i^ oN "^ .0^ -^ \^' - -^ ,cV^' .0 C ^. ^^^ .v^^ \ x\ c>0 „.^ S-' ^, ■-.,,- .-0 V «- ^ r\' "■•^; (, -^ .5 -^^ .x-^ ^^' "■■> ,..^>' -.V -^ .^ ^A ^^' -... >< <^ ' -"o 0^ v\^ ■''^. •) M /.-^«, ^.,# -^ ^%. - ^V ''■ , c- -^^ -^^ -^ ./■'' W-: // C- V'> "■*% :"'~^- "^ -^' // ^ H ' N^: 0>' ^0 O. V -V .0- ,V '^^^v ^-s. ^^^^^ T.'^-' ...^^ A^ ,xv .^^ ^'^^. A^' o 0' ■.;-^c. ■^OO^ y- > ^,,^' ■^'- . --..^^'" A^^' "^-^'.- ,-^- ■^^ ,^^'' ■S^^^. X:,. .^x^^ .•\ . V -^ ^ ,0^^ K E P O E T BI-CENTEMIAL JUBILEE ]i^IR^T j^IoNQF^EQATIONAL j^HUI^CH, WOODBURY, CONN., Held May 5th, 1870. By \VILLIAM COTHREN. NEW HAVEN. i. H. BENHAU & SON, PRINTEKS, COR. CUCECII AND CHAPEL STREETS. 1870. p ONTENTS. Page. Address at Communion — Rev. Gurdon W. Noyes, . • . .24 " " Rev. Wm. K. Hall, .... 24 OF Dedication— William Cothben, . . . . .28 " Rev. Tuomas L. Shipman, ...... 56 " Greeting — Ket. Horace Winslow, . . . . .37 Church — Annual Meeting of, . . . . . . . 5 Votes of, . . . . . . . . . Gi Covenant of 1(5"0, ........ 10 Communion Services, . . . . . . . . .23 Collation, . . . . . . . . . . ' 26 Conclusion, .......... 64 Cake Presentation, ........ 60 Committee — General, Appointment of, . . . . . .5 Finance, " ...... 7 On Decorations, Appointment of, . . . . .7 On Floral Decorations, Appointment of, ... 7 On Refreshments, Appointment of, . . . .7 Decorative Artist, " .... 7 Votes of General, . . . . . . .6 Decorations of the Church, ....... 10 Dedication of Fathers' Monument, . . . . . .26 Dedicatory Prayer — Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, .... 27 Address — William Cothren, . . . . .28 PoEU— Rev. Wm. T. Bacon, '. . . . .32 Hymn — William Cothren, . . . . . .34 Closing Prayep.^Rbv. Austin Isham, .... 35 Dkscbiption of Monument, . . . . . ' . 26 Deacons — List of, . . . . . . . .11 Discourse — Bi-Ckntennial — Rev. Guedon W. Noyes, . . . .14 Hy'mn at Communion, . . . . . . . .23 of Dedication, . . . • • • • .34 Introduction, ......... 5 IV CONTENTS. Pace. Letters of the CHiiRrn, , . . . . . . 6, (jii Eev. Joskph Bellamy, . . . . . . 45, 4G Miss Charlotte E. Andrew, . . . . . .GO Kev. Philo Judson, ....... 60 Rev. Charles Little, . . . . • • . h^ Eev. Charles E. Eobinson, . . . . . . ;")8 Eev. Egbert' G. Williams, . . . . . .63 Prooraume, ......... 8 Prater— Opening — Eev. Gurdon W. Noyes, . . . . .13 Concluding — Eev. John Churchill, .... 23 Of Dedication — Eev. Thomas L. Siiipman, . . . .27 Afternoon Opening — Eev. Austin Isham, ... 35 " Concluding — Rev. Gurdon W. Noyes, . . .61 Responses — Stratford — Rev. Wm. K. Hall, . . . . .39 SouTHBi'RY — Eev. A. B. Smith, . . . . .42 Bethlehem— Eev. George W. Banks, .... 45 Judea— Rev. W. S. Colton, . . . . . .48 RoxBURY — Rbv. a. Goodenough, ..... 51 South Britain — Rev. H.,S. Newcomr, . . . .52 Woodbury North — Rev. John Churchill, ... 54 Sentiments — Stratford, . . . . . . . .38 Southburt, ........ 43 Bethlehem, . . . . . . . .44 Jcdea, . . . . . * . . .48 RoXBURY, . . . , . . . .51 South Britain, . . . . . . .52 Woodbury North, . . . . . . .54 NTRODUCTION For several years past it had been a matter of consultation and agreement between the writer and Dea. PniLO M. TuowBKiixiK, that when the Bi-Centennial year of the existence of our Cluirch approached, they would suggest to the brethren the desirability of a proper observance of its natal day. It Avas thought to be appro- priate to celebrate so joyous an anniversary. It was believed to be Avell to set up a monument to mark the passage of the ages. It was thought fitting that the Church, which had for two hundred years acknowledged the same coniession of faith, and " owned the same covenant," written and adopted by the fathers by the shores of Long Island Sound, taken " from out the Word," should, with devout joy and thanksgiving, render praise to Almighty God for all His wonderful mercies toward it. We could do no less than to render thanks to the Lord. It seemed to redound' to His glory and our great good. In accordance Avith these vieAvs the subject Avas brought l:)efore the Church, and the following action was taken by it and the Committee of its appointment : "Annual Meeting of the Fikst Congregational Chukch, Sept. 16, 1869. " Voted, That Deacons Trowbi-idge and Linsley, and Brother William Cothren be a Committee with power to make full arrange- ments for a public observance, on the fifth day of May next, of the Two-Hundredth Anniversary of the organization of this Church." The Committee held its first formal meeting February 22, 1870, and, after due consideration, " Voted, That it is inexpedient to occupy more than one day with the exercises contemplated in tlie action of the Church. " Voted, That the Mother Church, at Stratfoi-d, and the six daughters of this, be invited to be present, and participate in the exercises. () ('OMMITTKK MKKIINCS. '■'■^"(>frJ, That the inoniiiio; oxcrciscs coiiiinciicc at ten o'clock, A. M., :uhI tlie order l)c tliat of llic Sabbatli, followed Ity the communion. '•'■ Voted, That the Pastor be invitcMl to deli\er tlie sermon, and that he invite the Pastor of the Church at Stratford to assist him at the Communion. " Voted, That the Deacons of the Mother Church, of this, and tlie North Church, pass the emblems at the Communion. " Voted, That these exercises close at twelve o'clock, M., and that forty-five minutes be here given for refreshments, " Voted, That the dedicatory exercises at the Fathers' Monument consist of a Prayer, an Address, and a Poem, and that they occupy half an hour, in the whole." COMMITTICE MeKTIXG, FeU. 28, 1870. " Voted, That the P. M. exercises commence fifteen minutes be- fore two o'clock, and that they consist of— 1. Prayer ; 2. Address of greeting ; 3. Response from the Mother Chnrch, and also from each of the other churches invited; 4. Addresses from ex-ministers of this church, and others, reading of letters, &c. " Voted, That the chairman report the preceding to the Church on Friday of the present week, for its amendment and approval. It Avas reported, and was adopted." COAIMITTEE JMeETING, MarCH 21, 1870. " Voted, That Brother Cothren be instructed to prepare sentiments for responses from each of the churches invited." The Chairman was directed to issue the following letter to the Church at Stratford, and attend to all necessary correspondence resulting therefrom. First Cougregatlonal CJmrch in Woodhiwy to the Congrega- tional Church in Straiforel: Dear Brethren: — You, the Mother Cliurch of this, are hereby invited to meet with us, by Pastor and Deacons, at least, at ten o'clock, A. M., on Thursday, the lifth day of VI ay next, and partici- pate iu the exercises of the Twa Hundredth Anniversary of the organization of this Church. APPOINTMENT OF (JOM.AlITTEliS. 7 We have invited the following Churches, all (laughters of this, A iz : the Cougregational Churches of 8outhbury, Bethlehem, Washington, Ivoxbury, South Britain and the North Church in Woodbury. P. M. Tkowrridc^e, j J. II, LiNSLEY, > Committee. WlLLIAir COTUREN, ) WooDiuTRY, March 25, 1870. The Chairman was also instructed to issue letters of like import to the other Churches. The following ladies were appointed — COMMITTEE ON DECORATIONS: Mrs. William Cotiiren, Mips Julia Bull, Mrs. Henry Lambeet, Mrs. E. Bexiia^f, Mrs. Col. N. Smith, Miss Emily Curtiss, Miss Helen L. Sedgwick. The following gentlemen were appointed — FINANCE COMMITTEE: C. W. Kirtland, W. S. Curtiss, Geo. DeForest. The following gentlemen were appointed — COMMITTEE ON REFRESHMENTS, &c. Ja:\ies H. Linsley, Horace D. Curtiss, William Smith, Horace Minor. COMMITTEE ON FLORAL DECORATIONS. Kate M. Woodruff, Hattie Judson, Mrs. Susan E. Shove. DECORATIVE ARTIST. Henry C. Curtis, Hartford, Conn. The programme for the occasion, as finally arranged and agreed U[ion, was as follows, viz : rRO(;RAM:NrE of exercises. BI-CENTENNIAL Woodbury, fVSay 6, 1870. FRO G-K A M M E . A.M. EXERCISKS WILL COMMENCE PRECISELY AT TEN o'cLOCK, A. M., AND WILL BE A3 FOLLOWS : 1. The Congregation will unite in singing — "PRAISE GOD, FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW." 2. READING OF SCRIPTURE, . . . . By the Pastor 3. PRAYER, By THE Pastor 4. SINGING. HYMN 339. 5. SERMON, ....... By the Pastor 6. PRAYER, ..... Rev. John Churchill 7. BENEDICTION. Recess of Five Minutes. 8. COMMUNION, Rev. Messrs. G. W. Notes and Wm. K. Hall, ofBciating. 9. RECESS of forty-five minutes for Collation at Town Hall. 10. DEDICATION OF FATHERS' MONUMENT, at fifteen minutes before one o'clock. These exercises will consist of 1. DEDICATORY PRAYER, . . Rev. Thomas L. Shipman ADDRESS, POEM, HYMN, 5. BENEDICTION. . William Cothren . Rev. W. T. Bacon William Cothren . Rev. Austin Isham PROGRAMME OF EXERCISES. PROG^RAMME. P. M. THE SERVICES AT THE CHURCH WILL BK RESUMED AT FIFTEEN MINUTES BEFORE TWO o'clock, r. M., AND WILL BE t 1. SINGING. HYMN 329. 2 PRAYER.. ...... ^E-v. Austin Isham 3. SINGING. 4. GREETING, ...... Rev. H. Winslow 5. SENTIMENT— STRATFORD, - Response by Rev. W. K. Hall 6. SINGING. HYMN— THE PILGRIMS. 1. SENTIMENT— SO UTIIBURY. . Response by Rev. A. B. Smith 8. SINGING. 9. SENTIMENT— BETHLEHEM. Response by Rev. Geo. W. Banks 10. SENTIMENT— JUDEA. . . Response by Rev. W. S. Colton 11. SINGING. 12. SENTIMENT— ROXBURY. . Response by Rev. A. B. Goodenpugh 13. SINGING. 14. SENTIMENT— SOUTH BRITAIN. Response by Rev. H. S. Newcomb 15. SINGING. HYMN— Our Fathers' God is with us. 16. SENTIMENT— NORTH WOODBURY. Response by Rev. John Churchill n. SINGING. 18. READING OF LETTERS, &c. 19. CONCLUDING PRAYER. . . , . Rev. G. W. Noyes 20. DOXOLOGY. 21. BENEDICTION. All the committees, under the inspiration of the general commit- tee, performed their several duties with alacrity, fidelity and ability, and every thing was " made ready " for the successful inau- guration of the interesting ceremonies of the approaching jubilee. 2 10 THE C'OVENA>'T OF 1G70, With the aid of the ready liands and executive ability of the ladies, the church was most beautifully decorated by Mr. Henry C. Curtis, a special artist, of Hartford. A more striking and ap- propriate mode of decoration could not have been devised, than that adopted by Mr. Curtis, whether considered historically or artisti- cally. It is a remarkable fact that the first four pastors of the church occupied the pulpit, in the aggregate, the long period of 172 years, out- of the two hundred celebrated. We think this a length of time unparalleled in the history of the churches in this country. This fact was beautifully represented by introducing the four names; VValker, StLuldard, Benedict and Andrew, into a large cross composed of six circles, the names occupying four of the six circles, " 172 years" the center, and a cross the lower circle, f his was placed in the recess behind the pulpit. Beneath the cross were two tablets, the one containing the " covenant of 1670," and the other the names of the original signers. THE COVENANT OF 1670. " We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being (by y*" all-dis- posing providence of God, who determines y" bounds of men's habitations) cast into co-habitation on w'" another, and being sensi- ble of o' duty unto God, and one to another, and of o' liableness to be forgetfuU, and neglective of y" one and y'' other, do hereby (for y* further incitent of o''selves unto duty in either respect) solemnly give up o'selves & ours unto y'' lord, engaging o'selves by his assisting grace to walk before him, in y' religious observance of his revealed will, as far as it is or shall be made known unto us. We do also in y° presence of God solemnly ingage o'selves each to other to walk together in church-society, according to the rule of y" gospell, jointly attending all y* holy ordinances of God, as far as it shall please him to make way thereunto, and give opportunity y° of : and walking on w"' another in bro herly love, & chtian wachfull- ness for o' mutual edification, and furtherance in y" way to salvation. And jointly submitting o'selves & ours to y° goverment of Cht in his church, in y" hand of such church governours, or officers as shall be set over us, according to gospell institution. The good lord make us faithfuU in covenant with him & one w"" another, to walk as becomes a people near unto himself, accept of y" offering up of o'selves, & DEACONS OF FIIJST AND SECOND CENTURIES. 11 ours unto him and establish both us and y" to be a people unto him- self in his abundant mercy through cht jesus, who is o'' only mediato' in whom alone we expect acceptance, justification and salvation : to him be glory & praise through all ages. Amen. The names of y" persons y' subscribed this covenant, & again publickly owned it, May 5th, viz : y^ day of my ordination were as followeth : Zechariah Walker, Samuel Sherman, Sen', Joseph Judson, Sen', John Hurd, Sen', Nicholas Knell, Robert Clark, John Minor, Samuel Sherman, Jun', John Whkioler, Samuel Stiles, Hope Washborn, Hugh Griffin, Ephraim Stiles, John Thompson, Jun', Theophilus Sherman, Matthew Sherman, John Judson, Samuel Mils, Benjamin Stiles, Edward Shermond, Persons since added . John Skeeles, Israel Curtiss, Thomas ffairechilde, Richard Butler, Robert Lane, Moses Johnson, Richard Harvy. Between the tablets was the name of the present pastor, Rev. Gurdon W. Noyes, in golden letters. At the apex of the recess above the pulpit was an elegant golden cross and erown. At the top of the pillars on either side of the pulpit, was a large golden " C," on which appeared the years 1670 — 1870, under which, respectively, was a list of the deacons of the first and second centuries, on tablets upon the pillars : Deacons of the \st Century. Hon. John Minor, Samuel Miles, Matthew Sherman, Hon. John Sherman, Matthew Mitchell, Z. Walker, Jr., Samuel Sherman, Samuel Minor, Jehu Minor, Hon. Daniel Sherman, Gideon Stoddard, Deacons of the 2d Century. Clement Minor, Josiah Minor, Matthew Minor, Daniel Huntington, Nathan Atwood, Ens. Seth Minor, Jr., Benjamin Judson, Jr., Judson Blackman, Eli Summers, Truman Minor, P. M. Trowbridge, J. H Linsley. 