-.
7 finutb
, % 015m ville ficufitwl.
JUBILEE _ SUP’PLEMENT.
m L. ‘xv i. X0.
l-‘l l-‘Tlll'l‘ll .\ .\' N I\' IIIRSA ll \'
coNGRtGiTioiiiL CHURCH.
‘l'lt‘lu\‘.
101:" \I.
II I‘~
LT! .
\I‘Illfb.\‘l\,
[\t I". l\l‘llll \1".
\1|\l-\.
fifty years ago. or iii l‘Jtl. the ‘. I~ -:I-l
(”Hingatioiial church of NI rwaik \v Is
organ/ad in what w.is then kiw“ I.
.I‘
the villageof "Ilid “'ell." and :o lllls
day as the city Uf‘rsl‘llill Noi‘wiilk. 'l he
anniversary of that u\'I‘l\l was celebrated
‘ Sunday and Monday of this- week with
appropriate exercises. iii
which there was a union of the parent
I church of \"Jriivalk. and general reunion
of the members of the celebrating church.
and much interest by the puiilic in get.
and elaborate
‘ Norwalk.
Stephen ti. Ferris. .\lrs. .\nll Dawns.
Thomas- (iiiyer. Harriet R. Benedict.
Margaret Qiiiiitard. .\lrs. T ll.
Mrs. William ll. lieiiidici. lra Seymour.
’ .\Liixili III \Vhite and
Mary A. Bradley. Ivt‘ Norwalk. Illiio.
Ut’ there present.
hen Ll. Ferris. Thomas IlIivI-r. Margaret
George lieiie-lict.
these \vei .-
l‘l‘liidaril. .\lrs. 1‘. ll Hiiycr. .\lrs. \\'ni.
ll. lieiirdici and Ira Scyinour. The
Iil'l‘t' Lot now lllv‘llllwl‘fi are E. H.
l \‘IIIIII l.-r_ .\llIlIIltIIlclIl. .‘lfl~.‘s.. \“llil Si‘lll ll
5 l: tter which appears I-lsinlit-re. llari let
i ii. ii.-nI-IiiI~i. IIr NI-r\\':ilk and Sarah is.
l\\‘liite of Ilridgi poit.
The original deed of tliI-‘lot on which
i‘i» church stands is stzll in possession of
the s IIIiety. and was exhibited from the
pull-it by the pastor. before coiiiiiienc-
mg the morning sermon.
I'ltlI-lNAl. lilil-fill.
TI! Illi’ purple to ichiam Hiisi'lirixt hfss/ulll
come — Greeting:
Know ye. That “'e Nathaniel Ray~
mood. .liin.. and .\im Raymond. llus-
hand and \Vifc. and llntli Ilouton. allot‘
iii the (‘Iiiiiity of
(lllyt‘r. ;
‘. x l ~ . » . t
.\t l“ ! .\lass. \Vlllt‘ll was given with fine it'fcct.
sni'i‘ii NORWALK. 60m. syn
WHOLE X9. 788.
iRDhY. .‘IANIIAiiY s. 1886.
Tlll-I l-IX l'IIlt‘lSlIS.
Si‘Xiuv .i. u.
The IIxercises of the morning and ev-
'eiiiiig were conducted by Itev. II. N.
I'uiiIiinc. and began with the rendering
of the MI~21irt‘s T\\‘(lf|h
1
“Gloria" in
This was followed by invocation by the
Pastor. Rendames ll. Iloss. Rev. Mr.
Dunning rczid the first Scripture lesson
from Leviticus. ‘33: 37-17:
The choir and the Sunday-school cliil~
drcn then sang:
. II. ‘ ;_.l'.’
h cf. ii M‘s-III,
.i’iI-h Il.
Innis. “PI li . I‘\\l' \l.\i
I
For (Li I
l‘l I:I.i’ s iii ll.«‘l1.
ll s power pi’ui'aitii:
“mixer- and es i. and ii i I n .i"Iiii.
Land and iii:i_'ii.ify His name.
“'orsliip. honor. :lI-rv. lessiiig.
Lord. “'c ode to Thy Nam
i~‘..nii. M. I
.h iy to ' the ‘ltli I‘s.iliii by Ilev. II. N.
oral for with nigh the \vi-iithIr “as *lillV'” ‘II‘IIHIILI‘HY. for ”W I'IIlislIlIi’a-
st Irlii\. l‘xi- I’ Ila’ii _‘ ilzoiis llill’ll [lie . “on Iii-.lhlire “Huh.” h ‘H‘HT‘ TH" “"‘li
l \‘ll" t-- ll‘ Iitzi.. s? IztlIaI‘itv ill. hm 3"“ .‘J'lil “Tin“ H! Jill-m h ”it m'.
.~ t\lIl l.'\\ IiiIIi \IUIII .\. .\‘lsll. :iil Iif‘
\\'.- doubt if the old church c\'er iiiaIlII l said val‘\\illli. 'l‘iiistv-Is t ‘1’ :i S ..
a in We Iitirai-tiie :llilii‘tl'nh-‘I‘. lt was I “I: formed in ‘ltll .\orwtillI. :i! the Itlf
' \ef)‘ l'rvlllsrl)’ IlllIl tastefully IlIIIIIrateIl . “V” ’“r ”u. “HINT“ "1 tummy”: ‘1
, _ - I.-iigrei_;‘iiioii:il I'll‘ilt"! fIr llli‘\ iv iis-
“suit I lien-1‘ I. 41,-“ pituils. .etlld‘. slllll- ! and “0“,“: “z \..,1 _\‘..p,.‘\_ [1. 1"...
in ‘ll‘»l I '1‘ il '\\t'l‘ In an :irchover the i lil‘ltlll. ll |l.1‘tlll. ‘3 if 'uiIIl I‘Iii liIiii ll
X Wu. I “Hwy” “gm m . "'rl.'"""”»“ “ml ; the s;i:l IlIilsii liniiIIiiI. hand i In .
III‘I“ the iigiirI-s “ism; I\\ti ” .\i iii.- leltl \[r'ml At 3"?" :“ “WNW" f""““]“l T“““
i ' '.I|Il' ‘l' \l ”It" i » " "
“I ”II' will"! “in “II”: ii..- “N 'I‘HIHI'I .lr ’ it'll .\t iII'sli. ‘rlllldltl .iit xiii] I.:.'l”I‘I‘-. ii"
the ‘iluluth s-‘h ..l__ It I‘ iii.ilIIIIf apirce _~II c.ili-Il. iii I;ii.iI.lit_\ ball an .‘ll‘rl‘, l-e
‘f“ 3H“ NH”. J- an. “ mph h l“ n good 'the satiie llIIIlI': r lns‘x c iiiiuiiiid \_\i:liiii
-'..itI It pi-sIrxatiIIii. It bears the coat l “i“ ""i' “l“: 1' .milr \\""'t"\ Him-1b
I\\:i.\ s. \II‘IH lllll” iv - t tiniii .‘ with \\ I st
of aims of the state of \‘llltlt‘t‘lli‘lll..~,|"I..r..g 1;'.\,,...;.,1; n, 1.3.1...“ ‘4, i.
