St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-10-23

was planted hard by, like citadel on
promontory, upon the high bluff or
platform known as Meeting House
Rock'
The reason for this change of base
was mainly because its early wears were
the period of the King Philip war, when
the confederated Wampanoags and
Narragansetts ravaged the whole of
New England. When summoned by the
drums beat, that then took the place of
the more modern bell. Norwich Puritans
climbed up the frowning rocks TO pray
in their godly stronghold, pike or
musket in hand, not knowing what saw
age enemies might be lurking in ambush
to Slaughter them. The women and
children sat in the far ends of the
''pueS" near by the walls. where only
windows were away above their heads.
while the men sat next to the aisle. or
near the door close to their stacked
arms. on the alert to rush ont and repel
invaders should all alarm be given by
the watchful Sentinels, who gravely
paced up and down in the shadow of the
sanctuary at carry arms" quantity at
tired in Steeple-crowned hats and broad
bandalierS slung crosswlSe over their
shoulders to sustain cartridge box and
bullet bag. as they conned the hilSideS
any signs of danger.
The brOwniSh wooden building now
on the old site is the third that has SUI
perseded the stone church on the rock.
and was built in 1901. 1t is a typical
specimen of the church architecture of
New England at that period, and has
the customary sheds in the rear where
even now wOrshipers from distance
sometimes put up their teams during
service. 1t was quite grand affair in
its day and generation. Its interior
begirt with groinP'i arches. the massive
pillars TO support iilr gallery. and the
sky-blue dome IL Ia saddle OF the
ceiling, was looked upon a. uhcnmmoniy
fine piece of construction
Though the church plays All III .,1rtant
part in the life of New England today,
il dominated all of the affairs of the
community in the time of the Cleve-
lands. Then the Congregational church
was state institution, and taxes were
levied for its support. This very meet
ing house they attended was located Oh
town property and was partly paid for
by the avails of lottery granted by the
legislature. AEtl-lottery- laws hadn t
then come into vogue. AS the prlncl-
pal church of Norwich. which then con-
sisted of an aggregation Of settlements
purchased from the Indians in 1869, it
was used for town meetings and other
purposes, and on election days as the
polling place for the entire town. 1t
was there that Aaron Cleveland used to
cast his Federalist ballots, and there in
later years his son, William, put in his
bumpers for the Wings.
1t may easily be inferred that no
higher mark of confidence and esteem
could he bestowed upon
william Cleveland
in the community in which he lived
than that conferred when he returned
to his native town in lSl2-after few
years absence since early manhood
whereby he was ''set apart for the office
OF deacon of the First Congregational
church" Having no ambition for 20
htical distinction. it was more to his
liking than any other office that could
have been bestowed, comforting, as it
did, more substantial divinity than
the title of mayor.
For twenty-five years, from the time
of his re-entrance to Norwich until the
day of his death i'll August, 1887, Will
lam Cleveland was a deacon in the old
First church, ana enjoyed the diStinc-
ton of sitting in one of the deacon's
chairs on either side of the pulpit,