USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1872, Vol. II > Part 19
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
This truth is made most vivid and real to us by this Supper of our Lord, and by these memories of our fathers, which as a sister- hood of churches we have come together to-day to revive. We love to contemplate this truth. It produces a deep, quiet, joyous- ness of spirit, thus to keenly realize that we are one with those who have gone before us to the home above, one with that godly ancestry who planted these Churches of Christ and bequeathed to ns these religious institutions. There is, it is true, this invisible, indestructible unity.
But what does this imply? That we have the same faith, the faith " once delivered to the saints," that we are sustained by the same hopes and the same promises ? Most surely ; but is there not more than this ? There is a unity of the spirit, a spirit of devo- tion to the truth, a spirit of consecration to the Master and His service. Through much self-denial, through much self-sacrifice, they labored to secure for themselves and for those that should come after them, these blessings of the Christian family and the Christ- ian state. Fidelity to the truth, a firm, unyielding devotion to the interests of religion among them, marked their character and their lives. We may not, my brethren, be called to practice the same kind of self-denial, and may not find the same kind of sacrifices in our path of duty, but if we are true, devoted Christian men and women, loyal to the Master and His kingdom, we shall find that we need the same spirit that actuated them, and we shall moreover find that our path of duty is the path of self- denial and self-sacrifice. That teaching of the Savior, which was in so large a manner exemplified in their lives, is for us also. "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it ; and whosoever will lose his life for My sake, shall find it." This supper which calls to remembrance the sacrifice of our Lord, His self giving for us, ever brings to mind afresh that root-principle of all Christian living, self-giving for Christ, self-losing in Christ. We are here brought into communion with Him. Shall not this communion bring us into a closer sympathy with His spirit ? Shall we not, by this communion, possess more of the mind of our Lord ? As we take this cup to our lips, and by faith behold the blood that was shed for us, shall we not take into our hearts more of Christ that we may take into our lives more of Christ ? If we here renew our covenant vows, let us remember that these vows are vows of allegiance, by which we devoted ourselves and
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
our all to the service of Christ. If we here re-consecrate our- selves to Jesus, let us recognize the truth, that it is a consecration to the cross-that the cross is to be henceforth more deeply im- printed in our souls, and that we are to bear it more steadfastly and faithfully in our lives.
May we all to-day be so baptized by the Holy Spirit into the spirit of the Lord Jesus, that " denying ungodliness and worldly lusts," we may " live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world; looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the Great God and our Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
It was now "high noon," and the final hymn being sung, the " great congregation " moved to the Town Hall to partake of the collation, which had been prepared by the church and congrega- tion, aided by the voluntary and acceptable contribution of eat- ables and assistance from the ladies of the North Church, and the churches of Judea and Roxbury. We shall not soon forget their kindness, and shall be only too happy to assist them on any simi- lar occasion. All were amply supplied, and when all were " filled " there were "many baskets full taken up."
At 12.45 P. M., the bell gave warning of the services at the cemetery, where the Fathers' monument was to be dedicated. This is a structure hewn from native boulders, of massive propor- tions, 33 feet high, erected at a cost of more than $1,500, more than one-third of which was contributed by a single individual. There is no similar monument in this country, so far as known to the writer. The principal stone is a granite block of great beauty found on a farm at a distance, and prepared for the place of honor on the base of the monument. On the front it bears the inscrip- tion in prominent letters, " Presented by William Cothren and Lyman E. Monrijié, July 4th, 1861." This inscription refers to the block, and not, as some supposed, to the entire monument. Just above, on a brown stone block, are the names of the gentle- men at whose expense the monument has been erected. The iu- scription is, "Erected in honor of the Fathers, by Rev. W. T Bacon, Hon. Thomas Bull, David S. Bull, Esq., George H. Clark, Esq., Hon. William Cothren, Hon. Julius B. Curtiss, Hon. Henry C. Deming, Hon. Henry Dutton, Charles G. Judson, Esq., Wood- bury Lyceum, Walter P. Marshall, Esq., Rev. Benjamin C. Meigs,
DEM ZEC HARIAM WAL KE!
FIRST MINISTER ANCIENT)
DIED 1.20.188
PRESENTED BY WILLIAM COTHREN AND LYMAN E.MONRIGIE JULY 4 1961.
