Connecticut western news., 1885-09-23
6hem eld.

SheMaeld.
 In the spring of 1878 the bishop ap- pointed me to Sheffield. The move was an easy one; six miles drive brought us to the door of our new home, where the people very kindly received us. The parsonage was pleasant one, admirably located ou the principal street. The town as whole is very beautiful, hav- ing few, if any, successful rivals.
 The Methodist Church, at the time of my pastorate, was not at its best. The palmy days of the Church were during the pastorates of John W. Beach and Gilbert D. Townsend. The monetary panic of 1873 was the immediate cause of few heavy, crushing failures that fell right and left on scores of proper ties, and many families were sad and dispirited. The society felt like cutting down salary and the preachers resisted and resented that, and little sourness arose in which, as now regard it, preacher and people were equally to blame, but I learn with gladness that at present harmony prevails and that an upward tendency is visible in every di- rection. For years the appointment was regarded as one of the best coun- try charges in the New York conference, and it can have and ought to have that reputation again. There are so many worthy families interested in the Church that prosperity should not be dream, but a fact, quickly realized.
 Socially and as place of residence it was very desirable. The farmers were an unusually interesting class. The az ricultural fair at Great Harrington had stimulated emulation among them and they labored to secure premiums by putting their farms in condition for greater productiveness. z. Cande, Chas and Isaac Spur, Hiram and Andrew Bartholomew, Boardmans, Milton Mer rifield, Bella Clark and many others were successful and very respectable farmers The sons and daughters of these thrifty tillers of the soil received excellent edu cational opportunities and were conse quently intelligent. The young people of Sheffield were very agreeable; affable in their manners, genial in spirit, up right in character. gratefully remem Der their influence upon my family. My near neighbors, Cyrls French, Briggi and McMurray and many others, were all that we could desire; and then if ths parson was human and not over-saintly and could appreciate good dinner anG could be thankful to God and man fol it he could be gratifed to the utmos from Orin Clark's and Milton Merri fields on Brush hill to Rodney Sage' and z. Candles on the west; dropping down southward to George Bartholo mew's and Myron Andrus's, could mak, any hungry man happy.
 As survey the field I feel thankful that it was ever my privilege to preacE the word of life in that old and honorec town. Dr Orvil Dewey was far ad vanced in life and was feeble, but ever then he was very interesting charac ter; his fine selection of language char ncterized to the last. In my boyhood ] had read his brilliant utterances or mans immortality. With the torch o his genius he had kindled my imagina ton and was drawn to him by sense of gratitude, and the members of hi. family are dear to me for their own meri and for his sake. Dr H. H. Smith wa. our family physician, genial and also a skillful M. D. Recently by effort and much cost he has added greatly to his stock of professional knowledge, 1T London, Paris and Vienna. May bril- liant success be his in the future. Leon ard Futile was man whose broad strong mental grip won my admiration. Orin Curtis was another bright man, es. pecially in public affairs. Dr Miller, the Lttles, Hopkins Cande, the Wick wires, Edwin and Frank Andrus, Calder, Fields, Vosburgh and Agent Gray and many others were interesting people