USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Cheshire > Exercises commemorative of the two-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the First Congregational Church in Cheshire Connecticut, 1724-1924 > Part 2
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rude the conditions, there was always some way provided to reach the house of prayer and praise.
The conception of the Sabba-Day house seems to have been decidedly Puritan. These houses were usually one story, with one room twelve feet square with a chimney and fireplace at one end. Sometimes, however, two families would unite in the building and would build a two-room house, each being twelve feet square, with a chimney between them and a fireplace for each room on each side of the chimney. Often- times these houses were raised on posts so as to furnish shel- ter underneath for the favorite horse. Here dry wood was stored ready for use. Early preparations were made each Sabbath morning to be in season at the church, and those living at the greatest distance were usually first at the sanc- tuary. If they were owners of a Sabba-Day house, in winter time, a roaring fire was built and the family thoroughly warmed before entering the church where they were to shiver through the long services. At noon they again repaired to the Sabba-Day house for lunch, which usually consisted of bread, cheese, doughnuts, apples and cider, mingled with so- cial converse, thus filling up the hour in readiness for the service of the afternoon. To the rigorous New England win- ter this custom owes its origin. The long distance traveled by some on the Lord's Day and lecture day, the almost com- pulsory attendance of both old and young at the place of worship, and the extreme length of the sacred services com- bined to make churchgoing, especially in winter, no slight undertaking. Personal ease in matters of religion was an equation never to be worked out by our early fathers. The importance of attending public worship was uppermost in their minds, and however cold and stormy, they found rest and spiritual refreshment in the public worship of the sanc- tuary. A number of these Sabba-Day houses were built at
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the rear and south of this second church building. About the time the present church edifice was erected an effort was made to have these Sabba-Day houses removed, as some of them stood in the way of the present church edifice and the needed improvements of the church green. Several of them were sold and removed by their owners, and some young men of the parish had sworn vengeance on those still remaining. Aunt Polly Williams-so called-had made her home in one of these double Sabba-Day houses. One morning upon open- ing the outer door she found the stairs had been taken away during the night. Having good lungs she soon made her im- prisonment known, and Samuel Hull who lived near by came to the rescue. A short time afterwards the posts were sawed down during the night and not a vestige remained. When these houses were all removed but one, one morning the fol- lowing notice was visible on the door: "Be ye also ready" and this last one a few days after could no more be seen.
This second church building was without a steeple until the year 1790, at which time the society voted "To take down the turret and build a steeple," also "To purchase a bell of 700 pounds weight." At the same time it was voted "To ring the bell at 12 o'clock at noon and at nine o'clock at night." This was the New England curfew bell, that rang out its summons to people both old and young who were on the street at that time of night, to hasten to their homes and thus escape the watchful eye of the society officials.
In the year 1767, Rev. John Foot was ordained as pas- tor, and as the colleague of Rev. Samuel Hall. In 1767 he married Miss Abigail Hall, a daughter of his theological in- structor. Although a graduate of Yale in 1765, he studied theology with the Rev. Samuel Hall as his instructor. Up to the time of Mr. Hall's death, Mr. Foot's ministry was gen- erally acceptable to the people; however, in the year 1778,
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dissatisfaction arose, led by several prominent members of the church, who called a meeting of the Consociation of New Haven County, to be held at the home of Timothy Hall on Cheshire Street. Among the charges presented for considera- tion were the following: "Mr. Foot prayed with his eyes open ; a friend of one of the aggrieved brethren called upon Mr. Foot and he did not even offer him a glass of cider ; stating in a sermon, Adam built the ark; Pharaoh that haughty monarch of Egypt beheaded John the Baptist; partiality in catechising children of different families ; pre- senting a gift sent by another person by request as if it were his own gift." A few of these charges were sustained by the Council and Mr. Foot admonished to be more careful in the preparation of his sermons and more considerate in his treatment of the brethren, but most of the charges were con- sidered groundless. After the year 1787 the ministry of Mr. Foot was generally acceptable to the people. Mr. Foot was thought by his people generally to have unusual power at the throne of grace; that his prayers would be answered ; that in times of long drought if he prayed for rain, rain was sure to descend, and, if in a very rainy time he prayed for sunshine, the sun was sure to appear. At such times his peo- ple most earnestly requested his special prayers, assured that his prayers would be answered. There were those out- side the church who claimed that Mr. Foot had a white stone in his cellar and if requested to pray for rain, he would wait until that stone gathered moisture before presenting this request; that if no moisture appeared he would delay special prayer, stating that further punishment for sin was necessary. Mr. Foot during the early part of his ministry exchanged for a Sabbath with the pastor of the church at Northfield. The Northfield minister gave out the hymn be- ginning with the words "Lord, what a barren land is this
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which yields us no supplies." Deacon Israel Bunnell, the leader of the choir, shouted out "Northfield," the North- field minister and the entire congregation smiled. As a dele- gate to the General Association of Ministers held at Hebron, in the year 1798, Mr. Foot was one of the organizers of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, the oldest existing Mis- sionary Society in the United States.
