and he will shew thee; thy
elders and they will tell thee," and so we gather here to-day
to remind, and be reminded of the generations past and gone,
and gather inspiration from their lives and work, as we behold the fruitage of them.
Rev. Simon Backus, senior, was born at Norwich, Conn.,
Feb.11, 1700, and was son of Joseph Backus and Elizabeth
Huntington, his wife. Joseph Backus represented Norwich
in the Legislature for forty years, and was a sturdy defender
of Congregationalism.
Pastor of the Norwich church he was
an advocate of the surrender to Presbyterianism, known as the
�NEWINGTON,
r-
CONNECTICU'l',
1897.
47
Saybrook Platform, and upon r~ceiving a copy of the law
adopting it, which declared
the non-recognition
0£ all
churches dissenting from its provisions, he took pains to
publicly read and Amphasize its penalties, but omitted to
refer to a clause in the law, which permitted churches and
societies, which might dissent, to exercise worship and discipline according to their consciences, whereupon, the record informs us, up rose Joseph Backus and Richard Bushnell
and laid the whole act before the people.
A majority sustained the pastor, and many withdrew
from the church.
At the next session 0£ the Legislature,
Messrs. Backus and Bushnell were censured an<l expelled
from the house, but were promptly re-elected.
Continuing
the contest on behalf of ecclesiastical democracy, the year 1713 found a majority of the church voting" soberly to dissent" from the Saybrook platform.
Council after council was called but the opposition
would not down. Mr. Backus visited Dr. Increase Mather
of Boston, a noted advocate of the Congregational polity, and
returned determined not to yield a point.
His persistency was finally rewarded by the triumph of
liberal principles, and each generation of his son Simon's
descendants, of the name of Backus, have been devoted to the
polity of the Pilgrims, and while conceding to all men perfect liberty of thought and practice in matters of religion
and politics, they have met King James' motto with the
counter declaration," No church that has a Bishop, no state
that has a King."
Rev. Simon Backus graduated
at Yale college in 1724,
and, having decided to devote his li£e to the work of the ministry, pursued his theological studies with Rev. Mr. Bulkeley
of Colchester, ancestor 0£ ex-Gov. Bulkeley 0£ this state.
Among many 0£ his manuscript sermons in my possession, is one bearing the endorsement "From Heb. xii: 1-2.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great
a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the
sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race which is set before us, looking unto Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith.
D before Mr. Bulkeley at
Colchester, Dec. 1725."
The same month Mr. Backus was waited upon by Mr.
James Harris, Mr. John Holmes and Ensign Wells, a committee of a society taken from Colchester and Lyme, called
Pungwonk, and requested to preach for the new society.
A memorandum states that the request was granted and
an engagement made until "ye May following."
�..
48
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
Upon the expiration 0£ this term 0£ service, and on May
25, 1726-7, Mr. Jabez Whittlesey was instructed
to call
him to Newington, and on June 1 and August 24 following,
he was invited to permanently settle with this people, Deacon
John Deming, John Stoddard and Samuel Hunn being members 0£ the committee on call r d settlement.
0£ f3eptember - 12, Mr. Backus
In a communication
acknowledged the invitation, saying that: "In a due sense 0£
my unworthiness to be employed in, and insufficiency £or that
great and solemn work 0£ the ministry, I accept 0£ your call
to that work, and your proposal £or my settlement and yearly
maintenance.
Desiring your earnest prayers with mine to the
God of all grace that I may come to you in the fullness of the
blessing of the gospel of Christ."
His ordination sermon bears the inscription,
"Newington, Jan. ye 25, 1726- 7, was presented ye following discourse
to ye Reverend Elders antecedent to my ordination from J o'n
8, 51: Verily, verily, I say unto you if a man keep my sayings he shall never see death."
Upon his advent to Newington, he boarded with one of
his Deacons, and was doubtless clothed, as were the clergymen of that time, the clerical wig being a prominent and distinguishing feature of attire.
His regard £or the Deacon is proved by an entry in his
account book under the date 1726 -7, " Borrowed of my landlord, three pounds," and that he regarded the Deacon's office
as equal in dignity to his own, is conclusively shown by the
further entry, "Paid by a wig one pound fourteen shillings."
Prior to the ordination of Mr. Backus, his eldest brother,
Joseph Backus, Jr., who had graduated at Yale College in
1718, and commenced the practice 0£ the law in Hartford, had
married Hannah Edwards, sister of Rev. Timothy Edwards,
pastor of the church in East Windsor.
Two years before the
call to Newington, Mr. Backus' cousin, Col. Jabez Huntington, of Windham
(whose daughter Anne subsequently mar- ,
ried Judge Benjamin Huntington,
0£ Norwich, Conn., first
cousin of Mr. Backus), had married Elizabeth
Edwards,
daughter 0£ Rev. Timothy Edwards.
The young clergyman soon found his way into the family
circle of Timothy Edwards, and the record declares that on
October 1st, 1729, Eunice Edwards, the daughter next younger
in age to her celebrated brother, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, was
married to the Newington pastor, the bride's father officiating.
Eunice Edwards was then twenty-four years of age, and
�NEWINGTON,
,,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
49
one of ten sisters, all of whom had been carefully and liberally
educated in company with the youn~ men who, in considerable numbers, were constantly in training under the tuition of
Rev. Mr. Edwards, the daughters in process of time becoming
the tutors of the young men.
To complete their education, all of the Edwards girls
were sent to the one city of those ancient, as well as these
modern times, Boston.
Rev. Timothy Edwards was a graduate of Harvard College, and is said to have been the first student of that institution to whom the degrees of A. B. and A. M. had been
awarded at graduation.
He was not only a lover of education, as is evidenced by
the unusual training £or the time given to his daughters, but
was also a man of great personal dignity and possessed marked
social qualities, £or we find that when he was ordained in 1698,
he gave an ordination ball at which King Alcohol was a
prominent guest.
Mrs. Backus' grandfather, Rev. Solomon Stoddard, was
also a graduate of Harvard College, and £or about sixty years
was pastor of the church in Northampton, Mass.
Mrs. Backus' great-grandfather
was Rev. John Warham, a
graduate of Oxford University, a famous preacher, and one of
those clergymen of the Church of England who embraced the
principles of the Pilgrims, organized a Congregational church
beyond the sea, and set sail £or America, ultimately settling
in Windsor, Conn., where he became the first pastor.
He firmly and successfully resisted the efforts of Presbyterianism to set aside the Pilgrim order, and died at a good
old age.
Rev. Elisha Williams, Mr. Backus' predecessor, was an
own cousin of Mrs. Backus, their mothers being daughters 0£
Rev. Mr. Stoddard, and the wife of Rev. Mr. Brace was also
relat~d to Mrs. Backus, being a granddaughter
0£ another
COUSlil.
When Mr. Backus' pastorate began, five of Mrs. Backus'
uncles and two brothers-in-law were clergymen, and including
the descendants, own cousins, nephews, grandnephews,
and
of Mr. and Mrs. Backus, an incomplete
great-grandnephews
list aggregates eighty persons, ministers 0£ the gospel of
Christ, and embraces the names of Williams, Edwards, Dwight,
Hopkins, Spring, Austin, Worcester,
Davenport,
Fisher,
Bushnell, Skinner,
Hodge, Woodbridge,
Hooker, Little,
Park, Tyler, Porter, Chapin, Wetmore, Burr and Backus.
The record announces again, that when Eunice and
�.r
...
50
CONGREGATIONAL
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ANNIVERSARIES,
Simon ,married, they moved into their "own house," and
here in Newington they lived their married life of sixteen
years.
Eight children were born to them, six daughters and two
sons. But one of the latter attained maturity.
The last
child, born in March, 1745, was but a babe when the Governor and Council of War appointed Rev. Simon Backus
chaplain to the Connecticut troops stationed at the French
Gibraltar, known as Louisburg, Island of Cape Breton, which
the men of New England had reduced to subjection.
Mrs. Backus, when a child, had seen her father in the
capacity of chaplain march away with\he New England army
,
in Queen An~e's war.
Now at the age of forty, and the mother of seven living
children, she exchanged with her husband their last farewells.
Louisburg had surrendered, the world was astounded, but
the cost of siege and garrison had been great in precious
lives.
The climate and surroundings
were unhealthy and the
mortality great.
On Decembflr 27, 1745, Mr. Backus preached to the
troops from Deut. xxx, 19 : "I call heaven and earth to record
this day against you, that I have set before you life and death,
blessing and cursing ; therefore choose life, that both thou
and thy seed may live." In his ordination sermon of twenty
years before, this text was especially emphasized.
The sermon of December 27 was probably his last, for on
February 2, 1746, four weeks later, "after closing the eyes of
many a son of Connecticut in death," "it pleased God so to
dispose that he in the general mortality was carried to the
place of silence," having fallen a victim to the prev&iling
distemper.
The officers of the army made a handsome contribution,
as a testimonial of their esteem for the chaplain, and it and
his personal effects were shipped to New England, but the
vessel containing them foundered on the voyage, and all was
lost.
The Legislature of Connecticut made some provision for
the family, and Mrs. Backus continued a resident of Newington for about five years, when she removed to the home of her
father, Rev. Mr. Edwards, in East Windsor, where she resided
till her death in 1788, at the age of eighty-four years.
The numerous sermons of Mr. Backus, still extant, contain but little reference to the doctrines now considered so
objectionable.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICU'l',
1897.
51
On the other hand, they most abound with presentations
of the weak and sinful condition of men, and the amiable perfections and disposition of God toward his creatures.
One sermon indeed is quite rhapsodical in its treatment of the Deity as a God of love.
The influence of Mr. Backus and his wife upon their
descendants has been most benign.
Part of the Sabbath lessons of the children which came from the Edwards family
and passed through Newington and down generation by generation to the present time, is the following interrogatory and
answer:
What are the £our most important things £or us to attend
to in this world?
Answer.-Religion,
industry, economy and _
education.
Some may take exceptions to the answer.
Suffice it to
say that the impressions formed by it have been abiding
through many generations.
Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Backus, Clorinda married Zebadiah Lathrop, of Norwich, Conn., and one of her
sons laid down his life £or his country in the War £or Independence.
Elizabeth married Lieut. David Bissell, Jr., a soldier of the
Revolution.
Her grandson, Commodore Simon Backus Bissell, of the Navy, died abroad a few years ago at an advanced
age.
Esther married Benjamin Ely, of Holyoke, Mass.
,Jerusha married Smith Bailey, of East Windsor, Conn.
Rev. Simon Backus, Jr., was reared in the Edwards home
at East Windsor, graduated at Yale in 1759, and was pastor
0£ the Congregational church in Granby, Mass., from 1762 to
1785, and later was pastor of the church in Guilford, Conn.
He died in Bridgeport
in 1823, aged eighty-five years.
ColHis son Joseph Backus, a graduate of Dartmouth
lege, class of 1788, practiced law in Glastonbury and BridgeSociety £or the Proport, was secretary of the Connecticut
motion of Freedom in 1796 ; was one of the early law book
writers of the century and an ardent Federalist.
He was author of the Bridgeport petition to Gov. John
Cotton Smith during the war of 1812 which called £or a convention of the New England States, and was followed by the
Hartford convention; of the proceedings of which body he
wrote a defence in 1818.
pastor, chaplain, father,
The works of the Newington
and his wife "live after them," and shall continue to so long as
their posterity £ails not, and religion, industry, economy and
I
�52
CONGREGATIONAL
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ANNIVERSARIES ,
education shall be maintained as the standard of their lives.
It is a matter of great satisfaction to me, and doubtless
would be to my ancestor, that notwithstanding the lapse of
almost two centuries, the Congregational
fort in Hartford
county is still held by a representative of the family, in the
person of Rev. Joseph W. Backus, D. D., of Farmington, a
nephew in the fourth generation of Rev. Simon Backus of
Newington.
Let me conclude in the words of my ancestor which
terminated his ordination sermon in 1725 and which will be
found in Heb. xiii, 20-21: "Now the God of peace, that
brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great
Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting
covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight,
through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever.
Amen."
Rev. Joshua Belden.
e.loshua
Belden.
On the 11th of next November, 150 years ago, the Rev.
Joshua Belden, a young man of 23 years, was ordained as
pastor of this church.
He was born in Wethersfield, July
19, 1724. He entered Yale College at the age of 15 years.
In the second year of his collegiate course, he gave his heart
to the Saviour, and his thoughts were turned to the work of
the Christian ministry.
The circumstances of his conversion were as follows:
Having obtained leave of absence from the college for a few
days, he rode to Wethersfield in company with two or three
of his fellow students.
They left the college in high spirits,
and their companions saluted them with jovial expressions
as they departed.
In their absence an astonishing change
was wrought upon the college by a special religious awakening
which affected in a greater or less degree almost every member of the institution, but of this they heard nothing until
their return.
Great was their amazement to behold the wonderful change which three or four days had effected in the
deportment of their classmates.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1807.
53
From this time, he made religion his supreme ·concern.
Whitefield and Tennant were preaching in New Haven at
this time to crowded audiences, but the faculty of the college
prohibited the students from going to hear them.
The celebrated David Brainerd was a classmate of Mr. Belden, and it
is said that he disobeyed the faculty and went to hear the
wonderful preachers.
Mr. Belden some years later had the
pleasure of entertaining Mr. Whitefield at his own house in
this place.
One of my earliest recollections as a boy, is of being
told by my parents that George Whitefield walked with my
great-grandfather
down the lane back of our house, and for a
long time afterward it was with feelings of awe and reverence
that I passed through that lane, for I felt I was treading on
holy ground.
While in college, his father, having sold his property in
Wethersfield, and having purchased a farm in Canaan, was
cut off by death while making arrangements
for removal.
This led Mr. Belden to give up the idea of his chosen profession, and to turn his attention to the care of his father's
family; but afterward at the earnest solicitation of Dr. Hopkins, he commenced his studies for the ministry.
After
completing his preparatory studies, he preached in a frontier
town where alarms of Indians frequently disturbed the people and where all the inhabitants used the precaution of
sleeping within a fortification.
In May, 1847, he was invited to preach in Newington,
and a few days before his ordination in November, a day of
fasting and prayer was appointed for the purpose of asking
God's blessing on his ministry.
The ecclesiastical society
offered" to give Mr. Joshua Belden the use of the parsonage
so long as he is our minister and preaches the Calvinistical
Doctrine as is generally at this day preached among the Dissenters.
Also eight cords of wood yearly while he is a single
man and 16 cords yearly after marriage, and 250 poul\.ds, old
tenor money, for his salary after the settlement is paid."
The settlement was to be made 1000 pounds, to be paid within the term of three years. This seems like a large salary,
but we must remember that the currency was greatly depreciated.
The parsonage property referred to consisted of 50 acres
of land situated southwest of H. M. Robbins' house.
In
1774 Mr. Belden relinquished his rights to this tract, and received instead 17 pounds yearly. He purchased 80 acres of
land, it being a portion of the farm that I now occupy, and
�•·
l'f4.
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
bis house, a two-story red building with a lean-to, stood on
the spot where my father built his house.
He was twice
married, first to Miss Anne Belden and second to Mrs.
Honor Whiting.
He had 11 children, nine daughters and
two sons. One son and five daughters died before him.
Mr. Belden, as well as some of his parishioners, was
a slave owner. During his long pastorate, great changes took
place, not only in the parish, but in the colony. In the parish
a new ll\eeting house was built in 1797, after a long and bitter
controversy.
Neither the old nor the new building was heated
artificially during his lifetime.
Three times the General
Assembly allowed the neighboring towns to take a portion of
the territory ·of Newington.
The French and Indian war and
that of the Revolution occurred <luring his pastorate.
During the war of the Revolution he showed where his sympathies were by preaching such a powerful sermon from the
text, " Curse ye Meraz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye
bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to
the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the
mighty," that a large number of his congregation immediately entered the army.
Mr. Belden did the actual service of
the ministry during 56 years, until November, 1803, and was
pastor emeritus for 10 years more.
In May, 1808, his children being all removed from him,
he left his own house and entered the family of his son,
Joshua Belden, who resided in the house now occupied by
Mr. Wetherell, where he lived until his death in 1813.
Mr. Belden possessed a sound mind in a sound body. His
intellect was clear, his memory retentive, his judgment rational, and his mental exercises were deliberate and firm. In
theology he was a diligent and successful student.
In the
cultivation of these powers of mind, he was employed from
his childhood and was favored with the best advantages of.
education which this country afforded at that time. He was.
a man of extensive reading, and this continued even to the
close of his days. In this employment he spent the moat of
his time after he left the active ministry and, from long habit,
seemed unwearied in his application.
He possessed ample
means, so that he could furnish himself with whatever books
he chose. He was eminently a man of prayer, and great was
his love for the word of God.
The Sabbath was peculiarly dear to him.
On the day
before the Sabbath, he took care that every possible preparation should be made so that the holy work of the day might
not be in.te.rrupted by secular concerns.
He was distinguish-
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
55
ed for openness and sincerity.
Temperance and frugality
were prominent features in him . Of ardent spirits, if he
drank at all, it was in a sparing manner; for he treated it as a
dangerous thing.
His speech seemed to be always with
grace. He was ever on the guard against . descending to
things which might strike any mind as improper in a man of
his standing and profession.
As a preacher of Christ, he stood in the first rank. His
great concern and his constant prayer was that the Word
might be profitable to them that heard it. He felt a strong
concern for his country, and for Zion, and this seemed to increase rather than abate as he drew near the close of his life.
Many and earnest were the prayers which he poured out for
the prosperity of the United States.
One minister, being asked what character he would give
Mr. Belden, replied, "I have ever looked upon him as a worthy good man, correct in his theological sentiments, and a
pungent, powerful preacher."
..
�REV.
Rev.
DR.
JOAB
Dr.
L. S.
BRACE.
Brace.
Deming.
Rev. Dr. Joab Brace had been pastor of this church 27
years, or a little more than one-half of his ministry, when in
1832 I was received as a member at the age of 13. During
the 23 succeeding years I recElived from him choice spiritual
guidance and encouragement. '- He was indeed, as you may
read on his tombstone, "A good minister of Jesus Christ,"
faithful to his Master and faithful to his people.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
57
My earliest remembrance o:f°him is in connection with a
weekly service on Thursday evening at the Bell school house.
This was away back in 1824 or 1825. The attendance had
become small, and he proposed to discontinue the meeting,
but when it closed my sainted mother went to him, and said :
"Mr. Brace, as long as myself and one of my family are here,
won't you come and meet us ?"
It decided him favorably, and ever after, as long as I
resided here, he and his successors continued the meeting,
greatly to the spiritual uplifting of those attending it. Some
of those here present remember how, and what, he preached;
and how heartily, too, he sung the songs of Zion. We remember, too, the Village Hymn Book that we carried to the
meeting in one hand, while in the other was borne the candle or lamp that lighted up the place £or sacred truth's dis.
play.
Our pastor knew every man, woman and child within the
boundaries of the place; yea, and more, he would know every
visitor and stranger, though tarrying only for a day, and I
may almost affirm all travelers who passed in the highways.
He closely identified himself with every important interest of
the community, often sacrificing his own £or their benefit.
He sought the good of all and especially sought for each one
spiritual prosperity.
Preaching from the text, "That I may
present every man perfect in Christ Jesus," he lifted his
glasses and looked with his bright black eye into the face of
each one in the audience, and then in thought embraced
every one in the community as he told us how earnest he
was t.o lead every one to Jesus Christ, so that no one within
the limits of the parish might fail to possess eternal life; and
then, turning to the pew at his right haIJ.d, he said, "There is
my wife, who knows all my weakness and my sin, but I
want to so preach the Gospel that she and you and myself
may not iaft of Christ's salvation."
Thus pointed and personal was his ministry and preaching.
It will be 44 years next January since Dr. Brace resigned
his active ministry in this place. We well remember the
anniversary sermon at the close of his 50 years ·of service ·
which he said, "Were I asked now at the close of my 50 year
stay with you; and were it possible to go back to its commencement with all the knowledge I now possess of you and
the work, would I choose the ministry and locate with you in
Newington?
I should answer, Yes, with all my heart."
Thus
deep was his love £or his work and his people. And yet, he
�58
CONGREGATIONAL
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ANNIVERSARIES,
had outlived all but one of the members of his church who
were present at his ordination.
Looking around upon his people at the anniversary, he
said, ·' All these are my children.
I baptized them, and they
have grown up around me. They don't know that I didn't.
sprout and grow right here. They have looked upon me as a
permanent fixture."
His attachment to the young was one marked characteristic
of his ministry.
It was the secret of his long stay in our pastorate.
Three years previous to the anniversary,
he had
reached the age of 70, and, in accordance with an early
formed determination,
he asked for the close of his active
ministry as not being willing to burden his people with an
It was then that the young people rallied
old-age minister.
and some 20 of the young men came into the society meeting,
and joined, tliat they might have a voice in the matter, and a
vote in its settlement.
Seven votes only in the entire congregation were found willing to accept the proposal.
What a
testimony of faithfulness
and acceptable service after 4 7
years ! It put new life into his preaching, and it was never
better received.
The three added years were nearly ended, and Dr. Brace,
with wife and children and people, had arranged and prepared for the closing anniversary,
when suddenly at midnight he waked from sleep to find his wiffl as suddenly
departing by the embrace of death.
He was left alone in
the house.
And so virulent was her disease, and so death-dealing, that
physicians called for a private and speedy burial.
Six of us
were called in to perform the service, and without a child or
relative near him, Dr. Brace bent over the grave, and, with
his right hand upon his breast as if to hold the beatings of a
throbbing heart, he feelingly said, "There lies my light, my
life, my joy for this world ;" and his and our eyes were veiled
with tears.
This event came Nov. 16, 1854, o1lly two months before
the appointed
anniversary.
His ordination at the commencement of his ministry was on Jan. 16, 1805, and the
marriage with his life companion (Lucy Collins) was on Jan.
21, 1805. His children and friends had planned for a jubilee wedding.
Great were the expectations
and preparations
of Dr. Brace and wife and children and people for the combined anniversary occasion.
Her sudden death shrouded all
with a cloud of sorrow. She had been truly his life and joy
-a worthy helpmeet and companion in his home and minis-
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
59
try, beloved and respected by all who knew her.
She was remarkable for decision and efficiency of administration, for cool and correct judgment, that seemed to
come almost instantly when needed.
One little incident of the wedding day in 1805 shows
both his perseverance and her promptness of decision.
The
day had been exceedingly stormy and snow had banked upon the roads. The sleigh overturned repeatedly that carried
Mr. Brace at the age of 23, and another young man, to the
home of the bride in West Hartford, and they arrived only
at a late hour in the evening.
He playfully said, " Lucy,
you hardly expected me in such a storm."
"Yes, I did, if
you were alive." Heart with heart and hand in hand they
walked the pathways of life for nearly 50 years.
To supplement his small salary and provide for the
education of the children, they for many years kept a family
school, receiving young men and preparing them for college.
As an educator he was thorough and successful.
He assisted
greatly in educating the youth of the community, always a
regular visitor of the schools and often dropping in when
not expected.
Often, and perhaps always, he combined religious counsel with his approval of teacher and children.
On one such occasion, he was quietly seated for some time
and watched the school exercises with close attention.
Then, rising to leave, he bent forward and with a full voice
said, "Children, always remember, 'Thou God seest me,'"
and bowed himself out.
The death of his wife made necessary the breaking up
of his home and the last seven years of his life were passed
with his daughter in Pittsfield.
Death came soon after the
fall of Sumter, April 14, 1861. Dr. Brace was eminently a
man of peace. He had been grieved greatly by events leading on to the open conflict and prayed earnestly that he
might not live to hear the alarm of war. In his sickness of
comparatively short duration his frifmds told him nothing of
the open conflict and his prayer was granted.
