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CONTENTS Page
Foreword  S
Chap. I The Years before 1668  : . . 7
II The Founding of the Church  15
III The Ministry of Nathaniel Collins  25
IV The Ministry of Noadiah Russel  31
V The Ministry of William Russel  39
VI The Ministry of Enoch Huntington  49
VII The Ministries of Dan Huntington and
Chauncey Allen Goodrich  63
VIII The Ministries of John Riley Crane and
James Burnett Crane  73
IX The Ministry of Jeremiah Taylor  85
X The Ministry of Azel Washburn Hazen  95
XI The Beginning of the Ministry of Douglas
Horton  139
Appendix A. 149 B. 153 C. 159
Index  161

FOREWORD
Material was gathered for an ampler history
than is recorded in this volume. But the
troubled period in which we are living, that
has delayed its publication, makes it seem the
part of wisdom to arrange only that which may
be easily put into type, and may secure a more
general reading than a larger book would
obtain. Therefore the sketch herein relates
mainly to the Church itself rather than to the
twenty-live decades of secular history through
which it has passed.
The plan by which the author limited himself
did not allow him to insert full biographical
notes of many eminent persons whose names
adorn the annals of the Church. No one can be
more painfully aware than he how unworthy
are the following meager outlines of the con
spicuous subject to which they relate. Yet they
are the offering of one who loves this institution
to whose upbuilding and to the widening of
whose influence a half century of his life has
been cheerfully devoted.
" The hallowed form our fathers built
That hallowed form build we."
A. W. H.
MrooLETowN, Connecticut^
June the fifteenth, 1920.

CHAPTER L
The Years Before 1668.
No one familiar with the Bible can question
the value of a knowledge of human history.
Not only Is a large portion of this venerable
book historical, but it strenuously enforces the
need of acquaintance with its contents that men
may become what they ought to be, and do what
they ought to do. Yet, as Canon Liddon
aiErmed, " It is God In history which makes
history for a Christian so encouraging and in
structive, and thus, in turning reverently to the
past, we are where God Himself would place
and keep us, close to Himself, our own, our
personal " . . . . help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come."
While, In no department of history is God more
clearly revealed than In the wondrous records
of the Christian Church. He seems to have
planted this beneficent Institution In the soil of
our earth that It might be the means through
which a knowledge of Himself should be kept

A History of the

alive among men, as well as a channel along
which Innumerable other blessings should flow
to them. ,
Therefore, it is most helpful to trace the
pathway of any section of the Church of Christ,
If It has been at all loyal to Its high vocation.
Especially Is this true, if the section Is one like
that an outline of whose story Is to follow,
which has been a vital force In a community for
years and centuries.
The First Church of Christ in Middletown
was organized November 4, 1668, so that Its
two hundred and fiftieth anniversary falls in
19 1 8. This is a goodly age for an organization
In America to attain. There are only sixteen
Churches older than this in Connecticut, only
twenty-five In Massachusetts, only one In New
Hampshire, and none elsewhere in the United
States. The Churches In this commonwealth
which antedate this are that In Windsor, formed
In 1630, the First In Hartford, 1632, those In
Stamford and Wethersfield, 1635, that in Fair
field, the First In Milford, the First In New
Haven, that In Old Saybrook, and that in Strat
ford, 1639, the First in Guilford, 1643, th^t In
Branford, 1644, the First In New London,
1650, that in Farmington, the First in Norwalk,

First Church of Christ

1652, the First in Norwich, 1660, and that in
Clinton, 1667. These Churches have exerted
a positive Influence in the towns where they are
located, nearly all of them being prominent
among those of the State.
It Is a well-known fact that the Gospel was
preached In Mattabesett soon after its settle
ment in 1650. The founders of Middletown
were men who believed in God, and who desired
to worship Him in a public manner. That this
fundamental desire might be gratified, some
kind of a building was imperative. One of the
early entries now remaining In the town records,
not the earliest, as stated by Dr. Field, is that
of a vote to build a meeting-house. This action
was taken at the house of John Hall, who was
one of the original settlers, February 2, 1652.
Doubtless there had been gatherings for wor
ship at the same place, as well as at other
houses, before this date. Tradition Informs
us that there were assemblies, also, under the
giant elm which stood at the north end of Main
Street, near whose hospitable shelter the first
meeting-house was reared. On the two hundred
and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the
town. In 1900, the spot was marked by the
Immense boulder which now perpetuates the

ID A History of the
memory of Its founders, as well as that of the
Indians from whom they purchased its site.
The structure there erected in obedience to
pure religious instincts was of the rudest kind,
as were the dwellings of its builders. It was only
twenty feet square, and ten feet from sill to
plate, constructed of unhewn logs. It was de
fended by rough pahsades, and at the time of
worship within Its enclosure several members of
the " Train-Band " with their muskets occupied
special seats near the door. For, while It Is to
the credit of the founders of Middletown that
they treated the Indians honorably, having little
trouble with them, yet they knew too well the
crafty, revengeful spirit of Sowheag, their chief,
the wigwams of whose subjects lined the
" Great River " on either side, to trust them
selves wholly to his good will. This powerful,
haughty Sachem, from his commanding seat on
the crest of Indian Hill, with his shrill whistle
could summon a " considerable " force of armed
warriors to execute his behests.
In this modest, ungainly building the Inhabit
ants of Middletown, which then embraced the
present territory of MIddlefield, of Berlin, in
part, of Cromwell, and of Chatham, worshipped
God for nearly a score of years. To make it

First Church of Christ 1 1
more capacious, — " At a town meeting March
19, 1665, It was voated that there shall be a
Galery In the meeting-house from the east end
to the middle beams, and that the townsmen
shall have power to order the work and get It
don." Thus it is evident that the men who laid
the foundations of this town were men who
feared God, and who aimed to live according
to his will. Assembled as a body for the trans
action of common business, they did not forget
to legislate in behalf of their religion. Those
hardy pioneers believed in the ministry of the
Word, and according to their means they pro
vided facilities therefor. The first man who
ministered to them for any length of time was
Mr. Samuel Stow. Just when he began to preach
here is uncertain, but it was probably not very
long after the Immigrants arrived, and he con
tinued his work till 1660. Yet the people were
not In full harmony concerning him. The ques
tions between them and their minister were so
difficult of solution that the aid of the General
Court was Invoked. And " The Court did
declare that ye town of Middletown are free
from Mr. Stow as their engaged minister," and
appointed " a Committee to further a settled
ministrie in that place." The General Court

12 A History of the
also directed " That the people pay Mr. Stow
£40 for his labor in the ministry the year past,
that the people be free from their engagement,
and that Mr. Stow is not Impinged of his liberty
to preach in Middletown to such as will attend
him, until there be a settled minister there."
Mr. Stow, whose parents came from Eng
land in 1634, when he was twelve years of age,
was graduated from Harvard College in 1645,
and some years later came to this town. He has
the distinction of being the first minister of the
Gospel to reside here. His " homelot " here
consisted of six acres, located at what Is now the
north-west corner of Main and Washington
Streets. But he owned much other land In the
township, since, when he died, in 1704, he is
said to have possessed over thirteen hundred
acres. In his will he bequeathed five hundred
and five acres In the western part of the town
to endow a school fund. Thus the early resi
dents of the town, like many of its citizens in all
its history, took thought for education, as well
as for religion.
The Committee appointed by the Court to
aid the town in Its search for a minister some
time later delivered itself of the following
advice and hope : " Since, after long endeavors

First Church of Christ 13
by ye people there to procure them a minister,
there appears a probability of their obtaining of
Mr. Collins for that purpose, — the Committee
doth approve of their proceedings therein, and
of his acceptance of their motion, and according
to the mind of ye Court doe advise both Mr.
Stow and all the Inhabitants of Middletown to
a loving carriage to Mr. Collins, and a friendly
compliance with each other, — that ye memory
of all former differences may be wholly Buryed,
and that Mr. Collins may have all due encour
agement In ye work of the ministry that he is
called unto In that place, and that the long de
sired comfortable and peaceable settlement of
Middletown may be obtained, which Is the
desire of the Committee appointed by the Gen
eral Court to promote the settlement of the
ministry there."
Action and sentiments like the above show
that the State was altogether at one with the
Church in reference to the ministry of the latter.
It must not be forgotten that the time of their
legal separation was yet far In the future.
The mention of the name of Mr. Collins,
however, brings us to a vital period in the his
tory we are considering.

CHAPTER II.
The Founding of the Church
1668
The name of Nathaniel Collins, first men
tioned near the close of the preceding chapter, Is
one of deep significance, not only to the First
Church of Christ, but also to the entire town
and commonwealth. The wholesome influence
of his character and talents extended far and
wide. In 1662 the town appointed a Com
mittee " to treat with Mr. Collins about his
acceptance " of a certain " two hundred fifty
pound lot that was formerly sequestered for a
rouling elder," and " his settling with us In the
work of the ministry." Later in the same year
" the town did agree that the house for Mr.
Collins should be 36 foot long, 18 foot wide, 10
foot hy between joints, and ston chimneys In the
middell." The first record of salary proffered to Mr.
Collins was that of five and forty pounds ster
ling a year. His preaching here seems to have

15

1 6 A History of the
begun In 1661, and to have given general satis
faction to the people. But they soon manifested
a desire to be bound closer to each other and to
their minister. On the 25th of January, 1664,
a vote was passed that they " join themselves in
church order, according to the rules of the
gospel, as god shall give convenient oper-
tunity." That opportunity did not arrive until
four years thereafter. In 1665 the situation
was set forth in the following letter addressed to
Mr. Collins : — " Our present state you now
know, namly that God by his provldenc hath
brought us hopefully nearere gathering into an
ekclyasticall body, then formerly, though some
of our nelghboures and brethren are wee would
hope conscienclusly differing from us respecting
the maner of it, namly as you know some judg
ing wee are a church allredy, others that wee are
not, however wee that thinke wee are allredy a
church and wee allso that thinke wee are not
but in some short time may be one, both senca-
bile of the essentiall need of an officer to despenc
the sealles as well as the word amongst us, to
such as shall be regularly fitt, doe therefore by
these presenc give you to know that our eyes are
upon and our desires towards yourself for that
worke as soon as we shall be in such a capasety.

First Church of Christ 17
and request your answer to this our motion as
god shall direct and incline, so desiering god to
guide you in this great motion we rest waiting
your answer your loving friends and neighbors,
the Inhabitants of Middletown." Sept. 4,
1665. In the same month the town granted to Mr.
Collins fifty pounds for the year ensuing. In
1667 the sum voted was fifty-five pounds. A
fuller and more formal call was extended to Mr.
Collins December 26, 1667, and a few weeks
later a Committee was appointed to Invite other
churches to a Council here. The Council did
not meet till November 4, 1668. Four churches
were represented in It, named in the records
thus, evidently according to their ages; the
church of Christ at Windsor, Heartford, Farm
ington and North Hampton." From Windsor
came the Rev. Nathaniel Chauncy, a son of the
then President of Harvard College, and himself
a graduate of that institution. From Hartford
came the Rev. John Whiting, also a Harvard
graduate. From Farmington came the Rev.
Samuel Hooker, son of the renowned Dr.
Thomas Hooker, likewise a graduate of Har
vard and a Fellow there. From Northampton
came the Rev. Eleazer Mather, a brother of

A History of the

the noted Dr. Increase Mather, and an uncle of
the more famous Cotton Mather. He, too,
was graduated at Harvard about the middle of
the century. There were six laymen present,
indicating that some of the churches Invited sent
more than one delegate.
Such was the Council under whose wise
guidance the First Church of Christ In Middle-
town was organized. In the rough log house
where its founders had worshipped for fifteen
years. That its clerical members were all sons
of Harvard College was almost of necessity the
case, since the ministers of that day were
educated men, and this was the only institution
in New England where a liberal training was
given. Nearly a half century was to pass
before Yale College began Its illustrious career.
The fundamental truths of the Christian
religion to which the ten original members of
the Church subscribed were stated with admir
able clearness and force in the document to
which they affixed their names. It will be
found entire in Appendix A to this volume.
The Covenant, likewise, by which these stalwart
pioneers bound themselves together, to the
Church, and to its divine Head, reveals the hand
of a master of sentences.

First Church of Christ 19
One section of the latter is worthy of special
mention, viz. :
"Attending his Holy will made known to us in
his word, that wee will be subject to ye Government
of Christ and observe all those Lawes yt he hath estab
lished in his kingdome, soe far as hitherto he hath or
hereafter shall be pleased to reveale ye same unto us."
Here, surely, is a provision for all progress in
the knowledge of the truth, broad enough to
satisfy the most radical. The sentence breathes
the very spirit of John Robinson himself as to
the possibility of more truth breaking forth
from God's word.
The minister, Nathaniel Collins, was the first
of the ten men who assented to the Creed and
signed the Covenant of the Church. Of the
others, John Hall, Jr., Samuell Stockin, Senior,
and Thomas Wetmer, Senior, were certainly
here from the beginning of the town. While
Thomas Allen, Andrew Warner, Senior, George
Hubbard, and William Harriss were among the
earliest Inhabitants. Thomas Allen, John
Hall, George Hubbard, Andrew Warner, and
Thomas Wetmore lived near the meeting-house.
Daniel Harris, John Savage, and Samuel Stock
ing lived at the Upper Houses, or what Is now
Cromwell.

20 A History of the
It is supposed that Mr. Hall came to Middle-
town from England, Mr. Wetmore from
Wales, Messrs. Hubbard, Savage, and Stocking
from Hartford, Mr. Allen and the Warners
from Windsor, Mr. Harris from Boston, while
Mr. Collins, the minister, was from Cambridge.
Most of them were men of no ordinary stamp,
as were the members of the Council invited to
confer with them respecting the project in hand.
How long these messengers of the churches
deliberated on the matter for which they were
convened does not appear. But there could
have been no question as to the wisdom of
acceding to the wishes of the people here for a
church of their own. They had shown them
selves to be Christian believers, and they were a
dozen miles away from Wethersfield, where was
the nearest church. Hence this Church was
framed on the very day of the assembling of the
Council, and its first act was to elect Mr. Collins
" to the office of a pastour among them, prom-
iseing that if desired by him and themselves in
a capacity they would provide a fellow labourer
in the word and Doctrine, whereupon he ac
cepted and at the request of the church was
ordained by the Reverend Mr. Mather and Mr.
Whitelng." The closeness of the relation be-

First Church of Christ 21
tween the town and the Church Is seen In the
statement preceding the above record, " the
Towne haveing formerly jointly Invited to and
desired it."
Thus was consummated the grand work of
that November day In 1668 on the shore of
our noble River. A small company of follow
ers of Jesus Christ here, desiring to band them
selves together for the worship and service of
God, had summoned their brethren of churches
In the vicinage to advise them. In accordance
with the counsel of their neighbors, they insti
tuted a church of the New Testament type,
chose their minister from their own number, and
requested their friends to ordain him to his
sacred office. Here was Congregationalism in
its purity and its simplicity, the sovereign earthly
power resident In the local body of disciples,
not in a hierarchy superior to themselves.
Nevertheless, these Christians, in full sympathy
with their fellow believers, sought their wisdom
and their fellowship, that they might be the
more sure to act according to the mind of the
Spirit. There was present here the Holy
Catholic Church, in the plenitude of Its power,
and here the bounds of that Church were en
larged by the addition of a new society of wor
shippers of the Triune God.

22 A History of the
Such was the humble origin of this beloved
Church whose two hundred and fiftieth anniver
sary arrives in this year of our Lord, 191 8. It
is not easy for us to place ourselves backward
two centuries and a half to the date of Its birth.
It may help us so to do If we recall a few
familiar facts of history.
On the throne of England in 1668 sat Charles
II, though the Commonwealth had been aban
doned only eight years earlier, and the renowned
Oliver Cromwell had been dead but a decade.
John Milton had yet six years to live, but only
the year previous he had made the famous sale
of his Paradise Lost for the paltry sum of five
pounds. John Bunyan had been for seven
years in prison, though his immortal dream was
not to see the light for nine years to come. In
France, Louis XIV was in the height of his
splendid reign with the brilliant Colbert as his
minister of Finance, and the illustrious Prince
of Conde as commander of his armies. It was
but twenty years from the Treaty of West
phalia, which brought to a close the dreary
Thirty Years War, and gave peace to Europe.
In this country, John Winthrop, the first
Governor of Massachusetts, had closed his
eminent career less than a score of years before

First Church of Christ 23
this Church was planted, while his distinguished
son and namesake was in the midst of his
memorable governorship of the Connecticut
Colony. Only six years earlier he had been the
chief Instrument In obtaining the royal charter
for this Colony from the hand of Charles II.
William Bradford had died only eleven years
before, and Miles Standish but twelve. It was
but four years after the first printing of John
Eliot's remarkable Bible for the Indians.
There was only one College in America, though
that. In the thirty years of Its existence, had be
come the cherishing mother of many noble sons,
some of whom, as we have seen, had been
closely related to this Church. Only eleven
states had been settled at all, and the entire
population of the Country was hardly more
than two hundred thousand. Facts like these
may aid us to realize the venerable age of this
First Church of Christ.
We must now turn our attention to the Rev.
Nathaniel Collins and his ministry, which had
been so auspiciously begun before the " ecclesi
astical embodying " of his flock.

