Litchfield enquirer., 1874-02-26
February 7th, 1874.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24th, 1874.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24th, 1874.
 To THE LITCHFIELD ENQUIRER Truly we live in progressive age and our. .pe- pie would not be behind in any thing. We thank you, MT. Editor, as native of this place, for the interest you manifest in everything which concerns it's welfare. Every true citizen will rejoice in its im- provement and prosperity, and tokees of these are manifest on every side, in culti- vated fields, in renovated buildings. and in the general good order and intelligence which prevail throughout the community. But, lest we should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations made to the world through your numerous correspondents in this and the surrounding towns, we would like to give our views of the causes of this prosperity and intelligence.
 Old Judea has long been noted as an intellectual and moral community, and to a great extent is this true. But who laid the foundation for it's moral and intellect ual greatness, as we'll as for it's physical improvement? Our fathers were of Puri- tan stock. They were moral, industrious, honest men, who cultivated their minds as we'll as their fields; who labored with their bodies through the day, and their minds, through the long winter evenings
 Prominent among those was the Rev. Ebenezer Porter who did more for the moral and intellectual improvement of this community during the fifteen years he was our pastor. than any man living. Here in this modest retired town, he sounded the first note of alarm against in- temperance, years before Dr. Beecher blew his clarion blast on Litchfeld Hill against it's incoming tide. He and his coadJutors, Judge Brinsmade, Elijah Ha- zen, Dea. Powell, Simeon Mitchell and others, originated and established the first circulating library, some seventy years since, and inspired in the hearts of the yonng thirst for knowledge. He. estab- ished the first Lyceum in the form of a Theological Debating Society or school. Among those who composed it were the Calhouns, Hickox, Mitchell, Hollister, John N. Gum, Philo Clark and others, all men. of sterling worth, and lovers of order.
 They endeavored to inculcate their love of order in the minds of, and transmit it to, their descendants. Their influence is not wholly lost among us. They. were pillars in church and in society and were never engaged in bell ringings or general disorder at weddings. Those commenc- ed some forty-five years since, and ended nearly thirty years ago. Your correspon- dent of last week, think must have re- ceived most of his knowledge from tradi- tion, and was mistaken in several particu- lars, especially in the assertion that those who engaged in those scenes are now pill lars in the church. Some of them have prospered in business and are good mem- bers of society, but if there are any pill lars in the church, they have been born of higher regeneration than bell-ring- ing ,
 Our course of lectures has been very able and interesting, worthy of the favor able notice given them. Thanks to our Committee and Lecture Association, for us with such an intellectual en- tertainment. But we cannot agree with your New Preston correspondent, that all the moral and intellectual growth in this community is to be attributed to the Gunnery. While we acknowledge it's in- luence, and would not take bird out of it's nest; we would rather attribute it to he Fathers and Mothers of this commu- nity. A LOVER OF TRUTH.
 MR. EDrToR:-1n very excellent arti- ,le in your paper of January 15, on 'The Society,"" the writer says hat none of the churches as such held to he principle of entire abstinence (except he Methodist, much less required it of l heir members. I presume he has not cen the record of the Congregational hurch in Bethlehem. During the ministry # Rev. Paul Couch in this place, the hurch passed vote to abstain from the lse of ardent spirits except as medicine. 1andidates for admission to the church l re required to assent to that vote.
 ONE OF THE ORIGINAL VOTERS.