H.C.CURTIS.
FATHERS' MONUMENT, WOODBURY, CONN.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
Deacon Truman Minor, Rev. Geo. Richards, Rev. James Richards, D. D., Hon. Thomas H. Seymour, Edward W. Seymour, Esq., Rev. Henry B. Sherman, Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, Hon. Nathaniel B. Smith, Chas. A. Somers, Esq., Hon. Henry Stoddard, Rev. J. B. Stoddard, Rev. Robert G. Williams, Gen. William T Sherman."
On the shaft above is the name, David J. Stiles. On the east side is the inscription, "Rev. Zechariah Walker, first pastor of ancient Woodbury, died Jan. 20th, 1699, in the 63d year of his age, and in the 36th of his ministry." At the foot of the monument is the ancient headstone, with this record :
ZECHARIAH
WALKER, AGED 63, DYED JAN. 20, 1699.
On the north side is the epitaph of Rev. Anthony Stoddard, the second pastor, who died Sept. 6th, 1760, in the 83d year of his age, and the 61st of his ministry ; and on the west side is that of Rev. Noah Benedict, the third pastor, who died April 20th, 1813, in the 76th year of his age, and the 53d of his ministry. At the base, on the north side, is an old mill-stone, one of two small ones taken to Woodbury on horseback, two hundred years ago, from Stratford, with which they ground corn and meal for the whole settlement at the rate of one bushel per day.
The dedicatory exercises were very interesting and impressive . Rev. Thomas L. Shipman, of Jewett City, one of the contributors, opened the exercises with the following
DEDICATORY PRAYER.
O Thou, whose we are, and whom we would glorify in all our works begun, continued and ended; may Thy presence be with us and Thy blessing upon us on the occasion which has convened us in this place of graves. Thy servants have erected this monu- ment before which we are assembled, to the memory of the fore- fathers of the ancient church whose history we have to-day recalled. Accept Thou this work of their hands and offering of their hearts. May this shaft long stand in remembrance of the men whose names are engraven upon it-though dead, they yet live by the influence of their ministry upon coming generations. Time may efface their
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
names from this monument of stone, but nothing shall ever efface their memory from the hearts of a grateful posterity. As we stand surrounded by the dead, impress upon our minds the thought that we shall soon be of them, and give us grace so to live and so to die, that to each of us the end of earth shall be the beginning of Heaven. Bless those who are to take part in the further services of this occasion. May what they shall speak be for Thy glory and for our good, and in all the solemnities and services of the day, may we be accepted through Jesus Christ our strength and our Redeemer. Amen.
ADDRESS OF DEDICATION.
BY WILLIAM COTHREN.
Ten years ago, as the curious antiquarian searched with rev- erent tread among the mossy mounds which surround us, on this consecrated hill, " beautiful for situation," in this loveliest of val- leys, parting here and there the lank grass and tangled briars, he would have discovered that little head-stone of native rock, with its rude inscription, telling ns the simple tale, that here rested all that remained on earth of the first father of the town, "ye faith- full, worthy, beloved Minister of the Gospell, and much lamented pastor of the Cht of Christ." One hundred and sixty times had the " dark brown years" passed over this consecrated spot, and this was all that remained to tell the numerous posterity of the fathers, who had been enriched and blest during all that long period by his faithful teachings, labors and sufferings-that here. the ever-to-be-revered Walker had laid his armor down-that here he awaited in tranquil rest the final trump of God. Then, as now, grouped thickly around him, in like noteless graves, his faithful people were gathered-a hardy, noble race, that has, in the last two centuries, and especially in the living, whirling present, brought forth great and abundant fruit. There lies Deacon John Minor, the tried, the true, and the brave, ancestor, in the maternal line, of Gen. Grant, President of the United States. Connecticut,
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
through her Deacon Grant, of Windsor, and Deacon Minor, of Woodbury, claims a proud share in the fame of this distinguished man. Near Deacon Minor reposes all that was mortal of Deacon John Sherman, ancestor of the General of our armies, and Senator Sherman, of Ohio. Gen. Sherman's name appears on this monu- ment as great-grandson of the immortal Stoddard, second pastor of this ancient church. The Mitchells, the Wheelers, the Cur- tisses, the Hurds, the Judsons-ministerial race-all the early revered names lie slumbering near, a goodly company, in their lonely, neglected graves-alas! too long neglected by their numerous descendants. Before me stands at this very moment so great a company of the lineal descendants of the first John Minor, deacon of the church, captain of the train band, interpreter to the Indians and justice of the quorum, that by contributing a mere trifle apiece, a greater and more expensive monument could be erected than this, which we now dedicate to the memory of the fathers. I charge you to-day to take immediate measures to erect a monument fit to commemorate the virtues of one of the most remarkable men in the early history of the colony. It is the duty of the hour for you.