CHAPTER III.
The Ministry of Nathaniel Collins
1668-1684
Nathaniel Collins was the son of Dea.
Edward Collins, of Cambridge, Mass., where
he was born in 1642. At the age of eighteen
he was graduated at Harvard College, prob
ably living at his home during his course there.
When he took' the degree of Master of Arts in
1663, he was assigned an honorary oration.
He seems to have come to Middletown soon
after his graduation, and he remained here till
his death In 1684. I am not aware that any of
his sermons have come down to us, though we
have one or more of all the other pastors of the
Church. Mr. Collins appears to have been something
of a soldier, as well as a preacher, since. In
1 68 1, " for his good service in sundry expedi
tions and engagements against the Indians, the
General Court granted him a farm of two
hundred acres." It was no light responsibility
25

26 A History of the
which rested upon him here, that of shaping the
character of the infant Church, which was
nearly the same thing as moulding the town, of
which It was the central and most important
institution. Yet few events of special sig
nificance marked his ministry.
The first member received by him after the
forming of the Church was Giles Hamlin, a
man of considerable prominence, not only In the
affairs of the town, but of the colony. He was
the father of the Hon. John Hamlin, and the
grandfather of the Hon. Jabez Hamlin, both
men of stalwart character and of commanding
Influence. The latter was for thirty-seven years
a Deacon of the Church. He was also the
first Mayor of the city at its incorporation In
1784, and was annually re-elected till his death,
in 1 79 1.
Several persons were received Dec. 30, 1668,
two of them being wives of original members,
"A report of their knowledge and the Ground
and reason of their hope beeing given by the
elder in the face of the congregation owned by
themselves each one In particular and also what
had been matter of publick offense in any of
them publlckly owned." Jan. 20, 1669, " The
Church concluded upon a Monthly Conference

First Church of Christ 27
to bee kept up the whole day and occasionally ye
conference day improved as a day of fasting and
prayer." Thus early was the value of Christian
fellowship and of Intercourse with the unseen
God recognized by these sturdy pioneers.
The first Deacons were elected May 16,
1670, and their names were Thomas Allen,
Samuell Stockin, and John Hall, Jr. On the
following Sunday they were ordained to " the
office of Deacons in this particular Church of
Christ, each commended to ye grace of God
therein by prayers with Imposition of Hands."
How long this method of setting apart Deacons
continued does not appear, but it has been in use
during the last half century.
In February, 1671, deep solicitude was felt
for the children of the Church, and the last day
of the month was observed as a time of special
fasting and prayer for them. On that day " ye
church with ye generality of their children met
at ye officers' house. Haveing begun with
prayer in ye morning ye officers acquainted ye
children -vylth ye voat, read them ye confession of
faith and order, and also the covenant, with a
particular explanation of each article, with ye
scripture botom on which It stood." In the
afternoon there were other exercises, and the

28 A History of the
case was " committed to God in prayer by Dea
con Stockin, and soe with a psalm and blessing
ye church was dismist, both parents and children
commended to ye grace of God." Action like
this is freighted with instruction for our own
time, and it might well be repeated in its spirit.
If not In Its precise form. Our youth are too
little versed in the faith and order of the
Church, while Christians as a rule feel scant
sohcitude for their spiritual welfare.
In 1679 the population of the town had so
increased that the little meeting-house at the
head of Main Street, even with Its gallery, was
insufficient for them. Hence on the eleventh
of November It was voted to build a new house,
" thirty-two feet square, and fifteen feet between
joints." But the views of the residents of the
Upper and the Lower Houses did not coincide
as to its location. It was finally agreed, how
ever, that It should stand on the east side of
Main Street, nearly opposite what is now
Liberty Street. This structure was also built
of logs, and was probably defended by pali
sades, as the first had been. This house was
occupied for thirty-five years, but the citizens at
the Upper Houses had an edifice of their own
for the last twelve years of its use by the Church
here.

First Church of Christ 29
Mr. Collins died December 28, 1684, at the
age of forty-two. In the very flower of his man
hood. Cotton Mather, who seems to have
been fully conversant with his life and work,
accords him generous praise. He says that
" all the qualities of most exemplary piety, ex
traordinary Ingenuity, obliging affability, join'd
with the accomplishments of an extraordinary
preacher, did render him truly, excellent.
" The pastoral work with holy zeal he wrought.
Teaching by doing — doing what he taught."
Mr. Mather adds that he " would have made
an essay to have lamented the fate of this our
Collins in verse," except that he could not equal
the merits of the man, and that poetry had be
come so base as not to be trusted." Later, how
ever, he repented, and committed the folly of
writing " An Elegy on the much-to-be-deplored
Death of that Never-to be-forgotten Person.
Its uncouth and bombastic lines assure us that
the first thought of the writer was wiser than
the second.
" Pitty, the Church of Middletown bespeaks,
Set in the midst of sorrows, sobs, and shrieks."
And this Is the close of the grotesque, un
musical rhymes :

30 A History of the
" Save Middletown, and cause the Place to thrive
Under Fat Clouds, still, and that Bochim let
By thy Provision be a Bethel yet :
Save every soul that reads this elegy;
Like Collins let us live, like Collins dy. Amen."

CHAPTER IV.
The Ministry of Noadiah Russel
1688-1713
After the death of the first pastor another
was not secured for nearly four years, the long
est period the Church has been without an In
stalled minister In its entire history. It was not
till the 24th of October, 1688, that Mr. Noa
diah Russel was ordained, just two weeks before
William of Orange was welcomed to the shores
of England. Of these years no record has
come down to us. On this date is the follow
ing instructive entry : —
" Noadiah Russel (being formally invited and
elected by ye general vote of Church and Town to a
settlement among them in ye work of ye ministry)
was at ye desire of ye Church ordained a Pastor to ye
sd Church in Middletown, by the Revernd Mr. John
Whiting and Mr. Samll Hooker: the rest of ye elders
and messingers then present Approving thereof. Being
admittd a member by a lettr from ye church in
Ipswich the sabbath before."
Here was an early instance of the usage In
full accord with the principles of Congregatlon-
31

32 A History of the
allsm, viz. the minister being one of the flock
which he serves, and to which he Is accountable.
Mr. Whiting had laid his hands upon the first
pastor, and Mr. Hooker was a member of the
Council In 1668.
Mr. Russel was born in New Haven in 1659,
the son of William Russel, who came from
England to Connecticut. His father, who died
only five or six years after the birth of this, his
youngest child, expressed in his will the desire
that he " be devoted to God In the way of learn
ing, being likely to prove a useful instrument in
the work of the ministry!" This wish was
faithfully carried out, and young Noadiah was
graduated at Harvard College In 1681, after a
most honorable record as a student. He was
continued as " scholar of the house " after his
graduation, and was also employed in " picking
out" and making a catalogue of " ye double
books in the library." In 1683 he was Invited
to become the minister of the church in Matta-
tuck, the Indian name of Waterbury^ Connecti
cut, which then included several of Its now
adjacent towns. Instead of accepting this in
vitation he was " established in ye work of a
schoolmaster " In Ipswich, Massachusetts,
where he remained for nearly three years. He

First Church of Christ 33
had several other calls to settle In the ministry,
but at the end of his " tryall " period he ac
cepted a unanimous invitation to come to this
Church. His salary was to be " one hundred
pounds clean current county pay yearly," and a
house. A donation of land was subsequently
made to him. A vote of the town " warns
the inhabitants,- when they shall think It Is the
most convenient season, to bring him his supply
of wood, and it Is expected that every one that
, hath a team shall bring one load, and such as
have no team shall assist by cutting, so that as
much as possible can be done in one day: but
there shall be no compulsion heaped upon any
one." Mr. Russel left Ipswich on his way to Mid
dletown March 29, 1687. He came by way of
Boston and Springfield, taking five days for the
journey. He reached this place on Saturday,
April 2, doubtless weary after so long a ride on
horseback. At any rate, Mr. Stow, who was
still living here, preached in the morning of the
following day, and the candidate in the after
noon. He seems to have occupied the pulpit
most of the time till November 15, when the
town and Church extended to him a unanimous
call to the pastorate. During the summer he

34 A History of the
made frequent excursions to Hartford, going
once as far as Hadley and " Dearfield." At
the latter place he preached, and on his return
attended a lecture of Mr. Stoddard in North
ampton, or " Hampton," as he called the town.
In his little Almanac of that year are recorded
many curious incidents, attractive now by reason
of their antiquity.
The minister was not married till more than
a year after his ordination, when he was so rash
as to take for his wife a member of his own
church. Miss Mary, the daughter of the Hon.
Giles Hamlin. This bold act did not prevent
him from remaining In the parish till his death,
nearly twenty-four years after. His ministry
was a successful one, though there were few
marked events In it.
In 1696, March i, the opening of the new
year, action was taken in reference to children
similar to that had in 167 1. A Day of fasting
and prayer was observed " yt God would bestow
covenant mercys upon covenant children, for
down pouring of his Spirit upon ye rising gen
eration, yt God would give us and them a heart
to know ye God of our fathers & to serve him
with a cheerful & willing mind seeing j^t
Joshua & ye elders outlived him are gone, and

First Church of Christ 35
of those worthies yt laid the foundation of this
our Zion, there is not a man living : yt the ever-
living God who changeth not would give us and
them grace & wisdome a holy zeal & courage to
make good our and their leaders ground yt we
may together Imitate ye good example of those
who through their faith & Patience do Inherit
the Promises."
This was a rare occasion for " owning the
covenant," and it made a deep impression on the
people. The close of the gratifying record
runs as follows: " The number of those yt gave
in their names was 93: 55 males most of ym
above 21 years of age: 38 females most above
18." Such a response of his flock must have
kindled flaming joy in the pastor's heart, though
this " owning the covenant " was by no means
equivalent to a full confession of Christ. It
was a compromise by which persons might sus
tain a kind of relation to the Church, and enjoy
some of its privileges, without assuming the en
tire responsibility of disciples of the Lord Jesus.
Three years later, on the first day of the
closing year of the century, " The Church and
Town kept a day of Public Fasting & Prayer to
begge of God yt he would revive his work
among us, & free us from that cold & lukewarm

36 A History of the
frame of spirit yt Is fallen upon too many pro
fessors of the Gospel, pour out his Spirit upon
the rising generation, sanctify his providential
dealings, & be with us in ye return of ye year."
At the same time a confession was made of sin
" In taking away "ye Indian skins," " and two
others of violations of the ninth commandment.
Some years later a certain man " made confes
sion of his sin In tampering or bargaining with
ye Devil, in its several aggravations !"
In the first year of the i8th century Mr. Rus
sel was one of those far-seeing, scholarly min
isters who founded Yale College at Saybrook.
He was one of the Fellows of the Institution
from Its foundation till his death — twelve
years. In 1708 he was with the assembly which
In the same historic town framed the now fa
mous Saybrook Platform, as one of the three
clerical delegates from Hartford County. Thus
his influence was not confined to the town in
which he dwelt, but reached out to wider inter
ests. Not only was he an intelligent and a
devout preacher of the Gospel, but he labored
to promote education in the Colony. His
labors in solidifying and enlarging this Church
In Its early years cannot be overestimated. As a
youth he had been under the ministry of Daven-

First Church of Christ 37
port and Street in New Haven. He had been
at Harvard some years more than the ordinary
course of study, he had received the Invaluable
discipline of teaching, so that he was well
equipped for his mission here. Coming as he
did in what Dr. Bacon called " a time of greater
depression and greater peril in church and state
than any other in the history of New England,"
at the vigorous age of twenty-nine, he gave
himself without reserve to the upbuilding of
this Church for a quarter of a century, — till
his death In 17 13. He fostered pure and un
defiled religion In the Church, Increased its mem
bers greatly, promoted its intelligence, and
strengthened Its hold of the community. His
widow survived him for thirty years, living to
the age of fourscore, exerting a holy influence,
and leaving a hallowed memory. They had
nine children, two of whom were graduated at
Yale College, and entered the ministry, — one,
William, as the successor of his father, the
other, Daniel, at Stepney, now Rocky Hill.
Like his predecessor, Mr. Russel had the mis
fortune to be commemorated in verse, probably
by a son of Mr. Collins.
" His Speech was sweet, & Aspect well might win.
But greater. Richer Beauty lay within.

38 A His! ory of the
His Head with Learning, Prudence, Holy Art,
Firm Faith & Love, Humility his Heart,
Peaceful & Meek, but yet, with Courage Stout,
Engaged the Fiend, and did him sorely Rout.
Oh! with what skill did he GOD'S Word divide:
'Twas first unvailed & then with warmth apply'd.
He dealt to each with care his Portion due.
Dread Woes to some, to others Comforts new.
Unto Christ's Lambs he was a tender Nurse,
But smartly scourg'd all such as still grew worse."
(From a poem " On the much lamented DEATH of the
Reverend Mr. Noadiah Russel, late Pastor of the Church
of Christ in Middletown, who had his Clayey Tabernacle
dissolved and his Mortality Swallowed up of Life, Dec.
3. 1713.")

CHAPTER V.
The Ministry of William Russel
1715-1761
The Church was now a year and. a half with
out a pastor, excepting Its last vacancy, the
longest period the pastorate has ever been un
filled. During this time the Church at the
Upper Houses was formed. The people there
built a house of worship in 1703, though they
had no organization till January 5, 17 15. Of
their twenty-three original members, twenty
were from the mother Church, one from some
other, and " two were taken from the world."
Mr. William Russel, the oldest child of the
former pastor, was ordained here June i, 17 15,
being " called by a unanlmouis vote of this
South Society and Church therein to the work of
the ministry among them." This was long be
fore there was any other society here, and that
at the Upper Houses was, owing to its location,
the North Society. Mr. Russel was born in
1 690, and had the Inestimable advantage of his
39

40 A History of the
father's example and training. He was grad
uated at Yale College In Saybrook in 1709, and
hence had been four years out of College when
his father entered into rest. At the time of his
father's lamented departure he was a tutor in
his Alma Mater. From 1745 till his death in
1 76 1 he was a Fellow of the College. He was
here four years after his ordination before he
was married, doubtless living with his mother,
being greatly helped by her wise counsel and
tender sympathy. Thus, in many ways, he was
admirably prepared for his remarkable period
of service In this Church. Mr. Russel married
in 17 19 Miss Mary Pierpont, daughter of the
Rev. James Pierpont, of New Haven, and Mary
Hooker, a granddaughter of Thomas Hooker,
the renowned first pastor in Hartford. Her
father was noted for his wisdom, his gentleness,
and his fidelity, — one of the noblest men whose
names adorn the early annals of New England.
Her sister, Sarah Pierpont, in 1727 became the
wife of Jonathan Edwards, the eminent
preacher and masterly theologian, whose name
has given to America so enviable a distinction.
A model of Christian prudence, humility, and
activity, she was, says Dr. Bacon, " like a
ministering angel to her husband, who could

First Church of Christ 41
never have fulfilled his destiny without her."
Here, again, was a large addition to the equip
ment of Mr. Russel for the responsible position
to which he was summoned. His wife, like her
better known sister, became a tower of strength
to her husband.
The very year in which William Russel be
came the pastor of the Church a new house of
worship was erected on High Street, near the
head of what is now Church Street. This was
a strange location, far from the centre of the
population, and still farther from the settlement
of the Upper Houses. But the site was chosen
by lot, as the people could not otherwise agree
where It should stand. Though the place was
one where no person desired the house to be
reared, yet such was their reverence for the lot,
as indicating the will of God, they held sacredly
and amicably to its decision. The edifice was
sixty feet long and forty feet wide, two stories
In height, with spacious galleries. No picture
of It has come down to us, yet tradition reports
it to have been an ungainly structure. After
twenty-five years it was outgrown, and an addi
tion eighteen feet in width was stretched along
the westerly side of it. " The house was then,"
says the Rev. Enoch Huntington, who preached

42 A History of the
In It thirty-eight years, " almost sixty feet
square, capacious Indeed, but of uncouth appear
ance, and very 111 accommodated for the advan
tage of the speaker, the Shape, the Beams &
pillars, & the whole Architecture, Position &
construction of the various Parts being such as
very much to obstruct, rather than In any
measure to assist the voice." Thus it appears
that modern architects are not the only ones who
are guilty of planning auditoriums unsuited to
their purpose.
The course of Mr. Russel's ministry was quite
uniform for twenty years. The average num
ber of accessions to the Church was about seven.
There were cases of discipline now and then,
but they did not seem to disturb the even tenor
of the Church's life. In 17 17 a woman made
confession of " her bad and wicked words."
The same year there was a case of persistent
Intemperance. In 1726 " Job, negroe, offered
a confession for his abusing his master and
mistress, which the Church took Into their con
sideration." Three years later there was a
public acknowledgement of the " sins of Injus
tice and quarrelling." These sins, and others
of a worse nature, do not seem to have been less
frequent in the " good old days" than they

First Church of Christ 43
are at present. The Church was more strict
In Its dealings with them, and hence they occupy
considerable space In musty records. Yet we
should be careful not to draw unfair Inferences
from them as to the prevalence of Iniquity In
former times. In 1720 two persons from Ston-
ington were baptized here, as there was no
minister In that town. Indeed, the entries of
baptisms are the principal ones In the early
records of the Church. The "Half Way
Covenant " made It easy to secure this Christian
rite without entire allegiance to Christ.
The principal events of this long pastorate
were the ample ingatherings between the years
1736 and 1742. In 1734 began the wonderful
work of grace In Northampton under the
preaching of Jonathan Edwards. The next
year, says Mr. Edwards, " the town seemed
to be full of the presence of God." The fire of
the Lord spread through many towns In the
valley of the Connecticut, and Its heat was to
some extent felt here. Of course, the pastor,
familiar as he was with Mr. Edwards, must
have been profoundly stirred by what God did
through him in Northampton, where it was
estimated that three hundred persons were con
verted in the space of half a year. And the re-

44 A History of the
suits of this quickening soon began to appear in
the harvests he gathered. In 1737 he received
nineteen persons on confession of their faith, a
larger number than in any previous year of his
ministry. In 1738 he received seventeen in the
same manner. In 1741 thirty-five persons con
fessed Christ, fifteen of them being heads of
families. In 1742 the number rose to sixty-
eight. The abundant fruitage of these last two
years was doubtless owing in large measure, on
the human side, to the mighty influence of
George Whitefield. This eloquent preacher
came to New England in 1740, and went
through Its length and breadth conquering and
to conquer. After his unprecedented triumphs
In Boston and Eastern New England, he came
to Northampton, where the flames of revival
had already broken out afresh, and where he
had sweet converse with Edwards. On his way
thence to New Haven, the superb orator thrilled
the people of Middletown and its vicinity with
his fiery eloquence, bringing not a few of them
to own the claims of Christ. A warm friend
ship is said to have sprang up between Mr.
Whitefield and the pastor of this Church.
These years witnessed the last considerable
accessions in the pastorate of William Russel.

