Morning journal and courier., 1890-10-10
NORTH HAVEN ANNALS.

NORTH HAVEN ANNALS. A Very Interesting Sketch of Rev. | Leverett Gr1ggs and HIS Envaron. ments. Ieverett Griggs was the son of Captain | Stephen and Elizabeth Griggs of Holland, Conn. He was born November il, 1908, the youngest of a family of seven. His physical constitution in early youth was far from vigorious, and it is related that some of the neighbors doubted if his par ents would be able s'to raise him." but his father had lived too long on the hills of Holland to be discouraged at the sickly ap- pearance of his youngest born, and with great faith stontly maintained he would ''make minister of Loverett yet" and he did.
 At the age of fourteen, says the Rev. Joseph Backus, (D young Griggs began to show improvement in health. Other signs of promise appeared. All the better traits of character began to blossom in the boy and he leaped to the front with a breadth of purpose, purity of thought and un- selfshness of disposition that was surpris- ing. After few years at the district school he commenced course of study preparatory to college under the Rev. An sel Nash, pastor of the Congregational church in Holland In this instructor he was singularly fortunate, and the infiu- ence of this patient, submissive, devoted servant of Christ no doubt helped to shape all his future career.
 In 1895 he entered Yale college, gradual ing therefrom with high honor in 1899. Immediately he engaged in teaching, first in Baltimore and then back in the old col lege halls again as tutor. In the latter place he remained but year. He was now twenty-four years of age. Before him in the shining distance stretched the long vista of life wherein he hoped to glorify his redeemer by publicly proclaiming the glad tidings of salvation.
 ford, Conn, April IA, 1888. Within a short time (perhaps the next Sabbath) he preached at North Haven and probably re- mained here during the month of May, for on the last day of this month, at special meeting called for the purpose, it was de- cided to formally offer him the pulpit of the Congregational church.
 There seems to have been no haste on either side. The summer was spent by preacher and people in becoming better ac- quainted with each other, and it was not until September of that year that the soci- ety's committee reported ssthe Rev. MT. Griggs has acceded to our proposals" The ordination was at once determined upon. The society's committee were Rich ard Mansfield, John Todd and William Hartley. The following assignment of | parts in this sacred observance were az follows. Oate October 30, 1833): Introductory prayer, Rev. Henry Gleason. | Sermon, Rev. Jeremiah Day, president Yale Ordaining prayer, Rev. Aaron Dutton. | Charge to pastor, Rev. Stephen Dodd.
 Right hand of fellowship. Rev. Judson Root. Concluding prayer, Rev Samuel Shepard
 There was large audience and 8 most | enthusiastic occasion. It is related that the singing at this event was made most marked feature, and that the efforts of the great chorus choir surpassed anything evel known in the old sanctuary before. Two months before his ordination, ano | while preaching as pastor-elect, MT. Griggf | had married maiden of his native town 1 Holland county had already furnished North Haven one of it's most noble women in the person of Martha Trumbull, and now again it was laid under contribution when Catherine Stearns pledged her hand to the young divine. Both by their lives reflected honor on womanhood every where. Traditions of Martha Phelps Trum bull and Catherine Stearns Griggs are alike l cherished in many home on the hills o1 Hebron and Holland, as we'll as around | the humber hearthstones of our dear ole town.
 The young couple began housekeeping in ''the brick dwelling on the corner. CNow Rev. W. T. Reynolds.) This building was admirably adapted for parsonage but could not be permanently secured a | such.
 Scarcely had the new pastorate com menced when the project of building new place of worship began to be agitated Early in January, 1884, a committee O Eleazer Warner, Byard Barnes and Jaso1 Dickerman was raised by the First Ecclesi of a meeting house." Four weeks late this committee reported, and the recort says: "On motion Whether we build
 Meeting House or not, Voted in the Ali ! firnative."
 A new committed, Jacob Bassett, William Hartley and Eleazer Warner, was now ap pointed ''to digest some plan for Meeting House"
 They attended at once to their duties ant said on March 10: "It is the opinion o your committee that the society want house about 62 feet long and 40 feet wid and that the probable expense will b $5, 5,000.00" A third committee was now chosen ct more fully inquire into the mind of tn society,"" and also to feel the fnancia pulse In two weeks they raised 8, ,225 The society was so we'll pleased with tn outlook that it determined to press tn matter further This resulted in securin $500 additional, and eventually anothe hundred was added. They had now $3,S0 pledged and building committee was a once named. This was composed of
 Jacob Bassett, John Goodsen ! Jesse Bassett, Theophilus Todd,
 Frederic Barnes, Giles Pierpont ! JuStus Bishop, Perit M. Sanford | Eleazer Warner
 The land was purchased of Justus Bisho on which to locate the proposed building In quantity it contained twenty squar rods. Moses Crockett, Jared Brocket and Levi Cooper joined with MT. Bisho in executing quit-claim deeds of this trac to the society January 15, 1885, or som months after the building was begun. : The corner stone was laid with apprc priate ceremony in the autumn of 1884
 Within it was deposited leaden box COT
 taining the newspapers of the day, cats logue and covenant of the church, sundr papers pertaining to the affairs of the Ec clesiastical society, the founding of tn Sabbath school and other matter the de tails of which are now forgotten. Thi stone was located at the northeast corne of the building; externally, there is noth ing to indicate it's position there. Ther was large gathering of the people to vii ness the unusual scene, to them, and tn service was conducted by MT. Griggs a. sisted by his clerical brethren from tn surrounding towns.
 The new building was sixty-two fee long by forty-fve wide and of suitabl height to correspond (4. It was built c brick manufactured by Jesse Andrews, an the mason work was done by one Joh Peck of New Haven. It is said of thi latter workman that his language at al times did not appear to be generally suite
 to the character of the building he was en ) gagged upon. The society's committed lowering about in the exercise of thei
 judicial functions, were often made pair fully aware of this fact, and eventual
 felt impelled to labor with MT. Peck O.
 his incongruity of speech. The interviev
 was hardly success from a moral poin of view. Good Deacon Warner was in gloriously put to flight and the walls wen up without further protest.
 The carpenter work was superintende
 by Justus Bishop. The pulpit furnishing
 were made by Frederic Barnes, and tn
 bell came from the old meeting house The demolition of this latter structur
 was begun on September 15, 1884, 9th ! steeple being pulled down on that day