USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Newtown > The story of two centuries, with an account of the celebration of the bicentenary of the Congregational Church of Newtown, Connecticut, October 18, 19 and 20, 1914, 1714-1914 > Part 4
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"On Wednesday the 13th of June inst., at one o'clock p. m., if the weather is fair, and if the weather is not good, at the same time of day on the first fair day following, an attempt will be made to remove the meeting house, together with the steeple entire, belonging to the Ecclesi- astical society in Newtown, about eight rods west of its present site. As it will be the greatest movement ever attempted in this part of the state, the subscribers by whom the business is to be performed have been requested to give this public notice to their friends.
.
Solomon Glover, Andred Beers, Daniel Tomlinson."
Under date of June 27, 1792, we are given the result in the following notice: "On the 13th instant the meeting house in Newtown was removed about eight rods; the removal was
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effected in one hour and a half, after previous preparations had been made. The house is between 70 and 80 feet long and about 50 feet wide with a steeple at one end, the whole of which was removed without the least injury to any part." Signed by the same committee.
In August, 1799, the church extended a call to the Rev. Jehu Clark. In the record of this meeting we find the first mention of Samuel Curtis Blackman, a man closely associated with this church for the next fifty years, and a faithful friend whose memory we delight to honor, and have perpetuated by placing a tablet upon the walls of this church which owes so much to him, not alone in the influence of his devout life, but in its financial prosperity also, for to the Samuel Curtis Blackman Memorial Fund, founded by Samuel G. Blackman in memory of his father, we owe the recent improvements in our church; the new pipe organ, the redecorated walls, the new pulpit furnishings and the electric lighting, and best of all that release from financial anxiety which leaves the church free for its larger mission of spiritual helpfulness in the community.
Mr. Blackman died during the Rev. William H. Moore's pas- torate and he pays him a beautiful tribute, which I quote in full.
Referring to his death in 1858 he says :
"Mr. Blackman was born in Monroe, March 22nd, 1768, and graduated at Yale College in 1793. He settled here as a lawyer about the year 1798, and continued in that profession more than fifty years, and until he was broken down by age. When this Probate District was established he was chosen Judge and held the office for a long course of years and until he was seventy years of age, when the law rendered him no longer eligible.
"He was a man of pure morals and irreproachable life and always on the side of good order.
"His name first appears on the records of the Ecclesiastical Society in 1799, as one of the committee concerned in the settlement of Rev. Jehu Clarke; and from that time onward-a period of fifty-nine years-he has been a steadfast friend and supporter of the interests of this worshiping congregation.
"At the above date he was not a professor of religion, but a young lawyer; and yet, through all the subsequent trials and struggles of this church and society,-in the effort to build the present meeting house, which resulted in a heavy debt, and in the dismission of Mr. Clarke in 1816, with his salary for three years unpaid,-in the nine years following until the settlement of Rev. William Mitchel in 1825,-(during a part of which interval the church had not only no preaching, but no deacons,
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and public worship was conducted with reading and singing, but no pray- ing, because no brother felt competent to make a prayer in public. But the good women used to have a prayer meeting in the intermission at noon; for, notwithstanding its low estate, they never despaired of the church any more than the old Romans despaired of the Republic.)-and in all the times that have gone over this Society since the settlement of Mr. Mitchel, Judge Blackman has always been ready to serve the interests with his influence, cooperation and property.
"For the term of fifty-two years his name occurs frequently on the records as Moderator, Society's Committee, Committee for the supply of the pulpit, Treasurer, or Clerk. He was Clerk of the Society from 1837 to 1851 without intermission, and in the latter year he experienced a paralytic affection which brought his public life to a close.
"He was always a regular attendant upon public worship, and ready to assist in it, as occasion required, in leading the singing or in reading ser- mons. Nor did he consider it beneath his character, though possessed of a sensitive self-respect, to open the doors and make the fires in the sanctuary on Sabbath morning.
"His office was used on Sabbath noons for a long time for female prayer meetings, and the good women always found the room set in order and made comfortable for them.
