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 5
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The following March he says: "Met for the first time in our new lecture room which has been fitted up in the basement of the church, walls plastered, and seats with comfortable backs, a good stand for the speaker, all things better than I had dared to hope for. The Lord be praised. The Lord make this an aux- iliary to His work of salvation, a birthplace for souls."
In spite of the generous help the church had received in accom- plishing these improvements they found themselves in debt about $500. This they felt must be liquidated. The people did all they could, but were not able to raise the full amount of the debt. Mr. Atwater says: "My friend Mr. B- first went to his special friends in Bethel and Danbury with marked success, in addition to former favors they were liberal still. We then together went soliciting in Bridgeport. Thus started I went on along the sea- board and was surprised to find with what liberality my simple appeal was responded. Several five dollar donations were given me, and one man in Southport after objecting to the idea of our having fallen in debt and of our having some permanent funds gave me $20. . The whole amount collected from these solicitations is about $367.45. With this liberal aid we were able to pay off all our arrearages."
It is worthy of note that the Ladies' Aid Society pledged $100 toward the blinds on the meeting house and raised the money by taking in work from the shirt factory in Long Hill, and this was before the days of sewing machines.
Mr. Atwater says the year 1852 was the culminating point of prosperity which had cost half a century to acquire, while a single year witnessed the commencing of decline. Many of the most valued and efficient families, among them the three Keeler families, removed from the town, and Mr. Atwater pathetically writes, "What we can do without the help of these Keelers no one can tell us. But we must try to trust in God."
Early in 1854, Mr. Atwater was laid aside by a long illness and "during the month of April the wife of the pastor was dis- tressingly sick and on the Sabbath, the last day of the month, quietly fell asleep in death to find we trust the Heavenly Sabbath of God's people ... a loss to the pastor and to this flock of God ... not soon to be repaired."
In 1855, Mr. Atwater took a long vacation or leave of absence, the pulpit being filled meanwhile by Rev. Hiram Bingham, the famous missionary to the Sandwich Islands.
REV. WILLIAM H. MOORE Pastor, 1856-1862
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In 1856, Mr. Atwater severed his connection with the church, (he had never been installed,) and removed to Southbury. The church seems always to have held him in high esteem and affection as the following resolution, passed in 1847, asking him to remain as their pastor for another year, shows:
"Resolved :- That we tender to the Rev. Jason Atwater our heartfelt thanks, not only for the ability, fidelity and success with which he has discharged his duties to this feeble flock, but that like the Good Samaritan he came to us in the time of our greatest necessity when days were dark and friends were few and hopes were faint and thereby he exhibited the spirit of his Master, the great Shepherd himself, who gathered the lambs in his arms and carried them in his bosom."
This is signed by Samuel C. Blackman and was doubtless written by him.
Those of our number who remember Mr. Atwater speak of him in the highest terms as a faithful and beloved minister, and he manifested his affection for this church in a legacy of $150, received in 1861.
The next pastor, Rev. William H. Moore, was installed No- vember 12, 1856, with a salary of $700, $200 of which was paid by the Home Missionary Society. The church numbered about sixty members. Mr. Moore proved to be one of the most earnest and efficient pastors the church ever had. He kept a very careful summary of the work of each year. At the close of 1857 he says: "The congregation has averaged about one hundred dur- ing the year. The old melodeon has been replaced at an expense of $50, and the church has been painted on the outside. The Sabbath School was opened in May and continued through the year with an average attendance of forty-three.
"The church contributed $50 to the American Board, Home Missions and other benevolent societies.
"There has been preaching one evening a week in Dodgeing- town, Taunton, Tinkerfield and Zoar in rotation and occasionally at other points, and a monthly meeting sustained in the base- ment."
In 1858, the parish numbered ninety families and the society had a fund of $1,800 from which they received regular dividends.
Twenty-six members were added to the church during this year. Mr. Moore says: "This large accession to the church is the fruit of the general and wonderful awakening with which
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a gracious God has visited our land and rendered memorable this year 1858."
Revival services were held in a number of districts. The Bethel brethren assisted in Dodgeingtown and Taunton. Mr. Moore recorded that he preached forty-five times in Taunton during the year and made one hundred and twenty-four calls and visits. Mr. Moore kept no horse and must have walked many weary miles in visiting his parish and conducting district preach- ing services.
