USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Southington > Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn > Part 17
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" He had been in his usual health till Monday the 19th of February, with the exception of some loss of vigor consequent upon a cold con- tracted on a journey taken in the month of November, to attend the council at Oberlin. On Sunday the 18th of February, he performed his accustomed services, three in number, and attended a funeral in-
1 The Rev. R. L. Stanton of Norwich, has told the writer, that this was probably the ablest sermon Mr. Jones ever preached.
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volving some exposure from the extreme coldness of the weather. On Monday he attended another burial service, and was detained in the cemetery. although severely cold, for an hour and a half. A few days before these exposures he had been vaccinated. On his return home, he was manifestly prostrated by disease. and was confined to the house by an illness, which at first assumed the form of a not severe pneumo- nia. As the disease continued, his arm began to give him trouble, and erysipelatous symptoms were manifest, which subsequently assumed a malignant type, and made his condition very alarming. He was un- conscious for several days before his death, and finally sunk quietly out of life."
This town has never had a pastor superior to Mr. Jones, if we take into account simply his moral qualities. His character came as near being faultless as usually happens to men. True indeed there were those who from passion or malice would sometimes speak ill of him, but not one was there who in a sober moment would not acknowledge his spotlessness.
The tribute paid him by his worthy and fast friend, President Por- ter, on the occasion of his funeral relieves me of the labor of preparing a more extended notice of him. But before quoting Dr. Porter's re- marks I will incorporate a portion of the address given by me at the late Anniversary.
So fresh is the grief of this people and town, and so green and fragrant the memory of this last pastor, that I hesitate to proc d. It's a hard task for a pastor to inter- pret rightly an immediate predecessor. Diversity of mental and spiritual operations -constitutional and cultivated tastes varying-circumstances of education-opposing judgments and methods-often set two such persons at a distance one from the other. And yet each day persuades me more and more that Mr. Jones was a man easy to be understood. He has been misunderstood, like Ogden and Robinson, but the fault was not in himself. Many people look no farther back than phenomena in nature, so do they stop at act or method in men without consulting the fountain whence they originate. And those who misunderstood Mr. Jones, I think, did not enter his mind and heart for data upon which to base judgment. His dear and life-long friend, Dr. Porter, has so fully and tenderly sketched his character that there is no room for addition. And yet I may say something if only in confirmation of what has been so well said. I saw Mr. Jones but once, and that at the Oberlin council, of which we were both members. The first Sabbath I spent in this town-a year after the council-I saw his photograph, and recognized it as one that I had seen. When told the foundation of his sickness was laid in Oberlin (where for six days the sun hardly looked from behind a cloud) I recalled his face and form. His ministerial and magisterial manner had invited atten- tion. My judgment of his character rests upon what I have observed as his successor. He lives still in this town. His dwelling place is the heart. This valley is vocal with the words he spake. His influence broods over the church. And he deserves thus to live. "Of whom the world is not worthy," is written of him, just as the apostle meant it. Not that he was free from infirmity, but that under infirmities common to human nature he became what he was, and did what you all know was so well done by him.
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Nature had distributed her gifts to him evenly, so that no one trait stands out before others, and which the eye of the observer would at once seize. He was strong at all points, while not equaling some contemporaries in single traits.
This fact is the basis of that solidity which all concede to him. He was a solid christian, a solid preacher, solid in planning and achieving. And the same fact under- lies the propriety that distinguished him-propriety in the pulpit and among his flock in every relation and duty.
His great weakness was in his hyper-caution, that arose partly from a natural tim- idity. He was thus held back from aggressive measures. They called him conserva- tive. He was through and through anti-slavery, through and through temperance, but in attacking " thrones of iniquity " he burrowed and undermined them rather than used the battering-ram. And sometimes the poor wise man of Solomon (soon forgot- ton) is more than captains and munitions of war. Mr. Jones always sought to lay the axe at the root of the tree, and he left it for others to break off the dead twigs. When Parson Robinson was trying hard to persuade Ashibel Gridley of the utility and ne- cessity of a turnpike through here, he spoke of the compactness of the rock and soil, of the rounded and smooth surface from which the water would run off. Mr. Gridley re- plied to all this, "I don't believe it." Mr. Robinson dropping his under lip, rebuked this suspicion of his judgment by turning on his heel and leaving his dull pupil to him- self. Mr. Jones would have remained and courteously talked of other things. Mr. Ogden would have said, "when you get older you'll know more than you do now." Such is the difference in men-in ministers.
