Litchfield enquirer., 1881-03-31
MERIDEN, N. H., Macrh Il, 1881

MERIDEN, N. H.. Macrh Il, 1881. Mr. Editor:-You will excuse me if I presume somewhat upon your ignorance of the geography and history of this particular part of the old Granite State. Meriden is parish in the town of Plainaeld, which is in the ex. treme northwestern corner of Sullivan County. Plainfieid extends to the Connecticut River on the west, and Meriden is about four miles east of the river. AS you will see we are consid- erably nearer the North Pole than your office is 1 doubt if It has been much colder during past three months here than with you. Our first snow of any consequence fell on the 2Oth of November last, and at this moment the snow is falling as though winter had but just begun. We have had one or two thaws since the beginning of February, but sleighs have been used constantly since our first snow fall So you can readily see we have long winters But they are not SO boisterous as have seen in Litchfield. We had one thunder storm at the same time you reported one in your vicin- ity and last week we had one gale from the east, such blow as is seldom experienced in New England
 The scenery here is very fine, the mountains presenting many interesting views, and places of resort for the tourist. There is some good land in the town, but generally farming is conducted at great disadvantage, from the nature of the soil and the distance from the market
 
 Meriden is known chiefly as the seat of kiTball Union Academy. Some facts in the history of this Institution are of interest to all friends of education and to such persons in Connecticut in particular "At convention of ministers and delegates from the Orange and Coos Associations held at Piermont, August 6, 1911. it was resolved to undertake the establishment of an Institution, to be de- nominated The New Hampshire and Vermont Theological Seminary Five members of Board of Trustees were appointed at this meeting, and a committee to solicit and re- ceive donations, and to correspond with per- sons in this country and in Europe, with res. pect to the contemplated Institution !" This proposed school was to be modelled after a similar one just established in the north of England or Scotland to which son of one of the citizens of Piermont had gone to study, and whose glowing letters inspired enthusiasm at home for the founding of similar school "It was the primary deslgn to make it gratuit. ous in it's pecuniary provisions. so far as the circumstances of it's pupils should render it necessary. The course of instruction was to be partial one. not extending beyond three or four years in all it's requirements.
 At subsequent convention at Norwich. Vt., the same year it was deemed advisable to enlarge their council. Accordingly, an Ec- clesiastical council was commenced at Windsor. Vt., Oct. s1, 1872 Among the delegates were such names as President Dwight of Vale College; Professors Porter, Woods and Stu. art of Andoyer Theological Seminary: and Professors Moore, Adams, and Shutleff of Dartmouth Colleges. and many others. Pres ident Dwight presented an elaborate argu ment, urging the great importance of a liber- ally educated ministry, for the present and future welfare of the churches and the countrv and depreciating the establishment of schools with partial and limited course of studies. even for the purpose of multiplying ministers. These views were almost unanimously adopted by the council As substitute for the pro. posed Theological Seminary constitution