Morning journal and courier., 1888-04-23
A GLANCE evHR FIFTY YEARS.

~O--A~~-~O~~@AO~- nial anniversary. A large congre- the historical sermon by their pastor. Dr. Twitchell took for his text John iv, 38: "Others have labored and ye have entered into their labors." After stating that the truth of the text finds illustration in the lives of all men and of all organizations, both secular and religious, and briefly noting l how this fact obtains, he stated that the old Park street church was merged into the Howe street church, an that into the Dwight
 Place church, both of these other churches perpetuating their lives in the present or ganization, so that Dwight Place church 1 could really be said to be fifty years old and l to becelebrating it's semi-centennial. The ! history of these fifty years was then sketched, beginning with December, 1887, when 1 the New Haven Missionary society was organized and direct missionary 1 work began in the western part of the city. At that time the Rev. l.. A. Sawyer was about leaving the pastorate of the North church on the Green, who was secured for this missionary work, and began his labors in the old Broadway schoolhouse at the COZ ner of Howe street, where he preached on the Sabbath and held week evening services. In about six weeks more room was demand ed when services were begun in the I carriage shop on Park street, wherein the people gathered in great numbers, and great | interest was awakened; and when, within I five weeks from the first assembling there, I the Park street church was organized, bear l ing date of March IA, 1888, and composed ! of forty nine members, thirty two of whom l came from the North church, and those of l whom as follows are present members
 of the Dwight Place church: Miss Grace l Blair, Miss Eliza Blair and Miss Eliza Blakes- l lee, now5wife of Deacon Miles Bristol. Only l five of that original forty-nine, as far as can l be ascertained, are now living. In the month l of June 1838 the York street Ecclesiastical 1 society was organized, composed of twenty ! nine members. On the 11th of July that l year the Rev. Mir. Sawyer was installed as pastor Soon Sherman Blair and George F. I Smith were elected deacons. Thus the church fully equipped and warmly united in l every good work and work, was launched on 1 it's career. These first deacons of the church l lived to good old age and passed away in I the full triumphs of the Christian faith, Dea- con Smith surviving until 1882 and engaged l in missionary labors for near fifty years.
 l Dr. Twitchell then referred to the l fact that most of the origi- | nal members were of very moderate | means and many of them poor in this 1 worlds goods, but rich in faith and ready | for sacrifice for the sake of this cause; spoke | 1 largely attended and the church member l ship as rapidly increasing. He then noted 1 the discussions about new church edihce, ] the financial disceuragements of the youth- | ful aspirations, the brave spirit possessing ] the people, resulting in the building of the 1 Howe street church which was finally com pleted and dedicated January 26, 1842, and the newly called pastor, Rev. Abraham 0. l Baldwin, installed on the succeeding day amid joy and hope for all. Then came two years of growth and prosperity to be suc- | ceeded by years of financial embarrassment l and Encouragement occasioned by the fail- l ure of many to pay the full amount of also by the reduced incomes of the church, making it impossible to meet the l current expenses, this embarrassment and | Encouragement resulting in the dismission l of Mir. Baldwin. The church was then left pastorless and comparatively poor. and the of heroic sacrifice, which found relief wher Rev. Dr. Love came to them full of faith and zeal and of rare wisdom in directing ehurct affairs. Be continued pastor for about foul years, greatly endearing himself to all and
 being greatly blessed in his ministry.
 l The pastors succeeding Mr. Love were
 Rev. s. H. Higgins, Rev. D. H. Hamilton, Rev. J. s. c. Abbott and Rev. George B. Beecher, these serving the church, some a | longer and some shorter time, until 1870
 Along these years the church had varying 1 successes, experienced many trials-twice came near disposing of their property and disbanding; but held on, grew in numbers
 and in strength, and in popular favor, until
 the decision was reached to build on the cor | ner of Dwight and Chapel streets.
 l Rev. Geo. B. Newcomb came to the l church in the summer of 1871 and served most acceptably until near the close of 1879, l though he was never installed as pastor. I aav14a ahuro odif vvQa completed in 1872, and the Dwight Place l church organized, consisting of two hundred and forty nine members, the greater part o1
 whom came by letter from Howe street church, which at that time was disbanded I that it's members might enter into this new
 organization. On entering this new church edifce, an era of prosperity began, and
 everyone felt that the future was assured | There was, however, debt on the church o1
 near thirty thousand dollars, which was em
 barrassing. In 1878 this enthusiastic and
 self-sacrifcing people rallied for the payment of this debt, and a sufficient amount was sub
 scribed which it was believed would cancel
 the whole amount. But there was a shrink age in this subscription, and little remnant of the old debt remains unpaid, so small
 however, as not to be embarrassing, and tt
 be easily paid at any time when the work Il
 undertaken. The church is a very valuable property on a beautiful corner in very de lightful section of the city, present mem
 bership of five hundred and sixty-nine, ant
 an open door into 8 wide field of unlimited
 work for the master.
 Rev. Thomas R. Bacon was the beloved ! pastor of this church from 1880 to 1884 in
 elusive In the summer of 1885 pr. Twitchel
 became pastor, coming to them from Boston
 The church is a united, hopeful, happy peo' pie, with future whose prosperity will bt limited only by time, faith and zeal.
 After going over this half century of his
 tory, of which the above is but brie bsketoh, the pastor referred in atfectlonat'
 terms to the earnest and devoted pastorl
 who had preceded him, to the gedly mel
 and women whose wealth of purses ant patient toiling and conspicuous heroism wer
 their heritage, and exhorted the church tt
 be of good cheer and go forward with brav'
 heart in the work assigned them by the grea
 head of the church.
 Calling then the attention of the church tt
 the fact that no one can measure the result
 of beginnings in Christian organizations ant
 enterprises; that men and women of large
 faith and cheerful sacrifice accomplish grea
 things when they give themselves to tht
 work of building up Christian church; tha
 few if any churches can grow strong or at
 tain to commanding influence save bl
 trials and testings which are sitting anc
 solidifying; that time and treasure devoted
 to the Lord are always paying investment
 and that great efficiency is to be expected od
 church situated and surrounded like thu
 Dwight Place church, he exhorted them tt
 fresh consecration, and assured them of suct
 efficiency as would make them glad if thu
 present spirit of harmony and zeal should b'
 their abiding blessing.
 Thus the sermon ended, and, having sung the favorite and famous hymn of pr
 Dwight beginning with 1T love thy king
 don, Lord, ," the congregation was dismissed
 and new half century of life entered upor
 with large hope.