USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 73
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In April, 1867, Rev. P. Mathewson closed his labors as pastor after serving the church four years. During the same month Rev. George R. Northup of Baltic began his pastorate. Twenty-one were baptized into the church during his pastorate which closed March 5, 1870. In May the same year Rev. Warren Walden assumed the pastorate. For a year or more the afternoon services were given up in the church and meetings were held in Union Hall on Plain- field Street but at the end of that time they were resumed at the church. A new organ was purchased in 1872. In the letter to the association 1873 it was stated that we have the oldest Woman's Baptist Missionary Society in the association consisting of twenty-eight members. In 1874 the Ladies' Aid
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Society furnished $62.64 toward repairing the interior of the church. The same year the church was shingled at a cost of $100. Through the influence of the sisters in the church and aid society a chapel convenient for prayer and conference meetings and lectures was erected by voluntary labor at a cost of $825 in time for use of the association held here in 1876. Brother Walden closed his labors here in 1875. Special services were held at times and ten were added to the church during his ministry.
Rev. Otis B. Rawson began his labors in April, 1875, and remained with the church until April, 1879. He was a man of a beautiful Christian spirit whose memory is cherished by all who knew him. He was very faithful in his labors and had the privilege of baptizing twelve during his pastorate. January, 1878, the church received a bequest from the estate of Deacon Ephraim Browning. The Semi-Centennial was observed October, 1878, with fitting ex- ercises. Rev. N. Mattison preached the sermon Isa. 60:1. Other speakers were Rev. D. D. Lyon, Rev. Lucien Burleigh, Rev. Percival Mathewson, O. C. Sargent, Rev. Mr. Carr, and Daniel Frost.
At the close of the afternoon service, acting on the suggestion of Brother Burleigh that the beautiful flowers decorating the church be used to decorate the grave of our first pastor, Rev. Levi Kneeland, led by him the church mem- bers and many visiting friends went in procession, bearing the beautiful flowers and with deep emotion decorated the grave of the beloved and lamented Knee- land. Gathered around that quiet grave under the boughs of a beautiful fir tree, through which the winds sigh a perpetual dirge, all bowed in prayer and were led by P. Mathewson. There were few eyes that were not moistened by tears; few hearts that were not melted with tenderness by the place and sacred occasion, as they turned from this tribute of affection to the sainted dead.
Rev. J. F. Temple entered upon his labors here June 12, 1879, and closed them 1885. Ten were received into the church during his ministry. Mrs. Temple was an earnest worker for the cause of missions and her enthusiasm helped very much to interest the young people in the mission band, raising money for the work at Wood Island, Alaska, building the orphanage and car- ing for the needs of the station. The interest she was enabled to awaken among us for work in Alaska has never died, for every November our Sunday school takes up a collection for Alaska missions.
She had the hearty cooperation of the mothers of the church who attended with their children. Mrs. E. B. Hopkins, the mother of six children and living on a large farm several miles from the parsonage, was never absent unless sickness in the family prevented her attendance. There were no automobiles then, but with her horse and roomy carriage she would bring not only her own but all of the neighbors whom she could coax to come to the mission band. She was able to interest some who were not blessed with Christian influence at home. When Rev. Mr. Temple was called to another pastorate, Mrs. Hopkins was chosen leader of the mission band, and labored faithfully for its interests. During the revival of 1892, this consecrated woman was very active in visiting non-church goers to get them to come to church. One very snowy, windy day she rode several miles, I think fourteen, and made seventeen calls trying to get the people to come out to church and hear the gospel. She lived to see all six of her children members of the church which she loved so much. Her influence can never die. It is through the influence of such consecrated men
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and women, living and dead, that the little church is able to still call people to come and worship the Lord.
