Morning journal and courier., 1891-12-25
mErHoDI.nr IN THE EAST SIDE.

METHODIsnI IN THE EAST SIDE. A Brief Historic Sketch Of tho East
 Side Methodist Episcopal Church.
 It was about the year 1840 that the Rev. MT. Stout of the East Pearl street church, Fair Haven, first went to East Haven with the intent to found Methodist church. MT. Stout was quite an evangelist and for some time meetings were held in 8 school house. The denomination had but a struggling existence, but managed to keep together. In the year 1843 Second Adventism, or "Millerism," ," as it was then called, arose. This caused considerable awakening among all the denominations, and the staunch old Congregationalists and Episcopalians began to take active measures to prevent the spread of this heresy. The Methodists had been holding meetings in the town hall, but the town authorities called meeting at which it was decided by an almost unanimous vote that no one but Congregationalists and Episcopalians could hold meetings in it.
 Behold the change in less than fifty
 yearsl This subsequent history will fully
 verify the vast improvement in religious toleration during the last quarter of a cen tury.
 In 1873 an attempt was again made to conduct Methodist worship in the town
 hall. No opposition was encountered this time. A local preacher by the name of Howard moved into East Haven and by
 him services were held with regularity for few months, but the number of real
 Methodists might be counted on the fin gers of one hand, and as there was no material for increasing the number the
 vital spark went out. Thus Methodism
 found the east side too barren and inhos-
 pital land for it's faith to take root at
 this time and the purpose was again aban- doned.
 In 1868, James M. Townsend, Esq, of
 Townsend avenue, opened Sunday school held at o'clock, for young children and its privileges The members of the Town send family have always been noted for their pleasing address, urbanity of style. and sympathetic expression. The little ones while trudging on their way to and from school, were constantly meeting these gentlemen on their respective routes to business. The little upturned faces
 were sure UO I0C6lV0 Gu0 pl6aSduU SIn1l0 and courteous bow from ''Mr James" and "Mr. George" as they distinguished the brothers. With smiling face and happy hearts they skipped on to their daily tasks.
 Children are keen observers of men and manners. What wonder is it that "Mr. James," already possessing the hearts of these little ones, drew to his standard every one? Those who attended church and Sunday school with their parents, and those who were less fortunate. Nothing but sickness or some equally imperative necessity could keep them from home, from "Mr. Townsend's Sunday school"
 He was assisted in his labors as teacher by Mrs. w. I. Townsend, 8 lady of eminent piety, strong missionary proclivities, and
 very fascinating manners. She has been abroad for many years; but wherever she is, sine 'exemplifies the same spirit. At present she and her husband are in Lon don, England, laboring among the poor. Also MT. and Mrs. George H. Townsend. The latter is the well known and very eff cient missionary worker of Center church.
 Also MT. and Mrs. William A. Woodward of Townsend avenue. The latter has con- tinued her labors up to the present time in one form or another. MT. Townsend usu- ally opened the school in the warm days of spring and continued till near Christmas, closing it during the severity of winter
 weather.
 In closing, he always presented each child with book, adapted to it's age and
 capacity of reading. Many book is csre- fully treasured up in the Annex to-day, as pleasant souvenir of "Mr. Townsend's 's Sunday school" on the fly leaf of which is written: "From your friend, James M. Townsend" This school was kept up till the fall of 1874, when MT. James M. Townsend was called from his home on business, and his labors were temporarily suspended. But his interest has never been lost, or that of his early co-laborera in the work. Here were the first seeds sown for the material of the East side church. Little did he think that this grain of mus. tard seed" would spring up and afford dreds of souls for long years to come. How truly are the words of the psalmist verified: "He that goeth forth and weep ! eth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again, with rejoicing, bring his sheaves with him."
 In 1875 William D. Mcclellan moved into l this district. AS his name fully verfiies he is 8 Scotchman representative of the ! famous old clan of that name, whose line age runs back one hundred years, as every ! one at all familiar with Scotch history knows, to the time of civilian, the Con l queror."
 ! Reared by Scotch Presbyterian parents he had received training from then which eminently fitted him for a true, sin cere Christian worker. He held prayer meetings and carried on a Sunday schoo in his own home for while, but after { time he moved to less convenient locality and, on account of this and other reasons ! was obliged to discontinue these meetings But through this very thing the idea of {
 centrally located place for worship and re lgious purposes presented itself to him
 He immediately began to make efforts fol
 the erection of a chapel which was finally
 accomplished.
 l In 1878, MT. Henry H. Benedict tool possession of his summer residence or Townsend avenue. MT. Benedict, as every one in New Haven well knows, is gentle benevolence. Although a man who doet wish his '1eft hand to know what his right hand doeth," yet the truth cannot bt spoken without saying that he is a large
 factor in the building, supporting and prosperity of the east side chapel anc church. In July, regular prayer meetings ] were commenced on Townsend avenue
 and soon after the occasional meetings
 which had been kept up at various places since MT. McLellan's Sunday school ha6
 been discontinued, were consolidated with those of Townsend avenue and kept ul
 with regularity.
 The first Sunday in August, 1880, a Sun day school was commenced in the Wood
 ward town school house. There wer,
 ffty-one children and teachers at the frs
 meeting. It was organized with Mir. Bone dict as superintendent. The teachers were
 Mrs. Benedict, Mrs. George H. Townsend MT. W. D. Mcclellan, MT. and Mrs. L. C. l Waters and MT. and Mrs. William A. | Woodward. The latter has remained a
 her post ever since. The school has in creased in numbers, and soon some of MT 1 Townsend's earliest scholars became teach CTS in this school. One in particular who learned to read at home before she was ! five years old, from one of the little l books printed in words of fou1 l and five letters, given to he1 | by MT. James M. Townsend. Thus the ! seed began to spring up. Thus the praye, meetings increased in attendance, and ar l occasional sermon was preached by some | of the neighboring ministers. In few
 months regular Sunday evening preaching
 was held, supplied from the Yale theologi- cal school.
 By this time the chapel had become g