USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 21
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 21
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A number of other publications were established more recently, some of which have been successfully continued. as the Household Pilot and Modern Queen, while others suspended after a short existence.
Among the dailies thie Palladium is the oldest, dating from 1841. The Weekly Palladium was founded in 1829. It is a large, well edited sheet, strongly republican in politics. A fine printing house is occupied.
The New Morning Journal and Courier is the largest daily in the city, and its weekly issue the oldest, its history dating from October, 1767, when Samuel and Thomas Green first issued their Connecticut Journal. The paper has seen many changes, but under the Carring- tons has become a staid, conservative and reliable paper, whose poli- tics are also republican.
The weekly Columbian Register was founded in 1812, and has since
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
been uninterruptedly issued. Since 1842 the Register has been issued daily, and its circulation has become greater than that of any other paper in the state. Minott A. Osborn was for many years the con- trolling spirit of the paper, and since his death, in 1877, the editor has been Colonel Norris G. Osborn. It is the representative democratic paper, not only of the county but of the state, and wields a large influence. Since 1884 a fine printing house on Crown street has been occupied.
The Union was first issued as a Sunday paper, July 23d, 1871, and was devoted to the interests of the workingmen of the county. On the 1st of July, 1873, the Union became a daily and has since been so continued. Its politics in recent years have been democratic, and the paper is prosperous.
The New Haven Morning News is the youngest of the five dailies of the city devoted to general news. It was first issued December 4th. 1882, and it has steadily grown in public favor ever since. It is aggressively independent and very outspoken on all public questions, being the first paper in the city to distinctively occupy this position. The paper is very popular among the laboring classes of the county.
" At different times book publishing has been very active. Durrie & Peck published Lovell's Readers, and several hymn books and other valuable works. Babcock & Co. published readers, school books, story books, etc. Horace Mansfield published Whitfield's Life and Sermons, and sold 6,000 copies, Voyage Round the World 20,000, History of the Mexican War 30,000, Life and Voyages of Americus Vespucius 10,000, Bunyan's Life and Times 10,000, also Russian War. Indian Wars, Livingstone's Travels, Life of Kossuth, Remarkable Events. Henry Howe, Esq., has also been a diligent book maker and publisher. George S. Lester and William Gay have also done much to make New Haven a center of book publishing. H. B. Hubbard's newspaper directories, and Price & Lee's city directories have become well known everywhere."*
The library privileges of New Haven are unusually fine and extensive, even aside from the great Yale Library and those of the several departments of that institution. The main Yale Library was founded at the same time the college was established, in 1701, when its projectors came together, each bearing his gift of books, which they placed in care of Reverend Samuel Russell, of Branford, for the benefit of the college, which they then and there founded. The library was removed from Saybrook to New Haven in 1718, and has had various quarters on the college campus, but recently occupying the fine building erected through the munificence of the Hon. S. B. Chit- tenden, a native of Guilford. A part also remains in the old library building, completed in 1844. Since 1867 a reading room has been maintained in connection with it. This library has practically
*Elijah C. Baldwin's " Home World," p. 762.
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absorbed the principal society libraries of the college, such as the Linonian and Brothers of Unity libraries, the former established in 1769. In its keeping is also the Medical Library of the university.
Of the department libraries that of the law school is the most extensive. It was commenced in 1845, but was first placed upon a permanent basis in 1873, through the efforts of the Hon. James E. English and others. It is kept in the upper story of the county court house and embraces nearly 10,000 volumes of law and reference books.
The library of the Sheffield Scientific School, embracing more than 6,000 volumes, was begun in 1866. It received its largest and most valuable addition in 1869, when Joseph E. Sheffield added $4,000 worth of books to his former generous gifts to the school. It contains many valuable books.
The library of the divinity school is less extensive, but in its chosen field is very valuable. Henry Trowbridge was one of its most generous benefactors, his gifts beginning in 1870. A new building was erected in 1881 for the accommodation of the library.