In the year 1811 Mr. Foot requested that a colleague be settled to assist him in the work, which request the society granted and soon after called the Rev. Humphrey Perine as his colleague. Mr. Foot, however, remained as pastor until his death, which took place August 21, 1813. Mr. Foot ad- mitted to the church 549, baptized 1667 and buried 1109 persons during his ministry of 46 years. (His annual bap- tisms averaged 38.)
For 89 years the Reverend Messrs. Hall and Foot faith- fully performed the duties of the pastoral office in this Zion. They died and were laid to rest among the people for whose happiness and spiritual welfare they had so long faithfully and prayerfully labored. Let their memories be enshrined in the hearts of those who love this ancient church through succeeding generations.
Family religion was instilled into the minds of the rising generation and family prayer and worship were an almost universal practice in the days of our fathers. As the heads of families offered up their united petitions the feeling of devo- tion was mingled with the sweetest of human affection. Faith in all its purity of vision and hope ever an anchor to the soul sure and steadfast, were often present to reveal to the eye of faith the mansions in reserve for them in their Fa- ther's house -- that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
That great changes have marked the march of time in
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every department of life is plainly evident and evolution in religion has been no less marked. The old Calvinistic doc- trines held by the Puritans and strongly emphasized by the early church fathers and by the preachers in those days, have slowly and surely been modified and today we seldom hear any mention of the doctrine of original sin, election, justification by faith, divine sovereignty, perseverance of the saints and eternal punishment. This evolution certainly has changed, in fact has almost eliminated the Puritan Sunday. When we remember that in those primitive times no travel, no recreation, no muscular work was allowed on Sunday and compare it with the Sunday of the present, we see no simi- larity. If those early settlers could rise from their graves and be seated on our green, view the trolley cars and auto- mobiles and listen to the noises they make in passing, I think they would faint away,-as the Waterbury historian recently said, "they would desire to return to their place of undisturbed rest."
In those early times Sunday commenced on Saturday evening. When the sun sank to rest Sabba-Day commenced, and among the strictest of the Puritan faith no book was allowed to be read but the book of books-the Holy Bible. No walking out except to meeting or to the sacred enclosure of the dead; a few chapters in Lamentations or from Jere- miah the weeping prophet; a few hours of silent and pro- found meditation, a solemn expression of the countenance, these were thought necessary in order to prepare the pro- fessed believer for the observance of this, the holiest of all days. Each Sabbath day all went to church, the children as well as their parents, the church often being filled to over- flowing, the young people often covering the pulpit stairs as well as the benches in front of the old people's seats. This observance had much to do in the moulding of character of
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the rising generation. Admiral Foot once said that he never watched for a ship at sea with more interest than for the three stars on Sunday evening that brought him the time for a little sport.
The early deacons of the church were deeply spiritual of mind. They were set apart for this office by the laying on of hands in a regular service in charge of the pastor. Several of them are now resting in Cheshire's quiet enclosure of the dead. We miss from this historic service the presence of Dea- con George Keeler, the oldest Deacon of this church, who is now prostrate on a bed of sickness, with but little hope of a recovery .* He is waiting, patiently waiting for the sum- mons to "Depart and be with Christ," and we can be assured of another waiting, that of the Victor's Crown, full of Stars, on the Eternal Shore. "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever."