Death came
to him, April 20, 1861, at the right hour. It was with difficulty and with delay that his remains were brought to Newington, as cars were loaded with soldiers and equipments
hastening to the defence of the national capital.
But in the
ground he had chosen we laid him at rest.
He was not constitutionally demonstrative or emotional.
His research and investigation of subjects ran on practical
lines. In sermonizing he usually made personal application
and improvement as he went along with his theme, never
,
�60
CONGREGATIONAL
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ANNIVERSARIES,
attempting to open up mysteries or travel the labyrinths of
speculative metaphysics.
He, however, made a good use of
all the scholarly attainments
he had reached, leading always
a busy life divided between study and necessary hand toil.
He was a good Hebrew scholar, and became so familiar with
his Hebrew Bible as to prefer it for his private reading.
He
could in that language better understand the Old Testament
Scriptures.
His sermons were usually written, but sometimes ex tempore, without special preparation.
And these often were his
best efforts.
His fruitful works have followed him in a community of
men and women who have been God-fearing
and Christloving in all years of Christian service . He filled 50 years of
preaching
within these consecrated
walls, and aided with
counsel many a weary pilgrim in his march Zion ward . So we
can all say, "Amen," as we read the inscription on his monument, "A good minister of Jesus Christ."
�lj
REV
WILLIAM
P.
AIKEN.
Rev. \A/. P. /\iken.
Edwin
Stanley
Welles.
William Pope Aiken , second son and second child of
Capt. Lemuel S. and Sarah Coffin Aiken, was born in
the town of Fairhaven, Mass., July 9, 1825. He was a
precocious child and it is recalled of him that on his third
birthday he read in the New Testament.
From the begin-
�62
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
ning he was an omnivorous reader, and, as a lad, he cared little for boyish sports, preferring a book to a game of ball. He
was moreover, sensitive and retiring in _nature, and shunned
the rougher activities of life. From the day he began to read,
the thirst for knowledge was in him. There are few boys
that love study, but he really loved it.
The sister nearest his own age relates that almost her
first recollection of him goes back to the days when, as a
little fellow, he organized a church and preached to a congregation consisting of herself and a younger brother; and
how he would stop and beg them not to laugh as he held
forth in imitation of the village preacher ! This sister re- ·
calls the kindliness of his heart, noticeable even in those
early days. She writes : "When the boys came of an evening, as was their wont, to play in the orchard, William
would leave them all to go and cut wood for a poor woman."
Meanwhile a great purpose was possessing him, and that
was to get, if possible, a collegiate education.
With this
determination, he attended the normal school at Bridgewater,
Mass., when he had finished his schooling in Fairhaven.
After a course there, he taught school in his native place, and
then entered Monson academy, where he thoroughly fitted
himself for college. He was now 24 years old, older indeed
than most of those who have taken their college degrees, and
he felt keenly the disparity between his age and that of his
classmates.
But his youth had known the sorrows of ill health, when
for a season what was most precious to him, his studies, had
to be abandoned.
He had also been obliged to interrupt
them during his teaching, and thus he stood on the threshold of his college career with these added years of discipline,
a part of his best life.
In more than one respect, that waiting season had been
good for him, as he entered the justly famous class of '53, of
Yale College. No class in the annals of Yale, unless it be
that of 1837, has sent forth so many distinguished men.
Bishop Davies of Michigan; the late Senator Gibson of
Louisiana; Wayne McVeagh, once Attorney General of the
United States and lately our Ambassador to Italy; George
Shiras, one of . the Justices of the United States Supreme
Court; Edmund Clarence Stedman, the poet, and Andrew D.
White, formerly president of Cornell and now our Ambassador to Germany, not to mention others of only less renown,
were members of the class of '53. But Mr. Aiken was one
of the marked men of that remarkable class.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
63
His conversational
powers, his fine literary tastes, his
profound scholarship and his lofty ideals combined to make
him a man of unusual attractiveness.
But he was shy in
making acquaintances
and his circle of friends was small.
Only a few knew intimately the modest, brilliant
student
who kept his room so closely.
As a young man he was distinguished
in appearance.
Already he had somewhat . of the scholar's
stoop and
with those fl.ashing black eyes that pierced into the depths
of things, eyes that could soften with tenderness or blaze
with indignation, with a noble crown of forehead, and a mobile, sympathetic mouth, quick and energetic in his movements whether physical or mental, his was a noticeable figure
anywhere.
In his college course he won a prize for high scholarship and was elected a member of Skull and Bones Society,
always a much coveted distinction
among Yale men.
At
graduation he ranked among the foremost in his class. He
then served for a while as tutor in the faIPily of Mayor
Skinner of New Haven, who received a few pupils into his
fine home. From 1855 until 1857, he was tutor of Latin in
his own alma mater.
He is said to have been the most popular tutor then at Yale.
He had a keen insight into human nature, which was
It was not an
tempered with a large sympathetic humor.
awful ordeal to recite to him. The humanness of his nature
drew the students; and then, what fl.ashes of wit, what brilliant comments illumined those recitations!
One who sat under his instruction writes: "His superior
scholarship, his unvarying kindliness and his rare tact in
teaching, secured for him the respect and affection of every
member of the class. His somewhat nervous temperament,
his admiration
of 'sure-footed'
scholarship
(to use his
words) and the pain which unsuccessful recitations gave him
never affected his patience in the presence of the honest but
ungifted student."
Meanwhile, during these years of tutorship, he was
studying theology and fitting himself to be a minister of
Jesus Christ.
One Sunday early in the year 1856, he stood
in this pulpit, then vacant by the resignation of Dr. Brace,
and preached to a people who heard him gladly.
A few Sundays later, again he occupied the pulpit and
the result was a vote of the church, March 3, 1856, "That
we make choice of and invite Mr. William P. Aiken to become colleague pa.stor with Rev. Dr. Brace."
�64
CONGREGATIONAL
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ANNIVERSARIES,
This, his first call, was joyfuliy accepted by Mr. Aiken,
who was ordained to the ministry in this building Tuesday,
Jan. 15, 1857, President Woolsey of Yale preaching the sermon. For ten years he served the people here. The mutterings of the great civil war were already being faintly
heard as he began his ministry, and then the storm of war
burst upon the nation !
\
Those thrilling years tried all men's souls. Some in this
room remember his fervent words as he addressed the men
who went forth to battle.
And one old veteran still treasures up one of his stirring exhortations, "Don't get shot in
the heel!"
Later, when the need of consolation came, and it came
so often in the nation's agony, how he could comfort the
suffering and the sorrowing ! The eloquence of sincerity
was in all he said.
What the character of his ministry was, not a few here
to-day can testify. He was a bold, uncompromising preacher of righteousness.
No one was in doubt as to what his
opinions were. He abhorred dissimulation in all its forms.
He cared for the great essentials of Christianity and
scorned to waste his time on religious trifles.
He preached the love of Christ: man's need of God and
his capacity for receiving Him, the greatness of the life here,
as well as the glory of the life hereafter. And he wanted all
to enjoy the boundless treasures of eternal life.
With his poetic soul, he was ever conscious of
The light that never was, on sea or land ;
The consecration, and the Poet's dream.
His sermons were always scholarly, but never dry. They
could not be with his imagination irradiating them.
They might be termed brilliant sermons; sometimes
startling, but they were the powerful efforts of a complex
nature to penetrate and make known some of the mysteries
?f God. But I think he enjoyed mingling with his people
m. their homes better than preaching eloquent sermons.
His love went out to every living creature, and wherever
there was suffering, there he was to comfort. In his ministrations the poor and neglected were first on his mind. It
w1_1,s
his delight to obey the apostle's injunction, to "rejoice
with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
In after days, when looking back upon his life, he used
t~ say that the years he spent in Newington were the happiest years he had known. It was a mutual sorrow on the
part of both pastor and people when he resigned his minis-
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
65
try in 1867. · Early in his pastorate he had married Miss
Susan C. Edgerton, daughter of the Hon. Edwin Edgerton
of Rutland, Vermont, and his children, two sons and two
daughters, were all born in Newington.
The oldest of these,
Rev. Edwin E. Aiken, consecrated his life to the cause of
missions in China, a dozen years ago.
The rest of his life may be briefly indicated.
Upon
leaving here, he became principal of Abbott academy at
Groton, Mass., but ill health compelled him to withdraw in
two years. Later, he was for three years acting pastor of the
Congregational
church in Vergennes, Vermont.
But his
health had long been forsaking him, and his last years were
spent in an invalid's retirement at Rutland, Vermont.
The sufferings of those years were great, but he endured
them as a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and out of them all
he passed to the larger life with God, March 31, 1884.
Rev. Robert
G. Vermilye.
D. D.
1870-1873.
Ro_ger
Welles.
The Rev. Robert George Vermilye was born March 3,
1813, in New York City, the son of William W. and Mary
(Montgomery) Vermilye.
He died at Hartford, July 5, 1875.
He supplied the pulpit of the Congregational
church in
Newington, from the second Sabbath in June, 1870, until
Nov. 2, 1873, when he ceased his services on account of failing health.
Dr. Vermilye graduated at Columbia College, New York,
in 1831. In December, 1837, he was appointed
a professor
of Greek and Latin in . that college. He was licensed as a
of New York, April 19,
minister by the Presbytery
1838, and was ordained
pastor
of the
Presbyterian
church in German Valley, New Jersey, in July,
1843.
He was afterwards called to the pastorate
of the Congregational
church in Clinton,
Oneida County, N. Y.,
where he was installed
June 10, 1846.
He received
the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity from his Alma
�j
66
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
Mater in 1851, when 38 years old.
In 1857 he was elected
to the Professorship of Systematic Theology in the Connectcut Theological Institute, then located at East Windsor, which
position he held till his death.
His call to the temporary
pastorate of the church in Newington was by a unanimous
vote of the society, and in renewing the invitation each year
the vote was unanimous in every instance.
This action of
the society indicated the sentiments
of the people.
His
high qualities as a christian gentleman and a faithful minister of Christ were acknowledged by all.
In social intercourse
he was kindly and geni'h, and
. ~won the hearts of his congregation.
They venerated his
piety and purity of heart, and at the same time felt an
honest pride in his large knowledge and ability.
It was the
custom to hold a Sunday-school concert on the second Sabbath afternoon of each month, and Dr. Vermilye added
greatly to the enjoyment and profit of the service by inaugurating a question box, and answering off-hand the questions
propounded,
giving variety and novelty, solving doubts,
clearing knotty points, and giving us occasional opportunity
to learn no little theology.
If we sometimes took delight in
asking hard questions our delight was increased by the
skillful manner in which he answered them.
When he first came to us his health seemed firm, and his
step was quick and elastic. He continued with us till failing
voice and health compelled him to desist. He chose to close
his ministry with us on communion. Sabbath, and as he dispensed for the last time the symbols of our Saviour's dying
love, and spoke his own parting words,Jhe tearful eyes of the
congregation testified their love, sympathy and sorrow. We
sorrowed most of all for the words that we should see his
fa@e no more. It was the last time he preached.
His funeral
was attended at the Center church, Hartford, on Wednesday
afternoon, July 7, 1875, whence his mortal remains were carried to the vault at Cedar Hill cemetery.
A few minutes
before his death he committed himself to his Lord, whom he
had served so long, in these words : "And now, 0 my
Saviour, keep me in life or death; I commit myself to
Thee."
�Rev. Sanford
Charles
K.
S. Martyn.
/\twood.
When a small boy my father took me with him to witness a " general training" at Windsor.
During the day he
met many acquaintances
with whom he had conversation .
Of it all I remember but one brief sentence-a
remark of
Gen. Hillyer-that
"The longer I live the more I think of
It gave a new idea to the boy and its impression
blood."
was deep and lasting, so that in later years as he hears of
the success or failure of a man he is apt to ask: Who was
his father ? Aud what of his family?
Naturally, therefore,
when as~ed to prepare a brief memorial of Rev. , Sanford S.
Martyn, a former pastor, to be read on this our anniversary
day, the writer was led to look into his genealogy, and knowing the man, his ability, his zeal for his ~alling, and his
marked success, was not surprised to find that not only his
father, but his grandfather
and his great-grandfather
had
been, each in his day, a minister of the gospel; and his son,
born here during his brief pastorate, has entered on the same
work. Five in direct descent!
May the line continue till
the time comes when there will be no need of ministers to
say : "Know thou the Lord !" While attributing
so much
importance to heredity I would by no means underrate environment.
Doubtless while he resided with us its influence
was helpful and beneficial ! He was welcomed to the pastorate by a people capable of appreciating his ability and ready
to encourage and assist him in his labor by word and deed,
thus stimulating him to continued effort for higher attainment. Even unconscious childhood yie fded a helpful influence. In one of his letters he writes: "I always thought the
boys and girls in the Sunday-school were the brightest and
the prettiest, too, I ever knew," and nearly thirty years afterwards he adds, " I think so still."
After Mr. Aiken left us in the summer of 1867, we were
for some months without
pastor or stated supply.
We
were looking for some one to fill the vacancy his withdrawal
had left. Early in the autumn of that year, a temporary
resident, not a member of this, nor I think of any other
church, expressed to Rev. Mr. Ross, pastor of the Baptisi..
Church in West Hartford, a wish that he would come to
Newington and hold week day meetings.
He consented, and
,
�68
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
the disused Methodist church was placed at his disposal.
The attendance, at first small, gradually increased with growing interest, until more room was needed, and early in the
winter this house was opened, our church heartily uniting
with and aiding Mr. Ross in his work.
In November Mr. Martyn,agraduateof
Yale University,
where he took an honorable stand as a scholar and received
many prizes for superiority in writing, speaking and debating, at this time a member of the senior class in Yale
Theological Seminary, came to preach for one Sabbath.
He
was favorably received and engaged for further service. In
short he supplied for six months, during which he preached
morning and afternoon, as was then our custom, and led in
the evening service, all the while maintaining
his position
in his class and engaging in outside labor in New Haven to
obtain the means of self support.
Surely those were months
of labor!
From the first Mr. Martyn engaged earnestly in the
work of calling men to repentance, and his Sabbath discourses were in line with those of Mr. Ross during the week.
In that winter more than fifty hopeful conversions were reported. In February a meeting of the church was held to
choose a pastor. There was no doubt on whom the choice
would £all.
A paper signed by twenty-seven non-church-members,
expressing their intention to ask admission soon, and their
preference for Mr. Martyn as pastor, was presented and read
and by vote 0£ the church ordered to be preserved on its
records.
Mr. Martyn accepted the call of church and society and
was ordained in April. For two years the relation of pastor
and people continued.
Then came the resignation.
He
had been called to New Hartford.
With regret the advice of the council was accepted, and
his relation to us since has been but a pleasant memory.
Like Paul he seems to have been appointed to the care of
many churches, being now in his seventh pastorat~, flattering
calls to others vtith a much larger salary having been declined, and like him he has been permitted to rejoice and to
gather in many of the fruits of his labor, the churches to
which he has ministered having been strengthened by the
addition 0£ more than five hundred new members, his "joy
and crown." Serious dissensions existing before, and at the
time of, his settlement have in two notable instances been
healed. From some of them the writer has received testi-
'
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
69
monials of their warm affection £or their former pastor, and
their sincere regret for his departure.
These results indicate the man and the preacher, so
that I need not dilate on his sermons.
Suffice it to say
that while scholarly, eloquent and abreast of the times, they
· were spiritual, devout, sincere, teaching the truths he believed and had experienced.
Socially he was no less a favorite than in the pulpit. In
manner and conversation £rank, genial, winning, accompanied by his estimable and popular wife, a most worthy helpmeet for a minister, he was sure of a welcome wherever he
chose to call and found the latchstrings of his people's homes
always out.
He is now in the prime of life with the prospect of many
useful years before him. Long may he continue to deserve
the epitaph on the stone which covers the hallowed dust of
Dr. Brace and late may it be written .
•
�nEv.
WILLIAM
J.
THOMSON.
Rev. W. J. Tl)omson.
c.John S.
Kirkham.
William Jamieson Thomson, born July 21, 1840, in the
city of New York, received his early education in the schools
of that city, graduated from Columbia college and afterward from Princeton seminary where he was offered a professorship, but,having early consecrated his life to "the ministry o~ the Word," he declined and after a few months'
travel abroad, he accepted a call to the parish of Croton
Falls, N. Y.
He married Sadelia Sherwood, daughter of a prominent
lawyer of New York city, soon after returning from Europe.
Mr. Thomson's pastorate at Croton Falls pf four years was
cut short by ill health, both Mr. and Mrs. Thomson having
contracted malaria in the parsonage, situated directly on the
bank of Croton river.
Much against the wishes of the
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
71
church and parish, he removed to Seymour, Conn., where he
preached two years as stated supply.
From Seymour he came to Newington, accepting a
practically unanimous call from both church and parish.
He
was installed May 27, 1875, Rev. Aaron Adams of Wethersfield being moderator of the council, and Heman R. Timlow
of Southington
scribe. Mr. Adams is the only one of that
council with us to-day and with grateful hearts we greet him.
Mr. Thomson continued to minister to this people four
years and three months, at the end of which we reluctantly
accepted his resignation.
He ministered temporarily to the
people of South Glastonbury two years, though not expecting to stay a definite time when he went.
From there he
went to the church at East Canaan, Conn., where after two
years of labor, broken at times by ill health and extreme
suffering, he finished his life work and died as bravely as he
had lived, aged 44 years, a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
When Mr. Thomson came to us, he was just entering
manhood's prime, a fine picture of physical strength and
manliness.
Perhaps it was that that first attracted the attention of the young, for when engaged in any athletic game,
they were sure of at least one sympathetic spectator.
Although not obtrusive, he had a happy faculty of winning and
then influencing the young to the beautiful service of self
sacrifice, in following the Master.
Mr. Thomson was preeminently a man of faith and rested with more cheei:ful certainty on God's promises of good to him and his than children do on an earthly parent.
"He believed God, and it
was counted unto him for righteousness."
His life was an
illustration
of "simply
trusting every day" for every day's
needs.
In my recollections of Mr. Thomson, this stanza has
come to me o'er and o'er:
How pure of heart and sound in head,
With what divine affections hold
Should be the man whose thought would hold
An hour's communion with the dead.
And with Nature's own poet I can say of him:
His life was gentle, and the elements
So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, " This was a man !"
His last hours were marked by the same sublime faith
and trust that ruled his life. "He walked with God and
was not, for God took him."
�Rev. J. E. Elliott.
/\'\iss
/\gnes
W.
Belden.
Rev. John E. Elliott, a descendant of Elder Brewster,
was born in New London, Oct. 22, 1829. He was consecrated to the Lord and to the work of the ministry in his infancy,
by his mother, who was a woman of intense piety. In his
boyhood and early manhood he manifested an earnest Christian character.
He was graduated from Amherst college in
1857, and from Hartford Theological Seminary (then at
East Windsor) in 1860.
After leaving the seminary, he married Miss Mary A.
Thomson of East Windsor, who through
all his ministry
proved a valuable helpmeet.
Prevented by the condition of
his health from going as a missionary to the foreign field, he
greatly desired to be a home missionary in the far West, but
was detained in Connecticut a few years.
He was ordained in the Congregational church in Ridgebury, where he became pastor.
Afterward he was settled in
Higganum.
The way being then opened to carry out his
long cherished purpose, he went under the auspices of the
Home Missionary Society to Iowa, and thence to Nebraska. In 187 4, on account of the death of a brother and
sister, he felt called, for the sake of his aged widowed
mother, to make his home in the East. After serving the
church in South Glastonbury a few years, he was called to
this church, where he remained from 1879 until 1884. His
whole ministry was characterized by intense earnestness and
perseverance in whatever he undertook, and he was continually studying and planning for those things which would add
to the usefulness and spirituality of his people.
He was
very desirous of the financial good of the church.
While he
was in Newington, the large debt of the ecclesiastical society
was canceled, and great were his efforts to interest his people in the proposition to build a chapel.
By his efforts a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was formed in this church.
He had great love and
respect for his mother and often used to refer with expressions of gratitude to the fact that she was praying for him
and his church.
Perhaps -it was partly owing to this love
that the aged members of his flock were treated with such
courtesy.
He was firm and fearless in whatever he considered right.
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
73
He was a man of strict economy, and was able to make
his small salary cover his running expenses, although he was
at this time educating his only child at Amherst, and was
scrupulously giving his tenth to the Lord.
After leaving Newington he was about three years in
Bridgewater, when a oaU from the State of Washington led
him to gladly turn his steps to the Pacific coast, where he anticipated giving the remaining years of his ministry to vigorous home missionary work. He began his labors there
Nov. 1, but waning strength soon led to the discovery of a
fatal disease which lurked stealthily in his system, and
caused his death on ,Tan. 19, 1888, less than 12 weeks from
the time of his arrival in the new field. His body was
brought East and laid in the cemetery in New London.
Rev. J. 0. Barrows.
/\lfred
B.
Fish.
Rev. John Otis Barrows was born in Mansfield, Conn.,
In 1860 he
in 1833, youngest of a large family of children.
was graduated from Amherst college and took his theological course at Hartford
and Andover seminaries.
He was
called to North Hampton, N. H., in 1863. Here he served
in the ministry a number of years, after which he was settled
in the neighboring
town of Exeter.
While in this pleasant
parish, he felt that God called him to the foreign work, and
in 1870 he was sent by the A. B. C. F. M. as a missionary to
Turkey.
There he served ten years and a-half when he was
obliged to return to this country on account of the health of
his family. After this, he preached for a time in Atchinson,
N.H.
.
In 1885 he received a call to become pastor of this
church.
Of Mr. Barrows' faithfulness
as a pastor many would
gladly speak. In time of sickness and bereavement, the tender self-sacrificing
ministries of himself and his dear wife
linked grateful hearts to theirs in bonds that will never be
·
broken.
His systematic efforts to get non-church-goers
to attend
Sabbath services met with a measure of success.
After persevering attempts on his part, one who had long absented
�74
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
herself remarked, "I shall have to go to church now. Mr.
Barrows will never let me alone until I do."
It was most interesting to hear from him of the customs
and habits of people with whom a residence in foreign lands
had made him familiar; but beyond instructing
and entertaining with these things, he succeeded in imparting some of his
own zeal and enthusiasm in the cause of missions as a record
of our missionary organizations will show.
In rebuking
wrong-doing
among the memb t rs of his
flock, he was ever frank and fearless, and yet speaking the
truth in love as to win the heart of the wrong doer.
One of
his parishioners
declared after one of these occasions that
he "never got such a dressing-down
in his life before," but
added, almost in the same breath, "There is nobody I respect more than I do Mr. Barrows," a sentiment which he
still often repeats,
In current events in the political and social world, he
took a deep interest and was guided to see and point out the
national perils that lurked in an easy-going
citizenship,
great trusts, and vast monopolies.
He had universal success
in awaking a sense of responsibility
in those who had preferred to stay in the background
and let others conduct the
prayer meeting.
After a persuasive interview on this subject with a church official, the latter finally promised to lead
the next meeting, but when the time came he confessed that
he felt tempted to "play the part of Jonah and run away."
But he did not run away and since then has led many prayer meetings.
·
To the liquor traffic and the saloon he was an open foe
and temperance sentiment during his stay grew apace.
The
Woman's Christian
Temperance
Union was organized with
his approval and help and ever found in him a steadfast
friend and strong ally.
The . old church had borne for years a good reputation
£or benevolent
offerings, but under his wise methods there
was a large increase.
Year by year the blessed spirit of giving grew until the church had gained an enviable prominence in this regard.
Of the souls saved, of the lives reconsecrated,
and the
spiritual
natures that were deepened and nourished under
his ministry, who can adequately speak ?
One who had for years in a distant city sat under the
preaching of eminent men testified that she had never before
been so helped and blessed in her spiritual life. He seemed
always to be hearing the words of the Master to Peter:
"Feed my sheep."
�S.
Rev.
/\t
S.
M.artyn·s
Newir.1gton's
Paper
Celebration.