“Inch i~ painted lll black. l'wiiI-ath this Nomi. ll\ on I: l\ iiiI-I d it :IIlic'_ l:‘l‘ll'l’
,. l‘l‘llllt‘Il llt four-lini- Itoiinu l-I\\i‘r-t'.t.~c l i.‘ lull l‘ "“l';' "_:”“l‘ ““' ”V“? “I." '1‘
. , ,_ - .. siiI \I\lll"l‘-. i'iicI ii‘l. .\ .iit iIi \ «In
luv“ m L‘h'“ V‘L‘“ 4““. “Nu“ \‘inl‘illl (“:11“le mix-l one lllllIIlit‘il ‘ll‘I
tt'iiistii,“ siisiiiii-t With itstr.iiisl.i!imi_ liziiivt) l'm-i. and it is lll.il-l"l -I-Il Ili'l
‘llI- who tii'iIiI'JZevl \vill susiiiii ' -.;IL"II‘~1 NIIl ‘l‘rustII-s .tlv‘ 'I» inane ii.
lil.ick Il'ish. \\ll‘l|' Iif the fence Ill thin: .41 s.iiIl
ll. ninth this is :i in my iiii-,
.lir alum: ls i'ullli‘Illalll'l-l
iiir;itli
tvi.i.‘I l
limp-2‘ 'I
lll
'I‘.: I‘II‘ YilY‘} . iiIl.
this it» tigiiies "1“‘FoloI-liare
viiihro dv r~ II in red. IQETQ up and
,I-isa. wrought in
~ I‘ .e ili~ “Hui"
ll.itit.I-r, I I i he side is
.\uer I'of the L‘l l‘oth
lli.
. :ii..l
ialt‘
.1, o n the iii-p Ir t‘i~l‘
g i;i.‘iiiiii~i‘ is f..;\llv'~.
his!
tr.- 'wlI
(I \ilsr
ill: \- l:
X
y.
‘ll.’ \
' 'lll l' and
i. y l {i ,.I t. .
lllI‘ t'..t~: ktii-I
~I'II lll il
I‘D I" ili'I‘. :\\ iii...-
' I! l ‘I--
‘lilll
:' o .is mud.
in:
liiol the.”
It Is ~Ii;;I :iiisi ll
I} «Ins: .. “‘lllli',.llIl. :.i'I- o! lit «IlIlvu.
f
\\ .l‘ :l
.c .l 1'. ’
tl..
li
. l‘ii.l.'i.alIl '
.I.I~ lll‘Il'ii'll\-I'II'JII_V
l1 -. _\;. 131.14» .i: l “in
lll'.‘I1‘l"i|"ll"l\\illlil I .
'l.; li.I‘
.‘ieiii. I. Ivllls ll] pr....] .y_
.
1‘ It ~i‘
ll-ui‘IIll
lint
ll\\I'llilluIl tn-
{ho
\\ :i—
-.'\ \Is
lie 1st
2'\ i! I‘I-n-
IreliIIrIlI .i'. llfv's-
it~ iiii»
If. szilt c-iril
and in“. Is Iii‘Il s..:iii"iI:-I~il~-s. c insideredl
ul 1- Iiiili-
Ii: '- ii} ...». ins. ! its l-iIi-I
iatrIitzi: on as on! II‘ artists-I ltli~l t l:ih-‘
\lI iii~~l It.
t‘rll" :ii.Ii to the ieIiiniIiiig few of lll-‘Bl“
hf it “in ii lll‘l it :ippraied to
up \l\lIl
unite lIist-t liillI-w-Il lI I-iii—
“Lit lrt'lit
guJII it must lIJVf' liliIIlfilll
hI‘ :l’d'l‘I‘ll‘ I-l llii' ll [M's and fi' ”5. "It“
31s and ~I-rrI-ws. the disiippoiniiiii-iils
Mil ti" plus of the ini:ih band of de-
v. tit ‘i‘t Il
ft'ullklldl llll‘
llt“{
dt T! iiiiiiii Ii t‘l-iistaais \\ ho
I‘llul'cli \\ lilI'lt Ii» ility ranks
the dctiI initiations -‘If the
.ii‘li I‘I'li I‘Liti Il its in t‘t file li~
to Its iirl»
:tliii in:
I‘ll). ‘tl‘tl “l
iii.ii wit-i an accession I f 1'!"-
cii .ll nu iiilIIIrship I-f til
' 1“ HT lite church “‘t‘l't"
..,
i he liIiiti in
.lt-lill Ii. llln‘ll.
llnliirl K. Noah.
limes “Hunt
ll. lsr) liiiiitI-ii. Vt ifcI of J illti
Sally Niisl». \\ ife of Daniel.
I'h‘dl I‘M,
\luttl -w. u ifi- . f I'd‘dll.
I". (i \\ h. n It r.
.‘uiah ll \Vlo-ler. wife of E, H.
“and ‘oI-fIls.
llaiInah \‘IvI r-ls. \\ ife I-f luv id.
sll‘x‘il'di ti lerris.
Na) in: fol lb iivitiI't.
Nat: \ ll. vii'IliIII. \\l{“f'f llIiymoud.
Rllll- ll Hull-1i
— Anti liqlld‘lwl. oiIlI-u I f Nathanael. Jr,
.\t}: l .\. Nash.
I» 1 «Wall ~‘ Nash. \\ do of .\llll'l.
.l.i"-Il Nash.
.\t.ii;. Nash. “fit of Jacob.
h-tln-r liwiiwlmt. widow of Nathanael.
Ariri Duo in. \v..lo\\ I t' llwrallltl N.
Thy mas tiny I r.
liar-nah IiIiyer. “‘lfc of 'l‘hoiiias
.‘lllfi.t \\ .iriier. wife of James.
Mary I" Warner.
Jita-i V? \V. Smith. ,
June I‘. ‘iiiitli. wife of Jasper.
.‘alluy ll’l\‘lu}‘. wife of Ezra.
llai.i:z.h lii‘l‘li\\cll.
llnll'lt‘l ll lienedi It.
“'isl :iiii ll lienulict.
.liiiimsigiiintard.
Salley Quintard. wife of James.
Margaret Quintard.
‘ lly Seymour. “’lft' of Seth.
.‘arati H. \Vhite.
Mary .\ Qiiintard. widow of \\'illiaui.
lIZ-tliet .\l. lli-iitnii. wife ef T. R. tin-yer.
Samuel (E. \Varreu. . ,
.\lniira Mouton. “1qu“! Isaac.
Sarah lli-iiton. widow of \\'illiuin.
Eliza Ktitlpp..Wilc of l-Lzriz.
Sumn “'arren. wife of Samuel H.
Samuel F. Richards.
Betsey Bsiulufl. Wife of Joseph.
wry White. Wife of Samuel.
ary Iiuyer. wife of Thaddeus.
Mary tluyer Illenedicti. wife of Wm. H.
Salli-y Raymond. wife of John.
.\fary Brown. I'Idow of Samuel.
l’ully \Vood. wtfeof “'illlani.
lra Seymour.
Asa Benedict.
{nth Benedict. wife of Asa.
ltinah .\‘iuiih.wife of Natli‘l ltaymotid.sr.
George Benedict. ’
Sarah J. Benedict. wife of George.
Amaryllis 'lhiiver.
Nancy Hoyt. wife of Francis.
Lydia Smith. ,
Julia Xfm Benedict. wife of (lould.'
Stephen S. L‘omstock.
Lydia Warren. wife of Samuel ll.
There ‘crt‘ admitted in the remaindel‘
of the year N36:
Earths Raymond. :
Lockwood K. Ferris.
Julia Ann Helany.
Clarissa lI‘lagler, wife of (irifiin.
Cali-ta Seymour, wife of George.
