USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 81
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The years 1884 and 1888 were memorable, as the Channing Conference met here, and helpful and inspiring services were enjoyed throughout the confer- ence. From 1889 to 1891 Rev. S. W. Sutton was with the church; 1891 to 1893 Rev. James Salloway supplied ; 1894 to 1899 found another man of noted ability settled as pastor, Rev. James E. Locke. Through death and removal by mar- riage the attendance at the Unitarian Church, as in all other local churches, was becoming smaller; however, the few faithful ones left, extended a call to Rev. John L. Robinson, who came to them in 1900, remaining until 1905. While here, Mr. Robinson formed an organization known as the Women's Alliance. During 1902 the church was again painted. New paint and paper on the inside made it look fresh and attractive. New cushions and carpets replaced the old.
The year 1906 was marked by the return of Mr. Culp and his family, and the few who were left enjoyed his helpful and uplifting sermons. In 1911 he resigned to take up the pastorate of the Unitarian Church in Brewster, Mass. During the summer of 1912 the church extended to Rev. Joseph Cady Allen of Boston a call to become their minister. No services were held in the winter. Mr. Allen remained with the society during the summer months of 1912, '13, '14, '15, '16. Mr. Allen was a remarkable speaker, giving deep, scholarly dis- courses. The few who were left to enjoy his ministry have gained much by his presence among them. For two years no regular service has been held in the old church, the multitude have not flocked to her doors. The great World war
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has taught us many things, no greater truth perhaps than, that "there is one God and Father of us all." The Old Church stands today the most conspicu- ous figure on Brooklyn Green, like some grand monument erected to the mem- ory of a past hero. Her pure white spire uplifted casts a protecting shadow over all. Her teachings and precepts have not been in vain. It may be perhaps unconsciously, but many of orthodox faith are accepting her creed :
The Fatherhood of God, The Brotherhood of Man, The Leadership of Jesus, Salvation by Character, The Progress of Mankind, Onward and Upward Forever.
CONSTITUTION OF THE NORTH WINDHAM CHRISTIAN SOCIETY*
(Formerly the New Boston Christian Society)
Believing it to be the duty that all good Christians owe to themselves and to posterity to promote as far as in them lies the cause of religion, morality and virtue, and a spirit of free inquiry in matters pertaining thereto and believing that by forming themselves into a society and acting in concert to be one of the best means of promoting the above-named objects. And whereas the loca- tion of the District of New Boston is remote from any stated religious meeting and being a central place of business for the vicinity we the subscribers do think it expedient to form a society for the above-named objects and agree to the following articles, viz :
Article 1. The society shall be known by the name of the New Boston Christian Society.
Article 2. The officers of said society shall consist of a clerk, treasurer, and a committee.
Article 3. The society shall meet annually in the month of December for the choice of officers, when it shall be the duty of the committee to make a report of the concerns of said society.
Article 4. Any person subscribing to these articles shall become a member unless rejected by a major vote at the next meeting of said society.
Article 5. Any member may withdraw himself by leaving a certificate with the clerk of said society to that effect.
Article 6. No tax shall be levied by said society to raise money except by voluntary contribution.
Article 7. All or any of the above articles may be altered or amended by a vote of a majority of those present in legal meeting, five days' notice being given.
The above Preamble and articles were unanimously adopted by vote in said meeting holden for such purpose in the school house in said New Boston this 15th day of March, A. D. 1830.
JONAH LINCOLN, Moderator. Attest, ELIAS SHARPE, Clerk.
NAMES OF SIGNERS TO THE ABOVE ARTICLES
Jonah Lincoln, Jacob Flint, Samuel Flint, Chas. W. Warren, Warner Lin- coln, Robt. W. Robinson, Henry Lincoln, Stowell Lincoln, Geo. Backus, Rufus Burnham, Wm. M. Johnson, Thomas Baldwin, Moses C. Abbe, James L. Brown, Wm. L. Dexter, Mason Lincoln, Levi Johnson, Elias Sharpe, James Lincoln,
* From copy of original records now in possession of Leslie F. Hartson.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
Lester Lincoln, Nat. Lincoln, Jr., Burr Lincoln, David Lincoln, Darius Spaf- ford, Erastus Martin, Nathan Gallup, Horace Flint, Schuyler Chamberlin, Mar- vin Lincoln, Philip R. Capen, John J. Burnham, Frank M. Lincoln, Dan Lin- coln, Ralph Lincoln, Warren Clark, Benj. Perry, John Flint, Asa Bates, Sam. A. Lincoln, Shubael Cross, Thomas Robinson, Moses Coffin, Sherman Simons, Samuel Flint II, Nelson Simms, Luther Burnham, Levi Allen, Allen Lincoln.