The last item recorded in 1858 is of so much interest I quote it entire: "It deserves to be noticed also that we have this year recovered the church records kept by Rev. David Judson during his ministry from 1743 to 1776. It was carried to Glastonbury by Rev. Zephaniah H. Smith, who was dismissed here in 1790 and has lain among his papers for sixty-eight years. I wrote to his daughter for information concerning his ministry here and in searching for that she found to her surprise this record and returned it."
Of the year 1859, Mr. Moore says: "It has been one of health, harmony and temporal and spiritual prosperity to our little flock, for all of which we desire to thank God and take courage." The benevolent contributions for the year amounted to $144. A barrel of clothing sent to the Five Points Mission included a quilt pieced by the little girls of the Sunday School.
In 1860, a branch Sunday School was opened in Pootatuck Dis- , trict with W. W. Perkins as superintendent. It had an average attendance of about thirty. In 1861 another branch Sunday School was opened in Huntingtown district with Mr. E. L. Johnson as superintendent. All the teachers came from the home school.
This was during the dark days of the Civil War, and of the $235 contributed to missionary objects was a box of clothing and other goods for "sick and suffering soldiers, valued at $60."
Mr. Moore was superintendent of the Sunday School and taught a large Bible class. So interesting are his records, I ven- ture to quote a few of them:
"May 24, 1857. Day fair. Present ten teachers and officers. Sixteen in Bible class, twenty nine children, in all fifty five. Remarked on the privilege of being permitted to attend church and Sabbath School on such a pleasant day, illustrated by the
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condition of the prisoners whom I visited in Jail in Ohio four years ago to-day.
"June 28. Remarked on the goodness of God as seen in the flowers and the season of the year. Spoke of Deacon Somers who was sick. Gave hints to teachers.
"January 17, 1859. Cautioned the boys against doing mischief in sport.
"January 24. Talked to the children about coming to Christ.
"February 6. This day the school presented me through E.
L. Johnson with Commentary of New Testament in six volumes.
"August 21. Held Teachers' Meeting. H. Clay Trumbull, present.
"October 16. Introduced the 'Sabbath School Bell,' a new Sabbath School singing book and spent the hour in singing."
In 1860, he makes a note to the effect that the "Sabbath School was first organized during the temporary ministry of Rev. Mr. Burritt in the summer of 1821, though Deacon E. W. Keeler of Waterbury, formerly of our congregation, thinks it began in summer of 1820."
Mr. Moore says "the classes recited verses without question books, beginning with the Sermon on the Mount."
The children were trained to give from an occasional Sab- bath to every Sabbath and their benevolent contributions amounted to $131; 339 books were added to the library and a new book case purchased.
Deacon Rufus Somers died during Mr. Moore's pastorate, "a man beloved by the church and universally respected in the place," also Judge Blackman to whom reference has already been made.
Mrs. Moore, the wife of the pastor, died in 1861. Mr. Moore resigned in August, 1862, to become State Missionary of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, an office which he filled for thirty-five years, and he also served the society as secretary for thirty-two years. In 1891 he was a delegate to the first Inter- national Congregational Council in London, England, where he delivered an address.
Mr. Moore died in Hartford in 1903.
In February, 1863, the church extended a call to Rev. William F. Arms, a graduate of Andover Seminary, and he was installed April 15, 1863. Mr. Arms' pastorate was a short one, extending
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over a period of only a year and a half. The church seems to have held its own during that time. The Mission Sunday Schools were kept up, a Christmas festival was held with gifts for the pupils, and the benevolent contributions maintained the usual average.
The Rev. Daniel W. Fox of New York was installed August 15, 1865. In October of that year the church celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth anniversary. Mr. Fox delivered the his- torical discourse and there were addresses by Rev. Mr. Moore, A. S. Frisbie of Danbury, G. L. Foster of Bethel, H. C. Trumbull of Hartford and others. Mr. Fox says, "A very pleasant occa- sion." I would he had told us more about it.
Mr. Fox's pastorate was also a short one; he resigned in Feb- ruary, 1867. The present parsonage was bought while Mr. Fox was here, at a cost of $3,000.
