USA > Connecticut > New London County > Norwich > The Methodist Episcopal churches of Norwich, Conn. > Part 8
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Letters were received from Bishop Simpson, ex-Secretary Harlan, and ex-Governor Buckingham, the last being read to the Conven- tion, and receiving the most hearty applause.
Gov. Hawley was next introduced. He commenced by returning thanks to the committee for the invitation extended him, and remarked that he owed a debt of gratitude to this church, being educated partly at one of her seminaries, and having a beloved sister a member of its communion. He paid a glowing tribute to the efficient organization of the M. E. Church, claiming that the peculiarities of her itinerant system and unity of organization are the chief elements of her power and success. He expressed t! e hope that the itinerancy would never be abandoned, for through this agency the poor have the Gospel preached to them. As a
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conscientious politician, he expressed a desire to see the churches of all denominations alive to the work and responsibilities of the times.
He said that no constitutional amendments, no political plat- forms, could save a country, but we must put school-houses and churches all over the South, and reconstruct society with the truths of the Gospel. His address was most heartily received, and frequently interrupted with loud bursts of applause.
At the close of his speech, Rev. James D. Weeks, of this city, presented a beautiful bouquet to the Governor, with the following words :
" Your Excellency : In the darkest hour of our country's history, when the clouds hung heavy over our pathway, and the battle went against us, it rejoiced us to hear that one man stood firm, and one body of men flinched not, but remembered the flag. In behalf of these Methodists of New London District, these generals and privates of this army, these soldiers of the Cross, I have the honor to present you, the first soldier of Connecticut, with this bouquet."
The Governor fittingly responded-making a very compliment- ary allusion to the soldier boys from Wesleyan University, whose record is as bright as the brightest on the page of our country's history.
Another song.
Gen. Ferry was now introduced, whose address was beyond all. praise. He expressed it a privilege to be here, though he had been invited to attend a Convention in another State. He greeted Methodism as a branch of the church militant, and rejoiced to give glory to God rather than honor to man. Though he differed fromn. Methodism in theological sentiments, accepting for himself Calvin- ism with the same heartiness with which these accept Arminian- ism, what of all that, if we all acknowledge one Christ ? He paid a glowing tribute to the Wesleys, to whom England owed much of her triumph over formalism and heathenism, and New England was indebted for her religious standing and present power and influence. Methodism gave the Gospel to the poor-handed it out to the masses, and this was her glory and her renown.
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He offered a few fitly chosen remarks concerning the missionary work of the churches. Our faith is too cold concerning the twelve hundred millions of benighted heathens, but we need not despair. With three hundred and fifty millions of Christians the conversion of the world is not so distant a matter to our faith as it was to Peter and his handful of associates at the day of Pentecost. Ile remarked that it was the peculiar pride of Methodism that it is a missionary church. He urged them to reject all humanitarianism and every thing which overlooks the pure principles of the Gospel and to go forward in spreading the truth over all lands.
No report can do justice to the very eloquent addresses of Gov. Hawley and Gen. Ferry. They were repeatedly applauded, and in several instances the enthusiasm of the audience was almost unbounded.
Rev. E. J. Haynes now came forward and presented another bouquet to Gen. Ferry, with appropriate remarks.
Gen. Ferry's response was at once touching and beautiful. He closed by asking the prayers of the audience in his new and responsible position as a public servant in the council-halls of the nation.
A few remarks from the President, and another song by the choir, and the Convention closed. In every respect it has been a complete success-far exceeding the most sanguine expectations of its originators and supporters.
Among the deceased members Mr. Jesse Fuller holds early and eminent rank. At his residence the church was first planned, and, in connection with Rev. David N. Bentley, he purchased the present site, and appears to have manifested the deepest interest in the prosperity of this society. In all financial, practical, and spiritual matters, he was an enviable representative of that small minor- ity, observable in many Christian churches, who
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carry not only the responsibilities of religion, but, in addition, its present and prospective immunities.
Among the first trustees was Mr. John Perkins, long the secretary of that board, and one of the most honored and consistent Christians of Norwich. Rev. John Howson, pastor, preached his funeral sermon March 4, 1849, on Matt. xxv. 23: “. His Lord said unto him, Well done good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." Among many mer- ited references to his character, he says :
" He was a descendant of one of the first proprietors of that por- tion of the town of Norwich now known as Lisbon, and was con- nected with many of our most respectable and influential citizens. His father was Simeon Perkins, who was born and spent his youth and early manhood in this town. In the year 1760 some business led him to the then sister colony of Nova Scotia. He was induced to remain there, and made it his permanent home until his death in 1812, sustaining during his whole life a reputation for intelligence, integrity, and piety, the savor of which still exists in that land of his adoption. Our deceased brother was born in that province in the year 1778, and when of sufficient age was sent to this town to school.