12 DKCOKATIOXS OF THE CHURCH. On the panels of the gallery face were the names of the mother church at Stratford, and the six churches which have gone out from the first church, with the date of tlieir organization, viz : Stratford, 1G39; Southlmry, ]7:31 ; Bethlehem, 1739 ; Judea, 1V41; Roxbury, 1748; South Britain, 176G ; and North Woodbury, 1816. On the two panels nearest the judpit were the names of the ])astors succeed- ing tlie first four, viz : — Wright, Strong, Curtis,Williains, llobinson, Little and Winslow. A beautiful wdiite dove was suspended from the pulpit desk beneath the bible, which, Avith outstretched Avings, seemed to be alighting upon the commi;nion table below. The pulpit was splendidly decorated. Festoons extended from the cor- ners of the church to the center ornament in the ceiUng, whence descended a large anchor, beautifully wreathed in evergreens and flowers, while wreaths ran along the galleries, over and below the recess, and to the letter " C " at the caps of the pillars, above whicdi appeared two century plants. The whole was completed with tlie mottoes "Welcome," and "We Greet You." Throughout the house, in the lamp brackets, were vases and baskets of flowers and drooping plants, producing the finest and most artistic effect. The clearest and balmiest day of the year heralded the coming exercises. We could but feel and see the favoring smile of that good Providence, wdio has so wisely and tenderly watched over this church during the two centuries of its existence. At an early hour, the people of this and the neighboring towns began to assem- ble, the streets were lined with vehicles of every description which had come from the hills and valleys of the " ancient town," and the church was almost immediately filled to its utmost capacity. Settees and chairs Avere carried into the aisles above and below. The vestibule and every place where standing room could be found were immediately filled, while there was a large crowd without, Avhich could gain no admission. There must have been more than 1,500 people in attendance. As a test of this estimate, it may be remarked, that 1,000 collation tickets had been issued, and yet it became necessary for the committees to admit large numbers, who had not been provided with tickets. Pursuant to the admirably arranged programme of Dea. P. M. Trowbridge, chairman of the general committee, the exercises com- menced precisely at 10 A. M., by the great congregation rising and sindns; " Praise God from whom all blessings flow." The reading OPENING PRATER. i" of ati approjiviate selection of scripture, and prayer by the pastor next followed, after wliicli the cono-regation sang tlie old, familiar hyum,— " Ye tribes of Adam join," &(i. This was followed by a carefully prepared historical sermon by the pastor, of great beauty and excellence, briefly narrathig the history of the churcli and its ])astors for two hundred years. OPEXING PRAYER. O Lord, Thou alone art great — glorious — good ! Hence we would adore and serve Thee. Our fathers worshiped in this moun- tain ; but the fathers, where are they ? And the Prophets — do they li\ e forever V Alas ! Alas ! We do all fade as a leaf Thou carriest us away as with a flood. We spend our years as a tale that is told. But Tliou art the same and of Thy years theie is no end. Thou liaut their position was still unpleasant and unsatisfactory, as the other party would allow them no use of the church, and spoke of their unordained minister to his and their disparagement. So, despairing of any agreement, they detei'- mined to set up for themselves. They appointed a day for the purpose, and spending most of it in prayer for the Lord's guidance and blessing, they entered into solemn covenant with God, and one another. Then calling neighboring churches together, and renewing that covenant, which is a model for brevity, scriptural- ness and beauty, they were constituted the second church in Strat- ford, on May 5th, 1670, and Mr. Walker was ordained their pastor. Twenty males comprised the church at its outset. Some of them forecasting separation as the probable relief from their difliculties, had made provision for a new sphere for growth and enjoyment, by applying to purchase lands of the Indians, as early as 1667. Accordingly, at the suggestion of Gov. Winthrop, Avho deemed the course best for the churches and the colony, the court, in IMay, 1672, granted them the privilege of erecting a plantation at Pom- peraug. Early the next spring twenty-five families migrated to this place, then a wilderness. Mr. Walker divided his ministra- tions between this flock and that at Stratford until June, 1678. when he moved here. Seventeen more had been added to the church, and so it started as the first church of Woodbury, with thirty-seven members, six of whom were females, and full one-third I of the half-way covenant type. Yet, few as they were in numbers, busied as they were in procuring food and houses for their fami- BT-CENTENNIAL DISCOURSK, IT lies, beset as they were with difficulties of every kind, beyond onr conception, they cheerfully undertook the sustainrnent of the Gos- pel in their midst. They sequestered lands for the use of their pastor, and freely taxed themselves for his support. At lirst reli- gious services were held in each other's houses in winter, and in summer on the east side of the Orenaug Rocks, with sentinels stationed on their summits, to guard against sudden attack from hostile Indians. On this account the name of Bethel Rock has been given to the spot. In later times, good men, their descend- ants and others, have repaired thither for meditation and prayer. Hence, though beautiful in itself, with its surroundings of tree, shrub and flower^ and for its clear out-look upon the charming Aalley, it is more so for its historic incidents and hallowed associa- tions. For several years, during King Philip's war, the people were so absorbed in erecting fortified houses, furnishing soldiers for the colony, and providing guards for their own safety, that they could do nothing toward supplying themselves with a place of public worship. But early in 1081, when the stress of care and peril had passed, they took the matter up, and after some little difierence of opinion as to the site, they came to a pleasant agree- ment by leaving the decision to two prominent and disinterested outsiders. The house was at once erected, and stood just below the present residence of Hon. Nathaniel B. Smith. It was large and plain, with pulpit opposite the entrance, and Avith elevated pews and high-backed seats. The people were called to worship therein by the peculiar tap of a drum upon the high rock nearly opposite. Here Mr. Walker preached the word until his death in 1700, at 63 years of age. His papers in the Stratford discussion evince his learning, ability and piety. His thirty years' hold upon the atten- tion and regard of the people, as well as the harmony and groAvth of the church, evince his power as a preacher, and his wisdom as a pastor. During his ministry he received one hundred and eight to the church, and baptized three hundred and seventy-six. The church sincerely mourned him as their heroic leader and faithful shepherd. In the same year they invited Mr. Anthony Stoddard, then just licensed, to preach to them. They soon became so interested in him, as to desire to settle him. As an inducement to this end, the people in lawful town meeting voted as a salary seventy pounds BI-CENTEXXIAI. DISCOURSK. per annum to be i)!iid in wheat, peas, Indian corn, pork, as also fire\voo(l, at tlie followinu- prices "not to l)e varied from, extraor- dinary providences interposing being- excepted," to wit : Wheat, 4s. Od. per bushel ; pork at 3 cents per pound ; Indian corn, 2s. 6d. per bushel ; peas, 3 shillings per bushel. They also voted to build him a house of sjiecified dimensions, he only providing nails and glass, and also a well, and to fnrnisli him with 115 acres of land, pi'operly divided into lots for tillage, pasture, meadow, wood, and conveniently situated. He accepted the call, and was ordained in May, 1702, and moved into the house built for him, and which still stands in the lower part of the village, in a good state of pre- servation, after the storms of 168 years. It was built in the old lean-to style, of the time, with a small room projecting at the front for a portico, which Mr. Stoddard used as his study for 58 years. May its historic character long keep it from vandal hands, as its palisadoes once kept it from the assaults of the Indians, to remind coming generations of the Christian forecast and self-denial of their fathers! Mr. Stoddard possessed great versatility of mind; had enjoyed the best classical and theological culture of the day, and had been favored with the counsels and example of his eminent father at Northampton. xVnd though retiring to this then obscure parish, he found room and verge enough for the exercise of his rare powers. He soon took rank among the leading ministers of the colony. He was chairman of the committee to draft the origi- nal rules of the Litchfield Consociation, and was chosen to preach the election sermon at Hg-rtford, in 1716. He was also as much at home in medicine and law as in theology. According to a custom then quite common, he prepared himself in these departments that he might be useful to his flock when physicians and lawyers were not at hand. He was probate clerk of ancient Woodbury for 40 years, and all the records are in his handwriting. He drew most of the wills of his parishioners ; he was also one of the largest farmers in the town. And yet it Avould seem that he did not suffer these secular labors to interfere with his higher work as the Lord's ambassador. Under his ministry the church was harmonious and prosperous, while others in the colony experienced dissensions and drawbacks. Though losing many to form churches at Southbury, Bethlehem, Judea, Roxbury, yet through frequent revivals it filled up again. BI-CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE. 19 In the great awakening of 1740, it received 97. Indeed admis- sions were made during all the years of his ministry save two, amounting to 616 — 142 of these being by the half-way covenant, most of whom, however, subsequently entered into full com- munion. He baptized 1540, and ordahied five deacons. In the latter part of his ministry he was privileged to preach in a new and finer edifice, built in 1747. With remarkable retention of mental and physical powers, he labored on iintil his 83d year, when after a two days' illness, he died, esteemed and lajnented by the children and grand-children of those whom he had followed to the tomb, and in the midst of whom they reverentially laid his body to await the general resurrection. Just before his death the people had called the Rev. Noah Benedict to settle as his col- league. He had accepted, and the day was fixed for his ordination. He was accordingly ordained Oct. 22, 1760. Mr. B. originated in Danbury; graduated at Nassau Hall in 1757. Though a Barnabas in temperament and manner, bearing consolation and cheer unto all with whom he came in contact, yet in preaching and debate he could rise to somewhat of an ApoUos in might and eloquence. The main grounds of his success, however, lay in his remarkable discretion, his eminent goodness, and his rare fidelity. At the very outset of his ministry he devised a plan to get I'id of the half- way covenant, without any jar, and with good efiect, though to it the church had tenaciously clung for 90 years, and that, too, when neighboring churches had dropped it long before. He also secured some slight changes in the covenant, thereby giving it such excel- lence that for 110 years no one has attempted its improvement. Rev. Worthington Wright was settled as his colleague in 1811, but in consequence of some disease of the eyes, preventing study, he was dismissed at his own request early in 1813. Mr. Benedict's pastorate, like that of his predecessors, was long, prosperous, and peaceful, until near its close, when an unpleasant controversy arose about locating the third and present edifice. He received 272 to the church, baptized 75e, and ordained eight deacons. He retained the confidence and afiection of his people until his death in 1813, at 76 years of age, and the o3d of his ministry. Here and there an aged one in the parish and vicinity has a pleasant remem- brance of his person and work, and through them his influence gleams gently out on the present generation, as the sun's rays gleam upon the sky after his setting. 