The church was still receiving Home Missionary aid to the extent of $200 a year.
Choice was soon made of another pastor in Rev. Henry Bagg Smith, a native of West Springfield, Mass., a graduate of Amherst College and Andover Theological Seminary, Class of 1846. A Council of the churches met June 5, 1867, to install Mr. Smith. The records say he was examined in the subjects of "personal piety, Didactic Theology, Bible Literature and Eccl. History."
Mr. Smith acted as clerk of the church and the records are those of a busy man. Should I read the long list of baptisms, marriages and deaths it would cause many a heart-throb of mingled pain and pleasure to some who sit in this house to-day, as memory turns back the pages to the joys and sorrows of forty years ago.
Mr. Smith was a faithful pastor, visiting his people scattered about the town and holding Sunday afternoon or evening services in several of the school houses at stated intervals.
He was especially noted for efficient work in the Sunday School. A Christmas or New Year's Festival was one of the special features.
Mr. Smith records, December 22, 1868: "Had our Christmas gathering. A very pleasant evening, a full house and gifts to please and make a Merry Christmas for all the children of the Sunday School."
REV. HENRY BAGG SMITH Pastor, 1867-1873
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"January 3, 1871. We had a New Year's tree for the chil- dren of the Sabbath School, loaded with gifts for them, together with good speaking and most excellent singing by the members of the school."
Many of us in middle life will, I am sure, recall our rapture of delight at the sight of the heavily-laden and glittering Christ- mas tree, and our quaking fears as we mounted the platform to speak our little piece, or sing our little song.
In passing I should like to pause long enough to pay tribute to Mr. Elisha Booth of Monroe, a warm friend of the pastor and his family. He often assisted in the singing on such occasions and helped drill the children, as well as frequently assisting in the music at the church services; and I should wholly fail as his- torian of this period of our church life did I not pause to lay a laurel wreath at the shrine of the pastor's good wife; a woman possessing rare gifts of heart and mind and a tender sympathy so that all those in trouble turned instinctively to her for conso- lation and counsel. Neither would I forget the charming daugh- ters, who gave in unstinted measure of their time and gifts to their father's work in the church. The younger one, Sarah, later became the wife of Rev. Dewitt Jencks and went to Japan as a missionary. Both daughters, with their mother, have now joined the father in the Homeland. Five of the sons have at various times returned to this town and church to do valued service as deacons, superintendents in the Sunday School, and in the various other activities of the church. Mr. Smith resigned his charge here in May, 1873, to accept a call to Greenfield Hill. He died August 10, 1882, in South Amherst, Mass.
The meeting house by this time was again sadly in need of repair and it was resolved to do the necessary work before seek- ing another pastor. The work was commenced the latter part of the summer. The house was painted on the outside, the front of the galleries lowered, the round pillars fluted, the windows recased and pulleys put in the sashes. The old pulpit was replaced by a new one. New carpets, cushions and hymn books were purchased, also a new furnace, all at a cost of about $2,500.
The meeting house was reopened for service in December, 1873.
In May, 1874, Rev. James Phillips Hoyt, then of Sherman, accepted the call to become stated supply on a salary of $900, on
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condition that the pews be free. The plan exceeded the expecta- tions of the society and has continued to be the policy of this church to the present time.
Mr. Hoyt, like most of his predecessors, was a graduate of Yale College and Divinity School. Mr. Hoyt's pastorate was one of the longest in the history of the church, covering a period of sixteen years. It was also one of the most prosperous. A man of wide charity and breadth of view, he commanded the respect and esteem of the community as well as of the church.
Among the new features introduced was the annual church meeting. Reports were given of the work and finances of the church and society, and the pastor preached an annual sermon, reviewing the year past and setting forth plans for the year to come. These annual meetings have continued to be one of the pleasantest occasions in the life of the church. In later years they have taken on more of a social nature and we gather as one family about the table for the evening meal.
Two series of evangelistic meetings were held during Mr. Hoyt's pastorate. One by Rev. Mr. Underwood, who had labored here during Mr. Atwater's pastorate, and the other by Rev. C. E. Upson. There were a number of additions to the church as the result of these meetings.