Twela of the original members are
still living. eight retain their member-
ship in the church, and six were present
at the Sunday morning service. The
living memhen arse—E. 0. Wheeler,
:‘il-‘lli‘II’iII l't
.. liltrldlh' i.
lo ll i\e::ii: l hol l
lI.ii';:I:iI.l i-i»
iii.iiit l“ l‘ii.-l.~
\I v ~.i:Il pi'I llil -
.\wi‘lv’l) \\’li- ii l‘I-i'wivnl.
tl..- :il~--\I- _.:r lliII Il ii.-l
\\ Ill: tli-- ii"\ ii- Is at. l rim-tin. ..
IIes lllv‘lt‘ fiiiito :lw ~. .1 ll *lll II. I 3“
I\‘ Nash .is l‘iiis'w s lI-i s it 1 .‘ -.‘i~I‘.v ll . 1r
HI Us 'llI-l \~s':I's :I-r vi. 1. pup}.
l‘l":
lll~‘ll i-iIIp-i 'ls" :i‘il '..i ' \l'
:‘m s, I\.I.l‘l‘li'l. \i:i:nIIll.'Iitl
* \Is .i l ~iii ”I is i \ I“l‘ Is it
insira'vis. I‘ I\I '~ H“ I\ it!!! i‘.
l3 I.I'I!.l. o i~l -'-- ‘ :.
' Y’I‘il' IhI - \s .. .‘:i'.
ill.l.l ::.‘ .; .; ti» .
‘~\‘-' n»- ixi-li sI' I 3‘ l"
s g .l iii-bf t‘l-“iv I~ti l‘. i ‘l'.\‘
ill‘iIl l: (VI I.‘~~ Hi I 4m! l-I lIii;i i. Illl .
the s lll't 1'] iii “‘1‘ Iti l l ll‘ \.
\vl‘iiht _ .i'.ilYlIil v1 ii.
'-I'Ill‘.l‘l.ll“" nix! >~'.Ii' .\i,i .’ 13:»
ii’:i:I-iI.\\i {LI sill \ "1“ \‘ii 'xi-Il
lI-ii‘Ii do l>_\ these prI» IiIs \
and UHF HI irs tIiiI-i v :If and
ll li'liil tli - :ib o 'L'. :iiit~ d at: l inn; lilI- Il
, -2I iiiises E . iii. siii hush. - _'|\“l‘ii§.~~;l 4
Kill! 1! He is ‘llll \r‘lfi'fl‘. .i; iiiis' till
I‘iIiIiis IllIlI!*‘l‘l'!llls \\ I-\Ii'
l\ \Vl [\1 ss \\'liI r. of, \\'.- l, .\-.- l.er.~
iiIIt-I vi I-Iir ll IiiIls :iiiIl ‘I-.:i lil" Gil: day
-..I' .\ld}. \_ i». Iszn
\i'u’: on \l
\\\ l.‘\\\i-~\:-.
.\. 11'
Ill lll liIIl I.II\
Signed Scab-d aid Iii-livi nil in prcs~
mice of
llll\1‘l: .‘\iI'is.
IlF\'.l l\\\.\_
llorliv-ld I‘oiiiity. ss. \wuuik. .\lav
i'I~ ‘I‘Il-I‘ l’eisoiiallv appear-Ii X.illi:lllli'l
l\-1\ll‘II!l 1. .li:. .\_ \iin ILIviiioiid his
oil»: and lliiili ll- iitI-n. Sign ~is :iiiIl
:.‘--.iII rs of the {ongoing lll‘lllllllA‘. :iiid
:icLiiiiw lI-Ilgeil the sainc to he
.\I'l aiol llccil. before inc
Ill-25.1. ls \ \Is
Illlsllt'c til llit‘ l‘cflt‘t'.
The following letter (n the Mother
church was read at the :fiday morn—
ing service.
lI‘iiis'r t‘osIuiitI; \TII'NAI. t‘ui'iicii
l‘Iiisox \Iiit.
Bimiiiiii ,\.\i=i:i:sIIx l‘astor.
.\‘oiiw \l.1\'. I‘i. Dec. ‘3“. 1‘s'i.
'17.: ('Img/i'rglit'u-iutl I'littrI-II of .\Tll‘ll‘lllk
fit The f'Iniqrcqiifiuuitl l'hurcli of South
.\I-rIcIillr ~-tiiii:i.i‘i.\I.: .\t a meeting of
the First l‘oiigrcgaliunal church at Nor-
\\'alk. (‘onii . held Dec. 17. 1‘53. your
kind invitation was presented to the
Mother church. and it. was most cIIrIliah
ly voted toiiI-cept the proposition both
for tin-Joint I'I-iiiiiiituioii on the ill of
January. :it :1 o‘clock. iii the afternoon
and the Fellowship meeting to be held
at 7 Sin o‘clock on the evening of the ~lth
of January. I“ll
. The i xpressioii of illr! IItioii was most
sincere toward the church that was or-
ganized from ours tilt}; .\I‘1trs :igc: al-
though those who witnessed the giving
of lcttcrs of disinissioii to members of
our church. :itid those who received
lllt'lll.”fur that purpose are either grow-
l": venerable or have passed on to that.
blessed laiid when- they do rest from
their labors; yet the First t'ongregation-
al church still holds to tlietieof blood.
and loves to feel that the relation of
mother and Ilttlthlt‘r has been changed.
by your fifty years illill the coming into
I'huicli responsibility of children on
both sides. into a sisterhood.
“'e shall be glad to express to you our
hearty love and the hope that the blood
of the New (‘ovenant ‘is the tie that
makes us one.in our Christ.
\Vith our prayer for Grace. .\lercy and
Peace to you.
On behalf of the church.
\ cry affectionately your brothers.
EIHVARD ANDERSUNI
S. 1!. S. Bissi:i.i..
Cotiiuiittce.
Tin: .\li'sic.
Uruanist D. E. Disbrow deserves men-
tion for- his successful efforts to provide
first class music. He had the assistance
of the New Haven String Quartette.
composed of (1. II. Langzettel. first vio
lin: A. P. Langzettel. second violin: H.
\V. Langzettel. viola; E. F. Langzettet.
cello. which organization is composed
of relatives of James P. l’unzelt of this
cuy. The instruments Were well hand»
led, and added very materially and pleas-
antly to the accompaniment to the choir.
In addition. E. Alterbrandt played the
flute. Jas. R. Punzelt. the comet. and
\‘l'infleld Baldwin the clarionet. The
combination was very effective.
Blr. Disbrow desires to publicly thank
all those who assisted him. and espec-
ially Hr. Alex. Gibson for his kindness
in writing the score for the instruments
and the interest he took in the ‘rehears-
ale.
Young and old.
This was lulluued by leading of
Dunning.
the
l
‘l‘lIe I‘o..;rI~g_';itII-ii then sang:
~I‘IIll~ll\~.
‘.iii it be that ’l'liuu :I :ai-II s:
::s ot‘ sinful lll'll , ‘
an we feel that T. Ii ail near us.
And will hear ll" Y. .1. u.- can,
lIi'nI. great find. to day we I-il'cr
0f Thine own [is '
.\lltl fI-r Thine 3ch ..
All iiu\\or:hil_v.
Hearts and min-ls. :.i.Il lands and \ozces.
In our clii-inSt
.\lI-lody
.. icc protTt‘f.
SERMON BY
Rt 18“.
III‘TIIlllt‘AI. REV. JANE.“ II.
“A _-Iib iIs-shall that fifth-1h yIIir lu’ unto you “ —-
1...\.:.ciis X\\‘.. 11.