The first standing committee of the church were ap- pointed March 4, 1791, and were as follows : Deacon Israel Bunnell, Deacon Benoni Plum, Reuben Roys, Reuben At- water, Jesse Moss, Lucius Tuttle, Andrew Hull, Jr., John Bryant, Thomas Andrews, Amasa Hitchcock, Amasa Lewis and Nathan Gaylord.
The pastorate of Rev. H. M. Perine was a short one. He was ordained August 25, 1813, and dismissed April 26, 1816.
In the year 1820, Rev. Roger Hitchcock, a native of Cheshire, then 53 years of age, was ordained and installed as the pastor of this church of his fathers at an annual salary of $500. In accepting this, he requested that $100 of the salary voted him be put upon interest, the interest to
* Deacon Keeler died three days after this service.
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be annually added to the principal; the same to be expended when required for the support of preaching in the society. After the decease of Mr. Hitchcock this sum was paid to his family. During Mr. Hitchcock's ministry, his brother, Rev. Reuben Hitchcock was supplying for him one Sunday. He was a very short but very stockily built man, and as the old pulpit was a very high one, a box was furnished for him to stand upon, so that he could see and be seen. He took for his text "Yet a little while and ye shall see me and again a little while and ye shall not see me." As he was uttering the closing words of his text the box broke from under his feet, and he could not be seen. Certainly a personal application of his text. After a ministry of one year, on account of ill health Mr. Hitchcock resigned this charge and was never again able to resume the work of the ministry. He died January 13, 1823, greatly beloved by his people. December 14, 1824, Rev. Luke Wood was engaged as stated supply at an annual salary of $450. He moved his family to Cheshire and con- tinued as acting pastor until 1826. Mr. Wood was the last minister to officiate in the second church edifice before its removal. Tithingmen were annually appointed to keep or- der in the church and to note all violations of the law in the keeping of the Sabbath. The ancient hourglass was the timekeeper for the pulpit.
In the year 1826, the third or present church building was begun and reached its completion in 1827. This church was dedicated August 1, 1827, the Rev. David L. Ogden of Southington preaching the sermon from words found in Psalms 89: 7 "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him." At this service of song the three Misses Foot and Mrs. E. A. Cornwall were the leading singers, Miss Mary Foot leading in the anthem sung on that occa-
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sion beginning with the words-"I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord." At this serv- ice E. A. Cornwall played the violin ; William A. Brown, the tenor viol, and Warren Benham, the bass viol. Parts of the old church were used in finishing the basement of this church and here church services were held several months before the audience room was ready for occupancy.
In building the present church edifice a tax of 36 cents on the dollar was laid to meet the expense in building, to be paid in three installments as follows : first, in December, 1825; second, in June, 1826; third, in April, 1827. That quite a number of members made haste to lodge with the clerk certificates of withdrawal from the society on account of this tax, is a matter of record. The land on which this church was erected was purchased by the following asso- ciation of persons, and by them presented to this society by deed : Rufus Hitchcock, Andrew Hull, Thomas F. Cornwall, Stephen Ives, Cyrus Baldwin, William R. Hitchcock, Elias Gaylord, Andrew Hull, Jr., Samuel A. Foot, Richard Beach, Bena jah Ives and Samuel Hull, 3d.
Rev. Joseph Whiting was ordained and installed as pas- tor October 24, 1827. He was the first settled pastor to officiate in this church. He built the house now occupied by T. D. Munson, and for a time here gave instruction to a number of young men. He was an eloquent preacher and his ministry here one of marked success. He continued as pastor for nine years and, at his own request, was dismissed August 29, 1836. He first moved to Cleveland, Ohio, then to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he had much to do with the found- ing and building up of that State University, where he died greatly beloved and lamented. A monument to his memory was erected and can now be seen in the college yard of that place.