"His house was also open for the entertainment of ministers, whether as boarders, or as transient guests. Probably no family in the Society has ever opened its doors to more ministers of the Gospel than his, or with a more cheerful hospitality.
"He not only attended worship on the Sabbath, but, what is very unusual for a man in his profession, he attended the coming meetings for conference and prayer in the neighborhood; and did this habitually for years before he was a member of the church.
"He did not become sufficiently assured of his Christian experience to make a public profession until late in life. He united with this church in 1843 at the age of seventy-five. And though he never had confidence to take part in a social meeting in prayer, or exhortation yet his example was valuable for meekness, steadfastness, charity and a constant and devout attendance upon ordinances. And those who were best acquainted with him knew he was a man of prayer.
"He attended worship until the fall of last year, when growing infirmi- ties obliged him to remain home. He bore the trials of old age with most exemplary quietness and patience and died Nov. 17, 1858, in the ninety-first year of his age, an old man, full of days, and was gathered unto his people in the prospect of a glorious immortality.
"Dec. 31st, 1858."
The Rev. Jehu Clark was ordained October 23, 1799. The Rev. William Mitchel, in his carefully written review of the early history of this church, says of this period of its history, "The church was reorganized or formed into a regular church state.
.
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The reason of this is that Mr. Smith when he turned Sande- manian excommunicated many and pretty much annihilated the visible church."
A new covenant was drawn up and signed by the following persons: Deacon Abraham Bennet, Roger Turrel, Abel Bots- ford, Elephalet Hull, James Fairchild, Ahil Booth, Johnathan Beardsley, Samuel Beardsley, David Peck. The covenant is as follows: "We the above written, being professors of the chris- tian religion, and principally members heretofore of the Church of Christ in this place, do now covenant thro' devine grace assist- ing to walk with each other in the worship of God, and the observances of the ordinances and institutions of the Gospel and to watch over one another as christian brethren."
Mr. Clark also drew up a Confession of Faith and Covenant for the admission of members into the church. It is in striking contrast to the simple creed adopted by the National Council of Congregational Churches in 1913, and shows how differently we place the emphasis to-day. They vexed their souls over ques- tions on the fall of man, the atonement and judgment, while to-day the church is giving herself more and more to the carrying of the Good News of the Fatherhood of God and the Brother- hood of Man into the dark places of the earth.
During Mr. Clark's pastorate a new meeting house was built. The old house was torn down and a part of the timbers used in the new building. It is rather shocking to us to-day to learn that part of the money for the new meeting house was raised by a lottery. It is recorded that in October, 1803, a memorial was preferred to the General Court praying for a grant for a lottery for $5,000. The Court, however granted one of only $3,000. Rev. Mr. Mitchel says "it availed little or nothing, or rather as it is said, more money went out of the society than came in and they were deeply involved in consequence."
In March, 1808, it was voted "that the society go forward the present season to build a meeting house with all convenient speed where the old meeting house now stands, sixty feet in length and forty feet in breadth, with posts of a proportionate length, to have a belfry and cupola or dome thereon, in lieu of a steeple upon the east end." The contract for the work was given to Captain Isaac Scudder, a large contractor and builder
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for those days, and my great-grandfather, for $1,138.48. The Society found great difficulty in raising the necessary funds for the new building and tax after tax was laid, one as high as seven- teen cents on the dollar, and the floor space for pews was also auctioned off to raise the money to finish the inside of the meet- ing house. The purchaser was to be at the expense of building the pew and the pew ground was to belong to him and his heirs forever, he having the right to sell at any time, but only to members of the church.
In spite of these various measures the society was unable to raise the necessary funds to finish the meeting house and partly in consequence of the financial straits Mr. Clark resigned in 1816. Mr. Mitchel says that after Mr. Clark's dismission the church remained in a desolate condition, the pulpit being occasionally supplied till the latter part of the year 1824, when he was invited to preach as a candidate for settlement.
The Rev. William Mitchel was born in Chester, Conn., Decem- ber 19, 1793. He graduated from Andover Theological Semi- nary in 1821 and was ordained in this church June 15, 1825.
