Morning journal and courier., 1889-11-06

The frame of this building, and perhaps
some portion of Its covering, IL still extant,
and stands In the rear of the old Jesse Clin-
ton place now owned by Elizur O. Clinton.
II IL about twelve feet square, low, and
with . comparatively steep roof. Family
history 6xss its authenticity beyond ques-
ton, and 1t stands to day silent witness of
the troublous times when 1t cost something
to be an Episcopalian. The reason for
choosing this location lay not in convenience,
but expediency. It was compulsory ito go
into the wildness'' on account of the existing
circumstances, especially in Wallingford, as
the following appeal made by this church to
the Bishop Of London in 1929 plainly indi-
Gates:
with mslancholy hearts we crave your Lord
ships patience while we recite that divers OF us
have been imprisoned and our goods from year to
year seized from US for taxes levied for the build
actions are now pending In our courts of law In
IKE cases. And we nave H ta our OF
such actions to the laws Of England. He has proved
a strong opponent to US; but when the other party
to proceed against u.s. he has lately given his sen.
tence, ito enlarAe the goal and all it with them"
This is strong citation and Is quoted
literally from Davis, but when 1t is matter
Of record that the General Assembly, two
passed the act of federation, allowing the
payment of the general ministerial rate col
iected from the Church of England profes.
sors over to the ministers of their own per-
suasion, IL there were such, end further,
exercising them FROM the building and sup
porting of the established meeting houses of
the government, the force or the charge be-
comes somewhat blunted. But In the face
of all these discouragements, and they were
plenty enough, any student Of ecclesiastical
history knows the Union church more than
held its own. It will ever remain wonder,
and the wonder will grow as tbs years I'M
tangle and smooth out our colonial church
history, how the pinohed and struggling set-
tiers, in the main, ever financially supported
the religious Institutions of their times.
Verify, 1t seems as If nothing short of a
miraculous agency stayed up their hands. >,
The first minister in the "Union church"
was the Rev. Theophilus Morris, an English
man, stationed at West Haven, Conn. He
was enabled to only grant them an OCCASION
al service. After him came the Rev. James
Lyons, an Irishman, who was stationed at
Derby, Conn.,, but he, toe, was infrequent in
his illustrations. From want OF tact and
prudence neither of these clergymen added
anything to the success of the society. There
was q lack of peace and strength until the
church had its attention called to q studious
and discreet young man, who was reading
services and sermons in Middletown, grad
uate of Yale college, Mr.. Ichaboa Camp.
Mr.. Camp desired to go to England for ordi-
nation, but was financially unable. So much
confidence was felt In him that funds suffi-
client to meet his expenses were collected in
Middlstown, Wallingtord and North Haven.
He went to England. received his orders, and
returned in 1869.
In the meantime the tendency to less of
union organizations and more to separate
parishes, had begun to grow. The Church
of England had come, and had como to stay.
Its members were becoming more unified and
better able to maintain themselves In the
land. In 1857 Wallingford abandoned the
rude altar at Pond Hill and erected more
commedious place Of worship in the center
Of the village, and from that tine the union
church became practically useless. The Rev.
Mr.. Campl on his return engaged afresh in
building up and encouraging his Masters
work. He preached In Wallipgford and
North Haven as circumstances would allow
and gave valuable assistance to the church In
both places. Ne was the first Episcopally
ordained clergyman who offioiated here. At
this time--1757-or when practically the
"Union church" had been closed by the
withdrawal of the Wallingford members, it
is not improbable but that for a little time
the North Haven worshippers sought temper
airy quarters back at the old fireplace Of 1923.
A generation had passed by. OF the pion-
GERS none were alive, with the possible ex-
oeption Of Thomas Ives, who died in 176S at
the age of eighty -four. Great changes had
been going on. They went out can handful
of corn in the earth upon the top of the
mountains" They returned after varied
and manifest experiences, "bringing their
sheavss with them." A day was dawnisg
on larger and better things, and on April "a,
1859, the parish of st. Johns church, North
Haven, was formally organized.
I. From the unpublished diary OF Samuel Blakes-
lee.
2. The writer ia under great obligations to Rev.
William Lusk, jr, rector Of st. Johns church, for
valuable historical researches In connection here
with.
SHELDON B. THORPE.