USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the Second church of Christ in Hartford > Part 21
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" As Brother Parker went on yesterday in the faithfully recited story of his discourse, picturing the stormy times of our church fathers in their little, new-born, scarcely settled community, and showing out of what contentions, embittered by what asperities, this Second Church took its separate form and began a history of its own, I could but say, ' This is their Book of Judges',-showing how Israel, just planted, and not yet settled in any terms of order, fell backward into comparative anarchy. low their manners and moralities ran low, and how the joints of society were loosened for a fearful lurch towards barbarism.
"It reminded me sharply as need be of what I once undertook to show, under " Barbarism the first Danger " for a text - that there is a transitional age in the history of every new people, commonly in the sec- ond or third generation, when they wear a sadly deteriorated look. But there is a recovery shortly, and the barbaric excesses of the Judges give way to the finely advanced, new era of Samuel and David. So it has been in all our New England communities, and so it shortly began to be here, as the story was given, in our wretchedly distracted church community of Hartford. But God mercifully bridged the gulf for us, and finally brought us safe over out of a troubled past into a goodly present, where order took the ascendant again ; - permitting us to dwell in peace, behold the decencies and share the amenities, and take confidence in the recovered moralities of life. And having thus come up out of our rough, wild age, and the dangers included in so great poverty and coarse- ness of life, how shall we better thank God than to ask how we may best turn off another danger, on the other side, from our children,- how we may save them from being precipitated into the fearfully worse dangers of luxury, dissipation, godless unbelief, and profligacy.
"Just a word now in regard to the unmentioned people of the story. Our Brother Moore [Rev. Wm. H. Moore], referring, in the prayer meet- ing this morning, to the large gaps in the church records which the histori- cal discourse deplored, reminded us that whole generations in the member- ship were thus lost,- who they were and where their dust reposes never can be known. But if we had their names, scarcely more would be known. The body of Moses,- where was it laid ? And if his name, too, had been hidden as his body was, would he not still have lived in his people by all his works? So these unmentioned ones of your church story are living in you here to-day,- as truly they that are in the gaps of the records, as they whose names are preserved. These names tell you little, and it
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is only a very few of them, four or five in a generation, that ever come out to be so much as spoken by their syllables. And yet all these unmen- tioned, or scarcely mentioned ones are yet truly alive, and I, for one, especially love to give them greeting at such times. For it is their special merit it may be, their self-forgetting and unforward modesty, that has veiled them. And what more could their names signify, when all they did and were is alive in you, now waiting to be owned and cherished by your tenderest homage ?
Another point to be remembered : - Considering the fact that our generations increase in a geometrical ratio, there are probably now as many as one or two hundred thousand people somewhere living that were issued from this flock, and who, as you may say, were born here, though they know you not. Some of them never heard of this South Church, but they have South Church ingredients in them, that for these generations past have been distilling from such works and prayers as could fitly be a propagated blessing.
Put now these last unmentioned and the unmentioned of the old time together, and imagine how they will sometime meet, and how you yourselves will meet them as the before and after of your story ! When you all stand face to face in this great time coming what a bringing together it will be ! You will make how many beautiful discoveries that will put your hearts ringing with joy, and it will be a gathering together into what high brotherhood of love and acknowledged obligation for eternity !"
The Pastor then returned thanks to all who had contri- buted in any way to the good success of the anniversary exercises, and particularly to the distinguished divines who had just spoken so fitly and eloquently, and extended an in- vitation to all Christians to participate in the celebration of the Lord's Supper, at the afternoon service. The benedic- tion was then pronounced by the Rev. Charles E. Linsley.
At three o'clock P. M., a congregation that filled the sanctuary assembled to celebrate the Holy Communion. The Pastor, assisted by the Rev. O. E. Daggett and the Rev. Charles E. Linsley, conducted the service, which was characterized by simplicity, solemnity, and great ten- derness of feeling. Touching allusions were made, in accents of prayer and praise, as well as in remarks, to the former members of the Church, and to the overshadowing
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"cloud of witnesses." The anniversary exercises were concluded on Wednesday evening, when, after appropriate devotional services, an able and impressive' sermon was preached by the Rev. Dr. Daggett, the burden of which was the historical continuity of Christ's Kingdom, and the per- petuity of the Church of God in the world.
