USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Half-century history of the Farmington Avenue Congregational Church > Part 3
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* The following is a roll of the Clerks of the church: Henry W. Tay- lor, Oct. 21, 1852 to Oct. 3, 1867; Charles P. Welles, Oct. 3, 1867 to March 3, 1876; Stephen C. Brownell, April 1876 to Feb. 8, 1877; Leverett Belknap, Feb. 8, 1877 to Jan. 13, 1898; Francis N. Allen, Jan. 13, 1898 to date.
+ Deacon Welch was succeeded by Rev. George E. Sanborne, March 13, 1890. He also died in office Jan. 7, 1900, and on the IIth of that month Horace E. Mather was chosen.
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angel." The deacons in this church, which have been only nineteen in number, have always been chosen for life, and ten have died in office, respected by their fellow members .* An attempt was made in 1859 to make the terms of the deacons then elected five years only, but it was overwhelmingly defeated. It was the custom at first to choose four who, with the pastor and deacons, should constitute the Prudential Committee. Messrs. David F. Robinson, James B. Hosmer, Erastus Collins, and George W. Root, were elected December 16, 1852. In 1859 this number was increased to six. During the half-century, twenty-seven have served in this capacity.t .
* The roll of Deacons is as follows: William W. Turner, Dec. 16, 1852, died July 11, 1887; Albert W. Butler, Dec. 16, 1852, died March 5, 1858; Thomas Smith, Dec. 16, 1852, died April 4, 1882; Olcott Allen, Dec. 16, 1852, died Oct. 24, 1872; Joseph E. Cone, June 3, 1858 to May 9, 1872; Erastus Collins, Jan. 27, 1859 to March 6, 1865; Stephen C. Brownell, Jan. 27, 1859 to date; George W. Williams, Sept. 28, 1865 to Nov. 19, 1873; John B. Eldredge, May 16, 1872 died, June 1, 1882; Nathaniel Shipman, Nov. 21, 1872 to date; Charles P. Welles, Nov. 27, 1873, died March 3, 1876; George M. Welch, June 1, 1876, died Feb. 20, 1890; John B. Corning, Nov. 2, 1882; died Feb. 7, 1896; William P. Williams, Nov. 2, 1882, died Sept. 18, 1898, Nelson Hollister, Oct. 20, 1887, died March 2, 1897; Charles R. Burt, May 15, 1890 to date; Horace E. Mather, Feb. 4, 1897 to date; Philo P. Bennett, May 10, 1900 to date; Federal B. Bridgman, July 5, 1900 to date. The last two were elected after the removal.
+ The following have been members of the Prudential Committee: David F. Robinson, 1852-1862; James B. Hosmer, 1852-1858; Erastus Collins, 1852-1859; Geo. W. Root, 1852-1858, 1866-1884; Roland Mather, 1858-1866; Newton Case, 1858-1865; John B. Eldredge, 1859-1866, 1871-1872; H. K. W. Welch, 1859-1870; George W. Williams, 1859-1865; Nathaniel Shipman, 1862-1872; George M. Welch, 1865-1876; John B. Corning, 1866-1882; Wmn. H. Kelsey, 1866-1871; Nelson Hollister, 1871-1887; Daniel Phillips, 1873-1879; David B. Moseley, 1873-1887; William P. Williams, 1877-1880; Rev. Geo. E. Sanborne, 1879-1900; Charles R. Burt, 1880-1890; Charles H. Prentice, 1882 to date; Horace E. Mather, 1884-1897; Francis N. Allen, 1887 to date; John G. Root, 1887 to date; Ward W. Jacobs, 1891 to date; Rev. Clark S. Beardslee, 1897-1898; Jonathan B. Bunce, 1878 to date; M. Brad- ford Scott, 1900 to date.
