Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn, Part 3

Author: Timlow, Heman Rowlee, 1831-1892. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1875
Publisher: Hartford, Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard co.
Number of Pages: 916

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The first sermon that I heard was founded on the 8th of Romans and the 11th verse ; the next on Jeremiah 18: 11. His sermons were always replete with sound doctrine, and his manner in the pulpit very earnest and impressive; frequently indicating deep emotion, and not unfrequently accompanied with tears. I feel grateful for his faith- ful instructions and admonitions which I thus received, and I cherish his memory with the most affectionate regard and veneration. I rarely failed of attending church during my clerkship, and as I endeavored to be an attentive hearer, it will not I trust, be regarded as an unusual re- sult that after listening attentively for such a length of time to such a preacher, that my theological views were to some extent, at least, in ac- cordance with those of my revered teacher, and that I should still ad- here to the views thus entertained in early life, and certainly I ought to be thankful to a kind Providence for instructions thus received, and also, for preserving my life through dangers seen and unseen, to come back to-day at my advanced age to participate in this anniversary oc- casion; and should I entertain and cherish feelings of a reflective char- acter, it will not, I trust, be regarded as unsuited to the festivities of this occasion.

Surely, it can not be out of place or untimely, to evince sensibility on my part, when attended with so many interesting associations con- nected with my early history.

How forcibly am I reminded of the rapid flight of time. How many tender memories flit across my mind in regard to early acquaintances. Alas, how many of these early ties have been rent asunder. Where are the five hundred persons whose names I once entered on the ledger during my clerkship here. Most of them, doubtless, now lie in graves here, or the soil of a distant sod covers them, and their names are written upon marble tablets.

A small number of survivors yet remain, and it gives me great plea- sure to meet them here to-day, to revive early friendships. But I am not unmindful, my surviving friends, that it is emphatically the ebb tide of life with us, and we are fast floating across that ocean from which there is no returning wave.

May I not indulge the hope that when these earthly ties of kindred and of friendship are rent asunder, our names may not only be written

HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.

upon earthly monuments, but also written in the Lamb's book of life, and our emancipated spirits safely arrive where the weary are at rest.

MR. TIMLOW. Another is with us to-day, to whom this church and myself personally, are greatly indebted for particular services. He was the class-mate and life-long friend of your late pastor, and was with you in your bereavement. He was also with us when the new pastoral relation was formed. Of his many acts of kindness I wish to make a public recognition to-day. I refer to President Porter of Yale Col- lege, who will address you :

PRESIDENT PORTER'S ADDRESS.

President Porter began with a commendation of the habit of studying of, and the dwelling in, the past. The past of any New England town is a subject for pride. Alluding to the material growth of the town, he said that he could remember when all the trade of Southington (tin machines) was carried off in the occasional stage coaches in which at times he rode from Farmington to New Haven. The founders of Southington were strong-minded, God-fearing men, whose impress will long rest on the town. He could remember when in New Britain there was only the unpainted church once under Dr. Smalley, which laid the foundation for those elements of character that make New Britain to- day a manufacturing town of sobriety and good behavior. The in- fluence of the New England towns reaches all the way from here to the Mississippi. All through the west and the northwest the New Eng- lander, with his school-house and meeting-house, has spread over the land and made the character of those regions so different from that of the south. He remembered, when in college, a consultation of a few theological students whether they would go to Illinois to preach. They went. The population then was less than 130,000. When the war came that state sent more than 130,000 men to the war. Perhaps the very efforts of those and other such laborers saved the state from such discord as took place in Missouri.

He gave many interesting reminiscences of the place. He said he could even remember Dr. Robinson when he himself was a very young boy. He recollected, too, preaching when a young " theologue" before the Southington church, though, he doubted not, no one else would re- member it. He paid a glowing tribute to Dr. Robinson ; and he said he had a letter from Mr. Jones asking his advice about accepting a call to Southington. He thinks he advised him to come. He alluded to some of the early persecutions. The people then had no idea of sink- ing the minor details of faith-a duty which is being forced upon this generation and will still more devolve upon the next.

HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.