Mr. Mitchel's pastorate was one of the most important in the history of the church and as such it is interesting to note the spirit in which he undertook the work as manifested in his letter of acceptance.
To the, Committee from the church and society at Newtown. GENTLEMEN :-
I have delayed answering the communication made by you longer perhaps than might seem necessary, but I have deferred it to the present time that I might obtain advice from those who have more experience, and especially from the Board of the Domestic Society. The result of the advise which I have received, as well as the result of my own reflections is that I ought to accept of the invitation that has been given. And yet I do this with some reluctance because I distrust my ability to perform the duties of a station which demand so much wisdom and prudence and which must be attended with so much responsibility. But I have for some time been established in the belief that a superintending Providence is our best guide and that the path of duty is the path of happiness. I hope the Great Head of the Church may approve of this hitherto most important transaction of my life. I have only to add that should we enter into the relation of pastor and people-a relation the most endearing and responsible-we may all mutually rely on the protection of Him who walked on the waves and slept in the boat.
Yours etc.
Wm. Mitchel.
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Mr. Mitchel wrote during his pastorate a very complete history of the church and society and much of the material for this paper has been gathered from his manuscript.
He records that his information was culled from tradition, society records, and other sources. He closes by saying, "Once the church was large and flourishing, but through a long and perhaps unparalleled train of misfortune it has dwindled down to a small number. It is interesting and instructive to look back through the lapse of time and to witness the fulfill- ment of the Divine promise that the church shall be preserved. In view of the almost unbroken succession of calamitous events this church in its existence to the present moment resembles the 'fire in the bush' at which Moses marveled that it was not con- sumed. The perseverance of the church and society under their accumulated and accumulating discouragements and their reliance on the Divine protection in maintaining the ordinances of the Gospel are worthy of particular commendation and those to whose care the interests of the little flock are now transmitted are encouraged to imitate the example of their fathers and may confidently hope that God has spared this long trampled vine because 'a blessing is in it.'"
At the opening of Mr. Mitchel's ministry the church consisted of about forty members, six only of them men, and only twenty- five or thirty of them could be counted as active members. In 1827 and 1828 revival services were held in several districts in the town and as a result about thirty were added to the church.
Mr. Mitchel must have been a man of great energy and con- secration to his work. From his own records we learn "that a Gentlemen's and Ladies' Missionary Society was formed which aided the cause of rightousness by collections in some good degree according to the ability of the numbers." The Sunday School also was revived and flourished beyond expectation. Efforts, too, were made in behalf of the American Temperance Society and at length a large society, considering circumstances, was formed.
I copy in part Mr. Mitchel's account of the work done on the church edifice, which was in an unfinished state when he began his pastorate.
HENRY FAIRCHILD Deacon, 1857-1897
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September 3, 1825, a new pulpit was completed at a cost of $125. This must have been the high, round pulpit with a seat like those in the box pews, and a door, and with stairs leading to it, which some of our oldest members recall as the pulpit in use during their childhood days.
The house was also painted inside and out at a cost of $280. Seats were built in the gallery, and a stove purchased, the first mention made of any means of heating the meeting house. New front doors and inside doors were purchased and hung, and brass buttons put on the pew doors. These with other repairs amounted to $500 or more. In 1826, a new cushion with curtains of silk damask was purchased in New York and cost, including the making, $35. Three chairs, one a gift, were also added to the furnishings.
In 1827, a Communion set was purchased at an expense of $84. The christening bowl is still in use, but the other pieces were laid aside a few years ago in favor of the more modern individual service.
In 1829, the back seats in the gallery were finished at an expense of over $100. These with many other smaller improve- ments were made in spite of the loss of about half of the funds of the Society through the failure of the Eagle Bank in New Haven. Mr. Mitchel bore no small part of these expenses, although his salary was only $500 a year, $150 of which was paid by the Home Missionary Society.
The two maple trees which stand in the rear of the meeting house were set out during Mr. Mitchel's pastorate.
