The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1889-02-01


his labors here in 1879, he removed to
New Haven and supplied the neighbor-
ing churches. And he, too, has ascend
ed into glory and, like Mr. Andrew, gone
from earthly scenes in moment. And
well may we say of him also, that she
walked with God and he was not, for
God took him.
All the others who have labored with
us as our beloved pastors are still living
and engaged in the work of the Lord in
various fields of usefulness in our broad
land.
There have been many changes in
church work and methods during the
last so years and, if we may say it, de-
cided progress in the regions of religious
thought and in the instruction necessary
to render people proper subjects for re-
ligious communion. Formerly, the chief
reliance for an increase of church men,
bership was based on special revival
seasons, when many would be awakened
into newness of life and be gathered into
the fold of Christ. As has been mention
ed, there were several of these during
the pastorate of Mr. Andrew. There was
another in 1850, during the administra-
ton of Rev Lewis Curtis, when 26 per-
sons were admitted to the church in one
day and As during the year. Quite
number of those present will remember
with me that day, July z, 1850, as the
day of our reception into this revered old
church. There was another notable re-
| Il, . |, cfn ta Of Mr.
in 1876, when 80 were received into the
, church on one day, twice the number,
save one, that formed this old church by
the shores of the sea, in 1870. During
the year, the number of admissions was
, increased to 81. But now, more reliance
is placed upon Sabbath schools and other
, cognate means of religious instruction.
A Less reliance, too, is placed upon preach
. ing, pure and simple. Indeed, we get
:, along with half the ancient quantity and
!, rely more on social meetings and SER
!, vices in which the church generally can
q take part. The individual is, so to
q speak, nurtured and reared into a spirit
- ual fitness for church membership.
There has been change in the matter
II of Christian festivals. What Congrega-
" tionalist, 80 years ago, thought of keep
q ing Christmas day. Such observance was
% rather regarded as a papal superstition
"a Now, without a religious observance Of
II the day, we should feel that something
;. had gone wrong. That we had omitted
a duty, If we had not remembered the
natal day in works of kindness, of peacs
a on earth, good will to men! There are
n two reasons for this change in our Puri
% tanic feelings. Christmas has itsel1
, changed. 1t has become civilized ant
- Christianized. Formerly, it was accom-
70 panied with noise, unbounded carousal
- drunkenness and vice. Now all that il
changed and the observance of the day
- has been made religious and lovely.
Is In former days, the great burden o
8. preaching and exhortation was to keel
O. we'll in the foreground the terrors of thu
70 law and fearful looking for of judg
If ment. Religion now seeks the heart anC
10 affections. 1t bristles with the teach
,s ings of love. We now seek the face of
4. loving God through Christ, who is draw
ing unto himself all hearts with loving
~ bonds.
, This is a day of federation, a drawing
, together of all Christian hearts of what
20 ever denomination. 1t is wonderful t.
n what an extent this change has come
L. Many years ago, the writer heard tw'
,r persons, members of two churches of diff
ID fering evangelical tenets, discuss thu
. merits of their creeds. The discussion
a became heated, but finally one said, II
70 a person is a true Christian, do not be
,g lieve that it will make any difference il
A. the other world, whether he belonged t.
ar your church or mine.'' The other quick
,e ly responded, 81 don't know, sir. l be
m leve, il he shall be saved at all, it woul'
,e be so as by fire, if he belonged to you
Ia church" and the church referred to wa
o. our old First church. But now nearl.
Of all of that narrow, silly bigotry has bee
g. scattered to the ends of the earth. TIL
To people are coming more and more to re
g. alize that religion means good life, wit
90 love to God and their fellow men and nc
nd mere recognition of doctrines an
ee creeds and rituals. Religionists are grow
lis ing less and less dogmatic with the ir
,e- crease of knowledge and brotherhood.
CHI The thoughtful observer of the sign
lie, of the times notes another fact and ths
ne is the deep current of religious though
on The evidence of it is on every side and
every form. Religious items and thought
are found everywhere, in novels, in MAJ
his azines, in the secular press, in every r
life spectacle newspaper and they are rea
We and pondered by the people. There is
in demand for this by the general publ
nd The newspapers and periodicals Al
ar, quick to learn what the popular heart d
lis mands. In this manner, the public pre-
nd reveals the great throbbings of humans
al. in every issue.
BILE Those of us who have lived in til
in church for nearly so years and earnest
lys noted its developing history have SEE
He that its people have kept fully abreast
nd the times. We have seen steadily d
red veloped change in the current of reli
EN- ious thought and expression. We ha'
rit. witnessed an ever deepening current
he religious inquiry, feeling and expe
Nv, ence. The ever recurring wonders J
ed yealed by the discoveries of sciene
he which, not unfrequently seem to antag
ill nize the old ways and old beliefs and
vas furnish religious doubt, while they m
/ is have staggered and, perhaps, caus
vas some to fall by the wayside, have, as
ng. rule, only increased the earnestness vi
we'd which the very truth has been sought
vas our people. Their hopes have been me
so and more anchored to the teachings
a. ~ I. u -..x ;aft ~, Al.