Connecticut western news., 1885-08-12
"REMINISCENCES.
BY REV ROBERT HUNT.
NriIIertOn and Vicinity.

Giving to Falls Village a single rem. iniscence, find it impossible to crowd into a single paper of reasonable length, the names and incidents which occur to me. The names of the Hon George w. Peet, George K. Peck, Sol Solomonson, who posted me in the lectures of Free Masonry when I was made Q mason in Montgomery lodge, when Joseph Cable was the very capable Worshipful Mas ter, those names were omitted from my first paper. insert them here with very kindly recollections. And the dear old mother lodge will never be forgot ten. But coming events begin to cast their shadows. The great itinerant wheel is moving-the court is over-the appointments made.
 In the spring of 1868, one cloudy Sunday morning, very blue and almost rebellious at the economy of the M. D. church, drove away to Falls Village to fill my first appointment on my new charge at Millerton, N. Y. l was in no mood to appreciate my new field all the outgoings of my soul were toward Falls Village. The people at Millerton felt it and I felt it keenly. But I soon found enough to do, and I most stoutly maintain that there is no curse in labor only to him who tries to get rid of it. In short time I was so engaged in building new parsonage could scarce ly think of the friends had left behind me. In few weeks I found all the good people were not in Connecticut, but that again my lines had fallen to me in pleasant places and that "the Lord had given me goodly heritage "' in my new charge.
 So many intelligent and earnest Christian people. Perry Vroman was a tower of strength. John Calkins was well versed in the economy of our church and devoted to its interests, and the genial Lon Austin and William Tompson, the Sabbath-school superin- tendent, together with large number of elect women made up working force of which any preacher might be proud and fearless to say ''Come let us go up and possess the land," and in the name of the great Saviour we began to move forward. The congregations grew at Millerton from about 75 to 150; at North East Centre from IT to 75, and in the winter of 1869 Q gracious revival came to the church and 85 souls were converted. Maggie Van Cott, then just entering upon her brilliant career as a reviyalist, rendered valuable service. The Rev Charles Smelling, then of Ame- mia, now presiding elder in California, assisted ably. Money-such as 1t was was plenty and I found it was good enough for all rational purposes, and the people went wild on donations, I received fully $500 each year as a dona- tion, and believe that Rev Ferguson of the Presbyterian church one year re- ceived more than $500. and he richly deserved it. Ferguson was truly good man.
 The Baptists had no pastor while I was stationed at Millerton, but they soon after built themselves fine church and have been prospered. The Wake mans and Simmons, Dakins, Paines, Winchells and others made theirs a strong church.
 The Presbyterians had nice new church and sn intelligent and interest ing society. Crane, Penny, Webster, Clark and others, gave that society an excellent character.
 A few weeks after reached Millerton, Orin Wakeman asked me to dedicate new cemetery on his fathers farm near the village. His father was the first in- tered in the new ground. Last April buried in the same cemetery a brother Mason and was surprised to find that burial place more populous than the village. How those cities of the dead grow!
 As on my former charge I soon learn ed to prize the members of all the sister churches and the people of the whole community. The dread destroyer has made sad havoc with my kind neighbors and fellow-helpers of the truth. Vro- man, William Pratt, Plat Paine, Cyrus Gilbert, Edward Clark, James and Will liam Collins, Captain Trowbridge, Will liam Barton, George Winchen and many sainted women and dear children, and others whose names do not come to me as write, have gone to join the mil lions swept away by the "Flood of years" May we all meet again on some golden marge, unvexed by storms.
 R. HUNT.
 Lee, Mdss., August 8, 1885.