Rev. Asa A. Robinson of North Ashford began his labors in this church in 1885 and continued the service until his death at the age of nearly eighty-six years April 17, 1900. In 1892 the Spirit of God seems to have been poured out upon the church and community and many souls were brought to Christ. Twenty-six were added to the church. Mr. Robinson when over eighty, alone and unaided, baptized in the river thirteen converts on Sunday and thirteen more the following Sunday. The Lord spared his life to be our pastor almost fourteen years. He was a man of large mind and broad views, carefully and considerately expressed, and took a sound common sense and practical view of all the various questions arising in his intercourse with his fellow men; and his genial social nature endeared him to everyone who was fortunate in having his acquaintance. He was widely known in Eastern Connecticut and wherever known was honored as a true man whose expressed views and ideas gave to his hearers a greater confidence in the honor and integrity of their fellow men. His relation as pastor in Packerville was mutually pleasant and profitable, for the church realized and appreciated his efforts in their behalf and in behalf of the church and the community at large. As a husband, a father, a friend, and as a citizen, he was all that could be desired, and in his death the com- munity lost one who was the soul of honor, a noble example for others to follow, and whose manifold virtues all should emulate. His untiring efforts, kind and loving words and deeds had won a warm place in the hearts of both church and community. The influence of such a peaceful, trusting life must remain for good.
Our total membership at this time (1920) is seventy-three, but some are so far away that they cannot be with us often. We gave for benevolent ob- jects in 1910 $98.05. For about a year after Mr. Robinson's death Rev. C. C. Lyon supplied pulpit, then the church was without a pastor until August 18, 1901 when Rev. J. G. Ward began his labors as pastor. He was thoroughly consecrated to his work for the Master. Both he and his wife were very active in mission work and taught us by example as well as precept that the Lord loves a cheerful giver. In the first part of his ministry here the church adopted monthly offerings for missions instead of quarterly as formerly. Built a good woodhouse and shingled the church.
The women of the church invited the woman's conference of the Baptist Foreign Missionary Association of Eastern Connecticut to meet with their church and society at their semi-annual meeting in 1903. One of the sisters of the Packerville church was present at the missionary meeting at New Lon- don when the letter of invitation was read but had not been recognized. She listened with amusement to the remarks pro and con about accepting the in- vitation. One pastor's wife said they are such a little society they cannot even give us all a dinner, and they are two miles from the railroad station; how can we get there? But as no other invitation had been sent they accepted the invitation. The sister that had attended the meeting told the pastor's wife and others what their visitors feared, so preparations were made to supply all their wants and enlighten them about the capabilities of a small society if their hearts are full of love for the cause of Christ. The pastor although a small man physically was a tower of strength in planning for extra efforts for the Master. The sister that had heard the reception of their invitation was chosen
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to give the address of welcome. Asking for divine help she was enabled to so weave into her address the words she had heard and the thought that Jesus did not always go among the very wealthy in the City of Jerusalem, but went out into the country round about and the people received him gladly. The address was given in love and it made a great impression upon the visitors. They had all been met at the station with ample carriage room (no "autos" then) for all, and the dinner was all that could be desired and there were baskets-full left.
The Sunday school convention of the Stonington Union Association also met with this Sunday school during Mr. Ward's pastorate. He was a very energetic self-sacrificing man for the good of the cause, and did not spare himself where he thought his services could be of use for the Master. He closed his labors with us in 1905 as he thought the Lord was calling him else- where. We were without a pastor until Rev. Mr. Slocum accepted the pas- torate. The Sunday services were observed by Sunday school and brothers and sisters taking turns reading a sermon and having prayer and conference meetings. Mr. Slocum's pastorate was of short duration when we were again thrown upon our "own resources." The brethren and sisters were united in their desire to maintain the worship of God and to keep the church open and most heroically the faithful few carried along the labors of the church until in 1908 Rev. J. W. Higgins came to be our pastor. He was in great trouble as his beloved wife had just died and he was almost heartbroken. But the Lord sustained him and has made him a great blessing to the church and com- munity. In 1909 he was again married and his wife is a great help in the Sunday services, as she plays the organ and helps in singing and teaching in the Sabbath school. He has been our faithful pastor for ten years and he has not only the respect and love of the church but of the whole community. Everybody who knows him loves and respects him and we all hope that the Lord will spare his life to a good old age, and that he may end his days here where he is so dearly loved. Our Heavenly Father has so severely pruned this church by removing so many of the faithful ones by death but permitted them to live long and faithful lives to the glory of God.
