USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Kensington > Two hundredth anniversary, Kensington Congregational Church : organized December 12, 1712. Kensington, Connecticut, June 29th, 30th, July 1st, 1912 > Part 8
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Perhaps the difference is not so great as we think, between the pioneer Burnham, the aristocratic Clark, the patriarchal Upson, the scholarly Robbins, and the men of modern times. All, like Mr. Hutchins, have had true success in "proving the power of God in His rich promises and of the Gospel to men."
And of them all the Kensington church may well be proud.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
MR. ARTHUR W. UPSON
Admiration of excellence is a part of the foundation of all noble character. This brief sketch is intended to discover to us this excellence and to express this admiration. In the light of the fact that the Sunday-school has, since Robert Raikes origi- nated it in Gloucester, England, exerted a greater influence for good than any other institution of the church, our privilege today is great beyond measure.
The persons now living who were members of the Kensing- ton Sunday-school at or very near the date of its formal organ- ization in 1835 are Miss Harriet Hotchkiss, Frederick H. Nor- ton, Henry A. Robbins and Henry M. Cowles. The first three of these names appear in a library record book, to which refer- ence will be made later, under date of 1835, and the fourth name first appears under date of June, 1836. By the mercy of God Deacon Henry M. Cowles and Mr. Frederick H. Norton are present with us today in the flesh.
The earliest record found of the existence of the school is that it was one of the six schools forming the "Sabbath School Union for Wethersfield and Berlin, auxiliary to Connect- icut Sabbath School Union" in 1832. The last minute of that meeting is, "Voted, to appoint the six Superintendents as a Committee of Visitors for the year ensuing, viz .:
Mr. Horace Wolcott, Wethersfield
Deacon Israel Williams,
Rocky Hill
Deacon Wells,
Newington
Mr. Sheldon Moore, Esquire, Kensington
Mr. Chauncey Cornwall, New Britain
Mr. Lewis Edwards, Worthington
In 1833 this committee reported for Kensington, "No. of School 35; the Concert of prayer is held." These six schools of the Union, according to its records, were organized as follows: New Britain 1816; Wethersfield 1817; Newington, 1818; Ber-
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lin 1819; Rocky Hill 1827; Kensington 1835. The term "organ- ized," as applied to the local school, is taken to mean a formal organization with a constitution.
The years 1825 and 1826 were pioneer years in the organi- zation of Sunday-school Unions in America. The American and the Connecticut Sunday School Unions were both insti- tuted in 1825. At its second annual meeting at New Haven in 1826 the Board of Managers of the Connecticut Union re- ported: "The Board has still later information, that the Na- tional Society, although it is but little more than eighteen months from the date of its formation, now numbers 377 auxiliary branches, existing in twenty-three out of the twenty-four United States." And while it is hardly credible to the writer that the Kensington school should not have come into existence until several years after the formation of the Union and so much later than the group of five schools above referred to, the records do not help us and the accredited membership of 35 in 1833 indicates that the school was comparatively weak in numbers; but the records of the local union show that Ken- sington received fair honor as well as responsibility from the very first.
In the report of the Semi-Centennial of the Wethersfield and Berlin Sunday School Union, published in 1884, a foot note refers to the report of E. W. Robbins in 1859, "It is supposed that this school was organized earlier than reported" (1835). The date there assigned is 1819. A note in Mr. Robbins' Sketch of Kensington adds: "Dr. Horatio Gridley is believed to have been the first Superintendent." He graduated at Andover Theological Seminary in 1818, and on account of ill health turned to the study of medicine.
The preamble of the "Constitution of the Kensington Sabbath School Association," which was formed in 1835, reads: "The Subscribers impressed with the great importance of a well-organized Sabbath School in this place to the true interests of the rising generation and to both the temporal and religious interests of this people hereby associate our- selves together for this purpose and such of us as have children of suitable age pledge ourselves to encourage and endeavor to cause their attendance on the school and all of us to give our support and encouragement to it and to adopt the following Rules for the Organization and conduct of the School." We observe that this was not the organization
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of a Sunday-school but of an association for conducting such a school, which was at that time a common method of direct- ing such work. This Association continued until 1864, when it was superseded by the church in the conduct of its own school. Article 6 of these Rules reads: "The Pastor of this Church shall be requested to preach a sermon favorable to the cause of Sabbath Schools and to take up a Contribution on some Sab- bath in each year for the increase of the Library and the pur- chase of proper Books for instruction in the School." In 1841 the Union voted its wish that the ministers preach twice each year upon the subject of Sabbath Schools. In a fragmentary financial record found in the back of the library record pre- viously mentioned, the books for instruction are called "ques- tion books," and they appear to have been sold annually. Article 7 of the Rules reads: "There shall be contribution of such teachers and scholars as shall choose to contribute of one cent or more a month, to be disposed of, either for the purchase of books for the school or for establishing Sabbath Schools in other places as shall be determined by the Officers of the Association." These Rules are concluded by a P. S. reading : "The above Constitution was formed A. D. 1835 and the school has prospered till this day (but there is no Record) and the association of the Union" (meaning the Wethersfield and Berlin Union) "requested all Secretaries to keep records and report the same. I therefore take the liberty to copy the constitu- tion and the 26 signers and commence the records from this the 10th day of April, 1841. (Signed) Jno. G. North, Secretary."
