USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Cromwell > History of the First church in Cromwell, 1715-1915; > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Let it be confessed with shame that too often the Church has forgotten her specific and peculiar task, too often the Church has concerned itself with tithes of mint and anise and cummin and neglected the weightier matters of the law; too often the Church has harbored within her bosom those
20
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN.
who have proved traitors to her Lord and have cast disrepute upon her fair ideals. Yet it is to be affirmed that through all her history the Christian Church as a builded institution of the common life has been training men in righteousness, exercising them toward spiritual ideals of life, inspiring them through the fellowship of brotherhood to the achievement of the common good, the development in the individual of the Christ-like character, and the building in the world of the kingdom of God.
It is for this reason that the Meeting House is a vantage ground of democracy. It is the rallying place of brotherhood. The idea of brotherhood has ten thousand lesser and other exponents in our modern life. These little circles are founded upon taste and class and caste and creed; upon trade and color and speech and birth. By all these they are limited and fail to give to the world the great teaching of brotherhood in its supreme form. It is reserved for the Christian Church to discharge this high function, to fulfill this great mission. It is reserved for the Church in her common worship to call together all men of good will, and to bid them as they bow together in common prayer to learn together the essential law of life and then to send them forth to realize that law in the manifold and complex relationships which they bear on to another. Because the ideal of this, her service to men, is so high, the Church has failed at any time or in any place to wholly realize it. But thank God, the Church has never lowered her ideals, and into the coming age, alone of all the institutions of men, the Church goes with sure confidence, for whatever else may change human hearts will not change; whatever other wants may disappear, the want to which the Church ministers will remain. Men will ever need some great gospel of God's grace for their guidance, some bright shining of His purpose for their inspiration. In her ministry of worship to men may the Church never fail to offer these good gifts.
"I Love Thy Kingdom Lord" was sung by the large con- gregation. Most felicitous and friendly was the greetings then given by the Rev. F. W. Greene of South Church, Middletown; the Rev. H. W. Tillinghast, acting pastor of the Baptist Church of this community, and the Rev. J. M. Henrikson, pastor of the Swedish Congregational Church of this town.
The closing hymn was, "The Son of God Goes Forth to War."
Monday was observed as Commemoration Day. The
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 21
exercises began at two o'clock and were under the guidance of Deacon Coe. The organ selections for this service were "Toccata" and "Grand Choeur" by Theodore Dubois. The opening service of song was by an Old Fashioned Choir of young women from the Bible School under the guidance of Mrs. E. W. Johnson. With old-time enthusiasm they ren- dered, "Sound the Loud Timbrel." This was aptly followed with a "Sketch of the Church Choir" by Mrs. Edward C. Bailey, who said :
The choir occupies a prominent place in every church, and in the early days deep religious convictions found a means of growth and expression in the hymns of that period.
In 1761 it was voted that Nathaniel Riley, Luke Stebbins, Thomas Johnson, John Savage and Daniel Stocking were chosen to tune the Psalm in the meeting house in this society for the year ensuing.
In the old meeting house the seats of the gallery were long, with backs rising one above another. The front row on all three sides was entirely occupied by the singers. This made a choir large enough for a modern chorus. In those days the Sunday attendance must have been large, in after years the middle gallery was quite large enough for the purpose.
Little Marlborough and Wyndham were the promi- nent tunes in use, those of the minor mode being predominant, but a few years later brought great changes, and in the religious revivals which occurred between 1822 and 1831, such tunes as Greenville and missionary hymns were welcomed as better expressions of religious emotion.
The introduction of better singing schools led to the practice of anthems which were sung by the church choir.
The "pitch-pipe" in use in those days was in form about two inches in width, five inches in length, and less than an inch in thickness, being simply a box provided with a whistling draw tube, or stop, which could be adjusted to the notes by drawing out to a greater or less degree. Armed with this implement the leader felt himself upon firm ground, and ad- justing it to the key note of the tune, he preluded with a "'fa, so, la" till the opening note was reached, and then at a signal his forces struck in.