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At the above-mentioned church meeting, October 21, 1852, it was unanimously voted to invite Rev. Elias R. Beadle to become the pastor of this church. This was the culmination of efforts to secure a minister which had been begun by the Society Oct. 31, 1851. Their minds were first directed toward Rev. Ros- well D. Hitchcock, then of Exeter, N. H., and after- wards the distinguished Professor of Bowdoin College and Union Theological Seminary. Three times some of their number went to Exeter to hear him. A com- mittee of nine finally went to Boston and heard him at the Park Street Church, April 25, 1852, and at a meeting held that evening in the United States Hotel, they voted to call him, as they had been empowered to do. He visited Hartford, and had made up his mind to accept, when he was persuaded to enter a professor- ship. They also made overtures to Rev. Edmund K. Alden, then of Yarmouth, Maine, and since a Secre- tary of the American Board, and called Rev. George Richards, pastor of the Central Church of Boston, who declined. So matters rested until, by some good Providence, they heard of Mr. Beadle, of New Orleans, La., who chanced to be on a visit to New Haven. A committee waited upon him, and after an examination of the field he pledged himself to accept their formal call, which was extended by the church vote, October 2Ist, and the Society's action on the 26th instant.
Elias Root Beadle was born in Cooperstown, N. Y., October 13, 1812. As a boy of seventeen he took his stand at his mother's side and together they united with the church. Soon after, Judge Alvan Stewart met him, and advised his preparation for the ministry. Parts of two years were then spent in the study of
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theology under the celebrated Dr. Kirk, then of Albany, N. Y., and he entered the service of the American Sunday-School Union. At the age of twenty-three, he was licensed to preach at Utica, N. Y., and he was ordained at Buffalo in 1836. His first pastorate was over the First Presbyterian Church at Albion, N. Y., where he remained two years. The father of the present pastor was then a student in that town, and it was one of Mr Beadle's stirring appeals to the youth, which decided Dr. Love to study for the ministry. Burning with missionary zeal Mr. Beadle then offered himself to the American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions, and in 1839 he sailed for Syria. Four years were spent in that country and Constantinople. He then returned to America and began an arduous and successful work in New Orleans, where he was for nine years the pastor of the Prytania Street Presbyterian Church. The selection of this pious and affectionate minister as the first pastor of the Pearl Street Church was providentially ordered. He was admirably adapted to such an en- terprise, which sought to reach new residents and the youth. As a spiritual guide he was a rare man. It is said that he possessed a fascinating power over his auditors, and impressed them with the importance of religious truths. His first visit to this city brought the people together in affectionate attachment to him. So they gave him a hearty call and he at once accepted.
The installation took place on the Ist of December. The council met in the Lecture Room at 9 o'clock, A. M., for the preliminaries, and the public exercises were held in the evening at 6.30 o'clock in the audi-
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torium. Having performed their morning service the members of the council were invited to attend the dedication exercises of the new church edifice which had been arranged for 2 o'clock in the afternoon. At that hour a large assembly was gathered. Rev. Dr. Stiles of New Haven, preached the dedicatory sermon from I Cor. II : 2, on " The Excellency of Christianity as a Divine Power in the World," and Dr. Hawes offered the prayer." At the appointed evening hour Mr. Beadle was installed, the sermon being preached by Rev. A. C. Thompson of Roxbury, Mass., from Matt. XXVIII : 20, on "Christ's precious pledge of His abiding presence with His ministers."+ The singing throughout was conducted by Mr. Barnett of the First Church, and it is said that " without organ or instru- ment of any kind the soul was borne to Heaven upon the sweetest music of the human voice." In the fol- lowing week, December 7th, the slips in the Church were sold for three months, and it appears from the Committee's book that 85 out of the 136 were taken. The next year 112 were sold. Thus the congregation experienced from the first an encouraging growth.
* No record was made of the dedication exercises, but the following, according to contemporary newspapers, was the program, interspersed doubtless with singing: Invocation and Reading of Scriptures, Rev. Walter Clarke; Introductory Prayer, Rev. M. N. Morris; Sermon, Rev. Joseph C. Stiles, D.D .; Dedicatory Prayer, Rev. Joel Hawes, D.D .; Con- cluding Prayer, Rev. Samuel Spring.