'I‘heJuhilee year of ancient Israel had
its own individuality. and its special
relationships. It belonged to the Sale
batic system. which consisted of five
members in two groups. one of three
and the other of tWo members. The
liist group in three members was the
sacred day. the. weekly Sabbath. or
sI-ventli day: the sacred month. or the
seventh mouth: and the sacred year. or
the seventh year. The sucriducss in
each case attached to the last of a series
of sevens. The two menibirs of the
second group were a sacred day. imme-
diately succeeding seven series of seven
days. or the fiftieth day—Pentecost: and
a sacred year. immediately succeeding
seven series of seven years. the fiftieth
year. or the year of Jubilee. Thi- fifti-
eth day became the first in a new series
of seven day s; the liftiIItli year the first
lll a new series of rt'Vt‘ll years. The
three numbers I»f' the first group closed
:i week. The two inIIi-ilIcis of the s. ciind
:l"‘!ll\ III-gun Ullt\ In this family of
sI-v-Iii Ii i\ s. and \\‘\~i‘li~. and mouths. and
years. l'IIiiiIIcIIst :iiiI~ .liibilIIe :irII lll‘l
to the wit lily Silduith. lli'I-
s~I\'ei.i!i month. and 'le" .\.l-l-.i'ic y- -ir.
l‘lii- iiiIlivz-iii ility- f t:-~ .lribib-e includ- s
\\. »\~ .» .,v.v:.I..
il " ' ‘s‘ , " l
I i 's ' iI u.
l I .r- ‘I
.2 . ~
\~ . I I . .; ~. .
\; .
i
‘ l
I T
\ I . I
\\ I . ._ l
i‘-I \\ I I , g i
. .
\Vl. ‘ ' ; ix ‘ .
. ‘. . Ii .s\.‘1-
ll -v.ll \'. l‘.l‘ mu; lli-IIII ll rial priyi ri'
I'!"|l\i‘ \\'.til ‘li l-‘l’ Tim I. -?i (R ml. in .’.‘«
(In. and ll'jII‘ {‘1: sh iEI ‘Ihc \lv“ he ,Iii
lI‘lllliIl. It~i li, -si thc li- :irIst i-ray‘vr. iii
'l‘lii'e shall all Ll. ~ll I' Illli‘. l.--rIl tIIiiI‘li its
II I\\ to pi;.v. I.‘ at . ll! pi i\l‘r may llwl be:
llll‘ \"tl'i till-.1 . lIIIl‘ llii'
s. ltisli II 'I' I l I Iir h: i!‘!s, III,” the lllsl't~'
i:itI--ii :ll‘Il :u‘II-I -.; In If thy .‘piii! I\ Iilz»
2 Iitii‘ izlis,
lll ,I-iir spirit». \Iil let II no: he tin-
‘._..l.»i~ only oi ;«i';ys. lIlll tin \\ll Ii-Al
l' ~I _:rI _.. .‘li \\ l‘: I he III-:iit :ii,Il one.
~ "ii iii Iiphft- Egziisv- ‘l? l li\iii~_' saI r: '
\\\f s'I‘ lII' ' ' \il-lIilii .f llts
\ \tt' . 'JI yI.I;I!'1lI»
I i i ii. \. .sliw‘
.. l. \\.l\ s i' 1.'I
.'II:s’ "Iyi “a”
\\ l >\- il' '
\ ' ss I’ .
l'-_i: II. liiI-
.~-.i 'i'ii l the ' i~
_ w \-I:Is. t’ie ' s ‘
it, _- w:.I:II:s.‘lli\ l ,
.._' 'l. !, -ii~;I ~ * i" EIIt-rl‘I ".I
\\i\.s.IlI-iii;I-tiiii 'I? lI\~l'. \lvl I.)
no tr) ts than 1 \» ii .-Ti: 5 i i t \. ll.i\lll ;‘
and thy l'l:lllt‘-"l‘.'i\‘ IiIIlII t‘llllillill“
Ilill-lt'eli. 'rllt‘lv l— III'~ mil. ml. ”to «lot-ll-
Hit: l‘ldi‘l' of thy 3.. pie in all geiieia-f
‘imes. I\.- ilv . 'i‘IiI. r i r. iiiuI . .I:I.'.I
pt'.i\' in it no i -i_v so Iiii-iil-I-r our days,
their free -
Iir liv'tfl" tint-I \\ is-
‘ Ilesiie llitit \\t'
It:
that u.- may :ipp‘y
II iii. This is tIIH'
Ii: iv s'i.:ii:- I:i Ilzlliv‘ I~wii vii-rind lii‘I '
llii II --l I~l’ l in lath. is. thank l‘ln e
fwr Illr pilot-Ii *ii I'iv“l\' :i-Id lzI iii:i;I.‘
\\‘I> th \lilw Tl I II “in" Illl' N~-\\ l“I:;:li'1Il’
was c.-! ‘li" .l l-\ :i I'iiristizizi I‘mir‘h.
and a I‘oiigi~;:i!: Iiial l‘ltllli’ll. 'l'li Ii ‘
IliIlst bring a ‘\ll:t‘ hither and piep'ire‘
room in fI~rc it aiwl it ll‘l‘k' \lI‘t p root and
filled the land. the hills “tr-- II «Med
with the shadow of it :ll‘nl tlii- lu-iiglis
thereof \n-ie like the go.»dly cedars: it
sent out its lII-iighs unto the s... and its
brain-his in the i i\I~r. l‘lnlcl‘ its shadow
\ve li-i\I lIeI-ii hIIi ii and ciridlv Il. and have
found 'l‘h- e no I; IIl. as Thou wast our
fiitliI-rs‘ find. \\i- thank TliI-II that the
town or Not-wall.- was founded by a
t‘liristiaii I‘lllllt'll. and :i congregational
church. “'e thank Tiice that our fiilli~
ers were men of rugged mould. of stancli
llllt':t‘llV. of lofty devotion to truth and
righteousness; men who feared find.
but nothing else. and who loved their
fellow men. and the rights and libertii s
of all fllt’ll. \Ve thank Thee for the iii-
stltiitioiis they est'ibhshcd. and the tour
iii and religious education they gave to
their children. \\'e thank Thee that lift v
years ago ~l‘liv-u Ilidst send forth the col»
ony of faithful men and “om-In fioiii
the mother church who founded this
church and fostered if by tho ir devotion
and sacrifices. \\'i- thank Thee for the
ministers \\ ho have llt‘l'c preached the
gospel of t‘hrist. :iiid hr the fruits of
their labors iii souls converted and built
up in the knowledge of tligd and virtiic.
Wetlniiik Thee for their children and
childrcns' children walking in their foot-
steps. and here to day we commemor-
ate all the wonder- workings of Thy
hand. Uh that IliI‘ll would praise the
Lord for llis goodness and for “is won-
derful works to the children of men!
\\'e confess to Tlicc. oh (Ind. “'lio
searchest the heart. that we have not
IloiieiillourIhity. We have done the
things we ought not to have done. and
have left undone the things we ought to
have done. Especially we ac 'uowledge
our sin in failing to beupial to our great
opportunities. Ilut we trust Tliy mercy
to the penitent and contrite. llave
mercy upon us according to Thy loving~
kindness. \\'e rejoice in Thy faithful-
ness and in Thy chastenings that have
brought us to repentance. and in afflic-
tions that have driven its to Thee for ref-
uge. Uh t‘lirist in Heaven ! may we
find salvation and shelter under Thy
t‘ross. and learn how to have fellowship
with Thy sufferings. And now we in-
tercede with Thee for Thy blessing to
rest upon this church in the present and
the future. tiive strength and courage
and wisdom to its pastor: and to all its
officers and members the Spirit of grace
and supplication and of fidelity and con-
sI cration. May peace and broIherly love
prevail. May all liavethe same care one
for another, Mav this church continue
to grow in numbers and become a power
for good in this comiiiuiiiiy for genera-
tions to come.