When I asked your pastor upon what special feature of
this occasion he would like to have me speak, he suggested
reminiscences
of my ministry here.
How they throng upon
me as I stand before you!
And yet this church and people
are a very present and living reality to me, - not a dream, not
a distant past, but still part of myself and a potent fact in
my active labor to-day.
For here I was born into the ministry, here the ordaining hands were placed upon my head, as I
began, all young and inexperienced,
my labors as your pastor; and I feel to-night as if coming back to the shrine of my
hopes, the Mecca of my life. And thus the occasion to me
is more even than an uplifting memory, - it is the voicing
afresh of all God has permitted
and still permits me to be
and do in His cause.
Here sacred friendships began which
can only become more enduring as time passes on into the
sweet by-and-by.
Still do I share the charm of that enthusiastic devotion you accorded me, and I feel yet resting upon
me the indescribable
influence of a church life rich in all the
Gospel inheritance of a worthy and exalted past.
This old church did well its part in the formative days
of our country, and he who shares in any degree such a special church inheritance must truly be blest.
The two things
which it seems to me are most significant in the nearly two
centuries gone, since the organization of this church, are the
chamcter here developed and the vitality of faith here manifested.
These make the Newington past loom up in grander
proportions the more it is studied, as they must ever constitute the substratum of all other controlling
facts in human
destiny.
I hold in my hands a very precious bundle of documents.
They are the letters, papers and sermons covering my invitation, call, ordination and the beginning of my pastorate here.
I cannot read them; it would take too long.
But what hallowed scenes nearly or quite a generation ago do they bring
before me, for they relate to some of your own most sacred
history, when God poured out His Spirit in reviving power
here, and gave you fresh enthusiasm for His work, an enthusiasm still marking your life and work to-day.
I was in no
sense a creator or leader in that revival.
But a student in
Yale Theological
Seminary
and supplying
the pulpit, .I
�76
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
preached to it as best I could when, after my first appearance,
it had grown up through the labors of the evangelist, Mr.
Ross. Theile letters cover all that time.
I was but little more than well started in my senior year in
the Seminary when,Nov. 20, 1867, a letter from H. M. Robbins,
then head society's committee, invited me to supply you for
a couple of Sundays, upon the recommendation,
unknown to
me, of Rev. Wm. R. Eastman of Plantsville.
I came and
continued all winter with you and during the revival, until
your call came to become pastor, with the added wish, expressed on your part, that I might be ordained before my
Seminary graduation, so as to receive the new members into
the church.
The Seminary granted the request on condition that I remain and graduate in due order, which condition was complied with.
Here are the letters conveying that call, .written and
signed by C. K. Atwood, acting for the church and also its
clerk, and by Roger Welles, though not then a church member, for the society.
They refer also to the visit to my room
in the Seminary by Mr. Atwood, and to that made to my
home by himself and Jedediah
Deming, then not deacon,
but one of the special committee of the society to extend to
me the call.
Among the other papers is a petition signed by 26
young men not in the church, though many of them expecting soon to join and headed by Roger Welles, respectfully
and earnestly asking the church to call me. When I saw
that paper I confess it had great weight with me, for what
young man would not be moved by such an appeal from
young men like himself ?
I remember well my first sermon here, on "The Miracll:lous Conversion of St. Paul."
I had just carefully studied
and written it out while reading Conybeare and Howson's
"Life and Epistles of St. Paul," though without any thought
It was a kind of pet child to
or knowledge of Newington.
me, for, perhaps like other students in such things, I fancied
it eloquent.
And so, of course, I came and delivered it.
But whatever its real merit, I have ever felt that it struck the
key note of my ministry here, a ministry of quickening and
conversion and all else built up upon that foundation, and
that God's hand was especially in it.
What an ordination that was, April 29, 1868 ! You remember that Yale and Hartford
seminaries in those days
were not - altogether at one, any more than were the cities
of New Haven and Hartford as joint capitals of theState~
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
77
and, as I thought I was coming among the Philistines, I determined to take with me my stalwart leader and spiritual
father in the seminary, Dr. Bacon, who was moderator of the
council.
I also prepared a carefully-written
statement, which
was a new departure then.
On that council were Dr. John
Todd of Pittsfield, Mass., son-in-law of Dr. Brace and who
preached the sermon; Dr., then only Rev., C. L. Goodell, of
New Britain, who gave a most felicitous charge to the people
in the course of which he admonished them to let me "go afishing," like Peter of old, if I wanted to, a thing I ha.d
never done in my life and had no thought of doing.
On the
council were also Rev. E. C. Jones of Southington,
who
made the ordaining prayer, and Rev. J. H. Twichell of Hartford, who gave the right hand,-my
still revered friends;
Revs. S. J. Andrews and N. C. Adams; also Revs. L. H. Hallock, the scribe, Wm. R. Eastman, and others of the churches and region around-the
whole making up a council tha.t
ought to have been competent to put any man into office !
Nor can I soon forget the charge to the pastor by Dr. Bacoll,
or that ordination dinner at Mr. Belden's, when Mrs. Todd
whispered in my ear, "Don't let them sell the parsonage!"
Here is a quotation from Dr. Todd's letter accepting the
invitation to preach the sermon:
Some days before you wrote, I was thinking over the question,
"Shall
I ever visit Newington again,-that
place associated with so many early and
dear memories?"
And I said to myself, "Probably
not, probably not.''
But my heart was so drawn that way that your request finds me more thaJJ.
half committed-so
(D. V.), I will endeavor to meet your wishes, and b e come acquainted with you at that time.
·
I congratulate you on going to that most lovely valley in Connecticut ,
among a very uncommon people, and a spot which the Spirit of God has so
often vii.ited that it seems like the garden of the Lord.
Go full of courag e
and hope, and feel that it's very little consequence where we are, as to usefulness and meeting the responsibilities
of life.
Dr. Todd's humor came out, also, in the council, when ,
with stern and unmoved face, but with a twinkle in his eye ,
he asked me, " Did you ever know a perfect man ?" " Not in.
Connecticut,"
I replied; "perhaps
he may live up in Massachusetts."
The doctor seemed satisfied.
What sacred scenes I recall a little later ! The first
Sunday of my pastorate, 24 precious converts were received
into the church, ranging themselves before the old pulpit, in
the unaltered audience room, or at least unaltered as it is
now, with only two aisles and body and wall pews. Many of
that number are still among you, active in the church life,
and their faces I love still to greet.
In my pile of papers is
,
�78
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES,
my first sermon that Sunday, as pastor,from the text, 1 John,
iii, 14: "Hereby
know we that we have passed from death
unto life, because we love the .brethren,"
and I remember
how I prized the warm commendation of the sermon, after it
was over, by Dea. L. S. Deming.
Then came the funeral of
good old Dea. Jedediah Deming, three days after that Sunday, when we gathered in this house, and I preached my
first funeral sermon, Mr. Aiken also assisting in the services.
What a help that patriarch deacon had baen in preparing the
converts for reception into the church, catching his death by
exposure in the work!
And, later, the stately Gen. Martin
Kellogg fell at the ripe old age of 87 years, public citizen in
the State, and respected by all. He also was brought into
this house to be buried, Mr. Aiken preaching the discourse
and myself assisting, and speaking a few words as I leaned
over and looked into that serene face before me. Often did I
talk with him on religious things.
He was a true Christian,
mistrusting
himself before God, yet, as he told me, having
family prayers, though in his mistrust not feeling worthy to
join the church.
Then came the third of September communion, following that first one in May, and 18 more were received into the
church, with the name of Katie Deming heading the list,
It was her father, then
which is among papers preserved.
Dea. L. S. Deming, who, by letters, also in my pile, kept me
informed. all winter of the progress of the revival, so that I
was enabled to shape my sermons accordingly.
That, too,
was the Sunday when I undertook my first baptism by immersion, done in the brook by Mr. Kirkham's,
just after
It had rained all night, the stream was
Sunday School.
swollen, and we found it difficult to secure a good standing
place. Whether it was that I was new to the business or was
not a born Baptist I cannot say, but somehow it was very
muddy there, and I found myself sinking deeper into the
mud all the while, until I could hardly move or stand either,
and came very near going under myself.
I would in no wise
belittle that sacred service; yet it was an induction into that
part of my duties I can never forget.
Then what a glorious Christmas tree we had, when the
church was trimmecl.,-the
first thing of the kind in the old
church,-and
some dear friends were afraid we were turning
Catholics.
And those nine young girls, hardly girls either, yet
hardly young Jadies,-standing
up and singing in front of the
pulpit, "We three kings of Ori~nt are,"-with
John Stoddard
playing the bass viol or violoncello, and his brother Hudson
�NEWINGTON,
CONNECTICUT,
1897.
79
also helping!
I can see them now-Alice,
Augusta, Nellie,
and all the rest, whom I thought then the best girls a minister ever had for parishioners.
Nor am I inclined to doubt it
now.
So it went. There was the festival in the tent for raising some church funds. when it rained all the while,-it
seemed to be a kind of wet season while I was there,-when
the minister lost his clothes basket he had brought some
things in, and looked all round for it, only to find at last that
Charles Atwood had appropriated it. It might be interesting if Mr. Atwood-it
was before he was deacon, I am glad
to say-would
read the poem he wrote upon the incident,
headed, " The Minister's Clothes Basket."
But we turn from these lighter scenes. Then were put
in office the three deacons who still uphold their pastor's hands
efficiently, faithfully, as his officers, Deacons Charles K. Atwood, Jedediah Deming, and Heman A. Whittlesey. 4 It was
not so easy securing them either, feeling as they did their
unworthiness
for the office. They wouldn't
accept the
office at first and declined to serve, until when, seeing the
church without deacons, and beholding their pastor's impatience, they at length came to his relief, and began that honorable service which still makes them the trusted leaders in
the same office. And · I want to say now, that those same
brethren never failed their young pastor, whenever, in his untried ardor, he went to them for counc;;el and help. They
stayed up his hands, as Aaron and Hur the hands of Moses,
and he owes them still an unpaid debt of gratitude.
There were others whose names come before me, sisters
as well as brothers, whose love was dear to me, and not all of"
whom are still here.
I recall the Willards, the Robbinses,
young David, the quiet hero, as it always seemed to me, as
well as his mother and uncles, the Kelloggs, the Beldens,
Mrs. Chauncey Deming, Mrs. Dea. Jedediah
Deming, sr.,
Aunt Hepsie Stoddard, good old Mr. and Mrs. Latimer, the
Rockwells, Wm. Kirkham
and wife, Joseph Francis, the
Browns, and so on to the end. Their bodies may be gone,
yet their presence is with us,-present
in the forms of those
who bear still their names, whom, known as their children, I
still esteem as friends,-present
in the same life and spirit of
the church, which makes us all one with the past, yet sharers
in the present and models for the future.
Soon came to me the call away.
But the church of my
first love still remained to win for itself a yet more successful record.
For as I look at this old house in its tasteful
�80
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH
ANNIVERSARIES ,
modern setting, and se13this host of young people, strangers
almost to me, save as I see their fathers' or mothers' eyes
beaming through their own, and remember your effective
labors, your more than $1,000 benevolence list in this year
book, and see your activities in Christian Endeavor and Sunday school work, I feel that it is no decrepit and worn-out
past that is yours, but that you were never so well equipped
£or service as to-day.
I stood once in the quiet cemetery just back of us, and
read the inscription upon Dr. Brace's monument, so beautifully referred to by Dea. L. S. Deming, "A good minister of
Jesus Christ," and I said, "Let that be my motto, and let me
live and die like him, a worthy exemplar of my Master and a
help to my kind."
This inspiration
I drank in from the
beginning here in my ministry.
Here affection still turns.
Here I brought my young wife whom you took so warmly to
your hearts.
A certain romance, the romance of youth, gilds
£or me the memory of this old place. As to-day I saw the
forms moving slower and the lines deepening in the faces of
those who were in their prime when I first came, a certain
sadness came over me, and I felt that indeed the ties of earth
must soon break.
Yet while these guides and companions
of our lives still linger with us, we may cherish them and
write their virtues in our own lives.
This feeling comes
afresh to me at this hour,-still
to repeat in our living that
of those who once wrought and toiled, and here fell
asleep in Jesus.
Wherever my steps may turn, still will the
memory of this my first pastorate remain fresh and green.
And when my closing hour here below shall come, and the
light of earth grow dim upon my sight, I would yet in my
fading thoughts breathe a prayer £or the church and parish
of my early love and choice,-dear
old Newington.
•'
r
�Old Officers
Deacons
of
the
Congregational
Church.
CHURCH ORGANIZED OCTOBER 3,
Birth
July 25, 1679
Electe,\
Nan1es
John Deming
Oct.
3, 1722
Newington.
1722.
Term Ended
May
Remarks
1, 1761
Died
Mar.14, 1675 Jabez Whittlesey
Feb.IO, 1691 Josiah Willard
Dec.11, 1707 Joshua Andrus
Dec, 25, 1711 John Camp
Aug 19, 1736 Elisha Stoddard
Dec . 31, 1723 Charles Churchill
Feb. IO, 1748 James Wells
Apr. 7, 1753 Daniel Willard
Aug. 27, 1772 Levi Deming
May 6, 1783 Origen Wells
Sept. 7, 1790 Jedediah Deming
July 27, 1787 Jeremiah Seymour
Mar. 19, 1822 Rufus Stoddard
1726
1744
Apr. 20, 1757
July 2, 1761
Aug.14, 1782
Aug.31, 1786
Aug. 5, 1790
Feb. 24, 1803
Oct. 29, 1818
Oct. 29, 1818
July 1, 1847
Nov.29, 1847
May 3, 1867
1744 { ::~f;!_d
Mar. 9, 1757 Died
Apr. 25, 1786 Died
July 27, 1782 Died
July 2, 17!10 Died
Oct . 29, 1802 Died
Oct. 29, 1818 Resigned
Jan. 16, 1817 Died
Jan. 1, 1847 Died
Nov.29, 1847 Resigned
May 4, 1868 Died
Apr. 1, 1867 Died
Jan. 30, 1870 Di«"d
Oct.
Mar.
Dec.
Oct.
Mar.
May
F1Jb.
Mar.
Mar
Jan.
Apr.
23,
15,
24,
25,
7,
1817
1820
1820
1823
1829
Levi S. Deming ·
Jedediah Deming
Charles K. Atwood
HemanA. Whittlesey
Roger Welles
Congregational
Mar.
Sunday
3, 1867
6, 1870
6, 1870
6, 1870
9, 1896
School.
ESTABLISHED JUNE '20,
1869 {
to
~!~J
1:~i;~
Newington.
1819.
Superintendents.
Term
Year
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
Year
Years
Years
Years
7 Years
1
13
5
4
4
11
1
5
4
4
Names
Dea. Levi Deming
Daniel Willard
William Deming
Dea. Origen Wells
Dea. Jedediah Deming
Dea. Levi S. Deming
Marcus W. Stoddard
Dea. Charles K. Atwood
Joseph J. Francis
Roger Well es
John S. Kirkham
Joshua Belden
Elected
1820
1821
1834
1839
1843
1847
1858
1859
1864
Dec. 31, 1868
Jan.
4, 1873
Jan.
2, 1880
NOTE- The dates prior to 1858 in the above list are approximate
instances, but are believed to be substantially correct.
End of Term
1821 1834
1839
1843
1847
1858
1859
1864
Dec. 31, 1868
Jan.
4, 1873
Jan.
2, 1880
only in se,e~·al
�Treasurers
of the
Newington
SOCIETY
Term
9
22
8
16
9
14
19
28
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
YPars
Years
Years
28
35
7
16
9
30
1
3
2
10
3
7
20
7
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
Year
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
Years
INCORPORATED
MAY,
Names
of
the
Dec. 5, 1748
June 26, 1757
Dec. 6, 1779
Dec. 3, 1787
Feb. 7, 1803
Nov. 2, 1812
April 3, 1826
Nov. 4, 1845
Nov. 4, 1873
Ecclesiastical
Names
Josiah Willard
Robert Wells
Josiah Willard
Daniel Willard, Jr.
James Wells, Jr.
William Deming
John M. Belden
William Kirkham
Jedediah Deming, Jr.
Edwin Welles
John G. Stoddard
Heman A. Whittlesey
Roger Welles
Henry L. Kellogg, Jr.
Joseph W. Camp
5,
3,
6,
19,
6,
4,
2,
1,
4,
2,
3,
6,
5,
24,
12,
Term Ended
Mar. 9, 1757
Dec. 6, 1779
Dec.
3, 1787
Feb.
7, 1803
Nov. 2, 1812
Feb. 21, 1826
Nov. 4, 1845
Nov. 4, 1873
Society.
Elected
April
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Dec.
Nov.
Nov.
OtJt.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Nov.
Oct.
Nov.
Society.
1713.
Elected
Josiah Willard
Robert Wells
Josiah Willard
David Lowrey
Levi Lusk
Amos Andrus
Roger Welles
John M. Belden
Joshua Belden
Clerks
Term
Ecclesiastical
1716
1744
1779
1786
1802
1811
1841
1842
1845
1847
1857
1860
1867
1887
1894
Term Ended
Dec. 3, 1_744
Dec. 6, 1779
Dec. 19, 1786
Dec. 6, 1802
Nov. 4, 1811
Nov. 2, 1841
Oct.
1, 1842
Nov. 4, 1845
Nov
2, 1847
Nov. 3, 1857
Nov. 6, 1860
Nov. 5, 1867
Oct. 24, 1887
Nov. 12, 1894
��
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37d53c9c-6c64-467a-a7d9-7d413a8d8208
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<a href="https://cscu-wcsu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01CSCU_NETWORK_ALMA7186001830003451&context=L&vid=WCSU_V1&search_scope=WCSU&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US">Link to Primo record</a>
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Title
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Church of Christ, Newington, Conn. celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the church building and the 175th anniversary of the organization of the church, on October 2 and 3, 1897
Identifier
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F104.N54 C48 1897
34023001507625
Description
An account of the resource
90 p. : ill. 23 cm
Subject
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Church of Christ (Newington, Conn.) -- Anniversaries, etc
Newington (Conn.) -- History
Abstract
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The church was establised in 1722. This volume traces the history of the church to 1897 and includes biographies of its pastors during that period.
Publisher
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[Newington, Conn. : The Church, ]
Creator
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Date
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1897
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
bb3e243a-dd6b-4255-921b-5c1a7e1aa991
Connecticut Churches
CT Room rare
Rare books
-
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Rare Books
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Title
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Three hundred Aesop's fables / Literally translated from the Greek, by George Fyler Townsend, M.A with one hundred and fourteen illustrations, designed by Harrison Weir and engraved by J. Greenaway
Identifier
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b29208348
PA3855.E5
Description
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xxxii, 224 p. : ill. 19 cm
Subject
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Conduct of life -- Juvenile fiction
Animals -- Juvenile fiction
Children's stories. lcgft
Fables. lcgft
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
A collection of <strong><em>Aesop's Fables,</em></strong><em> </em>published in 1867.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>Reverend George Fyler Townsend</strong> (1814-1900) was the translator of the standard English edition of Aesop's Fables<br /><br /><a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fyler_Townsend" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fyler_Townsend">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fyler_Townsend<br /><br /></a> Illustrated by Harrison Weir <br /> <a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Weir" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Weir">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Weir<br /><br /></a>
Rare copy 1: Gift of the estate of Josephine McCall Meade
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
London New York : George Routledge and Sons, 1867
Creator
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IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
405e081f-abff-4e24-a6b4-83144b9f6acf
Rare books
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PDF Text
Text
J)e.~.
28 ,
J8' 9CJ
of -the
G-os;~eV)
CoY'lts•
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�"LLETIN,
WEDNESDAY,
.DEO.
}
27,
I
GOSHEN
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH.
Dedication
Service Set for Thursday, Dec.
The Order of Exercises.
28th-The
The dedication
Rervice of the Goshen f A ""ord from the Mother Church ....
(Lebanon)
Congre~ational
church will
......
·.;_Rev. Stephen Smith, Lebano~
take plact> on •.r1mrsday the 28th inst. <;_olumb1« ......•..•..
. Rev. J. P. I-Iarve-y
Foll
•
th
J<.,xetcr ..••••••••••••••.••
Rev. D. J. Bliss
1
owing s
e order of exercises: ,
A former pastor, .. Rev. Q. :M. Bosworth
Morning Service, 10.30 O'clock.
A former pastor •... Rev. F. P. Bacheler
Organ Prelude.
Colchester .....••..•..
Rev. E. C. Ingalls
Doxology.
Salem ...........••...
Rev. C. B. McLean
Invocation
and Lord's Prayer........
, Franklin .. ., ...........
Rev. H. E. Hart
· • • •· ..............
Rev. Stephen Smith First Church, Norwieh ...•••.•....•••.
Hymn No. 96--"Holy, Holy, Holy Lon~.
. ..................
Rev. C. A. Nol'throp
God Almighty!"
Second Church, Norwich ............
.
Scripture Reading.Rev.
C. A. Northrop
....................
Rev. C. W. Morrow
Anthem-·'How
lovely are thy dwellBroadway
Church, Norwich ........
..
ings".. . . . . . ............
W. O. Perkins
...................
Rev. L. Pratt, D. D.
Words of "\Velcome ...•... By the Pastor
Greeneville,
Norwich .....•.•.......••
Historical
Review.By
Rev. John Avery
....................
Rev. C.H. Ricketts
Prayer of D~ication...
.. . .. . .. . .. . ..
Lebanon
Baptist Church ..•••.....••..
..... ...... Rev. vVm. S. Palmer, D. D.
. ...........•........
Rev. R. E. Turner
Hymn 760--"0 Thou, whose own vast
be the tie tha.t
Hymn No. 824-"Bletit
temple stands."
binds."
Sermon .... Rev. Samuel H. Howe, D. D.
Benediction.
Hymn 757-•'0,
Where are kings and
Organ Postlude.
empires now."
Rev. Marcus Burr ts pastor of the
Benediction.
church, and Charles Taylor, Jr., clerk.
Organ Postlude.
The deacons are
James Y. ThOlllas,
12 M. to 2 P. M., Social hour, during
The bUtlding com·which all will be served with a. col- Wm. W. Gillette.
mittee
comprised
Wm.
G. Tho!Jlas,
lation.
'\Vm. H. Geer and .TamP.s A. Randall.
Afternoon
Service, 2 O'clock.
The architect
was Chas. H. Preston.
Organ Prelude.
Norw!r.h:
the mason,
E. Fox, WllllSinging-"Coronation"
.......
Hymn 329 mantic;
carpenter,
J. H. King, Frank-•
Responsive
Reading-Page
4.
!in.
Thc carpets
were furnished
by
Prayer ...•..........
Rev. C. W. Morrow Porteous & Mitchell, Norwich, and the
Singing.
seating by the Grand Rapids Furniture
C'o ., Grand
Rapids, Mich.
The pulpit
Short Address from Representatives
Qf furniture
ls that saved from the church
Churches in the Vicinage:
by fire.
destroyed
�_____________ ____ _ _ _ __-,;--
_:__
\
\
OLO
CHURCH
BUILT
IN
1852.
�NOR,VICH
BULLETIN,
FRIDAY,
DEDICATION
EXERCISES
Of Congr egatio n al Chur ch at Goshen on Thursday-In.
teresting Prog ramme Carried Out.
The dedication
exercises
of the new
Congregational
church at Goshen took
place in the church edifice on Thursday beginning in the forenoon and continuing through the afternoon.
Th e attendance ·was very large a nd includ e d
l ---'6.c:.-
---- ---·-·-·---
- ----·
many
visitors,
several
bei _ng presen:t
from this city. The handsome new edi•
flee was bu!lt by William
King from
plans by C. H. Preston and the supervision of the work was done by Wil-1
liam H. Geer chairman
of the building
'l'he building ls modern in
committee.