+ A program of these services is preserved in the Church archives. They were as follows: Invocation and Reading the Scriptures, Rev. M. N. Morris; Hymn, " O Thou that Hearest Prayer "; Introductory Prayer, Rev. Mark Tucker, D.D .; Quartette with Chorus, "Oh how lovely is Zion "; Sermon, Rev. A. C. Thompson; Installing Prayer, Rev. Joab Brace; Charge to the Pastor, Rev. Cyrus Yale; Right Hand of Fellowship, Rev. Walter Clarke; Anthem, " How Beautiful upon the Mountains "; Conclud- ing Prayer, Rev. Joel Hawes, D.D .; Benediction, The Pastor.
BLESSED ALT THE DEAD WHOLE THE LORD
$
0
DOORWAY PEARL STREET CHURCH
WILLIAMS MEMORIAL DOORWAY FARMINGTON AVENUE CHURCH
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So far as we are aware only fourteen of these pew- holders were represented in any way in the congrega- tion at the time of the removal.
We can not chronicle all the memorable events of Dr. Beadle's pastorate. Many are doubtless lost to view in the lapse of years. The newspapers did not then record church matters so fully as they do to-day, and we have not the assistance of our church scrap- books which amply cover more recent times. The first funeral which was held in the sanctuary was that of Archibald Welch, M.D., a "prominent citizen and beloved physician," who was killed in the Norwalk railroad disaster. On the Sabbath afternoon of May 9, 1853, the auditorium was draped in mourning and filled to its utmost capacity with sympathetic friends. The services were conducted by Rev. Messrs. Beadle, Hawes, Clarke, and Tucker, and the pastor standing in the pulpit and looking upon the face of his friend, stretched forth his hand and said "Brethren, there lies the first of our dead - the first but not the last ! Henceforth for us the gates of death stand wide open, day and night." He spoke the sorrowful truth. That was the first funeral occasion in that sanctuary, and, with many intervening, the last, when the beloved Deacon William P. Williams was borne thither, is all too well remembered.
Other scenes, too, are etched in memories of some of the living and were fondly cherished by parents departed, - the time when some who are parents now were little babes in arms, and were brought thither to be consecrated to the Lord. On the 6th of June, 1858, the space before the pulpit was crowded, when one hundred and two persons united with the church.
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Some of the pillars of the church at the close of its half-century were among them, and it was no mistake in their lives. Many of the number have passed away during the last fifteen years, and we can truly say of that reverend man of God, his works have followed him. It is well remembered that Dr. Beadle had a great influence over the youth, especially the young men who filled the north gallery which was reserved for them. This city has had many distinguished ministers, but probably no pastor who was more gen- erally beloved by all classes. So the years of his ministry flew by, and the church thrived. Once he was overcome by the excess of his labors, in 1859, and an affectionate people urged him off to the West Indies. It was thought by some that he would never return, but after several months of rest he did so with double zeal.
At last the war came on. It is said that the excite- ment in this town was intense; and no doubt " words were spoken and positions taken that men, in their cooler moments, would not and did not justify." The result was the termination of Dr. Beadle's pastorate. We may not pass judgment on that event; but we here make record of the noble and loyal patriotism of the pastor, notwithstanding any friendships he may have had in his southern home. Does any one remember the Sunday when he entered the pulpit, and amid the deathly silence of expected war news said, "it is reported that the enemy have crossed the Potomac and are marching on our capitol. Let us pray !" Is there a soldier now living who received in the autumn of 1862, a letter from the church, assuring him that he was held in "constant and tender remem-
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brance," and bearing the signature of the pastor ? There were such sent, and similar letters were dis- patched from the Sunday-School, signed " N. Shipman, Superintendent." The Church took formal action on the matter, commending the patriotism of the young men and authorizing the above church letter. To this Dr. Beadle added the following words : " We sympa- thize with you in your devotion and many privations and sacrifices, and, if we cannot personally share them, we would gladly do all in our power to sustain you in your duties and lighten the burdens you are called to bear in the defence of our beloved country.