No nobler company of men ever removed in a body into the solitudes and dangers of the wilderness, than these early fathers, who left their dwellings by the sea, to dare the perils and priva- tions of the dim woods. They sought to plant here a pure and sublime faith. They labored to extend the kingdom of God. Is it wonderful, then, that their descendants should desire to erect an enduring monument to the sacred memory of such immortal ancestors, that it may stand forever as a remembrancer to their children to imitate the virtues and graces of their long buried sires, who have "entered into the rest that remaineth to the peo- ple of God ?"
A little farther to the north stands the modest and dilapidated head-stone of the venerated Anthony Stoddard, second pastor of the church, who rests in the hope of a bright resurrection amid the faithful flock to whom he ministered in " things spiritual " for the long period of more than sixty years. A step farther, and we are at the grave of the sainted Benedict. These three, a trio of worthies, full of prudence, piety and purity unsurpassed, " went out and in before the people " for the long period of one hundred and forty-three years. Such were our fathers, and such their claims on the reverence and the affections of their posterity, and
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
yet no monument had arisen to perpetuate a remembrance of their virtues-ten years ago !
But the filial heart of the people could not endure a farther neglect of the reverence due the names of their sacred dead. Measures were taken for erecting a fitting monument to their memory. Starting with the theory that no material could be more fitting than the rugged native boulders from their own lands, among which they had wandered in life, the work went on with zeal. Good progress had been made, when the war of the re- bellion broke out, and for more than seven dark, gloomy and bloody years, the work was suspended. In 1868, noble men came forward with their contributions, at home and abroad, and the work was commenced again with renewed vigor, and pushed to successful completion. It now stands before you, a rugged struc- ture, 33 feet in height. It is like the character of our fathers, not artistically beautiful, but massive and immovable. It was erected at an expense of more than $1,500-and more than one-third of that amount was contributed by one individual.
A single duty yet remains, and we are here to perform it. We are here, a filial band, to dedicate it to the memory of the fathers. We come to this pleasing duty amid the joyous exercises of our bi-centennial jubilee, and in the two hundred and fiftieth year of Congregationalism in this country. The time is propitious. The skies are bright above us. The awakening vigor of Spring is apparent on every side. It is the fourth jubilee of our church, and the fifth of our order. And now, in such an auspicious hour, when our hearts are filled with joy and congratulations, we dedi- cate this monument to the memory of the fathers-to the memory of the noble men and women who lie sleeping in the moss-grown graves beneath our feet, resting sweetly and securely in the hope of a blessed immortality in the beautiful land beyond the far etherial blue, " where the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." We dedicate it to the memory of that pilgrim company, who left the father-land for the enjoyment of a purer gospel-who chose to endure all the privations of a pioneer life amid the perils of the wilderness, to establish freedom of thought for themselves and their children. We dedicate it to the heroic men, who could sing " amidst the storm,"
" And whom the stars heard and the sea!
While the sounding aisles of the dim woods rang To the anthems of the free !"
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
We cheerfully dedicate it to the fathers who chose this beautiful resting-place, so like that of the Pilgrim Fathers at Plymouth Rock, pioneers and partakers in a like faith, and a like appreciation of the beautiful in nature. We dedicate it to those lion-hearted men, who have left us a glorious inheritance-who, while
" The heavy night hung dark
The woods and waters o'er,"
and often over their dearest hopes, still sang the songs of Zion,
And prayed in their Bethel, the shade of the Rock.
We dedicate it with full souls on this
"Holy ground, The spot where first they trod ! They have left unstained what here they found, Freedom to worship God."