--
dress.
The Rev. John Avery of Norwich followed with an interesting
his tor ical address
describing
the growth
of the society from its inception in 1731
to th e present
time and referring
to
the church buildings it has occupied of
which the p rese nt is the fourth.
---
-
every respec t and admirably
suited to
the wants of the society.
The exercises
began at 10.30 o'clock
the opening prayer being made by Rev.
Stephen Smith of Nia n tic.
The Chas.
A. Northrop
of the First church of this
city read a passage
of Scripture
and
after the anthem by the choir the pastor, the Rev. Marcus
Burr welco •med
the visitors in a brier but pleasing ad-
I
The prayer
of de di cation was made
by the Rev. William S. Pa .lmer, D. D.,
of this city and the sermon, a scholarly discourse, was delivered by the Rev.
S. H. Howe, D. D., pastor
of Park
church of Norwich.
The benediction
closed the morning's
exercises.
The visitors were entertained
at noon
by a collection served by the ladies of
the church .
The
afternoon
session
opened with a responsive
followed b y
prayer b y the Rev. C. W. Morrow of j
the Second church of this city.
The
remainder
of the afternoon
was taken I
up with greetings
frov:i the
various
Connec- 1
churches
throughout
Eastern
ticut inclucling all tho~e in this city.
I
�lN.
2,
1900 .
HISTORICA
L. ADDRESS
I
Delivared
B y R ev . Joh n A v ery at Dedic ati on o f Con~
.
.
gragation al Church
in Goshen (L ebanon.)
At the d ed ication of the new Congredained in this place a.t the same time
gationa ! church
at Goshen
(Lebanon)
that the church was organized,
Nov emon Thursday
the 28th ult, the historical
ber 26th, 1729. While living in Exeter
di~J:;ourse was delivered
by the Rev. 30 or 40 years ago, in a sort of acciof a
John Avery of Norwich,
a form er pasdental way I came into possession
tor, who, in the course of his address
journal which h e kept through
a. large
said:
"This church was organized
No- part of his life. The writ ing was very
rtne, and very much obliterat ed by age;
vember 26th, 1729-170 years ago. Previous to that date the people in those
but with the help of another
I sueportions
of the town included
in the ceeded in deciphering
large portions
of
present
parishes
of Goshen
and Ex- it, which I copied, and have preserved.
brought
to
eter were accustomed
to worship w ith Some of the facts thus
, the first church in Lebanon, which was light I shall use on the present
occaorganized
in 1700. Settlers in considersion.
able numbers
had located
in the re"It is very evident from this journal
gion some four or five years before the that Mr. Eliot ,vas a keen obs erver of
forP.1a 1ion of the first
chur.::h,
aboat
men and things, and a pretty thorough1695. And grants
of land had be e.n going man in everything
to wh ich be
made quite a number
of years earlier
laid his hand . Evidently
he did not
still. The first grant was of a tra ct ly- hold himself aloof from his people; but
ing within the present
bounds of this mingled
freely with them in all
th;:,
parish, to Capt . John Mason, the fa- varied relations
of life, and did much
: mous conqueror
of the Pequot Indians.
to promote the temporal
as well as the
1
This grant was made in 1663. By 1729 spiritual
welfare of his parishioners.
there were people enough living in this
' section to support
a church;
and th e CON:F'ORTED
TO LOCAL CUSTOMS.
distance
which
many of them
were
"Of co u rse
he lived in accordance
obliged to travel
on the Sabbath
to with the customs of his times, and did
reach the place of worship rendered
it many
th ings which would hardly
be ·
highly desirable
that a church should
tolerated
i n a minister
of the gospel in
be esta b lis h ed in th is part of the town.
our day; e . g ., he stored away in his eel Accordi n gly the needful
preliminary
Jar every a u tumn q u ite a nu mber of
or- barrels of cider, to be used a s a beversteps were taken, and the church
g-anizPd as above stated.
It consisted
age in the family.
A porti on of th?
grain raised on his farm was annually '
at fir,;,t of a colony of 29 male members
for the first churc h, and in the followconverted into malt liquor;
an d stronger
ing year (17:)0) 5G wornen were received
liquors,
too, than cide r or malt
were
'The first house or pretty freely used by the fam il y.
ln
into membership.
wors h ip was on Goshen Hill, standing
accordance
with the
cu stoms of the
in the lot that li es across the read, off times, he was the
owner
of negro
north-east
of the present school- ·house.
slaves, and
from
time
to time he
large,
two- bought and sold slaves just as other
T'he minist e r's hous e-a
story, gambre l-r oofed structure,
which
people about him were wont to do. Nat many of you r emember,
stood
off
north -west of t he se:hool hous e. Th e urally enough, we find this entry in his
minister's
far m -whic h was
probably
journal:
"March
7, 1745, I bought 3CO
given him as a settlement-lay
in the acres of land in Ashfor d of Mr. Avery
immediate
vicin ity of the parsonag ·e.
(another
minister,
by t h e way, pastor
The first min is ter was Re v . Jacob
of the church rn Mor lake, now BrookEliot, of Boston, where he was born in lyn), paid for the same my watch, my
the year 1700. He was a grandson
of negroes and £100 in money, to be paid
two years from date, which witnes!!,"
Jacob Eliot, a P u ritan emigrant
from
in 1631: and a grand -nephew
et?. What was done by Mr. ~Iiot in
England,
cf Rev . J ohn Eliot, t h e famous mi::;sinll• this mat t er of slavery
was quite gen ar:· te t h e Indians.
Mr. Eliot was pa.du - erally done by the we ll -to -do people of
New
England
ated at Harvard
in 1720. He was or- I that day, all through
�I
even, as well as in the southern
state;;.
ituality
was fast
dying . out in
the
There
was nothing
at all more disrepchurch.
this . downward
tendency
in
utable
in the owning
of slaves,
or in
•·Against
their
buying
and selling,
than
there
the things
of religion,
Edwards,
Whitc>was in the owning
of horses
arid oxen
field and others
uttered
ti1nely and efwarnings;
and when
the reacand cows, and the buying
and selling of feclual
the same.
Lion took place very decided
and ,nest
oflen
speaks
in his jourdesirab-le
results
were in due time real"Mr. Eliot
, nal
of visiting
his people,
and receivized.
But: there
·was a good deal
of
1 ing
visits
from them.
T ·he visits
made
violent
friction - in - the process.
Those
by him are frequently
in connection
[ who sought
for a higher
degree
of
and claiµ1ed
to have
obwith sickness;
and in such cases he was · spirituality,
rnuch in the habit
of praying
with the tained
it. were often carried
to unwarhe also
conversed
rantable
extremes
in giving
demonstraafflicted.
Whether
with
them. on spiritual
things
is not
Lions of th,~ir own
high
attainment:o
-,
very
apparent.
Indeed,
he
seldom
and proclaimed
the lack
of such
atgives us any hint of the peculiar
relig-- tainments
in others.
l\Iany things
were
ious experiences
o~s
parishioners,
or said and done by then1 ·which savored
of
his own · experit:nces
in spiritual
more of fanaticism
than ot genuine
t;ethtngs.
Occasionally,
however,
we have
ligion . Nunierous
proofs
of this right
1
a record
which
is very
decisive,
and
here in Goshen
and 'Exeter
were
preI withal very interesting.
'l'he following
sented
during
Mr. Eliot·s
ministry.
His
'! is an
illustration:
journal
1nakes
repe.1.ted
sLatcments
in
Urfier date of October
9th, 1757, after
confirmation
of this.
On a loose scrap
' naming
the text
that
he
preached
of paper
preserved
in his journal
he
fn,m, he adds:
"God hu1nbled ine before
writes
out a son1ewhat
lengthy
chapter
in taking
away
my
of 'Remarkables
in
Ti1ne
of
Kew ,
the congregatir•n,
rnemoiy,
that
l could
not
pronounce
Light.'
Jn it he speaks
of these
New
the blessing,
to let me see and know . Light
people
as
rema1n1ng
in
the
sinful
creature
I am;
to show
church
on tne Sabbath
singing
and exwhat
rne that I am of like passions
and in- horting
after
public service
was .close cl;
firmities
with others,
and to hide pride
of their being affected
with trances
and
from
me.
Oh, that
it may
have
this
extrao ,rdinary
fits, jl.J.mping
up at fu 1 1
blessed
effect upon me!"
length;
of their
pretending
to read
in
that the dev;1
Evidently
the church
prospered
very
the dark;
of their clainis
much
under
Mr. Eliot ' s ministry.
As had appeared
in Colchester;
of one l\fr.
your
church
manual
infonns
you, 350 Denison
laying
his hand
upon a man·s
were added
to its men1bership
during
head, and the rnan falling
down appar: ently
dead n,t his feet for a while .: of
the thirty-six
years
that
his
labors
in the place-an
averone of his own parishioners
telling
him
, were continued
age of nearly
ten a year.
audibly
before many that he (Mr. Eliot)
S
wa.s an opposer
of the works of God an:1
1 GREAT
SPIRITUAL
COMMOTION
. of the kingdom
of Jesus
Christ,
aurl
l "But though
there
was a steady
in- knew in his own consciousn.ess
that
it
crease in numbers,
and not a little out•was so, and that there
never
was such
1 ward
prosperity,
there
,vas,
during
a a pope in the wo,·ld.
1
portion
of the period
under
review,
"Th,:, Separate
Movement
and
the
unHalf- '\Vay Covenanters'
plan
had
not
great
spiritual
commotions-often
happy
comm.otions,
ir,. the community.
entirely
passed
by when
Mr. Eliot's
-The great
awskening,
in which
Edworl<: was brought
to a close
by his
,vards
and '\-Vhitefield
were
conspicusickness
and death.
He died April 12th,
ous, began
before
Mr. Eliot
had been
1766, and he sleeps
in yonder
ce1netery,
here many
years;
and this parish,
as an,ong
the people
to whom
he had s ·o
well as a ,lmost every other in this part
long ministered.
of the country,
was powerfuly
affected
LOY AL TO THE
KING.
to this awakening
the
by it. Previous
churches,
or many
of them,
at least,
"Through
the whole
of Mr. Eliot's
had lapsed
into
a sort
of
spiritual
ministry
Connecticut
was a colony
of
subject
and loyal to the
apathy.
The outward
forms
of religion
Great
Britain,
were
usurping
the place
of its spirit
King
of England.
She bore her part
and its power.
'l'he half-,»a.y
covenant
, in the Colonial
wars
of that
period.
Quite a number
of · young men fro1n the
plan,
which
allowed
persons
of fair
character,
without
becoming
parish
fought
In those wars,
and some
moral
n1embers
of the church,
to present
their
of them
laid down
their
lives
in the
some ' service.
children
for
1:aptism,
and
in
churches,
the Lebanon
first, for exam"Mr. Eliot's
successor
was Rev. Timcare of the Rev. 1 othy Stone, a native
of Guilford,
when,
p]e, under
the pastora,l
Solomon
Williams,
to partake
of comhe was horn July
2'.{ (0. S.) 1742. He
was gra,duated
with hono-r at Y;:i,le colmunion,
this
plan
had been
widely
l adopted.
One result
was that all spir-1 Iege in 1763.
He experienced
religjoh
I
a
I
I
1
�while in college
and was llcensed
t0 Sabbath
school
connected
with
this
association
church was establlshed.
It has been in
preach
by the !,ew Haven
He
came
to Goshen
whn~
existence
a little over SO years.
Durin 1'7ll:i.
things
wer e in a very unsettled
condiing his pastorate,
also, there was erec tt:on.
'.rhe
IIalf-"\Vay
Covenanters'
ed upon t.he spot where
are no"\\· asI plan,
to which lvir. Ston e was opposed',
sern.bled
the sanctuary
which
"·as
i had it:; friends and advo cates among burned in May, '98, and whose place is l
the people.
vVors e than this, 'An un- supplied
by this beautiful
edifice, which /
lj principled
and
w0rlhless
fellow'
(I we are to dedicate
today.
The buil ding ,
quote
from
Sprague's
Annals
of the of that church
was be gun in lSOl, and/
Pulpit)
'had obtruded
himit was completed
in the year following _!
1 American
self upon the parish,
and· by preaching
"In a little more than
a year after
extempore
sermons
each one of which
the death
of Mr. vVilliam
B. Ripley, 1i
was stolen,
had caused the tide of feel:
Mr. Erastus
Ripley was installed
as his 1
ing temporarily
to run in
his favo ,r. successor , SeptembPr
24th, 1823. Dur- \
His
character
ultimately
became
ing the very first year
of his settle known.
and he was obliged
to leave;
m.e nt no less than 32 p~rsons we1·e added to the n-.emb ersh ip of the church;
·
but he was the occasion
of introducing
serious
division
into the parish.'
and in another
s ingle year, towa1 ·ds the [
"Mr. Stone, after preaching
here as a close of his residence
in ihe place, 25
candidate
for eight or nine months,
re- , were added.
In all about 100 w ere addceived a unanimous
call, and ,vas or- ed during
his pastorate
of a li t tl e over
dained
Sept.
30th, 1769.
Rev. Amos
eight years.
Aft.er leaving
Goshen Mr.
Fowler,
his pastor
in Guilford,
preachRipley supplied
the pulpit in Montville
ed the sermon,
and the Rev. Solomon
about
two years.
He died in Meriden
Williams
of Lebanon,
whose
daughter
in 1843, aged 73.
he was about
to
1narry,
gave
th<- 1 "H is predecessors
died in this place
charge.
and he ·re they lie buried.
For more
CHDRCH
IN EXETIDR
FORMED.
than three years after the dismissal
of
set"Only about four years after his set- p,Ir. Ripley the church was without
tled pastor.
During
the greater
part
tlement
the people in Exeter-who
were
of the time the pulpit was occupied
by
known here at that time as the "NorthCone.
His labors
were
Enders.''
withdrew;
and the church
in Rev . Salmon
cut short by his death w hich occurred
was· formed
in 1773. The prinExeter
March
24th, 1834. He
cipal thing which caused
a division
of here in Goshen
feeling,
and reimlted
at length
in the was buried in Colchester.
"In a little
more than a year fro1n
separation,
was
the
location
of the
this date Mr. Israel T. Otis,
native of
house of worship.
The center of · trave1
was ordained
as the fifth
in the parish,
as originally
constitut ed, Colchester,
pastor
of the c hurch,
and had a us eful
was found by actual
survey
to be just
pastorate
of nearly
nine
1 west
of Goshen
Hill,
near
the first and happy
house you come to in going westward
After leaving
Goshen
Mr. Otis
down Goshen
Hill.
The Exeter
people , yearsd
fo -r a tiine as chaplain
in the
wished the church
to be loca~ed there;
~~~t!ct Stat es navy.
He was married
r,re_ferred
to while
living
in Goshen
to Olive
M.,
but t?e Gos~1en pe~ple
have 1t 11emam on_ Goshen Hill._ ('-s the daughter
of Dr. Chades
Osgood, of this
Tl 1e f.r u1·t s of thi·s marria=e .,
matter
has s01net1me f been h"
put. th In ..,go-. p 1ace.
, •
1
1ng· to their• pace
o ,vors IP
e .c-xth
d ih e dau~hters
et~r folks
were
unwilling
to go
up ,Mvereot· . rede dso;'ts Ea~ete1· rNe H in 188S'
1
G
'-'h
f
lk
t r.
1s
1e
a
.
th
0
Goshen
~il.';
a nd
~~ en
aged nearly 84. Mrs. Otis 1s still living.
e
A son of theirs
is a profes::or
in Harwere unw1llmg
io g~ down Go_shei: Hill.
l Hence
the separat1~11
was ~nev1table. , vard.
There was great exc1te n1ent 111 connecBU ILDING
MODERNIZED.
' tion with this separation,
but Mr. Stone \
kept cool, and conducted
himself
so
lVIr. Joshua
R. Brown,
a native
of
judiciously
as tc• retain
the respect and Stoningt on, born in 1812, a graduate
of
esteem
of both the opposing
parties.
Yal e, was 01 -dain.:d as the next pastor
The people in Exeter
were always
willin J845 and rernained
until 1852. Near
ing to have him exchange
wi th thefr
the close of his ministry
the question
minister.
came up whether
the
chu1·ch
edifi _e,
repairs,
should
be reno"Mr. Stone died on May 12th, 1797. ,vhich needed
His ministry
brings the parish down lo vated,
or a new one built on Goshen
the close of the 18th century.
His im- Hill.
Th'}
first
plan
was
decider l
succ~ssor
was the Rev. Wil- upon and the building
was modernized,
mediate
Jiam D. Ripley,
a native
of Greene 's and put in excellent
condition.
in the
Fairyear 1852, fifty y ea rs aft<cr its erection.
Farms,
in the town of vVestport,
field county,
a graduate
of Ya!e, a nd a After !eavin~· her e Mr . Brown
lived in
member
of the Yale corporation
fr?m I Longmeado;
Mass., until his death in
th
1817 to the iime of his dea
. Durmg
1S58, at the age of 46. Mr. Sterry.
a
probably
about
1818, thr:, I
his ministry,
I
1
a
°.
A
•
•
.,
,
I
�Jame man, unable to walk. then supplied the pulpit very acceptably
for several months."
settled
in
"The Rev. E. "\V. Tucker,
1853, the Rev. A. R. Livermore,
pastor
during the years of the civil war. Daniel B. Lo,rd, ordained
to the pastorate
Oct. 15th. 18G8, and for \Yhose use the
\Yas built, and who
present
parsonage
died in '\,\'est Hartford
in 1892; the Rev.
Quincy
M. Bosworth
who came from
work the same year
Ohio and began
who spent
that :\fr. Lord !eft-1877-and
five us ,[ul and fruitful
yea· s in the
parish, were refe,rred to by Mr. Avery,
·who gaYe a most interesting
account of
their different
pastorates.
Concerning
the last-named
pastor Mr. Avery said:
wrote me not Jon,~ since
"Mr·. Bcsworth
that he had always regarded
his pastorate in Goshen as one of the p! ea santest
that he had ever ha<'I. Aft e r leaving
here he laborer! several
ye>t!'S in Bozrah and f.Pveral n1ore in Lls1)on.
A~
a retired
pastor
he has taken uo his
residence
in Bozr'lh.'
For two or three years Rfter Mr. Bosworth's
departure
th e pulpit was supand
plied by the Rev. R. P. Stanton
o1hers: then the Rev. "\Vi1liam Ho,Yard
came to liYe in the parsonage.
He began his labors ii1 'S,i a·1d closed the n
in '86. Mr . Hn,,·ard
has in late years
labor ed i!1 StaffordYil!e,
l:nion
and in
North Guilford ,
1
""rhe ne':.t 11"'il"'lisl er
1.,·110 C'ftn1e
to
Goshen." sai<l. .&fr. AYerv , "'~xas the Rev.
Francis
P. Ba•~~Peler. {"'dncate--1 at Y ;t]P ,
and whose earlier
ministerial
labo,·s
Fla.. \\·here he w a s
"·ere in Philips.
ordained
Feb. eth, 1888. His labor s in
the parish ,yere beg1Jn in '8~ 'J•1'l ended in '92. He became gre2ctly interested
in the people and the, peou!e in him.
Havir.g rece:,•0(1 a call in '92 to Hickanum. he mov ed thithPr, and there, wit h
marked
tol,ens of divine fa,·or. r>e conBetwe~n
tinues to prosecute
his work.
, the go ,ing of J\fr. Baeheler
a n<l the c0ming of Mr. Burr, I supplied the pulpit a
It was
more o·r less.
1dozen Sabbaths,
, very pleasant
for me to ren ew my ac1 quaintances
with the people whom I
had known quite well in the early por1
tion of my ministry.
but from whom I
had been for the most part se p aratefl
for some tw enty years.
"The present
pastor,
Rev.
Mar<'lll'l"
Burr. was graduated
at the Reform~rt ·
'l.'heological
seminary,
Ne,Y Brunswick,
ministering
to
N. J.. in 1Rfi2. After
churches
in Long Island and in Easton
and Soulh Glastonbury,
Conn., h E' came
to Gosh en in '94. and has b~en with
you, and deeply sympathized
with yQU,
in the great
trial you experienced
in
the loss of your church by fire, and In
your efforts to erect this new house of
worship.
He has been intimat e ly associated with you in your sorrow · and in
your joy."
reYie,'" of
After a comprehensiye
political,
religious
and s 0 cial hi,d.o~y
I the town, Mr. Avery said: "Surely,
who has blessed you so richly in
past will continue
to bl e~s you in
future.
If you are faithful
and true
Him , He will be faithful
and true
you:• ·
the
of
He
the
the
to
to
�
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Title
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Dedication services of the Goshen Cong. Church, Goshen, Conn. from Norwich Bulletin Dec. 28 1899
Identifier
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F104.G6 N67 1899
34023001507492
Description
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[6]p. 24 cm
Subject
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Congregational Church (Goshen, Conn.) -- History
Congregational Church (Goshen, Conn.) -- Anniversaries, etc
Congregational churches -- Connecticut -- Goshen
Goshen (Conn.) -- Church history
Goshen (Conn. : Town) -- Church history
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
<br /><strong>Goshen</strong><span> is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut. During the 18th century,<span>Goshen was a farming, and later, prosperous business community. The town manufactured musket rifles during the American Revolution.</span></span><br /><br /><br />The church in Goshen Congregational Church is a daughter church from the first church in Lebanon, and was organized Nov. 26th, A.D. 1729. The people living in the south part of the community wished to form a new church as they “thought it would be for the best good of Christ’s Kingdom.”<br /><br /><a title="http://goshenchurchct.com/about/history/" href="http://goshenchurchct.com/about/history/">http://goshenchurchct.com/about/history/<br /><br /><br /></a><em><strong>The Bulletin</strong></em> is a daily newspaper covering eastern Connecticut, based in the city of Norwich The newspaper has been in continuous publication since 1796.
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
[S.l. : s.n., 1899]
Creator
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IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
785788b7-ce82-4728-bff8-ffe650a37546
Connecticut Churches
CT Room rare
Rare books
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https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2248/F104_M2_C66_1910.pdf
635673317a3f482e351d2ddc10866ac3
PDF Text
Text
l~
SJariual
of tq.t
{longregational flhnrch
ilhmsfitlh Q!ruter,Q!nuu.
+
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of tqr
~attnftdh illrutrr, illotttt.,1ttit4
a fh;hdortral~ltdr4 auh moll
of ~rmhrrn, from Un ®rgautiattou to t4r prrnrut ttmr. :.
[1875]
filrutsrh HUD
The Hall & Bill Printing
Company,
\\'illimantic , Conn.,
��Historical Sketch.
The town of Mansfield was originally a part of Windham.
It w~s incorporated as a separate town in l\Iay, r 703.
Settlements began here as early as 1697. The first families
were principally from Massachusetts.
It is said that Plymouth , Lynn, Medfield, Barn~table, l\Iarlborough,
and Milford were represented.
Other families were from Norwich,
Conn.
The inhabitants began as early as A. D ., r 700, to look for a
"minister to dispense to them the gospel," and liberal provision was made for his encouragement
to settle with them.
Ther e was an allotment of r,ooo acres of land, and offers of
assistance in clearing a farm and aid in "bui lding a ministerial hou se." In A. D., 1700 a l\Ir. Smith, whose christian
nam e is not recorded, was invited to become their minister.
In 17 01 application was made to Mr. Oxenbridge Thacher, ,i
son of Rev. Peter Thacher, of Milford, Mass., ''to carry on
the work of the Gospel Ministry" among them,
Finally in
1706, l\fr. Thacher received.a formal ca ll to settle, with the
offer of.,{40 a year, and two days work by each man in town.
The call was seYeral times renewed w_ith an increase of salary.
Mr . Thach er became a resident, and probably officia ted as a
stated minister until the settlement of the first pastor.
In the
mean time, Thomas Huntington
and Azariah Mather were
invited to the work of the ministry.