But there was progress even in those quiet days, and it was not many years thereafter that the bass-viol furnished the key-note and the accompaniment, and still later the flute was called in for similar purpose. Mr. John Parmelee, the vocal leader, keeping time with his finger. Those humble attempts were the rudiments of true love for music, and
22
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN.
were actuated by an earnest desire to apply it to its noblest service.
At the dedication of this church building in 1841, Mr. Parmelee was chorister, and the choir was assisted by out of town singers.
In 1844, Mr. Seth Paddock played a violin, and his brother Daniel a bass-viol. A few years later Mr. Lorenzo Treat led the choir playing the violin, and Elisha Sage the bass-viol.
About 1850 Deacon John Stevens was chosen as chorister, a melodian being used at that time, and stood on the landing just back of the seats in the gallery. Miss Sarah Stevens, now Mrs. Gillum, playing at that time.
In November, 1853, Miss Mary Ann Latimer gave a pipe organ to the church which was also placed in the gallery, the singers occupying seats on each side. The organ was played by Miss Sarah Stevens, followed by Miss Emily Williams, and later by Miss Kate Stevens.
In 1855 the society's committee were authorized to sell the double bass-viol and such other articles of movable property as they may deem useless to the society.
Deacon Stevens was leader of the choir for over twenty- five years, he was very much interested in music, and engaged singing directors to come here and give lessons to the young people. Concerts and cantatas were given at the end of these lessons.
In the spring of 1887, Mr. Frederick Wilcox gave the present organ to the church, Miss Jennie Hanscom, now Mrs. George Hanmer, being the organist at that time. A music committee was appointed, and at their suggestion it was voted to pay an organist and choir leader.
The old organ went to the Westfield Congregational Church where it was in use until a few years ago.
To mention the names of the singers, who have been members of the choir, would be a laborious task and, fearing some would be left out, I have refrained from mentioning any, but will say that some excellent voices have been heard, and many talented singers have given their services from time to time.
I would pay tribute to our present organist, Miss Marion Hastings of Middletown, who has spared no pains to please in the four years she has been with us.
During the past year the choir has been assisted by a quartette, and at times by the girls' chorus, which has been greatly appreciated.
23
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN.
The Christian Endeavor Orchestra has also been heard on several occasions and enjoyed by all.
On this occasion of the Bi-Centennial our church edifice still resounds with Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.
As a foregleam of the next address, the audience sang: "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken, Zion, City of Our God." Then the pastor, the Rev. Homer Wesley Hildreth, spoke on the "Two Centuries of Church Life of Second Church of Middletown, now the First Church of Cromwell, Conn., covering the period from January 5, 1715, to January 5, 1915." He said :
In "The Present Crisis," James Russell Lowell reminded us that -
"History's pages but record
One death-grapple in the darkness 'twixt old systems and the Word; Truth forever on the scaffold, Wrong forever on the throne, Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own."
This is the way God's Truth always triumphs in history. Today, we meet to trace just such a triumph in the life of this Church. It is our's to restore the old ways; revive the inner life; rejoice over the better day. Restore, revive, rejoice as we retrace the pilgrim's way across the continent of the years. And retracing, remember how all the way the Lord our God has blessed and kept His own.
The Eighteenth Century has been characterized as the Laodicean Age. Both the rulers and the ruled were neither hot nor cold. . The Past was dead; the Present, disinteresting ; the Future, dreaded.
The Renaissance had run its course. The Medieval State with its feudalism and tyrannies was about to give place to the Modern State with its equality of rights and obliga- tions for all mankind. Even the religious debates and wars of the previous century had produced a wide-spread indiffer- ence and disbelief. Weariness in sectarian struggles had ended in revolt against all creeds; the denial of all religion.
France had become the schoolmaster of the age. The French fondness for epigram was exemplified not only in her best writers such as Pascal but was equally felt in England, Germany and even in America.
In England, John Locke and David Hume, as men of letters contributed much, and in state-craft and science, Adam Smith and Sir Isaac Newton added important contri- butions.
24 FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN.
In Germany, Wolf, the disciple of Aristotle, and the poet Lessing, led the Germanic thought into this new era of letters and criticism.
