Connecticut western news., 1877-08-17
LAYING THE CORNER STONE.
WEST CORNWALL ooNeREaAT1oNAL CHAPEL.

WEST CORNWALL CONGREGATIONAL CHAPEL
 The good minister prayed that Thursday, August 9th, should be sunny day, that the weather might not interfere with the proper celebration and enjoyment of the laying of the corner stone of the new Congregational chapel in West Cornwall, but like many another of us, he knew not what he asked. In this. progressively hot month of August, to have had the day a sunny day" would have covered the heavens with canopy of brass, radiating a scalding heat that would have rendered ex- istence almost intolerable, -even in the shade of neighbor Deans hospitable yard of trees, which it was proposed or planned to utilize for the comfort of the people in the event of the day being the much covet. ed ''sunny day" Yea; how little we know what we ask. It was not sunny day at all that the we'll meaning divine wanted however much he may have thought he did, but it was exactly and precisely the kind of day the good Lord, who knows us and our wants 6 thousand-fold better than we know them ourselves, chose to give to his people, and it was such day that con duced more to their comfort and enjoyment than any other kind of day could possibly have done. While the vigorous showers refreshed vegetation few miles further south, in fact in the region of Kent and thence southward, not one drop came upon the assembled multitude on the chape grounds in West Cornwall. but the clouds came before the sun, and the refreshing and inyigorating breezes from these show CTS famed the brows of the people, ani Gods gift of the day was perfect.
 At precisely o'clock the procession which had been convened at the village hall by the ringing of the bell, was formed and headed by the Cornwall Cornet Band,- (we will halt this procession long enougf to say that the Cornwall Cornet Band il now one of the best in this region, it's mu sic on this occasion being really very fine. headed by this band the procession of per haps 30 or 90 Sunday school children ant teachers moved to the chapel grounds After hymn and the reading of tn, 2d Chap. of Peter, Dea. R. R. Pratt reat from his manuscript the following
 | HIsToRl CAL SKETCH:
 The whistle of the steam engine was frs heard, and the rolling of the cars was frs seen in West Cornwall about the yea 184l.
 In April, lS45, there was suff1cien number of children to form a school dis trict, and in the Fall ot that year smal school house was built. From the first { goodly portion of the residents of Wes Cornwall have had regard for the law ot the Lord, and have felt an interest in ths spiritual welfare of the people.
 Our connection is with the church or the Hill, and thither on the Sabbath and on week days as far al circumstances would permit, we have in the past, and expect to continue in tht future; to go up to worship. l do not ad- init, at all, or allow myself to entertain tht Idea, that there is behind, or before, ol astride the action we take in the erectlor of this chapel, any divisionary power, SC far as it may have bearing upon the pres ent or future condition of our society.
 The people who live here now, and wht have lived here in the past, have, and hav' had "a mind to" go to meeting. They hav' enjoyed the privilege, and there are verl few who may not be classed as meeting going people.
 ! The children ale almost all members O the Sabbath school, and suppose there ar' few places where larger proportion O the population gather at the place of relig ious worship and instruction than in Yves Cornwall. Comparatively few of then have teams to take them to the Hill and suitable place for our meetings, Sun day school concerts, and other moral ant religious uses, is real necessity of our yil lage.
 Rev. !. l.. Maynard was pastor during the early history of our village, and oftel attended meetings in the school house t. which I have referred.
 It soon. became too email for us, an, after time-I think about l85O- the en ergY, executive force, and money of Jacol and Samuel Scoville. furnished us a publi hall, where, slnce it's erection, our meeting and Sunday schools have been held. Her our Sabbath school was organized by Sam uel, son of Jacob Scoville, then younl college student. Gladly we welcome to day, his presence as Re0. Samuel Scoville to witness the outgrowth of the good worl commenced by him long years ago, and t' give us words of cheer and counsel. Il the hall referred to, we hay enjoyed many precious seasons because o the manifestations of the Divine Presence It has been the starting point of many Christian life. If those who convert sin ners, save souls from death and hide mu titude of sins, surely those who furnish
 place to do it in shall have their reward. While we have had the use of the hal as stated. while it was in the possession 0 the Scovilles, and subsequently, after It wa purchased by James Cochrane, tn fact that it was used for almost al sorts of purposes for which publi halls are in demand. has detracted fror the sacredness of the place, and that, wit other reasons, has made the people anxiou for place which should be devoted exclr sively to moral and religious uses, an where those of a contrary character shOul not find entrance. During MT. Maynard ministry do not recollect that the suhjec of a chapel was discussed until about 1856 MT. Maynard left in 1852. Since then, a of our settled pastors (Rev. Wm. B. Clarb Rev. Charles Wetherby, Rev. lessee Brus and now our present pastor, Rev. 0. \ Fitch, have been here but short time bt