First Church of Christ 45
For Its remaining years only three or four mem
bers were welcomed annually.
Mr. Russel was the Scribe of the General
Association of Connecticut in 1743 and 1744,
Its Moderator in 1750, and preached its annual
sermon in 1759. In 1730 he was the preacher
before the General Assembly of the Colony, at
Hartford. The intimate relation between the
Church and the State in those days is seen in the
subject of the sermon on that occasion, viz. The
Decay of Love to God In Churches. In this
discourse he uttered many wholesome truths
to the legislators. Among other forcible
sentences he uttered the following: "Vigor
ously Improve your Authority and the Power
committed to you, to punish and suppress pro-
faneness, Drankenness, Uncleanness and Un
righteousness, &c. that so Evil may be taken
away from the midst of us, viz. that the PubUck
may not contract guilt, by those Evil things that
are done among us. Bear not the Sword in
vain ; but as the ministers of God, execute wrath
upon them that do Evil. Direct and Encour
age Inferior Officers, And indeavour that the
Law shall attain its end, to defend and relieve
the Innocent and Righteous, and to detect and
punish the Guilty and Evil-doer: And that no

46 A History of the
wiles shall prevent right Judgment going forth.
Be Eyes to the blind, and Feet to the lame, and
a Defence to the poor and helpless, against them
that are too mighty and crafty for them.
Brake the jaws of the wicked, and pluck the
spoil out of his teeth. Take heed what you do,
for ye Judge not for man, but for the Lord;
who Is with you In the Judgment. Wherefore
now, let the fear of the Lord be upon you, take
heed and do it : for there is no Iniquity with the
Lord our God, nor respect of persons, nor tak
ing of Gifts."
Thus it appears that Temperance legislation
Is not wholly a modern idea, and that immoral
ity of every sort was long ago so prevalent as to
demand legal restraint. Also, that regard for
the rights of labor and for all that are oppressed
existed in the eighteenth century, as well as In
the twentieth.
Another sermon of Mr. Russel's has come
down to us which is peculiarly appropriate to
the present time. It was preached at the re
quest of Captain John Sumner May 25, 1760,
the year following the capture of Quebec by the
English. Its subject was — The Duty of an
ARMY of Professing Christians, when going
forth against their Enemies : And of the BODY

First Church of Christ 47
of the PEOPLE. The text (Deut. xxIH. 9.)
" When the Host goeth , forth against thine
Enemies, then keep thee from every wicked
Thing," was aptly chosen.
The sermon was replete with Christian ad
monition to soldiers and it warned them not to
be puffed up with " last Year's Success." There
Is space here for only a few of Its sagacious
counsels :
" Do not forget or neglect to pray to God In
secret: Don't neglect the publick Prayers and
Preaching, that will be among you when you
may attend them. Remember the Sabbath as
the Lord's Day, and Holy Time: and don't
needlessly, or unnecessarily, prophane it : Let no
prophane or corrapt Communication, proceed
out of your Mouths. Remember you are listed
under Jesus Christ, as the Captain of your Sal
vation: and thereby obliged to depart from
Iniquity and follow him: If you fall in with your
Lusts and Temptations, disobey Christ's Orders
and depart from following him; he will look
upon you as deserters, and treat you accord
ingly." Here was plain and wholesome Instrac-
tion for Christians in any situation, especially
for those away from the privileges and the re
straints of home life. It is not strange that

48 A History of the
Captain Sumner, Christian soldier that he was,
with many others, desired the publication of the
discourse. William Russel died June, 1761, at the ripe
age of seventy, on the anniversary of his ordina
tion, having completed exactly forty-six years
of service here. His accomplished wife had
passed from earth In 1740. They had nine
children, four sons and five daughters. His
oldest daughter, Mary, married Matthew Tall-
cott of Middletown, son of a Governor of Con
necticut. His oldest son, William, was edu
cated at Yale, and was a Tutor there for two
years. He was afterwards a minister of the
Gospel at Windsor. Noadiah, the third son,
was also educated at Yale, and became a min
ister in Thompson, Connecticut.
Whitefield called Mr. Russel " an Israelite in
deed." Mr. TrambuU says " He was a gentle
man of great respectability for knowledge, ex
perience, moderation, and for pacific measures,
on all occasions." His epitaph In the old Riv
erside Cemetery, speaks of him as " A man of
God, eminent for wisdom, prudence and meek
ness."

RE\'. EXOCH HUXIXGTON, D. D.

49

CHAPTER VI.
The Ministry of Enoch Huntington
1762-1809
The ministry of Enoch Huntington, the long
est up to that time in the life of the Church,
began in the January subsequent to the death of
Mr. Russel. It extended from 1762 to 1809,
thus covering a remarkable period in the history
of the United States, as well as an unusual one
in the history of this Church. The new pastor
was a man of conspicuous ability, and his long
term of service left an abiding impress upon
the Church and the community. Coming here
at the early age of twenty-three, he gave his
entire life thereafter to the work upon which
he then entered.
Enoch Huntington was born in Scotland,
Connecticut, Dec. 15, 1739, a son of Nathaniel
Huntington, an Industrious farmer. One of
his brothers was Governor of the .state for nine
years. President of the Continental Congress,
and a signer of the Declaration of Independ
ence. The Reverend Ebenezer Devotion, of
49

50 A History of the
Windham, seems to have had a wholesome in
fluence upon the Huntington family, lending the
children books to aid them in their education.
So that two of the sons besides Enoch were
graduated at Yale, the latter In 1759. By a
unanimous vote of the Church November 25,
1761, Mr. Huntington was invited, to become
Its pastor. Deacons Jonathan Allen, William
Rockwell, and Jabez Hamlin were appointed to
convey this Invitation to the young man. His
affirmative reply was dated the ninth of the fol
lowing month, the original. In the clear, bold
handwriting of the author, being still in posses
sion of the Church.
This document is worthy to be recorded here :
" To the first Church of Christ in Middletown —
Dearly Beloved in the Lord :
Having taken into serious Consideration your Call &
Invitation to settle in the Work of the Gospel Ministry
among you ; after proper Consultation & Advice there
on, I now signify to you my Concurrence with your
Desire, and Willingness to devote myself to the sacred
Business of a Gospel Minister, & to the Pastoral
Charge of the Church of Christ in this Place, when by
the Providence of God I shall be regularly introduced
thereto — And beg Leave to subscribe myself
Your Cordial Friend & most Devoted Servt
Enoch Huntington
Middletown Dec^. gth, 1761."

First Church of Christ 5 i
The ordination took place January 6, 1762,
In the ungainly edifice on High Street. It was
natural that the Rev. Ebenezer Devotion, of
Windham, to whom the candidate was so much
Indebted, should be the preacher on the occa
sion. A copy of his sermon, printed In New
Haven after a manner sumptuous for the time,
Is in the archives of the Church. Its subject
was — Fortitude, Love and a sound Judgment,
very needful Qualifications for the Christian
Minister. These most desirable traits seem to
have been possessed In a good degree by the per
son to whom they were thus commended, or
his pastorate could not have been so remarkable
for its length and Its quality.
The new minister was the clerk of the
Church, as was the custom down to 1868. A
record made by him June 10, six months after
his ordination, Is Interesting: — "Being a lec
ture preparatory to the sacrament of the Lord's
Supper the church agreed to the introduction of
Dr. Watts version of the Psalms In our sing
ing." This was a step of progress in reference
to an Important part of public worship, one In
which the pastor seems to have had a special
interest. In 1764 Mr. Huntington married
Miss Mary Gray, of Windham, and brought

52 A History of the
her to the parsonage, which was a commodious
house In the lot now occupied by the home of
President Shanklin. This fact gave the former
name of Parsonage Street to that which is now
termed College Street.
The zeal of the young minister concerning
church music is revealed in a sermon delivered
by him Sept. 26, 1771, "on Occasion of a
Public Singing Meeting." Among other whole
some words the sermon contains these: — " Re
ligious Singing is a Duty of instituted Worship,
& in order for the decent and edifying Per
formance of it. Persons must take Pains to learn
& improve in the Art: & surely our Pains can
nohow be better bestowed than learning & im
proving In that which belongs to the more
immediate Service & Worship of God: besides
Singing in Itself is a very manly, ornamental &
useful Accomplishment; & the Time spent in
learning it, as Opportunity offers & Duty re
quires, is well & laudably spent." Such being
the sentiments and teaching of the pastor, it is
not surprising that the singing here in 177 1 was
admired by so distinguished a visitor as Presi
dent John Adams. He said of it, — " I heard
the finest singing that I ever heard In my life:
the front and side galleries were crowded with

First Church of Christ 53
rows of lads and lasses, who performed all their
parts in the utmost perfection — a row of
women all standing up and playing their parts
with perfect skill and judgment, added a sweet
ness and sprightllness to the whole, which
absolutely charmed me."
On the 13th of December, 1773, twenty-one
members of the Church " all belonging to West-
field, and being about to have a Pastor ordained
over them, and to form into church state among
themselves were dismissed from this church &
recommended to be formed into a church state
among themselves." The Church thus founded
is now called the Third Church in Middletown,
having a resident membership of one hundred
and fifteen. It was really the sixth Congre
gational Church planted within the limits of the
original Middletown.
The ministry of Enoch Huntington covered
the period of the Revolution, but the Church
records make no allusion to this momentous
event. Not a few members of the Church were
in the Continental Army, several ranking as
high as Colonel. The pastor was In cordial
sympathy with the struggle for freedom, as
his published sentiments abundantly show.
Like many other clergymen of his time he In-

54 A History of the
spired his people with a genuine patriotism
which led them to offer themselves freely for
their country's service.
He had been with the people during all the
acts of aggression on the part of England, and
had done much toward shaping public sentiment,
thus preparing the citizens for the onset of
arms. At a general Fast ordered by Congress
and kept July 20, 1775, Mr. Huntington
preached an eloquent sermon, In which he
uttered these words : " It is now a day of
peculiar trial, and every good man and lover of
his country, under the present aspects of divine
providence, and the political and martial move
ments that have taken place, must feel a very
sensible degree of affecting apprehension and
concern, and the man ought to be pitied for his
weakness, or shunned for his wickedness,
' whose bosom beats not in his country's
cause '." Sentiments like these have a pecuhar
adaptation to the colossal European war of the
second decade of the twentieth century. With
a leader so able, so intelligent, and so patriotic,
the Church could not be indifferent to the con
flict already opened at Lexington and Concord
and Bunker Hill.
After the passage of the Boston Port Bill

First Church of Christ 55
the citizens of Middletown assembled, to the
number of more than five hundred, and pro
tested against its injustice, pledging themselves
to resist it. Matthew Talcott and Titus Hos-
mer of this Church were members of a com
mittee of three appointed at that time to collect
Intelligence and disseminate It among the people.
Mr. Talcott was the son of Gov. Joseph Talcott
of Wethersfield. He was a Colonel of the
militia and was active during the war, often
receiving appointments from Gov. Trambull
and Gen. Washington.
He represented the town fourteen years In
the General Assembly and was a judge in the
County Court. His wife was Mary, the oldest
daughter of the Rev. William Russel, the third
pastor of this Church. He died in 1802, at the
ripe age of 89 years.
Mr. Hosmer was in the General Assembly
from 1773 to 1778, was speaker of the Lower
House in 1777, and was instrumental in secur
ing the adoption of vigorous measures against
Great Britain. In 1778 he was a member of
the Continental Congress, and with Roger Sher
man, Samuel Huntington, Oliver Wolcott and
Andrew Adams, he signed the Articles of Con
federation In behalf of this state. Noah

56 A History of the
Webster deemed him one of the foremost men
this commonwealth ever produced, ranking at
the side of Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth. He
died in 1780, at the age of 44 years, in the
prime of his noble manhood.
Just how many of his flock were actually
under arms. It is not possible at this late day to
determine. But as this was one of the prin
cipal towns In the state In 1776 and the years
following, we may be sure that It contributed
its full measure to give it the honorable record
which it held during the Revolution.
Directly after the battle of Lexington, Cap
tain Return Jonathan Meigs led a company to
the environs of Boston. Later he became a
Colonel, also a Major General winning honor
able renown in many fields of service. Captain,
afterwards Colonel Comfort Sage, reached
Boston before Meigs, with a company of light
horse. Colonels John Sumner and Jonathan
Johnson, with many Captains, were on the roll
of this venerable Church. Among the latter
were Giles and John Meigs, and Jabez Ham
lin. General Samuel Holden Parsons, a
familiar name here in the last century, planned
the capture of Ticonderoga, and was one of the
chief agents in its accomplishment. Nehemiah

First Church of Christ 57
Hubbard, a descendant of one of the earliest
settlers of the town, was paymaster to a
regiment which saw service near Lake Cham
plain. In this connection should be Introduced
the name of Chauncey Whittlesey, who in 1776
was on a committee " to procure and purchase
such articles of refreshment and clothing " as
the Governor and Council should direct. Also,
that of Elijah Hubbard, who In 1777 was made
" Commissary and Superintendent of the stores
provided by the state for the Continental
Troops, " and was more than thirty times elect
ed to the General Assembly. He was the first
President of the Middletown Bank, founded In
1801. The year 179 1 was marked by an event of
deep significance to the Church and the com
munity, the death of Col. Jabez Hamlin. He
was one of the most eminent citizens by whom
this town has been blessed. A Deacon in the
Church for thirty years, he was one of Its most
esteemed and influential members. So high was
the regard that his fellow citizens cherished for
him, they sent him as a representative to the
General Assembly forty-three times, and he was
often the Speaker of the Lower House. He
was Judge of Probate from the formation of

58 A History of the
this district In 1752 till 1789, and was Mayor
of the city from its incorporation in 1784 until
his death in 179 1. His pastor paid him a noble
tribute on the Sunday following his lamented
death. Among other eloquent words he said,
" Long will the name of Colonel Hamlin be remem
bered and mentioned amongst us, as the most worthy,
dear and respectable of Names. The Father of our
city, society and Town is no more. By his removal
from service, and from life, civil and ecclesiastical So
ciety have lost much of their strength and glory. A
rare character ! A good and precious name indeed ! An
example, in the goodness of it, deserving universal re
gard and imitation ! And if regarded and imitated, as
it ought to be, would change the whole face of affairs
in this wicked, troublesome world : and instead of doing
hurt, dispose mankind to do good to one another all the
days of their lives."
In 1799 occurred a memorable event in the
life of the Church viz. the completion of its
fourth house of worship, on Main Street. It
caused sincere rejoicing in the hearts of the
people to take leave of the unsightly, badly
situated structure near the head of Church
Street, and to- enter the spacious, and for its
time, elegant, edifice at the very heart of the city.
At Its dedication, Oct. 2, the pastor preached
from Psalm 132:8. Near the close of his dis
course he spoke as follows : " Men and breth
ren, fathers and friends, parents and children.

58

FIRST CHURCH, DEDICATED 1799

First Church of Christ 59
our eyes this day see and our ears hear, what
many of our fathers and brethren have desired
to see and hear, but were not permitted, and
what we have a long time desired to see and
hear. What we have so long and so ardently
prayed and hoped for. Is now present In our
enjoyment. Through the good hand of our
God upon us, after several removals of the place
of our public worship, and troubles and afflic
tions in past proceedings, our joyful eyes this
day behold this commodious and decent edifice
completed, a house and habitation for the stated
worship and service of our Glorious God and
Saviour. The aged and pious fathers of this
people, yet llvrng, feel a joy on the present occa
sion, hard to be expressed, which will solace the
decline of their days and brighten the evening
of their life."
Then follows a soul-stirring appeal to all to
be loyal to " the principles and practices, which,
supported by the Scriptures, have been trans
mitted to them from their pious forefathers, and
which, by long experience, have been found to
promote their Peace and prosperity."
That autumnal day, manifestly, was one of
sincere rejoicing. But not many years there
after a cloud darkened the horizon of the

6o A History of the
Church. The beloved pastor, who for forty-
seven years had Instracted and guided and com
forted this people, was called to his rest.
Mr. Huntington was industrious, scholarly,
cultivated, genial, and devout. In the early
part of his ministry his voice Is said to have been
" musical " and " well modulated," his manner
" easy and graceful." In his latter years his
excellent voice failed him, so that he was obliged
to whisper his sermons. Yet, such was the
attachment of his flock to their shepherd, that
they refused to deprive themselves of his ser
vices. His was one of those Ideal pastorates of
the olden time whose benediction long rested
upon the town. His life of nearly threescore
years and ten, after his preparation for the
ministry, was entirely given to this Church.
He was faithful in all things, even keeping the
records of the Church with scrupulous care and
neatness. He welcomed to its membership 360
persons, baptized 2,757 persons, and recorded
nearly 1,700 deaths. In addition to his minis
terial labors, he gave his skillful instruction to
many young men, among whom was Timothy
Dwight, afterwards President of Yale College.
He was a member of the Board of Trustees of
the College for twenty-eight years. At one

First Church of Christ 6i
time he was desired for Its presidency, but his
health would not allow him to accept so re
sponsible a position.
Large portraits of Mr. Huntington and his
estimable wife were presented to the Church a
few years since by Deacon Albert R. Crittenden.

CHAPTER VII.
The Ministries of Dan Huntington and
Chauncey Allen Goodrich
1809-1817
The long and efficient ministry of Enoch
Huntington was terminated by his death, June
12, 1809. On Sept. 20, of the same year, his
successor, the Rev. Dan Huntington, was In
stalled. While not a relative of the former
beloved pastor, the name which he bore was one
dear to the people. This fact may have in
fluenced their choice, though they heard him
preach for " some time," and were " satisfied
with his ministerial qualifications." The spirit
of the pastor-elect appears In a sentence of his
reply to the invitation of the Church: — " Feel
ing my own insufficiency, Brethren, I ask your
prayers for me, and your friendly cooperation
in all well-meant, and well-directed endeavours
to build up the interests of the Redeemer's King
dom among you."
The Council for the installation was com
posed of twelve clergymen and eleven laymen.
63

64 A History of the
Dr. Cyprian Strong, of Chatham, was the
Moderator, and the Rev. Calvin Chapin, of
Wethersfield, the Scribe. The examination of
the candidate must have been quite rigid, since
when it, following other formalities, was com
pleted, the Council adjourned to the next morn
ing for the remaining exercises. Dr. Joseph
Lyman, of Hatfield, Mass., preached the ser
mon, and the Rev. Elijah Parsons, of East Had-
dam, offered the installing prayer. The pastor
ate of Mr. Huntington continued for six years,
and was fruitful in several respects.
On Jan. 13, 18 13, action of Importance was
taken by the Church In regard to absent and
delinquent members as follows :
" Voted, that we will endeavor to look up &
reclaim such members of this Church as have
now withdrawn themselves from our com
munion, & that Rev. D. Huntington, Hon.
Asher Miller, Esq. Deacn Matthew T. Russell
& Deacn Thomas Hubbard be a Committee for
the purpose." Thus it appears that persons un
true to their most sacred pledges existed in the
early years of the nineteenth century, as well as
in the twentieth. On Feb. 10, of the same year,
the above Committee " made report of what
they had done — which was, that on the whole

First Church of Christ 65
prospects were favourable for recovering
several: that others were hesitating as to their
duty : & that a few appeared to have sunken Into
error & Immorality."
April 16, of the same year, the Church met
at the Court House, and, after discussion, voted
" That It Is expedient to Introduce a new set of
Articles, the old one, in our view, being deficient
In several Important points of faith." Directly
after this action a Confession and Covenant
were adopted, In which the wisdom and skill of
the accomplished pastor are clearly seen. VId.
Appendix B. These were the basis on which
persons were admitted to the Church for more
than half a century. The present Form of Ad
mission, used since 19 10, embodies the substance
of the foregoing Covenant, while the articles of
the Church's faith remain practically the same,
though expressed in simpler language. Gen
erous liberty as to their full acceptance and
understanding by candidates for admission Is
allowed. In August, 18 13, the Church took action of
deep significance. It was voted " That this
Church do not consider those, who have owned
the Baptismal Covenant, or who have made a
profession of the christian religion, without

66 A History of the
coming to the ordinance of the Lord's Supper,
as in any sense, members of this Church."
Thus, the old " Half-Way Covenant," concern
ing whose value there has been much difference
of opinion, was abandoned here, as It was,
earlier or later, by all churches which had
adopted it.
May 12, 1 8 14, Mr. Huntington preached the
" Election Sermon " in Hartford, for which
service conspicuous clergymen were wont to be
chosen. It was doubtless his " splendid popu
larity as a preacher " that gave him this honor.
His address to the legislators aptly Illustrates
his opinion's. Some of its sentences run as fol
lows: " Men and brethren, bear with me, while I freely
plead before you, the cause of vital godliness.
I am always ready to testify my regard to what is
commonly called morality. It is entitled to commen
dation. It has its reward. But, there is not a single
consideration, in favour of morality, as a qualification
for office, which is not as much more in favour of
undissembled piety, as the motives for action, drawn
from eternity, outweigh those of time. Indeed,
nothing but piety gives proper security for morality.
Nothing but piety in rulers gives proper security for
fidelity to the interests of human society; much less to
those of the church."
Mr. Huntington was the first minister dis
missed from the oversight of this Church. For