December 22, 1840-Chas. Card, Reuben Peck, Pearl L. Peck, Hez. P. Brown, Porter B. Peck, Albert Lincoln, N. F. Ackley, Chas. Collar.
December 7, 1847-Geo. Lincoln, Orren F. Lincoln.
December 21, 1847-Freeman D. Spencer, Dwight F. Lincoln.
April 9, 1849-Lorin Lincoln, Thomas T. Upton, Jared W. Lincoln, Lucius Ingraham, Sumner Lincoln, Lucius Flint.
February 1, 1851-Henry C. Gurley.
December 19, 1853-Lucius Cross.
December 28, 1857-Martin Flint.
December 28, 1858-Edward L. Burnham, Joel W. Webb.
March 1, 1858-Chas. Johnson.
December 23, 1858-Seymour Davenport.
December 28, 1858-Pardon Parker, Chas. Squires.
December 26, 1859-Stowell Burnham, Chester Welden.
January 14, 1871-Albert Hartson, Edwin H. Hall.
March 8, 1873-Chas. E. Peck, Henry A. Jones, Geo. E. Bennett.
December 31, 1880-David Nichols.
December 26, 1880-Abner P. Smith, Mason A. Bates, Robt. Harley, Wm. Sibley, C. F. Spencer, E. S. Lincoln, 1893.
December 23, 1895-Edwin H. Hall, Henry J. Parkerson, W. H. Sibley, Fred A. Backus, Andrew L. Bennett, Chas. Tucker, S. L. Burnham, D. E. Lyon, F. L. Hall.
December 21, 1896-Remus Robinson.
Constitution amended February 8, 1851 by changing the name of New Boston Christian Society to North Windham Christian Society.
Amended January 7, 1857, by annulling the sixth article in the constitution.
Amended on the 29th day of November, 1907, as follows: Article 4 is changed so as to read, "Any person may become a member of the society who has been invited to join by a member thereof and has been recommended for membership by at least two members of the Society Committee and who shall be elected by a ballot at a regular meeting of said society by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present at said meeting and when so elected shall subscribe in writing to the articles of said society."
Carried by five votes in the affirmative and three in the negative.
At a meeting of the New Boston Christian Society legally warned and holden at the schoolhouse in said New Boston on the 21st day of Dec. A. D. 1883.
Voted, That Stowell Lincoln be Moderator of said meeting.
Voted, That Dan Lincoln be the Clerk for the year ensuing.
Voted, That Dan Lincoln be the Treasurer for the year ensuing.
Voted, That Nat. Lincoln, Jr., Darius Spafford, Stowell Lincoln, Jacob Flint and Erastus Martin be a Society Committee for the year ensuing.
Voted, That the Society tender their thanks to Elder Roger Bingham through their Committee for past services and request a continuance of the same.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
Voted, That the Clerk circulate the Constitution of the Society so far as practicable for the purpose of obtaining members to said Society.
Voted, That this meeting be dissolved.
Attest, DAN LINCOLN, Clerk.
At a meeting of the New Boston Christian Society held on the 22d day of Dec. 1840 it was Voted,
As the sense of this meeting that the Town of Windham or the contractor for the support of the poor of said Town have no right to bury their dead in the Burying Ground belonging to this Society.
DAN LINCOLN, Clerk.
NOTICE
The members of the New Boston Christian Society are hereby warned to meet at the Meeting House in said place on Sat. the 30th inst at 2 oclk P. M. to take measures for the support of preaching the comeing year-also the Proprietors of the meeting House are requested to meet at the same time and place to see what course they will take with regard to the occupation of the House, whether by renting the slips or other wise and to do any other business proper to be done at said meeting.
North Windham
Per order of the Committee.
Jan 21st 1847
NOTICE
The members of the New Boston Christian Society, the Proprietors of the meeting House in North Windham and all persons feeling any interest in the support of Religious instruction on the Sabbath in said House are hereby warned, notified, and requested to meet at said house on Monday Apr. 8th 1850 at 2 oclk P. M. to transact the following business.
First, To choose a moderator.
Second, To see what measure they in their wisdom can devise for the sup- port of preaching for the present year, whether by sale of slips in said house or other wise. And thirdly to do any other business proper to be done at said meeting.