The Hartford Courant said : -
" The exercises of this celebration have possessed a degree of interest seldom secured in a church anniversary, and all the details of the observ- ance have been so admirably arranged that none could wish for larger measures of success than has rewarded the efforts of those having the celebration in charge. Not only have the past and present members of the South Church greatly enjoyed the exercises, but the people of other denominations who have looked in upon the festivities, and listened to the addresses, have been moved by the spirit of the occasion."
In 1870 a marble font was placed in the sanctuary by the pastor and his wife, as a memorial of their beloved daughter, Emily Julia, who departed this life, February 12, 1869, when about three years of age.
In 1872 a committee was appointed by the Society to consider and report upon the propriety of making certain alterations and repairs of the church edifice. On the report of this committee, in 1873, it was determined to raise, if possible, the sum of seven thousand dollars, by subscrip- tion, for the purpose of carrying out the plans for renewing the church. Henry C. Robinson, P. D. Stillman, and N. T. Pitkin, together with the Society's committee, were ap- pointed a special committee to make such alterations and re- pairs in and about the edifice, as they might think desir- able. The windows of the church were entirely renewed, a new platform and pulpit were provided, the great window behind the pulpit was walled up and inscribed with the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and other suitable texts, addi- tional seats were furnished, the house was painted outside and within, and the work of renovation was extensive and thorough. The sum of money raised by voluntary subscrip- tions was sufficient to cover all expenses of this work.
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Indeed, from that time the financial condition of the Society has shown a marked improvement. Without any special effort, save that implied in a quarterly collection, the large outstanding debt of the Society has been gradually and greatly diminished, while the current expenses have in- creased.
In 1873 William Blatchley resigned as clerk of the Church, having served in that office for twenty-four years, and a vote of thanks to him was unanimously passed by the Church. The same year William L. Squire was elected deacon, and continued in the office until his removal from the city, in 1881.
In 1874 the question of a new organ was seriously considered, but it was finally decided to rebuild and improve the old instrument, and, accordingly, such alterations were made in it, at considerable expense, as were deemed feasible and desirable.
In 1874 a new Church Manual was prepared and pub- lished, in which many corrections of errors or omissions in former editions were made, and the names of members admitted from 1670 to 1731 were printed. But this Manual was marked by other and more striking changes. It con- tained a revision of the rules of the Church, by which the number of such rules was greatly reduced, and the methods of procedure were greatly simplified. It con- tained, also, in its place of honor, the old, original covenant of the Church. And again, it contained, instead of the articles of faith which for some time had been in use, the brief and simple confession known as The Apostles' Creed, and, in addition, The Nicene Creed, and the Declaration of Faith set forth by the National Congregational Council in 1865. The Church had carefully considered and discussed the whole subject, and had come to the conclusion to discon- tinue the use of the many-articled creed, which was a stum- bling block to many, and to adopt The Apostles' Creed as the only doctrinal formula to which candidates for membership
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should be required to give assent. At the same time it set forth the two other confessions that have been men- tioned, as indicating the breadth and catholicity of its doctrinal sympathies. Thus, in putting away the new and putting on the old forms of confession and covenant, the Church returned to both simplicity and truth, and exchanged narrowness for breadth, provincialism for cath- olicity, and a set of unskillful definitions for solid and sub- stantial symbols.
"Early in the morning of the 17th of February, 1876, while the stars were still shining in the clear and silent heaven, Horace Bushnell passed away to that world on whose borders he had so long dwelt."
Dr. Bushnell, in the later years of his life, had fre- quently preached in the Second Church, and during one summer supplied the pulpit in the absence of the pastor. His funeral services, in the Park Church, were conducted by Rev. Dr. N. J. Burton, assisted by Rev. J. H. Twichell and the pastor of the Second Church,-the three ministers of this city with whom Dr. Bushnell had, in later life, maintained a peculiar intimacy.