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The Sunday School connected with this church was or- ganized in 1828 during Mr. Whiting's ministry. Deacon R. W. Roys was its first superintendent, the place of meet- ing being in the basement. Here also week-day church and society meetings were usually held, lectures delivered and, as the town had no suitable place, in this room the town held its business meetings, and it was the place for annual voting until the erection of the Town Hall in 1867. December 7, 1829, the society voted "That the members of the society who wish for a stove, permission is granted to place one in the basement of the church," and appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions for the same. In November, 1837, the society voted "To build a chimney in the meeting house," and December 3 of the same year voted "To place a stove in the meeting house." In our childhood we were told that the first Sunday a stove appeared in this church, although then disconnected with either pipe or chimney, a lady fainted on account of the heat and had to be taken out of church. I remember the two stoves with the long lines of pipes.
December 4, 1837, a call to the pastorate was extended to the Rev. Erastus Colton. The Friday before his ordina- tion the church observed a day of fasting and prayer, and January 19, 1838, the council met for the service of ordina- tion. Mr. Colton was not considered a forceful preacher, yet this church was wonderfully blest during his ministry with a season of special religious interest, receiving the largest ad- ditions to its membership in the history of the church. He was dismissed July 21, 1843, having received 133 additions to the membership of the church.
August 10, 1844, the church and society extended a call to the Rev. Daniel March to the pastorate. Mr. March was then a young man and this church was his first charge. He was ordained April 22, 1845. The council for examination
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met at the hotel of Mr. Horton, which stood near the present site of the present church parsonage. Mr. March was an im- pressive and attractive preacher and a gifted writer. He gained an extended reputation as a writer of books, espe- cially on Bible topics-"The Night Scenes of the Bible," "Our Father's House," "Walks and Homes of Jesus" and "Morning Light in Many Lands," were among the most popular of his published writings. He was the author of the hymn entitled "The Laborers are Few," beginning with the words-"Hark, the voice of Jesus calling, Who will go and work today?" He resigned November 9, 1848, to accept a call to the first church in Nashua, New Hampshire.
During the ministry of Rev. Daniel March, in accord- ance with custom and law, marriage intentions were pub- lished from the pulpit or from some public place of meeting. On one occasion Mr. March was handed a notice as he was entering the church by a young man, a stranger, but he took it for granted that it was authentic and read it as written. It recorded an intention of marriage between a member of the church choir and a colored lady, and was not genuine-evidently the work of someone seeking revenge for some real or surmised injury. Mr. March was noted for strict promptness. At the exact time a service was to com- mence, at that time he commenced the service, however small the audience. Mr. March had a remarkably clear and pene- trating voice. After he left this pastorate, and was known as Dr. March, he occasionally visited Cheshire, and preached for the settled pastor here. One Sunday when he was the pul- pit supply, a man driving through Cheshire and hearing a voice, stopped and tied his horse and seated on the fence in front of the green, heard his entire sermon. Meeting this man several years after, he told me of this incident and when I asked him if he heard the text announced he replied "Yes,
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'As the dew of Hermon and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore,' and it was the finest sermon I ever heard." I remember that sermon very well and that it was generally considered one of the best of his productions. His sermon on "The Dew" I am confident was never for- gotten by a single hearer.
In August, 1849, a call was extended to the Rev. D. S. Rodman, and October 16 he was ordained and installed as pastor. Two years after his settlement he married Cornelia, the youngest daughter of Silas Hitchcock of Cheshire, a lady well equipped mentally and spiritually for the position of a pastor's wife. On account of failure of voice, he felt obliged to resign the pastorate of this church. He was dis- missed December 27, 1854. Many of the trees on the green were set out under his direction and assistance.
Rev. Clement W. Clapp was installed as pastor May 22, 1855, and was dismissed May 11, 1857, after a short pas- torate. He was highly cultured and an able preacher. Mr. Clapp was the last one to occupy the pulpit in this church, before the change was made of removing the pulpit from the front to the rear of the church, removing the choir gal- lery from the west end and fitting up the gallery at the east end, as now appears.