First Church of Christ 67
nearly one hundred and fifty years its pastors
died In office. It Is probable that change In his
theological views was the main reason for Mr.
Huntington's withdrawal. He had received
117 persons to the fellowship of the Church, or
19 for each year of his labors.
Dan Huntington was born in Lebanon, Conn.,
Oct. II, 1774, and was graduated from Yale
College In 1794, before he had reached the age
of twenty. He was a tutor at Williams Col
lege two years, and at Yale two years. He
studied theology under President Dwight. He
was ordained pastor of the Congregational
Church In Litchfield, Conn., in i'798, when he
was only twenty-four. Thence he came to Mid
dletown, as we have seen, In 1809. After leav
ing this city In 18 16, he passed the remainder
of his days in Hadley, Mass., not again assum
ing the duties of a pastor. He died Oct. 31,
1864. Mr. Huntington was an excellent scholar and
an eloquent preacher. Several of his sermons
found their way Into print, from one of which
an effective quotation has already been made.
He was a man of amiable disposition, of native
good sense, and of rare strength of Christian
character. He was remembered with warm af-

68 A History of the
fectlon by many who knew him here. Not a
few of the shining virtues of his son, Fred D.
Huntington, D.D., the late Bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, seem to have
been derived from his father.
After the retirement of Mr. Huntington
" distressing apprehensions were entertained "
relative to the future of the Church. By the
good providence of God, however, these fears
were soon allayed. The attention of the people
was directed toward Mr. Chauncey Allen Good
rich, whose father, the Rev. Samuel Goodrich,
was a popular pastor In Berlin, Conn. He con
sented to preach here, and so completely won
the hearts of all who heard him that he received
a unanimous call to become their pastor. So
urgent was the invitation that a special letter of
considerable length was sent to the " Beloved
Pastor Elect," assuring him that " there was not
a solitary vote against the call, nor one person
who felt Indifferent as to the Issue of our appli
cation." After the statement of essential facts
the letter continues thus: — "We beg you to
consider the danger to which an unfavourable
decision on the subject of our request would sub
ject us. An extensive field of usefulness Is here
open to you. The Lord we trust has begun a

First Church of Christ 69
good work In the hearts of some, and hath he
not much people In this place? May we not
hope he Is about to build up our Zion and that
he has design'd you as the honor'd Instrament?"
Such a call, fortified by so strong an appeal, the
young candidate could not resist. After pon
dering the matter for a month, Mr. Goodrich
gave an affirmative answer to the Church and
Society. Distrustful of his age and qualifica
tions, he said to them: — "I feel, however, a
consoling assurance that if all my time and
efforts are devoted to your service, you will ac
cept the endeavour for the performance."
The Council for the ordination of Mr. Good
rich met at the house of Dea. Joseph Boardman
July 23, 1 8 16, being composed of thirteen min
isters and twelve laymen. Among the former
were David D. Field, of Haddam, and
Nathaniel W. Taylor, of New Haven.
" The Council proceeded to a careful exam
ination of the Pastor Elect as to his acquaint
ance with Christian doctrines and his ability to
defend them : his views of practical religion : his
motives for proposing to become a- minister of
the Gospel, together with his knowledge of
practical and experimental religion and his
assent to the Constitution by which Congrega-

70 A History of the
tional Churches of Connecticut regulate them
selves." This was no slight ordeal for the
young man, yet he passed It to the satisfaction
of all. But the " religious solemnities of the
occasion," naturally enough, did not take place
till the following morning.
At a meeting of the Church Sept. i6, of this
year, it was voted " To request the Deacons to
examine Into the state of Indigent members of
this church, and make report at the earliest con
venient period." Two months later It was voted
" That the Church be informed on the next
Communion that the wants of the poor claim a
large contribution." These votes Illustrate the
solicitude which this Church has always felt in
behalf of its needy members. It has spent many
thousands of dollars for their relief.
The records show that the new pastor was
faithful to his charge during the year and a half
which he held It. In this brief space. Inexperi
enced as he was, he united and consolidated the
Church, while he received thirty-two persons to
its fellowship. His pastorate continued till De
cember, 1 8 17, when, much to the regret of the
entire parish, he removed to New Haven, being
called to the service of his Alma Mater.
Chauncey Allen Goodrich, D. D., was born

First Church of Christ 71
In New Haven, October 23, 1790, and was
graduated at Yale College in 18 10. His theo
logical studies were pursued under the oversight
of President Dwight. After his happy and
fraitful ministry here, he was Professor of
Rhetoric In Yale College from 18 17 to 1839:
Professor of Pastoral Theology In Yale Semi
nary from 1839 to i860. He died February
25, i860, full of years and honors, deeply la
mented by all who were familiar with his ample
scholastic attainments and his unfailing loyalty
to high Ideals of life. A beautiful window Is
placed In the Battell Chapel in New Haven to
perpetuate his memory.

RE\'. JOIIX R. CRANE, D. D.

73

CHAPTER VIII.
The Ministries of John Riley Crane and
James Burnett Crane
1818-1856
In the early months of 1 8 1 8 the pulpit of the
Church was supplied by various preachers, upon
none of whom could the people unite till August.
In that month, " having full confidence in the
ministerial qualifications of Mr. John R. Crane
whom we have heard preach, and desirous of
being under his care and oversight," the Church
Invited him to become their pastor. The Com
mittee appointed to convey this invitation to
Mr. Crane In a personal note spoke of their
" having been a long time destitute of the stated
administration of the word & ordinances of
God," and urged a prompt response to their
call. However, in the Interregnum of seven
months a troublesome case of discipline was
acted upon. Also, an act of incorporation was
secured for the Church, enabling It to hold
" Real and personal Estate." 73

74 A History of the
The first call exterided to Mr. Crane In
August, after he had preached here four Sab
baths, was declined, as it was by no means
unanimous. The invitation was renewed In
September and accepted. A Council was called
for November 3d, consisting of nine clergymen
and ten laymen. Its decision was unanimous
to proceed with the ordination on November
4th. This date was exactly one hundred and
fifty years from the founding of the Church.
It is interesting to note that Dr. Chapin, of
Rocky Hill, preached the sermon, and the late
pastor, Mr. Goodrich, gave the right hand of
fellowship. It was about the time of the settlement of
Mr. Crane that a Lecture Room on Center
Street came into the possession of the Church.
January 4, 18 19, It was voted " That Mr. John
Fisk and Samuel Southmayd be added to the
committee with Bro. M. T. Russell to procure a
deed of the Lecture Room and a lease of the
Land on which it stands agreeable to the inten
tion of the subscribers who built It." This
building was occupied by the Church until 1851,
when land was leased for a new one on Broad
Street. On June third of the same year a committee

First Church of Christ 75
was appointed to " procure the printing of six
hundred copies of the confession of faith and
covenant of this church for the use of the mem
bers." A month later the Committee reported
that eight hundred had been printed, thus mak
ing provision for expected growth in member
ship. Two Interesting votes were passed by the
Church Feb. 15, 1821 ; first, " That a collection
be taken upon the ensuing Sabbath evening at
the Lecture Room in aid of the United Foreign
Missionary Society to assist In fitting out a Mis
sion family to the Osage Indians." Second,
" That the Treasurer of the church do procure
a box and place It at the door of the Lecture
Room on the monthly meetings for prayer, to
receive the contributions of those who attend,
that the same may be at the disposal of the
church for missionary objects." Here was an
Illustration of the spirit which the Church has
always manifested toward missions, whether at
home or abroad. It has never been content to
provide for Its own necessities alone.
At a meeting April i, 1825, "The moral
character of adventuring In lotteries was dis
cussed. The sense of the Church being taken,
it was decided ist.. That adventuring in a lot-

76 A History of the
tery authorized by the laws of this State is not
a proper subject of church discipline. 2nd.,
That the church disapprove of the practice of
adventuring in lotteries."
Oct. 23, of the same year " It was moved and
seconded: That this Church approve of the
Sabbath School now kept In the Lecture Room
of this Church, and that for the accommodation
of the said school the intermission between the
different services on the Lord's day during the
winter be of the same length as during the
summer." This motion, however, was post
poned for further consideration. Doubtless
the hesitation had reference to the intermission,
not to any question as to the value of the school.
Feb. 3, 1828, It was voted " That the Church
will meet statedly on the first Monday evening
of each month and on the Tuesday evening fol
lowing the third Monday of each month for
religious conversation and prayer." May 25,
" That there be a committee of twelve chosen
from among the members of the Church who
shall by two and two visit all the members of
this Church residing In this town." Aug. 24,
a letter from the South Church in this city was
read, " desiring assistance and reinforcement of
their number by several efficient members from

First Church of Christ 77
this Church." Sept. 7, a reply, prepared by a
special committee, was adopted by the Church.
This was most friendly In its spirit, as the fol
lowing extracts show:
" We feel a sincere and cordial desire that your
church may be built up and that you may enjoy much
peace and prosperity.
" In the present state of our church we think it both
inexpedient and unnecessary to designate any of our
members to unite themselves to your church and in our
collective capacity as a church to express any wish on
this subject. Nor as a church have we funds to give
you any pecuniary aid."
At the same time the Church expressed its
willingness that individuals should be asked for
assistance, and affirmed that it would " lay no
impediment In the way of any one from his
taking that course which his conscience may
dictate." In March, 1831, the South Church invited
this to unite with It in a four days' meet
ing. After conference with the Committee of
the South Church the invitation was accepted,
and the two pastors were instructed to send let
ters to other ministers in regard to the meetings.
On the last Sabbath of 1831, it being Christ
mas Day, in compliance with the recommenda
tion of the General Association of the State, the

78 A History of the
pastor preached on the topic of the Sabbath.
At a meeting of the Church in the afternoon,
the following resolution was adopted: " That
believing all attention on the first day of the
week to worldly business, except such as is re
quired by works of mercy or In promotion of
our spiritual good and that of others, is a viola
tion of the divine will and injurious to the social,
civil and religious Interest of man, we therefore
agree that we will abstain from it and from all
worldly conversation and amusement and will
use our influence to persuade all to do the same
both in our own families and in the community."
No doubt such a feeling and purpose on the
part of Its members contributed In large measure
to the future prosperity of the Church.
In 1833 the pastor and deacons were in
stracted to prepare and print a catalogue of
members since the beginning of the ministry of
Mr. Goodrich. Of this list at least sixty were
known to be living in 1870, when the next
catalogue was issued.
In January, 1834, the Church agreed to
" unite in the observance of the fast appointed
and recommended by various Ecclesiastical
bodies for the conversion of the world." Here
again the thoughts of this people reached out

First Church of Christ 79
far beyond themselves and their own com
munity. Two months later it was voted to hold
a " protracted meeting," a Committee was ap
pointed to secure preachers, and the South
Church was Invited to join in the services.
In November, 1835, the Church Psalmody
was Introduced " Into use In the worship of God
In the sanctuary on the Lord's day with a view
to Its being the sole book used for the purpose."
This hymnal remained in use till 1869, when the
Book of Praise was adopted iri Its place.
But our limits do not allow us to give further
space to this long and fruitful pastorate, which
continued till the death of Dr. Crane, August
I?) 1853. Enough has been said, however, to
show that It was a period of ample results, of
abundant accessions to the spiritual and material
forces of the Church. This was especially true
of the first half of Its thirty-five years' duration.
Dr. Crane welcomed to the Church six huridred
and eighteen persons, or an average of seven
teen for each year of his service. Neverthe
less, barren statistics in moral and spiritual
realms do not by any means tell the whole
trath. The seed sown in the generation cov
ered by this loyal ministry bore its thirty. Its
sixty and its hundred fold long after the diligent

8o A History of the
sower had gone to his rich reward. The suc
cessors of this faithful husbandman reaped In
fields where his untiring hand had scattered the
good seed of the kingdom of God. Nor has
the wholesome influence of his character and
teaching yet ceased in this community.
John Riley Crane, D.D., was born In Newark,
New Jersey, April i6, 1787, and was graduated
at Princeton College In 1805. He was an ex
cellent scholar, standing at the head of his class.
He commenced the study of law and pursued It
for more than two years. Under the Influence
of the renowned Dr. Edward Dorr Griffin he
became a Christian, and soon after began theo
logical studies at the then young Seminary In
Andover, Mass. On leaving this institution he
preached for a time in Danbury, Conn. Here a
hemorrhage of the lungs obliged him to
abandon all work. A second hemorrhage fol
lowed a few months later. Yet, by the most
rigid care of himself he recovered from both
these attacks and was able to preach again in
1 8 16. As we have seen, he was ordained here
November 4, 18 18, or about one hundred years
previous to the writing of this slcetch.
Dr. Crane was strong mentally and spiritu
ally. As a preacher, his aim was clearly to

First Church of Christ

unfold the divine word. His was not the elo
quence of style nor of manner, but that of the
thoughts of God which had passed through his
living experience. As a pastor, he was in a
rare degree judicious, acceptable, and effective.
He knew what to say and what not to say, when
to speak and when to be silent. In short, pru
dence was one of his eminent characteristics.
He was tender, trae, and sympathetic. Those
to whom he ministered long held him in affec
tionate remembrance for his wisdom and his
fidelity. Dr. Joel Hawes, who preached a memorial
sermon here on the beloved and lamented
pastor, among other sentences of warm com
mendation, uttered the following: — "His
style was clear, simple and chaste, often en
livened by beautiful and striking turns of
thought, and his whole appearance and manner
In the sacred desk were serious and commanding,
such as became an ambassador of Christ, ad
dressing men on the great themes of salvation.
He aimed to do good, not to shine in the pulpit :
to win souls to Christ, and not to show himself.
In a word, Christ and him craclfied was the
great theme of his preaching: the spirit and
meaning of this doctrine ran through all his

A History of the

ministration, and gave life ancl power to all
his pulpit exhibitions. By his ministerial
brethren he was regarded wth great respect and
confidence, and the more so the more they knew
him. Free, courteous, extensively read and
well Informed on all the great subjects of the
day, communicating and confiding, he was
always peculiarly welcome at the meetings of his
brethren; and was an interesting, affable, In-
stractlve companion to all who sought or en
joyed his society. He lived long, he lived use
fully, he died, though suddenly, yet preparedly,
and has entered, we doubt not. Into the joy of
his Lord."
In view of a pastorate so long and so accept
able as that of Dr. Crane, It would not have
been strange had the pulpit remained vacant for
a considerable time. But this was not the case.
After a vacancy of only three months, Mr.
James B. Crane was Invited to fill the place so
long honored by his father. He accepted the
invitation, though It was not unanimous, and a
Council of eleven clergymen and nine laymen
met here January lo, 1854, to act upon the mat
ter of his ordination. After the opening of its
first session it had an unusual experience. "A
remonstrance signed by members of said Church

First Church of Christ 83
and Society was presented to the Council, repre
senting that it is Inexpedient that Mr. Crane
should be settled over them." Reasons given
for this remonstrance were considered by the
body, which afterwards voted to proceed with
the business for which it was summoned.
This was the second Instance in which a son
followed his father in the oversight of this
Church, and the third in which the pastor's
name was repeated in his successor.
Mr. Crane's ministry continued but two years
and three months. Evidently he did not over
come the opposition which was manifested at the
time of his settlement. The Council to advise
concerning his resignation met April 15, 1856,
and judged that it was " expedient " that the
pastoral relation be dissolved. At the same
time It affirmed — " Nothing has appeared to
indicate any want of ability or of fidelity on the
part of the Pastor, and we cordially commend
him to the Churches, as a minister of Christ,
studious, sincere and faithful."
James Burnett Crane was born In Middle-
town In 1 8 19. He was graduated at Yale Col
lege In 1838. Like his father, he studied law
at first, but subsequently went to Princeton
Theological Seminary. He was ordained here

84 A History of the
January ii, 1854, and dismissed April 15,
1856, the reason given for his resignation being
111 health. From 1862 to 1865 he was a chap
lain In the army. He died at Elizabeth, New
Jersey, September 30, 1868.

RE\'. JERE.MIAEI TAYLOR, D. D.

85

CHAPTER IX.
The Ministry of Jeremiah Taylor
1856-1868
As ever, loyal to Its traditions, the Church
did not allow itself to remain long without a
pastor. In July, 1856, it was voted, "That
this Church unite with the Society In a request to
the Revd Jeremiah Taylor to preach before
them for one or more Sabbaths as may be con
venient to him, with a view to their calling him
to take the Pastoral charge of the Church and
Society." It Is Interesting to recall that Henry
Carrlngton was the clerk of this meeting, and
that Deacon Selah Goodrich offered prayer at
Its opening. The same persons officiated at
the subsequent meeting, July 28, 1856, when a
formal call was extended to Mr. Taylor. At a
meeting of the First Ecclesiastical Society held
the same day Henry Carrlngton, John H. Sum
ner and Abner Newton were appointed a Com
mittee to convey the call of the Church and
Society to Mr. Taylor. Before giving a final
85

86 A History of the
answer to this Invitation its recipient desired to
spend a little time here for further acquaintance
with the Church and people. Accordingly, he
came here and preached again on the tenth of
August. But his affirmative answer to the
Church and Society was not dated till the 2ist
of the month. Hence, as the Invitation was not
a hasty one, the reply to It was not made with
out due deliberation. The Committee appointed
to arrange for the installation of the pastor-elect
was Evan Davis, Jonathan E. Barnes, Henry S.
Ward, Selah Goodrich and Abner Newton. A
Council was convened on the first of October,
which voted unanimously to proceed with the
services of installation.
The sermon on the occasion was preached by
the Rev. Elisha L. Cleaveland, D. D., pastor
of the Third Church in New Haven. The
Right Hand of Fellowship was given by the
Rev. John L. Dudley, pastor of the South
Church in Middletown.
For somewhat more than a year after the
settlement of Mr. Taylor Henry Carrlngton
acted as clerk of the Church, when the pastor
was chosen to that office. The first Church
Committee whose appointment is recorded con
sisted of Henry S. Ward, Timothy Boardman

First Church of Christ 87
and E. G. Hubbard, together with the pastor
and Deacons. Mr. Taylor remained the clerk
till 1868, when Henry E. Sawyer took the posi
tion. In the early years of Mr. Taylor's ministry
the number of dismissions was quite large, sev
eral members going to the South Church, and
others to churches outside ot Mlddleto^wn. But
during his pastorate of twelve years he received
to the Church one hundred and sixty one per
sons, or thirteen for each year.
This ministry covered the period of our Civil
War, which absorbed the minds and hearts of
the people beyond all precedent. The pastor
was In hearty sympathy with the Government,
and very positive in his convictions, not hesitat
ing to utter them whenever there seemed to be
occasion. Not all of his flock shared his senti
ments nor enjoyed his manner of expressing
them. The friction thus created was not
wholly allayed by the declaration of peace. It
doubtless tended to the shortening of the pastor
ate which might otherwise have continued
longer. However, the Church as a whole was
heartily loyal to the Union, several of Its mem
bers being in the field. One was so conspicuous,
and his sacrifice so heavy a loss, that his name