Sanctify to us the services of this day.
May we be refreshed by these memories
and jubilee grutulatioiis. And when
the Jubilee Year of Heaven shall come
may each and all of us have share in the
gathering of the hosts that shall throng
in swelling multitudes around the
blessed and glorious form of Christ eu-
throned. having come out of the great
tribulations of life and death [and made
their souls white in His blood. And to
God over all shall be glory for ever,
Amen.
The prayer was followed by singing
by the choir and children: '
lesvol ever '
2&5“: Tmimfilfio
. crew-err wing
Ratnotda nornigtu: '
Thousandson ylive to bless Thee.
And confess Thee, mam:
M whoart beyond themed,
loam excess seas.
\\i
_s:ipp ..;.| to he~:ilikv. \et Ilitl‘erriit,
'lf.ll \ stritI s
1 first received them
‘jllfllllt'tllllll‘
"l ivml. tlIII Ivirl
:lI.» s.IIii 9..
Il'ririiovi if the .liil-Iiee
- sirssly'lls \“t'l’t' I}
:i put I»: its kinship for cousins :Ir.-
lt
Iv Is Ilzstiiigiiisl.IIIl my I'- lii'i‘ttllat‘ ft‘l:tllIIli
1.. tlir l‘tllul. iiiti uliiI-ii 4 the cliiiiav of
llw- LiiI-l l:l\\'. [hi-rest ration wt mice»
to th-I ll! of those wlm
fr~~i IIsliiia the
.lI-IIi all. .\t each
rs
21"
mi! of
I.liilxilv I-tliere \\I.i;l IlI. :. t\'Il vcars' llill‘l’“
.zniss: In of llll‘ tillage
.f the land. one
In llI.fl”-~\1IliIl for in ii .. l:i\\ of the .‘th
"llll‘ yI:ir. :tl‘ol the oil-
' siiI‘I'iIIlm; .lilllil'l'
I very iii. and purchase.
lii.~- and = ilc of .‘I‘IV.’ II, :il! liuihltzi: :iIi-l
Tt':"lirl11_:. profit and lav. in short. I-vI ry
lIll‘lliI ss iiriiis:ictI--Ii ii.II»lve.l a rI'lI-r
kx’.lr. .\li tils
’ /
(l ,.
one. LI :IIlIl .iii :iIiiiIIipi'iI-ii of the year.
.l‘ J”: 2}: list :is in :.Is I‘iiiiilry Iiiii-
mg. and ' :i l.---_: ll‘llv‘ since. the war.
I \Iiy lI‘II‘llli"‘ll.‘I?'~‘I‘Ii- ‘1l11\’nl\t IlsuiiIe
iel‘i-ieiu‘c l-I ihv iII' mint: till I; IfIl The
iiii.i:ii. Ifiwii II! [in; den ous c Il‘I-Il iiIl-I
‘lI ll ii viinte lli‘i‘l his llii unity. .\I-lIlI=Iii
\\I ' i-l 'I!‘\' l'l'ttlw‘ lE\I' I; \liII li . l piss: -l
(l‘riiix_:l| in: i.- ll in I re .‘IihilI w \l .'l\‘
,iifiii. i s v-IIiaII *_ a! I‘li~‘ly'
I. »s i s. as -I~ .; 11.; \ll_\'. '.3=-I
I: 1...: ~,..:- lI leI-I‘ Itwi __lit ._“
:-l- .\y- -. tn . pI r 97- .- ii: w it. l' I‘rII‘Is ~Il
lllllr . l.- il- l~i Ill l-I-uiusv it
,‘i\i"!-';1ll.-';l‘{i-- tI-I-\\i.:xr
~.i\~: "l‘I :il ‘Ilt'li E ~\\ large in illl~il
guilt-Ire.- i‘iIese tIi‘llvxb \\I|lliIl he. \s’
\‘ up: i‘w'icb. l. lir-\II .tiipi- “no if I-‘
pi» porno-LT ll- \v I' I1'- till the ca‘cu! I
“~37 HI.“ I \- iiiiig the l’\‘|ll"[:llll‘lll
\I*f!lv‘. it is llllI'. iiiight be as ieliictaiit as
”I’ll!" “I-i‘v- lung lliit iIIIiii- |"lIl‘lIl
1... lllllltit\I‘-l :iixIl iiulitl': ri iit. ‘ ‘ Here
\\ :is the most [Il'Jlllllli'lll r-Iligiwiis- obser
\‘zltici- ever recom-l x”
..i\\ giver has ever [napalm-«l the Min“.—
ii- ither l'l‘llJ iii Il-‘lllllIllI‘ iiIIr .\‘ir
'l‘lii Iii:is .\IIIIII‘I‘ in his I'll put. I‘liitiiiy
ii-III ~iIl< \\ IIlll-l be i :Ii-rluily made and pre-
I»l~l~'l‘ and the new “IIiilIl
\':t Iliv related. the n. w
lw lllftllL'llr'llf‘ll “‘lllIIIIll
l:i\\s were kept.
ill would lidilf” tint Ila-l was Israel‘s
sun 1‘I'l-_'ll. that ill. in ipr and llli'll’ pus
rt tl.. ii~ own. that social
I‘liism s \\'I re .‘llll‘lnt‘l t» a levelling prw
I~I~ss which I-\ llll l the cIIiiiniIIii people.
:II‘Il llirtl t’II'h :iI.Il l‘v‘llr \\'tIri‘ :illkt‘ tli‘
lu'llilv‘lll lll‘I ii (I 1! and rich other. I
do I‘IIl lusitatc to zizliriii that if the full
Iii:itI~ri:il and ‘lllllllliil sigiiiticaiich-f the
Jubilee idczt \\ I re to be grasped by our
l‘aiiiilirs. our old aiId young people. our
on ll. our sIII‘ial classes.
church and school and society 1 tllcers.
our organic life Would be fashioned at
once into :i lived unity. and the details
of our in w \‘ill‘ct'f‘ would expand into
liixuri on growth and frnItIiize. \\‘i-
should have the immediate and perma-
nent fruits of the .\‘pirii‘ love. joy. peace.
longsutl’ei‘ine. kindiII-ss. goodness. faith~
naeekiiess. temperance. \\'e
should “Hunt the >Ivi‘lill condition and
iprI iieiiI-es wl‘IIIli anticipate and synt—
boli.-.-I the time when .. the Lord himself
‘ll‘lll descend from heaven. “'ith a shout.
with llll‘ \‘I lt‘c of the archangel. and
with the truiiip of God; and the dead in
I‘hrist shall rise first. “ * and we
shall together he caught up iii the clouds
to meet the hold in the air and so shall
we ever be with the bird." flood tid-
tugs. holy joy. sacred tititc. rapturous
sI-iitiiiieiits. cvtilletl lllllllllllilt“. renewed
hope and vigor. taking root downward
and bearing fruit upward. were the
blessings cf the “Acceptable Yearof the
Lord."
"If thus are nous. if ll; s is “ii-:7 )s‘li on:
Tim ii am I you.“ .i..d \\li:i.t oni fi-sl lshanI."