The members signing these articles of association in 1835 were: Royal Robbins, Sheldon Moore, Jabez Langdon, Albert Norton, Wm. Stocking, Cypr'n. Goodrich, Edw. Norton, Milo Hotchkiss, Horace Haskell, Matt'w. Judd, Geo. Cornwall, Isaac Botsford, R. Moore, Jr., Ira Kent, M. C. Frances, H. B. Stocking, A. I. Dunham, Ebenezer Hill, Avery Hough, J. W. Judd, Wm. J. Bunce, Geo. Cowles, Geo. J. Norton, Friend Street, Wm. Yale and Selden Peck. The signers in 1841 were. Jno. G. North, Ashbel Dickinson, Henry Stow and H. S. Durand. There follow carefully and neatly kept records of meetings, votes and elections of officers, and semi-annual or annual reports (lacking in some years) up to 1863. The officers chosen in 1841 were Jabez Langdon, President; Jno. G. North, Secy .; Milo Hotchkiss, Supt .; Thos. Upson, Supt. Asst .; Roswell Moore, Jr., Librarian and Treasurer; and he
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with Royal Robbins, Committee to purchase books. Officers for the year 1863 were: John Upson, President; E. W. Rob- bins, Secy. and Treas .; John Upson, Supt .; F. H. Norton, Asst. do .; Oliver Kent, Librarian. The constitution also pro- vided for an executive committee of one person in each School District, and in 1845 it was "Voted that one Lady in each Dis- trict be appointed executive committee," in addition to the men.
In his report in 1841 Secretary North says: "Our school since the reorganization in the spring has been in a flourishing condition. Numbers of youth and children have joined the school so that we have now 189 Resident Members, 137 of which are regular attendants. 32 of the above number are the fathers and mothers who feeling an interest in the Spiritual Welfare of their children have formed an adult class, that other adults may be benefitted by their instructions." In the next report, in March 1842, he says: "The cause of Benevolence in general has since the last report received atten- tion, the scholars have an opportunity once in each month to contribute for the support of the various charities which require aid; and thus we trust the way will be prepared for the exercise of that expansive benevolence which shall ultimately lead to the conviction that the World is our country, and that it is our duty to labor in the fear of God for all mankind as our Brethren -. " In March 1845, Edward Norton, Jr., Secretary, reports: "As a general thing the children have been very attentive to their teachers and when any thing has been said for the benefit of the School they have given their strict and undivided attention. -We have, it is true, labored under some disadvantages in regard to books; for there are at least three different kinds of books used in school, besides that used in the Infant Classes. Whereas if we had but one kind we could better comply with the 4th article of the Constitution by holding Teachers' Meet- ings -. "
We cannot but wonder what stress of competition caused the amendment of the constitution in 1848, as follows: "Voted to amend the constitution so that after voting twice for a Superintendent without choice a plurality shall elect the third time." Pastor Robbins was at this meeting formally invited "to preach a sermon on the subject of Sabbath Schools," and a similar vote appears frequently on record. The 11th annual report in 1852 is in this form: "This has been emphatic- ally a year of good things. The school has been very well
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attended. Whole number of members about 125, average attendance nearly 100. By the mercy of God in blessing the efforts and answering the prayers of the S. S. in connection with those of our devoted Pastor who has always manifested so deep an interest in the welfare of the young, we have had 20 or 21 hopeful conversions. Of these persons 15 have taken Christ as their only Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King and publicly and solemnly promised through the help of divine grace to live in all respects according to the rules and precepts of the Gospel. By this we see that 'Zion still is well beloved' and are encouraged to increase our labors. In the past year we have not had one death." (Signed) H. Upson, Secy.