The change in the business of the village has made sad changes in our church relations. Where fifty years ago there were two mills filled with busy men and women, and every house filled with families who all loved the church, whose doors were open every Sunday for worship, now one mill is entirely gone the other not employing those who are interested in this church, and almost all of the houses gone either by fire or decay. The situation is such that it requires great faith and trust on the part of the pastor and people to enable them to labor on; the few that remain are so scattered that it requires quite an effort for the pastor to visit his people or for the people to make up a very full meeting on Sunday. There are five different denominations of Christians attend this church and a good spirit pervades the meetings, the pastor says. Collections for missions are taken the first Sunday in every month all through the year. The year just closed March 31 (1918) the church gave $92.82 for benevolence.
There are only twenty-two or twenty-three resident members now. But God is with us and we hope and trust that he will not let this church of his planting die out for lack of recruits to fill up the ranks as those who have been burden bearers all these years lay down their burdens at the Saviour's
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feet in death. As we take into account the labors of those who have gone forth from this church into the ministry as well as the labors of the brethren and sisters who have done valiant work in other fields for the Lord, it seems pos- sible that the number of those gathered into the fold of Christ because this church was organized and dedicated to the Lord may reach several thousand in the ninety years that has passed since its organization. For the large and influential Baptist Church of Jewett City and the one of Voluntown were daughters of the Packerville church.
In September 4, 1839, the Voluntown branch became a separate church. At the seventy-fifth anniversary celebrated 1903 it was stated that the church had contributed $3,000 for missions since its organization. As that was seven- teen years ago and each year the collections for missions has been taken up regularly every month since by the church quite a large sum has been given since that time. The Rev. J. W. Higgins has baptized five and received by letter four. According to the early records of the church a lively interest in mission work was manifested and all through these years the interest has never died out only as our number gets smaller there is less enthusiasm than when we had a large woman's circle and a large mission band but those who have finished their work and gone home have left their influence upon others and those who have moved away are exercising their missionary zeal wherever they may live. This Packerville church has always stood for the uplifting of humanity and its early days was very strict in discipline. If a member was guilty of light and trifling conversation or profanity or absented them- selves from covenant meeting they were at once dealt with and if not able to excuse themselves properly, were censured. We cannot picture to ourselves what the condition of Packerville would have been if no church had been or- ganized there so many years ago. That spire pointing toward Heaven and the clear sounding bell calling every Sabbath, "Come, Come worship the Lord for He is good," has had an influence for untold good on all the surrounding country. May the Lord still continue his blessing upon it!
As the years are passing along and no use is made of the water power now running to waste almost under the eaves of our church, the same power that seventy-five years ago was making the machinery in both mills furnish em- ployment for the willing workers who filled every tenement and many were coming in from the near-by homes to work in the mills, one reflects with regret that such natural opportunities should be lost. In those earlier days, the church was none too large to seat comfortably the eager worshippers that came within her walls. Now with more than two-thirds of the mill tenements gone and the most of those that are left are empty, no use is made of the water power which if utilized by some up-to-date manufacturing company might have the wheels of industry again humming in this now deserted village. Those on whom rests the labor of love of sustaining the church work here have hoped and prayed that the village might again be a prosperous mill village and that the church might again be filled with those who loved God and were willing to work for the upbuilding of his cause.
Rev. J. W. Higgins, who for twelve years has been the faithful pastor, zealously and lovingly strives to proclaim the whole gospel of Christ and al- though the congregation is small, there seems to be a good interest and from year to year there has been an increase in what has been given for benevolence. Last year the church gave more for benevolence than any year before of its,
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ninety-one years, even when its members numbered 155 and now they only number fifty, and today are scattered from Boston to California; which speaks well for the zeal of the pastor and the faithful few. The pastor has just passed his seventy-fifth birthday. His faith is strong that brighter days are coming to Packerville.
THE BROOKLYN BAPTIST CHURCH By Mrs. Nellie A. Potter, Clerk
The Brooklyn Baptist Church was organized March 31, 1828. April 6th of the same year Dennison Cady and Elisha Adams were chosen as deacons and David C. Bolles was chosen church clerk. April 23d, a council convened for the purpose of giving fellowship to this church as one duly constituted in gospel order. The Scripture was read by Rev. Mr. Ballard of Dudley, Mass. Rev. James Grow of Thompson offered the introductory prayer and Rev. John Cookson of Middletown preached the sermon, taking for his text Acts, Ch. 17, Verse 11. There were as constituent members eleven males and twenty-four females. The additions to the church have been by baptism 287, by letter 132, by experience thirteen. The losses have been by death 100, by dismission 190, dropped from the church roll fifty-nine, excluded sixteen.