88 A History of the
Is worthy of mention here. When General
Joseph K. F. Mansfield fell at Antietam, the
Church, the city, the town, the state, the nation
put on sackcloth. His praises were on every
tongue. Though a native of New Haven, he
was baptized into this Church April 9, 1806,
and later became a most valuable member of It.
His official duties kept him away from Middle-
town a large part of the time, but whenever he
was here he attended the Sunday and week-day
services of the Church, always manifesting a
genuine Interest in its prosperity. This Church
contributed not a little to the welfare of the na
tion in his long life of eminent service rendered
thereto. Not only was he a well-trained and
skillful officer, but his noble character was a
tower of strength wherever It was known. For
long years to come, as It now is, his name will
be a watchword of integrity, of industry, of
philanthropy, of bravery, of loyalty to country
and to God.
Dr. Taylor was clear and positive In his con
victions of truth and duty. Trained in An
dover and Princeton Seminaries at a time when
great stress was laid upon formal Christian doc
trine, he held these with unyielding firmness.
These he taught, according to his own views of

First Church of Christ 89
them, with no hesitation or compromise. His
doctrine of sacred Scripture was framed before
modern scholarship had modified the earlier
opinions relative to inspiration. His state
ments were too rigid to be accepted by all minds,
especially by the younger people of his congre
gation. Some of these felt that their minister
emphasized Christian thinking more forcibly
than Christian acting. While not lacking in
zeal, there were some persons, particularly
among the young, who deemed that he had not
sufficient tact in dealing with them. Modern
Independence and latitude of thought In some
instances began to show themselves. Yet Dr.
Taylor was a strong preacher, now and then
rising to actual eloquence. Only a few months
after his settlement he preached a sermon occa
sioned by the death of David Harrison, M.D.,
on The Medical Profession : Its Position and
Claims. This discourse so highly gratified the
Central Medical Association that Charles
Woodward, William B. Casey, Elisha B. Nye,
George W. Burke and M. C. Hazen, repre
senting the Association, requested its publica
tion, speaking of it as " able, impressive and
appropriate." A few of its sentences may
serve to illustrate the style of Its author:

90 A History of the
¦' Our glorious Savior early evinced his mighty
power and godhead, and opened hearts many to receive
him, as he went from place to place healing the sick.
He did not break the bruised reed, nor quench the
smoking flax, but restored life and health. His zeal to
do good to the bodies of men was only second to his
efforts to introduce the soul of the lost into the way of
life and peace. Imbuing the apostles with a spirit
like his own, and endowing them with supernatural
gifts he gave them the command, which has been
suspended from heaven visible to the eyes of all men,
' go teach all nations.' Heal the sick, cure diseases.
True to the injunction they went forth to bless and
save. Diseases fled at their approach. Hearts hard
as steel melted before the breath of their love. The
word had power. Heavenly wisdom thus established
the great truth, which meets us every day, to save the
soul of the poor and ignorant, we must bless him to
the extent of our power in his temporal wants and
necessities." These, surely, are wholesome sentiments, ex
pressed In vigorous language.
The pastor's resignation was presented to the
Church August 31, 1868, near the close of Its
second century. It was at once accepted,
though not by a unanimous vote. A Council
met at Westfield on the twentieth of October,
which, after confirming the action of the
Church, passed the following resolution :
" That we greatly regret the separation of Dr.
Taylor from the Church to which he has so long

First Church of Christ 91
ministered, that we entertain a high regard for his
Christian and ministerial character, and commend him
to the churches as a brother beloved, able and faithful
in the service of the Gospel, and we pray that God
may crown his future labors with abundant blessing."
During his ministry here Mr. Taylor was
honored by Amherst College, his Alma Mater,
with the degree of Doctor of Divinity. In this
action the College revealed Its estimate of the
man. Toward the close of his pastorate Deacon
Henry S. Ward presented his house on Court
Street to the Church for a parsonage. This was
greatly enlarged and Improved, not being ready
for use till 1868. It was doubtless Deacon
Ward's attachment to the pastor, added to his
love for the Church, which led to this generous
gift, as well as to the insertion in his will of a
legacy of $6,000, toward the erection of a new
house of worship.
Jeremiah Taylor, D. D. was born in Hawley,
Mass., June 11, 18 17, and was graduated at
Amherst College In 1843. tie studied
theology at Andover and Princeton, and was or
dained pastor of the Congregational Church
In Wenham, Mass., October 27, 1847. tl^
cherished a warm affection for this, his first
Church. In an address delivered at its 250th

92 A History of the
anniversary, in 1894, he made these happy allu
sions :
" I have returned to my home. Here I was
ordained to the sacred ministry and became your
pastor. Here I brought my bride, and together we
entered the new and inviting home which had been
prepared especially for our use. Here I experienced
my first parental joys. At this altar my firstborn was
baptized." His pastorate In Middletown extended from
November i, 1856 to October 20, 1868.
Speaking at the 225'th anniversary of this
Church, Dr. Taylor said, among other cordial
words, " I have thought while I was lingering
with you. If there Is any other spot where I
would wish to go to end this earthly life, I
would come back to old Middletown again.
Oh, how I love its skies, its hills, the flowing
stream. I love more the dear people. I dare
say before heaven and this congregation that
never pastor loved his people better than I loved
those God gave me here."
After leaving Middletown Dr. Taylor served
the church in West KlUingly, Conn., and an
other in Elmwood, Rhode Island, a suburb of
Providence. Also, he was for a time the New
England Secretary of the American Tract So
ciety, with an office in Boston. His last years

First Church of Christ 93
were happily spent as an assistant to Dr.
Thomas, the distinguished pastor of the Har
vard Congregational Church In Brookline,
Mass. He died June 20, 1898, at the age of
eighty-one years.

;-:^i^v:

REV. AZEL W. HAZEN, D. D.

CHAPTER X.
The Ministry of Azel Washburn Hazen
1869-1916
In less than a month after Dr. Taylor's resig
nation took effect Azel Washburn Hazen, then
a graduate student at the Hartford Theological
Seminary, was Invited to supply the pulpit for
a single Sunday. He was not at liberty to do so
until the twenty-second of November. Having
preached that day, he was asked to continue to
serve the Church until the end of the year. He
consented to do this, still pursuing his work in
Hartford. At a meeting of the Church December 31,
1868, It was voted to extend an Invitation to
Mr. Hazen to become Its pastor. This invita
tion he felt that he must decline, In view of plans
for further study before assuming the care of
any church. Indeed, he wrote a letter giving a
negative answer to the call. But upon the
urgent solicitation of friends he destroyed this
letter and sent one of acceptance to the Church.
The Committee appointed to Inform the pastor-
95

96 A History of the
elect of the action of the Church was " Bro. E.
P. Barrows, Deacon S. Goodrich, and Bro. O.
V. Coffin." The corresponding Committee
named by the First Ecclesiastical Society was
" Wm. C. Bell, D. R. Benham and Henry L.
Mansfield." The call was dated January 9,
1869, but for various reasons the acceptance
was not written until the thirtieth of the month.
To facilitate the work of the new pastor when
it should begin, at a meeting Febraary 10, 1869,
a Committee, consisting of H. E. Sawyer,
Samuel G. Smith and E. P. Barrows, was ap
pointed to prepare Standing Rules for the adop
tion of the Church. It seems that previous to
this action no such rules had existed.
The Council in reference to the ordination of
Mr. Hazen met in the Lecture Room on Broad
Street at 10 A. M., March 10, 1869. It was
composed of representatives of thirteen
churches and Professor William Thompson, D.
D., of the Hartford Seminary. The Mod
erator was the Rev. L. Periin, of the First
Church, New Britain, the Scribe, the Rev. L.
H. Hallock, of Berlin. It Is beheved that Dr.
Hallock Is the sole member of this Council now
living. After the usual examination of the can
didate and conference relative to him, it was

First Church of Christ 97
unanimously voted to " proceed with the public
exercises of Ordination and Installation In the
P. M." These took place In the church on
Main Street in the midst of a drenching rain.
The Rev. A. C. Denison offered the Invocation,
the Rev. A. T. Waterman read the Scriptures,
Professor E. C. Smyth, D.D., of Andover Semi
nary, preached the sermon. Professor William
Thompson, D.D., offered the Ordaining Prayer,
the Rev. Austin Hazen gave the Charge to
the pastor, the Rev. John P. Taylor the Right
Hand of Fellowship, the Rev. C. L. Goodell,
D.D., the Charge to the People, and the Rev.
H. E. Hart offered the closing Prayer.
"They are all gone into the world of light!
And I alone sit lingering here :
Their very memory is fair and bright.
And my sad thoughts doth clear."
Mr. Hazen was the first pastor to occupy the
parsonage on Court Street, living in that till
1910, when it was taken down to make room
for another. Having married Miss Mary But
ler Thompson, daughter of Professor William
Thompson, D.D., of the Hartford Theological
Seminary, and Mrs. Eliza Butler Thompson,
September i, 1869, he brought her there in the
autumn of that year.

98 A History of the
The first special work of the young pastor
was looking up the members of the Church and
parish. This was no slight task, as complete
records were not available. When it was ac
complished, it appeared that the Church had
225 members, of whom sixteen were non-resi
dent. About 140 families were found to be
long to the parish. The Sunday School re
ported 175 members. The house of worship,
having been occupied for seventy years with no
extensive changes, was out of repair and far
from attractive. The South Congregational
Church near at hand had recently dedicated a
most capacious and comely edifice for Its use.
Also it had just ordained a scholarly young man
as its pastor. Hence It was imperative that the
First Church should erect a new building as
soon as possible. In this situation the " people
had a mind to work." Money was pledged
sufficient to warrant the beginning of the enter
prise. After many delays a new site and plans
for the structure were agreed upon, so that the
corner stone of the present edifice on Court
Street was laid June 28, 1871. After this
ampler funds had to be secured, and various ob
stacles to be overcome.
The last services in the house on Main Street,

First Church of Christ 99
which had been the home of the Church for
seventy-three years, were held September i,
1872. For the next three months the Church
accepted the courteous hospitality of the South
Church, uniting with it on Sundays. The Lec
ture Room on Broad Street was used for the
last time November 13. On the twentieth of
the same month the Chapel, Parlors and Sunday
School Room of the building on Court Street
were opened, after which time services were
held In them. The finished edifice was dedi
cated May I, 1873, the sermon being preached
by President Noah Porter, D.D., LL.D., of
Yale College. In the evening of the same day
congratulatory addresses were made by the
Reverends B. W. Barrows, of the Baptist
Church, J. S. Breckenrldge, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, J. P. Taylor, of the South
Church, and D. M. Seward, D.D., of New
York. This fifth house of worship occupied by the
First Church is 135 feet long, and 80 feet in
width. Its audience room Is 6^ by 68 feet, or
nearly square. Its Sunday School Room is 71
by 30 feet. This was one of the first rooms
expressly designed for the use of a Sunday
School In Connecticut. The entire cost of the

lOO A History of the
house, including Its site, the organ, and the fur
niture, was slightly less than $95,000. With
the exception of a legacy of $6,000, this sum
was mainly raised In the limits of the parish, and
largely In amounts not exceeding $1,000.
Many of these involved considerable sacrifice
on the part of the donors.
The possession of this modem and commo
dious building, with its rooms for various uses,
gave a decided Impetus to the Church and all
the organizations connected with it. For sev
eral years the growth of the parish was quite
rapid, the city Itself having received a fresh
Impulse at about the same period. In that
auspicious year, 1873, forty-one persons were
added to the Church, twenty-four of them on
confession of their faith in Christ. The fol
lowing year the accessions were twenty-six. In
1873 twenty-six families were added to the
parish. In the next year, eighteen, and in the
next, thirty-five. In 1873 the Sunday School
reported forty-five more members than in the
year previous.
In 1874 the Church received from Mrs.
Ehzabeth S. Dyer, Mrs. Jane E. Huntington,
Mrs. Emily B. Smith, and Miss Emily Tracy,
the gift of a house containing six tenements, for

100

DEDICATED IN I873

First Church of Christ loi
the use, or the assistance, of needy families. In
the same year a Parish Library was founded by
a donation of $500 from Mr. George W. Guy.
In 1875, October 27 and 28, the American
Missionary Association held its annual meeting
with this Church, the South Church sharing In
the entertainment of the body. In the same
year nearly six thousand papers and tracts were
distributed throughout the parish. This was
done mainly by visitors, whose aim was to call
on all families once each month. This visita
tion and distribution of literature was continued
for several years, the calls being made long after
It seemed undesirable to circulate the printed
matter. The ninth of July, 1876, was observed as
Centennial Sunday, it being near the hundredth
anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
by the Congress of the United States. In the
morning the pastor gave a brief sketch of the
history of the Church for the preceding century.
This was soon published, and the demand for
it exceeded the supply. The review of two
centuries given by Dr. Taylor In 1868 not hav
ing been printed, this was the first issue of any
considerable portion of the Church's history.
During this year the records of the Church

I02 A History of the
for Its first one hundred and forty years were
copied in one large and substantial volume.
The original records being kept In small and
flimsy volumes had become much worn, so that
In some places they were barely legible. These
antique books are now carefully preserved, per
sons wishing to consult the earlier records being
referred to the copy. This transcript has been
many times scanned, so that it bears the marks
of frequent use. Few churches whose history
reaches back to the second generation from the
landing of the Pilgrims have recorded data as
complete as this. Hence these ancient annals
have an inestimable value. The Church must
soon possess a secure safe of its own wherein
they can be deposited, together with its vener
able silver, and many documents relating to the
story of its two and a half centuries.
The year 1878 will long be a memorable one
for this Church and the entire community.
Messrs. Moody and Sankey conducted a remark
able series of religious meetings in Hartford in
the early months of the year. The fame of
these eminent revivalists drew large numbers
from the surrounding towns to hear them.
Among these were many from Middletown and
all parts of this county. Thus the time seemed

First Church of Christ 103
favorable for special religious services here.
The two Congregational Churches, the Meth
odist Episcopal and the Baptist Churches, to
gether with Wesleyan University, united in prep
aration for such services. They were fortunate
In securing the Rev. George F. Pentecost as the
preacher, and Mr. and Mrs. George C. Steb
bins to lead In the music. The meetings began
March 24 and continued till April 25, being
held every day except Saturday. A noonday
prayer meeting was held in the chapel of the
Methodist Church, a Bible Reading at 3 P. M.,
and a service with a sermon at 7 :30 P. M. in
this Church. A large choir of mixed voices
assisted Mr. and Mrs. Stebbins In making the
musical element of the services most attractive
and inspiring. The meetings were largely at
tended, none at which there was preaching call
ing out less than one thousand people. Often
the audiences numbered twelve hundred and
even more, while on Sunday evenings overflow
meetings were held in other places. At no pre
vious period in the history of this town did so
many persons listen to the preaching of the Gos
pel In sermon and in song In the space of six
weeks. The year witnessed unusual accessions
to all the churches uniting in the services. Dur-

I04 A History of the
ing the year eighty-six members were added to
this Church, seventy-nine of whom were re
ceived after the close of these special meetings.
At a Communion Service on the second of June
fifty-nine persons were admitted to membership,
thirty-three of whom were heads of families.
The benediction which this town and Its vicinity
received from these remarkable services will
long abide here.
From June ii to November 21 the pastor
and his wife were absent, enjoying a happy vaca
tion in Europe. During these months the pul
pit was supplied by the Rev. Oliver E. Daggett,
D.D., recently minister at the Yale College
Church In New Haven. He was a preacher of
unusual grace and power, a man of fine physique,
as well as of rugged character, so that his in
fluence was wide and wholesome. Dr. Daggett
was for many years one of the leading clergy
men In Connecticut, and he always cherished
pleasant memories of his stay in this city.
In the night of July second a fire started in
the rear of the church building, but It was dis
covered and extinguished, after causing a dam
age of about two thousand dollars. While the
house was undergoing repairs, the Church ac
cepted the courteous invitation of the South

First Church of Christ 105
Church and worshipped there for six weeks.
On the eighth of August Mr. Edgar F.
Davis, a member of this Church since 1875, was
ordained to the Christian ministry in Perry,
Maine. During this year, also, the parsonage was
greatly improved by the enlargement of Its front
entrance, the erection of a new porch over it,
and the painting of Its exterior.
On the first of January, 1879, the building at
Staddle HIU, now known as Bethany Chapel,
was dedicated. Its cost in money was $2,150,
of which amount this Church and its Sunday
School gave $1,050. The Sunday School for
which it was built was organized in 1868 by
members of this Church, and it had been con
ducted, as well as supported, in the main, by the
Church. Hence, though others had an interest
In the work, and loyally aided it, it was, and is,
considered as under the care of the First
Church. The Increase of Protestant families In
the vicinity of the Chapel has not been as large
as was anticipated when the building was
erected, while a trolley line running through the
district has made it quite easy for those living
there to come Into the city. Therefore the
Chapel has not been as much frequented in re-

io6 A History of the
cent years as formerly. The Sunday evening
services with preaching, for a long time con
ducted by the assistants of the pastor of the
Church, or by students of the University, have
not been held of late. Also, the removal of
helpful families and Individuals from the com
munity, and the building of a Chapel not far
away by another Church, have lessened the
work formerly done at Bethany.
On the twenty-sixth of September, 1881, a
memorable service was held In this Church, oc
casioned by the death of James Abram Garfield,
President of the United States. Addresses
were made by Mayor Silas A. Robinson, Hon.
D. Ward Northrop, Professor James C. Van
Benschoten, and Hon. Samuel L. Warner. The
high esteem in which the President was held,
and the fact that he died at the hands of an
assassin, served to throng the house with
genuine mourners. Those present at these
solemn obsequies will not soon forget the pro
found Impression made by them.
The Report of the Church for 1882 has the
following item, which Is worthy of record In
this place: "The attendance at the Sabbath
morning services was larger than in any pre
vious year since annual reports were published

First Church of Christ 107
(or since 1871.) It was often above four hun
dred, and the worst Sabbath In the year, when
many churches In New England held no services,
one hundred persons were present."
In 1883, responding to a general desire that
the people should have an ampler share In the
" Service of Song in the House of the Lord,"
Mr. Waldo S. Pratt, then Instructor in Vocal
Music In the Hartford Theological Seminary,
was secured to give public lessons In singing.
Beginning in January, these lessons continued
till May, there being thirteen in all. They were
of decided value to those who attended them,
and had a perceptible Influence on the singing of
the congregation at the Sunday services.
This was so evident and so wholesome, that Mr.
Wesley U.Pearne, the organist, was engaged to
continue them for some months of the next year.
A year earlier than Mr. Pratt's Instractlon
Mr. Arthur Titcomb, a member of the Church,
and a student in Wesleyan University, organ
ized a Sunday School Choir, which he trained'
with much energy and skill. The results of his
work appeared beyond the limits of the School.
After Mr. Titcomb left the city, Mr. Wallace
H. Lee, a graduate of Williams College and a
teacher in the High School, took the oversight

io8 A History of the
of this Choir. Further, for several years Mrs.
George Rand, a member of the Church, in
stracted and led a chorus choir, thereby increas
ing the number of those who aided the singing
of the congregation. At times, also, other
musical instruments besides the fine organ were
used In public worship. Again, there has often
been preparation in .oratorios for special occa
sions, like Easter and Christmas, In which many
have been taught lessons of priceless value to
themselves, as well as to others. Thus it will
appear that, though the Church In recent times
has not had the traditional Immense choirs of
the first half of the nineteenth century, It has not
been unmindful of the Importance of participa
tion by the people in the music of the Lord's
house. It has endeavored in numerous ways to
solve the difficult problem of singing by the
mass of worshipers, instead of by a few skilled
musicians employed to entertain them or to sing
in their place. Doubtless much more might
have been accomplished with ampler means and
with more ardent zeal in this direction.
On the thirteenth of July, 1884, a Service of
Praise was held in commemoration of the hun
dredth anniversary of the city's birth. This
Church was one hundred and sixteen years old

First Church of Christ 109
when the city was incorporated. Col. Jabez
Hamlin had been for thirty years an honored
Deacon in her communion before he was chosen
the first Mayor of the city. He was continued
In office till 1788, when he resigned. But he
seems to have retained the dignity of the posi
tion until his death in 1791, though its duties
were performed by another. The five follow
ing Mayors were selected from the roll of the
goodly fellowship of the First Church. So,
likewise, were six of the first Clerks, and all of
the Treasurers, as late as 1847. This vener
able Church has always been closely related to
the being and the well-being of the city, as will
be seen more clearly later on In this narrative.
In the year 1884, and for some time there
after, the Rev. J. Webster Tuck, a member of
the Church, rendered kindly service In the
parish as ai\ assistant to the pastor. In the
same year a few members of the Church
founded an Education Fund, designed to aid
young people In the pursuit of their studies.
This was used as a loan to them, without Inter
est, to be returned after their graduation from
College. The original amount was Increased
by later gifts of individuals, and by contribu
tions from the Church.

