Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-17
Times Changes.


 bors Ia the ''Grsat Awakenings" undsr Rev. Jonathan Edwards, Rev. George Whitsfsld and others, he showed large sym psthy. The pastors generally of New Haven county were opposed to Whitsfsld. Those who did favor the reviTnlist aud his raeasures wsre called ''New Lights" kIr. Robbins, as one of these, was out of favor with his brethren in New Haven county. He was good man and be- loved by his people. But as he did not fall in with all the views of such as wished to regu- late and control the religious affairs of the county and State, it was determined to get him out of the way.
 The first thing fastened upon was his con- senting to preach once for ths Baptist church ia Wallingford. ThsEe Baptists livsd within the bounds of tho first society or parish in Wallingford. They were formerly Congre- gationaliste, and under MT. Whittlesey's min istry. But they had gone off from his church, professed Baptist principles and set up by themselves. They had had Mir John Merrimhn as their orl2iasd pastor for several years. Governor Tallc.t had advised the col lector of the Congregational Society not to compel him to pay taxes to the old church. Proclamations for fast and thanksgiving had been regularly sent to them Es to othsr socie- ties.
 l. being 6 season of special religious inter est with them, they sont the following note to Nr. Robbins
 WALLINGFoRB, Deosmber 23, 1Y41. To Ar. ROb6iRs of BrG'lford:
 sirAfter suitable respects to yoarssf, this no:e to inform you that mr. Bo]Arny hes been with ct WalltnRford and preached iH Baptist society to good satisfaction aad success several persons, both of people aud llso of those of your denomi- nation, with whom desire to join heartily in the interest. of religion, tho can't in the for that seems to be the desire of both denominations here that yourself would oblige us with sermon two, as soon as you oaR a:r q sszt ss week and please good of souls and the glorS of God.
 JOHN MsRRIMAS, Elder.
 Accepting this invitation, RIr. Robbins preached for them twice on Jan. 9th, 1742.
 He was immediately complained of befors the Consooiation Feb. 9th, 1742. He sx- plGinsd the circumstances and was willing to say that his going was unwise, since his brethren were so much opposed to it. He would be careful not to offsRd in the same way again. But this does not satisfy. They required him to say he had sinred against God. He declined doing that, therefore they proceeded to vote him out of the Consocia- tioA. He went home subnissivsiy to his own church work. or course he did not attend tho mceCluSS OI tDS COuScCl2tlOQ. Wlt0ln year after that complaints were brought against him before the Association as if com ing from his own people. The number of things trumped up and their nature showed that the ministers outside had stirred up the movement. He soon quieted that first move ment by meeting with the five members of his church who had made the complaint. But this was not what his opponents wanted.
 New complaints, with additions, were made from time to time, and nothing MT. Robbins could say or do would satisfy.
 He asked the uneasy members of his church if they would not get from his brsthrsn in the Association just what would satisfy them. Their answer after trial was that they could get nothing and they were catch hold" This opened Mir. Robbins eyes to the real animus of the whole thing It showed his people also, so that the larger part of them remained faithful to their pastor through all these years of trial. The minis ters read him out of all Consocintion and As- sociation privileges. They evan tried to get the Legislature to interfere soa as if possible, to deprive him os his salary. Full accounts of all these things are given in two books now very rare Their titles may interest our read CTS.
 ''A Plain Narration of the Proceedings of the Reverend Association and Consolation of New Haven County Against the Rev. Mr.
  and the Doings of his Church and People, with some Remarks by Another Hand, in Letter to Friend. By Philemon Robbins, A. N., and Pastor of the First Church in Branford. Acts. 4-23: And Reported all that tho Chief Priests and Elders had said unto them. Boston: Printed and sold by S. Knee land and T. Green in Queen Street. 1747."
 ''Dsfencs of the Doings of the Reverend Consocistion and Association of New Haven County respecting Mr. Philemon Robbins, of Branford or, An Answer to Mir. Robbins Plain Narrative and the Remarks annexed thSrsunto. Wherein many of the false repre- sentations of that narrative are corrected, the plain truth is faithfully declared and the in suffciency of the Remerker's Essay to vindi- cate Hr. Robbins is discovered. By 8 member of the Consolation and Association of New Haven County"
 3 John g. 10 yer. l wrote unto the Church but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the pre- eminsnce among them, receiveth US not Wherefore if I come, I will remember his dssds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words.
 Job 26:3 How hast thou plentifully de- cIared the thing as it is?
 Job 1855: Thou choosest the tongue of the crafty.
 Prov. 1s:17. He that is first in his own cau6e seemeth just, but his neighbor cometh aAd sserchsth him.
 Yer. 13. He that answereth a matter be- fore he hsareth it. 1t is folly and shame unto him.
 Printed for the Consolation and Associa- ton of New Haven county, 174S."
 The reading of these two books might not be without use to such in those days as en- deavor to control religious affairs in different churches in their vicinity. Nor would it harm such as try to put down or crowd out such of their brethren as do not Glance to all their pipings."
 A few years after these troubles, the views and practices of MT. Robbins became the pre- vailipg views and practices of the churches and ministers generally, and are still. The progress of history has fully vindicated him and his church. He came back into the Con- sociation and Association and remained till death.
 His srave at Branford is we'll marked by a feet of ths spot where Yale College was founded. Mir. Robbins children andthe later generations have been and are still among the honored of the land. Yale College and New Haven owe much to him. The Yale College church grew out of the views he so earnestly advocated. President Claps wife, who had for years been under Mir. Robbins ministry, at Branford, no doubt did much fo lead him to bs a promoter instead of persecutor of new lights" Yale College church was therefore begun in 1757 under his leadership. The present beautiful College chapel known as Battell chapel was built very largely by money given by the great grand children of Rev. Philemon Robbins, of Bran ford. NIT. Robbins found some of his fiercest prosecutors in New Haven churches and in Yale College. His descendants have returned g truly Christian revenge in their benefactions. Hartford Historical Library was founded by Dr. Thomas Robbins, g grandson of Rev. Philemon Robbins. The great grandchildren are arranging, by suitable endowments, to have their ancestors grave aE Branford kanf green in all future years.
 Time often heals all wounds;
 1tEe viudcates all wrongs.
 BRANFoRD ANNALS