20 KI-CENTKNNIAL niSCOURSK. And here, in passing, I would call attention to the fact that the united pastorates of the three first ministers of tliis churcli cov- ered the remarkable period of 143 years, probably the only instance in the country, and one alike creditable to both parties. Fortu- nate as this ancient church may be in the future, there is now little prospect that it will ever have a pastor w^ho, in this respect, will attain unto either of the first three. After a year's vacancy. Rev. Henry P. Strong, of Salisbury, was settled over the church in May, 1814, and was dismissed in January, 1816. Rev. Samuel R. Andrew, of Milford, became his successor in October, 1817. From Mr. Bene- dict's death to hu settlement, the church had received 38 additions. The party too, disalfected by the location of the new chui-ch edi- fice, had withdrawn and formed themselves into a strict Congre- gational church. He entered upon his work with forecast and tact, and prosecuted it with earnestness and efticiency. Over his rich endowments and fine culture there was cast a kind, devout, loving spirit which gave him great power as a preacher and pastor. So exemplary was he in his daily walk and conversation, that a quaint and captious neighbor once said that, " He had watched him for 25 years to find something inconsistent with his profession, but must give it up." This speaks volumes as to his discreetness and piety. Hence, no wonder tliat the church was united and success- ful under his care. He was blessed with three revivals, received 263, baptized 243, and ordained three deacons. Finding his health failing he resigned, and was dismissed in 1846, about 29 years from his settlement. He removed to New Haven, wdiere he died, May, 26th, 1858, at the age of 71. Rev. Lucius Curtis, of Torring- ford, Avas immediately installed as Mr. Andrew's successor in July, 1846, and was dismissed in 1854, at his own request He led the church forward, adding 80 to its membership, baptizing 36, and leaving it harmonious and hopeful. In April of the ensuing year, Rev. Robert G. Williams was installed, and remained until July, 1859. In 1857, the second year of his ministry, some $4000 were expended in modernizing and improving this church edifice. He also received 32 persons into this visible fold of Christ. Rev. Charles E. Robinson began to supply the pulpit early in 1861, and was ordained pastor, in June, 1862. He received 17 to the church, and was dismissed at his own request, in the spring of 1864. Rev. Charles Little began to supply the pulpit in 1865, BI-CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE. 21 and after tAVO years retired, liaving added 30 to the church. Rev. Horace Witislow, as his successor, suppHed the pulpit one year, aud added to the chui'ch 24. In vacancies from time to time 10 persons were added. Rev. Gurdon W. Noyes, of Stonington, the ninth and present pastor, began his work, on November 14th, 1869, and was installed on the 8tli of December following. He has received 6 to the church. From its origin, this church has received into its fold 1526; placed the seal of the covenant upon 2999, and ordained 23 deacons, only three of whom sur- vive. Its present membership is 192, Six churches have been formed entirely out of it, and two others have received a goodly number of members from it, to say nothing of its contri- butions to other denominations within its ancient limits, and to the churches of its own faith in the cities of the East and West. From it have sprung 13 ministers, seven by the name of Judson, one the father of Adoniram, the pioneer missionary, and another, Philo, distinguished as a revivalist. It has also been favored with a line of deacons of such rare worth and long continuance in office, as to deserve a passing notice. Hon. John Minor, the pioneer, who at the first view of this place from Goodhill, with bended knee, craved heaven's bless- ing upon the little company, and asked for a godly posterity, was in office 49 years, and seven of his descendants filled it after him, the last dying in 1865. Of these, Matthew and Truman (the last one) were distinguished for Bible knowledge, piety aud usefulness. The first was in office 42 years, and several of the others of like merit wej'e in office from 25 to 45 years ; and one, Eli Summers, still remains with us who has been in office 40 years. To the wise effort, bright example, fervent prayers, of these men, the church is greatly indebted for its unity, stability and success. Society has received more marvelous modifications in these two centuries than in any other two since the Christian era. In this period, printing, steam, machinery, electricity, have been exerting their magic and civilizing power. In this period, too, gradually, indeed, church edifices have improved in style and comfort. Square pews, eagle-nest pulpits, with sounding boards, have disappeared. The worshipers rent their seats, and are not seated as formerlj^ accord- ing to age aud rank. The cold, humid air, Avhich our fathers and mothers endured for hours is raritied by the heat of stove or fur- 22 HI-CENTEXNIAL DISCODESE. nace. About the sanctuary no Sabbath-day liouses appear ; and instead of coinin<^ to church on foot, or upon saddles or pillions, as of ohl, the people now come in spring ^'agons or covered car- riages. And then at its origin, this churcli was one of 18 in tlie Connecticut colonies. Now there are 29(t in the State, and 3043 in the United States, with other evangelical denominations as strong or stronger. Then a few hundred colonists were struggling for a foothold in this wilderness, against the rigors of the climate, the assaults of savages and the interferences of the mother country. Now, there are 37 States scattered over a vast and fertile area, with some forty-five millions of inhabitants, under one free and beneficent government, and Avith almost every conceivable facility for material, intellectual and spiritual advantage. With few helps and manj^ hindrances, our ancesters kept the flame of worship burning on the altars of this Zion. Though the church has been weakened by wars, wasted by pestilence, thinned by emi- gration, endangered by prosperity, yet it still lives and in mucli vigor. It is a glorious thing that it has thus held right on its way through ten generations. It has rendered acceptable service to its Head and Lord, and been a rich boon to this community. And now, how interesting this transitional ])oint when it is to pass over its great legacy of good to the keeping of another series of generations. Our fathers cast np stej^ping-stones for our ad- vancement ; 7iot arhors wherein to take our earn. We may well glory in their work / but if we rest upon it, the Lord will raise up children to them from the stones of the street. We should rather feel that the church is to go forward in numbei'S, beauty, achievement, influence. As we leave this cycle of years, lined with Christian heroes and heroines behind us, we must needs cast the horoscope of the future. We who gladly join in this jubilee, will, ere long, pass away; but others will take our places, and the tide of aifairs will sweep on. When the next century comes round, and posterity gathers for commemoration, what shall be the aspect of the place, and the character of the people ? We can decide with certainty, as to some things that will greet our descendants then, as they do us now. 'i'hey will be hailed by the same spring, with its birds and floweis. They will pass up the same broad and shaded street, and look out upon the same gem of a valley, Avith ADDRESS AT COMMUNION. 23 its picturesque setting of hills. The rude monument of Pomeraug will remain and will be visited by the curious, as to-day. But will the people be wiser, better, happier? Will most of them be in Christ's visible fold, as burning and shining lights ? Christian friends, the answer to these queries depends largely upon us. Our faith, zeal, fidelity, with heaven's favor, may till the lips of posterity with glad hosannas at the tri-centcnnial. Gazing backward, I seem to see the great cloud of witnesses for Jesus here clasping hands along the flying years, and as they pass on, the blessed results of their sacrifices, toils and tears, I seem to hear them say: " Freely ye have received, freely give." ''Take the triumphs we have gained to cheer you ; gaze upon the trophies we have gathered and hung around you, then press for- ward froui conquest to conquest, until called to lay your armor down, and receive the Master's well-done." Anten. The concluding i^rayer was uttered by Rev. John Churchill, and after this a recess of five minutes occurred to give oppor- tunity for such as chose to retire. During the services of the forenoon, the deacons of the mother church, our own, and those of the North church, sat about the communion table after the manner of " ye olden time.'' After the recess came the administration of the Lord's supper to some 800 communicants, filling the seats above and below, Rev. William K. Hall, of Stratford, and our own pastor officiating. It was a solemn and interesting occasion — never before enjoyed here — never again to be enjoyed by us below, — when a mother church, M'ith its own mother and six children sat down together at the " Earth- ly marriage feast of the Lamb." The remembrances of that hour will go with us through the eternal ages. The exercises at the communion were opened by singing the following verses, beautifully rendered by William Cothren, James H. Linsley, Mrs. Enos Benham, and Mrs. Horace D. Curtiss, as a quartette : 'Tis midnig-ht, and on Olive's brow, The star is diiuraed that lately shoue ; 'Tis midnight ; in the garden now, The suffering Saviour prays alone. ******** " 'Tis finished," — so the Saviour cried, And meekly bowed his head, and died; " 'Tis finished," — yes the race is run. The battle fought, the victory won ! 24 ADDRKSS AT COMAIUNIOX. ADDRESS AT COMMUNION. Fathers, Buetiiren, Friexus: — We approach this sacramental tahle to-day nntler circumstances of peculiar interest. The " com- niuiiiou ot saints" is changed from a dry dogma of our creed into a lilessed reality of our experience. The mother church sits down in this heavenly phxce in Christ Jesus, with her daughter, grand- daughters, cousins, and many of remoter kindred and others of diftei'ent denominations. No idea of the Cliurch in the liible is moi-e common or beautiful than that of a family or household. God is the Father, Jesus the elder brother, and all true believers, brothers and sisters in Plim. The Savior once said that whosoever should do his will, the same was his brother, sister and mother. And Paul gathers into one family the redeemed on earth and in heaven. Ah ! the hundreds wlio have preceded us in caring for this Zion, must be near to-day in sympathy and gratulation, though we feel not the pressure of their hands, and hear no word of cheer from their lips. And through the knowledge we have of their career and of their blest estate in glory, we can commune with them, and gather inspiration to press on in our Christian course. Friends, our time for holy fellowship and achievement here is fast passing by. The Lord help us to go down from this mount of o-lorious privilege witli a fuller consecration to his service. Then, when called to rest from our earthly labors and cares, we shall be numbered among those who die in the Lord, and ^ohose works follow tJiem ! The service was continued by Rev. William K. Hall, in the following remarks : Brethren in Christ : — Our thought has been directed to that blessed truth of the unity of all believers in Christ, of the family relation in which all who are Christ's are found, a relation which death itself cannot sever. This truth is made most vivid and real to us by this Supper of our Lord, and by these memories of our fathers, which as a sister- hood of churches we have come together to-day to revive. We love to contemplate this truth. It produces a deep, quiet joyous- ness of spirit, thus to keenly realize that we are one with those who have gone before us to the home above, one with that godly ADDRESS AT COMMUNIOX, 25 ancestry who planted these chixrches of Clirist and bequeathed to us these religions institutions. There is, it is true, this invisible, indestructible unity. But what does tliis imply ? That we have the same faith, the faith "once delivered to the saints," that we are sustained by the same hopes and the same promises ? Most surely ; but is there not more than this ? There is a unity of the spirit, a spirit of devo- tion to the truth, a spirit of consecration to the Master and His service. Through much self-denial, through much self-sacrifice, they labored to secure for themselves and for those that should come after them, these blessings of the Christian f^imily and the Chris- tian state. Fidelity to the truth, a firm, unyielding devotion to the interests of religion among them, marked their character and their lives. We may not, my brethren, be called to practice the same kind of self-denial, and may not find the same kind