Connecticut western news., 1879-10-22
Sec. Hunts Lyman Iron Co

 Very respectfully yours, '-'.
 SAM. w. BRADLEY,
 Sec. Hunts Lyman Iron Co.
 Thinking our many readers may be in- terested in the following, we clip from the {. Chenango Union of Oct 9th, a few sketches from a report of the farewell services of the Rev. Samuel Scoville, who, on the Sabbath previous closed his pastorate of eighteen years in Norwich, N. Y. MT. Scoyille was born in Cornwall, Ct., and all his early life spent on Cream Hill the home of his childa' hood: ..<
 ..... FAREWELL SERVICES. '-A
 Last Sunday morning the large audience room of the 1st Congregational Church was filled to overtiowing by an, eager, interesteds crowd, who had come to hear the farewsHsi sermon of Rev. Samuel Scoville, for so long. ! time identified with this community and that church in particular. There were present not alone the members of his own church. but representatives from all the other denomina- tions, and very many who are seldom seen in. side of any church edifice. But they all were his friends. Eighteen years is long period in which to make friends, and many friend ships can be formed in that time by the ordi- nary man. but, to man with the genius for friendship, like MT. Scoville, the many be- comes multitude. There were to be recog. nized faces from all parts of the County-a fact eloquent of the broad boundary lines of his parish
 It was communion Sabbath, and the usual exercises of the day were observed. The text chosen was the 32 verse of the xx chapter of Acts "And now, brethren, I commend you to God and the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you an in- heritance among all them wmch are sancd- fed" MT. Scoville spoke in most effective and feeling manner, and at great length. He took occasion to review the eighteen best years of his life, which he has spent here in our midst. He recounted his first visit, and how mere tyro, he came here and preached one Sunday. When he left nothing was said to him about call or desire to hire him. No one spoke of, much less praised his ser mon; but one old gentleman gravely inform ed him that he hoped "he would live long enough to learn how to pray" Notwith- standing this rather slim foundation upon which to build his hopes, he firmly believ d the call would come, and went back to his theological studies and waited. He made no effort to find any other place. The good pas tor of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, grew facetious over his conduct-but still he held on, and in about four months the call did come. He immediately came here with one sermon partly written and several fragments of sermons Yet the first week he preached twice, made four addresses, and attended mite society "where all the young ladies canis to see the new minister"-an ordeal much more dreadful than the preaching. He had been busy ever since, for the church gave him plenty of work to do. But when he came he determined to be useful and enter every door that was opened. He didn't know muoh then, but he had this advantage-he knew he didn't know much. He began to study the Bible-and especially the first miracle of our Lord, At the fnsEriage feast he ,sdid net read that Christ refused to 'minRle socially with those present, nor that he did not enjoy himself, and so taking that view as his creed, he played ball, he joined the fire department, he attended socia1s gatherings and tried t8' make himself useful. He had tried to preach -a series of doctrin al sermons once or twice, bnt however much they were hefalded with flourish of trumpets, the series was always abandoned after one or two of the sermon . had been delivered, He knew the love his brethren entertained for him and his. He should never forget the sympathy they gave him when he and his wife brought the body of their first born to be laid in our cemetery. To be sure, they were going away, but he ex- pected when they should be called home they would be brought back here to lie beside their dead. We cannot report all that he said We only give the above to show lit. tie of the character of this unique farewell ad- dress. The grand climax came when he hushed the weeping audience with the last farewell" and glided into a prayer to the Almighty Father for their we'll keeping, when ''he should be with them no more."
 The congregation and choir then united in singing 'sWe're on our journey homs." At MT. Scoville rose evidently much affected and almost broken down at the sight before him. and by the kind, tender, and affectionats words spoken. To recover himself he began facetiously "He had felt ever since that Thursday night when he resigned like first. class funeral. Wherever he went he wee conscious that somebody was 1ead-apd he had pretty lively realization of Tho' thS corpse was. And tonight he had found out what it was to be an unresisting corpse--apd. havea long funeral sermon preacfed ever him-yes, to have four preachers and two lays men take hand ip it," He then spoke of his pastorate and his relations to the oommu. nity !; explained why he played ball, giving Gne same reasons us ID ms morning beFmOu, and why he joined the fire department He didn't do it from a sense of duty-he liked to play ball, he liked to be fireman--but he hoped at the same time, his conduct might be for the good of those with whom he came ,, in oontnct He didn't want to go away. A. : higher salary was no inducement, the ocean Y was no 'attraetion--the stretch of two miles up and down Broad street to him was tbe most beautiful sight he ever saw-but he left because he believed God wanted him to go. Just as Ged had brought him .heYe. sigbtsaA years ago-so now He has @tPushed him sptH The ties that bound him here could never De broken-they would only stretch. He then exhorted every one to do what they could in $ upbuiIding the cause of Christ. Though be went away, he knew the cause of Christ would go on here just the same. He closed by calling upon MT. Gary, who led the sing ing the first time he preached here, to come forward and lead in the final song, MT. Cary did so; and all joined ip singiag Shah VI Gather at the River" after whiinh hr.> >ScovNls pronounced the benediction and closed pas. crate never equalled. '' -' t'F'