The pastors have been Rev. William Bentley, Rev. Benjamin N. Harris, Rev. Ebenezer Loomis, Rev. Nicholas Branch, Rev. Sylvester Barrows, Rev. Thomas Terry, Rev. O. P. Bessey, Rev. William Gussman, Rev. Edwin Ben- nett, Rev. A. H. Wynkoop, Rev. Frank P. Braman, Rev. A. C. McConnell, and Rev. George F. Genung, D. D. The longest pastorate was Rev. S. Barrows, seventeen years; Rev. Thomas Terry, fourteen years; and Rev. George F. Genung, D. D., thirteen years. Rev. Edwin Bennett died while pastor. The deacons have been Dennison Cady, Elisha Adams, Benjamin Brown, David M. Chapin, Frederick S. Howe, T. D. Pond, William R. Johnson, W. Frank Chap- man and William B. Potter. Deacon Brown was chosen deacon May 2, 1858, and died October 14, 1906, while still deacon.
The clerks have been David C. Bolles who held the office two months and then was ordained to the ministry and went to Springfield, Mass., then Eliazer Martin who served until 1842, when Deacon Benjamin Brown was chosen who held the office until 1886 when he was followed by T. D. Pond and he in turn was followed by the present clerk, Mrs. Nellie A. Potter.
THE CENTRAL BAPTIST CHURCH, THOMPSON By C. Clark Pierce, Church Clerk
On February 23, 1835, seventeen persons formed a stock company by name, Thompson Baptist Meeting House Company, thirty-six shares of $100 each. Land was purchased for a building site of John Nichols, 60 by 125 feet for $425. The house was built at a cost of $5,050. Pews were sold and rented for $90.00,-more than had been paid in by the stockholders. Some of the pews were sold outright and were held by the owners and their descendant or suc- cessor until the church put in new pews in 1898. The old pews had a door at the end which fastened with a brass button. When the family were all seated, the door was closed.
This first company was dissolved and another formed called the First Bap- Vol. I-38
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tist Society of Thompson. In March, 1851, the name was changed to the Cen- tral Baptist Society of Thompson which still exists.
Up to April 8, 1846, the Baptist Church had maintained worship in two places, and it was now thought best to separate into two distinct bodies, to be known as The East Thompson Baptist Church and The Central Baptist Church in Thompson. The first meeting of the Central Church was held May 2, 1846, with Charles Willett as pastor. George Davis and Elliott Joslin as deacons and Jeremiah Olney as clerk.
George Davis refusing to serve Valentine Ballard was chosen in his place and served until his death in January, 1898, a period of fifty-two years. June 6, 1846, the church made application for admission to the State Association with 180 members. April 1, 1876, Hiram Arnold was chosen deacon in place of Deacon Elliott Joslin, who died January, 1876, and on February 6, 1888, Charles Arnold and John D. Converse were chosen junior deacons. Calvin Munyan was chosen deacon in 1897 and died November, 1918. Stephen Bal- lard served the church as clerk for forty-five years and was succeeded by C. Clark Pierce.
The church building was destroyed by fire on January 27, 1917. Since that time the members have worshipped with the Congregational Church but main- tained a separate organization, and they hope to build a new church when conditions are more favorable.
The list of pastors is as follows.
Charles Willett, 1845-49; Thomas Dowling, 1849-52; E. R. Warren, 1852- 53; Moses Curtiss, 1853-58; B. S. Morse, 1858-61; E. P. Borden (and sup- plies), 1861-63; Washington Munger, 1863-67; E. Simmonds, 1867-69; B. N. Sperry, 1869-73; Robert Bennett, 1873-77; Wm. H. Randall, 1877-83; C. H. Hickok, 1883-88; S. A. Ives, 1889-97; H. J. Bartlett, 1898-1900; O. W. Foye, 1901-06; Charles Ramsey, 1906-10; J. N. Garst, 1911-12; B. G. Boardman, 1913-15; Carl D. Hazleton, 1915-17.
