Litchfield enquirer., 1878-08-15


 esting sermon on the ministry of suffering.
 ONE WAY OF LIouIDATING CHURCH DEBT. We have received from friend copy of the Newtown Bee, which stated that on the 2Oth of July, the Rev. Jones P. Hoyt, Pastor of the Congregational church in that place; de- livered sermon on the home life and work in general, and it's connection with the church and church work, at the close of which he stated, that the day was the anniversary of his birth, and of his graduating ot Yale, ofhis ordi- nation and installation in the ministry, and also of the death of his mother. He wished to render it still more memorable by the payment of the church debt. A subscription was started at once, and, in less than ten minutes; the debt, amounting to several hundred dollars, was can- cslled. May that pastor live to see many more birthdays as memorable as the past It may not be improper for us to state, that four years ago, when Mir. Hoyt entered on his ministry at Newton, the church received aid from the Home Missionary society. At his suggestion the church became self sustaining, and repaired their edifice at a cost of $3, 300. The pastors salary was $1.000. Some three months since he called a meeting of the church and so-. ciety, and voluntarily relinquished one hun dred dollars of his salary. This, with a family of eight small children, we think few pastors would be found able or willing to do it.
 ARRIvALs.-Mrs. Crump and son from Nor wich; Mir. Cornelius Smith and daughter Hat l tie, from West Haven; Miss Rebecca Smith, Brooklyn; Augustus Butler, Thomas Kenne- dy, Mary Phillips and Miss Speck, of New houn), Birmingham; Mrs. Minerva Hart, Plymouth ;- David Bradley and family of Thomaston, and others.
 ExoURsIoN.-About seventy five of our cit izens were part of those who went on an excursion to Spring Hill Grove on Friday. A pleasant time is reported. We did not obtain d scat on the upper deck, but had we been stationed on Morris hills, we think more sublime sight would have been witnessed than the Palisades of the Hudson river, with the dread artillery of Heaven rolling overhead.
 STORMS. On Thursday storm of rain and hail passed over this place accompanied with thunder and lightning. About half past three in the afternoon, while the sun was shining, as at midday, bolt descended and killed two steers and injured three others on John Blacks land in the north part of the town. Two young men in the vicinity were stunned by the shock. Several bolts descended in the line of the shower, doing no particular damage. On Fri day afternoon, tornado or cyclone passed over part of the town. We first hear of il in the south part of Waramaug village. Its next appearance is at Blackville in this society. It tore the blanks from the Bridge near Mitch elrs saw mill, unroofing the mill and carrying the roof some rods above the mill, uprooting and breaking down trees, etc. At Johr Blacks, it tore up the barn floor. MT. Black going out to close the barn doors, was taker up and carried several rods into the lot, whirlet round and brought back near the place iron which he was taken. His door yard presents a scene of desolation seldom witnessed about here. Those fine naples nearly two feet il diameter, planted by Dea. John A. OviatI nearly fifty years ago. with several apple tree. were broken, mangled, uprooted and scattered all over the grounds, and among Mrs. Black beautiful house plants which stood in the yard The chimney of R. Blacks foundry and tht tin roof were taken off. F. A. Brinsmade ha( five stacks of hay demolished in his meadow on Goose Hill. Passing to Smithfield it up rooted some twenty-five valuable fruit tree belonging to Augustus Smith, also unroofins his barn occupied by Franklin Hollister, ant ruining two wagons At Sherman Hollister' and Daniel Nettleton's it was very severe, up roofing and breaking down trees, and breaking } the cornice of Mir. Nettleton's house. We d. not know where it terminated. It seemed t be more severe in hollows than on the hills No lives were lost. Might it not have beel the commencement of the Wallingford disas ter. We wait for reports for other places.