Morning journal and courier., 1886-09-30
wHITNEYVILLE'S Loss.


A Memorable Occasion i'm the History
of the PIace-The Funeral of Rev.
Austin Putnam-A Notable Process
siOn-The Memorial Tribute.
Yesterday was memorable day in Whit
NEVILLE annals From every high road il
every direction leading to where Whitney
ville's Congregational church spire points
| heavenward, and to where on the hill slope
by the placid waters of Whitney lake thu
| church edifce stands, came carriages lade1
with mourning and sympathizing friends t.
| attend the funeral of Whitneyville's lovet
and revered clergyman, the late Rev. Austi1
Putnam. The funeral services began a
2:45 p. m. Previously brief services hat
been held at the late residence of the de
ceased, Lakeside parsonage" a short dis
lance from the church. The remains wer'
then borne to the church headed by an i'm
posing procession of clergymen, among whom
were President Timothy Dwight of Yale col
lege, Professor Barbour, pastor of the church
Theological seminary, and Rev. Drs. John E
Todd, J. E. Twitchell and Burdett Hart, anG
Rev. Messrs. Erastus Blakeslee. Leonard, e
E. Atwater, S. H. Bray, I. G. Meserve
Mulch, Barnum, Ogden, Denton
and Alexander, and Rev. Edwin Hall, Con
gregational clergymen of New Haven, Rev
Mr.. Park of Derby and Rev. Messrs. Samson
and Butrioks, tho Baptist representatives Of
the Ministerial association of New Haven
also Rev. Mr.. Marvin of Woodbridge, Rev.
Mr.. Reynolds of North Haven, Rev. Mr.
Higgins of Mount Carmel and few others
The church was crowded long before the
time for the services to begin and the gen
tlemen in charge at the church provided
chairs for many more, filling the aisies and
the vestibule of the church. Upon the cask
ct lay a splendid crown of roses and Other
flowers. sheaf of wheat, wreath of roses
and several other beautiful tributes composed
of pure white flowers. The church was heavi-
ly draped in mourning on all sides, and all
faces spoke of loss that was sincerely felt
by each and all as a personal bereavement.
The memorial address was by Rev. Mr.. Viii
lard, pastor of the Congregational church in
Westville for % years and more, a warm
personal friend of the deceased, and who by
special request of deceased oficiated. Rev.
Mr.. Higgins, of Mt. Carmel, read appropriate
prayer. Rev. Mr.. Marvin, of Woodbridge,
announced the hymns and the closing prayer
was by Rev. Mr.. Reynolds, of North Haven.
The address by Rev. Mr.. Willard was trib-
ute worthy of the occasion and was felt to be
by all very just, feeling and appreciative.
Dr. Willard said:
In one of the books of the New Testament
it is said of Barnabas that che was good
man." Proceeding the speaker said this
title well applied to the deceased. "Our dear
brother who was called last Sabbath morn
ing to a higher worship was q good
man. ,"
None knew him but to love him,
None named him but to praise"
After speaking of Mr. Putnam's request
that he should officiate the speaker gave the
following: Austin Putnam, the son of Samu-
ell and Susan Gibson Putnam, was born in
Croydon, N. H., March 6, 1909 He was ad-
mitted to the bar of the Supreme court of
the State of New York at Utica in July,
1881. He was licensed to preach by the Ad
February 3, 1888. He was married to Miss
Caroline w. Northrop, only daughter of
General Joseph A. Northrop of Lowville, N.
Y. September 80, 1885, He was ordained
to the ministry by the Watertown Presbytery
at Lowville, N. Y, March 6, 1884. He was
installed as pastor of the church in Whitney
vile, Conn, by the New Haven West associ-
Yale college the honorary degree of A NJ. in
1910. He travelled in Europe in 1844-5.
But of these events I cannot speak in de-
tail I think of him as he was when at the
age of 90 he was installed as pastor of this
church of Christ. He had earnestly, prayer
fully prepared for the work. He believed in
his heart that God would bless his endeavors,
and as he believed SO has it been unto him.
Fifty times save two since then have the
storms of as many winters beat about these
hills. Fifty times save two have the trees
put forth their tender buds and leaves. Fifty
times save two have these near waters slept
or rippled in the summers sunshine. Fifty
times save two have the yellow October days
come with flowers and fruit and golden har-
vests. And all through these changing sea=
sons this servant of the most high God has
kept faithfully to his work, showing unto the
people the way of salvation.
Oh, friends, God gave to your fathers and
mothers a good minister of Jesus Christ, one
whom you have honored and whom you, the
children, have honored; and as he did them
good and not evil, SO he has done you good
and not evil Continuing Mr. Willard eulo
gized the single heartedness of purpose of
Mr.. Putnam in his life work and spoke of
the varying experiences of his life, his fear,
his sorrows, his hope and their effect in
molding and Strengthening and identifying
his Christian character. Proceeding he
said:
His life was gentle and the elements
So mixed in him that nature
Might stand up ana say to all the werld
A Christian man"
And the striking elements in his Christian
were these: He was a man of
prayer. The Master said: FtPray without
ceasing." Our departed friend read that in
junction and sweetly obeyed. 1 have never
known one who gave better proof than he
did for years of obeying it. He maintained
I'M broken SOul communion with God
Like bird singing the spirit of the song that
is in it,
His was a life of prayer in its best and
highest meaning. Another characteristic of
deceased was his love of the Bible. He read
his Bible with faithfulness and care. He
till his dying day that call
scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
and for instruction in righteous
ness, that the man Of God may be perfect
and well grounded in all essential truths, and
finished unto all good works"
His sermons were carefully prepared and
biblical. And may it not be
that his success as a preacher depended
largely upon this latter fact? He read his
Bible that he might be strong in the Lord
and in the power of his might and that
he might help others to obtain to the
same spiritual growth, and such Bible read
ing is good. Hence his sermons were didac-
TIC anu clear, gong GOWN TO Iue rOOts OF
things. Again, continued Dr. Willard, he
as but few do on earth, the intensi-
ty and power of strong personal union and
with the Lord Jesus. We may
say of him as one said of Thomas Arnold:
''Of Jesus he ever thought; the outwelling of
tender love toward him shed over the strong
frame work of his character, that beautiful
and gentle light which rests on the soul of
him who has ever one bosom friend" Christ
to him was real He looked into his eyes.
He walked by his side. He eyed in his pres
ence. And who of us could put more of the
apostles spirit into the words "God forbid
that should glory save in the cross of our
Lord Jesus Christ" than our friend departed
could have done while ministering to his
people. If anyone. where does he live and
by what name is he known? All, friends,
He was a man, take him for all in ALL
Whose like we do not often look upon
And yet his modesty was such, his walk
80 quiet and unpretending that men of mere
shallow attachments and far less mental pow
er were ascribed what are called wider
spheres of influence. AS was said of the
late Prof. Hadley, "People had to find out
what he was; he had no mind to make it
known"
But by the people of his choice his name
and earnest words cannot be forgotten.
Many will call him to mind how he urged
his flock to be ready for every good work;
how he beseeched the unbeIieving in Christ's
stead to be reconciled to God. Most tenderly
lid he care for the souIa of Others and often