Oliver “'eiidell Holmes. in his good-
liumorcd \viiy. recently said: “Fifty
years makes everything hopelessly old-
fiisliioned. without giving it the charm
of real antiquity. * ‘I’ There are too
many talkative old people who know all
about that time. and at best half a cen~
tury is a half-baked bit of ware. A coin-
fancier would say slut your fifty-year-old
facts have just enough antiquity to spot
them with rust. and not enough to give
them the delicateI and durable patina
which is time's exquisite enamel.“ Abs
stractly. this may be true. But fifty
years of the life of a church of Jesus
t‘lirist. a half-century filled with the
hopes and prayers and soiius and sighs
and tears of united and severed house-
holds. a day and a year which recall
what the fathers have done in order to
teach the children the meaning of the
historic service. can nevcr be reduced to
the level of the Cmanll-tilace. More-
over. only twelve of the sixtyd‘uur [non]-
bers are still living. eight retain their
membership. and six are able to be
present. They have delegated me to do
the talking for them. Surely my
memory of local history has not swamp-
ed my mind.
HISTORY CLASSIFIED.
The history of the church may be
classified by the length of its pastorates.
It then has two distinct periods. one of
fifteen. the other of thirty two years,
the balance being divided between inter-
missions and the present unfinished
pastorate. These periods may again be
sub—divided into an organizing period
which covers the history of the first
pastorate. a germinal“: perSOd. which
continues down to the year 1851. and a
progressive period which includes the
two protracted pastorates of its history.
This is the classification which I shall
follow. None of these terms, nor any
that I shall use or omit to use. is to
construed as containing any invidious
meaning or oompartson‘ . propose to
relate historypnrn and simpls.and to
indicate what my own convictions are at
certain poll“. .
it»;
or donned-«d
ixts
i..
p. iiIIII \v- it'd
lIIIslIlh ss‘
I . _
fllitii"~.
”in" i
'riit; iii-:Iiixxixus.
A little history ante—dates the actual
organization. :iiid record in the church
manuals. Numerous reasons existed for
the formation if a new church in the
village of Old “'ell. which at that time
Ito use the phrase of one who employs
classicliiiglish “‘ll( be (‘llthStK‘lJVflS “no
laiger than a greastuspot.“ Between
.\lr. .\lorris Norton's present residence
and Deacon “'m. ll. ' Benedict‘s there
were seventy-one families. The total
population was not more than 425. The
postaiflice was in the southwest corner
of the front yard of Mr. James Knapp.
The Methodist was the only church iii
the \'fll2‘l}_t*. There was no street-light
ing. no gas. no newspaper. no railroad.
one hotel.no public hall. no public water
supply. no free reading-room. no High
School. only a select school called an
Academy. The region was devoted to
farming: hat manufacturing. always the
leading industry. was then carried on
under the auspices of Deacon
George Benedict and Deacon A. E.
Board. of the up-town church. Corn
grew on the ground that is now \Vash-
ington street. and a ghome garden was
cultivated where our church stands. In
Dr. Edwin Hall‘s history of Nor-walk.
published in 184‘. there is a picture of
~"outli Nor-walk. taken from the ridge
back of l‘h-acoii Benedict's house.‘ in
which only sixty buildings of every
kind can be counted. The reasons fora
nv-w church were chii-flv. the distance
from t'iv- Norwalk church. the prospects
of growth of populationdiuIl llllsllii'ss in
the southerly direction. the tttianituuy
of opinion prevalent upon the subject.
the t‘wiigregatioiial convictions which
:llilllilll‘lll.
sought t-niiiziintaiii their own form of
church gI-vi riitiiv‘t.‘
or iii.- immIs .It onus". I'im \\'ell mint-Is
and doctrinal Iii-lief. .5
and the necessity of :ivI-idiii: such con- 1
tIII\I~rsi~-s as the laiiy of Ilitl'I-ieiit din;
iioiiiisiatiuiis “1 re :icciistoniid to then
in tin it attempts 'to hold uiiiI-ii prayer-
iii~-~Iii!::~.' Accordingly. on the 3d
l'f‘
.\‘I-pteiiil-i r. l‘ill. sixty-four members of:
' The attention of the church was drawn
the Norwalk 1‘
divided between
iiigiegatiunal church.
foity families.
peti- ‘
lll‘flril that they in :lit be organizI-d iiitol
1-“‘1'...I“.Hh‘h_:ll in \v church. stating that they were
willing to ‘I- a branch of th- olIl chutcli. f
--r to be made indipendI-nt.
Tllv it re- «
.piisi \\-.is granted \\‘llll -iit delav. and '
on the §ll of January. l‘liti. Sabbath
afternoon. they were organizi-d into
“The .\‘th-iid t‘I-ogreuiit’oiial I‘liurch of
\‘wrwalk'. by the I-tlicial :lI‘llUll
lilwin ll ill and the NI rwalk t‘oiigregc
tiI-tial church. \vitlnillt the joint action
of the t'--iisI-ci:ii:ri~_ Their congrega—
niid sI Efreliatice. were of
tin-so types \\ lilcll lll‘tl‘t‘ the hical church
:ilIsI-lutely s~~lf~:Ii\I-rning. They r-taiii-
e-l their Ill‘filll'Il come until July 1‘3.
1‘33. “lo-ii they i‘lllllli‘ll it to “The
'I' Iiigreg-iii In“? I‘i.I.i-rli I-t~ .\ iiitli Nor
walk."
I: ‘ll "It'l‘t‘l‘ll"! tIlI‘. l'\I
llll )(l’c i‘li d tier- c Ilv Itt‘ -ns lleai‘uii .loliii
ll IitniI. “h I I- -T‘.ll‘:llI"l ville-I
’- s iiisI:iii! death. luv falling from
s "ill-I'lIlil‘: of the I‘llllTI‘ll. Ilctolwr ill-AL
oliiic ll \\ll‘ iiiiIlI r viii: repairs.
l’,.- fv 31 to iliI- spy! “fete for twenty
y-ars he bwl - III :iiIiI iii MW” at the t‘I-iii
Iliiltil-tll. 'l'iie record‘s 0-: “He was
s7.IiiIl.;i'Il~l-I-aivr tliii llt'\Il' wIivI-ied.
III: the llt'kl ball-1 iliry elected lliiiiel
_\'.Is‘i. “ho likew1se died by accident.
having fallen from :i walnut-tree on th.-
piut I i ;:fIlllil<l uiII-ie l‘zot-Issnr lI‘riIdi-r~
lck l.\-Iii is iiI \v hull-tin; a house at the
south t‘lill 11f his piopeity. He had I x-
pressid :i desire for sudden. but If
course. not for accidental death. fit him
the record says: “He adorned his cfli-Ie
and profession." Deacon Stephen ti.
Feiris was the [bud elected. Ilis IIlIlI‘lHl
life coers the entire history of the
church. the only instance of IvlliIIII-hear-
”1;: during the whole of its fifty yIInt‘s.
.\t that meeting they passed the {Alltnv-
in; resolution: “Resolved. that the
making. the trafficking. or the use of
spirituous liquors. as a drink. is sinful."
.l iiiii:Iry_ t‘iih. they invited llcv. Henry
l‘n‘ttrillt‘l to the pristorcte. and Rev,
.\rfhur Hrangi-r. if Mr. Benedict should
.lIIIliiie. Ilotli Il-cliiicd. the first on
account of ill~healtli. acd the second
because he was a student as yet in l'nion
Theological Seminary. New York. Feb~
ruary Htli the church was opened for
llic first service. RIv. Edwin ll‘lll
preaching. and the Sabbath school was
organized. Deacon S. (i'. Ferris being
elected sutwruitcudent. atid holding the
The \I wilti 3‘ c unplefv or;.iii:.' l‘
l inuai'v lili
n.