The other special libraries are filled with rare books and collections gathered in the course of many years, affording the patrons of the university unusual facilities for study and investigation. The aggre- gate number of books in all these libraries greatly exceeds one hun- dred thousand and is increasing more rapidly at present than in former years.
This abundance of books in the university libraries long prevented the growth and proper encouragement of the other libraries in the city. One of the oldest of these was the Mechanics' Library, main- tained by a society of the same name from about 1795 until 1815, when it was merged with the Social Library, incorporated in 1810. It had succeeded in gathering together about 900 books, at the time of the union, and the latter had about the same number of books. The decline of the Social Library commenced in 1833, and seven years later its active existence ceased. That year its books were transferred to the "Young Mechanics' Institute." The latter body was organized in 1828 and had in 1840 426 members. It was, as its name implies, limited to certain classes. In August, 1840, its purposes were placed upon a broader foundation, and in May, 1841, the society was incorporated as " The New Haven Young Men's Institute," whose organization has been continued until the present time. In recent years, however, the institute has become less a lyceum and more exclusively a library. In the fifty years of its existence it has been a useful agent in the city, for many years maintaining class instruction and courses of lectures, by eminent and noted men. In this period its fortunes varied very much. In October, 1856, the institute occupied its new building (the present Palladium Block), which it sold in 1864, in consequence of a debt of $22,000. The present building was occupied in 1878.
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The library of the institute now has more than 12,000 volumes, and enjoys a fair degree of prosperity.
The Free Public Library of New Haven" was established by the city government in 1886. It is the first of the kind in the state created by municipal action, without any previous library as a foundation. For some years prior to the founding of this library a fruitless effort was made to establish a free library by the joint action of the Young Men's Institute and the city of New Haven. That purpose having failed, the city in the year named decided to act independently. and appro- priated for that object $6,000 in 1886, and a like sum for 1887. An organization was effected by choosing a board of directors, which is to include the mayor of the city as an ex-officio member. The first board was composed of James N. States, C. T. Driscoll, C. S. Mersick. Benton Mansfield, Joseph Porter, C. S. Hastings, Charles Kleiner, F. J. Bigelow, John H. Leeds and the mayor, Samuel A. York. Later Willis K. Stetson was chosen librarian.
Rooms for the use of the library were leased at 739 Chapel street, where its reading room was opened, February 2d, 1887. On the 7th of June following the library proper was opened with about 2.500 volumes. The demands upon it were soon so great that the supply of reading matter was found insufficient. The court of common council was now asked for an additional appropriation of $3,000, which was granted, and more books were purchased. The demand for more room also became very urgent.
The success of the library encouraged the city to secure the pas- sage of a special act, by the general assembly, which authorized it to issue bonds to the amount of $100,000, to provide a suitable building. From the sale of these bonds a fund of $110,000 was realized, $70,000 of which was used in 1889 in the purchase of the Third church prop- erty, opposite the east end of the green. In 1890 $35,000 more was expended on the present library building. which was ready for use Jannary 2d, 1891. These changes, under C. H. Stilson, supervising architect, resulted in an edifice capacious, attractive and substantial, both in its interior and exterior. Besides the library room proper, which has a capacity for more than 75,000 volumes, there are free reading rooms for ladies and gentlemen, distinct and separate, a reference library room, offices and a lecture room, with sittings for 200 persons.
Since 1888 the common council has appropriated $10,000 yearly for the support of the library, that being the maximum amount allowed by the act authorizing the library. By a decision of the superior court, in January, 1891, the library is entitled to the use of the Philip Marett fund, of about $65,000, the income of which will hereafter be devoted to the purchase of books. 1
The library has more than 13,000 volumes of well selected books. *From data by Willis K. Stetson.
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and it is purposed to add to it at the rate of 3,000 volumes per year. The patronage of the library shows a circulation equaling 125,000 books per year, which is steadily increasing. This has already become a favorite and most potent educational factor, and has a large field of usefulness before it, since its benefits extend to every class of citizens.
In addition to the foregoing, the New Haven County Bar Associa- tion has a library of more than a thousand volumes, most of which have been gathered since 1877, but some of the volumes were collected for this purpose as early as 1848. In 1880 the law library of Alfred Blackman was added by bequest. This library is kept in the county court house.