When l\Ir. Thacher
came , the proprietors contracted with a family "to diet " him
for 3s. 6d. a week, and his man for a less sum.
He died in
1772 at the age of 9 2 years.
Thomas Huntington was one of
3
�the original proprietors of the town, and probably he, or a
son of the same name was called to the m1n1stry. Azariah
Mather was pastor in Old Saybrook from 171 0 to 1732, and
died in 1737.
' The first Co ngregati ona l Church _" as organized October 1 S,
0. S. (29 N. S. ), 1710, with Rev. E leazer \Villiams as pastor.
Previous to that time, the ecclesiastical
c0nnect10 n of the
se ttlers was with the Church in Windham.
The orig inal m em bers entered into covenant by signing a Con fess ion o f Faith ,
which, with the covenant is still preserved, as copied fro m th e
records by Rev. Richard Salter.
The names of the origi nal
members ar e: Eleazer William s, Sh ub ae l Dimmock,
J oseph
Hall, William Hall, Samuel Storrs, Thomas
Huntin gton,
Benjamin H all, John Sargent, Samuel Stetson, I saac Hall.
• The town of Mansfield was divided int o t,rn incorp orated
ecclesiastical societies called the North and So uth societies in
1737. The second Congregational
Ch urch \Yas organized in
the North Pari sh, Oct. 11, 1744. The Methodist Church was
organized in 1792. The Baptist Church became a regula'i·
organization in 1807. The Congregational
Church in Chaplin, then a part of Mansfield , was organized in I S I o.
In June 1894 the church voted to become an inc orp ora ted
body , and adopted a constituti on. The ecclesiastical soc iety
was discontinued .
In December 1896 it was voted t o adopt the free-pew
· and pledge system s ,
4
�Pastors.
R~:v. ELEAZKR\\'1LLIA)1s, wa"s settled in October, 1710, at
the organization of the Church.
He was a son of Rev. John
Williams, of Deerfield, l\Iass., who was taken captive by the
French and Indians , led by l\Iajor Hartel de Rowville, in the
nigh t of February 20, 1704. Two of his children and a servant
we re murdered at the door.
His wife, Eunice, was killed in
Gree nfield tw o dnys afterwards.
Mr. Williams and five children were dri ven p:·isoners to Canada.
Eleazer was from home
at the time pursuing his studies, and thus escaped the captivity.
His was a successful mini stry, 409 members were added to the
Ch urch during his pastorate.
He died in September 1742, at
the age of 54 years.
REv. RrcHART>SALTER, D. D., the second pastor, was from
Bos ton, Mass.
Ile was settled in June, 1744. The early part
of his ministry was greatly emba1Ta$Sed by the conduct of a
co nsiderable n urn ber of the members of the Church breaking
off from it, in what was deemed a disorderly way, and assembling in another part of the parish, denouncing the Church and
pastor as d ea d hypocrites, and devoid of spiritual life. They
were th e separatists of that time, but organized theirchurch under the name of Baptists.
After those troublous times he enjoye d a pe aceful and successful ministry, adding to the Church
347 members.
He died in April, 1787, aged 66 years.
A brief record of the lives and services of both, Mr.
Williams and Mr. Salter may still be read upon the ancient
sto nes which mark their resting places in the old village cemetery.
They were both godly men, loved by their people, and
much respected in all the region of their labors .
The third pastor was REv. ELIJAH GRIDLEY.
He was
set tled in April, 1789, and dismissed in July, 1796. There is
no recorq of the members, if any, rec eived during liis ministry.
REv . J OHN SHERMAN,the fourth pastor, was installed in
Nove mber, 1797. Mr. Sherman, some time after his_ settleme nt, became a Unitarian, and a majority of the members of
5
�the church and society, either adopted his doctrinal vie,n, or
sustained him in them as pastor of the church.
A few of the
members ~owever, continued firm in the Orthodox faith, and
saved it from being num~ered among the Unitarian churches
of the times.
Mr. Sherman was dismissed in October, 1805,
by an ecclesiastical council, it is said, quite unexpectedly to
either party in the church.
He was recalled by a majority of
the church and society, but did not accept the invitation.
Through his influence, and for.the purpose of avoiding a trial
by the Windham County Consociation, it is said, the church
adopted the Presbyterian form of government.
Seven elders
were elected and ordained. That form of go.vernment was continued several years, but the church is now thoroughly Congregational.
1 o 5 members were added during
Mr. Sherman's
pastorate.
He was a man of culture ,- an attractive preacher,
and affable manners, and thus exerted a strong influence over
the people.
Rrrv. SAMUELP. WILLIAMS,the fifth pastor, was installed
January, 1807, and dismissed September, 1817. Mr. Williams
labored under much embarrassment
from the division in the
church, intro duced by his predecessor. After about eight y_ears
1
of conflict, he succeeded in healing the divisions, and the Unitarian element seems to have been quite thoroughly rooted out.
J:-Ieadded 79 members. Mr. Williams died in the pastorate of
the I st Presbyterian Church, Newburyport,
Mass., December
23, ·1826.
Riv. ANSONS. ATWOOD,the sixth pnstor, was a native of
Woodbury, Conn., and was settled September, 1819, and was
dismissed in May, 1862, after a pastorat<.: of 42 years and 7
months, two months less only than the pastorate of Dr, Salter,
t he second pastor. 402 members were added ' during his mi n istry.
He died in East Hartford, July 22, 1866.
Intellectua lly and
religiously he was a strong man, and the influence of his
ministry still lives in the church.
Rrr_v.J. W. SALTER, supplied the pulpit about a year after
the dismissal of Mr. Atwood.
6
�REv. CHARLESL. AYER, the seventh pastor , was installed
in November, 1863, and dismisseq in June, 1868 ; 46 were
adde d to the church while he was pastor.
Rn. K B. GLIDDF.N,the present acting pastor, [1_875 ] ,
co mmenced his labors Jan. r, 1869; 54 members
have
bee n added since.
The first church manual _, of which the present is a revisio n, was compiled and printed during Mr. Glidden's pastorate.
Mr. Glidden was the first of the pastors of the church not
ins talled.
His resignation was accepted by the church, Sept.
1 2, 1890. As a man and minister he was beloved and re,pected . He removed to Enfield, Conn., where, in March, 1892,
he passed from · this life. From frequent references to him
m ade by the present people of the church, it may well be said
" He being dead, yet speaketh .. , From the records it appears
th at the total number added to the church during Mr. Glidclen's pastorate was 142.
REv. Frnrs E. DELZELLwas the next pastor and began his
la bors March 2 r, 189 r. His pastorate closed, in June, 1894.
T en were added to the church.
Mr. Delzell went to North
Lyme, Conn., and at present is in East Brentwood, i\Iass. In
t he minu _tes relative to his resignation we read, "While a~
m ong us he has exhibited a high standard of Christian living
and has labored earnestly for the good of the people.,.
REv. CHARLESL. AYER, the former pastor, served as supply
from Aug. 21, 1894 to Apr. 17, 1895 .
The pastorate ofREv. CLARENCEP 1KEbegan Sept. 1 5, 1895,
and closed l\Iay 5, 1907. 21 members were added to the
church.
In accepting his resignation the church expressed
warm regard for Mr. Pike as preacher, pastor, scholar, and an
" honest man."
REv. WALTER E . LANPHEAR,the present _pastor, supplied
t he church during June, r 907; and accepted a call accord inf to
which his pastorate began July r. From that date, and up to
Sept. 4, 1910, 33 members have been added.
7
�Deacons.
Ordained,
JOSEPH HALL,
Feb.
THOMAS HUNTINGTON,
1714
I 714
SHUBAEL D1MMOCK,
1717
SAMUEL STETSON,
Nov.
EXPERIENCE PoRTE -R,
Aug . 1730 ,
J os1AH CoN ANT,
1729
1730
NEHEll!AH ESTABROOK,
SHUBAEL CONANT,
Chosen,
June
1758
CONSTANTSouTH\\'ORTH,
lVIar. 1765
BENJA}l[N CHAPLIN,
June
1 755
July
1801
l\Iay
I8II
DANIEL CROCKER,
Ordained,
Br<:NJAMINSTORRS,
1801
JOSHUA STORRS,
JOHN KING,
;8II
AMASA PALMER,
CALEB TROWBRIDGE,
Jan.
Gr<:ORGESwJFT,
Chosen
ROBERT P. BARROWS,
1854
V ALETTE D STEARNS,
HENRY
1833
Jan . I 8 54
Chosen
s. BROWK,
JARED H. STEARNS,
8
June
18 , 1888
Jan.
3,
189 0
Apr.
18 , 1891
Sept.
I 5, 1910
�Church Buildings.
In October, 1706, "the town did engage to build a meeting house, tw enty-four feet square, and fourteen feet bet,veen
joints " Subsequently it was voted to add five feet to the length.
Although there are records of meetings being held in thi s house
before the organization of th e church, it wa s n ot lathed and
plastered 'till 1714, and the pews were not put in ' till the next
year. It stood west of the present conference room and school
house, and n ear were the old pound is now located.
It was
u se d as a house of wor ship until r 754, when it was a!Jandoned,
and, it is said, given to Rev. Richard Salter , ,vho used the old
material in the construction of a dwelling house which stood
o n the plains, and known by persons now living, as the Bibbins house .
In October, 1751, the society voted to build a new me eting house, which was about ten years in the process of erection
and finishing.
In 1754, there was a vote of the society to remove the pulpit and pews from the old house to the new, and
it seems to have been used as a house of worship after that
elate. The new pews were not put in and assigned to the proprieto rs according to "rank and dignity " until 176r.
It ,ms
loca ted nearly on the site of the present church. Its dimensions
were 64 by 44 feet, and 25 feet from floor to ceiling. In 1792
a steeple was erected on the north encl, and a bell placed in
the tower, which by a Yote of th e society was rung at noon
and 9 o'clock, P. 1\1., excepting Saturday eYenings, when the
time was fixed at 8 o'clock; this custom was continued until a
recen t elate. In 1839 this house was turn ed end to the street
an p remodeled; the old square pews and high · pulpit giving
place to those of a more modern style.
It was burned on the
night of March 14, 1866, while a series of religious meetings
we re being held in it by the evangelist, Rev. J. D. Pott er.
The present comely and conYen ient church
ed ifice was
erec ted and finished the same year.
The " Orchestra " was built in 1881 as a gift from l\lrs. L.
C. Dewing.
9
�The Lecture Room, Ladies ' Parlor and Kitchen date from
r 889, and occupy the space of the former ''basement.·•
The bi-centennial year of the church (1910) is marked by
ext~nsive changes in the church property.
The floor of the
pulpit is slightly lowered and made continuous with the choi1:
floor, and both are enlarged.
Chiefly by the gift of one of
Mansfield's daughter's the auditorium and other rooms are redecorated and \urnished with new carpets and cushions. Also
an acetylene gas plant, largely the gift of one of our members,
replaces the oil lamps.
The parsonage is remodeled and
equipped with modern conveniences.
And the old shed between the house and barn is removed.
+
Ministers Raised Up.
The foll owi ng list of ministers have been raised up and
se nt out from this church:
Hobert Estabrook, John Storrs, (the father of Richard
Salter Storrs, minister of Longmeadow, Mass.,) from whom
the line of ministers beanng that name have descended,
Eleazer Storrs, Andrew Storrs, Oliver Arnold, Jonathan Hovey,
Jonathan Hovey, 2d, Samuel Wood, Asa King, Richard Salter
Storrs, Porter Storrs, John Storrs,· David A. Grovsner, Mason
Grovsner, John W. Salter, Thomas S. Salter, Elijah P. Barrows, John A. Albro, Asa Hinckley, Jonathan Fuller.
David
Bacon, father of Leonard Bacon, . D. D., was also a member of
this church before he went as a missionary to New Connecticut.
Ed ward P. Armstrong was born and reared here. Edward P. Ayer, son of the pastor C. L. Ayer, spent his early b9y_ho od days here.
+
Membership and Baptisms.
The whole membership of the church from its organization to the present time, A. D., 1875 is, as nearly as can be
ascertained from the records , I 4 2 5.
IO
�The whole number of baptisms, 2450, (1875.)
Of these,
abo ut 200 only were adults, and 2250 were infants or young
child ren. A large number o f household baptisms are recorded.
In several instances as many as six or seven children of the
same family were baptised at the same date. When the parents united with the church they consecrated their children to
Go d. The ordinance of Infant Baptism was so universal in the
church, that perhaps not more than 75 adults were baptised during the pastorates of both ~1essrs. Williams - and Salter, covering a period of 7 5 years.
+
Confessions
of Faith.
At the time of its organization
the church adopted a
Co nfession of Faith and a Covenant.
In 1798 these "could
no t be found," so that new articles were adopted.
Of these
art icles, the Co'nfession of Faith and the Covenant printed in
this manual in 187 5, for the use of the church, are, "substantia lly," copies; and the Covenant is continued in this edition
as the one still to be used by the church.
The original arti cles seem finally to have been found.
The original copy of
the Confession of F'aith is in the pos sessio n of the church, and
" A True Copy of Original Covenant,"
attested by Richard
Salter, in I 746 appears in the old records.
In revising the manual, it has seemed best to the church
to adopt as a confession of faith "The Statement of Doctrine
Presen ted in 1883 by the National Council Commission" and
au thorized by a committee of the Council in 1895.
Original Confession of F _aith.
"\Ve believe with our hearts and confess with our
mo uths; "
1.
Concerning God, that there is one only true God in
three persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, each of them
TI
�God, all of them One, and the same Infinite and Eternal
God, most wise, holy, just, merciful and blessed forever.
2.
Concerning the works of God, that this God is the
all things, according to the council of
maker and governor
, his own will; and that God made man in Ins o,,n image, in
knowledge, righteousness, and blessedness.
of
3. Concerning the fa] I of man, that Adam by transgre,si ng the command of God, fell from Goel and brought himself
and posterity into a state of sin and death, and under the
wrath and curse of God, which we do believe to be our own
condition by nature as well as othe_rs.
4,
Concerning Jesus Christ, that he 1s the Eternal Son
Gf God whom God sent into the world, who for our sakes became man that he might redeem and save us by his obedience
unto death, and that he arose from the deaq and ascended
into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father whence
He shall come to judge the world.
5. Concerning the Holy Ghost, that God, the Holy
Ghost hath fully revealed the doctrine of Christ and will of
God in the Old and New Testaments, which are the Word of
God, a perfect and perpetual rule of our faith and obedience.
6. Concerning the benefits we ha\'e by Christ, that the
same Spirit by working faith in God's elect, applieth unto
them Christ with all his benefits of justification and santifica tion unto salvation in the use of these ordinan-ces ,,·hich God
hath appointed in his written word, and therefore ought to be
observed by his people until the coming ' of Christ.
God ap plies the Redemption of Christ by working faith in us, and
thereby uniting us to Christ in our Effectual Calling.
(Here
follows definitions of Effectual Calling, Justification,
Adop tion, Sanctification, etc.)
God hath appointed Pastors and Teachers in his Churc h
to dispens ·e his ordinances to his people.
They are diligent ly
to preach the Word of God, and administer the sacrament
of
the New Testament.
A sacrament is an holy ordinance insti tuted by Christ, wherein Christ and his benefits are regene rated, sealed, and applied to believers.
The sacraments of the
12
�New Testam ent are two, viz.: Baptism, which is t o be admi nistered to visible believel's and their seed; and the Lord 's
Supper, which is to be administered to such visible saints as
are free from scandal and able to examine themselves and disce rn the Lord's body ;_and such adult persons ought to be admitt~d into church fellowship with us, who, besides a profession of the doctrine of faith , do either make a relation of the
wo rk of grace or bring testimonials of their reputed piety, or
do manifest the same by their lives and conversation; either of
th ese ways shall be satisfactory.
(S igned,)
ELE ,\ZER
'vVrLLIAMS,
THOl\lAS
SHUBAEL
Drnrnoo;:,
BEKJAMIN
JOSEPH
WILLIAl\l
SAMUEL
HALL,
JOHN
HALL ,
SA)IUEL
STORRS,
ISAAC
HUKTl!'IGTOK,
HALL,
SERGEAKT,
STETSOK,
HALL.
+
Ori g inal Co ve nant .
Since it hath pleased God of his infinite goodness to manifest himself willing to take unworthy sinners near himself ,
even into a covenant relation, and to an interest in him, and
be come a God to them and avouch them to be his people , and
ac cordingly to command and encourage them to give up themselves and their children also unto him; ~ve do therefore this
day in the presence of God, his holy angels, and this assembly,
avouch the Lord Jehovah, the true and living God ; even God
t he Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost to be our God.
We
do give up ourselves and ours also unto him, to be his subjects
and servants; promising through grace and strength from Christ,
without which we can do nothing , to walk in professed subjecti on to him as our on ly Lord and Lawgiver; yeilding our ~elves
ob edient to his blessed will, according to the discoveries he has
ma de, and that we will seek him in all his holy ordinances acco rding to the rules of the gospel; submitting to the goverment
13
�of Christ in hi s chur ch, and parti cularl y in this pla ce, and that
we will endeav or to walk ever with·all brotherly love and watchfulness to the edifying of o ursel ves and others , in faith and love
to his praise.
All of which we promise to perform, the Lord helping us,
through his grace in Jesus Christ.
·
'
A true copy atte sted by Rev. Richard Salter.
+
Confession of Faith.
While thi s church recognizes that consistent Chri stian living is the real test of worthiness for church membership, that
absolute uniformity of belief is impracticable and that the children of God should be free in their search after the truth, it also
re'cognizes the importance of an intelli gent belief in the fundamentals of the Christian faith, and it ·presents to those who
seek its fellowship the following articles as a general settingforth of those things commonly believed by us and by other
churches of our order.
I.
We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker
of heaven and earth, and of all thing visible and invisible;
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our ~ord, who is of one
substance with the Father ; by "·hom all things were made.
And in the Holy Spirit the Lord and giver of life , who is
sent from the Father ahd Son 1 and wh o together with the Father and Son is wor shipped and gl orified.
2.
We believe that the Providence of God, by \vhich he
executes his eternal purp oses in the government of the world,
is in and over all events; yet so that the freedom and responsi.bility of man are not impaired, and sin is the act of the creature
alone .
• We believe that man was made in the image of God,
3.
that he might know, love, and obey God, and enjoy him for ever ; that our first parents by disobedience fell under the right14
�eous condemnation of God; and that all men are so alienat ed
from God; that there is no salvation from the g uilt and power
of sin except through God's redeeming grace.
4. We believe that God would have all men return to him;
that to this end he has made himself known, not only through
the works of nature, the course of his providence and the consciences of men, but also through supernatural
revelations
made especially to a chosen people, and above all, when the
fullness of time was come, through Jesus Christ his Son.
5. We believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments are the record of God's revelations of himself in the
work of redemption; that they were written by men under the
special guidance of the Holy Spirit; that they are able to ma_ke
wise unto salvation; and that they constitute the authoritative
standard by which religious teaching ap.d human conduct are
to be regulated and judged.
6. We believe that the love of God to sinful men has
found its highest expression in the redemptive work of his son;
who became man, uniting his divine nature with our human
nature in one person; who was tempted like other men, yet
without sin; who by his humiliation, his holy obedience, his
sufferings, his death on the cross, and his resurrection, became
a perfect Redeemer; whose sacrifice of himself for the sins of
the world declares the righteousness of God and is the sole and
sufficient ground of forgiveness and of reconciliation with him,
7. We believe that Jesus Christ, after he had risen from
the dead, ascended into heaven, where, as the one J\Iediator
between God and man, he carries forward his work of saving
men; that he sends the Holy Spirit to convict them of sin, and
to le~d them to repentance and faith; and that those who
through renewing grace turn to righteousness and trust lil Jesus
Christ as their Redeemer rece1Ye for his sake the forgiwness of
their sins, and are made the children of God.
8. vVe believe that those who are thus regenerated and
justified grow in sanctified character through fello,Yship with
Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and obedience to the
truth; that a holy life is the fruit and evidence of saving faith;
rs
�and that the believer 's hope of continuance in such a life is in
the preserving grace of God.
9. We believe that Jesus Christ came to establish among
men the kingdom of God, the reign of truth and lo\'e, righteousness and peace; that' to Jesus Christ the Head of his kingdom, Christians are directl,Y responsible in faith and conduct;
and that to him all have immediate access without mediatorial
or priestly intervention.
ro. We believe that tne Church of Ch rist, invisible and
spiritual, comprises all true believers, whose duty it is to associate themselves in churches, for the maintenance
of worship
or the promotion of spiritual growth and fellowship, and for
the conversion of men; that these churches, under the guidance
of the Holy Scriptures and in fellowship with one another, may
determine-each
for itself-their
organizaticn,
statcmrnts of
I
belief, and forms of worship; may appoint and set apart their
own ministers, and shou ld co-operate in the work which Christ
has committed
to them for the furtherance of the gospel
throughout the wor ld .
r r. \Ve believe in the observance of the Lord's Day as a
day of holy rest and worship; in the ministry of the Word; and
in the two Sacraments which Christ has appointed for his
Church; Baptism to be administered to believers and their children as the sign of cleansing from sin, of union to Christ, and of
the impartation of the Holy Spirit; and th e Lord's Supper as a
symbol of his atoning death, a seal of its eflicacy, and a means
whereby he confirms and strengthens
the spirit ual union and
commttnion of believers with himself.
r 2. \Ve believe in the ultimate prevalence of the kingdom
of Christ over
the earth; in the g lori ous appearing of the
great God and our S:iviour Jesus Christ; in the resurrection of
the dead; and in the fina l judgment, the issues of which are
everlasting punishment and everlasting li fe.
all
Covenant.
Since it hath pleased God in infinite mercy to take unworthy sinners into covenant relation \Yith himself and his
church; you do now in the presence of Almighty God, the
16
�searcher of all heart s, befor e hi s holy angels and this assembly
of Go d's people, solemnly give up yourself to God the Father,
Go d the Son, and God the Holy Spirit; avouching Him to be
yo ur God, your Saviour and Sanctifier; and renouncing every
false and _wicked way and choosing His faithful service, you
promise by divine grace to live a holy life, in the denial of all
ungodliness with every worldly lust.
And you promise to attend upon, and faithfully comp ly
with, all the ordinances of the gospel as administered in this
church-in
particular to attend divine worship on the Sabbath,
t he holy communion, and other meetings of the church.
You
promise to walk in fellowship with the members of the church,
tre ating them with tenderness, brotherly kindnes s and affection,
and so far as in you lies, to watch over them for their spiritual
go od. You also promise to submit to the discipline of the
church according to the rul es of the gospel, and to conduct
yourself in all things as bec ome disciples of Christ.
Thus you solemnly covenant and promise.
I
[ Baptism should here be administered
sons. J
to unbaptised
per-
+
Rec e ption by the Chur ch.
( THE
l\IE~lBERS
WILL
ARISE.)
We, the minister and members of this Church of Christ, do
now receive you into covenant, communion and fellowship,
and signify that you are members with us in regular standing,
and are entitled to all the privileges and ordinances here enj oyed, and we promise to watch over you in brotherly love, and
conduct ourselves toward you as becomes a brotherhood
of
believers in Christ.
And may you have grace to honor your profession, to imitate the pattern of your divine Lord and Master, to discharge
t he various duties of your station in life , to fill up your days
with usefullness and finally may you receive the reward of the
redeemed in glory , through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Amen.
I7
�Constitution.
r.
gational
The name of this body shall be, the First CongreChurch of Mansfield Centre.
2.
In polity this Church is Congregational,
accepting
the principle according to which, under the Great Head of the
Church, each local church is self-governing and at the same
time is voluntarily associated with other such churches, in
Associations, Conferences and Councils, for giving and receiving advice in matters pertaining to its own, or the general,
welfare.
The government of this Church is, therefore, vested in its
members, excepting those who are not of legal age.