In 1881, a more simple creed and form of admission to the church was adopted.
The year 1882 was marked by many improvements. The par- sonage and meeting house were painted and new windows replaced the old ones of small panes. But perhaps the greatest improvement was in the lecture room. It had always been a dull and cheerless room till some good friends, summer guests at one of the hotels in the village, resolved they would see what could be done to make the room more attractive. The walls were calcimined, mottoes attractively hung, the floor covered with matting, and new seats provided, while a number of large lamps lent their cheerful glow. An organ, hymn books and map were the gift of the pastor, and we had a neat and attractive room for prayer and conference meetings.
When all was finished a dedication service was held in the new lecture room. This marked the close of afternoon services in the church; an informal service being held thereafter in the
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evening in the new lecture room or in some other part of the town. The church was also able to free itself from a small debt at this time.
The names of Mrs. C. H. Tomkins and Rev. and Mrs. B. B. Beardsley of Bridgeport will ever be held in grateful remem- brance in connection with the lecture room. Later, stairs were built from it leading to the audience room and the outside entrance moved to the north side of the building.
Mr. Hoyt gives great honor to Mr. Charles B. Nichols, also, in accomplishing these results. He gave of his time and the labor of his hands in unstinted measure and was most generous financially. Recently the room has been enlarged to twice its former size and a commodious kitchen added with water and gas range, all of which greatly adds to the social side of church work.
In 1885, a Ladies' Aid Society was formed, with Mrs. J. P. Hoyt, president; Mrs. A. C. Moore, vice president; Mrs. C. B. Taylor, secretary; Mrs. W. H. Fairchild, treasurer. The sec- retary has held the office continuously since the society was organized. Although the women had ever been active in good works, making garments for the poor, and filling boxes and barrels for missions and for the sick soldiers during the war, this was the first formal organization so far as recorded. The church has never lacked in faithful Marthas and Marys, women with large executive ability and who also sat at the Master's feet and learned of the deep things of the Spirit. One name I cannot forbear to mention, the beloved wife of the pastor. A woman of gracious presence and charm of manner, she always made every parishioner a welcome guest in the parsonage. Through days of toil and pain, and mental anguish, and bitter loss, as the four beautiful daughters were one by one laid away, she ever carried with her the same serene and cheerful spirit. The frail body now rests beside the daughters but her unconquerable soul walks the streets of the New Jerusalem.
Mr. Hoyt resigned in 1890 and accepted a call to Cheshire in this state.
One hundred and fifty new members were received during his pastorate; the benevolences tripled and the fund increased from $2,200 to $5,000, $2,000 being a legacy from Miss Sarah Blackman, a daughter of Samuel Curtis Blackman.
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In 1882, the society was able to relinquish the aid they had been receiving from the Home Missionary Society for over sixty years. This was largely brought about through the gen- erosity of one of the townspeople, not a member of the church, but ever a warm friend, Mr. Marcus C. Hawley.
One officer of the church died during Mr. Hoyt's pastorate, Deacon Roswell Turney, in 1886, in his eighty-ninth year. He was senior deacon, having filled the office for nearly thirty years. He was ever a generous friend of the church, beloved and esteemed by all who knew him. His genial face with its silvery flowing beard, was never missing from his pew in the middle aisle on Sabbath morning, and is one of the most vivid and pleasant of my childish recollections.
The Rev. Samuel W. Delzell came to us in August, 1890. He was a faithful pastor and an earnest preacher, and it was with sincere regret the church parted with him after a three-years pas- torate. He left this church and denomination to affiliate himself with the Baptist denomination.
Of our next pastor, the Rev. Otis W. Barker, I need say but little. His work is of so recent a date it is still fresh in our memories. A native of Brooklyn, N. Y., and a graduate of Amherst College, after a few years of business life he turned to the work of the ministry, and graduated from Yale Divinity School in 1893.
Mr. Barker brought to us the enthusiasm of youth, coupled with great devotion to his work, and painstaking attention to detail, without which no work can be wholly successful. Pos- sessing by inheritance unusual intellectual gifts, he was not only an earnest but an eloquent preacher. He was ordained to the work of the ministry in this church, October 24, 1893, and installed October 30, 1894.