On the 11th of April, 1877, occurred the fiftieth anniver- sary of the dedication of the present meeting-house of the Second Church and Society, and the event was duly cel- ebrated by a public service on the evening of that day. A large congregation assembled in the tastefully decorated sanctuary, and the exercises were greatly enjoyed. The hymns and tunes for the occasion were selected from those which prevailed in worship a half century before, and their quaintness afforded no little amusement, while to many of the elderly people they sounded forth as fraught with many tender and sacred memories. There were several persons in the congregation who distinctly remembered the dedication services of fifty years before. The Hon. Henry Barnard made the principal address of the evening, and recited many interesting facts connected with the carlier
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affairs of the parish. Among other things, he said that in the large ball just below the weather-vane, on the spire, were deposited the names of all who worked upon the edifice during its erection.1
In the winter of 1878 Mr. Dwight L. Moody came to Hartford, by invitation of the united churches, to conduct a series of Gospel services. The building now known as the armory was engaged for the meetings, and the South Baptist Church was offered for overflow and inquiry meet- ings. Every effort was made by the churches and the pastors to aid Mr. Moody, and to render his work successful. Vast congregations were gathered, and a great blessing was poured out upon the community. As a result of this revival one hundred and eleven persons, most of them adults, united with the Second Church during that year. One of this num- ber, George Woods, was soon after appointed manager of the Young Men's Christian Association, which was organ- ized at this time, and two years later Mr. Woods was chosen deacon in the Church. In 1877 Mr. Franklin Glazier was chosen deacon, and continued in that office until his death, in 1889.
In 1881 the Church procured a new, large, and elegant book in which to inscribe the names of all who have been members of the Church, so far as it might be possible to as- certain them. The work of preparing and transcribing this list was completed, and the Church now possesses a chrono- logical and alphabetical record of its members, which is of great value for its accuracy, order, and convenience for reference. A duplicate of this catalogue is also privately kept by the pastor.
During this same year the Church received a very precious addition to its memorial treasures, in the form of an elegant and costly silver communion service, consisting of two flagons, eight cups, and four plates. This gift came from
1 Quite full reports of this celebration may be found in the columns of the Hartford Courant and the Hartford Times, April 12, 1877
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Eliza Trumbull Robinson and her sister, Mary Alice Robin- son (Mrs. Louis Cheney), and was most generously made by them in memory of their younger sister, Harriet Trumbull Robinson, an exceedingly beautiful child, who departed hence to go to be with her father and mother in their heavenly Father's House, in the summer of 1870.
In this same year Charles S. Goodwin, Charles S. Gillette, and Henry E. Harrington were chosen deacons. In January, 1887, Deacon Thomas H. Welles died, and, shortly after, Deacon Charles S. Gillette was called hence, and the Church was greatly bereaved in their departure. George F. Hills and Joseph A. Graves were chosen to fill the offices left vacant by these lamented brethren, and, in the ensuing year, Hosmer Griswold was chosen deacon.
At the annual meeting of the Society, in 1884, the ques- tion of procuring a new organ for the Church was informally discussed. A subscription paper was soon after drawn up and circulated, and a sum sufficient to procure a suitable and excellent organ was secured. A committee appointed for the purpose made a contract for the instrument, which was to be set up and completed in the early autumn.