3, Members of this Church shall be such as are evidently
seeking to live a Christian life , provided there be a profession
of faith according to the custom of the church or a presentation
of credentials from another recognized Church, and provided
the candidancy of such persons is, on examination,
favorably
acted on by the standing committee and by the Church.
The names of c1ndidates for admission on confessipn of
faith should be presented to the church one week previous to
the time for their reception.
Dismission from membership
shall, on a vote of .,the
church, be granted by letter to any Church, provided the one
requesting th~ letter be in regular standing.
Names may be dropped from the roll on the certified request of a member , or in case of habitual neglect of covenant
relationship, or in case of such non-resident members as shall
fail for five consecutive years to communicate with some office r
o'f the _church, as such; provided in all cases that faithful
effort shall have been made to reclaim the individual, and pro vided that, in the last named case, the name shall, by the
clerk, be restored to the roll on the request of the individual.
4. The officers ·of this church shall be, a Pastor, Three
Deacons, a Clerk, Three Trustees, ( one to be elected each
year), a Treasurer, a Sunday-School Superintendent,
members
of the Standing Committee;
the Presidents of the Christia n
18
1
�Endeavor and Ladies ' Societies, anci of any other similiarly
connected Societies.
The duties of the Pastor shall be such as ordinarily pertain to his office, and he shall act as moderator of the business
meetings.
The deacons shall, with the pastor, have oversight of matters peculiar to an ecclesiastical organization, and one of them
shall preside at business meetings in the absence of the pastor.
The clerk shall keep an accurate record of all formal transactions of the church, an accurate record of membership, and
shall perform such other duties as are incidental to his office.
The trustees shall perform the du ties peculiar to them as
officers of a corporate body.
They shall have charge of the
property-interests
of the church and of trust funds, including
those of the cemetery, and special bills presented to the treasurer shall be subject to the endorsement of their chairman.
Also they shall co-operate with the standing comn_iittee in
providing for the conduct of church work in absence of the
pastor, and in securing a candidate for the pastorate.
The treasurer shall have charge of the raising of all funds
for Church expenses, shall hold the same together with all
other Church funds, and shall disburse them by vote of the
Church or order of the trustees, as the case may be.
The other officers of the church shall perform such duties
as naturally pertain to their respective offices.
5. The committees shall be, The Standing Committee, A
l\Iusic Committee and such other as may be deemed desirable.
The standing committee shall consist of the pastor and
deacons, together with five other members.
The duties of this committee shall be to look after the
spiritual affairs of the church, especially in matters relating to
admissions to the church and in matters of discipline.
The distribution of the ben~ficence of the church shall
be under the direction of the standing committee.
This committee shall, with the co-operation of the trustees
provide for the conduct of the church work in absence of a
pastor and in securing candidates for the pastorate .
19
�The duties of other committees
rally pertain to them.
The incidence of specific duties,
and committees, may at any time be
Church.
.
shall be such as natuas prescribed for officers
changed by vote of the
.
6. Meetings of the Church for public and social worship
shall be held on the L<zrd's Day and during the week.
The annual business meeting may be he1d in January.
Special meetings may be called by· the pastor or the standing committee, and shall be called by the clerk on the written
request of seven adult members.
These meetings shall be announced from the pulpit on
the Sabbath previous to the time of holding the same.
But ordinary business may be transacted at any regular
meeting of the Church without such notice.
7. At the annual meeting there shall be reports from the
officers of the Church, the election of committees and officers
(exceptiqg pastor and deacons and excepting the presidents of
the various connected Societies, who shall be elected by their
respective societies), and any other business that may properly come before such meeting.
A quorum for any business meeting shall be nine adult
members.
8. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall, when
practicable, be observed on the first Lord's Day oJ each second
month, beginning with January.
The rite of baptism may be administered to candidates
for admission to the Church such as have not been baptized,
and to children.
9. Amendments to this constitution may be made at any
duly-called meeting of the church, on a three-fourths
vote ,
provided exact notice of the nature of the amendment be given
in the call of the meeting.
Suspension ofany rule , excepting that concerning a quorum
may be had for a single meeting by a unanimous _vote.
IO.
On all points not covered by these articles the action
of the body shall be in consistence with itself as a Christian
Congregational Church.
20
,
�Catalogue of Members.
,,AN ACCOUNT
of ye Members in Full Communion in ye
CHURCH OF CHRIST, in Mansfield, both male and female,
whe rein we ha ve ye month, day and year when they were admitted."
"T he Church was gathered October 18 , o. s. [29, N, s.] 1710.
The
members or brethren were:"
Benjamin Howard and Mary
his wife.
Elizabeth Arnold.
Hannah Davis, wife of Thos.
Elizabeth Storrs.
Mary Arnold, wife of Jo.
Joanna Bassett, wife of Nat.
Elizabeth Arnold, wife of B-
Eleazer William s, Pastor
Shubael Dimmock,
Joseph Hall.
Samuel Storrs, Sen.
William •Hall, Sen.
Thomas Huntington,
Sen.
John Sergeant.
Isaac Hall.
Samuel Stetson.
r 712.
Deborah Phelps, wife of Benj .
Esther Hall, wife of Wm.
Thomas Storrs.
Lydia Storrs.
Jedediah Huntington.
Peter Davison , and Amelia,
his wife.
Joanna Bassett.
••At a church meeting,
Oct. 25, 1710,
there were admitted one male
and several females which follow in order:'.'
Benjamin Hall.
Mary Hall.
Elizabeth Huntington.
Esther Hall.
Mehitabel Hall.
Mary Sergeant.
Mary Cros~.
Elizabeth Fuller.
Sarah Hall.
Elizabeth Arnold.
Mary Cross.
Dorothy Fenton. ·
1713.
Abigail Hobart.
Ephraim Sawyer & Elizabeth
his wife.
Abigail Hall, wife of Sha bar .
1714.
Francis Greene and his wife.
Margaret Rood, wife of Jon.
Benjamin Dimmock,
Bridget Triscot, wife of Eben.
Hannah Nichols, wiie of Jas .
Nov. 26, 1710.
Joanna Dimmock .
---Storrs.
Sarah. Dimmock.
1715.
Dec. J7, 1710.
Martha Storrs.
Samuel Storrs.
Jonathan Rood.
Annah Turner, wife of Phil.
· Shabar Hall.
Abig a il Mixor.
!7!1.
Mary Dimmock.
21
�Margaret Howard.
Dorcass Bassett.
Mehitable Green.
Dorothy Cross, wife of Peter.
Mary Hovey.
Elizabeth Green.
Sarah Hall.
Ann Dim mock, wife of Thos.
1716.
William Hal1.
Margaret Frost, wife of Thos.
Joseph Green.
Nathaniel Bassett.
Barnabas Hall, and Mercy,
his wife.
Hannah Kendal, wife of Isaac.
James Hovey.
1722.
Elizabeth Hunt, wife of Jos.
Desire Cross, wife of Dan.
Ann Fuller.
Isaac Kendal.
Thomas Huntington, Jun.
William Chapman and Anne
his wife.
Mary Pierson, wife of Daniel.
Faith Snell, wife of Tho ·s.
Deborah Hovey, wife of Jas.
Mehitabel Royce, wife of Jas.
Mehitabel Hall, wife of Jas.
1723.
Martha Phelps, wife of Benj.
Joseph Jacobs and his wife.
John Sleys and Elizabeth his
wife.
Joseph Hunt.
Mary Angel.
1724 .
Thomas Barrows.
Gershom Hall.
Mary Jacobs.
Esther Barrows, wife of Thos.
Anna Davis, wife of Joseph.
Experience Porter and Abigail
his wife.
Cordial Storrs.
Mercy Abbee.
Timothy Dimmack.
Ann Dimmock.
1718.
Ruth Huntington.
Samuel Smith.
Mercy Dunham.
James Hovey.
Priscilla Smith, wye of Sam'l.
1719.
Sarah Giles, wife of Sam'!.
Benjamin Phelps.
Hezekiah King.
'
Hannah Royce, wife of Moses.
Eleazar Huntington.
John Agard.
1720.
Josiah Conot.
Ephraim Chapoiny,
, garet his wife.
1725 .
Sarah Arnold, wife of Gideon.
Ruth Hall, wife of Theophilus.
Hannah Storrs, wife of Cordial.
Ann Sergeant, wife of Isaac .
Experience Porter.
Joseph Jacobs, Jun.
Sarah :k.oyce, wife of Eben.
Thoma~ Reed.
and Mar-
1721.
1726.
Thomas Wood.
Deborah Huntington, wife of
Elea.
Lydia Huntington.
Joshua More.
Dorothy More, wife of Joseph.
Isaack Sergeant.
Bothia Stoward.
Nathaniel Southworth.
James Hall.
Mary Southworth, wife of
Nath.
Robert Barrows.
Ann Dunham, wife of Eben.
Mary Davis.
Abigail Porter, wife of Experience.
Desire Stetson, wife of Dea.
Samuel.
1727.
Jo se ph Hunt.
Mehitabel Agard, wife of Joh.
22
l
�Mary Storrs .
Joh n Balcolm.
Ma rlow Fullor and his wife.
Phi lip Turner .
Sa rah Balcom, wife of John.
An n Hall, daughter of Wm.
John Jonson and Ruth his
wife.
Jo seph Davis.
::,amuel Storrs.
Mercy Nickerson .
Bridget Triscot .
Mehitable Paine, wife of Noah.
Mary Hall, daughter of Barnabas.
Eunice Williams. l_ daug. of
Sarah Williams.
f Rev . E. W.
Ephraim Parsons.
Hannah Hale . daug. of Isaac.
Mary Turner, wife of Philip.
John Porter.
Jacob Fenton.
Abigail Porter , wife of John.
Shubael Dimock.
Priscilla Dimock, wife of
Shubael.
Eunice Storrs, wife of Huckin.
Hannah Leach.
Lydia Cross, wife of Jonathan.
1728.
Mary Jonson.
E lisha Dunham.
Mary Dimmack, \\ i [e of Perez.
Benjamin Davis;
Jane Davis, wife of Benj.
1729.
Mary Kidder, wife of Jas. Jun.
D a nie l Hovey, son of Jas. Jun.
J ames Kidder.
Mary Arnold, wife of Robert.
Thomas Howard and Sarah his
wife .
1733.
John Hovey.
John Hunt.
Ebenezer Lothrop .
Elizabeth Lothrop , wife of
Eben.
Hannah Leach .
Joseph Hovey.
Mehitabel Huntington, wife of
Thos.
Joseph Parker, an old man.
John Crane and Abigai l his
wife.
Mary Scot, wife of Henry.
1730.
Daniel Fuller and his wife and
daughter Mary.
Mehitabel Storrs, wife of Capt.
Thos.
1731.
John Jacobs.
::itephen Cross . Jun.
Elizabeth Cross, wife of Steph.
Abie! Triscot.
Mary Bassett.
Timothy Fullor.
Nathanie l Hunt.
I~aac Newton.
Abigail Porter,
Elizabeth Porter, wife of Nath.
Shubael Conant, student at
Yale College.
Daniel Royce.
Mary Royce, wife of Daniel.
Hannah Hall, daug. of Shebar.
Mary Hovey, wife of John.
Ann Fuller.
Martha Davison, wife of Dan.
Colasi Vining.
l
734.
William Jonson and Hannah
his wife.
·
Ann Sien.
Mary Dimock, daug. of Benj.
Abigail Richardson, wife of
John
Daniel Davidson.
Edmun d Hovey.
John Austin.
John Kidder.
Simon Huntington.
Mary Hovey, wife of Egmund.
Sibil Hall.
Abigail Nickerson.
Elizabeth Parker, wife of Jos.
James Agard.
Sarah Torrey.
Elisha Hall.
1732.
Ann Hunt.
Rodolphus Fuller.
23
1735.
wife of John.
�William Fuller.
Nathaniel Southworth.
Deborah Davison.
Martha Porter.
Ann Phelps.
Elizabeth Arnold, daughter of
Robt.
Deborah Hovey, daughter of
James, Jun.
Thomas Storrs, son of Capt .
Storrs.
Wm. Jonson, Jun.
Benajah Conant.
Sarah Nichols.
Ruth Stebbins.
Huckin Storrs.
Jabez Barrows.
Hobart Estabrook,
student at
Yale College.
Abigail Tinker, wife of John.
Elizabeth Hunt, daug. of Jos.
Eunice Paddock, daughter of
Robt.
Abel Wright and Mary his
wife.
Joseph Jonson, son of Wm.
Mary Hall, daug. of James.
John Fuller.
Deborah Fuller, wife of John.
Hannah Jonso"n, daughter of
William.
Elizabeth Jacobs, wife of Jos.
David Jacobs.
Elizabeth Jacobs.
Susannah Jacobs.
Samuel Downes.
Mary Redington,
wife of Abraham.
Martha Paddock, wife of
Robt.
Ebenezer Lyman and Lydia his
wife.
Eleanoh Fuller.
Ammi Huntington.
Zerriah Storts.
Esther Balch, wife of Jon.
Ruth Wood.
Hannah Williams.
Esther Storrs, wife of John.
Temperance
Dunham.
Jonathan Curtis and Elizabeth
his wife.
Joshua Agard, son of John.
Mary Wood, daughter of Sam'l.
Rebekah Wood, daughter of
Sam'!.
Mary Arnold, daughter of
Robt.
Bathsheba Crandal, daughter
of Peter.
John Sargeant, and Mary his
· wife.
Paul Davison and Abigail his
wife.
Elisha \Varner.
Cornelius Storrs.
Seth Paddock.
Malachi Conant.
amuel Jacobs.
Simon Slap.
Nathaniel Hovey, son of James
Jr.
Martha Paddock.
Joanna Royce.
David Royce.
Joseph Whitamore.
Nehemiah Estabrook.
William Southworth.
Dole Jonson.
Elizabeth Hovey, wife of Dan'l.
Abigail Hovey.
Beth-iah Paddock.
Abigail Richardson.
John Slap.
Jonathan Fullor.
Jonathan Godfrey.
Mehitable Foster.
Jon a than Curtis, J u·n.
Samuel Wood, Jun.
Mary Crandalp, wife of Peter.
Sarah Manley,
Jerusha Fuller, daug. of Matt.
Sarah Slanghter.
Samuel Curtiss.
1736.
John Southworth a lad of
above 14 years of age.
Hezekiah Jonson, a lad entered
on his 12th .year.
Hannah Storrs, wife of Joseph.
Enoch Jon son, a lad of 14 yrs.
Elizabeth Smith.
Jane Cross, wife of John.
Joseph Hall, son of Heber.
Ann ' Riglo, wife of John.
Mary Jacobs, wife of David.
Lazarus Manley and his wife.
,
Naomi Hart.
Abigail Snow, wife of Abra'm.
Mary Cross, wife of Peter, Jun.
Abigail Hall,
24
�1
Elizabeth Porter.
John Storrs.
Abigail Pierce, wife of Sam'l.
William Cummins' wife.
Isaac Farewel and Elizabeth
his ')'ife.
Violet Harris, wife of John.
1 741.
Ruth Paddock, wife of Robt.
. Jun.
Elisha Eldrich and Dorcas his
wife.
Mrs. John Fletcher.
Phebe Atwood, wife of Thos.
Josiah Southworth.
Mehitabel Fuller,wife of Wm.
Patience Stoward.
Peter Dimmack.
Ebenezar Clark.
Noah Cross.
Ann Clark, wife of Eben.
Mary Cross, wife of Noah.
James Dun.
Mehitabel Dimmack.
Hannah Carpenter.
Berthia Eldridge.
Jonathan W olcot.
James Hall.
Lemm uel Barrow.
John Fletcher.
Ann Wood.
Mary Cross.
James Jackson .
.
Mary Jackson.
Martha Hayward, wife of Nath.
Hannah Wood.
Prince, a negro belonging to
Mr. Sam. Gurley.
Benjamin Phelps.
William Dun.
Samuel Hovey.
1737.
Prissilla Green.
Sarah Balcam, daug. of John.
Elizabeth Balcam. daughter of
John.
Min iam Dim mock, wife of
Tim.
Esther Pierce.
Sam'! Pierce and Abigail his
wife,
1738.
Joseph Wolcot .
Sarah W olcot, wife of Joseph.
Lydia Morey, daug. of Mary
Brown .
Elizabeth Cross, wife of Dan.
. Jun.
:Mikel Standish.
Bethiah Hall, daug. of She bar.
Richard Murch and Mary his
wife.
1739.
Sarah Latham, wife of Sam'l.
Elizabeth Dimmock, wife of
Peter.
Desire Jacobs, wife of Sam'l.
Shubael Waldo and Abigail his
'wife.
Ruth Conant, wife of Shubael.
Sarah Howard, daug, of Thos.
1742.
Moses Smith.
Elnatham Brigham, Jun.
Abijah Harris.
Mary Harris, wife of Abijah.
Ezekiel Slate.
Elizabeth Warner .
Keziah W okor.
Dick, ye negro man of Mr. D.
Solomon Hovey.
Hannah Hovey.
Delight Warner. wife of Thos.
Benjamin Agard.
Zebulon Cross.
Mary Cross, wife of Zebulon.
Joseph Wood.
Sarah Curtis.
Stephen Cross, Jun.
Eunice Gurley.
Experience Gurley.
·
Susannah Mays, wife of John.
1740.
Mehitabel Bosworth, daug. of
Ed.
.
Jemima Bosworth, daug. of
Ed.
Elizabeth Slap, wife of John.
Edmund Freeman.
Keziah Freeman, wife of Ed.
Prince Freeman.
Shubael Dimmock.
Mary Estabrook, daughter of
Rev. Samuel.
Mary Williams, daughter of
Rev. Eleazar.
25
i
I
I
�The Rev. Eleazar
Williams,
the first pastor cif the church
in Mansfield, died Sept. 25th,
1742, aged 54 years, 2 months
and five days.
The second pastor of the church
in Mansfield, was the Rev.
Richard Salter, who was ordained by an ecclesiastical
council, June 27th, 1744.
During
the time between
these two dates there is no record of any additions
to the
church.
1744.
Lucy Cleaveland.
Experience Hunt, wife of Nathaniel.
Edmund Freeman and Marthe
his wife.
Nathaniel Nicholls and his
wife.
Noah Upham and his wife.
Nathaniel Nicholls, Jun.
Benjamin Nicholls.
Mary Hall, wife of James.
John Swift.
1745.
1746.
Mulford Eldridge and Abiel
his ~ife.
Henry Taylor and Sarah his
wife.
Elizabeth Bassett.
Hannah Done.
Hannah Crosby.
J erusha Swift.
Nathan Bassett.
Martha Freeman.
Benjamin Upham.
Mary Hanks.
Thomas Dexter and Sarah his
.wife.
Deliverance Genings.
Mary Genings.
Tobijah, servant of Shubael
Conant.
Nathaniel Hall and Martha his
wife.
1747.
Joshua Burgess.
Jonathan Crosby.
Henry Cleaveland and Lucce
his wife.
.
Jonathan Sergeant.
V Elijah Mackall.
Joseph Davis, Jun.
Theophilus Hall.
Mary Hall, wife ,of Abner.
Hezekiah Agard.
Susannah Bosworth.
1747.
Ephraim Hodges and Bethiah
his wife.
Samuel King and Mary his
wife.
Gerusha Wood, wife of Sam'!.
1749.
Ruth Millinor, wife of Jas.
Katherine White.
Daniel Allen and his wife.
Bathsheba Abbee, wife of Gideon.
James Leavons.
Abigal Anderson, wife of Geo.
Benjamin Case.
Samuel Palmer and Lydia his
wife.
1750.
Jonathan Church and Abigail
his wife.
Rachael Swift, wife of Thos.
Hephsibah Parmer, wife of
Sam'!.
.1751,
Benjamin Hanks.
Oliver Clarke.
Hannah Baldwin, wife of Dan.
Jonathan Case and Esilier his
wife.
1752 .
Mary Storrs, wife of John.
Jonathan Spaulding and his
wife Emma.
1753.
Josiah Conant, Jun.
Thomas Barrows, Jun.
Elizabeth Barrows, wife of
Gershom.
Peter Aspinwall.
I
I
�Ann Freeman, wife of Skiff.
Nathaniel Cary.
1754.
Hez ekiah Allen.
Seth Allen and Hannah his
wife.
Tha nkful] Curtiss, wife of Jon.
Bethia h Jac obs, wife of J os.
Ma ry Storrs, wife of Josiah
l
756.
I
75 7.
Tabi tha Hanks,
1764.
Elizabeth Davis. wife of J osh.
Zervia Russ, wife of Eben.
J aco b Waters,
Rnth Baldwin, wife of Eben.
Eleazer Storrs.
John Church and Amy his w .
Eunice Blackman, wife of
Benj.
Dinah Cleveland, wife of Ne h.
Ruth Davis, wife of Jos. Jun.
wife of J ohn .
Eu nice H ord , wife of Sam.
Jose ph and Mary Dana.
Ab ner Hall .
1758.
1765.
Sara h Allen, wife of Hez ekia h
Joseph Cary and his wife.
Moses Ph elp s .
Noah Gilb er t.
Jo hn Storrs.
John Martin.
Margaret Hovey, wife of Edmond.
Constant Southworth anrl Mary
his wife.
I
Jed ediah Hibbard.
Benj. Chaplin and Mary his w.
Percy Swift and Mary his w.
Elean 'or Walcot, wife of Moses.
Benj. a nd J udit h H utch ins .
Elizabeth Hutchins, wife of
Benj., Jun .
Lucy Gilbert.
Irene Southworth, wife of
Jo sia h.
759,
Oliver Da v ison.
Joseph Denison.
B lizabeth Johnson.
E lizabeth Wood, wife of Neh.
R achel Balcam,wife
of John.
E lizabeth Birchard, wife of
Dan.
Israel Clarke.
1767.
J erusha Tru sda le, wife of
Jonathan.
Ann Conant, wife of J osia h.
1760.
I
Ma ry Rigbee.
Mary Curtice, wife of Da v id.
1769.
John Salter.
Elizabeth Ja cobs, wife of Sam.
Experience Estabrook.
Eunice Pease, wife of Job.
---wife
of Joel Starkweather.
Sam uel Sergeant.
De borah Parker, wife of Eph.
Dorothy Balch, wife of John.
Andrr3w Storrs.
1762.
1770 .
Esther Clark-, wife of I srael.
Thomas Swi f t, Jun.
Hezekiah Waters, and Mary,
his wife.
·
Elizabeth Barrows, wife of
Thos . Jun.
Sarah Abbey, wife of Solomon
Mehitabel Swift, wife of Thos.
Esther Swift.
wife of
1763.
Le muel Clark.
Reb eka Aspinwall,
Peter.
768.
Ele azer Stoddard .
1761.
El izabeth Barrows,
Isaac.
1766.
wife of
Jonathan
1771 .
Nicholls.
27
!I
�Eunice Swift.
Lydia Nichols, wife of Benj.
Martha Crosby, wife of Jon.
Wi11iam Bassett.
Rebekah Estabrook.
Samuel Bosworth.
Zerviah Cary, wife of Nath'!.
Allice Bassett, wife of Wm.
Abigail Palmer, wife of 'Nath.
Zephaniah Nickolls.
Keziah Hovey, wife of Dan'!
Jun.
Hannah Sergeant, wife of Sam.
1772.
David Fuller.
Desire Fuller, wife of David.
Hannah Porter.
Solomon and Mary Lamphere.
l 773•
Deacon Boaz Storrs.
Sarah Murdock, wife of Jon.
Susanna Swift.
Eunice Russ, wife of John.
Hannah Knight, wife of Eben.
Sam'! Storrs, Jun ., and his
wife Huldah.
1774.
Abigail Barrows, wife of Jab ez.
Hannah Swift, wife of Pere z.
Rebekah Davis, wife of Jon.
.