We pray that God in his great mercy would have you in his constant care, that He would shield you in the hour of temptation, and the day of battle, and permit you, in his own good time, to return to us, in safety and health, to enjoy the fruits of your sacrifice and hardships in the blessings of a land delivered from the curse of rebellion and war, and restored to a righteous peace, never again to be broken." By a vote of the Church a list was made of those who had entered the service, which is preserved in the Church archives, showing that twelve had at that time enlisted from the Church, twenty eight from the Sunday-School, and five from the congregation, a total of forty-five .* Others
* This roll of honor is as follows: Bridsey I. Beckley, Edward P. Allen, Silliman L. Ives, John G. Root, John C. Coffing, Walter D. Ives, DeWitt C. Skilton, Horace H. Phelps, Henry A. Foster, Frank B. Rockwood, Henry Loveland, Frederick A. Judd. (12) John S. Root, - Quak- enbush, Wm. Bidwell, Edward M. Burnham, Edward L. Parsons, Herbert Landon, Henry G. Dow, W. W. Wilcox, Henry R. Clapp, John H. Thacher, Edward Lyon, Buney I. Moore, Edward L. Parmelee, Wm. G. Bunce, James L. Francis, M. L. Covell, Charles Ulrich, M. L. Johnson, James R. Bunce, Ralph P. Thacher, John M. Brewer, Edgar S. Yergason, Daniel S. Garrett, J. L. Griggs, C. C. Bowers, Henry E. Blakeslee, Robert
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doubtless went into government service later whose names have been forgotten, and some well-known soldiers have joined the congregation since.
The impression prevails that the Pearl Street Church reached its high water mark as to numbers near the close of Dr. Beadle's ministry. This is a mistake. There were then, even with all the acces- sions of 1858, only 410 members. The congregation, however, was larger in proportion to membership, and its financial ability was at its height. It was then dif- ficult to obtain a seat, except in the gallery.
The resignation of Dr. Beadle was accepted with reluctance, and he was dismissed by council March 18, 1863. As a testimonial of the affection in which he was held, a gold watch and chain were presented to him at a gathering held in the home of Mrs. E. G. Ripley, on Winthrop street, June 26th, the presentation speech being made by Mr. J. B. Hosmer. He sailed for Eu- rope a few days later. After spending one year abroad and another with the First Presbyterian Church of Rochester, N. Y., he was installed November 12, 1865, over the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. This was a waning down-town church; and after two . years' struggle against the tide of events, they re- moved, under his leadership, to a more favorable location, where it is to-day one of the prominent churches of that denomination in this country. Their pastor became well known in scientific circles, and was associated with several reformatory and educational institutions. His useful life and successful pastorate
B. Rogers, Wm. Safford. (28) Samuel Clark, Wm. Broatch, Guy Samp- son, George R. Turnbull, N. Hayden. (5) William H. King, Philo S. Ives, Frederick Rockwood, William H. Bulkeley, and Morgan G. Bulkeley, also were in the war.
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were suddenly brought to an end by his death January 6, 1879. He had preached at a Sabbath evening service on "The Triumphant Lord," and ere the following morning dawned he was himself "caught up into glory." His funeral in that city was attended by a delegation from the Pearl Street Church, and his death was tenderly referred to in Hartford pulpits the Sunday following. His burial was at New Hartford, Conn., and his headstone bears the only epitaph he desired - "A Servant of the Lord Jesus."*
It was nearly a year after Dr. Beadle's dismission before another pastor was settled. ~ A unanimous call was first extended to Rev. George Leon Walker, D.D., then of Portland, Me., and later the pastor of the First Church in Hartford. An invitation was also given to Rev. Zachary Eddy, D.D., then of Northampton, Mass. For various reasons both declined. On the 27th of February, 1864, a committee of fifteen recommended Rev. Jonathan Leavitt Jenkins, then of Salem, Mass. He was unanimously called, accepted, and was in- stalled pastor on the 13th of April. Dr. Leonard Bacon was moderator of the council, and at the even- ing services offered the installing prayer. The sermon was preached by President Woolsey of Yale College.t
Any one familiar with the conditions at that time will not be surprised that this pastorate was short. The * See " Memorials of Rev. Elias Root Beadle, D.D., LL.D." Philadel- phia, 1881.