We dedicate it to them for their toils and labors for the estab- lishment of "the faith once delivered to the saints," for their pure lives, for their earnest zeal, for their pious teachings, for their shining examples. We dedicate it as a sacred memento of them- as a solemn duty to ourselves. We dedicate it, that our children and children's children may learn to follow in the way of the holy dead. We dedicate it, that it may be "a rule unto ourselves," inviting us to pursue " the things that make for peace," and pleas- antness, so that when we shall have entered into our rest, and another century shall have rolled its ceaseless round, our descend- ants may revere our memory as we do that of the fathers so long ago translated.
Spirits of our fathers, long since ascended unto glory at the right hand of God! Spirits of the just made perfect! Do you hear us in your blest abodes on high ? Do you note our filial aspirations to-day ? Are you hovering over us as our guardian angels ? Tell us not that when good men carried your bodies to the burial, and wept over these graves, you knew not, heeded not-the tears of affection! Are you pleased with our tribute of love? Are you not smiling upon us this very hour, soothing our spirits, as we offer to you this memorial our hands have made, and lift to you our filial hearts ? Were you ever, while here below, afflicted with trivial contests and bitter recriminations-or, rather did not your great hearts always glow with love and kindness to
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY,
all? Do you look in pity upon us, when discord arises, and brethren disagree ? Do you love us in your far-away paradise ? Oh! we believe, yes-we believe in the beautiful doctrine of guardian angels ! "In heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father ? "
" You're with us yet, ye holy dead ! By a thousand signs we know ! You're keeping e'er a spirit watch O'er those we love below !
Next followed the Dedicatory Poem, of which the following is a copy, with slight omissions :
THE EARLY VILLAGE FATHERS.
As I sat in my study one eve, grim and grum, Came a rap at the door :
" Is the poet at home ?"
"' Well sir, what is wanted?"
"Why, one Cothren is here,
And says he wants brains."
" Ah, how doth that appear ?
That a lawyer lacks brains, is what often may be, Though I had not supposed that such lawyer was he."
" Nay, 'tis your brains he wants."
" Ah, that alters the case-"
Hence I stand here to-day in this reverend place,
*
Ah, Home, search the world round, go east and go west,
Take all that is purest and sweetest and best ;
Take the world's wealth, its grandeur, it's strength, and it's fame, And, if other good is, fling in all ye can name ; For one hour in that spot, one glad thrill of the boy, We would willingly give all the world ealls it's joy.
** *
" What shadows we are, and what shadows pursue," Just go back forty years, let them pass in review ; Scarce one family's head, that stood here in its worth, But the last forty years have consigned to the earth ; Our homes have changed owners, our farms too, till now Scarce one gray head ye meet of that brief long ago.
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 1047
Take one fact to this point. Just go back eighty years, What a power was that name which the singer now bears ? What a wealth of wide acres ? What strange business skill ? Each thing that he touched, changed to gold at his will ; 'T would take ten modern men to make up his one mind, Half the wealth of the town was in his name combined. -Scarce two years since this hand signed the deed that conveyed The last foot of land that great name once obeyed.
Yes, what shadows we are, and what shadows pursue, We stand here to-day with the fathers in view- The far-away fathers, and pastors, who led Their flocks round these hills, on these pastures to feed ; Guarded well each approach, kept the fold from all harms, And, like Christ of old time, " bore the lambs in their arms."
We stand on their ashes ! methinks as we gaze, That they rise up !- confront us !- and ask of our ways ! There was WALKER, the gentle and meek-yet the shrewd, There was STODDARD, the austere and plain-yet the good ; There was BENEDICT, solemn and slow, with an eye That looked out like a star from its cavernous aky ; And a crowd of bright worthies, hover thick in their rear, And all gaze, with bowed forms, on this pageantry here !
Is it nothing to stand on the graves of such men ! Come no thoughts up ? no pictures of scenes stirring then ? Come no voices. loud ringing in every ear, To tell us of life, throbbing life that was here ? Come no shadows, that fall down on every path God appoints for each soul, in his love, or his wrath ? Aye, and fancy finds pastime in scenes such as these, And weaves into voice what she hears, or she sees.
*
'Tis a beautiful part, as we stand here to-day, And our thoughts travel off to that dim far away, To call up that scene, and those forms, and those eyes, That once looked around here on this new Paradise !
There was reverend age with its locks white and thin, There was beautiful childhood, unsullied by sin, There was vigorous manhood so stalwart and bold, There were beautiful maidens so sweet to behold ; And they had all those cares, and those dreams, too, perchance, That light up the world with the hues of romance.