‘s‘,.'.
rpositioii about three and one~third years;
and Sarah III. \\'hite assistant superins
teiiIYciit. a lady who has had a long and
successful career as a teacher in Bridge-
pI irt. and who was to have
lwcn present to-day. the guests
of the .\lisses .\largan t and Lucre-
tia Quintard. appropriately so. as they
themselves have been intimately associ-
ated with the whole life of the church.
the Sabbath school. and congregation.
Jasper \\‘. Smith was chosen librarian.
and Doctor III. (R. \Vliceler. James Quite
turd. and Deacon Daniel K. Nash were
appointed a committee to procure a
library. Amoiigtbe first teachers who
still survive are .\Iessrs. Ira Sevmour
and George Benedict. .\Irs. T. D. litiycr
I.\lis.s Iloutoni. Mrs. Alfred (‘hichesten
.\liss Harriet Bouton. the Misses Marga-
iIIt and Lucretia Qiiintard. and Miss
llarriet ll. Benedict.
FIRST l‘ASTOltATl-I.
April 16th. Rev. James Knox of “lib
mingtou. Delaware, was elected pastor.
and a salary of $600 was offered. A vote
was taken that all loose money received
in the Sabbath collections should be ap-
propriated for a communion service.
April 24th. the church constituted itself
a Sabbath School Society. and a commit~
tee was appointed to engage in the
monthly distribution of tracts. That
definite labor in distributing them was
expected is shown by the fact that after
ward at committeeman was excused by
formal vote. May 6th. Mr. Knox accept-
ed the call but declined installation. and
he ofilciated May 29th. He wasa Scotch~
man. had a positive face, and grey eyes.
He was not very strong physically. but
his speech was vigorous. his pronuncia-
tion careful. his sermons composed for
direct results. He prepared for the pul-
pit with great care. His preaching was
eloquent, and personally he was popular.
He gave a special impetus to the local
temperance movement. making a tour
of the district and speaking in the difl'eb'
ent school buildings. While in Wash-
ington (see S. D. Alexander’s letter) he
was a direct agent in recovering to the
village here the post-office of which it
had been deprived. He remained three
years. then went West and did agood
work as financial agent of a college at
Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He died in Ohio,
18%. from sheer exhaustion in labors for
that institution. July 3d,‘ 1838. " The
Christian T’salmst," by. Thomas Hastings
was adopted as their hymn book. The
4th of Julv was observed as a day of
public thanksgiving for civil and relig-
ious privileges. and Sabbath School ex-
ercises were held in the afternoon on
Pine Island. March 11th. 1837, the pos—
tor and deacons were constituted a board
to examine new members and the mem-
bers of the church were requested to- be
present at such examinations. A 13-1.
thirty-three were received on cannon
fblth. for the year
I-f lit‘V. ,
fession of faith and eleven by letter. The
first year‘s labors had borne their fruit.
The enterprise had begun to justify it-
self. The first pastorate was flushed
with joy and hope. May 5th. seven
children were baptized. July 30th. Pas-
tor Knox requested leave of absence to
labor with a revived church in l‘nion-
ville. Mass. lie was given his discretion
and was absent five or six weeks. Nov.
12th. the Sabbath School became auxil-
iary to the American S. S. Union. and
has remained in active sympathy with
it ever since. aiding to day in the sup-
port of Brother Dinsmore as Sunday-
School missionary in Michigan.
and enjoying stated letters and
visits from ‘ him. February 19th.
1‘39. the church was received into
Fairfield \Vcst (‘onsociatiom and this led
to Mr. Knox‘s retirement. because he
was a strong Presbyterian. I am a
Presbyterian but not sfruiig. IIn April.
N39. Mr. Knox discontinued his labors.
These facts show the intensity of the
church‘s life in completing its organiza»
tion and assoctations. The weeks and
months and years of the first pastorate
were full of organizing work. The ma~
terial needs of the society. and the Spir-
itual work of the church advanced with
even pace. The church was not self-
centered. seeking only the maintenance
of its own life. but extended its benevo-
lence to the missionary enterprisw of
the time. Ilencefortli its routine life
Would run in the channel that had been
formed for it in those years. Hence the
narrative may review more rapidlythe
four pastorate-s of the period which
1 have called Tin: IiEltMlSAST rumor) of
its history.
SFAW ixii l'AS’l‘ItltATE.
February lltih. 134". Rev. John Ii.
Shaw was elected to the pastorate. the
salary being the same as was given to
his predecessor. lie was the reverse
type of man in manner—pleasant. soft-
speakiiig. gentle. John-like. llis past-Ir-
ate was brief. terminating in l‘ll. He
was not in good health when he came.
to him by Pastor llall. “'hile pastor
his little son, about five years old. dial.
and the Sabbath-schist! attended the
funeral in a body. wearing white badges.
\\'iu. llenry Benedict was among the
members at that time.fultilliug those mine
istriiiioiis of grace which continued dur—
ing the whole of his life. .\t that funeral
he spoke to one little boy. since grown
to be a minister of the gospel (Dr. Heard».
in such a way as to make an hieradica~
l-le impression. In March. 1‘41. Mrs.
Ira Seymour was admitted into the
church by letter from the Congrega-
tional church in \Yest Hartford. (‘onn ;
in April .\liss Sarah E. “'hite was the”
miss-III to the Second (‘ongrcxational
church of Bridgeport. t‘oun. The . tie
had been a resident of the coniiniiuxtv
for several years: the Iiilii-r was one of
the original members and had thus far
. been iIlIInt tied. conspicuously. “'ith the
Illllll ’
‘1‘“.
, a generation.
Sal-l» itli~scli-Iol. The significance of the
rec. ptioii I-f the one and the Ilismissiun
of the other consists in the fact that the
new member was the sutwrintcudent of
the infant Sabbath-sclimil for more than
The compensating law
-f I; ul's l'ruvideuce ‘was at work in the
lifIIof the church. placing sortie of its
members elsewhere. and re—placiug them
With other competent and helpful addi-
umu Mm. Sevmour is sir-Hon! Nudes!
.\I-T.\ltl.l~1 III ISiiiTioNs-Tumii l'.\.‘TI|lt.\TE.
llev. lI‘rziizcis ll. “'uodworth was called
to the pastorate December L‘Ilth. I‘ll. at
a salary of $300. a reduction of $100
from “hat the church had previously
given. The icas iii is clear. to one who
knows the financial history of this coun-
try frum 1‘3? onward. The great for-
eign event of that year was the en-
lllhlllt merit of Queen Victoria in Eng-
gland: the characteristic Ifeature of
nthiiis iii the United States was the
panic. which \\ as violent and wide-
spread. The chief causes were excessive
importations. the abuse of the credit
system. and the spirit of speculation. It
was prolonged by a failure of the grain
crop during 1&1133. Breadstutl‘s tempos
rarily rose in price. and flour in the
village was sold at one time for $14.00
a barrel. Members of this church went
elsewhere to obtain business. There was
a steady drain of specie front the coun-
try. \\'ages temporarily declined. Ranks
everywhere suspended. Bankruptcies
were general. After the iiiodilication
of the tariff. in 1‘49. iniportations were
checked. manufactures revived. and. the
commercial atmosphere having been
purified. business generally recovered.
is nearly as I am able to judge. the
curly salaries paid by the church and
society were as good for those times as
the salaries of later years for later times.
considering the relative purchasing
power of money. the gift~uiaking habits
of the people. the chronic willingness of
the ministry to get their groceries and
produce from the farms for nothing.
and their limited expenses incurred by
travel and the purchase of books. It is
a debatable question whether the sala-
ries were not better in proportion. The
compensation of the ministry of the
present day is that its wants are more
numerous. and are gratified to a large
degree. The former ministers saved
their money and the present spend it.
partly from necessity and partly from
choice. ’
Mr. \Voodworth. the third pastor. was
the first to be installed. the event occur-
ring Feb. 9th. 1848. Rev. Wm. Patton.
