Litchfield enquirer., 1847-01-21
~ fOgrapbp.
Stanley GrisWOld.

the district school, until he reached the age
of 10 years, when he was placed in an acad-
envy preparatory to his entering College
In 1882, he entered the freshmen class of
Yale College, at which institution he grad.
uated in September, 1876. For about
year thereafter, he taught a high school, and
then began the study of Divinity with the
learned Rev. DR.. Mcclure, of Eas. Wind.
sor. He commenced preaching early in the
year l7S9, and soon after received an invi
talion TO settle over the church in Lyme,
which he declined. On the 18th of June of
the same year, he commenced preaching as
a candidate in New Milford, and was ordai
ned there as a colleague of the Rev. Mr..
Taylor, January 20, 1880. About this time
he was married TO Miss Elizabeth FIagg,
daughter of Dr.. Samuel Fagg, of East Hart
ford.
At the time Of his ordination, and for
considerable period of years after, he was
very popular with his people, and indeed
with all who heard him preach. He was
good writer, an easy aud graceful speaker,
and having the advantage of good voice
and fine personal appearance, few equalled
and still fewer excell.d him in pulpit oratory
In ordinary and private intercourse, he was
familiar and pleasant, and seemed in all
respects we'll calculated TO gain and retain
friends. But his destiny was cast in an excl
ting era. The principles of the Government
seemed 10 be in state of chaos, and the
great minds of the country were almost uni
versally drawn into the vortex of politics.
Jeffersonian democracy had risen into pop
ularity in many sections of the country. In
New England, as is we'll known, Jefferson
was regarded by the clergy and by the re-
ligious people generally, at the north, but lit
lie better than an avowed infdel, aud his
friends were consequently looked upon with
suspicion and prejudice. To the young and
ardent mind Of Griswold, glowing with the
fire of genius, aspiring to whatever is lofty
and progressive in Freedom, and graspng
after new thoughts and new theories, The po
ltical fabric of the great apostle of democ-
racy was seized upon as the most perfect
model of republic which had been con-
ceived Of. Unaccustomed to conceal his
opinions in matters of general interest and
importance, and conscious of the reclitude Of
his motives, he did not hesitate from the
frstto declare his preference in converse
ton whenever he thought it expedient to do
so. AS a matter of course, it was soon noiS.
ed abroad that Mr.. Grswoh was demo-
GRAFT" Still his popularity was not materi-
ally affected thereby, so long as they were
not publicly expressed. His talents and elo-
quence secured for him crowded audiences,
and elected the applause Of his hearers,
though very many mourned over what they
regarded as h s errors.
When first settled, he was regarded (and
probably justly SOY as belonging to the Cal
whistle School of divines. But after few
years his brethren in the ministry gradually
became dissatisfied with some of his relig-
ious lenets, and the Rev. Mr.. Day was de-
puled TO converse with him relative TO them.
Not being satisfied with Mr.. G's conduct
and opinions as expressed on that occasion,
he made an unfavoraole report to the Asso.
citation, and ultimately preferred charges
against him. What the precise charges
were, are unknown to the writer, farther than
that they were designed to impeach his
orthodoxy, and did not in any way atlec. his
moral character or conduct. MI. Grswold
however was cited to appear and make an
swer thereto before session Of the Asso-
citation to which he belonged at Roxbury.
From some cause Of alledgel informally,
he refused to appear in person, until they
should first annul their proceedings claimed
to be irregular, and receive his explanations
as from an uncensured brother. To this
proposition on his part the Association did
not think proper 10 accede, but forthwith
proceeded against him es parte, cutting him
of from his connexion with that body. The
people of his charge very generally espous-
ed his cause with much zeal and earnest
ness, and he continued his minstrations
among them for several years after his CON
nection with the Association had been thus
forcibly dissolved.
In March, 1901, the democrats of the
State held a Jubilee at Wallinglord, in
New Haven County, in honor of the election
of Jefferson and Burr to the Presidency and
Vice Presidency of the United States, and
Mr.. GliSwod was invited to deliver a scr.
mon on the occasion. He accepted the in
vitation, though StrenuOusly advised against
it by his friends, who warned him Of the
consequences of such a step TO him as
minister. but as he had evidently ere this
determined upon leaving the ministry, these
had less effect than they might
otherwise have had. His sermon was pub.