+ The exercises were as follows : Introductory Anthem, " Glorious is Thy Name, Almighty King"; Invocation and Reading of Scripture, Rev. N. J. Burton ; Introductory Prayer, Rev. Samuel Spring, D.D .; Anthem, " The Lord is King"; Sermon, Rev. Theodore D. Woolsey, D.D. ; Install- ing Prayer, Rev. Leonard Bacon, D.D. ; Right Hand of Fellowship, Rev. E. P. Parker ; Charge to the Pastor and People, Rev. Joel Hawes, D.D. ; Anthem, "To God the Great, the Ever Blest " ; Concluding Prayer, Rev. A. S. Chesebrough ; Benediction, by the Pastor.
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minds of the people were unsettled. Even then it had become evident to some that the location was too near the First Church. The westward migration had set in. A movement for the formation of a Sunday-School on Asylum Hill, which had been initiated by the City Missionary Society in 1860, at a meeting held in the Pearl Street Church, had been prospered. The week before Dr. Jenkins' installation, a meeting was held in the parlors to consult with reference to the formation of a church on the hill ; and on the evening following that event representatives of the Congregational churches met in the same place to advise further in the matter. This movement had a discouraging effect. The Asylum Hill Church was formed, and took some of the most zealous and respected members of the Pearl Street Church, twenty-five of its original members be- ing from that body. Still the pastor entered upon his work with rare ability and thoughtful earnestness. The spiritual power manifest in the devotional meet- ings of that time is even now remembered. In 1865 the City Missionary Society made a division of its mission work throughout the city, assigning to this church a district, including the Morgan Street Mission School, the working of which then gave to the Sunday- School a constituency outside the church, which has continued to recent times. Notwithstanding all the withdrawals to form the Asylum Hill Church, the membership at the close of Dr. Jenkins' pastorate was 415, and had made a net gain. He was dismissed De- cember 4, 1866, with the hearty commendation of the Council, leaving behind him here many warm friends. The church will always honor his name. It has fol- lowed with interest his subsequent ministry at Am-
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herst, Pittsfield, and Portland, where many praise the living.
Then there was another period of watching and waiting for a minister. Rev. Samuel E. Herrick, D.D. then of Chelsea, Mass., was called, but declined. On the 14th of January, 1868, an invitation from the church and Society was transmitted to Rev. William Leonard Gage, who accepted the same and entered upon a faithful ministry of sixteen years.
Dr. Gage was born in Loudon, N. H., July 12, 1832 ; attended Phillips Academy, Andover; graduated at Harvard College in 1853; studied theology with Rev. Edward Everett Hale, D.D., and at Berlin University ; and was ordained as a Unitarian minister at Manches- ter, N. H., June 27, 1856. He came to his pastorate in Hartford after a varied ministry of ten years at Man- chester, Marietta, O., Portsmouth, N. H., and New- buryport, Mass., during which period a change of views brought him into fellowship with the Congre- gational churches. The installing council convened on the 26th of February, and the Rev. Jonathan Brace, D.D, was moderator. At the evening services Rev. Richard S. Storrs D.D., preached the sermon, and the installing prayer was offered by the late Rev. George H. Gould, D.D., then pastor of the First Church .*
How can one speak of the ministry of Dr. Gage among those who knew it better than the historian !
* The program follows : Introductory Anthem, "Praise the Lord, O My Soul"; Reading Scripture, Rev. C. E. Fisher ; Prayer, Rev. George M. Adams; Hymn ; Sermon, Rev. R. S. Storrs, Jr., D.D .; Installing Prayer, Rev. George H. Gould ; Chorus, " How Lovely Are the Messen- gers"; Right Hand of Fellowship, Rev. J. H. Twichell ; Charge to the Pastor, Rev. E. H. Richardson ; Anthem, "Praise Ye the Lord"; Ad- dress to the People, Rev. Henry M. Parsons ; Concluding Prayer, Rev. S. I. Spalding, D.D. ; Benediction, by the Pastor.