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
There were some sad eyes there, that the hot tears had burned, There were pale, gentle faces, whose hearts were in-urned There were souls with dead hopes, that, still withering cling Round the heart they had broke, and then left with their sting ; And other eyes there, with no smile any more, Unless faith brought it down from that sunnier shore.
Yet a beautiful faith, that they brought here that day, They came not for gold, let men say what they may ; They came not for power for no power was there here, Save the power of meek patience, that dwells in a tear ; But they came with their souls, to this far-away wood, To work out an approach to the all-perfect Good ! Have we, their descendants, departed from them ? Can we now, as they could, the world's currents stem ? Can we, as could they, break off that bond and this, And alone rest the heart where its true treasure is ?
As we stand on their dust, let our hearts go once more, To that far away land, to that far away shore; Let us try to draw down into each throbbing breast, One tithe of that worth that the fathers possessed ; And transmit to our children, till earth cease to move, Their courage, their patience, their sweetness, their love!
Then followed the
DEDICATION HYMN.
. BY WILLIAM COTHREN.
Air-Tenting on the old Camp Ground.
We're standing to-day on the holy sod- With reverence draw near- Whence our fathers' souls ascended to God- Their sacred dust lies here.
CHORUS-Many are the years since ye hasted away, Eager for the golden strand ; Many are the voices calling you to-day To hear our filial Band. Hear as alway, hear us alway, Hear us in your happy land.
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY. 1049
Ye are happy to-day in your home above, Your hearts are all aglow ;
Ye are smiling now with a look of love, On us who toil below.
CHORUS-
We greet you to-day, ye sturdy old stock, Who rest from your labors here-
From your prayers and praise at the Bethel Rock, To shine in a brighter sphere.
CHORUS-
This hymn was sung as a quartette by Messrs. William Cothren, James H. Linsley, William A. Gordon, and William B. Walker, in a most effective and beautiful manner.
The exercises closed with a Benediction by Rev. Austin Isham, of Roxbury.
At a quarter to 2 P. M., the bell called to the afternoon exer- cises. These were of a social character. Hon. N. B. Smith, grandson of the third pastor, the Rev. Noah Benedict, who had presided at the monument, also presided here, ably aided by the pastor, and Deacon Trowbridge, Chairman of the General Com- mittee, acting as Vice-Presidents.
After singing, the Opening Prayer was made by Rev. Austin Isham :-
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, hallowed be Thy name, Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is done in Heaven. We hear Thy voice speaking to us on this deeply interesting occasion, saying " Seek ye My face." May all our hearts respond, "Thy face, Lord, will we seek."
We would approach Thy throne of grace with profound rever- ence and deep humility. When we consider the greatness of Thy majesty, and our own exceeding great vileness and unworthiness, we are led to exclaim " What is man that Thou art mindful of him, or the son of man, that Thou visitest him ? "
We feel that we have forfeited every claim to Thy favor and justly merit Thy displeasure. And yet, Thou hast not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniqui- ties ; but as high as the Heavens are above the earth, so great has been Thy mercy toward us. We humbly thank Thee for all Thou
1
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HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
hast done for our guilty and ruined race; especially that Thou didst so love the world, as to give thine own and well-beloved Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. We thank Thee for the many blessings, tem- poral and spiritual, which Thon hast conferred upon us. The lines have indeed fallen to us in pleasant places, yea, we have a goodly heritage. We feel that it is a goodly land which the Lord our God hath given us. We bless Thee for a godly ancestry, whose steps Thou didst guide to these beautiful hills and valleys, and that here, by Thy blessing, they planted those institutions, civil and religious, which we to-day enjoy.
We render thanks to Thee for extending Thy fostering care to the churches our fathers planted ; that Thou didst greatly increase the number and moral power and strength of these churches ; thus showing to us how precious in Thy sight is Zion, dear as the apple of Thine eye, and graven on the palms of Thy hands. O Thou great head of the Church, we pray for Thy blessing still. God " of our fathers, we beseech Thee never to leave nor forsake these churches. Be as a wall of fire round about them and a glory in the midst of them. Pour out Thy spirit upon them ; may they be ndeed the light of the world and the salt of the earth. Give them pastors after thine own heart.
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