Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-25

I sive Usafulnsss. . 4itYa NUMBER 35.
 The Rev. Payson Williston of Northamp- ton, Mass, studied theology under Dr. Ben jamin Trumbull. He was in the latter's family nearly year and had the best of op- portunity for estimating his truly wonderful teacher. Writing of him MT. Williston says in substsncs "Dr. Trambull was proverbial for agility, energy and industry-was per ssvering student and his mind seemed never unoccupied - he was always gathering material for something-I hold him in grate- ful rsmsmbrancs not only as teacher, but e man, Christian and minister of the gospel"
 The truth of this brief obituary Is abun- | dantly proven, particularly in it's reference to | his energy and industry. Mentally and phys. ically he was the embodiment of strength.
 On his assumption of the pastorate he was modest and unassuming as became his youth. His first appearance at the General associa- tion of the Colony of Connecticut was at Coventry eight years after his ordination. The next time he attended this meeting was In 1767 at Berlin, Conn; then at Lebanon, 17Ss; New Haven, 1790; Cheshire, 179S; Hebron, 179s. and perhaps once or twice in other places. But these half dozen meetings were by no means an index of his interest in the work of the association. He was fully alive to It's importance and devoted to it's aims. He was appointed standing register of this body in 1774, reslgning in 1796. Also | in 1774 when the first home missionary en- | terprise began to be agitated he was chosen | one of the committee of three Ito receive the subscriptions made or that may hereafter be aries to be set to the settlements In the wil- derness to the northwestward of the colony" and with MT. Williams of Northford and | Goodrich of Durham was authorized to assume executive control of tbe movement. It does not appear that at first the com- mittee received such financial aid and en- couragement e they had anticipated. They represented to this Association that e Sum of Money subscribed for the purpose of sending Missionaries to preach the Gospel in | the Settlements forming and formed to the | North and Northward of this State is in the hands of several Gentlemen in Continental Bills and Silver, MT. Warham Williams is hereby empowered to receive and put the | Continental money into the Loan Office, and Mir. Benjamin Trumbull Is desired to keep the Silver Money in his possession for the present."
 In 17S8 Mr. Trumbull delivered up to the association four pounds ten shilllngs and six. pence hslfpenny lawful money which had reached his hands, but whether this sum represented the accumulated contributions | of twelve years, or was an unexpended bal- ance, we are left in doubt. At any rate, the | association voted that this amount be given to the Rev. MT. Lewis, provided he shall be inclined to spend as many as five Sabbaths in preaching and administering Gospel Or- dinanoes in any of the New Formed or form inR Settlements that are destitute" The fact that on the following year this same amount was again returned to the custody of Mir. Trumbull is presumtiye evidence Mr. Lewis did not go.
 But 1t must not be ssid that all effort lan- guishsd because of some sseming indifference gernsss of the records, they were an acting living body; they had eight workers in the field four months in the year in 17SS, and did their utmost with the means at hand to extend the gospel. There had been. how ever, during all these years no formal or- ganization to distinctly carry on this work. Their plans had been hsmpered by lack of funds and concert of action, but in 1798 the time seemed to have arrived for definite l aggressive movement, and the general asso . cistion in a businesslike manner duly founded a body to be known as "The Mis- sionary Society of Connecticut" |" with con- stitution and machinery necessary for per- petuation and management. The General Assembly incorporated it in 1909, and the l whole control was placed in the hands of twelve trustees on which board Dr. Trum- bull served with great fidelity seven success. i've years. This agent of evangelization was very dear to the heart of the worthy divine, and we know its claims were duly urged upon his people. -.y
 1t 1t probable cratic attempts at bsnovo. lsnce had been made by his church previous ly, but in 1703 the effort assumed systematic form as by the accompanying schedule: For the Committee of Missions shown-1703,$ ,$10 1794, go. 3e; 1795, $11.62. For the Mission My Society of ConnscsioutMl7ss as ods slS @ isSs :s 4 1884, 1884, ;isS s SS is iscs; sis
 1906, SI5.1S; 1907, $12 5l; 1908, $12 07; 1872, $1S.0 .02; 1913, $1s.0s; 1914. SIS. 50; 1915, $19 70; 1Sl6, $22.15; 1917. sso; ls; ISIS. sas'oo; 1919, sls ss; quite likely includes legacy of three hun drsd dollars, but by whom not now deter mined. In 1909 1911 the missionary so- cisty was usipg its eurplus funds and nc money was asked for; the contributions fl received were probably diverted into other channels.
 | LO nlh LOuCu. Iuucou Who Chu pub to his earnest efforts and enthusiasm "The Ladies' Missionary Association of North Havenn (now the Benevolent society owes It's birth and Is the Christian link that not only binds us to his day and generation but laid the foundations of that broad and tender sympathy which the people of this town have ever maintained toward the calls of God and humanityi Fol mark this: Dr. Trumbull died in 1920. The
 local association was formed In 1891. Iti
 original members were Miss Char
 lotfe Bradley, Miss Amelia Bradley
 Mics Abi Bassett, Miss Charlotte Ray Miss Beda Mansfield, Mrs. Henry Gill. Mrs
 Perit N. Sanford, Mrs. David Bishop, Mrs
 Eliada Sanford. These ladies, with the ex
 ception of the first named, were members o
 pr. Trumbull's church and congregation, ,ant | what more natural than that his Inspiration and influence should crystalline as fttinl memorial of the man into one of the mos
 blesssd of all charitable orgsnizstionsf
 The present missionary society of Connee
 ticut is tho lineal descendant of the old stool
 of 1774.
 To return. As 1t Is not contemplated il i these papers to furnish an exhaustive mem
 oir of Dr. Trumbnll (such work being al
 ready in prepsration) many details and incl
 dents of his life must necessarily be omitted
 It only remains to touch upon some of thu
 main events. Not the least of these wac tn | organization m lt4S or ' Minlsterh meet
 ing for Mutual Improvement" This societ. , organized with five members November 8 Its day of meeting was the frat Tuesday af
 ter the second Sunday in each month; th
 place was alternately at the houses of mem
 bers. A sermon was preached at each gath
 eripq, no matter how small, followed b , criticism and discussion either of that O
 kindred topics. Milford, New Haven, Wal . lingford, North Guilford, West Haven :, North Branford, Mount Carmel, and doubt A less other churches were represented. Thes
 meetings were continued over forty years !, Dr. Trumbull being constant attendant u \ to his death.
 !. Pending the proposed alliance between tn
 Congregational churches of the State and tn
 Presbyterian church MT. Trumbull served o
 the "Committee of Correspondence" to effec
 this result, and when 1t was ratified in 179
 was appointed on the standing committe
 Ito certify the good qualifications of sucl 3 preachers as travel from the limits of tn 7 churches in this association into the limits o \ the Presbyterian Churches" Here he serve'
 eight years at least and probably more.
 Also with Dr. Timothy Dwight and pr
 James Dana together with the Rev. MT
 Blatchford he acted as committee In 179
 to establish with the we'll known boards o
 clergymen in England and Scotland tn
 practice of issuing credentials by them "t = all ministers whom they can recommend fo | -..tv .rl ..ccI oho roofar dasiroua Of confu