In September, 1830, Mr. Mitchel resigned, feeling his work was done here and a change would be for the best interests of the church. His request was reluctantly granted and he was dismissed in May, 1831. The church was without a settled pas- tor for over a year and then they extended a call to Rev. Nathaniel Urmston, who was installed December 5, 1832, on a salary of $450. Great difficulty was experienced, however, in raising even this small amount, and after six years the church decided to give up the struggle, for a time at least, and do with- out a regular pastor, and Mr. Urmston was dismissed by the Council convened at Bethel, April 27, 1838.
It was during his pastorate that the church was first called
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Congregational, although it had always been Congregational in policy and discipline.
Mr. Urmston left but little record of his work. Many pages of the old church records, however, are taken up with the trial and excommunion of various members. A Universalist church had been organized in the town early in the century and some of the Presbyterians had evidently imbibed its doctrines, which was considered sufficient cause for church discipline in those days. A few extracts will show how hard and fast the creeds of those days were, and how much the thought and practice of the church has changed during the last century.
Mr. David T. Taylor was summoned to appear before the church to answer to the charges of "violation of the covenant and renouncing the truth as it is contained in the word of God."
Mr. Taylor's reply is worthy of being quoted entire :
Newtown, September 7, 1832.
"To the Presbyterian Church of God in New Town.
"Whereas I have received these accusations from you I now briefly endeavor to make my defence.
Ist. I do not believe that a Presbyterian Meeting house is any more the house of God than any other, and I believe the Bible will correspond with my views and as I have frequented other places of worship and having the Constitution of the United States as my guarentee I consider myself innocent of the charge.
2nd. I hold the word of God as the most sacred of all words and as the only rule of salvation.
3rd. I have for the year passed searched the scriptures with more diligence than ever and have received much benefit insomuch that I have found the word of God sharp and quick taking away all my self-rightous- ness and superstitious notions and placing me upon the level with man- kind and also at the entire mercy and disposal of my maker. Therefore do I consider that you have laid things to my charge that I know not.
"Moreover do I declare unto you that from this day henceforth and forever I do withdraw my name from your church and society and also my approbation of your doctrine believing that it has created more party spirit and self-rightousness than all other things beside, my conscience also bearing me witness-whilst on the other hand the doctrine of universal Salvation brings glad tidings to him that is nigh and to him 'that is afar off.'
David T. Taylor."
The church considered the charges brought against Mr. Taylor fully sustained and admonished him that excommunication would be the necessary consequence of his sins unless he returned to
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the faith. This is in part the letter sent to Mr. Taylor : " Yes, you must be separated from Christ and be delivered over to Satan according to the authority that Christ has left with his church. . . . Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and do thy first works."
After Mr. Urmston's dismissal the society made an effort to get upon a better financial footing.
In 1840, Rev. Alexander Leadbetter of Scotland was hired to officiate as pastor. He proved a most acceptable preacher and the church reluctantly parted with him after two years on account of lack of funds.
The meeting house was again sadly in need of repair. Fail- ing in their efforts to raise the necessary money the Society seri- ously considered moving to Sandy Hook, where services had been held one half of every Sabbath for two or three years. These were the darkest days in the history of the church, but it was the darkness that precedes the dawn, for with the coming of Rev. Jason Atwater the church took on new life and hope. He says: "In November of the year 1845 I received an invita- tion to spend a few weeks with this people. . . My first Sabbath was the first of December. I found a very small congregation in a cold house. The people had received Home Missionary aid to the amount of $150 per annum. . . . Their place of worship was in a dilapidated condition, its windows and walls broken, its pillars and seats stained from a leaky roof, its paint washed off, its steeple leaning ominously, as if to fall upon the passerby. A subscription had been commenced to defray the expense of repairing the house, but after three years efforts wants some hundreds to compass the object. I labored some six weeks and found, as I thought, growing material suitable of improvement. And yet the question was seriously agitated whether it would not be better to relinquish all further effort to repair the church edi- fice or to support the Gospel here and to abandon the church organization to ultimate extinction.
