Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-01
Washington.


 ly in our last, and U. has come in "a measure to our relief for which he will please accept our thanks, as we think we have feund not 1 only the place, but also the whereabouts of 1 Consociation We think it has made rapid strides within the last eight years. We wish I to speak of h from an intimate acquaintance with it for more than thirty years. The Pas tors of these churches, although not distin- guished for pulpit eloquence, have in my judg- 1 ment as body been sound in doctrine, labori- ous, faithful, devoted men, and it has been called by one of their number in years past, the ! most harmonious association in the State, and those churches were indeed christian broth- erhood Shall we lightly esteem or break | those bonds? Without boasting, We think we have attended more of the meetings of this body than any other layman with the excep- | tiou of good Deacon Bird, whose voice used to lead us in song l. our devotional meeting $ and
 n seasons of conimunion, when we truly en- joyed not only the communion of saints, but in deed and in truth, the fellowship of the churches. Those were precious seasons. Are they at end? We wish to speak of one at liar l winton thirty years ago, and of some of the men who composed that body. At the head of the list we would place the Rev Gordon Hayes, for more than twenty years pastor of the greatest talants of any one in the council Rev. Ephraim Lyman, of Plymouth, sound divine and pattern of a christian minister The Rev. John Churchill of North Woedbury, one of the deepest thinkers and an able preach CT; Benjamin L. Swan, of Litchfeld, the equal of MT. Churchill; Rev. Austin Ishsrm of Roxbury, like John, the beloved disciple of the body; Aretas G. Loomis, of Bethlehem, and Joel L. Dickinson, of Northfeld, similar to MT. Isham in spirit; Rev. Hollis Reed, of New Preston, who was the preacher on, the occasion, who could trace the hand of God in History; Wm. H. Whittemore, of South bury; Joseph D. Hull, of Thomaston Lucius Curtiss, of South Wosdbury; Chauncy Good rich, of Watertown; and the venerable David L. Parmelee, of Morris the man of the great est executive ability in the whole body. The remaining churches were destitute of pastors, but every church excepting was represented in council. Questions of great importance were discussed by that body in manner and with an ability not inferior to those at the bar or in the legislatures of the land. For examples, see an answer to d protest to the action of Consociation by Dr. Hewitt, of the first Presbyterian church in Bridgeport, in the oaSo of I,,i,a tlr.v.s f,,r,,oarIy Az Shartaop and debates on amendments to the constitu- tion. If any one doubts our opinion we would refer them to Judge Catlin of Harwinton who was present and sdeeply interested spectator. the conservator of orthodoxy in these churches. A member of that body, once told me that Dr. Cooley, of Granorth, Mass, once said in his hearing eff we had only had the Connecticut system of consociationalism, UnitArianism would not have gained 80 strong foothold in this State. We hope that this barrier may not soon be removed"
 EXCHANGE OF PULPITs-Mr Thrall ex- changed with MT. Bonar of New Milford, last Sabbath week. Rev. Charles Bradley of Birmingham, supplied our desk, Sunday. DEPARTURE. Clara Sackeet has ac companied Der cousin Moses Titus, to Shacko- pee, Minn. She is expecting to visit grand parents at Garnaville, Iowa. ARRlvALs.-Capt. John E. Whittlesey, from Houston, Texas Mrs. Origen ODen and daughters, from St. Johns. New Bruns- wick, B. P.; son to Mir. and Mrs. Walter Bronson; son to Mir. and Mrs.. Charles Hollster, etc.
 THE GLORIOUS FOURTH. The anniversary of our national Independence will be ob- | served, commencing Saturday, the 3rd inst, and closing the 9th inst. The church furnish ing society will give an entertainment at the
 Hall on the afternoon and evening of the 9th consisting of singing, recitations, food, both intellectual and physical, worthy of attention. The citizens of this and the neighboring towns l are cordially invited. 5.