The records of the Wethersfield and Berlin Union yield material of very great interest. Deacon Isaac Botsford of Kensington was president of the union from 1837 to 1844 inclusive, only two terms exceeding that in length; while Samuel Upson was second Vice President from 1859 to 1866 inclusive. A system of visitation between the schools was inaugurated at the start. By vote of the union the committees of visitation were forbidden to travel on the Sabbath in fulfilling their duties. Teachers' meetings were held on Saturday evenings so that the visitors could be present. At the meeting in Kensington in 1835 the Superintendents were charged with the responsibility of visiting all the schools twice annually and reporting. Visi- tation has continued spasmodically up to very recent years.
In 1836 the members of the school were reported as "90, 60 children and 30 adults, and 11 helpful concerts held." These concerts were commonly called "monthly concerts of prayer," and consisted of songs, recitations and exercises by the children, prayer for the cause of Sunday Schools and some- times an address. These concerts were continued in Kensing- ton through the pastorate of Rev. E. B. Hillard. In the record of the anniversary in 1865 is found this minute: "An inter- esting discussion arose on the question whether the S. S. Concerts and other labors were not for show more than the Glory of God and Salvation of Souls-result was a conviction that songs and attractions might be used to gain attention provided the exercises were sactified by the Word of God and Prayer."
In 1837 it was reported, "Members 125, 12 teachers, meet once in 2 weeks." In 1838, "two thirds of the children attend in the parish. No. of school 182-efforts have been made to exclude works of fiction." At the "14th October Convention"
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held in Newington in 1841 it was "Resolved, that in the opinion of the Meeting there ought to be for each School a revising and expurgating Committee whose duty it shall be to examine all Books." In 1841 Mr. Hotchkiss reported "three fourths of the whole congregation attend the school-63 Temp. Advocates circulated." This seems to have yielded results; for in 1842 at the anniversary in Kensington the report was: "Membership 229, 10 classes, average number 135, hopeful conversions 28- Interesting revival, some drunkards reformed and converted in the parish." In 1850 Mr. G. Upson reports among other items, "70 vol. given to school in Wolcott." This must have been either loyalty or favoritism, for Wolcott was Mr. Upson's native place. Other items reported in '50 are, "14 united with
the church, 21 hopeful converts." In '54 the report included, "20 hopeful converts, 11 united with the church, revival season enjoyed this year." In '58 the report contains this note: "Dinner provided at Town Hall in Kensington thus saving time and pro- moting our happiness." In 1859 Edw. W. Robbins, Secretary,
reported: "No. of teachers and officers 17, whole number 142, no converts, no deaths, library 500 vols., added to Church from S. S. 6, no concert, no teachers' meeting, no contrib. and no weekly record is kept." The next year this negative report was bettered by a contribution, and in 1864 the collections amounted to $52.75, perhaps because the church sustained the school. In 1861 a "Mission S. S. in Blue Hills" is mentioned. In 1862 Mr. Robbins reports: "W. No. 136, av. 68, failed 2 Sabb., noon 35 min., Coll. $9.47, Deaths 2, Soldiers for the army 10, per cent of Ch. engaged as off. teachers or learners 3712."
In connection with the pathetic item, "failed 2 Sabb.," we must notice the apparent faithfulness of all in the school and quote rules iii, vii and xii, as suggested by the Connecticut Sunday School Union in 1826: iii. "It shall be the duty of the teachers to hear the lessons of their scholars without prompting and to keep a record in their class books of the punctuality of attendance and the number of verses learned by each scholar; to see that the children do not recite so loud as to interrupt each other; to use all the means in their power to secure their confidence and affection, and especially to converse with them in a plain familiar manner on the subject of their lessons and religion." vii. "If any of the children are absent from the school, it shall be the duty of their teachers to call upon their parents during the week, learn the reason of their absence,
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and report them to the teachers' meeting on the next Friday evening." xii. "Any scholars necessarily detained from the school may recover their standing, on their return, by reciting an additional number of verses until they make up the defic- iency." These rules are found in a most interesting printed report of the second anniversary meeting of the Union in 1826, here on exhibition through the courtesy of Mr. Francis Deming of Berlin.
At this time it is not deemed best to refer at length to the later history of the school. We may say reverently and thankfully the words written by Sec. North in 1841: "The school has prospered till this day."