of sacrifices in our path of duty, but if we are true, devoted Christian men and Avomen, loyal to the Master and His kingdom, we shall find that we need the same spirit that actuated them, and we shall moreover find that our path of duty is the path of self- denial and self-sacrifice. That teaching of the Savior, which Avas in so large a measure exemplified in their lives, is for us also. " If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake, shall save it." This supper Avhich calls to remembrance the sacrifice of our Lord, His self-giving for us, ever brings to mind afresh that root-principle of all Christian living, self-giving for Christ, self-losing in Christ. We are here brought into communion with Him. Shall nat this communion bring us into a closer sympathy Avith His spirit ? Shall Ave not, by this communion, possess more of the mind of our Lord? As we take this cup to our lips, and by faith behold the blood that was shed for us, shall we not take into our hearts more of Christ that we may take into our lives more of Christ ? If Ave here rencAV our covenant vows, let us remember that these vows are vows of allegiance, by which Ave devoted ourselves and our all to the service of Christ. If Ave here re-consecrate our- selves to Jesus, let us recognize the truth, that it is a consecration to the cross — that the cross is to be henceforth more deeply im- 26 DEDKJATION OF FA.THERS MONUMENT, printed in our souls, and tliat we are to bear it more steadfastly and faithfully in our lives. May Ave all to-day he so baptized by the Holy Spirit into the spirit of the Lord Jesus, that " denying ungodliness and worldly lusts," we may " live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world ; looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, Avho gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." It was now " high noon," and the final hymn being sung, the " o-reat congregation " moved to the Town Hall to partake of the collation, which had been prepared by the church and congrega- tion, aided by the voluntary and acceptable contribution of eat- ables and assistance from the ladies of the North Church, and the churches of Judea and Koxbury. We shall not soon forget their kindness, and shall be only too happy to assist them on any simi- lar occasion. All were amply supplied, and when all were " filled " there were " many baskets full taken up." At 12-45 P. M., the bell gave warning of the services at the cemetery, where the Fathers' monument was to be dedicated. This is a structure hewn from native boulders, of massive propor- tions, 33 feet high, erected at a cost of more than 61,500, more than one-third of whi(;h was contributed by a single individual. There is no similar monument in this country so far as known to the writer. The principal stone is a granite block of great beauty, found on a farm at a distance, and prepared for the place of honor on the base of the monument. On the front it bears the inscrip- tion in prominent letters, "Presented by William Cothren and Lyman E. Monrijie, July 4th, 1861." This inscription refers to the block, and not, as some supposed, to the entire monument. Just above on a broAvn stone block are the names of the gentlemen at whose expense the monument has been erected. The inscription is, " Erected in honor of the Fathers, by Rev. W. T. Bacon, Hon. Thomas Bull, David S. Bull, Esq., George H. Clark, Esq., Hon. Julius B. Curtiss, Hon. Henry C. Deming, Hon. Henry Dutton, Charles G. Judson, Esq., Woodbury Lyceum, Walter P. Mai-shall, Rev. Benjamin C. Meigs, Deacon Truman Minor, Rev. George Richards, Rev. James Richards, D. D., Hon. Thomas H. Seymour, Edward W. Seymour, Rev. Henry B. Sherman, Rev. Thomas L. DEDICATORY PRAYER. 27 Shipman, Hon, Nathaniel B, Smith, Charles A. Somers, Esq., Hon. Henry Stoddard, Rev. J. B. Stoddard, Rev. Robert G. Williams, Gen. William T. Sherman." On the shaft above is the name, David J. Stiles. On the east side is the inscription " Rev. Zecha- riah Walker, fiist pastor of ancient Woodbury, died Jan. 20th, 1699, in the 63d year of his age, and in the 36th of his min- istry." At the foot of the monument is the ancient headstone with this record : ZECHARIAH WALKER, AGED 63, DYED JAN. 20 1G99. On the north side is the epitajjli of Rev. Anthony Stoddard, the second pastoi', who died Sept. 6th, 1760, in the 83d year of his age, and the 61st of his ministry ; and on the west side is that of Rev. Noah Benedict, the third pastor, who died April 20th, 1813, in the 76th year of his age, and the 53d of his ministry. At the base, on the north side, is an old mill-stone, one of two small ones taken to Woodbury on horseback, two hundred years ago, with which they ground corn and meal for the whole settlement at the rate of one bushel per day. The dedicatory exercises were very interesting and impressive. Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, of Jewett City, one of the contributors, opened the exercises with the following DEDICATORY PRAYER. O Thou, Avhose we are, and whom we would glorify in all our works begun, continued and ended ; may Thy presence be with us and Thy blessing upon us on the occasion which has convened us in this place of graves. Thy servants have erected this monu- ment before which we are assembled, to the memory of the fore- fathers of the ancient church whose history we have to-day recalled. Accept Thou this work of their hands and offering of their hearts. May this shaft long stand in remembrance of the men whose names are engraven upon it — though dead, they yet live by the influence of their ministry upon coming generations. Time may efface their names from this monument of stone, but nothing shall ever efface 28 ADDRESS OF DEDICATION. their lucmory from tlie liearts of a grateful posterity. As we stand surrounded by the dead, iin])ress u]»on our minds the tliought that we shall soon be of them, and give us grace so to live and so to die, that to each of us the end of earth shall be the beginning of Heaven. Bless those Avho are to take }>nrt in the further services of this occasion. May what they shall speak be for Thy glory and for our good, and in all the solemnities and services of the day, may we be accepted through Jesus Christ our strength and our Redeemer. Amen. ADDRESS OF DEDICATION. P,Y WILLIAM COTIIREN. Ten years ago, as the curious antiquarian searched with rev- erent tread among the mossy mounds, which surround us, on this consecrated hill, " beautiful for situation," in this loveliest of val- leys, parting here and there the lank grass and tangled briars, he would have discovered tJtat little head-stone of native rock with its rude inscription, telling us the simple tale, that here rested all that remained on earth of the first father of the town, " ye faith- full, worthy, beloved Minister of the Gospell, and much lamented pastor of the Ch'' of Christ." One hundred and sixty times had the " dark brown years" passed over this consecrated spot, and this was all' that remained to tell the numerous posterity of the fathers, who had been enriched and blessed during all that long period by his faithful teachings, laboi's and sufterings — that here the ever-to-be-revered Walker had laid his armor down — that here he awaited in tranquil rest the final trump of God. Then, as now, grouped thickly around him, in like noteless graves, his faithful people were gathered — a hardy, noble race, that has, in the last two centuries, and especially in the living, whirling present, brought forth great and abundant fruit. There lies Deacon John Minor, the tried, the true, and the brave, ancestor, in the maternal line, of Gen. Grant, President of the United States. Connecticut, through her Deacon Grant of Windsor, and Deacon ^Nlinor of Woodbury, claims a proud share in the fame of this distinguished man. Near Deacon Minor reposes all that was mortal of Deacon ADDRESS OF DEDICATION. 29 John Sherman, ancestor of the General of our armies, and Senator Sherman of Ohio. Gen. Sherman's name appears on this monu- ment as great-grancl-son of the immortal Stoddard, second pastor of this ancient church. The Mitchells, the Wlieelers, the Cur- tisses, the Hurds, the Judsons — ministerial race — all the early revered names lie slumbering near, a goodly company, in their lonely, neglected graves— alas ! too long neglected by their numerous descendants. Before me stands at this very moment so great a company of the lineal descendants of the first John Minor, deacon of the church, captain of the train band, interpreter to the Indians and justice of the quorum, that by contributing a mere tritle apiece, a greater and more expensive monument could be erected than this, which we now dedicate to the memory of the fathers. I charge you to-day to take immediate measures to erect a monument fit to commemorate the virtues of one of the most remarkable men in the early history of the colony. It is the duty of tlie hour for you. No nobler company of men ever removed in a body into the solitudes and dangers of the wilderness, than these early fathers, who left their dwellings by the sea, to dare the perils and priva- tions of the dim woods. They sought to plant here a pure and sublime faith. They labored to extend the kingdom of God. Is it wonderful, then, that their descendants should desire to erect an enduring monument to the sacred memory of such immortal ancestors, th;it it may stand forever as a remembrancer to their children to imitate the virtues and graces of their long buried sires, who have " entered into the rest that I'emaineth to the people of God ?" A little farther to the north stands the modest and dilapidated head-stone of the venerated Anthony Stoddard, second pastor of the church, who rests in the hope of a bright resurrection amid the faithful flock to whom he ministered in "things spiritual " for the long period of more than sixty years. * A step farther, and we are at the grave of the sainted Benedict. These three, a trio of worthies, full of prudence, jiiety and puritj' unsurpassed, " went in and out before the people " for the long period of one hundred and forty-three years. Such wei-e our fathers, and such their claims on the reverence and the affections of their posterity, and yet no monument had arisen to perpetuate a remembrance of their virtues — ten years ago I 30 ADDRESS OF DEDICAT I;)N. But the filial heart of tlie people could not endure a fjirther neglect of the reverence due the names of their sacred dead. Measures were taken for erecting a fitting monument to their memory. Starting witii the theory that no material could be more fitting than the rugged native boulders from tlieir axon lands, among whicli they had wandered in life, the work went on with zeal. Good progress had been made, when the war of the re- bellion broke out, and for more tlian seven dark, gloomy and bloody years, the work Avas suspended. In 1868, noble men came forward Avith their contributions, at home and abroad, and the work was conimenced again with renewed vigor, and pushed to successful completion. It now stands before you, a rugged struc- ture, 33 feet in hight. It is like the character of our fathers, not artistically beautiful, but massive and. immovable. It was erected at an expense of more than 1 1, 500 — and more than one-third of that amount was contributed by one individual. A single duty yet remains, and we are here to perform it. We are here, a filial band, to dedicate it to the memory of the fathers. AVe come to this pleasing duty amid the joyous exercises of our bi-centenuial jubilee, and in the two hundred and fiftieth year of Congregationalism in this country. The time is propitious. The skies are bright above us. The awakening vigor of Spring is apparent on every side. It is the fourth jubilee of our church, and the fifth of our order. And now, in such an auspicious hour, when our hearts are filled with joy and congratulations, we dedi- cate this monument to the memory of the fathers — to the memory of the noble men and women who lie sleejiing in the moss-grown graves beneath our feet, resting sweetly and securely in the hope of a blessed immortality in the beautiful land beyond the far etherial blue, " where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest," We dedicate it to the memory of that pilgrim company, who left the father-land for the enjoyment of a purer gospel — who chose to endure all the privations of a pioneer life amid the perils of the wilderness, to establish freedom of thought for themselves and their children. We dedicate it to the heroic men, who could sing "amidst the storm," ^ " And wliom the stars heard and tlie sea ! While the aounding aisles of the dim woods rung To the anthems of the free !" ADDRESS OF DKDICATIOX. 