"In the year 1807, under the preaching of the Rev. William Sutcliffe, an eminent and successful minister of Jesus Christ, and Weslyan missionary in the town of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, he was brought to the knowledge of himself as a sinner, and of Christ as a Saviour, His wife was made at the same time a sharer of divine grace, and they both immediately consecrated themselves to God and his service. They united themselves with the Methodist Church, and have maintained an irreproachable Christian character to the present time. In the year 1819 he removed to the United
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States, whither his only child, Joshua Newton Perkins, Esq., a gen- tleman long and highly respected in this community, had preceded him. He resided for a number of years in Ithaca, in the State of New York, where his name is still as ointment poured forth. In the year 1833 he removed to this place, which, as the birthplace of his ancestors and the scene of many of his most pleasant days, was ever to him a delightful abode; and you yourselves are his witnesses how he has gone in and out among you, fulfilling all his duties as a Christian and a citizen with zeal and fidelity. For the past fifteen years you have been the judges of his deportment, and I ask, is there one here who can asperse his fair fame ?
" He sought not his own, but the things of Christ, and so greatly was this manifest that he carried it into all his deportment. He seemed to act in all things in reference to the law of Christ. One of his late associates in the bank, a gentleman and a Christian, said to me a few days since: 'We know Mr. Perkins was a good man- we not only saw it, but we felt it; and often has his ever correct deportment been a reproof to our more thoughtless conduct ;' and his brethren in the church well know how careful he was in all. things, lest he should offend against the law of Christ.
" Another trial of character which we noticed in the good and faithful servant was his constancy. Here our brother was not de- ficient. Forty-two long years witnessed his devoted attachment to God and his Church. His light was clear and steady, bright and shining. Amid all the changes which pass over the church-the defection of some, the waywardness and the coldness of others, which bring a mildew upon the things of Zion-our brother was faithful to his trust. He was a man who could be leaned upon. He was a pillar in the house of our God.
" Another trait is unwearied diligence. We claim this for our brother also. Who that ever knew him but can testify to his un- wearied diligence ? What is the testimony of those associated with him in his daily business ? One who had been with him for fifteen years said to me: 'I never knew him to spend a single half hour unemployed.' Ask his family. They will tell you that he was never, no not for a minute, idle. Ask the church, of which he was so long a faithful member. Let the ten offices which he held, and
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always so ably and satisfactorily filled, answer for his untiring dili- gence. He was diligent in all the means of grace. The preaching of the word, the ordinance of the Lord's Supper, were his delight. No trifling matter detained him from the house of the Lord; he loved its courts and highly valued a day spent in the sanctuary. He was constant in the social means of grace ; whoever was absent, he was present. His class-meetings he loved, and as a class-leader he was faithful, diligent, and beloved.
"There remains but one other trait of character to consider, which is the spirit or manner in which this service is rendered, namely, that of affection and love. In this particular our brother had few equals. By nature he was amiable and lovely, and these qualities, purified by divine grace, shone forth in him in all their beauty and excellence. He was no niggard in the service of his Master; he served and he loved to serve. It was more than his meat and his drink to do the will of God; he preferred it as his chief good. In all his associations the same spirit of love, the same law of kindness were ever present; none were exempt from its holy and heavenly influence. His affection for the Church was pure and heavenly. He rejoiced in her prosperity and wept over her adver- sity, and in all things was the same kind, constant, and affectionate friend. He loved her ministers. He was always ready to counsel and to assist them, by his prayers. his influence, and his property.
"To the poor of the Church he was a constant friend. They experienced his kind attentions, and were aided by his bounty, and he is embalmed in their memories.
" He was a lover of the Sabbath-school. He bore a share in its labors, and with that meekness of spirit so characteristic of the man, he was ever ready to serve it in any capacity. His name will long be cherished by the rising generation. One little incident which I will relate illustrates the manner in which he gained the affections of all around him. After the afflicting tidings of his decease had spread through the city, many wished to see the re- mains of one so dearly beloved. Among the number was a little girl, about fourteen years of age. She looked upon his face and wept. A member of the family, observing how much she was affected, inquired of her if she was one of his Sabbath-school
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scholars. 'No,' said she, ' I did not go to his church, but whenever he met me in the street he always bowed and spoke to me.'"