'I'hos. Davis, and wife Martha.
Sarah Conant, wife of Shubae l .
Stephen Davis.
Hannah Chaplin.
1 775•
Mary Goodale, wife of Abner.
Heman Atwood.
Ruth Cammell, alias vVebber.
Mary Ben n et, wife of Asa.
Isaac Barrows.
·
Bathsheba Cushman. wife ofAnna Follett.
Hannah Allen.
Widow Mary Howe.
Enoch Reddington.
1776 .
Sarah Lindsey Church wife
of Abner.
Martha Conant, wife of John.
Samuel Cammell.
Asa Southworth.
Hannah Barrows, wife of Elish.
Olive Sterns, wife of Shephard.
Ebenezer Storrs and wife.
Desire Swift.
Auna Stoel, wife of Jonathan.
Mary Balcam, wife of Joseph.
Jon a than Crosby.
Anna Upham.
Zerviah Stetson, wife·of Tim'y.
Mary Stoel, wife of Josiah.
Anna Chaplin.
Anna Nickolls, wife of Nath'!.
1 777•
Abigail Hammond, wife of
John.
Widow Elizabeth Perkins.
Henry Storrs.
1778.
James Lane.
Jillin Lane, wife of Jonathan.
Lydia Martin, wife of Robert.
Bridget Arnold, wife of John .
Experience Storrs and his
wife Lucy.
Ebenezer
Allen and his wife
Mary.
Mary Storrs, wife of Amariah.
Jonathan Lane.
1779.
Shubael
Conant,
and Anna,
his wife.
Ruth Fletcher.
Caleb Conant and Susanna,
his wife.
Sarah Butts.
Sarah Hutchins wife of Thos.
Lucy Newell, wife of Seth.
Rebekeh Conant, wid. of Sam' l
Sarah Nichols, wife of Jonaf n
Mary Mayo.
Hannah Phelps, wife of N ath' l.
Sarah Phelps.
Bathsheba Conant.
1780.
Lucinda Howe.
Mehitabel Bosworth.
Prudence
Herrington,
wi fe
of William.
Lydia Barrows, wife of Sol.
Jabez Cary.
Eleazar Conant, and Eunice ,
his wife.
�Rich ar d Salter Storrs,
of Long Meadow,
Elijah
Baldwin,
and
nath his wife.
Benj. Storrs & Olive his
Elizabeth Wood .
Wid ow Experience Fuller.
Mart ha Cary, wife of Jabez.
1781.
Mar y Storrs, wife of Cornelius.
Oliver Smith
Nathaniel Nicholls, Jr.
A nna Nicholls.
Es ther Nicholls.
Jo seph Davis, 3d.
Mary Davis.
Joseph
Upham,
and Mary,
his wife.
Widow Joanna Jennings.
John King, Jun.
Cornelius Storrs.
E liza beth Davis.
D avid Davis.
Andrew Hartshorn.
Lydia Nicholls.
Miriam Stearns.
S tephen Martin.
Jemima Barrows, wife of Lem.
John Martin.
Lydia _Martin.
,
Rebekah Parker.
Anna Parker.
J erusha Parker.
Sarah Hartshorn, wife of And.
Elizabe t h Allen wife of Asher.
Isaac Sergeant Palmer.
Bridget Simons, wife of Arad.
Ruth Davis.
·
Gideon Arnold.
Jonathan Hovey.
John Simons.
Mehitable Hale.
Abigail Southworth,
wife of
Sam.
Parthena Allen, wife of Cady.
Rhode Badger.
Phebe Huntington,
Jun.
Hannah Martin.
Mary Nicholls.
Molly Allen.
Christiana Crosby.
Richard Hall.
Bathsheba Leavens.
Hezekiah Allen, Jun.
Alice Arnold.
Sarah Allen.
Eli Church.
David Allen.
Ann Hall, wife of Isaac.
Esther Ab bee.
E lizabeth Cummings.
Lydia Baldwin .
MinisMas s .
A.seewife.
1782.
Irene Allen.
Widow Anna Stetson.
Widow Miriam Cummings.
Andrew Cammell.
Azariah Balcam. & Deborah
his wife.
1783.
Andrew · Hart shorn, Jun., &
'
Elizabeth hi s wife.
Samuel Storr s, Jun. and Per sis his wife .
Mary Freeman, wife of Skiff
Jun.
Mary Southworth.
1784.
Deborah Fitch, wife of Asa.
Ruth Storrs. wife of Dan.
Anna Swift, wife of John, Jun.
Tabitha Cary, wife of Nath'!.
Anna Hall, wife of Theophilus
l
785,
Miss Mary Williams.
Miss Zerviah Aspinwall.
1786.
Elizabeth Barrows.
Thomas Barrows 3d, & Martha his wife.
Uriah Smith and wife.
Mrs. Mary Mackall, wife of
Capt. Elijah.
Miss Mary Stetson.
Lydia Huntington.
1787.
Mrs. Lucretia Cammell, wife
of William.
Miss Eunice Chaplain.
Molly Lane, wife of James.
Asa King, minister of.Pomfret,
Killingworth
and Westminster.
He died at the
last place.
Job Howe.
1788 .
Martha Howe.
Eunice How e .
Olive Martin.
Huldah Turner, wife of Thos.
29
�"An account of the members of the Church, living at the time
of my settlement
in this place, Nov . 15, 1797." (Rev. John
.
Sherman . )
Dea, Daniel Crocker,
and his wife ,
Wd. Rhoda Crocker,
Wd. Anne Conant,
"\iVd.Jemima Conant,
Miss Bathsheba Conant,
Wife of Amariah Storrs,
Wife of Dan Storrs,
Eleazar Conant,
Experience Storrs and wife,
Abner Howe,
James Lane and wife,
Mins Sarah Porter,
Sam'! Sergeant and wife,
Wife of Joseph Sergeant,
·wife of Archa lus Stowell,
Wife of John Arnold,
_Wife of Benj. Hutchins, Jun.
Benj. Hutchins, Sen.,
Miss Phebe Huntington,
Miss Zerviah Aspinwall,
\Vife of Sam'] Southworth,
Sen. ,
Joseph Davis and wife,
Tho!l-1aS Davis and wife,
Widow Davis,
Moses Davis,
Wife of Jesse Barrows,
Thomas Storrs,
Thomas Barrows, Jun. a n d
wife,
Elizabeth Barrows,
Thomas Barrows and wife,
Stephen Barrows,
Lemuel Barrows and w ife,
Isaac Barrows and wife,
Wd. Miriam Cummings,
Sam'! Storrs and wife,
Rev. John Storrs,
Wife of Elisha Barrows,
Nathaniel
Hall and wife,
Miss Miriam Stearns,
Miss Mary Rigby.
Miss Mehitable Hall,
James Hall,
Zepha11iah Nichols,
Elijah Bump,
Wife of Joseph Ralcam,
Wife of Joshua Prior,
Azariah Balcam and wife,
Widow Hunt,
Wd. Mehitable Chaplain,
vVd. Lucy Newell,
Israel Clark and wife,
Wife of Whitman
Huntington,
Andrew Hartshorn,
Wd. Sarah Phelps,
Wd. Huldah Phelps,
Wd.---Owen,
W d. J erusha Swift,
Thos. Swift and wife,
Miss Esther Swift,
Wd. Hannah Upham,
Wife of Noah Upham,
Jos. Upham and wife.
Samuel ·wood and wife,
Mrs. Gideon Wood,
Wife of Abel Edgarton,
Wife of Ebenezer Baldwin,
Ebenezer Storrs and wife,
Miss Mary Stetson,
Wife of John Botine,
Hezekiah Allen and wife,
Jacob Waters' son,
Wife of Abner Church,
Mr. Ephraim Capron,
Miss Phebe Capron,
Uriah Smith and wife,
·wife of Leonard Sessions,
Widow Starkweather,
Mr. Elkanah Barton,
Wife of Josiah Stowell,
Widow Anne Stetson,
Ebenezer Ross,
Wife of Ephram Parker,
Miss Anne Parker,
John King and wife,
Miss Betsey King,
Miss Anne King,
\Vife of Skiff Freeman,
Wife of Skiff Freeman, Jun.
Benjamin Storrs,
Wife of Robert Barrows ,
Wd. Ruth Cambell.
Dea. Constant Southworth,
and his wife,
Wife of Theophilus Hall,
Jonathan Hovey,
Wd. Christian Salter,
Miss Hannah Porter,
Miss Hannah Martin ,
Wife of John Salter,
30
l
�Ezra Fuller and wife,
Wife of Jonathan Stowell,
Wife of Ebenezer Ross,
·wife of Ezra Grosvenor,
Wife of Asa Bennett,
Widow Huntington ,
Miss
Wife
Miss
Wife
Wife
Miss
Lydia Huntington,
of Elijah McCall,
Polly Collins,
of Daniel Barrows,
of William Perkins,
Abigail Bragg,
"An account of church members who have been admitted
my ordination, (Rev. John Sherman) November 15, 1797."
Wife of Philip Barrows, Sen.,
Samuel Smith and wife,
Wife of LeonarJ Bacon,
Wife of Eleazer Conant,
Miss Lydia Campbell,
Miss Zerviah Storrs,
Mr. Ezra Hotchkiss,
Miss Clarissa .Southworth,
Alvah Canada and wife,.
·wife of Stephen Barrows,
Miss Pierce Hall,
Amasa Storrs and wife,
Miss Sophronia Storrs,
Miss Abigail Southworth,
Wife of Joshua Barrows,
Miss Hannah Nichols,
Miss Lucy Evans ,
Joshua Storrs,
Wm. Cummings and wife,
Miss Hannah Martin 2d,
Wife of Roswell Eaton,
Wife of Daniel Hartshorn,
Stephen Armstrong,
J eptha Lyman.
Miss Nancy Collins,
Isaac Barrows, Jun.,
Joseph Hovey ,
William Willys,
Miss Deborah Sargeant,
Nathan Hall. Jun.,
Miss Betsey Reed,
Miss Rebecca Hall,
Miss Hannah Eldrige,
Miss Martha Jacobs,
Wife of William Barrows,
"\Nife of Aaron Barrow~.
Philip Perkins and wife.
Miss Polly Eldridge.
'' Anna Hall.
'• Lurency Hall.
•' Lucinda Balcam.
· Daniel Hartshorn.
Thomas Hall,
since
Thomas Davis, Jun. & wife.
Dan Bump.
Wife of Bethuel Hall.
Wife of Benj. Storrs.
Gurdon Turner.
Wife of David Porter.
Miss Patty Porter.
Miss We.althy Hall.
Ephraim Hodges and wife.
Miss Lucinda Hodges.
Wife of Ephraim Capen.
Miss J erusha Cary.
Jacob Waters Jun. & wife.
John Edwards.
Ephraim Perkins.
Miss Betsey Canada.
Miss Lucy Ross.
Miss Cynthia Stowell.
Caleb Trowbridge.
Miss Ruth Harris.
" Abigail Freeman.
Amos Thatcher and wife.
Miss Susannah Canada.
Ashur Palmer.
Robert Barrows ' Son.
Miss Esther Ride1:.
Wife of Elias Robinson.
Widow Alathea Trumbull,
Miss Hannah Sergeant.
Wife of Timothy Bibbins.
Miss Polly Trumbull.
Amasa Palmer and wife.
Nathaniel Hunt and wife.
Miss Eunice Hunt.
Wife of Tonathan Fuller.
Joshua Prior.
\Nife of Sam. Southworth,
Jun.
Widow McCall.
Ebenezer Cary & Wife.
Miss Hannah Robinson.
Wife of Ephraim Perkins. ·
Wife of Bazalael Balch.
31
�1S16.
John Brown, Jun.
Rev. David Avery & wife.
David Bacon and wife.
Widow Arnold
Wife of Moses Davis.
Jabez Barrows and wife.
Lucy Adams.
Matilda Davis.
Lora Spafford.
-Polly Storrs.
Hannah Barrows.
Jabez Adams.
Darius Spafford,
Laura Swift.
Sally Southworth.
Louisa Woodworth.
Aoigail Woodworth.
Members admitted by Rev. S. P.
Williams, sinceJanuary 1, 1807.
Eunice Curtis.
Dolly Bicknell.
Benj. Hutchins.
1817.
1808.
Olive Wade.
Warner Stowell.
William Hebard.
Sally Wittemore.
Mary W. Armstrong.
Lucia Balch.
Abigail Palmer.
Nancy Barrows.
Henry Paine.
Phill.lp Barrows.
Pharos Barrows.
John Cummings.
Amos Brad ley ,
Rebecca Bradley:
Mason Grosvenor.
Ruth Hebard.
Comfort Newbury.
Mart in Phillips .
Mary Phi ll ips , w of l'vlartin.
Bethiah ·wood worth,.
Poll y Wood.
Lucy Ensworth.
Lydia Grosvenor.
.
Lydia Grosve n or, Jr.
Betsey Perkins.
Abigail Storrs.
Amasa Barrows.
Seba Barrows.
Clarissa Cam be ll.
Adams Grosve n or .
Maria Storrs.
Nathan Grosvenor.
Lucy Grosvenor.
Thomas Barrows and wife.
Simon Woodworth & wife.
Mary H. Williams.
Eleanor Parker.
Nathaniel Manly.
Dolly Triscott.
1809.
Wife of Elisha Martin.
Lucy Perkins .
Lois Stearn~ .
Mary Trumbull.
Horace Robbins.
1810.
Sally Storrs.
Sally Barrows.
Hannah Barrows,
"E lisha.
wife of
18II.
Nathan Barrows and \Yife.
Charlotte Hanks.
Sally Storrs.
1812.
Eliz.a Salter.
Melinda Barrows.
Submit Hartshorn.
1S13.
Fidelia Cummings.
Sally Phillips.
Phebe ·wood worth.
·widow Fuller.
1818.
Simeon Woodworth,
I 815.
J un.
Personsadmitted to the churchby
Rev. Anson S. Atwood
,
to 1862. '
Asa Chapin and wife.
Sally Hartshorn.
Marcia Hanks.
32
�Daniel Burnham.
Eunice Burnham , wife of Daniel.
Ann Clark.
William A. FiEk .
Fanny Gurley.
Nancy Hartshorn.
Nelson Jacobs.
Asa Lyon.
Sophia Lathrop.
Maria Miner.
Mehitabel Phillips.
Amelia Richardson.
Experience Storrs.
Sophia Storrs, wife of Ex.
Maria Stowell, wife of Jesse
Bingham.
llfary E. Stearns. wife of Edward Marsh.
Betsey Smith.
Dr. Earl Swift.
Zalmon Storrs.
Ruth P. Taylor.
Alfred Williams.
John Arnold.
Nelson Brown.
Elizabeth Bennett.
Julia Barrows.
Mary Ann Barrows.
Stowell Cheney.
Polly Cheney.
Mary Davis.
Theresa Davis, wife of S, S.
Eaton.
Caroline Fenton.
Horace Fenton.
· Nancy Fitch.
Harriet Fletcher.
Asa J. Hinckley.
Jonathan Hinckley.
Abiel Holt.
Marcia Huntington.
J erusha Lee.
Carlton Newbury.
Nancy Newbury.
Poila Palmer.
Clarrisa Ramsdell , widow of
Isaiah.
Almira Ross.
Fearing Swift.
Laura Swift, wid . of Dr. Ea.
Delia Storrs, wife of Re ·v. T.
T. vVaterman
Charlotte Storrs.
Samuel Southworth, Jun.
Roger Southworth.
1819.
Lucy Adams, wife of Reuben
Bishop.
Maria Arnold, wife of Simeon Woodworth ,
F anny Arnold.
Stephe n F. Barrows.
Joseph H. Brown.
Harriet Blackman.
Laura Davis.
Parthena Davis.
An n P. Davis.
Sop hia Ensworth.
E liza Hartshorn.
Elizabeth Huntington .
Harriet Ramsdell, wife of Philip Collins.
Fan ny Storrs.
1820.
Sarah Atwood,
Anson S.
Maria Ramsdell,
Payne.
wife
of Rev.
wife of J.C.
I 821.
Alma Barrows, wife of Phares.
Lucina Chaplin.
Noah Davis.
Wid. Sarah Swift.
Wid. Eunice Swift.
Lucy Swift, wife of Fearing.
Charles Woodworth.
1822.
Hezekiah W. Davis.
Esther Hopkins.
1823.
Gorton Balcom.
Sophronia Jacobs.
Olive Stearns, wife of Earl
Pierce .
Shepard Stearns.
John Albro.
Sophia Barrows.
Deborah Barrows.
Caroline Barrows, wife of Phares.
Hannah Barrows.
J.ames Badger.
Julia Badger, wife of Salmon
Brewster.
Julia Balcom.
Harriet Bump.
33
�Harri et Snow.
Epapharas Tr o wbridge.
Sherman Trowbridge.
John Trumbull.
J erusha Wood.
Nancy Yeppons.
Maria W. Barrows, wife of
Phillip.
Roswell Bill.
Olive Bill.
Alfred Holt.
Wid. Mary Davis.
Grosvenor Swift,
Salome Smith.
Olive Ross.
Sophronia Wright.
Isaac Arn old.
Charle s Arnold and wife. ,
Delia Arnold, wife of George
B . Armstrong.
·Achsah Aspinwall, widow of
Thoma s .
Polly Barrows, wife of J.
Palmer Harrows.
Parna Barrows
Harriet Barrow s, wife of J.
Palmer Barrow s.
Harriet M. Barrows.
Thus. L. Barrows.
Solorn ,.ou S. Barrow s.
Lucius Barrows.
The wif e of Tho s . A. Barrows.
Lucy Bailey w. of Earl Swift.
Amos Cogswell .
Sarah Cogswell, w . of Amos.
The wife of Asahel Fenton.
Isaac P. Fenton.
Abigail Freeman .
Ed ward A. Fuller.
Nancy Hartoung, wife of John.
Zeriel Hartshorn.
The wife of Lemuel Palmer.
Isaiah Ramsdell.
Mary Ann Ramsdell, wife of
· Sidney Miner.
\;\/illiam Simons and wife.
Nathaniel P. Stearns.
Harriet Sollace, wife of G. T.
Clark.
Charlotte Swift, wife of
Brewster Swift.
Henry Wade.
Abigail Adams.
.
Abigail Barrows, wife of Nathan Brown.
The wife of Erastus Bailey.
Persis Campbell, wif e·of Peter
Betsey Everton .
Harriet Hartshorn.
Caroline Hall, w. of Horace
Fenton.
Clarissa Palmer.
Fanny Palmer.
Albert Ramsdell.
Barzillai Swift.
Lucy Swift, wife of Nathan
Rixford.
DeHa Salter.
182-1-.
Emily Barrows.
Uriah Sniith.
182 5.
William Robin son and wife.
John Storrs.
Lydia Stearns.
1826.
1827 .
Esther Barrows.
Louisa Trowbridge.
1828.
Esther Chapin.
Maria Hutchins.
1829,
Eliza Adams, wife of Ezra
Bingham.
Abigail Barrows, w. of Dan.
Melvina Barrows.
Johnathan Davis.
Laura Grosvenor, wife of
Nathan.
Christian Salter.
George Swift.
Charlotte Sheldon.
Ruben Robinson.
Sarah Lillie.
Maria Newbury, wife of Geo.
Swift,
Eunice Swift, wife of William
Trumbull .
Harriet Swift, wife of David
Adams.
1830.
Phebe Nichols, w. of John.
Lucenath Nichols.
34
�Mary H. Phillips.
A lthea
Swift, wife
Edwin Newbury.
Fanny, wife of Z. Jacobs .
Catherine M. Trowbridge.
Bethia T. ·woodworth.
Eunice Baldwin.
Dorcas Eaton, (restored . )
Althea Ingalls, wife of E. She ldon.
Eliphalet Lyman.
J erusha Simons .
Simeon Woodworth.
Maria Woodworth,
wife of
Simeon.
of Dea.
1831.
We althy Cummins, wife of J.
P.
El vira M. Palmer .
Sop hia Stearns.
1832.
H ill Brown.
Na ncy Brown, w. of I-I.
Mary Backus.
As cenath Badger.
S arah, wife of 0. Bugbee.
Pe ter Campbell.
Herbert B. Campbell.
Sa rah Campbell, w. of I. P.
Fenton . .
Zalmon Jacobs.
Fanny Ann Jacobs.
Eliphalet Lyman.
Laura Lyrpan
Lemuel Palmer .
Sarah Ripley.
Joseph Sollace.
Harriet, wife of J. Sollace.
Lucy, wife of S . Stearns.
Epaphras Sheldon.
Albert Swift.
Sophia Storrs,
w. of R. S.
Chapin.
Laura Smith.
William Trumbull.
Alice R. Adams, wife of E. S.
Fitch.
Amelia S. Arnold, wife of J .
Gardner Barrows.
Laura Badger.
Emily M. Baldwin.
Lovisa, wife of \V. Brown.
Emeline S. Burnham, wife of
Porter B. Peck.
Marcia Campbell.
Catherine C. Colton.
Moses Davis.
Lydia Hyde.
Semantha Johnson, w. of Ebenezer Fenton.
Nancy, wife of E. Lyman.
Amanda A. Parker.
Fidelia Palmer.
Lucius Storrs.
Susan L . , wife of Lucius.
Stephen S. Stowell.
1833.
William Cushman and wife.
Phillip Barrows.
Sophia Barrows, w. of Phillip
Delia Barrows, wife of John
Tracy.
Sarah M. Barrows.
Eli zabeth S . Barrows, w. of
Ansel Arnold .
1834.
Sophia Brown, wife of Henry .
Jonathan R . Davis.
Emily Fenton, w. of Horace.
Ann Lillie;
Abigail Lillie.
1835 .
Sally Ann Barrows, wife of
Alphonso.
George T. Clark.
Mary Ann Davis, v,;ife of Jonathan.
Mary Golding , wife of Edmond.
Louisa M. Southworth, wife of
Roger.
Laura M. S. (Dan) Barrows . .
1836.
Hannah Hall, wife of Seth.
Hannah Hall.
Marcia Sollace , wife of Newell.
Clarissa Storrs, wife of Zalmon.
Cynthia S. Stowell, wife of H.
D. Russ.
Hannah W . Trumbull wife of
Charles.
35
�1837.
William R. Hall.
Nancy Hunt.
1838.
Fanny S . Badger, wife of Henry Brewster.
Elizabeth
M. Arno'.d, wife of
R. P .. Barrows.
Julia T. Atwood.
Jabez F. Adams.
Sarah, wife of Isaac Arnold .
Dan Barrows.
Francis H. Barrows.
Melinda Barrows,
wife of E.
M. Cushrnan.
Edwin Barrows.
Harriet
Barrows, wife of J oseph Spencer.
Elizabeth G. Barrows, wife of
Nathan Griggs.
Cynthia Barrows, wife of Rev.
S. q. Willard .
Mary Bailey, wife of James
Morgan.
Henry Brown.
Washington
Brown.
Martha Brown.
Julia Burnham.
Caroline
Burnham,
wife of
John Utley.
Eleazar M. Cushman.
Eleazar Carter.
Kezia Chapman.
Susan Campbell, w. of J. _Whitney.
Edwin S. Fitch .
.
Edmund Golding.
Althea Jones, wife of Uriah.
Jane L. Lyman.
Chas. Gardiner Southworth.
Laura
Swift , wife of C. G.
Southworth.
Roxy Jane Southworth,
wife
of D. F. Terry.
Roland D. Sollace.
Fanny Storrs, wife of Henry
Brown.
C. Selima Storrs, wife of H. B.
Campbell.
Susan M. Storrs, wife of L. C.
Dewing.
Sarah F. Swift, wife of T. K.
Adams. ·
Charles Trumbull.
\V'illiam S. Bosworth.
Charles Campbell.
Rebecca Cogswell, wife of Albert Lincoln.
Mary S. Eaton, wife of \¥alter Case.