31 We cheerfully dedicate it to the fathers who chose this beautiful resting-place, so like tliat of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock, pioneers and partakers in a like laith, and a like appreciation of the beautiful in nature. We dedicate it to those lion-hearted men, who have left lis a glorious inheritance — who, while " The heavy ni}i;ht hung dark The woods and waters o'er," and often over their dearest hopes, still sang the songs of Zion, And prayed in their Bethel, tlie shade of the Rouk. We dedicate it with full souls on this " Holy ground, The spot where first they trod ! They have left unstained what here they found, Freedom to worship God." We dedicate it to them for their toils and labors for the estab- lishment of " the faith once delivered to the saints," for their pure lives, for their earnest zeal, for their pious teachings, for their shining examples. We dedicate it as a sacred memento of them — as a solemn duty to ourselves. We dedicate it, that our children and children's children may learn to follow in the way of the holy dead. We dedicate it, that it may be " a rule unto ourselves," inviting us to pursue " the things that make for peace," and pleas- antness, so that when we shall have entered into our rest, and another century shall have rolled its ceaseless round, our descend- ants may revere our memory as we do that of the fathers so long ago translated. Spirits of our fathers, long since ascended unto glory at the right hand of God ! Spirits of the just made perfect ! Do you hear us in your blest al:)odes on high ? Do you note our filial aspirations to-day ? Are you hovering over us as our guardian angels ? Tell us not that when good men carried your bodies to the burial, and wept over these graves, you knew not, heeded not — the tears of affection ! Are you pleased with our tribute of love ? Are you not smiling upon us this very hour, soothing our spirits, as we offer to you this memorial our hands have made, and 32 DEDICATORY POEM. lift to you our filial hearts ? Were you ever, -while liere below, afflicted with trivial contests and bitter recriminations — or, rather, did not your great hearts always glow with love and kindness to all 'i Do you look in pity upon us, when discord arises, and brethren disagree V Do you love us in your far-away paradise ? Oh ! we believe, yes — we believe in the beautiful doctrine of guardian angels ! " In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father !" " You're with ua yet, ye holy dead ! By a thousand signs we know ! You're keeping e'er a spirit watch 'er those we love below ! Next followed the Dedicatory Poem, of which the following is a copy, with slight omissions : THE EARLY VILLAGE FATHERS. As I sat in ray study one eve, grim and gruni, Came a rap at the door : " Is the poet at home ?" " Well sir, what is wanted ?" " Why, one Cothren is here, And he says he wants brains." " Ah, how doth that appear? That a lawyer lacks brains, is what often may be, Though I had not supposed that such lawyer was he." " Nay, 'tis your brains, he wants." " Ah, that alters the case — " Plence I stand here to-day in this reverend place, Ah, Home, search the world round, go east and go west, Take all that is purest and sweetest and best ; Take the world's wealtli, its grandeur, it's strength, and it's fame, And, if other good is, fling in all ye can name ; For one hour in that spot, one glad thrill of the boy, We would willingly give all the world calls it's joy. " What shadows we are, and what shadows pursue," Just go back forty years, let them pass in review; DEDICATORY POEM. 33 Scarce one fiiiuil3''8 head, that stood here in its wortli. But the last forty years have consigned to the earth ; • Our homes have changed owners, our farms too,, till now Scarce one gray head ye meet of that brief long ago. Take one fact to this point. Just go back eight;/ years, What a power was that name whicii the singer now bears ? What a wealth of wide acres ? What strange business skill ? Each thing that he touched, ciianged to gold at his will ; 'T would take ten modern men to make up his one mind, Half the wealth of the town was in his name combined. — Scarce two years since this hand signed the deed, that conveyed The last foot of land that great name once obeyed. Yes, what shadows we are, and what shadows pursue. We stand here to-day with the fathers in view — The fai--awa}' fathers, and pastors, who led Their flocks round these hills, on these pastures to feed ; Guarded well each approach, kept the fold from all harms, And, like Christ of old time, " bore the lambs in their arms." We stand on their ashes ! methinks as we gaze. That they ri.pose IVom his very name, if for no other reason, xcalked off with her. This i>lay upon the name 'Walker recalls a story that is still current in the old home, and I may be permitted to drop, for the moment, the thread of my story, to repeat it, after the habit of loquacious old ladies. Those old controversies were carried on, not without consid- ei'able bitterness. The General Court had interfered to adjust the matters of dispute between the two Church parties. It decided that the Walker party should have the use of the Meeting House a part of the Lord's Day. Upon one occasion, Mr, Walker had in a sermon made some declarations which Dr. Chauncey had con- strued as unjust, and as I'cHecting upon himself. In the afternoon, or upon the next Sabbath, Dr. Chauncey took for his text this passage: "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." His first point was, " You see, my Brethren, that the devil is a great walker.'''' How much of this is fact, and how much merely legend, or tlie gossip of the period handed down, much exaggerated, to the present, I cannot say, but it may serve to remind us, what his- torical facts amply teach, that the ecclesiastical disputes of those days engendered warm party feelings, and rendered absolutely necessary an entire separation. > SEXTIMENTS AND liESFONSES. 41 The daughter, with Iier chosen spiritual leader and guide, left the old homestead, and in choosing her new home wisely titrned northward, preferring the clear, bracing air of the north to the damp and fog and malaria of the shore lands. The record of these two hundred years, and these festivities to-day, testify to the wisdom of that separation and of that choice. That setting forth from the old home was under circumstances, and amid scenes, which, if we could reproduce them in our imagi- nation to-day, would aid us in rising to the full significance of this occasion. The Plantation was only tliirty years old. These years had been years of toil, of hard work in subduing the wilderness, and in making for themselves comfortable homes. Tliey had been spent in almost constant fear of the depredations and attacks of the Indians. One generation was about passing away, and a new generation had already begun to take up and carry on the ever unfinished work. They were just beginning to enjoy the fruits of their hard pioneer toil, were just beginning to idealize the benefits of a social life, well ordered, properly systematized as to govern- ment, adequately equipped and adjusted by the experiences of those tliirty years. Those years had been years chiefly of prepa- ration. The settlement Avas now assuming the appearance and the character of a thrifty agricultural town. It must have required a resoluteness of purpose, backed by a firm, conscientious regard for duty, for that little band to go forth at such a time, and strike out an entirely new path for themselves, to begin over again that same laborious work of making new homes in these wild wood- lands of the north. The prime motives that led them to take that step were wholly of a religious nature Their rights as church members they would maintain. Spiritual interests must be held paramount. They felt that they could not remain in the old church home, though it was large enough to contain them, if the course they deemed right and scriptural was not pursued, so they left it. They had pluck, nerve and energy — stood their ground firmly until they were convinced that it was for the good of both parties that they should secede. I apprehend that at the last, the spirit that prevailed was not far different from that exhibited in the Patriarch brother, after variances had arisen in the family : " Let there be no strife, I pray, between me and thee, and between my herdsmen aiul thy lierdsjneu ; for we be biethren. Is not the 42 SENTIMENTS AND KhSPONSES. Avliole land befoi-e thee : separate tliyself I pray tliee from me. If thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right, and if thou depart to the right hand then I will go to the left." Fortunately there was land enough, and that too not far distant from the old home. Could those bold spirits who planned and achieved that work of settlement, Aviiose names shine out upon these tablets before us to-day, see what we of this generation see, couki look upon these well tilled, Avell fenced farms, this attractive thoroughfare, bordered by this cordon of cottage and homestead, indicative all of such comfort, and plenty, and taste, could behold what would be to them of by far greater value, and in their estimate the largest proofs of their success, and the highest earthly rcAvard of their sacrifices and toil, these tnarks of church life and church progress which have been commensurate with the growth of the outreaching population, they might w^ell believe that the Lord went up with them and before them, and marked out for them the goodly heritage which was to be theirs, and their children's. All honor and praise from us be to that devoted band. The un- flinching fidelity to honest convictions, the uncompromising spirit of attachment to what was to them the truth of God, which they exhibited at the sacrifice of so much they held dear, Avere the rightful issue of the Puritan blood that flowed in their veins. Let us emulate their spirit, and prove ourselves worthy of such a godly ancestry. The old mother church, whom you have so cordially welcomed to your feast of remembrances and rejoicings to-day, most heartily enters into your spirit of devotion to the fathers, and would, even as yourselves, seek to be animated ancAV for the work of the Divine Master, for the glory of the Redeemer's kingdom in the earth. May the blessing of the Great Head of the Church rest upon all these Churches represented here, endowing them with a larger measure of the Divine Si)irit, whereby they may be more thoroughly consecrated to God and His service. SouTHBURY ! — First pledge of our affections, and off*spring of our heart of hearts, dweller in the fertile plains beside the beauti- ful river, the Jordan of our ancient inheritance, with maternal joy we greet thee ! Response by Rev. A. B. Smith. SEXTIMENTS AND RESPONSES. 43 Mr. Chairman : — In responding to the afFectionate maternal greeting of this church, we, the ehlest offspring, rejoice in being thus welcomed to the home of our childhood on this interesting and joyous occasion, and with true filial affection in connection with our younger sisters, we would to-day seek to gladden the heart of her from whom we had our origin, venerable in her age, on this two hundredth anniversary of her existence, we would render to her all due respect and honor. It is a joyful occasion where all the scattered children, after years of separation, gather together at the old family home. Such is the occasion we enjoy to-day, and few in these degenerate times can boast a like numerous family. It reminds us of the olden time, Avhen a numerous offspring was counted a blessing, and it was really felt, that " happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them." I doubt not the joy to-day is in proportion to the number of " olive plants " gathered around the parental table. But when the scattered members of the family, after long ab- sence, gather at the old home, it is natural that they should review the past, and talk of their varied experiences. The mother is sure to rejoice in the prosperity of all her children, and to grieve over and sympathize with them in all their adversities. As the oldest of this goodly family, having now attained to the respectable age of 138 years, we have, as has been here hinted, received the fairest natural inheritance of the whole ancestral domain. Our lot has been cast on "the fertile plains, beside the beautiful river, the Jordan of our" venerable mother's "ancient inheritance" — a land in which Lot himself might have looked with eager, wishful eyes, and chosen in preference to the hill country. But the fertile river bottoms always possess their temp- tations and their dangers. Though they give promise of an imme- diate prosperity, and for this reason are often chosen in preference to the hill country, yet they are liable to foster luxury, ease, and consequent idleness, with all their attendant evils, and so tend ulti- mately to degeneracy. Such locations, therefore, are not usually the most favorable to the progress of true religion, and the spiritual prosperity of the church. As the river flourishes the most luxuriantly in the rocky glens and on the sunny slopes of the hill country, so the church, the vine of God's own planting, has usually found its greatest prosperity in the rural districts, and 44 SENTIMENTS AND liESI'ONSES. among- the liills, where tlieve were few teniptntions to luxury, ease and indolence. C/onsequently, our younger sisters among the hills have far outstripped us in numbers, and we have become the smallest and weakest of them all, already showing signs of decrepi- tude and d(!cay. T5ut as God has hitherto had " a seed to serve Him" in this churcli