On Sunday morning, the sixth day of July, 1884, the Rev. Samuel Harris, D.D., professor of theology at Yale Divinity School, preached in the Second Church, and admin- istered the Lord's Supper, the pastor being then in England for a vacation. Soon after seven o'clock on Monday morn- ing following, the church edifice was discovered to be on fire. An alarm was sounded which brought the fire depart- ment to the scene without delay, and an immense throng of people gathered in the vicinity. Thick columns of smoke circled upwards about the steeple, and it seemed to the beholders that no efforts could hinder the complete destruc- tion of the edifice. Meanwhile many men were eagerly at work to save whatever might be removed from the burn- ing building, and carpets, books, pulpits, chairs, the valuable musical library, and the font and communion table were
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safely withdrawn. The firemen, under skillful guidance, worked with great energy and perseverance, and, contrary to expectation, soon succeeded in subduing the flames which had mounted to the belfry. The porch was well burned, and the woodwork of the belfry and the framework of the roof, above the main audience-room, was badly damaged. The organ was thoroughly drenched with water and nearly ruined, and the main audience-room was flooded with water, running down from the charred roof above it. The other rooms were also injured by water. The bell was cracked, and some of the windows were broken. In this misfortune several of the neighboring churches kindly offered the use of their sanctuaries to the congregation of the Second Church, and many expressions of good-will and sympathy were also sent. The committee of the Society met the same day, and steps were immediately taken to repair the dam- ages and make all things new. It was found that there was ample insurance to cover all the losses, which amounted to nearly fifteen thousand dollars, and it was counted most fortunate that the money for the new organ was all raised. The Sunday-school room was soon put in readiness for use, and the congregation worshiped therein while the work of repairing the church went on. On the ninth of Novem- ber, it being the Lord's Day, the renovated church was re-opened for worship, and its capacity was taxed to the utmost to accommodate the great number of people who desired to attend the services. From the sermon by the pastor a few sentences may be given :
" We are here, as I conceive, simply to rejoice together before the Lord, in the re-habilitation and re-occupation of our dear old sanctuary. The ravages of fire and water have been repaired ; unsuspected defects of construction have been remedied ; a new and noble organ has been set up ; cunning hands have put a beautiful appearance upon the house without and within ; whatever was needed for completeness has been liberally supplied,- and all has been done, by supervisors and workmen, with such fidelity and taste that our sanctuary is to-day, not only a more comfortable and beautiful, but also a sounder and stronger building than ever before.
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" In our thanksgiving to God, it becomes us to remember with grati- tude those who have generously given their time, care, and labor to this work of restoration, and to whose supervision we owe the fair and com- plete result. It also becomes us to recall the many kind expressions of sympathy which were given us in the day of disaster, by the several churches and by many good people of this city, and to make here our public and thankful acknowledgment of their gracious works and acts.
"Good people of this congregation, I congratulate you on the re- occupation of our dear old house of worship. You feel to-day the inspira- tion of holy memories and associations. We are compassed about to-day with a great cloud of witnesses. The congregations of former days silently and invisibly throng in about us, and we 'sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.' Dear souls with whom we have had sweet communion here seem to smile upon our holy joy. Here many of you were baptized ; here some of you were married ; here many of you confessed the Saviour, and sat for the first time at his Holy Table, Here some of you have sorrowed, not without hope, for the dear departed. This has been the place of your communion with the Church of Christ, where your souls have often found light and comfort and peace. It has been the home of your souls. Some of you have remem- bered it with a sweet remembrance on Sabbath days in far-away lands. You have become bound to it by the sacredest and most steadfast affections, you have found delight therein, in gravest thoughts and noblest exercises of faith and hope and desire and love.
" Shall we not here and now renew our self-consecrations to the ser- vice of the Lord? Shall we not jealously guard the interests and dili- gently seek the welfare of this ancient church? And especially do I pray that we may be moved to make this sanctuary a house of prayer, and a Christian home for all people who may incline, or can be induced to enter it ; that by a ministration of God's love, by a generous provision for the poor, by a genuine brotherly love and sweet communion of its members, by ceaseless activities of kindness, by a pure and simple wor- ship, by a reverence for all God's ordinances, by a godly conversation, by your continual gladness and thanksgiving for all God's mercies, and by your overflowing faith and love, this sanctuary may become more and more attractive, from year to year, to the people whose dwellings are in this parish, and that multitudes shall hereafter remember it with grati- tude and delight, as the place where their souls were illumined, nour- ished, and comforted in God's truth and grace.
" Beloved brethren, take a new and deep impression, this day, of the high ends for which this house was builded, of the holy uses by which it has been sanctified, and of the precious privileges which it now affords.
1
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By innumerable thanksgivings, petitions, confessions, praises, and pray- ers, from generation to generation, it has been hallowed, -by joys and sorrows and by all the inexpressible communions of God's people, - and so it has become very dear and holy, and is the center of a multitude of most tender associations,- the house of God and the gate of heaven."