Mr. John Barnes succeeded Mr. Perkins as secre- tary of the trustees, March 23, 1849, Mr. Hiram Crosby being appointed to fill the numerical vacancy in the Board, April 10 of the same year. He was beloved and respected for his cheerful and winning deportment, his liberality and interest in the sup- port of the Gospel, and the even tenor of his piety. In parental, conjugal, and ecclesiastical relations, he was deeply cherished, and his name is honorably associated with the history of the Society for twenty years. His funeral was attended from the Main Street M. E. Church, November 20, 1862, where the deep sorrow and sympathy of the Christian and citizen testified their palpable loss and esteem.
Several others, whose memory and life alone abide us, will be found in the notices taken from the record by Rev. David N. Bentley, and yet we are painfully conscious that the imperfect archives of the respective churches have suffered but a lim- ited reference to those mentioned, while others, whose virtues were equally memorable, will sleep as sweetly, yet unchronicled save in the just history of heaven. There the least of the saved "shall reign with Christ," and the young heirs of glory shall not merely surround, but pass within the Throne.
The present Board of Stewards is composed of
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Messrs. George E. Bentley, Nathan Standish, Joshua E. Fellows, Henry A. Adams, David Toomey, Hiram Crosby, George E. Leffingwell, and David Pendleton. Among those who have shared the laurels, as well as duties, of class leader- ship, are Messrs. Nathan Standish, greatly esteemed in this relation ; James Jennings, so long and favor- ably known as the leader of the " Preston Class ; " David Pendleton, Joshua A. Fellows, and Henry A. Adams, whose fidelity to this profiting means of grace either as members or leaders, merits especial men- tion. The leaders of this Society, in general, have been signal for their ability in this department, and the list of their names in Appendix D, will recall the unusual talent which has marked the past. The name of Mr. John Kendall is fraught with gratitude to the lovers of system in the practical matters of a church, and would it be unjust to say that Zion was the adopted child of Mr. David Toomey ? Mr. Zadoc C. Crowell has been really an encyclopedia of the Sunday-school, with little interruption, for many years, and his fidelity and success in this field are widely and justly distinguished. Among those who have supplemented the strength of the Church, are Messrs. Samuel Carter, a noble ex- ample of unostentatious liberality ; Samuel A. Davis, and George E. Leflingwell, whose interest, though recent, has been highly creditable; William B. Palmer and Charles Kingsley, whose spiritual labors have been numerous ; Hiram Crosby, Joel
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Kinney and Enoch C. Chapman, who have contri- buted generously to ecclesiastical maintenance. The piety and sacrifices of many others are im- pressed on the living record of hearts and desti- nies, and in the great day of awards, even the widow's mite shall have high reckoning at the. hands of the Judge Eternal.
It is regretful to consider, in how many of the churches of Christ are to be found examples of uncommon beneficence, who have never presented themselves for payment, where the positive bene- dictions of God and Christians could reach them, persons who linger in the "outer court of worship," and sadly adumbrate, by their reticence and inac- tion, their questionable future. This Society has been blessed by excellent specimens of those, who, while doing much for the cause, accept not the proffered benedictions of the obligated, and whose unremunerated liberality is doubly to be thanked.
The sisterhood of this Society is eminently influ- ential. In kindness towards the pastor's family ; in ability to render a church-sociable attractive; in manifest sympathy, during affliction's hour, some are historical.
The name of Rev. Daniel Dorchester is fresh in the heart and memories of Norwich. Vernon, Ct., was his native town, January 25, 1790. He was converted at majority, and joined the New England Conference, on trial, in 1816, receiving the follow- ing appointments : 1816, New London Circuit ; 1817,
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Warwick ; 1818, Athens, Vt .; 1819, Springfield ; 1820, Rhode Island ; 1821, Tolland; 1822, Salem ; 1823, Hebron ; 1824, Hebron and New London ; 1825, Springfield ; 1826, Presiding Elder of Boston District; 1827, Conference Missionary ; 1828-'31, located at Springfield ; 1831-'32, Franklin, Conn. ; 1833, Presiding Elder of Providence District ; 1834- '35-'36-'37, Presiding Elder of New London Dis- trict ; 1838-'39, Presiding Elder of Springfield Dis- trict ; 1840-'41, superannuated at Norwich ; 1842, supernumerary at Norwich ; 1843, Plainfield ; 1844 -'45, supernumerary at Norwich ; 1847, supernu- merary at Gales' Ferry; 1847, Willimantic; 1848-'49 Fisherville. Superannuating the following year, he held this relation until 1854, when, after an unusu- ally successful and honored ministry, his commission was lost amid death-floods, and his appointment made sure for heaven.