The following extracts from the funeral sermon of Dr. Porter are published as furnishing an accurate and appreciative estimate of this honored and lamented pastor:
" As a man, Mr. Jones was distinguished for his marked individuality. No one could meet him in a brief interview without being convinced that he had a character of his own. Those who have known him longest and most intimately, were most strongly impressed with the varied manifestations of a character that was unique, and pronounced. The characteristics which made him peculiar were in no way repellent and offensive, they rather lent to his personality an attractive fascination. He was thoroughly unaffected and unconscious. Most singular men are more or less aware of their peculiarities, and make more or less a study and show of them. Mr. Jones was himself, because he could not and would not be anything other than what he was by nature. He acted out this nature because he was so honest and frank that he could neither conceal what he was, nor constrain his own way of making it manifest. It is because he was pre-eminently so self-forgetful that he was so regardless of forms in speech and action, and disdained to be the slave of conventionalities. But while in this sense he was forget- ful of himself, he was eminently a self-reliant and self-sufficing man; one of the few men who do their own work in the way and after the measure of their ability and duty, and steadily and persistingly hold themselves to it with a quiet earnestness and perseverance which makes their work a worship and a joy. This self-reliance was not obtrusive,
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ordinarily it would not have been noticed, but a man who would in- terrupt his work or cross his convictions, or interfere with any trust, whether public or private, that was committed to his keeping, would find him as unmoved as the granite hills on which he was reared. This steady self-reliance controlled by the principle of duty made him eminently industrious and methodical in his habits of study, and the conduct of his life. He carried energy and system into everything which pertained to his own appropriate work, and he filled his life with the impression of his individual activity and influence.
" All these marked peculiarities seem not so much to be the result of any training or even of self-discipline, as the natural outgrowth of clear convictions of truth, and a simple, straightforward, unquestioning obedience to duty. They were apparently the result of an uncommonly well-balanced and evenly poised nature, which wrought out its develop- ment in a natural and steady growth. Doubtless, Mr. Jones had in his youth struggles with himself and with allurements to evil, but from the time that he entered college, he has seemed the same clear-sighted self-reliant discerner of practical truth, and the same cheerful servant to its direction. This love of truth was not so much a law or a princi- ple as it was an instinct and necessity of his nature. His peculiarities of opinion in speech and conduct seemed to be the necessary result of convictions that dwelt in him, and these were an inward force or in- spiration which he could neither resist nor repress. The force and pressure of these convictions made him outspoken and frank. To have repressed or disguised them would have offended the honesty which was the most sacred law and impulse of his being.
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" The sagacity with which he measured men, and the interest with which he studied them, enabled him to see through all sorts of preten- sion and cant, and every species of over-doing, whether in good men, or bad men, or questionable men, whether in the service of a good or bad cause. Over-doing and extravagance, whether in the statement of principles, the exhibition of feeling, or the management of an interest, his very soul abhorred, and he abhorred them the most when allowed by good men, and for a good cause. With respect to all such devia- tions from truth of principle, and sincerity of speech and action, his language was decided and strong-"Oh, my soul, come not thou into their secret." Hot-headed and hasty men thought him lukewarm and slow. Superficial and one-sided men may have esteemed him reac- tionary and narrow. Demonstrative and noisy men wondered at his coolness and quiet, but none dared in his heart of hearts to question his fidelity to his convictions, or the transparency of his words and deeds. His fervor and zeal were never assumed. He indulged in no
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professional exaggerations. His life and words, his prayers and ex- hortations, were the sincere expression of his inmost self. I have in- cidentally said that he was social. He was also benevolent, and self- sacrificing-naturally, and apparently by a habit of his being. We could not conceive of him as not self-denying, or as selfishly refusing to aid in any good cause, as indifferent to the calls of human sorrow or suffering, or as studious of his own ease and comfort, of his pleasure and ambition, when his fellow-men had need of his sympathy, or his aid. He was also eminently sweet-tempered. The kindly emotions had the predominance, both by nature and habit, and the indwelling of Christian sympathy. He was neither irritable nor complaining, neither envious nor censorious, but was uniformly cheerful and con- tented, resigned and sunny in his disposition. His very presence brought sunshine with it. His countenance gave looks of peace and love, and not unfrequently its quiet and kindly serenity was broken by the ripple of inextinguishable good humor. The archness of his look, the twinkle of his eye, the brightness of his jests, have left their pleasant impressions upon all who have known him well. He was a refined and courteous gentleman-in his person, his manners, and as well as in the suavity and dignity of his bearing, in his self-respect, and def- ence to others. The charm of his social sympathy, his cheerful gaiety, and his courteous bearing, increased with the progress of his life, and his friends anticipated for him an old age which should be green with the leaves of youthful sympathy, and gay with the flowers of boyish merriment, and mature with the mellowed fruit of genial wisdom.