In 1864, when a plan of connecting the school directly with the church was adopted, following soon after some revis- ion of the church organization a resolution was adopted by both Sunday-school and church as follows: "Whereas the Church is the divinely established organization for the religious work in this world: and whereas the mission of the Sunday School in the religious instruction of the young in preparation
for their reception into the Communion of Christ in His Church is auxiliary to this of the Church: Wherefore, Resolved that this Sunday School connect itself with the Church with which it is associated, as one of its agencies in the prosecution of its divine enterprise." The church now chooses the chief officers of the school, and provides for the ordinary expenses, leaving the school a good measure of self-government, and freedom in directing its charities.
In a "Kensington S. S. Library Account Book," dated 1835, appear the names of seven classes of 55 boys, and seven classes of 60 girls. If we add to this the 30 adults reported to the local Union in 1836, the total membership, including officers and teachers, was about 165,-a pretty lusty Sunday-school babe of three years! In the back of this book is the account of R. Moore, Jr., for three years. One item reads: "To one Dollar pd. to H. Haskell for visitor;" another, "To cash paid for hymn book at New Haven 23c.," and a third, "Paid to the Worthington S. S. Society for Question Books $3.08." From the beginning Royal Robbins drew 33 books in 37 consecutive weeks; Nelson Cowles drew 37 books in 43 weeks; Frederick H. Norton drew 31 books in 40 weeks; and Wyllys Hart drew 35 books in 42 weeks. The titles of the first ten books drawn by Royal E. Robbins are: "Scripture Biographical Dictionary;"
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2, "Memoirs of Harlan Page;" 3, "Memoirs of Isabella Camp- bell;" 4, "Faith Explained to Children;" 5, "Scottish Loom Boy;" 6, "Memoirs of John Knill;" 7, "Pastoral Sketches;" 8, "Memoirs of John Mooney Mead;" 9, "History of the Patri- archs;" 10, "A Guide to Christ." Other titles are: "Child's Book on the Sabbath," "Right and Wrong," "History of an Old Pocket Bible," "Pleasantness of a Religious Life," "Repent- ance Explained to Children," "Elizabeth C. or Early Piety," "Juliana Oakley, a tale," "How to be Happy," "Affectionate Daughter-in-Law," "Advice to the Teens," "Memoir of an Infant Scholar," "Youth's Book of Natural Theology," "Sun- day School Teacher's Dream," "Persuasions to Early Piety," "Life of Rev. David Brainerd," "The Child's Book of Repent- ance," "The Flowers of the Forest," "A Call to the Uncon- verted," "Henry on Meekness," "Jonah's Plight or Danger of Neglect," "Filial Obedience," "King Solomon's Councils to the Young," "Astronomy by Rev. Cyrus Mann," "Brief Memoir of Mahomed Ali Bey," "Anecdotes of Sunday Schools," "The Lottery Ticket," "The Model Family," "Faithful Nar- ration of the Conversion of many Souls," "Pilgrim's Progress," "Six Months in a Convent," "Life of Cotton Mather," "Pro- spective Missions in China," two copies of "History of the Reformation," a series of "Temperance Tales," and books on missions in West Africa, Ceylon, and the Chickasaw and Osage missions,-315 titles in all.
The presidents of the Kensington Sunday School Asso- ciation were:
Jabez Langdon
1841
Deacon Cyprian Goodrich
1842-5, 50, 51, 62
Albert Norton
1846-7
Horace Haskell
1848-9
Roswell Moore
1852
Ira Cole
1853-5
Isaac Upson
1856
Gustavus Upson
1857
George Cowles
1858
Ira Kent
1861
John Upson
1863
Between the years 1841 and 1863 Thomas Upson and eight of his eleven sons and a daughter were, at one time or another, officers of the association, viz .: Gustavus, Isaac H., Samuel,
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William, John, Henry, Ambrose, Seth P. and Harriet. Of these Thomas, Gustavus, William, Samuel and John were superintendents. Three of a later generation have also been superintendents, Theron, Willis H. and Arthur W. In 1835 R. Moore, Jr., was librarian and treasurer, and in 1843 Nelson A. Moore was chosen secretary, and nearly every year until 1857 the name of one or the other appears as an officer, and often both were officers at the same time. The name of E. W. Robbins appears as secretary in 1854 and in that year he framed an annual report which is a classic.