IIO A History of the
In 1885 the Church received $3,000 from the
estate of Mrs. Samuel D. Hubbard, long a use
ful member of It, the Income of which was to
provide seats in the house of worship for such
as were not able to make full payment for them.
Miss Susan C. Clarke added $500 to this sum.
In this year and for some time thereafter ser
vices for Swedes were held in the Chapel and
Sunday School Room. These were conducted
In the Swedish language, and mainly by Mr.
Carl Carlson, who later became a member of
this Church, and was ordained as the first pastor
of the Swedish Congregational Church of Mid
dletown. In the same year, likewise, the house of wor
ship of the Methodist Episcopal Church having
been burned, that Church was invited to worship
with the First Church. These two churches
held their mid-week and Sunday evening ser
vices together till the following May. After
this, the pastor of the First Church being
granted a vacation for the summer, all their
services were united, the Rev. William V. Kel
ley, D.D., the Methodist pastor, conducting
them. Also, the Commencement exercises of
Wesleyan University were held in the First
Church this year, and in 1886 as well. In July
of the latter year Mr. George H. Cummings, a

First Church of Christ in
recent graduate of the Hartford Theological
Seminary, was secured as an assistant to the
pastor. He continued in this office for two
years, when he became the pastor of the Church
In Thompson.
In November, 1887, the General Conference
of the Congregational Churches of Connecticut
met with the First Church, Mr. Jeremiah M.
Allen of Hartford being the Moderator. The
Conference had met here In 1873, Senator La
fayette S. Foster of Norwich presiding. It met
here again In 19 17, Ex-Governor Frank B.
Weeks presiding. In all these Instances, the
South Church, the Methodist, and the Baptist
Churches cordially assisted in the entertainment
of the delegates.
In March, 1888, the Book of Praise, which
had been in use for nineteen years, was ex
changed for the Laudes Domini, and an
abridged edition of the latter was placed In the
Chapel. Both of these latter proved helpful to
the worship of the Church.
It was during the unparalleled " blizzard " of
this year that the venerable Deacon Goodrich
passed away, at the age of ninety-two. He had
been an officer of the Church since 1850, though
for his last few years not in active service. He

1X2 A History of the
was a constant and devout attendant upon the
services of the Church, and deeply Interested
In Its prosperity. He evinced his lifelong zeal
for Home and Foreign Missions by leaving a
legacy to each.
In May of this year Mr. Cummings, who had
been the pastor's assistant for two years, was or
dained pastor of the Church in Thompson, and
Mr. Thomas M. Hodgdon was engaged in his
place. He rendered most acceptable service for
one year, and In 1891 was ordained pastor of
the Church In West Hartford, where he still
remains, beloved by a large and ever increasing
parish. In the autumn of this year Mr. Arthur Tit
comb, who had been an active member of the
Church for seven years, having graduated at the
Hartford Seminary In the previous May, was
ordained Pastor of the Church in GllbertvIUe,
Massachusetts. It was probably an unprece
dented ocurrence that two members of this
Church entered upon the ministry of the Gospel
In the same year. Yet the number of clergy
men reared by the Church Is quite large.
On the thirtieth of April, 1889, the Cente
nary of the Inauguration of George Washington
as the first President of the United States, was
celebrated in this Church, other Churches In the

First Church of Christ 113
city joining In the commemoration. A large
choir led the congregation in rendering excellent
music, and a memorable address was given by
Professor Woodrow Wilson, LL.D., of the
Wesleyan University, and then a member of
this Church.
In December of this year the Church united
with others in a series of meetings conducted by
Mr. Dwight L. Moody, held In the' Methodist
Episcopal Church. Mr. Moody preached fif
teen times in five days, besides holding numerous
meetings for Inquirers. He was assisted by Mr.
and Mrs. George C. Stebbins, whose tender
and Impressive singing revived In the minds of
many happy memories of 1878. Ten years
later Mr. Moody again spoke in Middletown,
one of the last addresses he ever made in Con
necticut being here.
The death of Mrs. Wolcott Huntington in
1890 was an irreparable loss to the Church.
One of the most liberal contributors to its
present edifice, her zeal for the welfare of the
Church never flagged. Her unceasing benef
icence was shared by many not of its fold, as
well as by numerous organizations for the up
lift of mankind. In her will she did not forget
the First Ecclesiastical Society, nor some other

114 A History of the
agencies through which her munificence flowed
while living.
On entering its present building the Church
adopted the system of weekly offerings for
benevolence. At first these were placed In
small boxes In each pew. But In 1891 the boxes
were removed and the passing of alms basins
was commenced. In this year, also, very choice
linens for the communion table were presented
to the Church by Mrs. Horace F. Boardman.
In November a legacy of $5,000 was received
from the estate of the Hon. Henry G. Hubbard,
not a member of the parish. This generous
bequest, the last one made by the donor, he
left, as he said, " to the Church that his mother
and sister had loved." This gift is called the
" Henry G. Hubbard Fund," and its income is
devoted to the Christian work of the Church.
Late In the year a revised edition of the Manual
of the Church was prepared, containing much
valuable information, secured and arranged
with no little pains and labor.
In 1892 the sum of $5,000 was received from
the estate of Thomas G. Mather, it being a por
tion of a legacy left by him under the following
section of his will: — "I give and bequeath to
the Church of the First Congregational Society

First Church of Christ 115
of Middletown $8,000, to be well invested and
remain a permanent fund, and the Income
thereof only to be expended for Church Uses.
Provided that, to guard from neglect and dis
order the burial lots No. 10 and No. 35, In
Mortimer Cemetery, in said Middletown, In
one of which my father, Thomas Mather, and
most of his family are buried, and In the other
of which my wife's father and mother are, and
my wife and myself expect to be burled — this
bequest Is on condition that said Church put and
maintain the said burial lots, and the monu
ments, gravestones, etc.. In good and becoming
order and condition; and in default thereof, I
hereby give and bequeath the said $8,000 to
the American Home Missionary Society."
Though not uniting with the Church till late
In his life, Mr. Mather cherished a warm
interest In Its prosperity, being a generous con
tributor to Its expenses and its charities. For
some years he was the chairman of the Society's
Committee, and he aimed to have the finances
of the Church managed on sound business prin
ciples. Thus far the conditions of the above
bequest have been met, not only with fidelity,
but with affection for the memory of a loyal
friend of the Church and an estimable citizen.

1 1 6 A History of the
In September, 1893, Mr. Harry T. Williams,
a graduate of the Hartford Seminary in the
previous May, entered upon his duties as assist
ant to the pastor. For a time he was a member
of the choir, and he endeavored to awaken
interest in singing among the young people.
The following year he was ordained to the
ministry of the Gospel by a Council summoned
by the Church. In the interval between the
departure of Mr. Hodgdon and the coming of
Mr. Williams, Mrs. Samuel G. Smith rendered
effective service as a special visitor in the parish.
This was true of other years when the pastor
had no male assistant. Not a few families In
the parish recall her sympathetic attentions as
most helpful to them.
On the fifth and sixth of November, 1893,
the Church celebrated the two hundred and
twenty-fifth anniversary of its birth. Sunday
morning there was special music and an his
torical address by the pastor. At the session of
the Sunday School a sketch of its history,
written by Mrs. O. Vincent Coffin, was read by
Seward V. Coffin. In the afternoon a Com
munion Service was held, at which children were
baptized. In the evening addresses were made
as follows : on the Rev. Enoch Huntington, the

First Church of Christ 117
fourth pastor of the Church, by Mr. George
Huntington Hulbert : on the First Ecclesiastical
Society, by the Hon. O. Vincent Coffin. Also,
congratulatory addresses by the Rev. Dwight
M. Seward, D.D., and the Rev. Jeremiah Tay
lor, D.D., the ninth pastor of the Church, and
the only living ex-pastor. In the afternoon of
Monday cordial greetings were extended by the
Rev. P. M. Snyder, pastor of the South Church,
the Rev. E. Campion Acheson, Rector of Holy
Trinity Church, the Rev. Henry A. Starks,
D.D., pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and the Rev. P. F. Jernegan, pastor of
the Baptist Church. Our Daughters were rep
resented by the Rev. H. G. Marshall, pastor of
the Church in Cromwell: our Older Sisters, by
the Rev. H .T. Rose, pastor of the First Church
In Northampton, Mass. : our Younger Sisters,
by the Rev. J. W. Cooper, D.D., pastor of the
South Church in New Britain : and the Rev.
President B. P. Raymond, D.D., LL.D., of
Wesleyan University, spoke concerning The
Church and Education. Following these exer
cises there was a Social Reunion and interesting
letters were read.
The entire occasion was a memorable one,
fuller notes of which are preserved in the
archives of the Church.

II 8 A History of the
In 1894 the pastor was absent from the first
of March till late In August, spending this va
cation in Egypt, Palestine, and Europe. Dur
ing his absence the pulpit was most acceptably
supplied by Professors Jacobus and Paton, of
the Hartford Seminary.
On the sixth of November of this year, the
Hon. Owen Vincent Coffin, a member of this
Church since 1867, and for many years the
Superintendent of its Sunday School, was chosen
Governor of the Commonwealth. It was not
only the first time in its history that this Church
had furnished a Chief Magistrate to the State,
but it was the first instance In which one had
been supplied by Middlesex County.
In July, 1895, Mr. Williams retired from his
position as the pastor's assistant, to enter upon
work In the West. The Church was fortunate
In securing Mr. Joseph Beech, a student in the
University, to teach in its Sunday School, and
to take the oversight of Bethany Chapel. His
work was most effective, the Chapel reaching a
high degree of prosperity under his zealous
ministrations. In October of this year the
Church sustained a severe loss In the death of
Miss Susan C. Clarke, one of its most Intelligent
and liberal members. Miss Clarke was always

First Church of Christ 119
ready to assist the Church in its work at home
and abroad. It was a fitting recognition of her
worth that her brother and sister, though be
longing to another Communion, gave to the
Church as a memorial of her its elegant baptis
mal font of white marble. Its communion table,
and its pulpit furniture, with the exception of
its superb reading desk. This was the gift of
Miss Jennie M. Clarke, In memory of her aunt,
Mrs. Samuel D. Hubbard. These beautiful
memorials, on which no expense was spared,
changed the entire aspect of the audience room
of the Church.
In 1896 the Church was called to mourn the
loss of three persons who had rendered it
especial service. Miss Fannie A. Russell had
long been prominent In the activities of the
Church, cherishing for It a deep affection. As
a teacher in the Sunday School, and as the Presi
dent of the Bee Society for twenty-two years,
her influence was widely felt. In accordance
with her wish, her nephew, Mr. Richard L. de-
Zeng, after her lamented death, placed In the
treasury of the First Ecclesiastical Society the
equivalent of five thousand dollars,.as an endow
ment for a pew, to be known as the " Fannie A.
Russell Pew." Mrs. Elizabeth S. Dyer,

I20 A History of the
though a member of a Presbyterian Church, had
been for years a regular attendant upon the ser
vices of this Church, and a generous supporter
of its work. She was also the beloved leader
of a large Bible Class, to which she gave much
time and labor. A section of her Will reads as
follows: " I give and bequeath to the Church
of the First Ecclesiastical Society of Middle-
town the sum of two thousand dollars, the in
come thereof to be applied to the preservation
and care of the property which Mrs. Hunting
ton, Mrs. Stedman and myself caused to be
built, and toward the maintenance of the Sunday
School of said Society, in such proportion as
said Society may deem best."
Mr. Horace F. Boardman had been a mem
ber of this Church since 1857. For a short
time he was Its clerk and treasurer. Later, he
v/as a member of the Society's Committee and
Its assistant treasurer. His loyalty to the
Church was most genuine, and his sudden de
parture was mourned by all who knew his many
estimable qualities.
In March, 1897, Miss Emily Tracy passed
from earth at the ripe age of ninety-three years.
She had been a member of the Church since
1 821, more than three- fourths of a century.

First Church of Christ 121
being " full of good works and almsdeeds which
she did." As a teacher of the Bible, which she
revered and loved, both in words and in life, as
the first President of the Woman's Foreign Mis
sionary Society, and prominent In other
charitable organizations, Miss Tracy was long
a conspicuous figure In the Church and in the
community. A brief memorial of her by her
pastor was published in a pamphlet.
In March and April a series of special Sun
day evening addresses was given, as follows:
Some Positive Results of Biblical Criticism, by
the Rev. Henry A. Starks, D.D. ; The Inspira
tion of the Bible, by the Rev. Wesley W. Smith;
Modern Phases of Thought In Christian Evi
dences, by Professor William North Rice,
LL.D.; China, by the Rev. James H. Roberts,
and New Light from Palestine, by the pastor.
The year 1898 was marked by the gift to the
Church of its baptismal font and pulpit fur
niture, to which reference Is made elsewhere.
The fine pulpit Bible, with its exquisite mark,
was presented at the same time by Miss
Katharine Mather Mansfield, In memory of her
mother, Mrs. Louisa Mather Mansfield, the
widow of Gen. Joseph K. F. Mansfield. At
the same time the Bee Society gave to the
Church its useful hymn tablets.

122 A History of the
In July of the year 1898 Ex-Governor O.
Vincent Coffin and the pastor were delegates
from the Connecticut Conference of Congrega
tional Churches to the National Council at
Portland, Oregon. Mr. Coffin was chosen the
First Assistant Moderator of the Council.
On Sunday morning, February 19, 1899, Mr.
Luther D. Wishard addressed the congregation
on the Forward Movement In Missions. At
this service pledges were made more than suf
ficient to maintain a foreign missionary for one
year. Soon after, the Rev. Herman N.
Barnum, D.D., of Harpoot, Turkey, was
assigned to this Church as Its missionary. He
continued in this capacity for ten years, until his
death. The pastor was absent from May 16 to Sep
tember 1 1 , for a vacation in England and Scot
land. President Raymond and Professor Rice,
of the University, and Professor Jacobus, of
the Hartford Seminary, were the main preachers
in his absence. October 16 the Rev. John
Brown, D.D., of Bedford, England, who was a
guest of the pastor, addressed a large audience
In the Church on John Bunyan. For many
years Dr. Brown had made the life of Bunyan
his constant study, and he had written the most

First Church of Christ 123
complete biography of this brilliant dreamer, so
that his address was an Important event In the
history of this town. December 13 the hun
dredth anniversary of the death of George
Washington was commemorated by a service at
which the pastor read a eulogy delivered In
Hanover, N. H., January 9, 1800.
Members of this Church and Society took an
honorable part In the celebration of the 250th
anniversary of the settlement of Middletown, in
the summer of 1900. Hon. O. Vincent Coffin
was the Chairman of the General Committee,
the pastor that of the Committee on Literary
Exercises, and Mr. Walter B. Hubbard that of
the Committee on a Permanent Memorial. The
Historical Address was given by Professor
John Fiske of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a
former member of this Church. It was largely
due to Mr. Hubbard that the superb boulder,
with its bronze tablet, fitly Inscribed, was placed
at the head of Main Street, on the site occupied
by the earliest settlers. In November and De
cember of this year a religious census of the
town was taken by representatives of the Con
necticut Bible Society. These canvassers re
ported Middletown as much above the average
of towns in the State in the matter of attendance
upon public worship.

124 A History of the
At the Annual Meeting of the Church in
January, 1901, it was voted to create the office
of Deaconess. Mrs. Samuel G. Smith and
Mrs. Mary A. Bradley were chosen to fill It
for the ensuing year. Since that time Deacon
esses have been elected each year, and they have
rendered efficient service.
In June, 1902, the State Convention of the
Daughters of the American Revolution was
held in this Church. It was a large and enthu
siastic gathering. Several meetings of the Mid
dlesex County Historical Society were held here,
it being the formative period of the Society.
At the beginning of the fiscal year of the
Society, May i, 1903, a radical change was
made in the music for public worship. The
choir was discontinued, and Judge Wesley U.
Pearne, after thirty years of service as organist,
resigned the position. Mr. Stanley Ross
Fisher, of Yale University, was secured as
musical director. He acted as precentor, and
sang a solo each Sunday morning and evening.
He also conducted rehearsals in the chapel Sat
urday evenings for all who would attend them.
" In Excelsis " had been Introduced as the hymn
book the previous April. This arrangement
created a marked Improvement in the singing of

First Church of Christ 125
the congregation. It was continued till the
autumn of 1904, when Mr. Fisher resigned on
account of failure In health, and a choir was
engaged to take his place.
In the evening of June 30 the Wesleyan Uni
versity held a service in this Church, commem
orating the Bi-Centennlal of the birth of John
Wesley. The Governor of the State, Hon.
Abiram Chamberlain, presided at this meeting
and made a brief address. President Woodrow
Wilson of Princeton University was the chief
speaker. The array of dignitaries in the house
was Imposing. In addition to the above, Gqv.
Bates of Massachusetts, Ex-Gov. Coffin of Con
necticut, Secretary Shaw of the United States
Treasury, the Presidents of many Colleges, with
Professors representing others, various other
officers of Church and State, helped to make the
Immense audience one of the most notable ever
gathered In Middletown.
The year 1904 was noteworthy by reason of
the number of talented speakers who honored
the Church with their presence. Col. Thomas
Wentworth Higginson lectured in the Sunday
School Room on People I Have Met. The
Rev. John K. Browne, of Harpoot, Turkey,
told the people of life In that city, the home of

126 A History of the
Dr. H. N. Barnum, the foreign pastor of the
Church. Dr. Edward E. Strong, the Editorial
Secretary of the American Board, told the story
of his recent visit to South Africa. Brigadier
Lamb gave a vivid narrative of the work of
the Salvation Army. During the week before
Easter addresses were made by Professors
Beardslee, Jacobus, and Livingston, of the
Hartford Seminary. The Rev. James W.
Cooper, D.D., Secretary of the American Mis
sionary Association, spoke In Its behalf. Pro
fessor A. Campbell Armstrong, Ph.D., of
Wesleyan University, a member of this Church,
read an Instractlve paper on The Enrichment
of Worship. The Rev. George F. Pentecost,
D.D., conducted union evangelistic services in
this and the Methodist Episcopal Church for
two weeks. During these he gave an Illumi
nating address here on The Orient, the Anglo-
Saxon, and Christianity. Dr. Newell Dwight
Hillis, of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, gave a
brilliant lecture in the Young People's Course,
on Oliver Cromwell. Dr. George F. Herrick,
of Constantinople, one of the ablest men this
country has sent to the Orient, pictured most
forcibly mission work in that renowned city.
Thus this year has hardly ever been surpassed.