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Its events are recorded ; its memories are etched in imperishable lines; its fruits wave like golden grain about us, except some sheaves which have been gath- ered into the heavenly storehouse with him. He was a man of most varied attainments, interested in music, art, and literature, as well as in the bustling world. As an author he did a prodigious amount of work, writing or editing no less than twenty-four volumes or pamphlets. His versatility was often noted among his ministerial associates. Yet his heart was in his ministry, to which he brought a large ability in his sermons, a persistent energy in social services, and a remarkable amiability in pastoral visitation. His stalwart form, which downed a burglar who entered his house one autumn night in 1881, and was seen in the array of the Putnam Phalanx, will long be remembered. If we had the remarks which were made by Deacon Turner at the reception given the pastor on his return from Palestine, May 28, 1875, or the speech of the young man who, with his associates, visited him January 1, 1879, with a certain marble clock, or the letters which he received in acknowl- edgment of many appreciated services, others might speak of his ministry who were better able.
One of the important advances during Dr. Gage's pastorate was the introduction, January 4, 1874, of the Sabbath offering as a part of religious worship. In the beginning the benevolent contributions were gath- ered by a board of collectors who canvassed the con- gregation, the chairman being the treasurer. This system continued to September 28, 1865, when one Sabbath collection each month was taken up for some one of the missionary societies. In 1874, when the
BEADLE
JENKINS
1852 TURNER
1877
BROWNELL WILLIAMS
SMITH BUTLER ALLEN COME COLLINS
ELDRIDGE
SHIPMAN
WELLES
ONE DAY IS WITH THE LORD AS & THOUSAND YEARS/ <<<
WELCH
TWENTY-FIVE YEAR
TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY-PEARL STREET CHURCH
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weekly offering plan was adopted, the communion Sunday collection was voted to the church, twenty-five per cent. to the Ecclesiastical Society, and the balance was to be apportioned by the Prudential Committee to the various missionary causes. The office of Treas- urer of Collections has survived the earliest plan to the present time .* Since 1882 offerings, excepting a monthly contribution for missionary causes, the com- munion day collections, and occasional special offer- ings have been devoted to the maintenance of public worship.
On the 15th of October, 1877, the Twenty-fifth An- niversary of the church was held. A historical sermon was preached by Dr. Gage on Sunday, the 14th, from I Kings, VIII: 57, 58, which is in print. The interior of the audience room was elaborately decorated, as surviving pictures show, with the names "Beadle," " Jenkins," and " Gage " over the pulpit, and the names of the earlier and later deacons on either side. The music was Baumbach's "Te Deum," and Sullivan's " Lead, Kindly Light." At the afternoon service Rev. Messrs. Gregg, Twichell, Starr, and Richardson de- livered addresses. At that time stereoscopic views were taken, showing the interior of the church, which are now very rare.
So the sixteen happy years passed, and Dr. Gage thought that the time had come for him to lay down the shepherd's staff. He resigned, therefore, his pas- torate with the most cordial feelings and amid many regrets from his people, and was dismissed February
*The following gentlemen have filled this office : John B. Eldredge, Jan. 25, 1866, to June 1, 1882; George M. Welch, Nov. 9. 1882, to Feb. 20, 1890 ; William A. Willard, March 13, 1890, to Jan 19, 1899; George H. Stoughton, Jan. 19, 1899, to date.
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25, 1884, the relation to cease on the 7th of April fol- lowing. During his ministry the congregation lost by death some of its strongest supporters. Into the homes of all but two of the church's officers he went to bury their dead. Some withdrew in 1870 to form the Windsor Avenue Church. Notwithstanding these changes and the continual drift westward, the church then numbered 460, of whom 29 were received April 6, 1884, the last Sabbath of Dr. Gage's ministry. Al- though the constituency of the church changed later, its numerical membership was 446 on the date of the vote to remove. In his letter of resignation Dr. Gage uttered these words: "The heaviest burden of the past has been the doubt, so generally entertained and so freely expressed, that the changing center of popu- lation would ere many years render the need of this church questionable and its future uncertain." Thus he truly stated the problem which it has been the duty of the church to solve.
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