" Mr. Jones was in spirit a conservative, not from a rigid and preju diced dogmatism, or a crusty and bigoted attachment to the traditions and customs of the past, but because he saw and respected the reason and the principle of such institutions or maxims as had stood the test of experiment. He did not believe in anything because it was new, unless it could be shown to be also true, and he held that if anything had existed or been allowed by wise men, this fact was some evidence that it was well grounded. In saying this I am not called on to de- fend all those opinions or positions for which he was called excessively conservative; but I deem it no more than the exactest justice to his aims and spirit to remove every element of reproach, from the term as applied to him. He was too earnest and sincere to be a bigot or a dogmatist. The opinions that he held so tenaciously were honored in his eyes, not because they were gilded with the rays that shone from the setting sun of the past, but because they were glorified to his eyes by the light of that truth which never sets.
"On the other hand, he was in spirit a progressive. His perpetual
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and inextinguishable youth made him hopeful, inventive, and agile. As he kept his heart young, and his sympathies fresh, and his enter- prise active, he was in the most important sense abreast of the times, especially in his own profession. His interest was ardent and eager in all the practical questions to which the present generation are alive. He considered all these questions with a fresh eye, and his interest did not flag in respect to any subject to which he had given his attention.
" He possessed a superior intellect, and he disciplined and developed it well. He kept it active and growing during all his life, succeeding where many men in all the professions fail-in making his profession itself a progressive education, and a constant means of various and stimulating development to his powers. He suffered sensitively in the early years of his college life from having commenced his special preparation at an age somewhat advanced. He had no marked relish for speculation for its own sake either in philosophy or theology.
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" But it is as a Christian minister that he deserves special commemo- ration. For nearly thirty five years he has been the pastor of this church. Before this event it had been greatly enlarged, and was one of the largest country churches in Connecticut. The pastorate has always involved great and constant labor, and with the increase of the population and the business of the town, new and special duties have been imposed on the minister. During all his pastorate, I may say with entire confidence, that he has been devoted to his work. The great, and I may say, almost the only work for which he has cared or labored, has been his work of the ministry for this people in all its departments. He did not prosecute one part of this work to the neglect of the other, as preaching to that of pastoral visitation, but whatever he could do which would conduce to the welfare of his people, that was not only readily but eagerly done. Any service which would indirectly contribute to this great aim, was most readily performed. He also did his work and all parts of it with an eye fixed singly and solely upon the good of his people. He did not study to be a great preacher, and to prepare sermons for his own culture and reputation, but he studied and labored to be an effective preacher, that is, to preach in such a way as to be most useful to the people for whom he was intrusted with the Gospel. Under the stimulus of this desire he dared to do what few men with his training and early habits would have ventured to think of, and what fewer still of his cautious and distrustful temperament would have ventured to do. He dis- carded the conventional method of preparing and delivering sermons, learning to preach without writing with success, learning also to preach expository sermons with remarkable skill, and developing a reach and
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range of imaginative power, and even of dramatic representation, which not one of his friends, and least of all he himself would have dreamed that he possessed. These dormant capacities were waked into life under the over-bearing desire to make his ministry a power among his people. It is singularly characteristic of the man that the only productions which he ever gave to the public, with the exception of two funeral discourses, were three articles which grew out of his interest in the method of Expository and Descriptive preaching which he had wrought out for himself, and made so racy, so effective, and so satisfactory to himself and his hearers. These articles are entitled " Nathaniel's First Interview with Christ," in the Bibliotheca Sacra, for Jan., 1850; "Saul and the Witch of Endor," in the New Englander, for Feb., 1856; and " Expository Preaching," New Englander, 1866. The first two illustrate his practice from the Old and New Testaments respectively, and the last states and defends his theory. * How abundant were his labors is evident from his own testimony. After 25 years of service, he records that he had preached more than 5,000 times, after 334 years that he had preached 8,000 times. The written sermon in which he gives his review of the preceding third of a century is numbered 1,982.
