The weekly Anglo-African. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1859-1861, 1859-10-15
OUR NEW HAVEN LETTER.
NEW HAVEN, Oct. II, 1859

DEAR ANGLo:-Sunday last, the 9th in
slant, there was quite religious festivity
among the colored religious public of the
Elm City. The Distinguishing feature of
the occasion was the conservation Of the
religious edifce, recently completed, be-
longing to a congregation of the A. M. e.
BetheD connexion, of which the Rev. Mr.
Sanford is pastor In the absence of the
Rt. Rev. Paul Quinn, senior Bishop of this
connection, who has charge of this Episco-
pal District for the present year, the Rev.
Jacob Mitchell, of New Bedford, Mass,
conducted the conservation ceremonies in
accordance with the ritual of the Methodist
Church
AT 1920 A NJ clerical procession en-
tered the church, repeating the twenty
fourth Psalm, and proceeded up the centre
aisle co the altar. This procession consist
ed of the following clergymen: Revs. ia
cob Mitchell, VIM. d. W. Schureman, VIM
H. Chase, E. B. Davis, j. FL. Jones, l.
Sanders, JOS. Long, and A. L. Stanford
All these are ministers of the Bethel con-
nexion There were also present in the
congregation, the Rev. Mr. Washington,
pastor of the A NJ. E. (Zion) Church of
this city, and Rev. Theodore Doughty
Miller, pastor of the Baptist Church.
The conservation sermon was preached
by the Rev. Mr.. Mitchell, in the morning
in the afternoon the Rev. John Dudley, a
Congregational minister of New Haven,
preached; and in the evening the Rev D.
w. Shureman held forth in the sacred
desk.
The church was filled at all affnthese ser
vices, but in the evening it was crowded to
its utmost capacity. Not less than 800
persons were present at tie third service.
A fine choir had been trained for the occasion
under the encouragement of Rev. Mr.. STAN
ford, who executed some set pieces with fine
effect. This, of course, was not in accord
ance with some of the notions of the Meth
odist fathers" but Mr.. Stanford, who is a
progressive young clergyman, declared it
to be his intention to foster this modern in
novation in Methodical usages.
The church edifce is nearly finished,
with wide galleries on each side, and spa
cious loft for the choir in front. Besides,
there is well-fnished basement that can
be used for lecture and class room, in
which the congregation mas worshipped for
two years past, prior to the completion of
the upper part.
The New England Conference of the
Bethel connexion will assemble in New
Haven, next year, and this fact has been
an inducement to the congregation to thus
push their church edifce to completion.
And here, before leaving this subject, let
me say that Mrs Burch, (tho wife of Rev.
Charles Burch,) took the opportunity OF
this festive occasion to extend the hospi-
talltles Of her house to all the strange col
ored clergymen present in the city, togeth-
er with those resident here, by inviting
them and their wives to dine with her on
Monday, the 10th inst Twenty-six per-
sons sat down to dine on that day under her
hospitable roof. The Rev. Mr.. Miller of
the Baptist, and the Rev Mr.. Holly of the
Episcopal church, were not able to be pres
ent until the rest of the company had
dined, in consequence of the former being
called to attend the funeral of a child OF
Mr.. jackson, that died of Group; and the
latter also being called to ofhciate at the
funeral of child of Mr.. Douglass, that
was accidentally scalded to death. These
funerals took place about the dinner hour
appointed. and prevented the presence OF