First Church of Christ 127
If at all, In the variety of Instractlon and stimu
lus given to the people of this parish.
In 1906 three prominent members of the
Church were removed by death, viz., Walter
B. Ferguson, Samuel G. Smith, and George H.
Hulbert. Mr. Ferguson had been for eighteen
years the highly esteemed Superintendent of the
City Schools, and a most useful citizen. Mr.
Smith was an old resident of Middletown, hav
ing been a loyal member of the Church for
seventy years, and deeply interested In Its wel
fare. Mr. Hulbert was a descendant of the
Rev. Enoch Huntington, so long the honored
pastor of the Church. He had been active In
the affairs of the Church and Society, as well as
a citizen of genuine public spirit.
In the summer of this year the audience room
of the house of worship was renovated, together
with the chapel and parlors. The Bee Society
contributed $2,000 of the $8,000 thus expended.
Mrs. Horace F. Boardman gave new glass for
the windows, and the ornamental electric light
fixtures were presented by Walter Hubbard,
Esq., of Meriden. Mr. Walter B. Hubbard,
of the Society's Committee, exercised a constant
and an intelligent oversight of all changes and
decorations. With the exception of repairs

128 A History of the
necessitated by the fire of 1878, this was the first
renovation which the fine edifice had received
since Its completion in 1873.
In January, 1907, Deacon Charles A. Board-
man, the oldest member of the Church, passed
to his reward. He had been an officer in the
Church for thirty-six years, and the treasurer of
Its Sunday School for forty years. Also, he
had been the clerk and treasurer of the First
Ecclesiastical Society for about twenty-five
years. A life-long resident of Middletown,
scrupulously faithful to all trusts committed to
him, eminent for Integrity and beneficence, his
ninety-five years were lived with honor to him
self and with blessing to the community.
In June of this year Mr. Arthur H. Hope, a
graduate of Union Theological Seminary, was
secured as an assistant to the pastor, and as the
Superintendent of the Sunday School. Mr.
Hope served In these relations for two years
with fidelity and success. He left Middletown
to become the pastor of the Congregational
Church In Madison, Connecticut. He was or
dained to the Christian Ministry in January,
1908, Professor Julius A. Bewer, of the Union
Seminary, preaching on the occasion.
In October, 1908, the Church was called to

First Church of Christ 129
mourn the death of Mr. James H. Bunce. Com
ing into its fellowship In the prime of his man
hood, he had been for thirty-five years a promi
nent factor in Its maintenance and its growth.
For thirty years he was an Influential member
of the Standing Committee of the Society, and
for twenty years Its chairman. His sterling
character, his unsparing labors, his liberal gifts,
his conspicuous success in his business calling,
left an impression on the Church and the town
which will not soon be effaced.
In November Mr. Frank B. Weeks, a mem
ber of this Church since 1878, was elected Lieut.
Governor of the Commonwealth. After the
death of the Governor early in the following
year Mr. Weeks filled the office the remainder
of the two years' term with credit to himself and
with acceptance to the people.
At the Communion Service In May, 1909, in
dividual cups were first used. The vote to
adopt them, taken the previous March, was
nearly unanimous. The cups and four plates
for bread were presented by Mr. Denison W.
Clarke, In memory of his wife.
In June Mr. Charles H. Workman succeeded
Mr. Hope as assistant to the pastor and Super
intendent of the Sunday School. He occupied

130 A History of the
these positions for two years with unusual
energy and fidelity. For several years there
after he was the popular Secretary of the
Young Men's Christian Association of Middle-
town, being granted a leave of absence from
that office for service In connection with the
army. In October Mr. Walter E. Clark, a member
of this Church since 1891, and a graduate of
Wesleyan University, entered upon his duties as
the Governor of Alaska.
In December the Church was afflicted by the
death of the Hon. Josiah M. Hubbard, one of
Its most intelligent and efficient members. As
an officer in the Civil War he was courageous
and skillful. Not only was he honored in Kan
sas, the state of his adoption, with positions of
trast, but later In his native town and state, he
was appointed to responsible offices, whose
duties he discharged with eminent ability and
success. In the summer of this year, 1909, through
the generous gifts of the Sunday School and of
Individuals, the Society was able to redecorate
and refurnish the Sunday School Room, making
It more attractive and useful than ever before.
This commodious hall Is not only most service-

First Church of Christ 131
able to the Sunday School, but it is a rare place
for lectures and other entertainments.
In May, 19 10, a splendid Historical Tablet
was placed in the vestibule of the house of wor
ship, consisting of three panels of antique brass,
encased In a heavy frame of elegantly carved
English oak. The central compartment has the
date of the settlement of the town, with a brief
sketch of the early worship here, and a notice
of the five buildings erected by the Church.
Underneath Is the Inscription : — " To com
memorate the faithful and uninterrupted wor
ship of God in this community for over 250
years, this tablet Is placed in the year of our
Lord, 19 10." " But I will for their sakes re
member the covenant of their ancestors: I am
the Lord."
On the left panel are carved the names of the
founders of the Church, on the right, the names
of the ten pastors, with the dates of their ser
vice. Below all, is stated the fact that the tab
let was planned by Walter Bulkley Hubbard,
and presented by his widow, Katharine Mans
field Hubbard, to his abiding memory.
This noble memorial Is a beautiful tribute to
Mr. Hubbard, who was for many years a
zealous officer of the Society, as was his father.

132 A History of the
Mr. J. Warren Hubbard, a long time before
him. Two members of the Church whom death
claimed in this year will not soon be forgotten.
Miss S. Elizabeth Kilbourn, who died in Sep
tember, had been a life-long resident of Middle-
town, and warmly enlisted In many of the
activities of the Church. She showed her at
tachment to our Institutions by legacies to two
of them. The Ladies' Home Missionary So
ciety received from her estate $500. Another
of her bequests was made as follows : " I give
and bequeath to the First Ecclesiastical Society
of Middletown the sum of two thousand dol
lars ($2,000), to be held by said Society as a
perpetual fund, to be called the " Mrs. Jonathan
Kilbourn Fund," the annual income only to be
used by said Society."
Mrs. Horace F. Boardman, who died In Oc
tober, was abundant In labors and in gifts for
the Church. The sharers of her munificence
were more than the public ever knew. Not
only was she one of the two donors of the ad
mirable new parsonage, of which mention Is
made elsewhere, but a clause in her will reads
thus: — " I give, devise and bequeath unto the
First Ecclesiastical Society of Middletown, Con-

First Church of Christ 133
necticut, the sum of five thousand dollars
($5,000), to be held by them in trast forever,
the Income thereof to be applied annually as
payment for pew No. 54 In the Church edifice
of said Society, a plate to be placed on said
pew, and marked " The Horace F. Boardman
Pew," the same to be known as the Horace F.
Boardman Pew and to be forever used as a free
seat." In case of the destruction of the present
building, the same provision is to apply to a new
one. Some years before, Mrs. Boardman had
placed in the Church a beautiful window of
richly colored glass of exquisite design, as a
memorial to her husband. While the Hendley
Memorial structure on the grounds of the Mid
dlesex Hospital, reared after her death. Is a
monument to her liberality.
In June, 1911, Mr. Percy C. Ladd, a
graduate of Union Seminary, took the place of
Mr. Workman, as the pastor's assistant and the
Superintendent of the Sunday School. He was
ordained here in October, 19 11, President Fran
cis Brown, D.D., LL.D., of Union Seminary,
preaching on the occasion. Mr. Ladd rendered
fruitful service here for two years, and later
became the pastor of the First Church In
Moline, Illinois.

134 A History of the
The principal event of the year was the com
pletion of the Memorial Parsonage. This
spacious house was the gift of Mrs. Horace F.
Boardman and Mrs. James H. Bunce, in
memory of their husbands, both of whom were
staunch supporters of the Church and Society.
The former parsonage was taken down In
August, 1910, and the new one was completed
In June, 191 1. Meanwhile the pastor's family
occupied a part of the house at No. 238 High
Street. The new dwelling has sixteen finished rooms,
besides two bath-rooms, an attic store-room, and
a capacious basement. The exterior of the
building Is modelled after a colonial house in
Salem, Massachusetts. It stands near the
centre of the plot containing It, whereas the old
dwelling was in the northwest corner. The
edifice is much admired, as an ornament to Court
Street, and as a fitting memorial to worthy men.
In 19 12 the Great Reaper cut down two mem
bers of the Church whose usefulness had been
exceptional, — Deacon Lucius R. Hazen and
Mrs. O. Vincent Coffin. Mr. Hazen had been
in the Church since 1871, and a Deacon since
1877. For many years he was the Superin
tendent of the Sunday School, giving It time.

First Church of Christ 135
labor, and money, until It reached a high state
of efficiency. As an intelligent and upright
man of business, he had the confidence, the
esteem, and the affection of the entire vicinity.
His too early translation left the Church and the
County far the poorer.
Mrs. Coffin, who died In July, had been In the
Church since 1850, with the exception of a few
years in the Plymouth Church, Brooklyn. She
was especially devoted to the Sunday School, of
which she was for many years an Assistant
Superintendent, and her genial manner endeared
her to all connected with this right arm of the
Church. As a zealous officer in the Ladles'
Home Missionary Society, and as one of the
founders of the District Nurse Association,
Mrs. Coffin wrought a good work, and left
many happy memories.
The election of Governor Woodrow Wilson
of New Jersey to the Presidency of the United
States In November of this year was an event
of deep significance to this Church. Soon after
coming to Middletown as a Professor in Wes
leyan University in 1888, he united with the
First Church, and during his residence of two
years in the city he was a constant attendant
upon Its services. His youngest daughter,

136 A History of the
Ellen Randolph, now Mrs. McAdoo, was born
here and baptized by the pastor. He retained
his connection with this Church till 1897, when
he was granted a letter to the First Presbyterian
Church of Princeton, New Jersey.
In November, 19 14, with the aid of a fund
raised by the Sunday School during many years,
the first house west of the Church edifice was
purchased, to be used as a Parish House. The
need of more room for the varied departments
of the Church's work had long been felt. While
this building, formerly a dwelling house, was
not all that was desired, it seemed to be the best
available. After some months, through the
gifts of individuals the last payment on the
house was made. It was renovated and equipped
for its several purposes. Also, a fund of
$2,000 was presented by a devoted member of
the Church to assist In the maintenance of the
house. It has already proved most serviceable
along many lines of effort.
In September, 19 15, Mr. Douglas Horton,
a graduate of the Hartford Seminary the pre
vious May, began work as Assistant Pastor of
the Church. He was ordained here In Decem
ber, President Mackenzie of the Hartford Semi
nary being the preacher.

First Church of Christ 137
In April, 19 1 6, the pastor resigned the office
which he had held since March, 1869. In
accordance with his wish the resignation was
accepted by the Church and Society, he being
Invited to become the pastor emeritus. This
withdrawal from the oversight of the Church
did not take effect until September, 19 16. Thus
he was the pastor of the Church forty-seven
years and six months, his being the longest
pastorate In its history down to the present time.
Azel Washburn Hazen, son of the Rev.
Austin and Lucia Washburn Hazen, was born
In Berlin, Vermont, April 10, 1841. He was
graduated at Dartmouth College in 1863, and
received thence the degree of M. A. in 1866:
that of D. D. In 1888. He studied theology
at Hartford and Andover Seminaries, graduat
ing from the latter in 1868.

RE\'. DOUGLAS HORTOiN

139

CHAPTER XI.
The Beginning of the Ministry of
Douglas Horton
1916-1918
At the annual meeting of the First Ecclesiasti
cal Society April 25, 1916, the Rev. Douglas
Horton was Invited to become the acting pastor
of the Church from September to the following
May. This Invitation Mr. Horton accepted,
and he so ably fulfilled the requirements of the
position as to cause the people to desire that he
be their permanent minister. This wish of the
Church and the Society he gratified by consent
ing to assume the office. He was Installed as
pastor at an Ecclesiastical Council on the
seventh of June, 19 17. The preacher on the
occasion was the Rev. Samuel Parkes Cadman,
D.D., pastor of the Central Congregational
Church, Brooklyn, New York. An unusual
and an attractive feature of the services was the
fact that the Baptist, Methodist Episcopal, and
the Episcopal clergymen of the city took part in
them. 139

140 A History of the
Mr. Horton was the eleventh minister In
stalled as pastor of the Church since Its organi
zation in 1668. The average duration of the
ten pastorates preceding his was about twenty-
four years. He began his ministry at so early
an age there is reason to hope that he may not
lower this remarkable average. He entered
upon his service with all the enthusiasm of a
vigorous youth, and the esteem in which he had
been held In his period of labor as an assistant
and as an acting pastor, rapidly increased. He
shared the feelings and the sports of the young,
winning their confidence and their affection.
While those who were older believed that the
prosperity of the past was about to be continued
and enlarged under his zealous ministrations.
He exhibited a genuine interest in the work of
other Churches and Christian Institutions In the ,
community, and won the high regard of all
persons with whom he came In contact.
For the first four months of 19 18 the Bap
tist, Methodist Episcopal, and the Congrega
tional Churches In the city, for the sake of con
serving fuel, held united services on Sunday
mornings. These took place by rotation In the
different houses of worship. It was felt that
they deepened the sentiment of Christian broth-

First Church of Christ 141
erhood among the people. The two Congre
gational Churches still worship together, an
agreement having been made to continue the
plan for a number of months.
In April of this year the Church was surprised
and grieved by the resignation of its pastor.
The European War which Germany had in
augurated In 1 9 14 absorbed the attention of
America to an unwonted degree, even before
our own country was forced to enter Into It for
the sake of its own honor and for defending
human freedom and Christian civilization. But
when our nation was compelled by repeated In
sults in our intercourse with Germany and by
ruthless destruction of our commerce and of
human lives, to declare war against the un
scrupulous offender, the people were aroused as
never before since the Civil War. Our young
men enlisted In large numbers and gigantic prep
arations for war began In all parts of the land.
The young pastor, on fire with patriotic Im
pulses as he was, felt that he must have a share
in this world conflict. But the people here
whose hearts he had won and among whom he
had wrought with tireless energy during his
brief residence In Middletown, were unwilling
that the ecclesiastical tie which bound him to

142 A History of the
them should be so soon severed. Hence they
declined to accept his resignation, but granted
him leave of absence for one year from the time
when he should leave the city. His work here
continued till the first of July. After a vacation
he was summoned to Charlestown, Mass., for
training In reference to a chaplaincy in the navy,
for which he had offered himself to the govern
ment some weeks earlier. Meanwhile the Rev.
William H. HaU, recently connected with the
Syrian Protestant College in Beirat, Syria, had
been engaged as acting pastor for one year.
He and his family are now (September, 19 18),
occupying the parsonage, and Mr. Hall is com
mending himself as a " workman that needeth
not to be ashamed." In accordance with a
previous arrangement the two Congregational
Churches in the city are worshipping together,
the services alternating between their respective
houses of worship. Mr. Hall and the Rev.
Frederick W. Greene, pastor of the South
Church, conduct both the Sunday and the mid
week services. Thus the relation between the
two Churches is more intimate than at any pre
vious period of their history.
So runs the story of the First Church of
Christ, briefly and Imperfectly told, during Its

First Church of Christ 143
quarter millennium. Much more might be re
corded, hardly less Interesting than the forego
ing narrative. But it has been the aim of the
writer to select and set down prominent facts
which may convey a correct idea of the life of
the Church during Its extended and luminous
history. This plan has seemed wiser than to
fill more pages with matters of less significance.
The literature of the present time is so abun
dant, and not a little of it so valuable, that there
is scant room for large volumes having hardly
more than a local purport. People wish to
acquire Information quickly, and only such as
has permanent worth.
The First Ecclesiastical Society has a record
running alongside that of the Church for almost
the entire existence of the latter. It has con
ducted the business affairs of the Church with
exceptional wisdom and fidelity. Yet its career
Is so closely Intertwined with that of the Church
that the history of the one practically covers
that of the other. The Church could not have
been the honorable institution it has been by
universal consent, had It not received the un
failing and sagacious support of the Society.
However, so identical are the constituencies, and
so similar the alms, of the two bodies, that the

144 A History of the
problem of their union is worthy of thoughtful
consideration. This has been solved by their
consolidation, in the case of many of our
Churches. Further, the life of the Sunday School for
the century since it began its beneficent work
has been closely related to that of the Church.
Also, the various other organizations within
the boundaries of the Church, drawing their life
from it, have contributed largely to Its pros
perity and influence. Yet a detailed account
of these numerous societies does not fall within
the scope of the present volume. Brief his
tories of many of these have been compiled on
differing occasions, which may be found In the
archives of the Church.
The Church has had three thousand three
hundred and fifty-four members, if Its early
records are accurate. Its present number being
six hundred and fifteen. At least, fifty of these
are no longer residents of Middletown. It Is
worthy of special note here, as appears on many
of the foregoing pages, that not a few persons
on the roll of this Church have been influential
in the community. The first six Mayors of the
city, with one exception, were from Its fellow
ship, as well as many later ones. Six of the first

First Church of Christ 145
nine city clerks, and all its treasurers, down to
1847, were members of this Church. Two
thirds of the town clerks have belonged to its
goodly company, and a decided majority of the
representatives In the legislature of the Com
monwealth. It has given judges to the County
and the State. The national Congress has not
been without representatives from Its ranks, and
the Cabinet of the President has been honored
by the presence of one.
Two present members have been Governors
of Connecticut, and one the Governor of Alaska.
A former member Is now the President of the
United States, holding the office for the second
term. Not less than fifteen have been, or now
are, connected with the Faculty of Wesleyan
University, while several have been on Its Board
of Trustees. The number who have been
graduates of Colleges rises above two hundred
in the last half century, while It was not Insig
nificant in the centuries preceding. The early
pastors of the Church, trained as they were, in
the foremost institutions of the country, always
fostered liberal education. Some of them, as
we have seen, instructed youth in their own
homes, as a preparation for higher training. A
considerable number in the Church have been

146 A History of the
clergymen, physicians, attorneys, judges: sev
eral. Superintendents of our public schools,
many, teachers therein and elsewhere, while
others have taught in private schools of repute.
The Church has furnished pastors of other
churches, far and near, has sent missionaries to
the frontiers of the land, as well as to foreign
countries, has supplied professors to many Col
leges, and presidents to more than one. Several,
nurtured under its fostering care, have found
their way into the National Congress from other
states. A child of this Church became the
Chief Justice and Governor of Ohio.
Those who have attained honorable rank as
men of business and manufacturers and culti
vators of the soil have been numerous.
Nevertheless, these exceptional members, re
markable as is their number and their character,
have not been the chief factors in the life of this
venerable Church. The principal cause of Its
abounding prosperity in the years and the cen
turies of its existence has been the stalwart
fidelity of its rank and file in life. In labor. In
beneficence, and In prayer. It Is most inspiring
to reflect upon the length of time this revered
organization has sent forth Its gracious influence
into the region round about, as well as into re-

First Church of Christ 147
mote quarters of the globe. In a genuine sense
it has regarded the world as its parish. Here
the glorious Gospel of the blessed God, which Is
for all mankind, has been unfolded, and here it
has been translated In multitudes of noble
human lives. For a century after the founding
of the town this Church was one of the most
potent forces in shaping its history. Nor did its
benignant Influence cease with the advancing
years. It has fostered education, intelligent
citizenship, and wise government. It has been
the friend of the poor, the sick, and the afflicted.
It has followed the ever receding frontier of our
own land with its benefactions, and the wings of
the wind have carried them to the outmost
boundaries of the earth. Both hemispheres are
its debtors. Its shining record is one for which
we may be devoutly thankful to the divine Lord
and Master of us all. Though kings and em
pires are passing away, there is abundant reason
to Implore the God of our fathers that He will
preserve and enlarge this Church He has so
signally blessed until its redeeming Influence is
no longer needed among men.