" There all our toils are o'er, Our suffering and our pain."
He made this city his home from June, 1834, to 1852, at which date, his estimable wife was carried to the Yantic Cemetery. In character, he was affa- ble, cheerful, highly perceptive; and as a minister, lucid, argumentative, and devoted, "pre-eminently a preacher for the times."
His son, Rev. Daniel Dorchester, Jr., though born at Duxbury, Mass., March 11, 1827, was converted in this city at eight years of age under the memora- ble labors of Rev. William Livesey, 1835, the same
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period, as epochs the conversion of Revs. Edward A. Manning, Henry E. Hempstead, and Frank Bill. Mr. James Jennings was for a long time his Sunday-school teacher. For several years, he was under the tuition of. Mr. Calvin Tracy, after which he fitted for college under Rev. J. Augustus. Adams, and entered the Wesleyan University in 1843.
He, together with Rev. L. D. Bentley, was recom- mended to the Quarterly Conference, for " license to preach," by the Board of East Main Street Church, December 28, 1846; both licensed by the Quarterly Conference held at Norwich North, January 2, 1847, and recommended to l'rovidence Conference at a Quarterly Conference held at Greenville, March 20th, of that year, Rev. Frank - lin Gavitt being pastor.
He was successively appointed, by the Providence Conference, to Somers, East Thompson, South Glas- tenbury, East Woodstock, Eastford, and Mystic. In 1855, he was elected to the Connecticut Senate from the fourteenth Senatorial District, by the highest vote for senator in the State. At the ex- piration of the session he was constituted chairman of a Board of Commissioners on Idiocy, upon which he reported at the next session. After holding a " superannuated " relation 1856 and 1857, he joined the New England Conference by "location," where he has been stationed at Charlestown, Worcester Third Church, Lowell St. Paul's, Charlestown 6
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Trinity Church, after which he was appointed Pre- siding Elder of Worcester District. His character is nearly too symmetrical for particular reference. Few will be found whose qualities fit them for so. wide a sphere of usefulness. In the pastorate, or the senate, pulpit or parlor, his abilities shine with no equivocal light, and his reputation for statistics needs no mention. Active, earnest, winning, per- sistent, prudent, studious, and affable, Norwich, as foster-mother, can feel little less than a just pride for her talented son.
Rev. J. M. Worcester, superannuated from ill health, has resided in this city the past three years. He was born in Boston, Mass., June, 1826 ; con- verted, April, 1842 ; joined Providence Conference, 1849, and was stationed as follows: East Green- wich, R. I., Taunton, Mass., Scituate, Cochesett, South Yarmouth, Norwich, Sachem St., Fairhaven, Mass., Warehouse Point, Ct., South Manchester, and Mystic Bridge. Ile " superannuated " in 1864, but has continued ministerial labor, in an occasional manner, with much acceptability. His health is improved, at a time when the demand for ministers is especially instant.
Rev. Albert F. Park, at present a local preacher of this city, was a native of Preston, born Dec. 11, 1814. He experienced religion, and joined the M. E. Church at Wilbraham, Mass., while attending school in the fall of 1834. Graduating from the Wesleyan University in 1839, he taught until 1844,
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when he entered the Providence Conference, for seven years. He received his first license as Local Preacher at the residence of Mr. John Perkins, of this city, Dec. 16, 1843. After the seven years in the itinerancy, he was stationed as teacher at New Haven three years, when he was removed to the Collegiate Seminary at Charlotteville, N. Y., for two years, at the end of which time he "located," and commenced business in Norwich, where he has labored as a Local Preacher, as opportunity offered. Mr. Park is possessed of much natural and scholas- tic ability, highly argumentative powers, and a clear discrimination and exposition of truth.