And in America, the teachers and the leaders of ethical and economic thought, such as Edwards and Franklin; Hamilton, Madison and Jay, were being trained by the same schoolmaster. So that in England, on the Continent and across the seas in Colonial America, the same silent but salient forces were enacting their age-molding events. Had not the Duke of Argyle suppressed the short-lived uprising of the Jacobites in England and Scotland? Had not the Peace of Utrecht rung the knell of Provincial Liberty? Had not Barcelona been taken by Berwick? And Charles XII of Sweden returned from his European exile, only to be besieged in Stralsnud?
Like every year in human history, the year 1715, had its momentous events. On the Continent of Europe, the Mon- astry of Mafra, "the wonder of Portugal," was completed and consecrated. The modern world's most famous cosmogonist, Dr. Thomas Barnet, died at eighty years of age.
In Netherlands, the Barrier Treaty of Antwerp with Austria was consummated. The Turks had laid seige to and captured Corinth. And, although the war of the Spanish Succession had ended, the fangs of the Middle Ages were still displayed at the council board of Utrecht.
In England, the death of Queen Anne terminated the reign of the house of Stewart. The Elector of Hanover was at once proclaimed and crowned king, with the title of George I. This accession of the House of Hanover in the person of the great grandson of James I, has been called the greatest miracle in English history. Without the slightest domestic or foreign disturbance, it took place. Sir Robert Walpole rose rapidly to place and power, from First Commissioner of the Treasury to Chancellor of the Exchequer. And the founding of Parlia- mentary government was thoroughly established.
In France, events were moving no less swiftly and silently toward an age-long climax. Louis XIV was now in his decrepitude. As was also the system of absolute government which he had maintained for seventy and two years. And now, out of the hollowness of such a past, the knell sounded in his ears and on September 1, 1715, he was called to pay the debt of nature. His reign has been styled, the Augustan Age of France. And although he was called the Grand Monarch, his grandeur was artificial for it was founded upon force, not freedom. While Louis XIV lay dying on his magnificent couch at Versailles, Charles VI was preparing to celebrate
صر
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN. 25
his "Pragmatic Sanction" to the throne of the German Empire and the guns of the courageous Charles XII of Sweden were thundering defiance at his foes. At this juncture, the Russian fleet took possession of the Baltic under Peter the Great, making the beginning of Russia's commercial greatness.
In the summer and winter of 1715, the Russian senate was removed from the ancient capital of Moscow to St. Petersburg, now Petrograd.
On the North American Continent, Queen Anne's War had been carried on between the Colonies. The Five Nations had made a treaty with the French and so took no part. Their neutrality protected New York from invasion. But New England, again bore the brunt of savage warfare. Remote settlements were abandoned. The people had to frequently palisade their houses. And often did they work their farms with their guns close at hand.
The first English explorers of the alluvial, attractive valley of the Connecticut River, met similar conditions. On the high ground overlooking the river, they saw the teepee of the Indian Sachem Sowheag, chief of a tribe occupying the surrounding hills, then, known as Mattabesett.
These hill tops, such as Prospect Hill, Timber Hill, Portland Heights, are memorial of their former condition. They were heavily wooded, while the alluvial lands along the Little River and the Connecticut were low and swampy. Much of the lowland was too wet and cold to have any attrac- tion. The higher land about Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor were the more attractive. Besides, was not Chief Sowheag unfriendly toward the white settlers? Unsuitable soil and unfriendly savages delayed the settlement of this region for over twenty years. 1650 is the earliest authentic date of settlement. Future generations will be indebted to David Dudley Field of Haddam for his careful chronicle of these early days. The citation from his historical gleanings that interests us most at this time is that -
"the earliest remaining entry on the town books, (books of Middletown) dated February 2, 1652, is 'a vote for the building of a meeting house'."
Was there ever a more characteristic act on the part of our Puritan ancestors? The earliest provision of many a new community was for the religious wants. And has not tradition added not a little local color to such an act? How often through the recurring years was a certain, vast elm tree pointed out, at the entrance of God's Acre, as a reminder of the near-by site of the first house for worship of the Eternal in this community.
26
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN.
This first edifice was only twenty feet square; ten feet from sill to plate, and was enclosed with palisades. It stood on the open green a little west or northwest of the first English graveyard. This site was probably somewhere in the vicinity of the Main Street bridge over the Air Line railway. For eighteen years this house was used. It then gave place, in 1680, to another edifice erected near the same site. This loca- tion was chosen with a view to accommodating the worshippers at Upper Houses.