Since the organization of the New Haven Colony Historical Society. November 14th, 1862, that body has gathered a valuable library of about two thousand volumes and more than six thousand pamphlets. most of them treating on historical subjects. Its collection of curios and antique objects embraces a number of rare and valuable articles.
In 1871 the Hillhouse High School building, now in use, was erected, after which the collection of a library was begun. About $500 is expended annually for books of a reference and miscellaneous nature, and the library now has about 3,000 volumes.
The first church of New Haven and the town are almost coeval, and for many years they were so intimately blended that the history of one was the history of the other. The planters of Quinnipiac, as has already been stated, came here with a purpose to found a religious community. They were, with few exceptions, Puritans or Dissenters from the Church of England. Their leader was Reverend John Davenport, an ordained clergyman, who had been the vicar of St. Stephen's church, Coleman street, London, but who had become a non-conformist, and being persecuted, had sought the larger liberty of the New World. He was followed by many of his former parish- ioners and others in sympathy with him, so that, to some extent, he simply continued as the minister, with those changed conditions. Hence, their religious worship was scarcely interrupted from the time they left their old homes. Arriving at their new ones, in the middle of April, 1638, the first Sabbath was observed by holding a religious meeting under the branches of a large oak tree, which stood near the corner of George and College streets. Mr. Davenport preached on the temptations of the wilderness, from Matthew IV:1. He left the recorded testimony that he "had a good day." Soon thereafter they observed a day of fasting and prayer, which prepared them to enter a covenant, the gist of which was that "they would all of them be ordered by the rules which the Scripture held forth to them."
Under this covenant they were enabled to live for a period without having a regular church organization, and thus learn each other's
·
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views and become acquainted with each other's characters before formally uniting in a church state. It also enabled them to properly attend to their temporal affairs as a community having a common pur- pose but no prescribed forms to direct them. This probationary period was ended June 4th, 1639, when all the free planters (those properly qualified to become church members) were assembled in the large barn of Mr. Newman, where they solemnly proceeded to lay the foundation of their civil and religious polity. Mr. Davenport intro- duced the affairs of this occasion by preaching a sermon from the text: " Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars." A plan of procedure was now adopted by the 111 persons participating in this meeting. The sixth section of the agreement pertained especially to the church and was as follows:
" Whether are you all willing and do agree in this, that twelve men be chosen that their fitness for the foundation work may be tried, however there may be more named, yet it may be in their power who are chosen to reduce them to twelve, and it be in the power of those twelve to chuse out of themselves 7 that shall be most approved of, the major part to begin the church."
In accordance with this provision the following twelve men were then chosen for the foundation work of the church: Theophilus Eaton, John Davenport, Robert Newman, Matthew Gilbert, Richard Melbon, Nathaniel Turner, Ezekiel Cheever, Thomas Fugill, John Punderson. William Andrews and Jeremiah Dixon.
In the course of a little more than two months and a half, after the matter had received proper consideration the major part, or the seven of the " foundation men," most approved of, were selected for the pil- lars of the church, viz .: Theophiins Eaton, John Davenport, Robert Newman, Matthew Gilbert, Thomas Fugill, John Punderson and Jere- miah Dixon. " By these seven persons covenanting together and then receiving others into their fellowship, the First Church of Christ in New Haven was gathered and constituted on the 21st of August, 1639."*
The church thus formed was in its order Congregational, and in due course of time became known as the First Congregational Church in New Haven. Not long after the church was organized Mr. Davenport was properly inducted into the pastoral office, the elders of the Hart- ford church being present to assist in the ceremonies. The other officials were soon after elected. " It was held in those days that there should be in every church, if possible, a pastor, a teacher, a ruling elder and one or more deacons."+ Robert Newman and Matthew Gil- bert were early elected deacons, and about 1644 the former was ordained a ruling elder. About the same time Reverend William Hooke was ordained teacher. The latter was practically an assistant minister. In 1656 he returned to England, where he became chaplain
*Bacon's Discourses. +Atwater's New Haven Colony, p. 238.