MR. TIMLOW. It was expected that Rev. Dr. Rollin H. Neale of Bos- ton, a native of this town, and whose ancestors were connected with this society, would be present to respond to the call for a representative of the Baptist denomination. But he has been unable to reach here. At a late hour another has consented to take his place who, although not a native, has many ties binding him here. I refer to Rev. Dr. Crane of the South Baptist Church, Hartford, who will now address you.

DR. CRANE'S ADDRESS.

One never knows, when he leaves home in the morning, what will befall him before night. Twenty years ago Dr. Upson taught me punctuation in Hamilton College; and I meet him to-day for the first time in all the long period between then and now. He instructed me so well, that correct punctuation is with me a second nature. And since he was a child of this church, why may I not say that the punctuation of an obscure Baptist parson in Hartford is part of the excellent fruitage of this church?

Your pastor did me a kind office once: therefore I am here. When I said in an exegetical essay that Christ did actually preach to Spirits in prison, and many dissented, he stood up very manfully and insisted that I was right. "Why shall we not believe the Bible ?" he cried. Yon remember the passage, how it goes on to speak of and define and describe baptism. But I forget myself. I ought not to hurl the most formidable Baptist proof text at your heads.

I wish that I were not here in Dr. Neale's place. I wish that he were here in his own place. For he is a loyal son of Southington, and he loves you all. I have heard him commemorate you, you Congre- gationalists, very tenderly. We ministers would welcome him most cordially; for he always stands up for us. Once in giving the charge to the church at an ordination, he said-" If your minister preaches a good sermon, tell him that he has preached a good sermon; and if he preaches a poor sermon, tell him-tell him-tell him that he has preached a good sermon." If all churches would follow Dr. Neale's counsel, no preacher would lose his self-respect.

But I must tell you how heartily I congratulate myself on the priv- ilege of rejoicing with a church that is one hundred and fifty years old. You who have always lived east of the Hudson River know not the offence of our everlasting American newness and rawness. West- ern enterprise rejuvenates everything. When a meeting-house begins to get the mellow beauty of age, down it must come, to be replaced by something modern. Even in Boston the Vandals are going to demol- ish the old South Church. You know what a spite our city fathers hold against the venerable elms in the streets. Will we ever have the

HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.

blessed antiquities that old England cherishes so tenderly ? Will we ever be wise enough to maintain, in fact and in symbol, our connection with the past ?

But here in Southington is something old -- the First Congregational Church. It began to be when George First, distinguished for fond- ness for punch and fat women, reigned ingloriously; and it antedates George Washington, that great and good man " who never slopped over." What changes have passed upon the earth since this tender twig was planted ! A breath could sway it then; but behold it now ! a great tree, sound at heart, and spreading its green all abroad.

I have the right as a Baptist, to be with you to-day. For have not Congregationalists and Baptists always been intimate ? When we are fond of one, we cannot keep our hands off him. You know that the old Massachusetts Congregationalists were so fond of Roger Williams that they threw their arms around him and said-" Roger, we think the Indians of Narraganset Bay need you." Now those old Congrega- tionalists have been grievously misunderstood. They loved Roger Williams well; but they loved the Indians better. They felt that he was so unspeakably good, that he could do them an unspeakable good: so they sent him to the Indians as a missionary. This is the true version of that matter; and some one ought to print it for wide publi- cation.

There is a tradition here that a Rev. Mr. Merriman was once put in the stocks for proclaiming Baptist sentiments. A mistaken* tradition, I am sure. He was punished, not as a Baptist, but as a poacher and magician. He probably stole Congregationalists chickens, and con- verted them into Baptist ducks.

And that reminds me that there is one passage in the Bible which tells heavily against the Baptists. It bothers me dreadfully, and I wonder that you have not seized it as an unanswerable proof-text against us. I will give it to you: "beware of divers and strange doc- trines." There is a stunner.

After all, religious persecution is due to the false notion that a political union of church and state is justifiable. The world was working towards the discovery that the notion was a false one. The Baptists, thanks to certain great doctrines which they had lighted upon, made the discovery. So let them have the credit of the watch-word, "a free church in a free state."