The seventeen original members were : Stephen Crosby, Joseph Elliott, Richmond Bullock, Mary Bullock, Israel Bullock, William H. Mason, Talcott Crosby, John D. Convis, Vernon Stiles, Rial Converse, George W. Day, Ebenezer Talbot, Joseph B. Gay, Thomas Davis, Darius Seamans, George S. Cary and Hezekiah Olney.
Two grandsons of John D. Convis are now connected with our present society. Deacon John D. Converse, and his brother James H. Converse, the latter being the present clerk of the society. Louis Converse, son of James is also a mem- ber. Stephen Crosby and Hezekiah Olney have descendants in town, but they are connected with the Congregational Church.
The following is a letter sent to the church at the Semi-Centennial An- niversary of the organization of the Central Baptist Church and the election of Valentine Ballard to the office of deacon, by a former pastor :
Beverly Farms, Mass., May 26, '96.
Rev. S. A. Ives. Dear Brother :-
You kind favor of the 13th came to hand in due time, and it gives me great pleasure to receive your cordial invitation. I shall not be able to join your happy circle on that lovely day in June, but you will have my best wishes that it may be a day of good cheer and abounding joy. No church holds a warmer place in my heart than that on Thompson Hill-
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I love her gates, I love the road, The church adorned with grace ; Stands like a palace built for God, To show His milder face-"
Thompson is the church of my highest praise, for beside the holy joy of my ministry, and the abounding generosity of my people, I walked as in the garden of the Lord with "Eden" in my view. I had men for my deacons who were not given to "Joslin," but were sound as a bank like the golden "Hiram" and my "Valentine" was the choicest ever sent to that church.
My "Converse" was most sweet and I regaled my spirit with many a "Ballard."
My "Briggs" were laden with all manner of precious fruit, etc. I had a strong "Ransom." It was not a "Day" of small things with me at Thompson for I had my wrestling "Jacobs" and the "Town" fathers were mine.
These and many other honored names made my pastorate a pleasure and my ministry a praise.
May an abundance of peace rest on all your family ties, and a continued succession of gospel triumphs attend your sacred ministrations.
With grateful appreciation, I remain yours affectionately Rev. Robert Bennett.
At this anniversary meeting, June 6, 1896, a goldheaded cane was presented to Deacon Valentine Ballard. By his will this cane goes to the senior deacon of the church. Deacon John D. Converse has it now.
Records previous to 1846 give numerous cases of discipline. In fact just as soon as a brother or sister were observed to be lax in duty, a committee was appointed to attend to these cases. On January 24, 1838, a vote was passed "that the church disapprove of sleighing parties and parties of pleasure," and on March 4th the church met to take into consideration the fact that certain members had been sleighing and that the church thought it wrong for its mem- bers to indulge in such vain amusements; adjourned to March 6th, when the said members were present and confessed that they had done wrong. The church then voted that it was satisfied with their confession.
HOWARD VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH
By Susan Jewett Howe
The Connecticut Gazeteer of 1810 records one Congregational and two Bap- tist churches in the Town of Hampton which is the earliest date we have of the Baptist churches in this town.
Hampton, or Windham Village as it was first called, sprang from the mother town of Windham, and so did these first two churches originate there, but un- fortunately the earliest records were lost through carelessness of the church clerks. Therefore the only glimpse we can get is from the Windham church records showing that the Separatists or Baptists of Windham withdrew long before 1910 from the mother church at Windham; for so stern was the dis- cipline of the church that Brooklyn jail was overflowing with the sinful Bap- tists who would not pay their priest tax to the Congregational Church in Wind-
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ham, which, under no circumstances, would allow a Baptist house of worship within the borders of Windham. In 1743 just 100 years before the founding of the Baptist Church in Howard Valley, a horse belonging to a poor man was taken away from him on Windham Green, to pay the Priest Tax and he walked home with the saddle on his own back.
So the Baptists in Hampton organized two churches. The north one on the road to Pomfret was called the Old Grow Meeting House from good old Deacon Grow who used to carry lunches for the children to eat between the long services of Sunday. For a long time this was a flourishing church but after the deacon's death the doors were closed and the members united with the Third Baptist Church which had been organized in Howard Valley.
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