At this crisis an informal council of neighboring churches and their ministers visited us to consult and give advice in the cir- cumstances. After full inquiry the brethren advised this church to repair their house of worship in its present locality and to rally for the renewed support of the Gospel at this post, pledging sympathy and aid from neighboring churches."
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Mr. Atwater goes on to say: "In May following I was earnestly entreated to return, which I did. . . . and immediately entered upon the work of revising and completing the sub- scription for repairing the church edifice and was greatly favored in my solicitations for aid among neighboring churches, several hundreds of dollars being thus contributed. The churches most liberal in their benefactions were those of New Milford, Dan- bury, Bethel, Bridgeport, Ridgefield, Redding and Fairfield. Individuals in other places and a goodly number of our Episcopal neighbors in Newtown also rendered substantial and efficient aid in compassing the object. . . In addition to this timely aid it may be added that the ladies of Danbury . . . contributed $80 more for the special purpose of my support for the year, so that with their Home Missionary appropriation they were able to redeem their pledge to me for the year, $500, within $50 which I very cheerfully relinquished to them. Early in the autumn the subscription became so far completed that the Society's com- mittee entered upon the contract of repairing the house with Bro. Hiram Parmelee. The foundation wall was repaired, the roof laid anew with new pilasters and cornices, the steeple repaired, the inner walls overlaid with a new white coat of plaster, the seats, etc., altered, and the house thoroughly painted inside and out. The whole expense of these repairs amounted to about $1,200, which was paid within the year or two, and the church was very greatly encouraged. In the month of January 1847 our renewed house of worship was dedicated anew to the service of God in the presence of a crowded auditorium. Mr. Stone of Danbury preached the sermon and Father Haight, then of Bethel, offered the dedicatory prayer, the Bethel choir volun- teering to conduct the sacred music of the occasion. It was a proud day for this feeblest of the daughters of Zion.
"The congregation continued to grow, averaging nearly two hundred. The Sandy Hook enterprise having fallen through the people gradually came back to this church, and the society was able to relinquish $50 of the long standing Home Missionary appropriation, and they raised by voluntary contributions for benevolent purposes more than half the amount they received as the beneficiaries of this christian charity.
"The interest in the Sabbath School was well sustained and evening services were held in various parts of the town and were well attended."
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In 1850, the church was stirred by perhaps the greatest revival in its history, conducted by Rev. Mr. Underwood of Norwalk- a man stern and vigorous in his preaching. The services were held in different districts about the town, as well as in the church. About thirty-five were added to the membership of the church as the result of the revival and the church seemed more pros- perous than it had been for half a century and anticipated the day when they could become self-supporting as not far distant. This hope was not realized, however, for some years to come.
The church continued to hold special and extra services in the school-room of Deacon Keeler in the Academy. The owners of the building objected to this use of it and demanded extra rent. The church considered this an unreasonable and unwarranted demand. Mr. Atwater says: "Some thought of the persecutions of dissenters of the olden times in our Fatherland, and all wished for a place of our own for these special services."
Many places were considered and it was finally decided to make the basement into a lecture room. Mr. Atwater has written so interestingly of this work I cannot forbear to quote largely from him. He says: "By the unexpected liberality of one of our parishioners, not a member of the church, but warmly in sympathy with it (Mr. William Beard, some of the older mem- bers tell me, who remember this work), who has felt most deeply the demand upon us for extra rent, we were able to enter upon this plan for improving our place of worship and . . . to provide for a lecture room in the basement of the same . The
contracts were made for this work, the first for raising the floor, reseating the church, etc., with William Beard, Esq., whose con- tributions to effect the object could not have been less than $400. The other contract for fitting up the basement was with Bro. Hiram Parmelee. . . Sabbath, October 17, 1852, we entered again our seemingly new and beautiful House of Worship with this sentiment of the pulpit, 'I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the House of the Lord.' It was a bright and promising day for our little Zion. Our audience room was put in altogether better symetery and proportion, the floor raised to make the galleries seem much lower seats altogether new and much more comfortable, a new and beautiful pulpit with sofa provided, a new communion table and chairs, the carpet replaced. Everything seemed inviting to worship there."
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