The Newtown bee., 1888-11-23

1ohSA VI uAAO 1T 0AAACAO COuAv AOx SSutAC- | ment, the church was not built till a year later, when it was located as the commission from the Fairfield court had advised. This first building was ordered to be 46x36 feet and the posts s'20 foots long," The order was ssto get cedar shingles if they can be attained to, to cover the foreside of the ruff, and chest nut for the back-side and to cover the upright with oak clapboards.'' They did not think much of style in those days and simply sscovered in' the house so that it could be used, without even a permanent floor or seating. Four years later, these luxuries were added and it was voted ssto oyl and cutler the win dows and corner bords." Not till 1790 was the extravaganza of plaster for the walls allowed and then it was covered all over the outside, with shingles. For 70 years the church stood without steeple and, after one was finished, no bell was ever raised to the tower, the town house bell calling the people to prayer and praise. A full century pass ed before this barn-like church was pulled down and the present one took it's place, in 1854, a record rarely broken, only two churches in nearly century and half.
 The records say that New Preston and Newbury joined in their early church work, having services alternate Sundays, paying the dispenser of Bible truth b shillngs a Sunday, which state of affairs continued about two years, when the so- ciety called to their aid the members of the association to advise them about preacher of their own. Several meetings were held and Rev Mir Brooks was called to minister to them in things spiritual in September, 1757, at a salary of f45, to be increased to E50, with bonus of flO0 to be paid in three yearly install ited chastisement upon parishioner for some cause. Tradition says he was ec- centric, very absent-minded and of a vio- lent temper, but, no doubt, was the man for the place, as he was shepherd of the | flock for 42 years. It is to be lamented that no church records were kept prior l to 1897, so that many valuable and inter- | esting facts are lost to this and succeed | ing generations. The stone which marks
 the grave of this first pastor may be seen
 in the Hawleyville yard, inscribed with
 the date of his death, September B, 1799,
 an appropriate Latin quotation and a
 short stanza of poetry. The early pas
 tor was evidently a man of note in the
 town, as we'll as in the church, as the
 name Brookfield still perpetuates his
 memory.
 The pastors who followed Rev Mir
 Brooks were Revs Erastus Ripley, 1900
 to 1901; Richard Williams, 1907 to 1911 ];
 Bella Kellogg, 1913 to 1916; A. B. Hull,
 1919 to 1920; Abner Brundage, 1921 to
 1S39; Daniel c. Curtis, lS43 to 1853
 Thomas Benedict, 1859 to 1862; P. Hol-
 lister, 1862 to 1864; F. Munson, 1865 to
 1868 and MT Pierce, whose 19 years pas
 torate speaks for itself in the homes of
 his people.
 An interesting fact in the early history
 of the town and church is that appropriu
 ations were made from the town funds | to have the old psalm tunes of the church taught in the singing schools of the town. The spirit of the fathers in this respect
 has grown and intensified with the gen.
 erations, as is evidenced by the fine pipe
 organ which leads the people in this ser
 vice of praise, when assembled for wor-
 ship in these latter days. With past to
 look back upon with pride, a splendidly
 equipped church building and united
 membership for present joy, why should
 not the good people of Brookfield look
 forward to the future courageously,w with
 renewed determination to outdo the past
 or present achievements? Mrs A. c. Pierce was able to attend a
 part of the morning service, Sunday. A. w. c. Williams and wife are with her father, Benjamin Starr. Mrs Amos Morris is seriously ill. Mir and Mrs Emmon Hawley have is ! sued cards for the 25th anniversary oi } their marriage on Thanksgiving evening r 29th.
 Mrs Benjamin Griffen and sister spen Friday in Stepney with Miss H. c. Tur
 ney.
 Charles Clark of New York is visiting his aunt, Mrs Henry Peck. , Friends from Bethel, Danbury and sur l rounding towns attended the services a t the Congregational church, Sunday. Rev Mir Whitcome attended the funer al of Daniel Wilmot of Southville, Satur day; interment at Bridgewater. l St Paul's Guild met with Mrs Howar, t. Andrews on Thursday.
 s. E. Hawley will begin asserting to
 bacco, next week.
 Miss Jennie Shepard spent Sunday a ' home.
 1. A hop at Lanesyille ceamery, Wed f nesday evening, many of the youn, F people from Brookfield going. e
 P LONG HILL. Miss F. Helena Beers has returne, from visit in Brooklyn, N. Y. q Nathaniel IT Hall ia rucbfrs sr fIo sao