North Windham Apr. 1st 1850
JACOB FLINT MASON LINCOLN Committee GEO. LINCOLN
At an adjourned meeting of The North Windham Christian Society held Feb. 25th 1871 it was Voted
To annul the vote passed Dec 22nd 1840 relateing to burying the Windham poor in the North Windham Burying Ground.
At a meeting held on Dec. 21st 1896 at the Church the following business was transacted.
E. L. Burnham was chosen Moderator of the meeting.
Wm. Sibley Clerk was chosen Moderator of the meeting.
Dr. Remus Robinson was voted in as a member of this Society.
Clerk and Treas. E. H. Hall.
Society Com. E. L. Burnham, D. E. Lyon, Chas. Tucker.
Collector, C. F. Spencer.
Voted to accept the Treas. report.
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
Voted that the Committee draw up a subscription paper and circulate the same to procure funds for religious services and other expenses the coming year.
Voted. That F. D. Spencer, A. L. Bennett and Frederick Backus be appointed a committee to erect six Horse Sheds on land to be leased of E. H. Hall by the North Windham Christian Society to be owned and controlled by said Society : and the above named Committee are hereby instructed to erect the same as soon as in their judgement would be best.
Voted to dissolve the meeting.
E. H. HALL, Clerk.
At a meeting of The North Windham Christian Society held at the Meeting House Dec. 10th 1833 Chas. Spafford, Moderator and P. B. Peck was chosen Clerk and Treasurer and sworn.
E. L. Burnham, P. L. Peck and L. M. Hartson was chosen Society Com- mittee. C. F. Spencer was chosen Collector.
Tything men : W. W. White and David Nichols. The Treasurer's report was accepted.
Voted, That the Society Committee make efforts for procuring title to Meet- ing House-and insure the same and also circulate a subscription paper to raise money for paying preachers for wood, for oil, for procuring title to meet- ing house, for insurance and for needful repairs on meeting house. One-half of money so raised to be payable Apr. 1st 1884 and the other half payable Oct. 1st 1884.
Thanks were voted to the officers of the Society for their faithfulness the past year.
Adjourned Sinedie North Windham Dec. 10th 1884
Attest P. B. BECK Clerk
NOTICE
The members of The North Windham Christian Society are requested to meet at the Meeting house on Monday Sept. 16th 1901 at 2 P. M. to act on petition of Wm. Sibley and others asking for a meeting of the Society to see if they will vote to lease or rent their Church property to the Congregational Society.
North Windham
Sept 10th 1901
E. L. BURNHAM D. E. LYON. Com.
A meeting was held in accordance with the foregoing Notice and Edward L. Burnham was chosen Moderator.
It was VOTED to lease the church property to the North Windham Cong. Church for 25 years for one dollar per year and other considerations.
Voted to dissolve the meeting.
WM. SIBLEY, Clerk.
A meeting of the North Windham Christian Society was held at the church Sat. Jan. 7th 1905 and the following business transacted : E. L. Burnham was chosen Moderator and the following officers were chosen.
Clerk and Treas., Wm. Sibley.
Society Com., E. L. Burnham, F. A. Backus, W. H. Sibley.
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It was voted to sell the horse sheds and Wm. Sibley was authorized and empowered to sell same at auction on Thursday Jan. 12th 1905.
Meeting Dissolved.
WM. SIBLEY, Clerk.
Copy of the original Subscription paper drawn up for the building of the meeting house in North Windham.
We the subscribers hereby agree and promise to pay the sum affixed to our names for the purpose of building a Meeting House to be located in the New Boston School District and to pay the same to such Committee as we shall apoint to receive same if in money or in goods or if in work or in building material to pay according to the direction of a building Committee that we shall appoint for that purpose. Said House to be the joint property of all those that pay toward its erection in proportion to the sums paid and to be used for holding Religious Meetings in and to be free for all denominations of professing Christians. Stowell Lincoln, Luther Burnham, Porter B. Peck, and Frank M. Lincoln or any two of them may call a meeting of the sub- scribers for organization and doing business when in their opinion there is a sufficient sum subscribed to commence operations.
North Windham
Sept. 11th 1844
Then follows list of the subscribers, in amounts varying from $100 to $5. Jonah Lincoln gave the land, valued at $15, and "cash for materials, $85." Others paid in work, as carpentering, painting, or in lumber, shingles, etc. One "paid in stove pipe, one dollar." A carpenter wrote: "If I build the house, will give $25." Another gave "two days work, $2."