But I want to say that the world owes a great debt to the Congrega- tionalists, a sect not to be estimated according to its numbers. For it has leavened other sects mightily. New School Presbyterianism is, in a very profound sense, Congregationalism in another form.

* In truth a mistaken tradition. See sketch of the Baptist church. H. R. T.

HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.

It is Congregationalists who have realized the highest ideal of the sermon. Hawthorne found this out when he was in England. I found it out when I was in England. Better sermons are preached in Hartford every Sunday than I heard from Dean Stanley, or John Cum- ming, or Stopford A. Brooke. We all preach great sermons in Hart- ford.

Congregationalists have also shown how orthodoxy and liberalism can coexist. Not contradicting a sound creed, they have allowed scope to free thought and free faith. Thus have they gained thousands for Christ who otherwise would have been abandoned to infidelity. When Prof. Swing went out from the Chicago Presbytery acquitted, every Congregationalist was warranted in scoring a victory.

But I must stop, just now when I have a hundred good things to say. When this church celebrates its two hundred and fiftieth an- niversary, I will look in on you and finish my speech.

MR. TIMLOW. Among the youngest of the churches in this town is the Methodist, but it has already taken its place as a power in the community. I am happy to present to you, as representing this de- nomination, the Rev. Harvey E. Burnes.

REV. MR. BURNES' ADDRESS.

Mr. Chairman :- I have been oppressed this day with the weight of a great sorrow. I have felt deeply my great misfortune in not being born in the town of Southington. To be sure, I was born in Massa- chusetts, which I had vainly supposed was as noble a State as Con- necticut, and my birthplace was in Berkshire county, which, until this day, I had regarded as favorably as that of Hartford county of this Commonwealth, but I have felt, sir, while sitting here that if I could have been born somewhere in Southington, even though in its outer- most limit, I should have been one of the most favored of earth. But such was not the case, and during these hours, I have been saddened. In the midst of my sadness, however, there came relief. I remembered that many years ago, I sold papers in this town. Once a day, for about the space of six weeks, I came from New Haven, got off at the station here, stopped for half an hour, went to the few stores, to the one small shop, and sold the papers I carried. It was a precious thought. At once it brought relief. I have been identified in my youth with the growth of Southington. I remember well the last day of my newspaper life. I owed one of the inhabitants of this town the sum of two cents: meeting him, I returned that amount to him. He expressed the greatest surprise at my honesty. I have never learned whether he could not think that any lad outside of

11ISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.

Southington could be so honest, or from a failure to comprehend how any one could be honest, after associating with the young men here for the space of six weeks.

I am not expected on this great occasion to praise any of the great denominations represented here. None of them needs praise from me. The form of my introduction to you, as the Methodist minister of this place, would lead me to infer that I am expected to say something of Methodism, not as a denomination, but in respect to its growth in this town. The first Methodist class, or organized company of Methodists of which we can learn anything, was formed in Flanders, about sixty years ago. Its leader was Richard Cowles. He should have a monu- ment. Any man who made, in those days, a good class leader, should have one. Among the names that have come down to us from that class are those of Seth Smith, who later in life was greatly afflicted, and his wife Huldah Smith, a woman who could pray, sing, and exhort the godless; other evidences of her saintliness appear in her strong faith, clear hope, her faithfullness as a wife, and last, but not in those days the least, her devotion to the old fashioned Methodist attire. Perhaps it will increase her value with some of us if I mention that she was baptized by immersion in an artificial pond made in a brook. Louise Amsdin, afterwards Mrs. Case, of whom it is said, "she was an excellent woman," and Hila Miller, also appear as members of this first class. These two afterward joined the Baptist church, under the ministry of Mr. Atkins. So it will be seen, that Methodism from the first, commenced its contribution of members to the other Evangelical churches.

