Address at the Centenary of St. Paul's Church, Norwalk, Conn.

It will do no harm, perhaps, to add that the parsonages of 1806, and 1742, were conveniently situated a,s pertains to a particular other than that of a clerical gathering point. The inmates of these glebe houses were favored in being about the first of our citizens to obtain “the important news” which in olden times was dispatched by special messengers from Boston to New York, it was the practice, with these agents, in their passage through a town, to “shout forth” to its listening inhabitants any piece of intell- igence which might be of general interest, and their approach to the town or village was announced by the sounding of a horn. This horn was blown, for Norwalk, on the hill at the foot of which stood the ancient rectory, and the blasts called the resident at once to his dooryard. During the reign of one of the Georges, the birth of an heir, apparent or presumptive, was in this manner published to our people. The shrill “tooting” of the tidings-bearer was heard as he galloped down “Jarvis Hill,” and the denizens along the Green ran out to learn what the tidings might be. The messenger sped across the common, crying loudly, “a Prince is born, a Prince is born,” but one of our old rector’s neighbors was not satisfied ; he wished to know more concerning the matter, and would interrogate the courier; but the rider dashed on, leav- ing behind him the echoes of the proclamation, “a Prince is born — a prince is born.” PARISH BRIEFS. Some one says that the greatest poets have “learned in suffering what they taught in song.” The church of 1786 was born of struggle, but it burst forth eventually in brightness, and, when finally completed, was ah object of ad- miration. Its symmetrical proportions; its curved door and window head- ings; its artistic spire, tapering, in perfect lines, towards the sky; its con- cave ceiling, and graceful chancel arch, and panneled gallery fronts; the pure, pearl tint, reigning within, relieved pleasantly by the choir hangings at the west, and by the plush or damask desk, and pulpit drapery at the east end, and by the cushioned pews, and carpeted aisles, gave to it a certain indi- viduality, and made it a sort of survival of olden-time ecclesiastical taste. The fine row of Lombardy poplars in front of it (look again at cut of church) were set out, it is probable, in the spring of 1802. The parish made a purchase of between twenty and thirty of these tender-legended saplings, and distributed them through the church yard. They gave a kind of sober dignity to the spot, and are not, by any means, forgotten to-day. Neither has the tower room (the open space behind the choir) with its raised seats, and aisles branching to either gallery, passed quite out of memory. It was not an inconsiderable portion of the church in ancient times, and its south window (first tower window over the front door, as shown in cut) is referred to as having given a particularly cheerful atmosphere to the unpartitioned apartmenn The colored people once occupied this space, and in the days before the organ was introduced, their voices, in response and song, were wont to come in deep volume from it, over the gallery elevation. Latterly, and after the organ was placed in the church, a little room was parted off in that portion of the edifice, through which access was had to the belfry. Dr. William Smith was a composer of music, and during his rectorship awakened, doubtless, a taste for more fluent and attractive melody. Chanting was comparatively unknown, at that day, in this land, and a strong prejudice existed against it, so that no great progress in it was made at St. Paul’s further than that the singers themselves became much engaged in the matter. One of Dr. Smith’s successors seemed averse to it also, but the choir was persis- tent, and finally made use of an argument which prevailed. They arranged fora musical serenade to their rector, and prepared a choice programme. The selections (in chanting) were so delightful, and their execution of the same so skillful, that resistance ceased. Chanting was introduced, and so unusual was the practice, and so perfect was the old choir’s performance of it, that visitors from the city came to the town and church to listen to it. One of the most efficient members of the choir, in the past, was Mrs. Edward Smith (Esther Benedict,) daughter-in-law of Rev. Dr. William Smith, and mother of the present William D. and Henry Smith, and also aunt of the late Mrs. LeGrand Lockwood, and of Mrs. Charles F. Raymond, now residing in Knight street. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married, on May 22d., 1811, by the 67 stipulations hereinafter contained, do promise to pay, to the wardens and vestrymen of said parish or society for the time being, such sum Rev. Dr. How, of Trinity church, New York, and their song-home stood near the pleasant knoll opposite to Henry Belden’s house. The remembrance of the “rehearsals’ within it is not yet effaced. The family pew was No. 24 south side of the church. Prominent among the twenty-seven choirsters, from the consecration, in 1786, down to Dr. Mead’s acceptance of the parish, was Mr. Samuel J. Camp, who lived in the house now standing, on the north-west corner of North avenue and Camp street. He was fond of music, and the choir was often at his house, and, when intent upon its trial of some new piece or anthem, his appearance (long curls flowing over his shoulders, and tune book in one hand, and tuning-fork in the other and beating time with both), was striking, and indicative of earnestness. The “singing schools” at choirster Camp’s house were quite a social feature, and among their frequent neighborhood visitors were Hon. Thaddeus Betts and Mr. Charles Robert Sherman. The line of four tower windows in the old church, and the series of small sky windows in the spire above the belfry, were brightly illuminated on the eve of 'he Nativity: which spectacle, heightened by that of the reflection of a burning candle from every pane in the nave, and voiced by the tones of the church bell borne cheerily out upon the electric air, was not only a brilliant but an inspiriting one, at the glowing tide when Christmas “set its warm kiss upou the inner man of the heart.” The old church was a marvel of beauty on Christmas Eve, and the susceptibilities of our fathers, to the charms of the grateful season, were remarkably keen. The church yard was black with people waiting for admission to the service on the night “which, to the cottage as to the crown, brought tidings of salvation down,” and of such account was the festival, in the estimation 5f one of the worshipers in the church of 1786, that from the hour of lighting the candles, on Christmas Eve, all work on the part of the farm hands was suspended for the next twelve days. While Christ church parish, Westport, was being organized, some fifty odd years ago, a “crisis” occurred. Subscriptions were slow, and the funds were running low. Approaching Mr. Daniel Nash, who was much interested in the matter, and who stood in the aisle or at the stove in old St. Paul’s, Dr. Kemper remarked, “Uncle Daniel, I purpose to double my subscription for Sauga- tuck.” “ Then I must double mine," was the reply. The result of which was the addition of several hundred dollars to the treasury, and the completion and consecration of the church. Dr. Kemper was not only fond of parish visiting, but he made systematic work of the duty. Among his parishioners from a distance w ere a father, his son, and their families, who dwelt beneath one roof. The pastor dined in one side of the house, and supped in the other. Th v first church, built by the parish, stood in the north-east corner of the present church grounds. It was used for church purposes about five years, and then converted into a parsonage. After about seventy years, service it was finally taken down in 18J6. The second church was built in 1743 and was in dimensions fifty-five feet by forty-two feet It was destroyed in 1779, and after worshiping for a few years in a temporary structure, the parish erected the church of 1786, over the ruins of the one that was burned, and of the same dimensions. Stephen Marvin is alluded to, in the centennial address, as having drawn the first stick of timber for the church of the last century. This was a fact, but the honor was coveted by another. Mr. Jemmy James said, in the hearing of Mr. Marvin, that it was his intention to be ahead of any one else with an offering. Then Mr. James, answered Mr. Marvin, you will have to get up very early in the morning. Stephen Marvin lived where his grandson, Josiah Raymond, of Westport, now lives. Jemmy James lived towards Belden Hill. Both were astir betimes, but Mr. Marvin was first upon the ground. The large vane which, alike in balmy air or furious blast and during sun- shine or through continuous rain, turns, a faithful indication of the course of the winds, formed, in the beginning of the nineteenth century, a target for a young city lad, (afterwards a vestryman of Trinity church, New York), who was staying in the place. The lad was a clever marksman, and on this occa- sion he took very excellent aim. The picked up path-side stone was unerr- ingly directed, and the vane fell to the pavement. 68 or sums as are applied to our names respectively, on tlie following terms or conditions, viz : Payment shall be made in the following manner, one-fourtli part at or before Easter Monday, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, one-fourth part at or before Easter Monday, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, one-fourth part at or before Easter Monday, one thousand eight hundred and nineteen, one-fourth part at or before Easter Monday one thousand eight hundred and twenty, with the lawful interest from Easter Monday one thousand eight hundred and sixteen on the whole amount of said subscription, and that annually, and the interest or income shall be applied to the support or maintenance of said rector or minister.”