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to Oliver Cromwell. Reverend Nicholas Street was ordained to fill the office of teacher, caused by his retirement, and was the colleague of Mr. Davenport as long as the latter remained, when, until his death in 1674, he was the only elder of the church, Robert Newman having also returned to England. In 1668 Mr. Davenport removed to Boston, where he died March 11th, 1670, 72 years of age. He was buried in the Stone Chapel burial ground at Boston, in the same tomb with his friend, John Cotton.
The first meeting house was built agreeably to an order passed by the general court, November 25th, 1639, and cost about 5500. It was completed the following spring. The house stood near the center of the market square or meeting house green, and was of wood, 50 feet square. In appearance it was like a truncated pyramid, surmounted by a " tower and turret." There were also " banisters and rails on the meeting house top."
" The congregation was called together by the beat of a drum. A military guard was stationed in the house, which was surmounted by a tower, in which was a sentinel to give an alarm in case of any incur- sion of hostile Indians. Around the church were three pieces of artillery ready for use. It stood only about thirty years. In the meeting house the men and women were seated separately, and, according to the custom of the time, with regard to rank. The first drum was beaten about eight o'clock, in the tower of the meeting house, and through the streets of the town. At the second drum beat- ing, families came forth from their dwellings and walked in orderly procession to the house of God, children following their parents to the door, though not allowed to sit with them. The ministers in the pul- pit wore gowns and bands, as they had done in England. The children were placed by themselves. The place for the armed men, or soldiers, was near the door."*
In 1662 the upper turret was taken down. This house was used for all the meetings of the planters. Being poorly built it gave place to a new one, which was ready for use in October, 1670. The following month the old one was ordered to be sold " to the town's best advant- age." This second meeting house also had a pyramidal roof, with a bell- fry, in which, in the spring of 1682, a bell costing £17 was hung. In the fall of the same year the townsmen (selectmen) who controlled the house reported " that they had agreed with George Pardee for his son Joseph to ring the bell for the town's occasion on the Sabbath and other meetings, as it was wont to be by the drum; and also to ring the bell at nine of the clock every night." This practice, with some slight modification, has continued ever since. The second meeting house was enlarged, and the internal arrangement changed in 1699-1700. In that condition it was used until the winter of 1756, when the third, or brick, meeting house was erected. The two former houses had been
*Henry Howe.
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built by the town, but this one was erected by the church itself. It was a plain structure, 50 by 72} feet. The tower was at the north end, through which was an entrance, another was at the south end, and a third from the east side, upon Temple street. The pulpit was on the west side. It was demolished in 1813 to make place for the present Center church building, which stands a little west of the old site.
The present edifice is the only one erected by the First Ecclesias- tical Society of New Haven. It cost about $34,000 and was dedicated December 27th, 1814. The house has been kept in good repair and is in an attractive and inviting condition, and has large accommodations.
After the death of Reverend Nicholas Street, in 1674, the min- isterial and teacher's offices were supplied, for about ten years, by Reverends John Harriman and Joseph Taylor. In August, 1684, Mr. James Pierpont became a candidate for the pastoral office, and July 2d, 1685, his ordination took place, and he was the pastor until Novem- ber, 1714. He was an able man and zealously worked for the estab- lishment of Yale College. He was also a leading member of the synod which formulated the famous " Saybrook Platform."
July 4th, 1716, Mr. Joseph Noyes, who had for three years been a tutor in Vale, at Saybrook, was ordained as the successor of Reverend Pierpont, and for a score of years his ministry was peaceful and suc- cessful, when it was characterized by a troublesome period, in conse- quence of the controversy between the adherents of the Saybrook Platform and those who dissented from it. As a result the church was divided and new organizations were formed in opposition to it, after it had been the sole religious body more than one hundred years. Mr. Noyes died in the pastoral office in June, 1761. Before his death. in March, 1758, Reverend Chauncey Whittlesey had been ordained as his colleague pastor, and succeeded him as pastor, serving the church until his death, in 1787. " The church and congregation were per- fectly united in him, and during the whole period of his ministry there appear to have been no division among them, and no alienation of this affection for him."*
Reverend James Dana, who had been pastor of the Wallingford church, became the next pastor of the First church, in April, 1789, and was dismissed in 1805. Doctor Dana was one of the ablest ministers of his time, but had become unfitted by age for the active duties of the pastorate. He was succeeded, in 1806, by Professor Moses Stuart, who remained four years, when he resigned to connect himself with the Andover Seminary. Ilis short ministry gave a new impulse to the religious life of the church.