But these all have passed away. The record is, that they died in the hope of the christian. It would be a pleasant task to speak of the "seasons " enjoyed by these " original Methodists." We should see a little company, intense in their devotion and hearty in their worship. We should see them the sport of the godless, and the honor of some of the godly: but they did love God, and were not ashamed to make it known. The coming of preachers to them was always a joyous season. Among those whose names appear, are Father Waldron, William Rogers, William Burrit, Mr. Parsons, and E. E. Griswold. Father Waldron came from the Blue Hills. He was a shoemaker by trade, and an exhorter, by the authority of the Methodist Episcopal church. William Rogers came from New Britain. He may be better known to some of you, as the silversmith now on the corner of Main and State streets, Hartford. William Burrit was the brother of our townsman, Isaac Burrit. So it will be seen, we came within one of capturing that celebrated family. Mr. Parsons was a name dear to the Methodists of that day. We can say nothing more in respect to

HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.

hini; but to say this is to give him no small honor. E. E. Griswold was later in life the presiding elder of this district. A few years since he was honored with the Doctorate-". D. D."-which of course would make him a " Distinguished Divine."

The class from which has formed the present Methodist society of this town was organized in 1858, and consisted of fifteen members. During the first years of its life, it was exceedingly migratory. Bradley's Hall, Gridley's Hall, and the Unitarian church, at the cen- ter, and Cowles' Hall, with Plants' Hall at Plantsville, were its several places of worship. In the year 1860 or '61 there occurred an event which brings a smile to our lips, but which was serious enough for them. The society of fifteen members supported a secession.

Plantsville seceded from Southington. It almost killed the infantile society, and it would have quite, had there not been in our economy a power to bring them again together. It is often remarked that what one gives up, another one will appropriate. At any rate the other two leading Protestant churches copied the example of our infancy, with such good results, in at least one instance (as we heard this morning)* that there is no desire to copy from our maturer years.

During this period the membership steadily increased, and a large Sabbath school was formed. But still, so many were its discourage- ments, that in 1865 it was a serious question whether they would be able to continue. But God had a man for the place, the Rev. A. M. Allen. We believe that God intended him for the society at that time. A work was to be done that should make the Methodist church a power in this town. They must needs be acknowledged, and have rights, and chief of all, the right to exist. Of all men, Rev. Mr. Allen was specially adapted to meet this emergency. He was not per- haps remarkable as a preacher-but he had qualifications for building up a society, possessed by but few. At the time he was engaged he was in the south. He at once came north, arrived at his home in Forestville Saturday night-walked next morning to Plainville-held divine service-visited among the few members, and at once decided to build a church edifice.

It is not our business to speak of the great burden now to be carried by a few faithful members. They received, however, assistance from without. Among the Congregationalists, whose names are held by them, in grateful remembrance, are those of Hon. Henry D. Smith, and E. E. Stow, both of Plantsville. It must not be supposed, how- ever, that these were alone of that denomination, others gave to the work and their names are not forgotten. It was a very unfortunate man, who was not asked to give to the erection of that edifice, and

* Referring to the paper read by Rev. Mr. Eastman.

HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.

allow me to say if he gave, that giving is among the best remembered of all his life. I find people all about, who love to tell, to me at least, what they gave toward that church building. There is not another edi- fice in this town, of which so many can speak by right of contribution or service, and there were not a few whose interest in religious mat- ters commenced with this response to the kind invitation " How much will you give ?" or " What will you do for us ?" who were afterward converted in that church and led to God, through the prayers and labors of its devoted membership. The church was completed in 1867. Its cost was about $12,000. At the time of its dedication, there were thirty-five members, the value of whose combined property was only about that of the church itself. Yet at the time of its dedication there was a debt of $4,000, not a dollar of which remains to-day.

It would be idle for me to take time to show that the church of which I have been speaking, has already deeply affected for good the moral and religious condition of this town. That is admitted by all. Scores have been converted at its altar during these seven years, who by their changed lives have done as much for holiness, as before conversion they did for sin ; while other scores have gone to other denominations to strengthen and bless them. In the full number they will be united by hundreds, for our work has just commenced. In conclusion permit me to say, I rejoice at this opportunity, for I am speaking to a church of Christ, which, although it has twice numbered more than three-score years and ten, shows to-day these many evidences of enterprise and ac- tivity, combining with the wisdom of age, the enthusiasm of youth.

