Litchfield enquirer., 1849-12-20
Tho Departed Clergy.

Extract from Sermon before the North COnsocia,ioO of Litch6eld COanry, by the Rev. Cyrus Yale.
 The change of pastors has been much greater. Within the time under review, twelve have passed away by death and forty by diSmission. Anl what IS very noticeable, exactly the same number, fifty
 two, have come. It were easy to gve all their names from the Record; but l will oRly mention the loved names of the dead, in the order of thew removal: Asa ols:., Alexander Gilht, Jeremiah Hal lock, Peter Starr, Jonathan Miller, Aga riah Clark, Samuel J. Mills, David L, Perry, Hart Talcott, William Andrews, Charles Prentice, Grant Powers. These twelve died at their posts of labor-all but two of thena on their watch-towers. To these may add five, whose deaths occurred after the termination of thei: pastoriaT refation witE.in our bounds namely, Chauneey Lee, Pitkin. Cowlcs, George Darlington, Henry IL. Wood bridge, and Edward R. Tyler~ The bare mention of so many dear pastors, tea ct whom were toiling for Christ among these hills and valleys, at the connaenee- ment of my residence here, is overwhel- ming. It was in my heart to present, On LI.is occasion, miniature pletuies--Lie lifa, if possible-of these aged and young associates in nay early ministry. But l fo.esaw the tis,e would fail me for even a slight outline of so many fellow pastors, wi hout the aid of some new das uerrean apparatus to portray. ut once, thelr own , snlnd and heart, as of their face and form.
 And then, if time and skiN were suppl cd, how could nay feelings bear it? voen most of them were personal friends revcred fathers, beloved brethren.
 This rare circle of pastors. cn nay first union with this Body, had recently par ted with their mild. lovely, "judic'ous liooker;" and their tears were scarce dry for tLeir venerable and eloquent Robbins, as he went up from his earthly labors to his heavenly reward, and they Ecried after him so teel;nsly and so app'o-
 priately, My father, my father! the chariot of I,rael, and the horseman thereofY Was there ever so bright a constellation of clerical stars! Hooker, Robbins, Mills, Starr, Gillett, Hallock,
 Miller! All of great magnitude, in the sane neighborhood at one time--com-
 bining their steady, strong light, in one glorious blaze, for their junio's in office
 to behold, admire, and initiate! And the
 favored spot, ca which this constellation shone brig ghtest and most brniynly. was no other than the dwelling place of this ConsociatiOn; not only the pastors. but their flock felt the holy influence ard blessed the Lord.
 Happy! if the daguerean art had an earlier date, and had left to the world the treasure of an exact picture of this groupe of worthies. You could then have seen father Mills in the centre. over topping all the rest. portly. very erect, with large face and forehead, more ven- erable and majestic for the white wig above--bat then, you would miss the unique voice and manner, his deep rever enee for God and Bible truth, his grave hun,or, tho shaking of his large frame with sudden and strong emotion, his in. imitable naturalness in stating facts, and the entire ease with which he could con. vulse those around him with laughter, and the next moment make them sober as the grave itself. And you could then have seen by his side, in strong contrast, thc small slender, guileless Starr, with his slight and almost femenine face, and sleek hair. and mild lookout here again, you would miss the slow and consider. ate words, and the preference of silence if others would speak. though his good sense, and deep piety, and peculiar sin celity of tone and manner always made lis few and pithy words alike acceptable and useful. And you could have seen too. in the case supposed. the deeply grave. humble, kind-hearted, inimitable iiallook. and his welI.beloved brother Gillett. men of like temperament and Ike spirit, who often went together, as holy twins on some extra service for their Lord and Master, and for the best good of these clustering churehcs-service of their own devising under the powerful teaching of the same spilit. The latter of middle stature and thick set, German in featu es and in Eovc of books. deep and accurate in thought. safe counsell- or--of slow. intelligent and honest speech in all connections-ths Hebrecian among his associate fathers. If to these four Te add Miller, the g'oup of pastoral fa. liners in thls Consoclation, at the time of my settlement will be entire. This youngest of the five had then passed his prime. and a!;eswasa sorrowfuily lost his reason; but by report he had been the first man in th's Asso .tion, for ,,en. al ilAaence in She Body. Yet, his m,und and aeshy face. shor. neck, compact unl colpnlenL form, joined to g,ea. flow of animal spirit, and to social powers ol