of the valley, and many have been trained up under its nurture for a heaveidy inheritance, we trust that it will continue to be so in all time to come. The ministry com- menced by Graham, the learned Scotch divine of noble birth, and continued by Wildmaii, the compeer of Bellamy, and by Daniel A. Clark, the great sermonizer, though better ))reacher than pas- tor, lias been sustained with occasional interruptions to the present time, tliough latterly on a less settled and permanent foundation. We hope that on a field where so much good seed lias been sown, and watered by the tears and prayers of rich, eminent men, a brighter day will ere long dawn, when a new impulse sliall be given to everything good in this beautiful valley — where these tendencies to decay shall be arrested, and enterprise, and virtue, and true piety shall be on the increase, and the church shall arise with renewed strength and vigor, and " put on her beautiful gar- ments," and " look forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible" to her enemies "as an army with banners." Bethlehem ! — Thou " house of bread," situate like the Bethle- hem in the Holy Land, about six miles from thy Jerusalem — nur- tured, enriclied and adorned by Bellamy and Backus — we greet thee, second child of our love ! Response by Rev. Geo. W. Banks. Mr. Chairman :— It is exceedingly unfortunate for me that I am not a believer in the doctrine of apostolic succession, for it would be comfortable, to say the least, to have a consciousness of some mysterious power or grace descending to me from my pre- decessors, which would enable me to do justice to the sentiment and the greeting which have just been offered. But lacking all such power or grace, I must express, as best I am able to you, sir, and through you, to our venerable and venerated brother, the con- gratulations of the second daughter, the church in Bethlehem. Though more than a century and a (piarter have jiassod since she SENTIMENTS AND RESPOXSEP. 45 k'ft the ])arental roof, yet I trust that tlic lioine instinct is not hould love to live and die with them. There :ire many difiicul- 46 SENTIMENTS AND UESl'ONSKS. ties in the way of my ^ointj,- to Xew York. Tliey are a difficult people ; don't like my terms of communion, and some of tTieir iireat men are acfainst my cominnj; 1 am not ]'olite enough for them ! I may possibly do to be minister out in the woods, but am not fit for a city. I may die with the small-pox, and leave a widow and fatherless children in a lielpless condition. ]\[y people will be in dano'er of ruin. It breaks my heart to think that the interests of religion must sink among my people, and the youth run riot, and the little children be left without an instructor. I humbly de- sire therefore, nothing may be done without the utjuost delibera- tion; and that whatever advice you shall see fit to give me, you will let me and my people know Avhat grounds you go upon. Behold my life and all the comforts of my life, and my usefulness in the world, and the temporal and eternal interests of my people lie at stake ; and you reverend gentlemen, must answer it to God, if you should give me any wrong advice for want of a thorough and most solemn and ini|)artial weighing of the aflfair. May the in- finitely wise God direct you. 1 jtray you to consider me as one of your unworthy brethren, almost overwhelmed with concern, and just ready to sink under the weight of this afiair, and quite broken- hearted for my kind and dear people. Joskpii Bellamy. There exists in his handwriting a memorandum of an imaginary dialogue on the subject of his '• declaring" as it was technically called, i. e. saying that he felt it his duty to go to New York. Coming at length to the supposition that he has " declared," he writes : " The news flies through the country, and through all New England, and spreads far and wide ; and every one has his say — nor are they silent in hell ! " Carnal People — Aha ! Aha ! Here comes the man that pre- tended to so much religion ! They are all alike — a pack of rogues !" '■'■Godly People — Alas! Alas! What has he done ? A dread- ful afiair ! We must give him up, without pretending to vindi- cate his conduct ! Alas for him that was once our guide and friend !" '■'•New York — Aha! Aha I He cares not for his people, nor is moved by their tears, nor touched by their cries and pleadings ! He has torn away ! Right or wrong, he's resolved to come though his church is ruined ! Aha! Aha! Dollars! dollars! dollars!" " The Devil — Hurrah ! I'm right glad ! Now the old fellow will never do much more hurt to my kingdom !" ''All Hell— Ihu-rahl hurrah!" SENTIMENTS AND RKSPOXKES. 47 It is needless to state tlmt Dr. Ik'llamy veinaiiied "in the woods" with tlie churcli of his first love, and " his sepulchre is with us to this day." Of his scarcely less illustrious successor, Dr. Backus, time forbids me to speak. The ministry of these two men of C4od reached over a period of 70 years, more than half the history of the church. Under Dr. Bellamy, nearly two hundred and lifty united with tlie church, and under Dr. Backus, one hundred and forty-eight. Tlien followed the shorter ministries of Mr. Langdon of nine years, who received one hundred and three into the church ; Mr. Stanton of four years, who received twenty-two, and Mr. Couch of five years, who received fifty-two. These were sound, godly men, whose labors resulted in much good. The church received as its next pastor, from a sister church (Roxbury), Mr. Harrison, whose ministry was long, ])eacel'ul and prosperous. Pie received into membership one hundred and nine persons. Of the two later pastors — known to you all — still labor- ing in other fields, I may not speak. Mr. Loomis received seven- ty-three into the church ; ]Mr. Wright, fourteen. Under the pres- ent pastorate, fifty-seven have united with the church. Favored with such a ministry in the past, this daughter has been sound in the faith, a spiritual-minded cliurch, and often refreshed with heavenly blessings. In such a family gathering as this, it may not be immodest for her briefly to state some facts in lier history of which she feels justly jjroud. She was among the first churches in the land to see the folly and abandon the practice of the " half-way covenant." She is a temperance society by a vote of the church. She has never indulged in wluit has come to be a mod- ern luxury to most churches — a stated supply. She believes in the holy ordinance of ecclesiastical marriage. In all her history there have been but four years in which she has been without a pastor. Finally, she claims to have the oldest Sabbath School (in the modern form of that institution) in the country, if not in the world. Forty years before Robert Raikes ever thought of such a thing, the first j^astor of this church, with his deacons, was Avont to gather, on Sabbath noon, the youth of the congregation into classes for instruction from the Bible and the Catechism. That Sabbath School has maintained an unbroken organization down to this day. The daughter on the hills has never been and probably never will be a large church. She is located in a sparsely settled 48 SKXTIMKNT.S AND RESPOXSES. agricultural coiiuuuiuty, whose liigli hills and deep A-ales no railroad Avill dare look in the foc'-. Emigration constantly drains off her young people. Two churches of other denominations have grown up by her side, and to a great extent out of her material. But she trusts that she has a mission in the iuture as she has had in the past. That mission will be to endeavor to sanctify the streain of young life that ftovrs out from her as naturally as the waters run from her hills, that it may prove a blessing to the Church of Christ and to the world If she shall send forth in the future any " streams that shall make glad the city of our God," she will not live in vain, even though she continue to be ''among the least of Princes of Judea." May the daughter on the hills ne\er be motherless, and may the mother in the valley never mourn the loss of her daughter until we are all taken to our Fathei's home in the church triumphant. Judea ! — Thou " praise of the Lord," seated on thy hill like the ancient hill of Zion ; beautiful for situation, fit place for a new temple; "Unanymously and Lovingly Agreed upon," thir.l pledge of our affections, -we greet thee ! Response by lie v. AV. 8. Colto>«. Mr. Pkesident: — I should almost have imagined, but for the address of the last speakei-, (Rev. G. W. Banks), that I was in a Woman's Rights Convention, so much has l)eeu said about Grand- mother, and Mother, and Daughters, in the i-emarks already made. But as I looked around me, and caught sight of various beards and mustaches, and other evidences of the presence of the mas- culine persuasion in the audience generally, and remembered that Ave had just been attending the dedication of the Fathers' Monu- ment, and saw from the ]u-ogramme that the speaking on this occasion was to be by nieji, I felt reassured of the character of the event which has convened us here. I ought, in passing, to notice the observations of my good brother from Southbury, (Rev. Mr. Smith), who has informed us in glowing terms how delightfully his CJiurch is situated on "the Jordan,'' and has dilated on the p]easantnrosperity. This thiid daughter on the hills, of Avhich I ain jiastor, has outgrown her sister churches, and is the only one of them, also,' that has even outgrown in numbers the mother herself, having now over 240 members, more than 60 having been admitted by profession within the four years of my ministry, while the Sabbath School embraces 375 scholars and teachers. May these sister churches strive all in the coming times to be faithful to God, that, at last, their work on earth being done, all SENTIMENTS AND RESPONSES. 51 tlie members of the same may hear the voice of the final Judge savinor : " Well done, wood and faithful servants ; ve have been fiithful over a few things, I will make you rulers over many things ; enter ye into the joy of your Lord." RoxBCKY ! — Dweller in the " hill country," and along the river of the hills, brave witness for the truth, and companion of the fiiithful, fourth blessing from a Bountiful Hand, we welcome thee to the old fireside ! Response by Rev. A. Goodenough. Mr. CiiAiEiiAN : — Since this occasion naturally invites our attention to the past, I feel that it would be more appropriate could Roxbury be represented by one who has shared more fully than myself in her past history — yet I flatter myself that in one par- ticular I may have my fitness as a representative. More than any other community in which it has been my fortune to live, ours is deficient in the gift which finds public expression in words — not of course from lack of thought or ability, ( which we would not for a moment concede ), but, as I take it, from excessive diffidence. If this brevity should be the soul of my wit, I shall have no doubt of the fitness of it, and hope it may be accounted Avisdom. xis has been suggested, we also belong to the " hill country," and I think it might truly be said of us as of the chosen nation in the older time. " The Lord our God hath brought us into a good land ; a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys- and hills ; a land wherein we shall eat bread without scarceness ; we shall not lack any good thing in it, a land whose stones are iron." A land of hills and valleys, and that drinketh water of the rain of heaven ; a land which the Lord our God careth for ; the eyes of the Lord our God are upon it from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year." Perhaps also, so far as it is the home of our choice, we may take some credit to ourselves — for, in the prophecy of Agur, the conies — a feeble folk — are pronounced " exceeding wise " because they make their dwelling among the rocks. There is the less need that I should speak in detail concerning the history of our church, because we claim a share in the glory of that common history which has been already brought before us. 52 SKNTJMENTS AND KEKl'ONSES. Thougli Ave claim to be the "lieirs of all the ages," we especially cherish the heritage which has come duAvn to us through the fnith and faithfulness of those earnest men and women who iirst planted the Gospel of Christ among these hills. We reverence the memory of those who before our time bravely witnessed for the truth, and through severe labors and discoui-agements kept their faith to the end, and it is our cherished ambition to hand down to our children untarnished the blessed inheritance we ourselves have received from our fathers. The hearts of many children are turn- ing toward the Father to-day, inquiring for the old paths, and desiring to walk in them. (Indeed, I sometimes think that not only does our reverence extend to the old pat/ts, but that we are occasionally proud to stick in the same old i-iits, which were worn by the ancient cart wheels). We delight to gather to-day around the old fireside, rejoicing in the past, yet thankfully recognizing the larger growth of the present, and looking forward with joyful confidence to the days yet to come, in which the perfect harvest of good shall be garnered from the