"Mr. Jones' love for his people and interest in them was sensitive almost in the extreme. He had watched over them so long and im- parted to them so much of his heart's love, that he could not easily bear the proposal that any of them should be separated from his flock. Those only can understand his feelings who have a nature as sensitive as his own, and who have given to a people the disinterested service of a score of years. That these feelings had their origin and occasion in a heart that sought love where it had bestowed love and sacrifice, no one who knew him can doubt.
" That such a ministry has been blessed, I need not say. It has been blessed to the people. Not a few seasons have occurred of special movings of the spirit, and of active Christian efforts. In 1838, 124 were added to the communion by profession of their faith; in 1843, 27; in 1846, 36; in 1849, 33; in 1850, 19; in 1854, 44; in 1858, 64; in 1865, 54; in 1869, 54.
" Its influence has been quickening, and widely felt. For 35 years this people have been refreshed and stimulated from this pulpit from his lips, and been fed from the sacramental board from his hands."
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CHAPTER XII.
Rev. Alexander Hall Supplies; Votes for his Settlement; Brief Sketch; Rev. R. H. Timlow called; Votes; Proceedings of Council; Deacons of Congregational Church; Sketches of Thomas Barnes, Samuel Woodruff, Thomas Hart, James Smith, Jared Lee, Timothy Clark, Jolin Curtiss, Pomeroy Newell, Benjamin Dut- ton, John Barnes, Eli Pratt, Phineas Pardee, Oliver Lewis, Theodosius Clark, Wil- liam Woodruff, Edward Twiehell.
REV. ALEXANDER HALL.
AFTER the death of Mr. Jones the Rev. Alexander Hall, of Collins- ville. Conn., supplied the pulpit for a few Sabbaths, and then was en- gaged for six months. To a majority of the church his preaching was acceptable, and June 19, 1.872, a vote was taken upon the question of his settlement, resulting in forty-one yeas and fourteen nays. At a regular meeting, held November 9, the same question was voted on, resulting in thirty-three yeas and sixteen nays. The want of unanimity led to an indefinite postponement of the whole matter.
Mr. Hall was educated for the Methodist ministry, and pursued his preparatory studies at the Central New York Seminary, and at the Garrett Biblical Institute, Chicago. He passed successfully the four years probation prescribed by the Methodist body, and was duly admit- · ted to the full ministry. After entering the Congregational Church he was settled at Collinsville, and is now pastor at Plainville, Conn., where he is greatly respected and very useful.
REV. HEMAN R. TIMLOW.
The present pastor preached for the first time the third Sabbath of December, 1872. The following extracts from the records of church and society are given:
"At a regularly called meeting of the Congregational Church in Southington, held January 11th, 1873, the following votes were passed unanimously :
"Voted, That Rev. H. R. Timlow be invited to become the Pastor and Teacher of this church :
"Voted, That Timothy Higgins, Joseph Gridley, Miles H. Upson, and F. D. Whit- tlesey, be appointed a committee to communicate to Rev. H. R. Timlow (if the Soci- cty concur in such action) the vote of the church, and to make all arrangements which may be necessary to carry out the wishes of the church in the premises."
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"The following votes were passed unanimously :
"Voted, That this Society concur with the action of the church at its meeting, held January Ist, 1873, inviting the Rev. Heman R. Timlow to become the Pastor and Teacher of this people; and in case of his acceptance of said invitation, this Society agrees to, and will, pay him the annual sum of two thousand dollars, and in addition thereto will give him the use of a parsonage :
"Voted, That the Society's Committee be authorized and instructed to make such arrangements with Rev. Mr. Timlow with regard to the payment of his salary, and the parsonage, as shall be satisfactory, and to make such other arrangements as may be deemed necessary :
"Voted, That the Society's Committee be instructed to render all necessary assist- ance in removing the goods and effects of Rev. Mr. Timlow to this place, and pay the expense of the same."
