Morning journal and courier., 1889-06-24
POUNDING OF METHODIST.

A History of She Boctriness Early
 Trials and Triumphs i'm New Haven.
 IGs Final Victory and the Bounding
 of she First M. E. Church Read by
 Mr. Sylvester Smith Yesterday m0rn.
 ing.
 A very good history of Methodism in New Haven was read at the First M. E. church yesterday morning in place of the regular sermon.
 Before relating the circumstances of the introduction of the doctrine into New Eng land he told of the formation of the first Methodist Episcopal society in this country in 175e; of the frst Methodist conference, which was held in Baltimore in 1773; and of the organization of the Baltimore church in December, 17S4.
 There were then no Methodists in New England, and it was not until 17e9 that the Methodists turned toward this stronghold of 17s7 Rev. Jesse Lee was appointed to carry the new doctrine into New England He im- mediately ser out and preached his first ser- mon under a spreading apple tree in Nor walk. His text was: "Ye must be born again." He then pushed on through Fairfield, Bridgeport, Stratford and Milford, preaching sermons in each of these places, and arrived in New Haven on Saturday, the 20th of June. He stopped at Parmelee's tav- ern we'll known resort of those times, which stood on part of the ground now occu- pied by the Insurance building. In his diary he said that he found three meeting houses here. They were Center church upon the Green, another, called the Blue meeting hovse, at Elm and Church streets, and 8
 third near the spot where the United church now stands. The president of Yale and sev- eral students listened to his first sermon. After tour through Connecticut and Mas sachusetts towns he returned to New Haven on July 5. He had found the country hard soil to plant the seeds of his belief. The church was part of the State. The people were taxed, and, in some places, imprisoned they did not believe. On this second visit to New Haven he was relieved by David Beech CT, blacksmith who lived near George and College street. This sturdy man was the father of Rev. Lyman Beecher and the grand father of the famous Henry Ward Beecher. In 1797 the First society of New Haven was organized, and two years later 8 small meeting house was procured. In 1907 the church had grown enough to build small, plain building on the east side of Temple street between Grown and George. Here they remained till 1929 when plot on the northwest corner of the green was offered them if they would build a good brick structure upon it. Rev. Will liam Thatcher, the pastor of the church at that time, was indefatigable ia his exertions to procure the necessary funds. When $4, 900 had been raised by subscription, S5, GOO was borrowed and the corner stone laid with great ceremony. On the 9th of September the roof was completed, and that night terrific hurricane demol- iehed the entire edifce. Subscriptions were renewed with untiring zeal. Amid great trials, privations and hardships, small amounts were raised. Rev. William Thatcb CT, obtained $3, 900 in subscriptions by trav cling over the country from Massachusetts to Washington. On the 23d of May the building was completed and dedicated be- fore large concourse of people. A period of great revivals followed. In April, 1849, the church was removed to the opposite corner and at the dedication of the new church, which is the present First M. E. church, Dr. Bacon and other noted Congre- gationalists were present.