That convenience and comfort were the early counsellors of our forefathers may be readily recognized. The records of their time are replete with evidence. In Abbott's history of the "Revolutionary Times," you may read how the cut of the winds and the chill of the snows necessitated the erection of what was called Sabba' Day Houses. "A group of such cabins standing about the meeting house, added not a little to the picturesqueness of the spot, and their use conduced greatly to the convenience and comfort of the Sabbath wor- ship, especially in winter. The family able to keep a Sabba' house drove directly thither on Sabbath mornings, warmed themselves up by a hot fire without, and quite likely by a hot drink within." For in those early days, was it not con- sidered a sacrilege to have a fire in the house of God?
But convenience and comfort finally won their case and a petition by the early settlers of Upper Middletown was presented in town meeting asking the "liberty and privilege" to build a meeting house.
"On January 18, 1702, O. S. or 1703, N. S., the Town of Middletown agreed that the inhabitants of Upper Houses might settle a minister and build a meeting house, provided they settle a minister within six or at least twelve months from that time."
In May, 1703-4, the new parish of Upper Middletown was incorporated by order of the General Court as follows:
"BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED, By this Court and the authoritie thereof, and it is enacted: That all those persons that now and here- after at any time shall be dwellers and inhabitants on the north side of the said riverett in the said towne of Midletown, are and hereafter shall be one intire societie and parish by and of themselves, and shall have and enjoy all such powers, liberties and privileges, as other societies and congregations in this Colonie generally have, or by lawe may have, enjoy and use, for the choosing collectors and levying of rates and money for the charge, settlement and maintenance of their minister, and upholding the publick worship of God among them, from time to time as need shall require."
Again on March 22, 1708-9, the town "granted to David Deming twenty acres of land on the north side of the riverlet
27
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN.
provided he setteleth and continueth in the work of the ministry there, then it shall be his own land. Leut. John Savig, Sargt. Daniel White & John Warner Jr. ware chosen a comitty to see after and lay it out upon his charg if it may be found." But the new parish did not comply with these conditions no more than did Mr. Deming meet their require- ments.
"WHEREAS, At a Town meeting, March 22, 1708-9, the Town by a voate granted to Mr. David Deming about twenty acres of land, provided that he settle there etc. but Mr. Deming failing, by the request of the neighbors on the north side of the riverett att this Town meeting January 13, 1712-13, the town by voate grant the same priviledge""of land to Mr. Joseph Smith upon the same tearms provided that he settles there in the work of the ministry and do impower the same comtte. formerly chosen to lay it out on the same tearmes as before specified."
Reduced to a single statement, we find that Town, Court and Colonial Assembly, each did their part in the formation and maintenance of a separate parish "on north side of the riverett" as early as 1703.
But for obvious reasons, those who were granted the "liberty and privilege" to build a meeting house and to pro- cure and settle an orthodox minister of the Gospel among them, "within the time prescribed"-had failed to do so.
Consequently, the North Society or the Second Eccl. Society of Middletown, was not organized into a separate church until January 5, 1715.
But today, the Second Church of Middletown, now the First Church of Cromwell, welcomes you conscious of its venerable past and devoutly thankful for the vaster vision to be realized through the coming years.
Although venerable in time, this Church is not among the oldest of its faith and order in our Commonwealth. Fifty- four Congregational Churches had preceded it. The oldest of these being, the First Church of Christ in Hartford, founded in 1632.
In Middlesex County Association alone, there were eight churches that antedated our's. These were: Old Saybrook, 1646; Clinton, 1667; Middletown, First, 1668; Old Lyme, 1693; Haddam, 1696 and East Haddam, 1704.
Even the same year that this Church began its life- history, there were organized within the Connecticut Colony the following sister churches: Greens' Farms, Newtown; Pomfret Center and the First Church, Putnam.
In September 1708, at the call of the General Assembly, there met in Old Saybrook, a Congregational Synod of sixteen
28
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN.
members which reaffirmed the Savoy Confession of Faith and drew up the Saybrook Platform.
