The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-05-20
A CENTURY AND A HALF.

An ANCIENT CHURCH oRGANIzA1IoN--oNx HUN
DRIED AND rIrrrETH Anniversary OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. oaEzxTIE1D HILL
coNN.-aEUSIoHs, "REMINISCENCES AND AZ
HISTORICAL ADDRESS
GRExSfrKLD HILL May 1s 1870
The ono hundred and frieth anniversary OF the
ganization OF tho Congregational church. Greenfield
Hin, Conn, took place to-day. large number q
persons from all parts Of the State being present
The church was elegantly decorated with nowerG
Tho pulpit and altar literally covered with nat
ural blossoms, prominent among which appeared .
graceful mound. displaying the 1gures l726-ls7d On
The walls OF the church appeared the names Of
tho pastors from the organization TO tho present
time Rev. John Goodse, l726-l750; Rev. Seth
Pomeroy, l75s--177o; Rev. William Tennett D. D.
l772-17sl; Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D., 17s3-l7o5:
Rev Mr. Holley, 1s05-ls0S; Rev. William Bofden
lsl2-ls2l; Rev. Richard v. Dey. 1S23-182s; Rev.
Thomas b sturges, 1s42-ls67; Rev. r. Percy Hub
bard ls0s-lS72; Rev. Henry B. Smith, 1S73-lS7d
The American flag conspicuously entwincd among
the Of the candclabra above tho pulpit
Judge Thomas Bradford Dwight Of Columbia College,
New York, grandson Of President Dwight was Prest
dent OF the day The consisted OF prayer BY
the PASTOR music by the choir and speaking by former
members OF the parish
In his historical address, Rev Henry b. Smith, pas
the Indians OF their contests with and victory
the tribes Of Pcquos in Sasco Swamp In 1885, Of tho
uhori,v II inv in the wear i7sS during The reign q
King George ii. oil tho nrst bell which was obtained
and was FIRST rung in l743-a bell deemed 70 be 70 val
liable that II was thought by tho committee In charge,
alter its arrival rom Engand that the safest pace u
keep prior to ts elevation 10 tho bey was IN the
pastors parlor He referred to tho peculiar ideas hold
by the early worshippers In this church ~ v
the manner Of paying the pastors salary and OF tho
matter which made up that payment. In those years
nj lnup uUol hroq n finn
cred liberal sum compensation for yeari
preaching, and the pay was not wholly IN money The
OF butter pounds Of flax 70 pounds OF pork bushcl
OF corn. cord OF wood and barrels Of cider por
ton OF his salary, adding that he only willing "a
get even those articles He alluded to the existence Of
slavery Connecticut and OF the largo number oil
coored persons in bondage held BY men who consid-
cred themselves rs standing high III a religious sense
Tho farmers OF those times raised fax, which the
staple product, 10000 bushels IN ono year
having been sent to market Their descend
ing OF onions. ho referred 70 tho various
slics citing the Rev Timothy Dwight as one OF the
most powerful preachers OF has time On one occasion
the Doctor was addressing tho people OF Fairfield
Among them known TO DO guilty OF stealing
from their neghbors, but powerful wer0 his words
that the conclusion Of tho address they went home
took stops looking TO tho restoration OF all that
unlawiuly taken. Tho speaker aided, s'Ohl that Dr.
Dwights voice could now bo heard in the land, that
those In high places who promo to make light oil
their responsibilities in the conduct Of public Affairs at
the capital OF the nation might BIO Influenced 70 turn
from the Of their ways. "
The church which the carly Inhabitants built was
burned in 1853 By the product Of $4,000 In.
and by subscriptions the present structure was
erected IN 1854 The speaker stated that Fairfield o.
which Greenfield is hamlet never fairly treated
by historians. These had failed TO give credit TO Tho
men OF this place who had SO boldly advanced to the
.counry's defence during tho time that stricd mems
souls" He exhibited the sword Of Captain Ebenezer
Banks, used ten years before the Revolution, and
many quaint ancient manuscripts He concluded by
aliuding Greenfield OF tho l0veest places Of
residence in New England, and suited that IRON the
spire OF the church in which he speaking might be
seen the spires of churches In many DIFF
ferent towns
rho morning exercises closed with "Auld Lang
Sync" the congregation joining.
AFTERNoOx SESSION.
III the afternoon historical address delivered
by Professor Timothy dwight, OF Yale College, New
Haven
There was a collation. by tho ladies in the basement
OF tho church, in which invited guests and the public
participated.
DESCENDANTS OF EARLY INHABITANTS.
Among the invited guests present who are descend
OF The early people OF Greenfield Hill were Mr.
Samuel u. Rugglcs, OF New York, whose mother was
native OF the pace; Bronson Murray, John B. Murray
and Mariners Murray, grandsons OF the late lsaat
Bronson, whose estate the church is the subloO
Of poem by Rev. Professor Timothy Dwight