SOUTHINGTON, CONN., Feb. 27th, 1873.
" In pursuance of letters missive from the First Church of Christ in this place, an ecclesiastical council convened at 10 o'clock A. M. Rev. A. C. Adams was chosen Moderator, and Rev. A. T. Waterman, Scribe. Prayer was offered by the Moderator.
"There were present from the church in
Plantsville, Rev. W. R. Eastman, Isaac Burritt.
Plainville, Rev. A. Hall, Levi Curtiss.
Bristol, Rev. W. W. Belden, Deacon Augustus Norton.
Farmington, John E. Cowles.
New Britain 1st, Deacon E. F. Blake.
New Britain South, Deacon William H. Smith.
Kensington, Rev. A. T. Waterman, Samuel Upson.
Meriden 1st, Rev. W. L. Gaylord, Deacon E. C. Allen.
Cheshire, Rev. J. M. Wolcott, J. S. Baldwin.
Waterbury 2d, Rev. E. T. Beckwith, Israel Holmes.
Hartford, Asylum Hill, Rev. J. H. Twichell, Rev. J. R. Keep. Wethersfield, Rev. A. C. Adams.
Darien Center, Rev. J. W. Coleman.
East Hampton, Mass., Rev. M. Henshaw, D.D.
Montclair, N. J., Rev. A. H. Bradford, Samuel Holmes.
And the following ministers:
Rev. E. L. Heermance, Rev. Leonard Bacon, D.D.,
Rev. T. S. Childs, D.D., Rev. Noah Porter, D.D.
Rev. R. G. Vermilye, D.D.,
"The action of the church and society, inviting Rev. Heman R. Tim- low to be their pastor, was presented, and his acceptance of the invitation. Documents certifying Mr. Timlow's ecclesiastical standing were read, and voted to be satisfactory, and the council proceeded to the examina- tion of the candidate, and listened to a statement of his religious expe- rience. The council in session by themselves voted the examination satisfactory, and appointed the following parts for the installation ser-
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vices: Introductory, Rev. A. Hall; Sermon, Rev. Noah Porter, D. D .; Installing Prayer, Rev. R. G. Vermilye, D. D .; Charge to the Pastor, Rev. A. C. Adams; Right Hand of Fellowship, Rev. W. R. Eastman; Address to the People, Deacon Samuel Holmes; Benediction, by the Pastor.
"Voted, The council stands adjourned at the close of the services in the afternoon. The services were performed as above.
A. C. ADAMS, Moderator, A. T. WATERMAN, Scribe."
DEACONS OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.1
For fifty years and more of the history of this church we get only glimpses of the authority exercised by the Deacons. It is evident that both Dea. Thomas Hart and Dea. Jared Lee had a wide influence among the people, and yet it is clear that they kept themselves in sub- ordination to the votes of the church. There is no evidence that they usurped authority or in any way stepped over the proper limits of offi- cial duty. Tradition has it that they did exert an undue influence over the County court in the matter of locating the second meeting house. But if so, it was a personal rather than official influence, for both men held a high place in the esteem of the town and county. A few years after Mr. Chapman was settled, the Deacons seemed to have the mini- mum of influence. The church was permitted to lose rank and au- thority; and was compelled to surrender to the society in almost every- thing. It is probable that a moderate amount of administrative ability would have saved the church the humiliations of the years 1775-80.
It is an item of knowledge that churches are very slow to acquire, that office bearers should be sagacious and discreet men as well as good men. Of course goodness is the first qualification but wisdom is no less desirable. Complaint has been justly made that men of inferior capacity have been elevated to office in the church. Particularly when the tenure is for life, too much care cannot be taken. Sometimes goodish men rather than good men have been promoted and entrusted with interests they were incompetent to manage. No doubt that the discredit cast upon the traditional New England Deacon has originated in the fact that often the office has been filled by men who could not command confidence in their discretion. With very few exceptions it may be said of the deceased Deacons of this church that they were men of integrity and sound judgment. While some have assumed authority not delegated by the church, most of them are worthy of remembrance as men humble, devout, and faithful.
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