The following report of the services on the aforesaid Lord's Day, from the Hartford Courant, may be of interest :
" The South Church, which was badly damaged by fire on the 7th of last July, was opened yesterday for religious service. Very extensive improvements have been made in the appearance of the interior, partly by the decoration, and partly by the refurnishing that was found to be necessary. The new organ is in appearance thoroughly in keeping with the style of the interior, and a beautiful addition to the building. At the morning service, the usual quartette choir, consisting of Mrs. Rogers, Miss Keeney, Mr. Trask, and Mr. Spencer, was doubled by the addition of Mrs. Huntington, Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Huntington, and Mr. Gundlach. The order of service was as follows : -
Organ Voluntary (Preludio and Andante), Guilmant Invocation, Responses, etc.
Dr. Boyce Anthem,
I have surely built Thee an house to dwell in.
Scripture Lesson.
Anthem, . G. M. Garrett My soul doth magnify the Lord. The Creed and Responses.
Prayer.
Anthem (Memorial), .
L. Spohr
Blest are the departed.
Sermon.
Hymn.
Prayer and Benediction.
Organ Postlude, Grand Offertoire (in C minor), Welz
"The sermon, which is given in full on the first page of to-day's issue, was, in large part, a history of the Society. The evening service was according to the following order : -
Organ Voluntary, Pastorale, Kullak
Invocation, Responses, etc.
Anthem (Solo and Chorus),
L. Spohr
Scripture Lessons.
Anthem (Double Quartette),
L. Spohr Creed and Responses.
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Prayer.
Hymn - Anthem,
E. H. Phelps
Sermon.
Anthem, . Prayer and Benediction.
G. M. Garrett
Organ Postlude, Buck
In bringing this narrative to a somewhat abrupt close, a few things may be briefly mentioned which have had much to do with the prosperity of the Church, and the inter- est manifested in its services.
For many years, now, the material affairs of the Church and Society have been conducted by their respective com- mittees with singular fidelity, prudence, and economy, and yet, as regards the pastor and the requirements of the work in hand, with equal generosity. If in respect of the Church's spiritual gifts, activities, and fruitfulness, a modest and rev- erent silence is becoming, grateful mention may be made of its domestic peace, of its quiet growth, of its constant bless- ings, and of the tender and loving remembrance of its means of grace by those who have shared in its nurture and com- munion. Most of those who composed the Church when its present pastor came to it have passed "to where beyond these voices there is peace." But in their children and children's children, and in other successors, the Church sur- vives and flourishes amid the removals of time and death.
Grateful recognition of the invaluable work of the good women of the Church is due. It is a fault of all histories that, for the most part, they omit the feminine forces and influ- ences in society from their records. In the churches of Christ, from the beginning, these forces and influences, though comparatively silent and unobtrusive, have been pre- dominant. So, most certainly, has it been here. The life and power and blessing of this Church, for the last thirty years, at least, have largely resided in the goodly and de- voted sisterhood of it.
The Sunday-school, under a wise administration, has been a most efficient arm of the general service. The
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admirable work done in the primary department for several years past, by Mrs. Laura Gilbert and her associates, merits the gratitude of all who have the welfare of little children at heart. And for so many years, Mr. Lucius F. Robinson, whose father and grandfather preceded him in the office, has assiduously and successfully superintended the school, attracting to his aid competent assistants and instructors.
The choir of the Second Church also deserves grateful mention for its cordial co-operation with the aims and efforts of those who have been entrusted with the direction of pub- lic worship. For twenty years the pastor has, as a rule, spent Saturday evening with his choir, at rehearsals, finding himself not an intruder among fractious and quarrelsome folk, but at home with ladies and gentlemen ready in all sweet reasonableness to do their utmost in promoting his purposes, and in securing a harmony and unity of devotional service. The names of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Huntington,1 Mrs. Charles Wilson, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Marion (Keeney) Williams, Mr. Trask, Mr. Spencer, who for more than twenty years has been at his post nor falters yet, and of Mr. John Gallup, the accomplished and devoted organist and leader, - not to mention others most worthy, - are cherished in grati- tude and affection by South Church people.
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