REV. MR. TIMLOW. Sometimes a son becomes degenerate, and leaves his home. There is one with us to-day who has, in a sense, aposta- tized, and gone to that "far country" of which Dr. Upson spoke- Southern Central New York-to a " little village " lying on the banks of a " little stream " and along that " little " Railroad Corporation that has made a good deal of noise in the world; but which seems to be just now a troubler in the financial world. I refer to the Rev. Samuel Dun- ham, who is successfully laboring in a Presbyterian Church in the city of Binghamton, N. Y., and who is able to vindicate himself.

REV. MR. DUNHAM'S ADDRESS.

Mr. President. I feel just as though there were fifty men on this platform and in this audience who have a better right to speak than I have. But being called for I respond. I want to say this one word at the outset. I think the thanks of this assembly are due the present pastor of this church for the exceedingly interesting and valuable his- torical papers presented this morning. He has cheerfully submitted to

HISTORY OF SOUTHINGTON.

an immense sacrifice of time and labor, exploring all the old musty records, leaving, apparently, no stone unturned in his research, and has brought out a mass of facts in our local history of which many of us hitherto were largely ignorant.

As a native of this town, I feel under a debt of gratitude to the his- torian of the day for the service he has so well and ably rendered.

With regard to the accusation against which I am challenged to vindicate myself, I will only say that the history, rehearsed this morn- ing, shows that this old church started under the Presbyterian* polity; so that in backsliding, you see, I have slid right back into the warm, comfortable nest where the original egg was incubated, and the church first found its being. In this light, the fowling-piece of the enemy may be said to have kicked, and the charge of apostasy reacts upon the accusers. But really there are no guns and no enemies in the case. The Congregationalism of Connecticut and Massachusetts is the Presby- terianism of New York, with differences scarcely appreciable ; and no sensible shock is felt in the transition from the one to the other.

As I sat upon the deck of the " Elm City " in New York Harbor night before last, watching the busy life of those waters, among the numerous floating craft I saw a steamer start out (whose name is, at least, suggestive of Roger Williams-"The City of Providence,") car- rying flags of various nationalities, French, German, Irish, American, and all flung to the breeze with a kind of cosmopolitan freedom. So here to-day, my friends, we are all in the same boat, Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, though sailing under different colors. I have been constantly reminded to-day of an old fashioned New England Thanksgiving festival, when the sons and daughters all come home to sit with father and mother around the same table, and where all alike, big and little, are bound to have a good time, and where all are equally entitled to a share in the turkey. This may be a reason why we little boys are invited to a participation in these proceedings, as well as the gray haired men whom I see here about me.

From a to-day's New York paper, which I have seen since coming upon the platform, I learn that the band of one hundred American Pil- grims were yesterday received in due form at the Vatican, and had the pleasure of kissing the hand of the Pope, and of presenting him with their various offerings. King Victor Emanuel, it seems, objected to the entrance into Rome of a larger company than one hundred, bear- ing the American flag. This, too, is a sacred pilgrimage upon which we have come hither to-day ; but I see here no evidence of any such arbitrary limitation of our numbers ; and we have all received a cor-

* The speaker misunderstood-it was called the Presbyterian Church, as were many of the old Connecticut churches. H. R. T.

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dial welcome. Among the offerings presented by those Romish devo- tees was a heart of gold. We come bringing to this shrine no metallic hearts, but hearts of flesh and blood, full of warmth and affection for the dear old mother church.

It was my good fortune to be one of that sacred number, seven, who a few years ago, and at about the same time, went forth from the Academy here on the hill, graduated at the same College (old Yale), and all of whom are now devoted to the work of the Christian minis- try ; Upson, Barnes, Higgins, Hart, Jones, Twichell, Dunham, a kind of clerical heptarchy ; and we all revere and love this old church and town.

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Ecclesiastical and other sketches of Southington, Conn, Part 3

Author: Timlow, Heman Rowlee, 1831-1892. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1875 Publisher: Hartford, Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard co. Number of Pages: 916

Author: Timlow, Heman Rowlee, 1831-1892. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1875
Publisher: Hartford, Press of the Case, Lockwood and Brainard co.
Number of Pages: 916