NORTH WINDHAM CHURCH
M. Eugene Lincoln, son of Loren Lincoln, attended the services of this church as a boy, and recalls that the name was pronounced "Christ-ian," as if saying the name "Christ" and then adding "ian"; the intention being to emphasize the claim that the members of this church were followers of the Master without the incumbrance of some of the special doctrines of the orthodox folks in other churches. It is stated that at one time there were fourteen heads of families in North Windham by the name of Lincoln. Chief among them was Jonah Lincoln, judge of probate and general counsellor of the community. He was a leader in the Christ-ian movement, and donated the land for the church, as recorded in the minutes. None of the original subscribers are now living, the last one, a Lincoln, having died only a few years ago.
Among the preachers of the Christian Church in the earlier days was "Elder" Alfred Burnham, who came from Hampton. He was followed by Elder Bur- lingame, who was resident pastor for several years, and followed by Elder Wright, the last regular pastor. It is related that Albert Lincoln, one of the charter members, and who played violin at local meetings for many years, met in his later years Elder Burnham and made himself known in this way: "You ought to remember me, for I fiddled for you to preach a good many times."
Mr. Lincoln writes, "Elder Alfred Burnham had a set way of beginning his funeral sermons which is vivid in my mind today, although it is more than sixty years since I heard him : 'Man dieth, and wasteth away, and where is he ? Once more we are assembled together to pay the last tribute to the dead.' " Mr. Lincoln then adds, "As near as I can size it up, the creed of the Christ-ian
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
Faith at New Boston, or later North Windham, required good behavior, fear of God, and the Golden Rule, to be among the elect."
The Christ-ian society discontinued its separate activities several years ago and the building was leased to the Congregationalists. Regular Sunday serv- ices are now held at 10 A. M., under the auspices of the Chaplin Church, with Rev. Walter Lanphear as pastor.
THE SWEDISH SETTLERS OF THE TOWN OF THOMPSON AND THE SWEDISH LUTHERAN CHURCH OF NORTH GROSVENORDALE
It is not known to a certainty who was the first Swede that arrived at this part of Connecticut. Already before 1880 we find a few Swedish settlers here. But the great bulk of the Swedish-American people of the Town of Thompson arrived in the year 1882, and the majority of them settled at North Grosvenor- dale and in the near vicinity. Many a sturdy son and daughter of the distant shores of Sweden have since that time settled at this community, but there never came a people more industrious, more lawabiding and loyal to their adopted country and more faithful to their employers than the Swedish immi- grants of those early days, and even now, after so many years have passed by, they and their descendants are reckoned among our best citizens and as sup- porting pillars of the Swedish Lutheran Church.
But the residents of this community, so we are told, had a very low estimate of "the Swedes" when they first arrived here. Their speech sounded barbarous and their clothes were not cut exactly in the same fashion as those of the Yankees and of the "French" population. But when their neighbors had learned to know them better and the Swedes had mastered the English tongue so as to be able to converse with them it became evident to all that the Swedish immi- grants did not differ materially from other civilized and decent people.
Now all this is changed. As already said, the Swedes are reckoned among our best citizens, and they have taken a not insignificant part in the political, civil and religious life of the community.
The early Swedish immigrants who came here to seek a better fortune were, on the whole, a God-fearing and religious people. They left their fatherland, they left their old dear homes in distant Sweden, they left, indeed, all what for man is dear in this world, but there was one thing they could not and would not leave: The faith of their fathers and the church in which they had been reared and for which the noble King Gustavus Adolphus and so many of their brave ancestors had shed their blood. So, when they came here, their first question was this: "Where shall we worship and who shall minister to our spiritual and eternal wants? Where shall we listen to the old dear gospel that we used to hear in the parish church in the land we left?"
But the Swedes of those bygone days did not waste their time in idle lam- entations. Already in 1882 they organized the Swedish Lutheran Emanuel Church, and, after many disappointments, much labor and great sacrifices, they succeeded in erecting a house of worship, which is now "the old Swedish Church." This was done in 1884. It was small, indeed, compared with the lofty temples where they used to worship in Sweden. But they were mightily glad to have it, and it served well for their spiritual needs. And having built their spiritual home they did not feel any more to be strangers in this land. It is no undue claim to say that nothing else did so much to make them feel at home here as their little church on the hillside, girted by beautiful pines
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
and oak trees, surroundings, which so much reminded them of the rural scen- eries of their own native country.