sown seed of the past. Though allusions to a lady's age are not always welcome, they seem to be the fashion to-day, and since our Mother Church seems proud of her matronly position, and herself invites us to celebrate her birthday, we join in congratulating her on l)earing her years so well, and sincerely hope that she may live long in the land — vigorous in perpetual youth, strengthening her children by her sympathy, and guiding them by her example to the perfection of righteousness and taith. South Britain ! — Dweller in the Southwest, along the banks of the " Great River," " beyond the mountains," fifth pledge of faith, hope and chanty, right heartily do we welcome thee to the old family gathering ! Response by Rev. II. S. Newcoaib. Venerable mother in Israel, gladly at thy bidding we have come around "the mountains" and up the little river toward its source, here to receive thy greeting and to offer thee our warm congratu- lations at this hap})y family gathering. Had the pioneers who came before thee, mother, come by the ])ath we came, thoy would SENTIMENTS AND KKSPONSES, 53 not have been Tinder the necessity of clambering over those Avest- ei-n rocks and hills to obtain their first view of this beautiful valley. But it is well for us that they missed their direction, and passed by the mouth of the little Pomperaug, seeking in vain farther up the ''Great River" a more promising branch that should lead them to their future home ; else this happy gathering would not now be enjoying the blessings of Heaven resulting from the prayer of the sainted Deacon John Minor, on Good Hill, where, after their weary climbing, they first cast eyes on their land of promise. We feel somewhat abashed in view of the peculiar relations in which Ave stand to this family here gathered. We are thine only o-rand-daughter, ancient mother, the sole offspring of thine eldest daughter. We are aware, too, that there is here a more venerable piesence, thine honored mother, making thy daughters grand- daughters also ; but at the same time making us the only little oreat-grand-daughter present. So, though our youth makes us bashful, we presume a little on thy tender regard and kind con- sideration. We lead a pleasant life over there by the " Great River." But we would not have thee think that we are come from the ends of the earth, for we have heard that there are still higher mountains and greater rivers beyond ; and some of our young people have even seen them. We are enjoying a pleasant and prosperous life over there. We ourselves feel somewhat old, mother, having entered one year into the second century which thou art just leaving. But years do not weaken us. We have rencAved our age, having put on the liabiliments of youth, and we are looking for a prosperous future. W^e think we have kept the pledge. We " hold fast the pro- fession of our faith." We earnestly "contend for the faith which Avas once delivered imto the saints." We have that hope, which is " as an anchor of the soul ;" Ave put on that " charity which is the bond of perfectness." We are looking forward to a larger, hap- pier, more glorious family gatliering than this ; where " they shall come from the east and from the Avest, and from the north and from the south, and shall sit doAvn in the kingdom of God " We hope to meet thee and thy daughters there ; and to furnish a list of honored names written in the "Book of Life ;" and to add 54 .SKNTIMliXTS AND KKSl'O.VSES. to tlie royal diadeiu of our Kino; a cluster of stars that have shone with greater or less lustre here, and will shiue still brighter there ; among them, iii-st and foremost, 'I'vlkk, champion of the faith ; Smith, early called to his reward, and Buttkrfield, era- hulmed in the memory of many still living-. May we all meet there, where th^se distinctions of age shall be done aAvay ; where Christ shall be our elder Brother, and we, all In'etlii'en. WooDRURY NouTii ! — Latest and nearest, the child of our old age, co-dweller in this beautiful land of promise, and co-laborer in every good word and woi'k in the Lord, with motherly pride and affection we welcome yon to this our glad jubilee ! Response by Rev. John Churchill. Mr. President: — In responding, in behalf of the Xorth Church, to the cordial invitation and welcome which you have extended to us, I beg leave to say that we are exceedingly happy to be present, and lo be made welcome to participate with you in the Christian associations of this most interesting occasion. The emotions of the hour rise altogether too high for utterance, and I am not able to speak with that calmness and considerateness that would seem to be most becoming. It is proper, perhaps, that the confession should here be publicly made, that as jealousies and disagreements sometimes arise among the members of the same family, who dwell upon the same old homestead, so there have been some discord and want of good fellowship betAveen us ; yet I am happy to say, that at no time lias tiiere been any total disruption of Christian confidence and fellow- ship, and that whatever there may have existed, of an unpleasant nature, at any time, has jjassed away, and is among the buried debris of tlie Past, and that to-day our fellowship and concord are without any barriers or embarrassments. Let us praise God to- gether to-(hiy, that churches that might seem to have local rival interests, are able, through His grace, to maintain the peace and " fellowship of the saints." I had supposed, sir, that it would be expected on this occasion, as the daughters return to their ancestral home, that they Avould relate their experiences, and tell tlieir mother and their sisters Avhat had been the dealings of a kind Providence with them since their separation. SENTIMENTS AND KESPOXSES, 55 We are here, Mr. President, to commemorate the Cliristiivu results of the phiiiting of this church in the wiklerness tAvo hun- dred years ago, and we have come by your invitation, not only to join in your rejoicings, and to make our courtesy, but to tell you how we have prospered in our respective households. I hope I may be indulged, therefore, in a brief statement concerning the history of your youngest daughter. Tlie North Church in Woodbury was organized by a colony from this church, in the year of our Lord 1816, on the 25th of December. The colony consisted of eleven males and twenty females, only two of whom are now living. These, I see, are present here to-day. The church remained without a pastor until the following July, when, on the 27th of that month, Kev. Grove L, Erownell Avas ordained and installed the pastor. Judging from the results of his labors, it must be allowed that he was a very capable and faithful minister of the Gospel. During the tirst year of his min- istry, fifteen wei-e added to the church by profession ; the next year, ten ; during the next three years, thirty-six ; during the next three years, thirty-nine were added ; the next three years, sixty- three ; and so on at this ratio for the whole period of his ministry, which continued for about twenty-three years. The whole number received by profession during his ministry is two hundred and thirty-eight — a little more than an average of ten persons for each year. Forty were of the church when he entered on his ministry, and fifty-eight were added by letters from other churches, so that there were three hundred and seventy-five persons connected with the church during the first pastorate. It is due to the men who constituted the church fifty-four years ago, nearly all of whom have passed away, to say that they were earnest, resolute, capable. Christian men, Avho shrank not from responsibility, who feared not hardship, and who made great per- sonal sacrifices to build a church, and sustain the public insti- tutions of religion. They present a noble example of Christian enterprise, which it would be equally noble and Christian, in their children and successoi's, to emulate Possibly they constitute a portion of that " cloud of witnesses," holding in view the doings of those who succeed them. Under the ministry of Mr. Brownell's successor, which began 56 SEXxniEXTs and respoxses. ill April, 1840, in less tlian a year after his dismission, and wli'. continued for a period of twenty-seven and a half years, thew Avere gathered into the church by profession, one hundred an-' ninety-seven. Almost the entire congregation, at the close of that ministry, on the last Sabbath iti September, 1867, were mem- bers of the church. Since then, for a period of two and a half years, the church has been without a pastor. Such, briefly, Mr. President, has been the success of your young- est daughter, the North Church in Woodbury. " Hitherto the Lord hath helped us." Our course has been one of uniform pros- perity, and we are grateful that we can bring, to-day, such a record of His goodness and mercy, to the honor not only of the Great Head of the Church, but of our venerable mother, as well. I beg leave now, Mr. President; to give way, and introduce to the audience the Rev. Mr. Shipman, of Jewett City, but Avho, for a considerable number of years, was pastor of the Church in Southbury. Rev. TuoMAs L SpiiPArAN responded as folloAvs : The privilege is accorded me of recalling the name, and lingering a moment on the memory of one of your deceased pastors, Rev. Mr. Andrews. I made his acquaintance soon after I came into the vicinity. He impressed me, npon my first introduction, as a man of singular purity, an impression which all ray future inter- course served only to confirm. He was a man of the nicest sensi- bilities ; the chords in his heart A'ibrated to the slightest touch ; his tender sensibilities often filled his eyes Avith tears. He had a look which none who knew him can forget, and which it wonid be vain for any one to imitate. There Avas that in his tone, when his soul was stirred to its depths, Avhich strangely penetrated your heart. I remember at the meeting of the Consociation in Har- Avintou, in the summer of 1831 — that year so remarkable for the outpourings of the Spirit — he Avas called to ofiiciate at the admin- istration of the Lord's Supper. As he rose, and cast a look over the assembly, every heart seemed to be moved, and before he closed the first sentence, the house became a perfect Bochim. It was not so much Avhat he said, as his manner of saying it. " We are about to approach the foot of the Eternal throne, and Iioav can SENTIJUKNTS AND RESPONSES. 5/ we conie?" I was present at the ordination of his son-in-law, Rev. William Aitchison, who gave himself to Christ and to China. " My son," was uttered with a tone and a look which thrilled at least one heart. Ilis prudence was memorable. At one time the regiment of which I was then chaplain met at Woodbury. Mr. Andrew was invited to (iine with us. He sat at ray side, and Opposite to us sat a member of the society committee of a neigh- boring parish. " Mr. Andrew," said the gentleman, " do you know why Mr. was dismissed from ?" He waited a moment ; I rather guess he shut his eyes. " I do not think I am sufficiently acquainted with the facts to state them correctly." Had he replied, " there Avas some disaffection toward him among his people," the report would have gone over the hills, gaining as it traveled : " Rev. Mr. Andrew, of Woodbury, says there was great disaffection at ." He was a man of much culture ; he held a polished pen. He often wrote for the Quarterly Christian Spectator, and his articles are among the choicest contributions to that periodical. I would particularly direct attention to the article in the December No. for 1833, entitled, " What is the real difference between the New Haven Divines and those who oppose them ?" The paper was read at the minister's meeting in South- bury, and published at the request of the brethren. The contro- versy was at that time very earnest, not to say sometimes bitter. Whatever was then thought, or whatever may be still thought of the " New Haven Divines," all will agree that Mr. Andrew stated their position with great calmness and clearness. His article in the No. for September, 1830, entitled, " Review of Advice to a Young Christian," and the article in the March No. for 1832, en- titled, " Assurance of their piety peculiarly the duty of Christians at the present day," are papers of gi-eat excellence. Mr. Andrew was one whom all who knew love to think of when alone. It makes us better at least for the moment only to think of him, and we love to talk of him Avhen we meet, and one of our most cher- ished anticipations is renewing our acquaintance with him in our Father's kingdom. Rev. Austin Isham was next called up by the chairman, and gave some very interesting reminiscences, a copy of which the editor has been unable to obtain. 