First Church of Christ 149

APPENDIX A.
The Profession of the Faith and order of the
Gospell made by those that first entered Into
Covenant (on the 4th of the 9th month 1668)
with approbation and concurrence of ye Hon
ored messengers of the churches then present,
sent to us from their respective churches.
We believe with our Hearts and confess with our
mouths, I. That there is one and but one true and living
God, the Alone Creatour, Preserver and Govenour of
all things. Deut. 4:16, Jer. 10:40, Isa. 28:1, Col.
16:9, Num. 11:22, Psal. 28.
2. That there are three Distinct Equally
Glorious persons of that one Godhead, God the Father,
God the Sone, God the Holy Ghost, which are each
of them true and very God and yet all of them but
one and the self same God, most wise. Holy, Just,
mercifull, mighty and true: that worketh all things
after the counsell of his owne will. Jer. 5 :7, i Tim.
1:17, Deut. 4:9.
3. That Jesus Christ is true God and true man in
one person the onely and all sufficient Saviour of
falen man, that by his Redemption recovered! the
elect out of that lost estate they are in by Nature to a
state of favour and life forever.

150 A History of the
4. That eternall Life and Happiness and the way to
it through Jesus Christ is fully revealed by the spirit
of God in the Holy Scriptures, or written word of
God contained in the Old and New Testament, which
is the onely rule of faith and obedience.
5. The mysticall or invisible church is but one com
prehending all the faithful ones who are trusting in
the covenant of Grace, beeing saveingly united through
faith to Jesus Christ and his Redemption inwardly and
savingly applyd to them by the Holy Spirit.
6. The mysticall church or company of visible
Believers with their seed, confirmed in the covenant
of the Gospel is the onely true visible and mysticall
Church under the New Testament and to this when it
IS organized (or furnished with those officers the Lord
Jesus Christ appointed in his house) all the keys of the
kingdome of Heaven are committed, which they are to
improve for theyre owne Advantage and his Honour.
7. In the Church Administration ye power of Guid
ance, Leading the flock in the name of Christ ye chiefe
Governor is with those having power of Judgement or
consent vv^ith the Brethren.
8. All members of orthodox churches beeing sound
in ye faith and not skandalous in life presenting due
Testimony thereof, those occasionally comeing from
one church to another, may have theyre children Bap
tized in the church whither they come by virtue of
communion of churches; but if they remove theire
Habitation, they ought orderly to covenant and subject
themselves to ye government of Christ where they
settle their Abode and soe theyre children to bee bap
tized, it being the churches duty to receive such into
communion therein or any other way of church con
nection soe far as theye bee regularly fitt for the same.

First Church of Christ 151

THE COVENANT
(With ye names of such whoe have personally,
explicitly and on their own acct publicly and sollemly
owned it, at first.)
We doe in ye presence of God, the Holy Angells and
this Assembly, take acknowledge and Avouch the one
and onely true God, God the Father', Sone and Holy
Ghost to bee our God, giving up ourselves and our
children to him to be his people. Ingaging that we
will walk with this God and one with another accord
ing to the rules of ye Gospell, Attending his Holy will
made known to us in his word, that we will bee sub
ject to ye Government of Christ and observe all those
lawes yt he hath established in his Kingdome, soe far
as hitherto he hath or hereafter shall be pleased to
reveale ye same unto us. And particularly yt we will
maintaine and diligently attend all his ordinances;
obeying them that are over us in the Lord ; that we will
watch over one another and faithfully deale with and
submitt to one another in case of offence according as
ower Lord hath commanded. All this we promise
lawfully to perform through the grace and strength of
Christ. Nathaniell Collins William Harriss
Thomas Allen John Savage Senior
Thomas Wetmer Senior Robbert Warner
John Hall Senior Andrew Warner Senior
Samuell Stockin Senior George Hubbard Senior

First Church of Christ 153

APPENDIX B.
Articles of Faith
Adopted April 16, 18 13
You believe with the heart, and confess with the
mouth, that there is one, & but one true and living
God, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Ghost, who is a Spirit, eternal and unchangeable, in
his being and attributes, infinite in power, knowledge,
presence, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness and truth;
that he is the wise Creator of all things; the bountiful
Preserver; and the righteous Benefactor of all his
creatures; working all things after the counsel of his
own will.
You believe that God created man upright; that our
parents freely sinned and fell; and all mankind in a
state of nature are dead in trespasses & sins, and are
justly exposed to all the miseries of this life, and the
pains of hell forever.
You believe that the only Redeemer of God's elect
is the Lord Jesus Christ, who is very God and very
man ; that taking upon him our nature he suffered and
died on the cross: that he arose from the dead, and
ascended into heaven, where he ever liveth making
intercession for us: that he alone has made an atone
ment for sin, & that without an interest in his atone
ment, there is no salvation.
You believe that without a change of heart, wrought
in the unregenerate, by the divine agency of the Holy
Spirit, who is very God, no one can be an heir of

154 ^ History of the
eternal life: that justification, adoption, sanctification,
& perseverance, all flow from the free and sovereign
grace of God.
You believe that eternal life, & the way to it thro
Jesus Christ, are fully revealed by the Spirit of God,
in the Holy Scriptures, or the written word of God,
contained in the Old & New Testament which is the
only rule of faith and practice: and that the Lord's
Supper and Baptism are sacraments of the New Testa
ment. You believe that there will be a general resurrection
of the righteous and wicked: and a general. judgment,
at which all the righteous shall be admitted to ever
lasting happiness and all the wicked sentenced to
misery without end.
Thus in the presence of Almighty God, you solemnly
profess and believe.
Covenant
You do now, in the presence of God, the holy angels
and this assembly: and as you hope, with sincerity of
soul, dedicate yourself to God in Christ, humbly con
fessing and repenting of your sins.
You solemnly avouch the Lord Jehovah to be your
God: the Lord Jesus Christ your Redeemer: and the
eternal Spirit your Sanctifier, — engaging that by the
strength of divine grace, you will walk with this
Church in all Christian fellowship and charity: and in
due attendance upon all the institutions of Christ.
Thus in the presence of God, you solemnly covenant
and promise.
Then doth this Church likewise promise you, that
in the strength of divine grace, we will walk toward
you in all Christian charity and watchfulness.

First Church of Christ 155

FORM OF ADMISSION
Dearly Beloved: — Our blessed Lord has left us
this cheering promise : " Whosoever shall confess me
before men, him will I confess also before my Father
which is in Heaven."
You are now here in the presence of God and of
many witnesses, to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ.
We trust you have been led to this confession by the
Holy Spirit, and that you feel its sacred gladness.
While you assume weighty responsibilities to-day, you
also enter upon privileges which are most precious.
Having given to the Church evidence of your re
pentance toward God, and of your faith in His Divine
Son, you now publicly confess the same. You affirm,
likewise, your agreement with us in accepting the es
sential doctrines of our Christian faith, as set forth in
our Confession and summarized as follows:
We believe in God, the Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost. We believe in the common sinfulness and ruin of
our race.
We believe that Jesus died for our sins; that He
ascended into heaven, where He ever liveth to make
intercession for us; and that from thence He shall
come to judge the world.
We believe that the Holy Spirit renews the soul and
dwells therein for its furtherance in purity and in
peace. We believe in the Church, the body of Christ; its
sacraments, baptism, and the Lord's Supper; the com
munion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resur
rection of the dead, and the life everlasting.
We accept these truths on the testimony of the Holy
Scriptures, which we receive as the word of God.
Thus you believe.

156 A History of the

COVENANT.
Thus confessing, you receive the Lord Jehovah as
your God, the Lord Jesus Christ as your Redeemer,
and the Eternal Spirit as your Sanctifier. You solemnly
promise that by the strength of divine grace, you
will walk with this Church in all Christian fellowship
and in due attendance upon its ordinances. You en
gage in all your public and private life, by precept and
example, to seek to honor God. You pledge to Him
the affection of your hearts and the service of your
lives. We, therefore, members of this Church, do cordially
welcome you to our number. Renewing our own vows
of allegiance to our adorable Master, we promise that,
by His gracious help, we will aid you with our sym
pathy, our counsel and our prayers, in all holy living,
that when the Chief Shepherd shall appear, ye may
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling,
and to present you faultless before the presence of His
glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God, our
Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power,
both now and ever. Amen.
Adopted in 1880.

First Church of Christ 157
The summary of the Creed being the same
as in the previous formula, the following has
been In use since 19 10.
Form of Reception to Membership
Dearly Beloved: Our blessed Lord uttered this
cheering promise: "Every one who shall confess me
before men, him will I also confess before my Father
who is in heaven."
You are now here in the presence of God and of
His people that you may publicly acknowledge Jesus
Christ. We trust you have been led to this confession
by the Holy Spirit, and that you feel its sacred glad
ness. With true sorrow for your sins, and with
humble confidence in the love of God, you desire to
enter into communion with His Church.
You who were baptized in childhood do now grate
fully accept that baptism, while you confirm the cove
nant which was then made for you.
You accept Jesus as your Lord and Redeemer,
solemnly declaring your purpose to be His disciples,
and to do the will of God as revealed through Him.
in uniting yourselves to this Church, you promise to
seek its purity, its growth, and its peace, to share its
worship and its labors, to help to maintain and in
crease its power in the community, and to do all that
you are able to advance the kingdom of God in the
world. We, therefore, members of this Church, do cordially
welcome you to our fellowship. Renewing our own
vows of allegiance to our adorable Master, we promise
that, by His gracious help, we will walk vwth you in
Christian love, aiding you with our sympathy, our
counsel, and our prayers, in all holy living, that when

158 A History of the
the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye may receive a
crown of glory that fadeth not away.
" Now unto him that is able to guard you from
stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his
glory without blemish in exceeding joy, to the only
God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be
glory, majesty, dominion and power, before all time,
and now, and forevermore. Amen."

First Church of Christ

159

APPENDIX C.

OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH
Deacons
(The names of the Pastors, with facts con
cerning them, appear In the foregoing pages.
Hence they are not repeated here.)
Names
Thomas Allen,*
Samuel Stocking,*
John Hall, Jr.,*
Daniel Markham,*
William Sumner,*
Obadiah Allen,*
Joseph Rockwell,*
Boriah Wetmore,*
Solomon Atkins,*
John Hubbard,* .
Jonathan Allen,*
William Rockwell,*
Jabez Hamlin,* .
Joseph Clark,* .
John E. Hubbard,*
Chauncey Whittelsey,*
Jacob Wetmore,*
Oliver Wetmore,*
Timothy Boardman,*
Matthew T. Russell,
Thomas Hubbard,*
Joseph Boardman,*
Samuel Eells, 2d,
Henry S. Ward,*
Richard Rand,* .
Cyprian Galpin,*
John B. Woodford,*
Evan Davis,*

Dates Years

1670  —

1670  —
1670-1694 24
1690- — —
1695-1706 11
1704- — —
1704-1742 38
1713- — —
173S-1748 13
I743-I7S3 10
1743-1783 40
1749-176S 16
1754-1791 37
1765-1778 13
1765-1782 17
y,*
1778-1812 34
1782-1825 43
1784-1798 14
1784-1792 8
1798-1828 30
1812-1828 16
1813-1846 33
1813-1840 27
1828-1844 16
1828-1844 ¦ 16
1840-1852 12
1844-1846 2
1844-1869 25
i6o

A History of the

Names Dates

Years

John H. Sumnek,* .... 1846-1870

24

Robert P. Rand,*

1850-1857

7

Selah Goodrich,*

1850-1888
38
Henry E. Sawyer,* .
1869-1878
9
Charles A. Boardman,*
1870-1907
37
Ralph J. Miner,
1873-1874
I
Edwin P. Augur,
1875-1877
2
Lucius R. Hazen,* .
1877-1912
35
Frederic L. Gleason,*
1879- I 884
5
Albert R. Crittenden,
1884-
Thomas Gilbert,
1884-
Walter P. Bradley, .
1892-1914
Edward A. Wilcox, .
1907-
James H. Bunce
1913-
Charles Brainard,
1913-
After serving two years Mr. Augur left the city for a
time. Having returned to Middletown, be began a second
term of service in 1907, and he still holds the office.
Hence in 1918 he had been a Deacon in this Church for
thirteen years.
ClvERKS AND TREASURERS
(In the early years the pastors acted as clerks
of the Church, and they seem to have been its
treasurers, as well.)
Henry E. Sawyer,
Horace F. Boardman .
Warren J. Breckenrldge
Robert H. Stothart
Lafayette F. Denio
Daniel T. Haines .
1868-1878
1879-18801881-1883 1884-18861887-1892 1893-1908
(Mr. Haines was clerk, only, and his term was the
longest on record.)
Edward A. Wilcox
Edwin P. Augur
1909-1919 (clerk, only.)
1893-1919 (treasurer, only.)
INDEX
Adams, Pres. John  52
American Missionary Association  loi
Augur, E. P  160
Bacon, Leonard  37, 40
Barnum, H. N  122
Barrows, E. P  96
Bethany Chapel  105
Boardman, Chas. A  128, 160
Boardman, H. F  120, 160
Boardman, Mrs. H. F.  114, 127, 132
Bradford, Wm  23
Brown, Dr. John  122
Bunce, James H  129
Bunce, Mrs. James H  134
Bunyan, John  22
Address on  122
Cadman, Dr. S. Parkes  '  139
Carlson, Carl, preacher to Swedes  no
Carrlngton, H  85, 86
Chapin, Calvin  64, 74
Cfatu-ch, First, incorporated  73
225th Anniversary Celebrated  116
Qarke, D. W., gives Communion Service  129
Qarke, Miss Susan C  no, 118
Qark, Walter E., Gov. of Alaska  130
Coffin, O. Vincent, Gov. of Conn  118, 122
Coffin, Mrs. O. Vincent  I3S
Crittenden, A. R  61, 160
Conference, General, Meetings of  in
161

1 62 Index
Cummings, Geo. H  no, m
Daggett, O. E., supplies pulpit  104
Davis, E. F., ordained  105
Deacons, First  27
Deaconesses, First  124
Devotion, Ebenezer  49, 51
Dwight, Timothy  60
Dyer, Mrs. E. S  100, 119
Education Fund  109
Edwards, Jonathan  43
Fast Day for Children  34
Ferguson, W. B  127
Field, David D  69
Fisher, Stanley R  124
Fiske, John  123
Garfield, Pres. James A  106
Goodrich, Dea. S   85, 96, ill
Guy, Geo. W  loi
Haines, D. T  160
Half Way Gov't  43, 66
Hall, John  9, ig
Hall, Wm. H  142
Hamlin, Giles  26, 34
Hamlin, Jabez  56, 57, 109
Harvard College  18
Hazen, L. R  134
Hodgdon, T. M  '.  112
Hope, A. H  128
Horton, Douglas  136

Index 1 63
Hawes, Joel  81
Hosmer, Titus  SS
Hubbard, Elijah  57
Hubbard, H. G.  114
Hubbard, Josiah M  130
Hubbard, Nehemiah  57
Hubbard, Mrs. S. D  no
Hubbard, Walter B  123, 127, 131
Hulbert, G. H  127
Huntington, Mrs. Wolcott  100, 113
Kelley, Wm. V  no
Kilbourn, S. Elizabeth  132
Ladd, Percy C  i33
Lee, Wallace H  107
Lotteries, opinion on  75
Mansfield, Gen. J. K. F  88
Mather, Cotton  29
Mather, Thos. G  n4
Mansfield, Katharine M. M  121, 131
Meeting Houses  10, 28, 42, 58, 99
Meigs, Gen. Return J  S6
Moody, D. L  102, 113
Parish House  136
Parsonage, Memorial  •  I34
Parsons, Gen. S. H  S6
Pearne, W. U  io7, 124
Pentecost, Geo. F  103, 126
Pierpont, Mary and Sarah  40
Pratt, Waldo S  107

1 64 Index
Rand, Mrs. Geo  108
Revolution, The  S3. S6
Russell, Miss F. A  119

Sabbath School  76, 144
Sage, Col. Comfort  S6
Sawyer, H. E  87, 96, 160
Saybrook Platform  36
Smith, Mrs. E. B  100
Smith, S. G  127
Smith, Mrs. S. G  116
Society, First Ecclesiastical  143
South Church  77
Stebbins, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. C  103
Stow, Sam'l  11, 12, 33
Sumner, Col. John  46, 56
Tablet, Historical  131
Talcott, Col. M  55
Taylor, N. W  69
Titcomb, Arthur  107, 112
Tracy, Miss Emily  loO, 120
Tuck, Rev. J. W  109

Upper Houses, Church at  28

Ward, Henry S  86, 91
Watts, I., his Psalms  51
Weeks, Frank B  m ^39
Westfield, Third Church  ' 5,

Index 165
Whitefield, Geo  44
Whittlesey, Chauncey  57
Williams, H. T  116
Wilson, Woodrow, Pres  125, 135
Winthrop, John, Gov  23
Workman, C. H  129

Yale College  36

YALE UNIVERSITY

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