Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-02
ANNIVERSARY SERVICES.


 Its Seventy-Fifth Ann1versary-Ser- mon by pr. S. Dryden Phelps-The History of the Church-Unfon Meet ing in the Afternoon The First Baptist church celebrated yes terday it's seventy-ifth anniversary. Rev. Dr. S. Dryden Phelps, the veteran pastor who for more than a century, during time of exceptional activity and prosperi- ty, was pastor of the church, and who had preached the sermon on the Fiftieth ami versary of the church, preached sermon reviewing the church's history during the seventy five years of it's existence. He spoke in the main as follows:
 REMARKS BY DR. PHELPS.
 The First Baptist church in this city was organized three-quarters of century ago day before yesterday, October 30, 1916. It is a fitting time therefore to review it's commencement and progress. Several causes operated to delay the organizing of church of this order here. There were some holding it's views among the colonists as there were among the early settlers of other towns. The overshadowing infu- ence of the college rendered mi, to upuOlO Iuo uOuludut 1dltu 4ucIo were few individuals here be- longing to the denomination, but they were connected with none of the old wealthy influential families. Just before the commencement of the last three-quar- ters of a century an unusual degree of re- ligious enterprise characterized the New Haven churches. It eliminated in the erection of the three large and elegant houses of worship now on the green. The l,aI ~f Baptist church. A few brethren united in calling an ecclesiastical council for October 30, 1916, to which the Baptist churches of neighboring cities were invited to send delegates. This council established 8 church here, giving the right hand of fellowship to the Rev. Henry Lines as pas tor of the new church. These public ser vices were held in the old Episcopal church, kindly given for the purpose no doubt, which stood on the east side of Church street, few doors south of Chapel The constituent members of the church, including the pastor, numbered only twelve. The first meetings were held in Amos Doolittle's lodge rooms in building where East Divinity hall now stands. Afterwards they met in the new Township academy, on the corner of Chapel and Academy streets.
 Rev. Dr. Lines rendered his resignation in 1891. Rev. Benjamin M Hill succeeded him, and writes about the church: t'They were destitute of almost every facility for advancement and prosperity. After meet ing in some unknown private dwelling house, almost unknown to their Christian l brethren of other denominations, the hum 1 ble, though faithful, little band struggled | on." Under the new ministrations new interest was awakened the congregation 1 increased, revival influences were enjoyed, | and 8 good number was added to the 1 church, by which they were greatly en- | couraged. Their place of worship being 1 house on the public square. It was the old State house situated on Temple street, a little north of Trinity church. In few months they gained permission to build 8 church on the Public square, where all the | churches were situated, on the condition that it be built of brick or stone and not inferior in size to that of the Methodists, then nearly completed. But opposition arose and they decided to build their church on Chapel street, laying the corner stone September 23, 1929.
 | The next important event was the resig- nation of Mir. Hill, who left in April, 1880, having accepted call to Troy, N. Y The necessity of this change was the inadequa. cy of his salary, it having never exceeded $500 year.
 The next pastor was the Rev. John Pratt of Providence. Although his pastorate lasted but year it was productive of much good. Then for thirty years the church enjoyed continuous prosperity. MT. Nicholas Brown, who has endowed Brown university so richly, cancelled z large debt which the church owed him In 1912 Second church was formed, forty nine membeIs being dismissed from tht First church for that purpose. While thi. church accomplished much good it failed | from various causes, one of which wal proximity to the First church, to realize the expectations of it's founders and early supporters.
 For years the church had found need O. a larger house of worship. Meantime tn, Second or Academy street church having purchased the fine and commodious edific on Wooster street, and being financially embarrassed it was thought best by tn Baptists of the city to free this from in cumb1ances and at the same time to erect new edifice in the vicinity of Yale college On December IT, 1861, the consolidated so cieties met in the Wooster street edifce.
 Subscriptions were soon forthcoming fo the church in the western section of tn city and on June %, 1871, services wer held in the lecture room of the nearly com pleted church. A colored Baptist churcl was organized in 1S4S, which has now 18 members, and in 1862 German Baptis church was also formed.
 Calvary church received 101 member from the mother church and after nearl, twenty years of abundant success mum bers FOG. The Grand avenue and Pilgrim Baptist churches are likewise progeny o the first.
 From 1946 to 1871 Rev. Dr. s. Drydel Phelps was pastor, during which time h had baptized 615 persons and preached 3,34O sermons. Since then the pastoral was occupied by Rev. o. P. Clifford, Rev T. Harwood Pattison, James M. Stifer, D D., Rev. Wallace H. Butrick and Rev John H. Mason, the recent pastor, unde whose influence the church has continues to widen its usefulness. Since 1876 mis sions have been formed at Pleasant street at Howard avenue, and mission Sunda school on Dixwell avenue.
 So the mother church in three quarter of century has grown to eight, includin a Swede Baptist church of thirty-fiv members. From the small number o twelve persons at the beginning the aggre gate membership is now 2,22O. Hithert hath thR Lord helped us, and to him b the glory.