It should also be noted that, although the services were then and are yet conducted mostly in Swedish, the church has been a great factor in bringing the Swedish residents in a close contact with the American people and to foster a truly American spirit among them. The Swedes, though in religious matters they "stick to their own," are liberal-minded and have always been on friendly terms with the other churches of the community.
It would take too much space to enumerate the many pastors, theological students and lay preachers that for a shorter or longer time have served the church since its organization. Only two of them may be mentioned here : Rev. Ludvig Holmes, D. D., LL. D., and Rev. G. E. Forsberg. The first named served the church as a student in 1883 and as its ordained pastor from 1886 to 1888. It was during his time and much through his efforts the church was built. Reverend Holmes was a forceful preacher and was also a poet of more than common ability. He attained high honors in the Lutheran Church of America, and even in Sweden his literary pursuits were well known and appre- ciated. Reverend Holmes died some years ago on a visit to Philadelphia, Pa.
Rev. G. E. Forsberg entered upon his charge of the church in 1889 and was its pastor until 1905, when he accepted a call to Erie, Pa. Reverend Fors- berg was a strong personality and exercised a very great influence in the church and among the Swedish people. During his time as a pastor the new church building of brick, on the Main Street, and the parsonage were built.
The present pastor, Rev. C. A. Lindevall, arrived here from Philadelphia, Pa., in October, 1905. During his ministry here the heavy mortgage of $6,500 on the church property has been wiped out, and many improvements have been made. The present membership is 275, of whom 215 are communicants.
Most of the Swedish residents of North Grosvenordale and vicinity are employed by the Grosvenordale Company. They have always been considered as faithful and industrious workers and several among them have held respon- sible functions as overseers, clerks, engineers, etc.
Finally, it may be mentioned that a great number of citizens of Swedish descent who for some time have lived at North Grosvenordale may be found at a great many places in Connecticut, Rhode Island and other New England states. Yea, even in far distant California some of them have settled down. The church of North Grosvenordale is one of the oldest Swedish Lutheran churches in the state and may be reckoned as mother church of several Swedish churches in Connecticut and Rhode Island. Many of its younger members enlisted in the United States Army and Navy, eager to "do their bit" for their country and for democracy at large.
SPIRITUALISTIC MOVEMENT IN WINDHAM COUNTY By Judge D. A. Lyman
It is probable that the history of the Spiritualistie movement in Windham County can best be related by taking the organization and development of the First Society of Spiritualists in Willimantic as a basis; the Willimantic society, so far as is recalled, being the only Spiritualist society ever organized in Wind- ham County, at least that has retained its organization up to the present time.
In other communities about the county meetings were held and possibly
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HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY
some form of an organization was in existence in the early days, for the claimed fact that communication between mortals on earth and those who have passed to spirit life had been established, spread like wildfire over the eastern part of this country and within a few years after the date of the first "Rochester rappings," in March, 1848, circles began to be formed, mediums began to be developed and there was immediately a demand by the public to hear and know about it and that, if what they had long believed on faith only, could be demonstrated as a fact, they wanted to know.
And so wherever meetings were held which were open to the public there were always crowds in attendance, but in general no permanent societies were organized, and after becoming convinced that communication between the two worlds had been established and that the great terror of humanity, eternal torment, had been forever eradicated, a large majority went about their daily lives and the only propaganda work was relegated to the home and neighbor- hood circle and occasional public meeting, except in the case of the Willimantic and vicinity converts to the belief.
The start of what has been known for the past seventy-two years as Modern Spiritualism was in a little cottage about twenty miles from Rochester, N. Y., occupied by a staunch Methodist family of John D. Fox, consisting of Mr. Fox, his wife and two daughters, Margaret, age 12 and Kate, age 9. For a long time the family had been disturbed by rappings and the movement of small articles about the house, the phenomena being usually more pronounced when one of the girls was present.
On the night of March 31, 1848, the rappings were very pronounced and in a feeling of playfulness more than anything else, one of the girls asked a question which was responded to by a fusillade of raps. She then held up three fingers and asked how many fingers do I hold up. Three raps came at once. Again she asked, "count ten," and at once ten raps came. The little girl at once called to her mother, saying, "Come here, mother, they can see and hear."
That was the start and, notwithstanding the severe antagonism of the churches and the clergy, the cause spread so rapidly that within a few years both the United States and Europe were in almost a craze of investigation; societies were organized and in every community neighborhood circles were held, where mediums were developed and converts came by the hundreds.
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