No history of the Sunday-school would be complete with- out reference to the horse-shed class. The school has up to recent years had for its most numerous constituency the agri- cultural class. Up to about 1875 the sessions of the Sunday- school were held between the morning and afternoon preaching services. The opportunity to visit and exchange news and views on live stock, the state of crops and the market, politics, both local and national, and social happenings, was not to be lost by those men who let the attendance and study of the Bible by their wives and children answer for their own. In this class were discussed with unblushing freedom the application of the principles of the Bible to the conduct of others, if not the principles themselves. Here many domestic innovations were predicted, steered, criticized and frequently, their advice being ignored, condemned. Here reputation was made, caused to tremble in the balance and destroyed. Here questions of statesmanship were discussed, decided and declared. Here feuds and foibles were aired, here ridicule, jest and story abounded. Here every man was officer, teacher and pupil. Here he who cracked the long lash of the whip over the backs of his employer's oxen and he who was a great landed proprietor and the owner of herds of cattle and flocks of sheep and addressed as 'Squire were heard with equal respect. Here met the men who, in many cases holding office in the ecclesiastical society and the Sunday-school association, yet deemed their duty done toward the church and school when they attended upon the preaching of the Word, paid their taxes, attended to the prudential affairs and gave encouragement to the piety of their wives, children and domestics. And certain it is that for the most part the judgments of this class were just. For the most part it was composed of good men and true. Its opprobrium was held in righteous fear and its approval sought
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throughout the community. But what pangs did it cost the godly minister, the consecrated teacher and the pious wife! What fervent intercession was made for these sinners, these neglecters of the means of grace!
And the Christmas, Memorial, Independence, and more recently the Children's Day celebrations filled a place in the lives of the little ones, which, united with the loving and enthus- iastic help of the parents and elders, created ties which can never be broken, and which have been and will be perfected in the better land.
Finally tribute should be paid to the all-inclusive maternal overcharge of the church. No two institutions could be more closely knit together than this school and church. May this union, with all beneficent forces, give to them good success through days without number.
REV. WILLIAM B. TUTHILL
REV. A. FERDINAND TRAVIS
REV. EDGAR H. OLMSTEAD
REV. CARLETON HAZEN
REV. HORACE HOOKER, D. D.
By REV. SHERROD SOULE
Superintendent of The Missionary Society of Connecticut
The oldest Missionary Society in the United States salut- eth this worthy church which is four score and six years older. You are congratulated on two centuries of existence and the endurance has not been simply lasting but splendid life. We are today surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses contained in the successive generations of believers for two hundred years. The lines of this church have gone out through all the world. My message is not to merely mention what this church owes to The Missionary Society of Connecticut but to acknowl- edge with great gladness and genuine gratitude what the Mis- sionary Society owes to this church. It is a matter of record that in 1845 the Missionary Society as the big brother of all the churches of Connecticut held out its helping hand to this church in a time of brief need. This was a period in Connecti- cut Congregational church life when many an old church felt its strength numerically and financially slipping away due to the manufacturing magnets, many and mighty. New Britain, Middletown, Meriden, Wallingford, Bristol, Southington and Plainville were booming industrially and farms were forsaken by the youth, and Kensington felt the pull. The hand of the Missionary Society held out to you was not empty though it contained only a paltry pittance of $75; but it seemed to be sufficient for the first and only aid to the injured. That small amount has been returned probably a hundred fold with com- pound interest. But more than money requital you gave a man which places the Missionary Society in hopeless arrears to you and places us under willing and everlasting bonds of gratitude.
Some mile or more from this meeting house a boy was born, March 25, 1793. The father was a farmer, Elijah Hooker by name, and a direct descendant of the famous divine, Thomas
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Hooker, who laid the foundation, not only of this Common- wealth but of the nation. The boy's mother's maiden name was Susannah Judd and her first marriage was to Samuel Seymour, names all notable in this locality and also state wide. His early life could not have been lonesome even in the country, for he was the last, though by no means the least, of twelve children. He was early set apart for a liberal education if not for the ministerial profession. His preparatory school was a minister's study in an ancient house now standing in Newing- ton and his preceptor was Rev. Joab Brace, D.D., who had a full half century pastorate in that parish. The lad became a man of twenty-two when he received his diploma from Yale. He taught in Hartford and tutored in his Alma Mater and he was both apt and able in his calling. But theology lured him and so he added preacher to pedagogue in his list of profes- sions. Two years he was pastor of the ancient and honorable church in Watertown. In 1824 we find him in Hartford and adding to his role of accomplishments that of journalism, being editor of the "Connecticut Observer." Finding himself suffic- ient for the conquering of more worlds he assumed a secretarial position and became the executive head of The Missionary Society of Connecticut, filling it with great grace and rare effectiveness for more than thirty eight years until the time he fell asleep, December 17, 1864, aged three score ten and one years.
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