Litchfield enquirer., 1871-08-17

by the people of Litehield, who would probably have put the last first April. IA. 173l, the following vote was passed by the town: ''Voted, afler dark, that Mr. Collins have the choice of the pews for himself and family" Previously, a vote had been taken that no order passed after dark should be considered binding! MT. Collins had hard time of it with his peo- pie. who were not liberal in their dealings with him and found fault with his services: but he worried along for thirty years, and vacated the pulpit. Then he remained among them as physician. having studied medicine in early life; and they preferring his practice to his preaching, he had am pie opportunity to punish them severely for any ills he had suffered at their hands
 After him came Mr. Champion, whose prayer for the soldiers going to fight the battles Of their country has become historic and famous. David was never moro de cided in imprecating divine vengeance up. on his enemies than the Rev. Judah Cham pion-a remarkable name he had, and he was man to match. He fed the flock for ty-t years, and was buried among them. Rev. Dan Huntington came in l798,-a gentleman of learning and eloauence. whom the people admired and ved,-and what he thought of the place and people may be gathered from what he wrote at the time, and cite the sentence to give you an idea of what Litchfeld was more than seventy years ago: ...
 "A delightful village, on fruitful hill, richly endowed with it's schools, both pro- fessiOnal and scientific, and their accom- plished teachers; with it's venerable Gov ernors and judges; with its learned lawyers and Senators and Represen entatives, both in the National and State Departments, and with population enlightened and respect, able-Litchfeld was now in its glory.''
 His ministry was short, but great sue cess; and when he went away, man came to Litchfeld who became himself famous and made Litchfeld famous, and here rais- ed family more famous than any other minister's family in the world. This won derful man was Lyman Beecher. He was settled here May 30. 1910, and President Dwight preached the installation sermon. Twenty years before Dr. Beecher came here, @ temperance society had been form. ed in Litchfeld, and the pledge recites the evils of intemperance in the same words that are in common use now. To this pledge were appended the names of the leading citizens, many of whom have al ready had occasion to mention. But drunk ards still existed even here. Some cases of peculiar sadness stirred the soul of the pas tor, and he prepared and preached six ser mons on intemperance which have since excited tremendous influence on the mind of the country. Mrs. Stowe and Hen " Ward Beecher were born in Litchfield.
 As early as 1745 an Episcopal congrega tion was organized in this town, and at a town meeting, held two years afterwards. 1t was voted "that those who declared them selves members of the Church of England the last year. shall be discharged from pay ing their Ministers Rate for the last year, D which was an early step toward toleration, as the Congregational church was support, ed by town tax. Mir. John Davies, from England, was the wealthiest supporter of the Episcopal church. His son, with his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Pow ell, came over and settled here. But this Mary Powell didn't like it very we'll. and wrote to her friends over the water that it was very lonesome in Litchfield and she "had no society, nothing 10 associate aoih, but Presbyterians and acotves" If she should revisit the country, she would find that the wolves have disappeared, the Presby- terians are all tame, and the fastest steam boat on the Hudson perpetuates the name of Mary Powell. ...T
 The first rector of the Episcopal church was Congregational minister who changed his views, went to England and was re- ordained by the Bishop of Bangor The next was Mary Powel's son, the third was Mir. Nichols, and the fourth was Rev. Ash bel Baldwin, who was born ill this town, and was ordained at Middletown by Bishop Seabury, Aug. 3, 17S5, being the FIRST Episcopal ordination in the United States! This identifies Litchfeld with the early history of an independent Episcopal Church in this country. Mir. Baldwin died in Rochester, N. Y., in l846, aged 89 years, after he had preached 10000 times, bap- tized 5000, and buried 5000 persons
 Perhaps you are not interested in these musty records of an old town. To me they have meaning as marking the first impressions made upon town that to this day bears the marks of noble lineage: old Matthew Henry says "grace does not run in the blood, but sin does." It is only in a modified sense that take that to be true. Good men live in their children to many generations, and Litchfeld to-day is what 1t is,-one of the most beautiful, re- fined, moral. peaceful, prosperous, intelli. gent, desirable towns in Now England,- because of it's founders and early settlers, men who feared God and loved righteous. ness. Therefore, God hath exalted it above it's fellows.
 We are full now, but another season you may come. Wehave good schools, church. es and drives; and if your nerves are out of order, Dr. Buel has Q beautiful Retreat for your treatment and will put you to rights in very short time. Dr. Buel's father was physician of wide practice here, and one of the men who helped to make the place what it is..
 Yesterday, Sunday. morning the bell tolled S5 strokes to tell the people that one of their number had gone to rest. It was for the death of Mrs. Gen. Woodruff. the mother of the men of that name whom l mentioned in my last. The custom of tell ing the bell on such occasions still remains in some New England towns.
 IRENEUs.
 OLD MEN, or prematurely old men, have you lost all inclination for business, family or society-of your friends then renew your age. your vigor, your lease of life; by taking Warmers Dyspepsia Cure, it will restore you to society, will bring back your love of friends and friendly intercourse with the world, those trembling hands will shake no more, life will be sweet. and you