Among the many improvements made during Mr. Barker's pastorate the chandelier installed the first year at a cost of $90 is worthy of note, also the vocalion organ, costing $700, the entire amount being raised by voluntary subscriptions, and which did good service for twenty years, or until the new pipe organ was installed last year.
Many interesting features of church work and life were intro- duced, especially along social and missionary lines. Monthly missionary concerts were held and many notable workers from
REV. JAMES P. HOYT Pastor, 1874-1890
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various fields all over the world came to tell us of their work. Benevolent contributions of money and provisions were sent to the work of the denomination and to benevolent institutions. Gospel wagons brought in the children from the outside districts to the Sunday School and this church stood high in the ranks of rural churches. A Christian Endeavor Society was organized in 1899 and has been an important factor in the training of the young people for Christian service.
In 1903, the church was entirely redecorated and new carpets laid, and the church was never in so flourishing a condition finan- cially. It was with a feeling akin to dismay that we learned in 1905 our beloved leader must lay down the work so dear to him and to us, and it seemed well nigh impossible to think of carrying on the work without his guiding hand, for he ever was the leader and the most indefatigable worker in every good enterprise.
In October, 1905, Rev. Ralph E. Danforth accepted a call from the church. He remained with us till September, 1907, when he left the work of the ministry for a time to study at a western university.
The Rev. Alexander Steele came to us from the Methodist denomination with the understanding he should pursue his theo- logical studies at Yale University. He was indeed worthy of his name, a Godly man, and true as steel. His influence and work among the boys and young men, not only of the church, but of the town, also, was ever for good. He organized and led the work of the Boy Scouts.
Mr. Steele left us in August, 1912, to return to his own denomination.
Of our present pastor, Rev. T. J. Lee, who took up the work of this church and parish in February 1913, I need not speak, for he is known and loved by all as he goes out and in among us, rejoicing with those who rejoice, comforting those who sorrow, and breaking to us the Bread of Life on the Lord's Day.
And so I have come to the close of this brief and imperfect history of our church.
As our thoughts are busy with the past, memory calls to mind one beloved face after another. Among my earliest recol- lections is the sweet and placid face of Mrs. Emily Sanford,
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one of the mothers in Israel, always a warm friend to the pastor's family and a valued leader in all good works. Some of you whose thoughts run farther back along the road of time will recall the two daughters, Grace, and Jeanie, who afterward became the wife of Rev. William H. Moore. I find their names recorded many times among the active workers of the church sixty years ago.
Memory also calls to mind Deacon W. W. Perkins, for years a deacon in this church and superintendent of the Sunday School. I can see him now, and his good wife, always in their family pew on the Sabbath, with their sturdy sons beside them. They have long since joined the throng around the Great White Throne. And who of the present generation can ever think of this church apart from those good brothers, Henry and William Fairchild. They were the good friends of the church when days were dark and friends were few. There was no office or work in the church, from sweeping the floors and building the fires to reading sermons in the absence of a minister, that Deacon Henry Fairchild did not perform at some time during his con- nection with this church. And what prayer meeting would ever have been complete without him? His earnest prayer was ever that "we at last may hear the well-earned plaudit 'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.'"
Deacon Fairchild entered into the "Joy of his Lord" in August, 1897, and this church is rich in the blessed memory of his saintly life. His brother William entered into rest in 1903. And this past year we have been called to part with another deacon, George Ruffels, a man of retiring nature, but when he prayed he led us to the gates of heaven. And what more shall I say, for time would fail me to tell of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson, Mrs. Hannah Shepard Aldis, Mrs. John B. Wheeler, ever zealous in every good work, Mrs. Emily Couch and Mr. James Jillette, leaders in the choir, Mr. M. S. Otis, the faithful friend and clerk of the church, Mrs. Clifford, Mrs. Julia Fairchild Stahl, Mrs. Robert Tomlinson, Mrs. Sarah Briscoe Hubbell, Mrs. Polly Taylor, my own beloved mother, Miss Elizabeth Leavenworth, Mrs. James Turney and Mrs. Zalmon Peck, who through faith wrought righteousness and obtained promises. And so one by one the workers lay aside the armor of the earthly warfare, but
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