Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-26
ciding differences, should be vested wholly in church members.

ciding differences, should be vested wholly in church members.
 In his argument on that June day in New- mans barn, 1889, Davenport said. "That whenever a reformation had been effected in the church, in any part of the world. it had rested where 1t had been left by the reform CTS. It could not be advanced another step."
 Hence we can see that he was very anxious
 to lay the first foundations right. They
 had come out as reformers. It was their
 duty to engage in no half measures, to
 make no compromises. but to go the full
 length of their convictions. If they did
 not there and then those who came after
 could not be depended upon to.
 Davenport's views at length prevailed,
 though different from those entertained by
 settlers in Massachusetts Bay and in the
 Connecticut colony at Hartford. It is evil
 dence not only of the personal influence of
 Davenport, Prudden and such as sympa-
 thixed with them, but of the Christian
 temper of those who were not then church
 members that they assented to these regu-
 lations.
 A long time was consumed in these dis
 cussions, which had to do with vital ques- tions of both church and State. While they were building their first rude houses. breaking soil for crops, enduring hardships
 and deprivstions incident to securing new homes in wilderness, they were also pray erfully and earnestly considering the very foundation principles of all government, civil and religious. This also was a very hard year because of the late spring and trouble in getting crops started, to say nothing of an earthquake which shook them
 up and startled them from their houses, June 1st, between three and four p. m.
 They had to plant much of their seed over
 earth. On the 4th of June, 1889, the great
 barn of Robert Newman, which stood near
 the present corner of Temple and Grove
 streets in New Haven, was the scene of an
 important assemblage of all the free plan-
 ters of Quinnipiac, Wepowage and of Me-
 nuncatuck (Guilford.) There is reason to
 believe there were nine ministers or preach
 Davenport, Rev. Peter Prudden, Rev. John
 Sherman, Rev. Samuel Eaton, Rev. Henry Whitfield, Rev. Ezekiel Cheever, Rev. MT.
 James from Virginia, Rev. Thomas Hooker
 and Rev. Samuel Stone. They lasted and prayed before discussion.
 At the request of MT. Davenport Mir. Robert Newman was entreated to write in in the hearing of all the people what was propounded and accorded to, that it might appear that all consented to matters pro- pounded, according to words written by him." The full account of this meeting has been before published and time forbids our rehearsiug it here, yet we learn the results showed that with one exception each of the venport s'was assented unto by all, no man dissenting, as was expressed by holding up of hands," "Afterwards it was read over to them that they might see in what words their vote was expressed. They again ex- pressed their consent thereto by holding up their hands, no man dissenting. The only dissent was on the question of making church members voters and office holders. Having decided the fundamental ques- tions they were prepared to organize church es, which they did in the same barn August 22d, 1889. They had already adopted and now were ready to act upon the principle as one described it, "that it is of more impor tance to save and be governed by the steeple than the State." The Milford records have
 it that the two churches of New Haven and Milford were started on the same day. Ma ther in the Magnolia claims that Affords organization was on the day following.
 They certainly were each on the same plan, having seven men chosen who were called
 the seven pillars, by whose examination and vote all after members were to be received.
 Milford's seven pillars were Peter Prudden. William Fowler, Edmond Tapp, Zachariah Whitman, John Atwood and Thomas Welch. The historical address, which is valuable contribution to the historical annals of Mill
 ford, will be published in full by Mr. Bald win. Topics discussed are as follows: Because the founders of this church and town
 loved their souls more than their bodies they came here.
 1. Causes, circumstances, influences, producing
 these persons with their views and feelings Some 2. Peter Prudden and his parishoners in the old country and in Milford
 8. The coming to New Haven and then to Mill
 4 The great debate in Newmans barn at New
 S hs
 5: The remoyai gal and settlement in Wepowage; rhs
 Tns o sss as the people, viz: Indian wars, the new Connecticut
 charter, the Say brook platform, the new light and :. The exciting questions and events connected with the settlement of Rev. Samuel Whttlesey the beginning of the Second Society and the Half Way g. Pasterates of Rev. Samuel Wales. Rev. William Coe and Rev. Jonathan Brace. Forming of North
 snuss a religion incidents and persons. 9. Some reflections and lessons.
 IN CoNcLUsIoN.
 A hymn contributed by G. W. Baird fol- lowed MT. Baldwin's address. "The Charac-
 ter of our ancestors" was the subject assign cd to the Rev. N. M. Calhoun. He said that he loved the people of the First church too much to keep them long at so late an hour, and would omit the address he had prepared. am glad to learn that notoriety does not imply character. These ancestors of ours who turned us into the prths we should fol- low, 1t is well for us to honor. The redemp- ton that they preached and believed in is the same now as then. This holy word is the same. Let the arch of the memorial bridge that has been thrown across yonder l river typify the arch of promise that God l has placed in the sky. The choir rendered creditsbly the extra music distributed ! through the services. Miss Littlejohn of this city presided at the organ. This evening there will be a social reunion from 7:30 to l S:S0 to be followed by platform exercises, in 1 which the resident pastors of the town, visit- | ing ministers and other friends of the church will participate