Reverend Nathaniel W. Taylor became the pastor April Sth. 1812. and after a little more than ten years he also left to fill a professorship in a theological seminary.
*Dr. Bacon.
12
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Reverend Leonard Bacon was installed as the pastor March 9th' 1825, and was in active service until September, 1866, but remained pastor emeritus until his death, December 24th, 1881, aged more than 79 years. How well his able services were appreciated and how highly he was esteemed is shown by the tablet placed by the society in the south wall of the church. on the center of New Haven green:
" By the Grace of God, LEONARD BACON
a servant of Jesus Christ, and of all men for His sake, here preached the Gospel for fifty-seven years. Fearing God, and having no fear beside, loving righteous- ness and hating iniquity, friend of liberty and law, helper of Christian missions, teacher of teachers, promoter of every good, he blessed the city and nation by ceaseless labors and a holy life, and departed peacefully into rest December 24th, 1881, leaving the world better for his having lived in it."
Reverend George Leon Walker was the pastor from 1868 until 1872: Reverend Alphonso Noble, D.D., from November. 1875, until April. 1879: and the present pastor. Reverend Newman Smyth, D.D., was installed September 20th, 1882.
The parish of the First Society has 300 families, who furnish 519 members. The aggregate membership has been very large and has been reduced by the formation of many other churches, this body being truly the mother of all the churches in the county.
The North Church, or Church in the United Society, is the oldest of the churches in the city formed out of the First church. It was organized May 7th, 1742, of 18 male and 25 female members. In a few weeks the number was about 80. With few exceptions these had been " New Light" members of the First church, or such as had been brought to a consciousness of the need of a holier life, by the preaching in the "Great awakening " by Whitefield, Tennent and James Davenport from 1735 until 1743. The latter was a great-grand- son of the first minister of the town, and was emotional and zealous to an unusual degree. Hisintense earnestness secured him a hearing, and having a certain kind of eloquence he powerfully swayed the masses, many of whom began to lead reformed lives. The " awaken- ing " aroused great opposition and divided many churches into factions, called, popularly, "Old Lights," or believers in the principles of the " Saybrook Platform," and "New Lights," or those who dissented from that creed and gave countenance to the methods of the revival- ists in order to arouse a greater interest in church work. In New Haven the feeling was so strong that those who withdrew from the First church were called "Seceders," and were treated with but little
consideration. £ The "Old Lights" controlled the Ecclesiastical Society, and while under the Act of Toleration, the "New Lights " might set up their own worship, they were not relieved from paying rates for the support of Mr. Noyes. The "Old Lights " being in
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power, also passed oppressive laws to embarrass and suppress, if possi- ble, the "New Lights."
In these matters there was so much feeling manifested that when Nathan Beers, a prominent man and a " New Light." removed by water from Stratford, in order that he might enjoy the services of Mr. Bird, "he conld not find any willing to bring his effects from the vessel, and was obliged to go out of town and hire a farmer for that purpose."# And after the "New Lights" had made their arrange- ments to build a meeting house they were hindered in many petty ways. Their building timber was cut into pieces, and it was found necessary to provide a guard to protect their property. An effort was also made by the society to suppress the work of building by making it appear as a nuisance. However, a lot on the corner of Elm and Court streets was secured, upon which the building of a meeting house was begun in 1744, and in the course of a few years it was completed. It was painted a lead color, and from this circumstance it was called the " Blue Meeting House." In the course of a few years it was enlarged and a large steeple added to it.
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