Seth Hall.
Caroline L. Phillips, wife of
C . A. Atkins.
Amelia Stowell.
1840.
Maria W. Barrows, wife of
Amasa P.
Sarah Palmer, wife of Dea.
Amasa.
Harriet Palmer, wife of Nathan F.
Abigail Stowell.
1841.
Chester Burnham:
lVlary Burnham .
Mary Davis.
1842.
Mary Badger, wife of 'Salrnon Brewster.
Abby Ann Hinckley.
1844.
Edward Gilbert.
Catherine F. S. Gilbert,
of Edward .
Sarah Stebbins.
wife
1845.
Ann Bari ·ows.
Elijah N. Brown and wife.
1846.
Elizabeth Phillips, wife of
Albert.
Lemuel Palmer and wife.
Martha, wife of Barzillai
Swift.
Mary Jane Salter, wife of Edward Gilbert.
1847.
Anne Abbee , wife of Chas.
Cornelia vV.Stowell. wife of
Summer Stowell.
George
1848.
B. Armstrong.
•
�Lucinda Storrs, wife of Dan . P.
Merrick Stebbins .
1854.
Calvin A. Shaw .
Clara M. Shaw, wife of C . A.
William Trumbull.
1849.
Amas:i P. B:irrows.
Robert P. Barrows.
Julia Julian .
Mary Julian .
Harriet E. Newbury.
Na than F. Palmer.
Nelson Palmer.
Albert Phillips.
Ann E. Ramsdell, wife of
Richard Watrous.
Hugh M. Scott.
Maria Scott.
James A. Barrows.
Abby Barrows, wife of Jas . A.
Sarah L. Barrows, wife of D.
A. Griggs.
Mary Barrows.
Maryette French, wife of John
A. Conant.
Lydia F, Jones , wife of Daniel
Fuller.
Rowland Swift.
Harriet Stowe-II, wife of Ed mund Foote.
Dan. P. Storrs.
Isaac 'vV. Storrs.
Eunice 'vV. Storrs, wife of
I. w.
Sarah P. Atwood, wife of Alfred Your:g.
Rebecca G. Baldwin, wife of
Geo . B.
•
Addeliza Barrows, wife of
Hibbard.
Mary E. Golding, wife of Peter Lanman.
Sarah E. Stebbins.
Cornelia S . Swift, wife of J as.
·
A. Barrows.
l
855.
Delia M. Barrows , wife of
Waldo Bass.
Jonathan L. Hinckley.
Maria Hinckley, wife of J . L.
Marv S . Hinckley , w. of
E. G. Sumner .
1856.
Rebecca Lincoln, wife of
Albert.
.
Harriet E. Storrs, wife of
William.
Mary M. Storrs.
Martha S. Storrs , w. of Russell Gillette.
1857.
Mary Ann Ha zen, wife of
Dwight E. Potter.
Aaron H. Storrs .
1858.
Namesof LivingMembers
Starred( 1910.)
Charlo tte M. Sw'ift.
Cornelia J. Hall, wife of Chas.
Fenton.
JI!arion Fenton, wife of Rev.
H. R . Hoisington.
Ellen M. Hin ckley, wife of
E. G. Sumner.
Sarah A . Hinckley,
wife of
Edwin Solomon .
Adeline A. Spencer.
Harriet M. Storrs, wife of D.
F. Brigham.
Harriet Bishop .
Lydia Dewey , [aged 94,J
Martha S. Golding.
Clarrisa E. Mori"ison.
Horace D. Russ.
Juba Storrs.
Mary T . Storrs,
wife of W .
S. Goslee.
Julia E. Armstrong , wife of
N. L. Bishop.
Martha W. Armstrong, wife of
J. D. Chaffee.
185 I.
Sarah Adams.
Marv Stearns, wife of H .
Brown.
18 52,
Amelia S. Barrows, wife of
J . Gardner Barrows.
Emily Barrows.
Aurelia N. Spencer.
Vera Ann Stearns, wife of
Ephraim Rood.
3i
�Arthur A. Barrows.
Catherine A. BatTo,, ·s, ,dfe of
E. M. Swift.
Frederick
A. Barro"·s.
Mary P. Brown.
*Everett G. Barrows.
*Theresa S. Eaton.
s•Lucy A Cro~s (M. L.)
'~George \V .. French.
Orilla Hall, wife of Harry.
Eleanor A. Kennada.
Walter Kennada and wife.
Frederick
W. Kronert.
James R. Lyman.
Cornelia Lyman, wife of J. R.
Ellen M. Nichols. wife of Ed. gar A. Lockwood.
Elizabeth O' eill.
Mary L. Snow , wife of John.
Louisa R. Southworth.
'
I~. Abbie Southworth.
Ellen E. Southworth,
wife of
Ossian Bugbee.
Samuel Southworth.
E. Myron Swift.
·*Jared .H. Stearns.
·*Vallette D. Stearns.
* Han -nab C. Learned ( C. H. )
George W. Campbell.
Mary Brown.
A. Eliza Griggs,
wife of 0. B.
1861.
E<Iwin Barrnws,
Emily
Barrows.
\\'i • ..
wife of Ed-
1862.
Ja~nes A. Barrows.
Jane Campbell,
1S66.
A scenath,
wife
of L. D.
Brown .
Julia E. Brown.
. ·
*c E. Augusta Bro,Yn.
Julia De1by.
Addie C. Derby.
Ann McFarlane,
wife of John .
Cornelia Hinckley, ,,·ife of J.
L.
Adeline L. Abbe, wife of John
Wait.
Charles A. Armstrong.
' Edward P. Armstrong.
Frances A. Ayer.
'"'Annette E. Barrows .
Elizabeth P. Barrows.
vViliiam H. Barrows.
Maria J. Bingham.
Emma J. Crane, wife of Henry
Larkin.
Harriet M. Crane.
*Enoch H. Dodd.
wife u{
Sarah F. Dougherty,
Ambrose.
Olive M. Fenton.
"S. Josephine Buchanan (A.
W.)
Helen J. Fuller.
George A. Lincoln.
John Perkins.
Lucy J. Pollard.
*William H. Pollard.
Clara M. Storrs.
*Ellen H. Stearns (J. H.)
Sarah G .. Storrs.
M. Jennie Swift.
Mary Sumner.
George R. Swift.
Charles B. Stearn~.
lane H : White, wite of Rand.
;,. Juli a P. Larkham (Chas.)
·* Mary Upto n (Albert.)
1864 .
Rev. Charles L. Ayer.
Mary B. Ayer, wife of Rev.
L.
John A. Conant.
J\faria R. Payne,
1865.
1867.
C.
·
wife of J C.
Olive B. Storrs, ,dfe of Stedman,
Carrie M. Young, wife of D. A.
Hemingway.
Cynthia
S. Campbell,
Herbert B.
C. Eugene Campbell.
Juliette
C.
James.
1868.
Merrick,
1S69.
Harriet Atwood
Lillah A. Brown.
·X·
(H.
wife of
wife
W.)
of
�l\fary E. tHenry) Brown.
A bby Jane Case.'
.
D elia P. Campbell,
w1[e of
Gilbert W. Chapin.
Caro line Dodd, w. of Enoch.
Rev. K. B. Glidden.
Carol ine A. Glidden, wife of
Rev. K. B.
Miriam Glidden, wife of F. J.
Sheldon.
Clarissa F. Marcy .
Eliza A. Marcy, wife of Robert
Beals.
l\lary, wife of G. Robt. Swift.
Susan Small.
Epapharas Sheldon.
Althea Sheldon, wife of Epapharas.
Mary E. Tilden .
Ida M. Walcott, wife of A. 1I.
Gould.
Margaret You g
1873.
-::-;ane (Barro,v.s) Gar<lner.
* ~'rederick M. Barrows.
Rachael Cameron.
William Hartman.
Christine Hartman, wife
of Wm.
·><-c
Charles H. Learned.
Edgar A. Lockwood.
Katie A. Lin coln.
•Walter F. Storrs.
Harriet Tucker, wife of Eph.
Emily 'l'rowbrirl ge, wife of Ira.
Ebenezer Towne.
Emily A. Walker, wife of A. T . .
1874.
Arthur Rouse.
Char les Ramsdell.
Elizabeth F. Ramsdell, wife
of Charles.
·•·Ger trude (Ramsdell) Bentley, c
•
1870.
1875.
Julia A. Brown.
* Henry S. Brown.
~-Stephen P . Brown.
Benjamin S. Bliss.
Helen F. Bliss. wife of B. S.
* Mary A. Campbell (Charles.)
Anne Cameron. wife of John.
Emma Maria Fenton, wife of
Frank D.
·X· Ellen
Maria ( Jacobs ) Shumway.
• Emma Ste 4 rns (Valett~ D.)
Persis S. Storrs, wife of John
Cotton.
Henry W. S. Storrs.•
Laura W. Storrs, wid. of Edwin.
Charles Taylor.
Sarah J. Nichols.
I
Tittel, August
.
Tittel. Catherine, wife of Aug.
•N ichols , Melvin L. c
Nichols, Addelle A.
·"Buss, Abbie M. c
Gurley, Josephin e S.
Towne, Mary E.
Mott, Margaret
·
• L:inphear, Annie M. c (Albert)
1S;6.
Mott, Clara 1\1.
Batting. Elizabeth
Cable, Julius
Nichols, David
Nichols, Ida May
1877•Buchanan, Archibald
*Crane, Alice M. c
87 I.
Agnes R. Cochrane.
Marv A . Dodd.
Clara A . Kuss .
Lydia Stone.
Broadhurst,
Lincoln,
1872.
Herbert C. Hall.
Silas L. Rouse. ·
*c Adeline Rouse,
M.
1879.
Mary Ann
Kate
188!'.
1882.
Tacobs, Grant A.
·Lockwood, Jennie
(S. L.)
39
W, c
�1883.
1893 .
Rouse, Kate L.
Topliff , Mabel
Simonds.
*Dun sta n , Ger t~ud e, c (J . L. )
189 5.
188 5.
-x·cros s, Mar y , 1
Cro ss , Delia
Crane, Lewis
Cross, Edwin L .
·:<·Buchanan, Eunice B. c
*Buchanan, Archibald W . Jr. c
Backus, Cora Mabel
Baker , Addie Amy
Jacbos, Eunice E li zabeth
Johnson, William B.
*Oliver, Minnie Estella , c
*Russ. Clara May. c
* Jacobson, Lula Elnora, c·(J ohn)
Tittle, Morris , c
Tittle, Maria
Woodwa rd, J.ulia .Ann
*Cross , Homer M; c
Mary
188 6.
Anthony, Lydia E.
Marsh, Eunice A.
~-Yeomans , Lillie L. c
'~Barrow s , Nettie A. c (T. W.)
Simonds, Clarence E .
·walcott, Hattie Smith
*Howlett , Al vin c
~-;acobs, Catherine E. c
1887.
,'fBrown , Julia J . 1
* Howlett, Christiana,
Eaton, Mary
1t96.
18 S8 .
.P ike, Rev. Clarence
Pike, Caroline E.
_ -x·stearns , Robt. E . c
*Dunham, Henry Minot, c
*Barrows, Thomas Walter, c
<:•Barrows, Mary Cushman, c
Balch, Rufus Conrad
,,.Olds, Sarah Swift , c
Larkham, Josephine
Lockwood, Edith Adelle
Steams, Ella Raymond
Gould, May D.
"·Cros s , Lucius Ho w ard, o
* Daggett , John. I
*Daggett, Sarah B. I
L earned, H. Catherine
Wilbur, Eli zabeth
·*Larkham , Emily, c
1890 .
*Slate , Gertrude,
1897.
Wilbur , Emma
1898.
Dodd, Julia M .
* Dunstan, Joseph L. c
*Stearns , Arthur L. c
·*Robinson, Luther P. c
*Buckingham , (Larkham )
Anme E. c
1899 . .
*Bro\\"n, Alice E. I
c (F. N . )
1900.
1S9r.
Delzell, Fin is E.
Delzell, Lelia
Marcy, Ida M .
*Whiting, Arabela,
I
A.
*Pike, Florence,
c
188 3.
Raymond. Hattie M. Booth
Larrow, lVIargaret
,:;
892.
1903.
Harris, Eber
Plumle y , William
Ph,mley, Harri e t E.
Baker, Horace W .
Baker, Emily
*Jacobs, Arthur C. c
"Jacobs , Ha zel C. c
'~Storrs. ·wait e r F. (fi rst received in 18 73 ) 1
*Storrs, Maria , I (Walter )
40
l
I
�1904.
*Bigelow, Katharine 1
*Bigelow , H arris S. 1
·*Bigelow, Allen Caryl 1
*McLean, Clarence S. 1
•Smith, Hattie, c
*Storrs, Nellie, c
*Storrs, Abbie, c
1906.
'kJacobson,
1909.
John N. I
*Barber, Lydia M. I
*Ostrander, Emma A. 1
'~Williams, Mrs. Gilbert 1
*Wyman, Geo . H. I
*Wyman, Mrs. G. H. 1
*Colby, Mrs. Theresa I
*Kip, Mrs. C. H. 1
*Eno, Della J. 1
*Johnson, Myra 1
Barrows, ' Robert A.
*Raymond, George J. c
*Buchanan, Annie W. c
"'Oden, Annie, c
•Hall, Charles G. c
* Ha ll , Burton. c
* Wheeler, George, c
*Wyman, Harold, c
\,Vyman, Rachel
·"Larkham, Mildred F. c
·*Learned. Bessie, c
Reed, Ruth L. c
*Wright, Mary Jane . c
Dqdd, Annie Gertrude
*Stearns, Alice J. 1
1910.
*Dunham, ·Mrs. John 1
*Do r m a n, Mrs. Augusta I
*Kip, Chatfield H., Jr. c
*Allen, G. H. c
•
*Barrows, T. Arthur c
• *Cady, William H. c
*Dunham, Mrs. Emma E . c
*Macfarlane, Mrs. Mary c
*Oden. A lfred 1
·*Olin. Florence E. c
*Schenck, Ernest F. c
*Schenck, Herbert c
*Whiting, Alida c (Eugene )
*Whiting, Elmer E. c
*Nichols, Mrs. Nellie 1 ( M. L .)
*James, Mabel H. 1
*Curgenven, Mrs. Richard 1
1907.
*Hill. Annie M. c
*Hill, Charles W. c
'~Franklin, Sarah I. c
*Frank lin, Charlotte E . c
*Lanphear,
Rev. Walter E. 1
*Lanphear, Alida H. 1
1908.
Bigelow, Mrs. Maria S.
*Bigelow, Lucius S. 1
*Bigelow, Sarah H. 1
41
�
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<a href="https://cscu-wcsu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01CSCU_NETWORK_ALMA7186028870003451&context=L&vid=WCSU_V1&search_scope=WCSU&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US">Link to Primo record</a>
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Title
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Manual of the Congregational Church: Mansfield Centre, Conn., with a historical sketch and roll of members, from its organization to the present time. (1875) revised 1910
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F104.M2 C66 1910
34023001507559
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41 p. 19 cm
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Congregational churches
Mansfield (Conn. : Town) -- History
Abstract
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The Congregational Church of Mansfield is the oldest church in Tolland County, Connecticut, having been established in 1710.<br /><br /><a title="http://www.myfcc.info/" href="http://www.myfcc.info/">http://www.myfcc.info/</a>
Publisher
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Willimantic, Conn.: Hall & Bill Printing Company, 1910
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
689128bb-177e-4e0a-97b9-74bb1839a02e
Connecticut Churches
CT Room rare
Rare books
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2250/war_american_revolution001.jpg
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https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2250/war_american_revolution002.jpg
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https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2250/war_american_revolution004.jpg
cdc9c7a684b80509718293a73f8e8d66
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rare Books
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
37d53c9c-6c64-467a-a7d9-7d413a8d8208
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://cscu-wcsu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01CSCU_NETWORK_ALMA7171442040003451&context=L&vid=WCSU_V1&search_scope=WCSU&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US">Link to Primo </a>
Title
A name given to the resource
A historical collection from official records, files, &c., of the part sustained by Connecticut, during the war of the revolution : with an appendix, containing important letters, depositions, &c., written during the war / compiled by Royal R. Hinman
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
b29214774
E263.C5 H6 1842
Description
An account of the resource
643 p., [2] p. of plates : ill. 23 cm
Subject
The topic of the resource
Connecticut -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
Connecticut -- Biography
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Includes index
The<strong> </strong>author of this collection<strong>, Royal Ralph Hinman</strong><span> (1785-1868) was an American lawyer and antiquarian who held various public offices in Connecticut</span><span>, and who wrote on antiquarian subjects.<br /><br /><a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ralph_Hinman" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ralph_Hinman">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Ralph_Hinman</a><br /></span>
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Hartford : Printed by E. Gleason, 1842
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
c8396a88-ec1d-43b6-b98b-491cf648a45d
Rare books
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2358/marriages_and_deaths001.jpg
747e109bd5640730b54a4583e6d070ae
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2358/marriages_and_deaths002.jpg
ed9b1d178a07918fd49eb5df5328ea25
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2358/marriages_and_deaths003.jpg
54195655bd0e88b10f1240bc11a94d0b
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2358/marriages_and_deaths004.jpg
e6479747fe979126b17b7577cdb83b27
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2358/marriages_and_deaths005.jpg
71832ab475dba285bcee8eb2db9c6297
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2358/marriages_and_deaths006.jpg
b93011643ff747916105b76e5e79db87
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2358/marriages_and_deaths007.jpg
5c03993799599af5952070db73a4e2ac
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rare Books
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
37d53c9c-6c64-467a-a7d9-7d413a8d8208
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Marriages and deaths from miscellaneous newspapers published in Connecticut from 1764-1820 / [copied by Edna Huntington]
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://cscu-wcsu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01CSCU_NETWORK_ALMA991001065399703456&context=L&vid=WCSU_V1&search_scope=WCSU&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US">Link to record in Primo</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
b30731306
F93 .Hxx 1939
Description
An account of the resource
v., 42 leaves 28 cm
Subject
The topic of the resource
Connecticut -- Statistics, Vital
Registers of births, etc. -- Connecticut
Marriage records -- Connecticut
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Edna Huntington (1895-1965) attended P.S. 131 in Brooklyn and later completed Columbia University's Home Study courses in Librarianship. She began working for the Long Island Historical Society (now the Brooklyn Historical Society) in 1926 and served as Head Librarian from 1936 to 1960. In addition to her work as a librarian, Huntington was an avid traveler. During the 1920s and 1930s, she planned a number of hiking and camping trips throughout the northeast United States and documented her excursions with photographs and detailed travel journals.<br /> A collection of her papers are at the Brooklyn Historical Society:<br /><br /><a title="http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/bhs/arc_044_huntington/index.html" href="http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/bhs/arc_044_huntington/index.html">http://dlib.nyu.edu/findingaids/html/bhs/arc_044_huntington/index.html</a>
Typescript
In the possession of the Long Island Historical Society."
Includes index
Includes annotations"
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Brooklyn, N.Y. : [s.n.], 1939
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
b4a89e5a-e68c-4cfa-aea7-8ffb2da18bb8
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2367/historical_sketch001.jpg
0a30e6f8e3bd2fdd1f4183658c778c4c
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2367/historical_sketch002.jpg
615baf2a03db32995abca92f2a4f29eb
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2367/historical_sketch003.jpg
eddc20cfd509cecdfa9f6cfa2c63c26a
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rare Books
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
37d53c9c-6c64-467a-a7d9-7d413a8d8208
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Historical sketch of the Baptist churches in Saybrook, Connecticut
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://cscu-wcsu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01CSCU_NETWORK_ALMA7186071780003451&context=L&vid=WCSU_V1&search_scope=WCSU&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US">Link to record in Primo</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
b30918273
F104.D3 D46 1849
Description
An account of the resource
24 p. 15 cm
Subject
The topic of the resource
Deep River (Conn.) -- Church history
Baptists -- Connecticut -- Deep River -- History
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
This volume contains brief histories of the baptist churches in the Connecticut towns of Saybrook, Essex, and Deep River to 1849.
Publisher
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Hartford [Conn.] : Press of Case, Tiffany & Co., 1849
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
221ae84b-b200-4847-a741-2db0c3084db7
-
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2370/connecticut_school_journal001.jpg
c70c3149bca9fe3ec776316c5d6da963
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2370/connecticut_school_journal002.jpg
e95326feded6b38bd87baa52a028c27a
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2370/connecticut_school_journal003.jpg
4c8cf3fb97fac22a71fd3bd0fd56b7a3
https://archives.library.wcsu.edu/omeka/files/original/Rare_Books/2370/connecticut_school_journal004.jpg
52698e43c8ad010493f06d99d8af0590
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rare Books
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
37d53c9c-6c64-467a-a7d9-7d413a8d8208
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
The Connecticut school journal
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://cscu-wcsu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01CSCU_NETWORK_ALMA7175456070003451&context=L&vid=WCSU_V1&search_scope=WCSU&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US">Link to record in Primo</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
b2906594x
L11.C66
Description
An account of the resource
4 v. 23 cm
v. 7 no. 34, 38 Apr. 1902, May 1902
Subject
The topic of the resource
Education -- Periodicals
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
The original <strong>Connecticut School Journal</strong> was first published by the Connecticut State Teachers' Association as the<strong> Connecticut Common School Journal</strong> in 1838. In 1875, it combined with the <strong>Maine Journal of</strong> <strong>Education</strong>, the <strong>Massachusetts Teacher</strong>, the <strong>Rhode Island</strong> <strong>Schoolmaster</strong>, and the <strong>College Courant</strong> to form the <strong>New England Journal of Education,</strong> later renamed the <strong>Journal of Education.</strong> In 1952 the journal was sold to the Boston University School of Education. The <strong>Journal of Education </strong>is the oldest continuously published journal in the field of education in the country.<br /><a title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_University_School_of_Education" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_University_School_of_Education">http://en.wikipedia. /wiki/Boston_University_School_of_Education<br /><br /></a>These volumes are of a new publication under the name of the <strong>Connecticut School Journal </strong>begun in 1895.
Published under the direction of State Teachers' Association
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
New Haven
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
c994fb11-cf20-41e7-aaf0-71677662087a
-
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Rare Books
IIIF Collection Metadata
UUID
37d53c9c-6c64-467a-a7d9-7d413a8d8208
Still Image
A static visual representation. Examples of still images are: paintings, drawings, graphic designs, plans and maps. Recommended best practice is to assign the type "text" to images of textual materials.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
Records of Fairfield, Connecticut / presented by Ellen Hardin Walworth Chapter of Daughters of American Revolution of New York City copied by Mrs. Harvey Tyson White, Regent
Has Version
A related resource that is a version, edition, or adaptation of the described resource.
<a href="https://cscu-wcsu-primo.hosted.exlibrisgroup.com/primo-explore/fulldisplay?docid=01CSCU_NETWORK_ALMA7187095310003451&context=L&vid=WCSU_V1&search_scope=WCSU&tab=default_tab&lang=en_US">Link to record in Primo</a>
Identifier
An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context
b30771778
F104.F2 Wxx 1926?
Description
An account of the resource
3 v
Subject
The topic of the resource
Fairfield (Conn.) -- Statistics, Vital
Registers of births, etc. -- Connecticut -- Fairfield
Vital statistics
Abstract
A summary of the resource.
Mimeo typescript
Includes index
v.1: Unpublished Records of Fairfield, Conn. -- v.2: Records of Weston, Conn, Third Parish set off from Fairfield in 1757 -- v.3, pt.1: Records of Green Farms -- v.3, pt.2: Records of Greenfield Easton Church and Cemetery
[S.l. : s.n.]
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
[S.l. : s.n.], 1925-1926
Creator
An entity primarily responsible for making the resource
IIIF Item Metadata
UUID
1ac6a2f3-c5f8-461f-b9be-660315f757c6