USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > A brief history of the First Church of Christ in Middletown, Connecticut for two centuries and a half, 1668-1918 > Part 4
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At a meeting April 1, 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-
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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
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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
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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- structed 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
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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 in 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 17, 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 hundred 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 truth. 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
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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 16, 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 1816. As we have seen, he was ordained here November 4, 1818, or about one hundred years previous to the writing of this sketch.
Dr. Crane was strong mentally and spiritu- ally. As a preacher, his aim was clearly to
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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, true, 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 crucified was the great theme of his preaching: the spirit and meaning of this doctrine ran through all his
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ministration, and gave life and 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- structive 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 10, 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
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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 1819. 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
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January II, 1854, and dismissed April 15, 1856, the reason given for his resignation being ill health. From 1862 to 1865 he was a chap- lain in the army. He died at Elizabeth, New Jersey, September 30, 1868.
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REV. JEREMIAH TAYLOR, D. D.
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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 Carrington 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 Carrington, 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
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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 2 Ist 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 Carrington 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
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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 of Middletown. 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
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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
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them, with no hesitation or compromise. His doctrine of sacred Scripture was framed before modern scholarship had mod 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 :
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"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
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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 II, 1817, and was graduated at Amherst College in 1843. He studied theology at Andover and Princeton, and was or- dained pastor of the Congregational Church in Wenham, Mass., October 27, 1847. He cherished a warm affection for this, his first Church. In an address delivered at its 250th
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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 1, 1856 to October 20, 1868. Speaking at the 225th 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 Killingly, 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
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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.
REV. AZEL W. HAZEN, D. D.
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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-
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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 February 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. Perrin, of the First Church, New Britain, the Scribe, the Rev. L. H. Hallock, of Berlin. It is believed 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
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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 1, 1869, he brought her there in the autumn of that year.
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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,
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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 1, 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. Breckenridge, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, J. P. Taylor, of the South Church, and D. M. Seward, D.D., of New York.
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