58 LETTERS. The following letters were then read by the pastor : Letter of Rev. Charles E. Robinson, of Troy, N. Y. Dear Brother Ltnsley : — I would greatly like to be witli you at the celebration of the bi-centenary anniversary of your dear old church. I have au interest in, and love for that field which can never die. The fresh dewy morning of my ministry dawned thei'e. There are souls there either brought to Jesus under my Ministr}^, or through the goodness of God, quickened by it, whose Christian lives, characteristics, and graces stand out with crys- taline distinctness. There are certain liours and days, which amid the long procession of indistinguisluible days, are radiant with sacred memories. There are some of those precious Tuesday evening Cottage jjrayer meetings, where the positions of indi- viduals at tlie meeting, the expression of their faces, the words spoken and the songs we sang, are as clearly before me as if no time had elapsed. Faces which Ave shall see no more. Blessed ones anticipating us in the joys of Heaven. There are fields over which I strayed, bridges, leaning from which, I quieted my disturbed soul in the sweet murmuring of the stream. There are certain points on the summit of those Orenaug rocks, fi-om whicli I took in the unsurpassed loveliness of the Woodbury valley, all of which are now, by the power of memory, a part of my life, and whicli 1 would not willingly forget. There was an impression made upon me in my pastorate there, growing out of the old associations which enfolded me, Avhich, I cannot help feeling, must be valuable to any laborer in that field. Those three graves of Walker, Stoddard and Benedict, with their flocks all folded about tbem, ( for I think that I laid away to her last resting place, the last member of the church under Pastor Benedict), all seemed to tell me to be faithful. I could not help the feeling that those old fathers wei*e looking down with interest upon the thread of their work which they had let drop, at death, and which, in God's providence, after passing through various faithful hands, I had taken up. May God continue to bless that old First Cliurch through ail the years until the bridegroom comes ! Present to the friends gathered there my fraternal greetings, I>ETTERS. 59 and my sincere regrets, that in this case, I cannot be in two places at once. Believe me, my dear Brother, to be your attached friend now, as I was formerly your Pastor. CHARLES E. ROBINSON. Troy, N. Y., April 20th, 1870. P. S. — Please send me, if convenient, some account of your slathering. Letter of Rev. Charles Little, of JVebraska. Lincoln, Nebraska, April, 13th, 1870. P. M. Trowbridge, Esq., Chairman of Committee. Dear Brother : — I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of the 4th inst., inviting me to participate in the pro- posed observance of the two hundredth anniversary of your church. It would give me very great pleasure' to be present on tkat occasion, there to renew the friendships of the past. Of the places on earth, not few nor very many, to which memory delights to return and to recall the sacred associations there formed, one of the freshest and most cherished is Woodbury. The parsonage, the office-study, the church, the lecture-room, the domestic circles, the familiar foces, the cemeteries, the hills and valleys — these all come before me with clear remembrances. Though my stay with you was short, yet I expect to enjoy the fruits of it throughout eternity. That old church — it ought to be greatly profitable for you to rehearse its history for two hundred years. The good which it has accomplished — there are many in heaven who know more fully what that is than the Orators who will address you. That invisible company — those gone before ; I see no reason why God may not commission them to be present ; how much more deeply interesting will they appear to those permitted to behold them, than the crowds which in bodily presence will honor the occasion. Most gladly would I be with you then and there, but to go and return would require a journey of thi'ee thousand miles, which is more than I can perform at present. 00 LEITERS. Please present my love and best wishes to all my friends, and accept the assurance of my earnest desire for the future pros})erity of tlie cliurch. I remain yours, in the bonds of the Gospel, CHARLES LITTLE. Letter of Rev. Philo Judron, of Hocky Hill. [Mr. Judson was born in this church, and baptized the " eighth day." He graduated in 1 809 ; became a successful minister, and it is said more than 1600 persons have been gathered into the churches in which lie lias labored, through his instrumentality. He is now 90 years old.] Rocky Hill, May 2d. Br. Troavbridge: Dear Sir : — O, I thank you for your very interesting and talented letter. I am feeble, not able to go out ; been confined all winter; do not go out now. I should be glad to be there ; it Avould do my soul good. I hope I may have health to call on you at Wood- bury. Your letter did my soul good. Head is much aifected ; severe cough. Your letter took deep hold of my feelings. The Lord bless you. Pray for me. Yours truly, PHILO JUDSON. [^Extract from a recent letter xoritten by Miss Charlotte R. Andrew, daughter of the late Rev. Samuel R. Andrew, of New Haven]. You ask for the date of my blessed father's death, and his age. He was seventy-one, and died May 26, 1858. If it ever be per- mitted the spirits of the departed to revisit their dear old homes on earth, will it not be permitted hiui to unite on that anniversary day with his beloved church in their service of praise and thanks- giving to God? I am almost sure he will be invisibly present. At the close of reading the letters, a pleasing incident occurred. During the collation at the Town Hall, a large and beautiful loaf of cake, made by Mrs. Judson, wife of Deacon Truman Judson, LETTERS. 1 hearing a miniature flag, labeled " Stratford," surrounded by seven smaller loaves, bearing the names of the other churches represented on the occasion, occupied the place of honor at the ]>ri]U'ij)al table. This loaf was, at this point, presented by Rev. Mr. Churchill, with appropriate remarks, to Rev. Mr. Hall, the representative of the mother church, as a token of filial regard from her daughter. Mr. Hall received the gift with some playful and fitting remarks, and promised to be " faithful to his charge." The closing prayer of the day was then made by the pastor : And now, Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, from whom Cometh every good and perfect gift, we bless Thee for casting our lot in this land of civil and religious freedom, and for crowning our lives with such sigual tokens of Thy goodness. We praise Thee for wise, virtuous, heroic, Christian ancestors, and beseech Thee that we may copy their example, and carry forward their work. May we remember the word of our Puritan leader across the sea, that more light is yet to break forth from Thy book. May we realize that for us, greater achievements over self and the world are possible — that higher goals of duty may be reached, and richer trophies won for Christ. Therefore, forgetting the things behind, and reaching forth unto those before, may we press toward the mark of our high calling of God in Christ Jesus. May we seek to be enrobed in all the virtues aud graces of the Spirit, so as to shed the purest light and exert the most benign influence upon the world. May we all live and serve Thee, remembering that we must soon stand before Thee, since we are strangers and sojourners here, as were all our fathers. We thank thee, O Lord, for this 1 (right and genial day, and for the interest and harmony attending these exercises. May they condixce to the highest good of all, and the glory of Thy name. And when one after another we are called away from earth, may we come at last to the general assem- bly and church of the first-born, which are Avritten in Heaven. And to Thy great name. Father, Son and Holy Ghost, shall be all the praise and glory forever. Amen. At the close of the prayer, the benediction was pronounced, and the delighted audience separated for their homes among the hills and valleys, never again to meet in this old church on a like mem- orable occasion. 62 I.E'lTERS. The sinu:iiJ,u' on the occasion was given by llie united clioirs of tliis and the North Churcli, and was of a very higli order. The quartettes at the opening of the conununion, and at tlie Fathers' Monument, were particuhirly commended by musical critics. At a meeting of the church on tlie eightli day of May, 1870, the following letter was unanimously adojited, and the committee instructed to forward it, which was accordingly done : First Congregational Church in Woodbury, to the Congrega- tional Church In Stratford. Dear Brethrex of our Mother Church : — We can but com- municate to you the great satisfaction and profit we received from your presence, through your Pastor, one Deacon, and some of your membei's, at the recent family gathering of this your filial daughter. We have ever revered and honored you, but this inter- view has bound iis, and our six daughters to you with ties which will endure amid the glories of the church triumphant. Praying for your prosperity, we are yours in the bonds of the Gospel. Given by vote of the Church, P. M. Trowbridge, ^ J. H. LiNSLEY, > Committee. Wm. Cothren, ) Woodbury, May 8th, 1870. First Church in Woodbury, to the N'orth Chvrch. Dear Brethrex : — We tender you our heart-felt appreciation of the generous assistance you were pleased to give us during our Bi-Centennial Jubilee, which has just passed. Be assured we shall ever hold ourselves ready to reciprocate such favors whenever occasion may require. By vote of the Church, P. M. Trowbridge, J. H. LiNSLEY, )■ Committee. Wm. Cothrex, Woodbury, 3fay 8th, 1870. LETTERS. 63 Letter of Rev. Robert G. Williams, Castleton, Vt. State Normal School, ) Castleton, Vt., June 1st, 1870. f P. M. Tbowbridge — il/y Dear Friend: — I thank you for the notice and report of the proceedhigs of the " Jubilee." I read every word with sorrow and pleasure. I had made great effort to be present at that inter- esting occasion. I recalled the celebration in which the towns, as such, united eleven years ago, and knew that when you undertook anything of the kind it would be made a success. I desired to be present to participate and enjoy, to renew friendships which have been shxmbering, not broken, not even interrupted, and to weave one more strand in the warp or woof of pleasant memories and the web of life. My press of duties here had prevented any preparation on my part, and I felt, as I left home on the journey to join you, that I was going as if wholly to receive a good and a pleasure, entirely unprepared to contribute what others had a right to expect of me. But I trusted to the kindness of old friends to excuse this want of preparation, and know I should have been safe in this trust. One thought was continually present in my mind. I could not analyze it into particulars. I could not frame it into words, but there was, as it were, a vision before my eyes, a gathering of forms and faces familiar and beloved : but more real than these visible objects was an almost felt presence of kindred and sympathizing spirits, to whose influence I cheerfully submitted myself, and among whom I seemed to be absorbed, and to lose myself as a drop lost in commingling drops. Then from such a meeting here, of friends who are here, my mind turned forward to a meeting in a larger temple, to celebrate a great event more than two centu- ries past, where stronger ties, and more tender sympathy should bind all into one perfect union, where not one atom of alloy could in the least aftect their perfect bliss. If it were right to expect pleasure in a meeting at Woodbury, how much more might we be sure of enjoying a fullness thereof in the other meeting. Every- thing necessary to the fullest happiness of His beloved will be pro- vided for them. Then they shall sit down at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Such meeting I believe in, and feel that I may antici- 64 LETTERS. p:ite and ivst in full faith that it will far i-xceed all that lias en- tered into the heart of man to conceive Such hope lightens the burdens of our pilgrimage and shortens the journey. In His oAvn time the rest will be entered into. I would repeat my kind remembrances to all friends. Truly yours, R. G. WILLIAMS. We remark, in conclusion, that the results of a celebration, such as we have recorded, cannot but be vastly beneficial to the Church whose history it celebrates, and the community in which it is located. It recalls to the attention of all how faithful in His promises to His chosen people is the Great Head of the Church. Few churches in the land can claim so remarkable a fullfilraent of these " promises " as this revered old church. A review of all these wonderful works for the long period of two hundred years, brings forcibly to the mind, that we are a " cove- nant people," and in the kind care of a '■ covenant-keeping God." KEPOKT BI-GENTENNIAL JUBILEE ji^IR^T j^loNQF^EQATIONAL J^IhUI^CH, WOODBURY, CONN., Held May 5th, 1870. By WILLIAM OOTHREN. NEW HAVEN: i. H. BENHAM & SON, PRINTERS, COR. CHURCH AND CHAPEL STREETS. 1870. X 87 v-i :>''^ ^. :i ^0 O. 0>' ^ .S^ ,xv^^' '^^ I xOO^ ■^i* V. ,^x I a 0^ x^' "''^ % ^s^^' "^A >^' I ^^•% .0 '. ^ \ \^"^ ^^. ^. I \ 1 I \^^ o'^' ,0 c .■x^ \V -p. ^-^^^. o 0' o ^: ■'■^■ .^^^' ^ .. c.^ -^ ' ♦ o^" % .■?- o ■K^^' ■% A' ,; ^0 o. 0-- A, sV .0- A i*-^^. -^. ,^^^ \\' ■/-, 0^ . ,0 o. ."■v 'O0> ^ ; . - .- 1 •^. : V ^^ ^ ■,#,-.., \. ..^ ,^^% G*-' ■ .0- .^'^ ,0q i."^ ,. .r- ,0- \ -,'C>