The casket of Rev. John F. Blanchard slumbers in the beautiful " Yantic Cemetery," under a mon- ument inscribed, " Erected by his brethren of the Providence Conference,"-a sufficient testimonial of the affection and respect in which he was held by his ministerial co-laborers. His ministry is chron- icled : 1843, Somers and Windsorville; '44, East- ham and Orleans ; '45, Orleans; '46, Mansfield ; 1847-'48, Falmouth ; '49, Lyme; and East Lyme 1850-'51. In August, 1851, he put on immortality in this city, where kind relatives, with his devoted wife, laid him gently to rest in God's palanquin, the coffin, and his rest cannot fail to be sweet, where angel hands wipe away the dust and sweat of life's battle, to find moral integrity, unaffected humility, deep piety, and ministerial fidelity.
Rev. George R. Bentley was born in North
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Stonington, June 10, 1810. He was trained up by his parents to lead a moral life. His mother used to spend hours with him when but a lad, and his inquiring mind elicited much which led him to think of religion when but a boy of eight or ten years of age. When at school, a deeply pious lady, Miss Thankful Ayer, invited him to take part in a Sabbath-school in a country school-house, and then, and there, the work of God might have been con- pleted had it been carried on, for under her pions instruction he became religiously affected, and, at that age, gave many an exhortation, and preached many a sermon, when alone, without ever knowing or thinking that God would call him, in after life, to preach His Gospel. At eighteen, he went away from home to school, determined to educate himself, but disease prostrated him and he came near death's door, being given over by physicians to die. He now sought God with his whole heart, and became so happy in his mind that he could adopt the language of the Apostle, " to live is Christ, and to die is gain."
For several years he spent much time in prayer, but having no religious associates, he afterwards nearly gave up the idea of leading a religious life. At last, in or about the year 1835, he heard of a camp-meeting in Plainfield, and resolved, be the consequences what they might, he would attend it. When he first came on to the ground, Tuesday, he discovered Rev. William Livesey upon the stand, in the midst of his sermon, representing the old man
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of sin, and how to put it off. The next day, Rev. Ira M. Bidwell preached, there being not less than eight or ten who "lost their strength," and were carried to their tents. On Friday, it rained power- fully all day, and the meetings were held in the tents. The power of God came down, and there was not an unconverted man or woman in Preston tent that was not inquiring what they should do to be saved. At this time, Rev. George E. Bentley made a complete consecration of all to God, and was admitted to the class on Preston Plain, and baptized by Rev. Comfort D. Fillmore.
In 1836, Rev. Erastus Benton was appointed to Griswold Circuit, and Mr. Bentley went to camp- meeting at Bolton, where he was presented with a class-paper, and his relation changed to North Ston- ington, where he continued as leader until April 7, 1839. Being at an evening meeting where Rev. E. Benton preached, after the congregation was dismissed, Mr. Benton addressed him: "Stop a moment, I wish to see you," and, sitting down, he wrote an Exhorter's License, and gave it to him, telling him to " use it in the name of the Lord."
January 20, 1838, the Quarterly Meeting Confer- ence gave him a license to preach, which he used with success. Stopping in to a neighbor's house the next autumn, where he had been laboring, it being evening, two young men came to the house and sent in a message, saying they desired to see him. They were introduced, when they confessed that
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they were sinners, and requested prayer. The evening was spent in prayer to a late hour, and the next day he preached to a crowded house, and meetings were kept up until nearly every uncon- verted person was brought into the fold of Christ. The Rev. John Sheffield assisted him in these labors. It was a day of salvation indeed. . Such was his usefulness, that in a protracted meeting at Gale's Ferry, where he labored with Rev. Edmund G. Standish, in 1838, he decided to give himself to the work of the ministry, but, having no one to advise with, he was kept from this resolution. In 1839, he came to Norwich, and worked at his trade, and in Dec. 15, 1840, he married Miss Sarah F. Tour- tellotte, a native of Thompson, Ct., and becoming settled in life he has never consented to be confined to any one place as a preacher, but has labored as opportunity presented, at Norwich and the sur- rounding towns. In April, 1866, he was appointed to Montville, by Rev. P. T. Kenney, Presiding Elder, as preacher in charge, where he has labored accept- ably. He has traveled probably over two thousand miles, at his own expense, and the only remunera- tion ever received was six dollars, and he broke his carriage on that trip, at an expense of ten dollars for repairs. . Thus he has labored for the good of his fellow-men without any reward in this life, looking for it hereafter. He has been class-leader, · steward, and trustee for a great part of his residence in Norwich.
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