In 1709, the General Association of Connecticut was organized. Harvard College was seventy-nine years old and Yale had lived but fifteen of her collegiate years, when in the year 1715, the Second Church of Upper Middletown was organized. In fact, this very year witnessed the last Com- mencement of Yale College in Old Saybrook. The Class of 1716 was the first to graduate from New Haven.
But what about the attending circumstances and the immediate events leading up to the birth of this Church whose bi-centennial we now commemorate?
Again we must revert to old records:
"There was but one society in Middletown, for half a century after the settlement began. The convenience and friendship of the people at the Upper Houses were consulted, by the erection of the first two meeting houses near the north end of the city. But the inhabitants there had become so numerous, that on the 18th of January, 1703, the Town agreed, that the people on the north side of little River, might settle a minister within six months, or at most twelve months from that time, and the Legislature incorporated them as a society at their session in May following." "From the time of their incorporation, the inhabitants of the Upper Houses appear to have maintained public worship among themselves, and for a portion of that time, they enjoyed preaching.
"But twelve years instead of twelve months elapsed, before they settled a minister. On January 5, 1715, the Church was organized and the same day the REV. JOSEPH SMITH WAS SETTLED AS THEIR FIRST PASTOR."
Of the twenty-three charter members, all but two, Samuel Hall and Samuel Gibson, came from the old church, then known as the South Church, now the North Church of Middletown. Twenty- one of the following named persons were received into the membership by letter and two were received on profession:
Or as the old record reads:
"They were taken from the world."
Capt. John Savage, Widow Nathaniel White,
Mrs. John Savage,
Mr. Joseph White,
Sergt. Wm. Savage,
Mrs. Thomas Stow, Sr.,
Mrs. Wm. Savage,
Mrs. Daniel White, Sr.,
Mr. Thomas Ranney,
Mrs. Joseph White,
Mrs. Thomas Ranney,
Mrs. Daniel Clark,
Mr. John Ranney,
Mrs. Jonathan Warner,
Mrs. John Ranney,
Mrs. Nathaniel Savage,
Mr. Joseph Ranney,
Widow Shepard,
Mrs. Joseph Ranney,
Samuel Hall,
Mr. Samuel Stow,
Samuel Gibson.
Mrs. Samuel Stow,
It may be of more than passing interest here to note that in 1715, the First Church of Christ in Middletown, built its third Meeting House. Its site was at the head of Church
29
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CROMWELL, CONN.
Street - chosen by casting lots - and was the first building not built square having the dimensions of 60 x 40 feet.
This was also the first year of the Rev. Wm. Russell's pastorate. He was the elder son of Noadiah Russell, a founder and trustee of Yale College and one of the framers of the Saybrook Platform.
It has been well said of these early days: "The ministry of the Gospel was the nobility of New England."
The Rev. Joseph Smith, the first pastor of this Church exemplified this high esteem. This was his first and only pastorate - for twenty and one years he gave his life to its ministry. His parsonage was the present home of Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Greaves. Personally, he must have been of high intellectual attainments for in the records of "Ancient Weath- ersfield," you may read of him as "among others" "who as teachers did good educational work elsewhere in the earlier days." He was a graduate of Harvard.
In the same record, we read that his father was Lieut. Philip Smith, a prominent citizen of Hadley (Mass.) - Rep- resentative, Deacon, Lieutenant - who died January 10, 1685, "murdered with a hideous witchcraft," says Cotton Mather in his "Magnalia," (pp. 684-686).
The completion and dedication of the first Meeting House here, was at the time of the settlement of the Rev. Joseph Smith over this parish.
This House served the wants of the people until the latter part of 1736. As early as the 21st of November, 1734, at a regularly warned meeting, whose Moderator was Deacon John Wilcox, the "inhabitants voted it was a necessity to build a new Meeting House. They adjourned to November 28 at Sundown." Then, they "voted to build 50 ft. long, 36 ft. wide, 23 ft. between joints. Roof covered with 18 in. shingles. Deacon John Wilcox, Dea. Saml. Gibson and Thomas Johnson building committee."
But it was not until "the latter end of January or the beginning of Feby," 1735, that the work actually began. And the house was not ready to raise until March of the following year.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.