, 1876-05-28

1S6S-1S72; the Rev. Henry B. Smith, 1873
lo!o' Inc American flag WIS conspicuui,sly Gu
t%lned among the arms Of the can3clabra above
the pulpit.
Judge Thomas Bradford Dwight. of co1uro-
bin College, New York, u grandson Of President
dwight, was President Of the day. The cxer-
etses consisted OF prayer by the pastur, music
oy tue cho!T' and speaking by former members
In his historical address, the Rev. Henry B.
smith, pastor, referred to the struggles Of the
early settlers witl. the Indians; of their con-
tests with and victory over the tribes Of Pcquots
~ sasco Swamp IN 1850; Of the establishment Of
the parish uudcr decree issued BY authority OF
law in the year 17oG, during tic reign Of KIM;
George L.; OF tile first bell which was obtained
and was first rung in 1743,-a bell deemed to he
SO valuable that It was thought by the Commit
tee tn charge, after It's arrival from England,
that the safest place To keep it prior to its ceya
ton to the bclfry was in the PASTORS parlor.
He referred to the peculiar ideas held by the
early worshipers in this church US to the man.
ncr OF paying the PASTORS salary and OF the
years Of long ago s36o Or s400' was considered
liberal sum as compensation for years preach
ing, and the pay was not wholly in money. The
speaker referred to one clergyman's ac-
fspt'ng S 20 pounds & Of 1"tter t p pounds l Of
cord Of wood, and = barrels Of cider as por
tion Of lis salary, adding that he was only too
willing to get even those articles. lie alluded
to tlie existence Of slavery in Connecticut anu
of the large number Of colorcd persons In bomb
age held By men who considered themselves as
standing high III i religious sense. The farmers
Of those ti,cs raisctl lax, which was the staple
product, 10 000 bushels III one year having been
sent to market. Their descendants devote their
principal time to thc growing OF onions. lie
referred to the various pastors, his predecessors,
and pictured thcirciaractcristics, citing the Rev.
Timothy Dwight US one of the most powerful
preachers of his time. On one occasion the
Doctor WAS addressing the people OF Fairfield.
!Among them were those known to bc guilty Of
were his words that at the conclusion Of his all
dress they went hume and took steps look
ing to the restoration Of all that was unlawfuHy
taken. The speaker added, "Oh! that DR..
Dwight's voice could HOW be heard in the land,
that those in high places who are prone to make
light If their Responsibilities in tile conduct of
public alfairs at the Capital uf the nation might
lie influenced to turn from the error Of tAclr
ways.''
The church which the early inhabitants built
was burned III lS53 by thu product OF Il 81, ,0ao
insurance and by subscriptions the present
structure was erected i'll 1854. Tilc speaker
stated that Fairfield, Of which Greenfield is Il
hamlet, was never fairly treated BY historians.
These had failed to give credit to the men Of
this place who had So boldly advanced To tho
cou;try's defense during the time that ~ tried
mems souls" liz exhibited the sword Of Capt.
Ebenczer Bauks, used ten years before the Rev
olutipn, and many quaint ancient manuscripts.
lie concluded by :llll.lng to Greenfield as ono
Of the loyclicst places Ut rcsiNcncc in New En-
gland, and stated that from the spire of the
Church i'll which he was speaking. might be seen
the spircs Ut seventeen churches i'll many di1-
fcrent towns.
Lanr Sync,' the congregation joining.
III the afternoon all historical address was de-
lvcrcd by Prof Timothy Dwight, Of Yale Col
lcgc, New Haven.