In 1857 the society gave permission to erect sheds on land south of the church, and to put the basement in suitable con- dition for a lecture room, but this later vote was not carried out. The present lecture room and ladies' parlor at the rear of the church was built in 1876, the ladies for the most part furnishing the payment. The first parsonage of the church was built in 1867. The land on which it was erected was pre- sented to the society by John E. Law. The present parson- age was built in 1914.
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After the dismissal of Mr. Clapp the Rev. David Root was engaged to supply the pulpit for one year commencing January 1, 1858, and again for another year. During his ministry the church and community experienced a season of special religious interest, and this church received 115 per- sons to its membership on confession of faith. Mr. Root was an able, convincing preacher. Mr. Root was reported as say- ing, as he was leaving Cheshire, that he was doing what the Devil had never done-leave Cheshire. The first Sunday in May, 1858, sixty-six years ago, with forty others, I united with this church, then under his ministry, and of that num- ber I only am left. Mr. Root had his peculiarities, yet for the tender words spoken to me on that occasion I shall ever hold his memory in grateful remembrance.
In the latter part of August, 1857, during a severe thunderstorm, this church was struck by lightning. The electrical current entered the church at the northeast corner and passed entirely through the building, tearing up the floor in the north aisle and passing out at a window in the rear of the church. This damage necessitated extensive re- pairs, and at this time many changes were made in the in- terior of the church.
In the basement of this church, for many years, a service of prayer was held on Sunday mornings one-half hour be- fore the morning service. This service of prayer was usually led by one of the deacons, and someone was generally pres- ent able to lead in singing one or more of the familiar hymns of the church. Many prayers were offered at these morning services, for the preacher of the day and that the gospel message as proclaimed might be "a savor of life unto life to many hearers." Those morning prayer meetings con- tinued until the installing of furnaces which necessitated a change in the basement room. Services were held each year
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in the outer districts by the pastor and deacons of the church.
In April, 1860, Rev. John S. C. Abbott was engaged for one year as pulpit supply. January 8, 1862, the church and society extended a call to Rev. Charles Little, who was duly installed as pastor, his resignation taking place in June, 1865. He was followed by the Rev. Cyrus Picket for one year.
In March, 1867, Rev. Joseph H. Towne, D.D., was en- gaged for one year, and in December of the same year the church extended to him a call to the pastorate, which call, on account of ill health, he declined.
Rev. John M. Wolcott was installed as pastor November 11, 1869, and was dismissed September 20, 1876. Rev. Joseph Isham was engaged for one year February 1, 1877, and in January, 1878, was ordained and installed as pastor. He resigned April 10, 1882.
Rev. Elijah C. Baldwin was engaged as stated supply November 2, 1882, and in March, 1884, the society voted to give him a call to the pastorate for an indefinite period of time. He died April 27, 1890, in the midst of his active pastoral work.
Rev. James P. Hoyt was called to the ministry of this church for an indefinite period of time June 23, 1890. After ten years of faithful service, he resigned his charge July 20, 1900. Mr. Hoyt was especially faithful in visiting the aged among us, and with words of cheer pointing them to the rest beyond.
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January 3, 1902, Prof. John R. Paddock presented this church with finely executed portraits of the Rev. Sherlock Bristol and the Rev. Asahel Stevens, sons of this church. These portraits now adorn the wall of the chapel. December 25, 1903, Deacon and Mrs. George Keeler presented this
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church with an individual communion set of fine design, and at nearly the same time Alexander Doolittle presented a fine baptismal font as a memorial of his sister, Mrs. Mary Gillett. Many substantial gifts have been presented to the church and society, the ladies of the church, some of them being descendants of former members, being the largest con- tributors.
February 4, 1901, Rev. Robert W. Newlands was called to the ministry of this church for an indefinite period of time and was dismissed in 1906. He was followed by Rev. Carl Stackman from 1906 to 1911. During his ministry here, Miss Mary Hotchkiss presented the church with an electric lighting system, a much-needed and much-appreciated gift.
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