D. D.. of New York. preached the in-
stallation sermon. Rev. Lyman Atwo-
ter. of Fairfield. ofl'ered the installation
prayer. The latter was afterward the
present pastor‘s instructor in logic and
political economy in Princeton College.
Mr. Woodwortb was a handsome man.
of beautiful a irit. a strong, out~spoken
abolitionist: t at is, a man who advo-
cated the immediate emancipation of the
Southern slaves. He did not believe in
keeping them in slavery, nor in coloniz-
ing them to Liberia in Africa. He was
not what was then called a Northern
daugh-face. an apologist for slaw
cry; a Northern man.with Southern
principles. His convictions were no ems
barrassment to his people. He might
utter them with the utmost freedom.
There would be an occasional objection
to so-oalled preaching of politics. but
the church and societ , as a whole.
would not have been pleased with any-
thing but the severest. most radical anti-
slavery sentiment. The church was
com in the beginning of a bod of
young .people_ who were a unit in ir
religious opinions, their political
preferences and their social customs.
It so happened that for a long time, no
legal voter became a member of it,
who did not share their opinion.
When Henry Clay was candidate for the
Presidency in 1844. James 6. Bis-nay. a
Kentuckian slavesbolder who had libe-
rated his slavesand provided for their
welfare. was the first anti-clover, candl-
datefortheaameofllco. Bimbo"
nominated. be made a Marin
first anti~slavery bays in the town.
Deacon Nash being candidate for t‘i‘p-
resentative to the legislature on the local
anti-slavery ticket. Public opinion was
overwhelmingly against them, and they
had no expectations of being elected.
They shod for a principle. They went
men whose houses and barns were
stations on the under-ground. or more
properly over~ground railway. They
carried fleeing slaves in the night from
point to point, in order to put them
beyond the reach of the pursuing slave-
owners. and the legal control of the
government. In 1‘16 the American
Congregational Missionary Association
was formed. owing to the countenance
of slavery by the American Board. It
took up the cause of the slaves. and
afterward of the Indians and the
Chinese. and still later of the poor
whites of the South. Very soon this
church was a contributor to its work.
“'tien last year we made our list:of be-
nevolences it was the old fire burning in
the soul of Deacon George Benedict.
which led him. because detained from
attending our meeting. to send a special
request that the American Missionary
Association might be included in our
list of organizations. It. isa part of the
historic fitness of things. that a former
member of this church, Dr. A. F. Beard.
within the last ten days. should become
the secretary of that society. under the
conviction that the neediest people of
the l'uited States are the despisml races
and classes of the “'est and Stuth.
more needy even than the ln-iiighted
oiii‘ri‘rrs Iiiiiskilled workers) and vicious
out-casts of I'aris.aiiil ignorant peasantry
of France. or the spendthrift Ameri-
cans tray-ding abroad. The pastorate of
the American Church in Paris is a
position of great dignity and influence.
social priI~i-tiiiiieiiIIe and missionary (mu
portunity. but the set‘r-Itnryship 0! [h
.\niertcau Missionary Association is a
higher position. with less of the
Parisian brilliant-y. but needing more
grit and grace to withstand the surviv-
ing barbarism in the life of Amerim.
I am not wandering from my subject,
but interpreting the significance of the
moral c- urage. the political wisdom. the
noble philanthropy, the Christian
fidelity, of the early membership of the
church. They were wiser than their
times in religion. and politics. and tem-
perance sentiment: wiser in some
respects than the great leaders of the
very movements in which as leaders and
followers they shared. For example.
when they voted. politically. the ante
SleB't‘l’)‘ ticket. it was the opinion of
Lloyd Harrison that as a political move-
tneiit. it was .. folly. presumption.
almost unnpialed infatuation. the worst
form of pro—slavI-iy." But in reality, it
was the beginning of that triumphant
political organization which grew and
expanded under varying names, the
\\'liig Party. the Liberty Party, the Free
Sui Party. the Republican Party. until
it seated Abraham Lincoln in the Presi-
dential chair. impellel his hand to Sign
the commission of General Grant. and
to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
Liberty was proclaimed throughout all
the land unto all—-- the inhabitants
thereof. They were seers. prophets. the
heralds of the coming dawn. the un—
crowned kings of America. who scanned
the near and far horizon. detecting
(-lunile arising out of the oo- like so
mim's hand. when others could see
nothing. although in a little while the
heavens were to ' be black with
clouds and wind. and I great rain.
They knew that legal suasion. and
ballots. and war must settle the question.
not moral suasion alone. nor compro-
mises and provisos. Emerson says:
““‘hat forests of laurel we bring. and
the tears of mankin l. to those who stood
firm against the opinion of their con-
temporaries.“ Your reward. then. 0
Sons of God. in a crooked and perverse
nation. among whom ye shone as lights
in the world. is the wreath of laurel with
its wealth of meaning. and the tearful
gratitude of liberated slaves.and puri-
tied America. Ye held forth the word
of life. ye did not run in vain. nor labor
in vain.
. r. “'oodvvorth resigned. c and
was dismissed from the pastorate. Febru—
ary tiih. 1842. His photograph is pres
servtd in the records of the church.
After leaving, be edited a child's maga-
zine called "The Youth's Cabinet."
which had large success under his
editorship. but suspended publication
after his death.
The following record was made Janu-
ary 25th. 1844: “Mrs. Minerva E. Ray-
mond (formerly Miss Nashl was dismis-
sed and commended to the First Presby-
terian church of Detroit. Mich." It was
in that city that she first suggested to
the pr t pastor that he might come
to Soul .\‘Iirwalk. How little any of
us can tell the remote consequences of
our actions.
l-‘Ol‘RTll l‘.\.“‘l‘lllL\Tl-2.
ReV. 7.. K. Hawk-y succeeded Mr.
Woodworth, and was the uninstalled
pastor from May 4th. 1844. to May lst.
ltils. He had a high‘keyed voice. wasa
good scholar, but a controversialist by
nature. He attacked Methodism and
published a book on Congregationalism
and Methodism. which is accessible in
the homes of the older members of the
oi regation. At that time a variety of
app es called Methodist apples was abun-
dant. A tree still stands in the south-
east front yard of Deacon George Bene-
dict‘s residence. They were so called
because they were the fruit of trees
owned originally by Absalom Day. ssa
local preacher one of the shining lights
of early Methodism in the village. Their
peculiarity was that they were fair to
look at. but not sound at the core. A
Congregationalist girl, who had caught
the spirit of controversy. said that the
reason why the Methodists were so
named was, because they were like the
Methodist pples. In these days we
should reve the typology. and afirtn
that the interior. the core. heart of
Methodists. is better than the outside.
and that the outside is more Congrega-
tionally fair as the result of mutual
improvement. Mr. Hurley accepted a
cal to a church in Knoxville, Ill.
nt‘rn Pasroum
Rev. {8) lva‘r'in's llaiirel'iit'.8 tram
pastor. rom u —.l .to
6th, 1851. Behid been pastor atWil-
as oorpnlcnt. impulsive. no. and
fearless, a Son of Thunder. 0 ulti-
mately returned to South Norwalk to
quad. bmdedtfingyean.
m or Inn mu m
Sothsoriginalpsriod of the oh-d’s’
' but the histono' m
oonttunm ho and what were the
original members as tested by their
history? Nos distance but necros-
Mmmwthovbw. MIL
Norwalk Chronicler