The Press., 1893-08-24
Tolland,s Congregational Church.

large, Iuo OOWuS peOPAo CuIuIuS Out HI great numbers, and many coming in from adjacent towns. The clergymen who took part were those resident of the town or their nearest neighbors, except that the sermon was by former pastor.
 Rev. MT. Post, the pastor, directed the services, which were opened with prayer by Rev. MT. Hoisington of North Coven- try. Rev. MT. Thompson, of the Holland M. E. church, read the scriptures, Rev. c. E. Sanborne, of Hartford, who was pastor of the church about 20 years ago, preach the dedicatory sermon, the pastor made the dedicatory prayer, and Rev. MT. Barber, of Ellington, pronounced bene- diction.
 The singing was especially fine, Mrs. H. B. Murless soprano, and Mrs. T. F. Rock we'll alto, both of Rockwell, favoring with fine solos, beside aiding the local choir in the rendering of the hymnal selec- tions. MT. Pease, of Yale Divinity School, was at the organ, and two violins supplemented the instrumental music.
 The church as completed is pretty, showing admirable taste in it's planning While modernized in appearance, it has no glaring feature, and the fathers who planned the first edifice would look with pleasure upon the seenly quiet beauty of the room as it now is.
 There are no galleries in the new church. The pulpit stands within central arch, a smaller arch at the right accommodates the choir, and a similar finish at the left use of the minister. The seats are circu- lar, of ash, and nicely cushioned with wine colored damask. The ceiling is of ash, beautifully panneled, the walls nice ly tinted. The windows are of cathedral glass, of beautiful designs, with varied emblems, and we'll arranged for ventila- tion. Two in the rear of the pulpit are gifts of Mrs. c. R. Hicks and Mrs. Wm. Sumner. The furnishings of the room are all new, and all in harmony-carpets. chandelier, pulpit furniture, etc.
 The lower rooms of the building are little changed, though newly carpeted, painted and papered, containing a new furnace for heating the building.
 A very interesting feature of the exer- cises was an historical address given by Dea. A. l.. Benton. This was most con- else, with not superf1uous word, though entirely impromptu, and made intensely interesting by it's manner of presentation.
 Very gratifying was the statement call ed for from the treasurer, MT. Edward E. Fuller, which was as follows:
 The expenses and furnishing incident to the remodeling and furnishing of this church have been $4,00O.
 Of this sum between $200 and $500 have been contributed by members and friends of the church.
 The pulpit, pulpit furniture and table are the gift of Mrs. Horace Kibbe, of Springfield, Mass, (of Kibbe Bros, con- fectioners).
 The balance of the sum-between $3 500 and $3, ,700-has been given by Mr. Rat clitfe Hicks and MT. Wm. Sumner of this town.
 The remodeling has been done under the supervision of MT. Wm. Sumner.
 Every bill connected with the work is paid, and the church is entirely free from debt.
 The audience was dismissed. In place of the usual collection on such occasions most cordial invitation being given to all to assemble on the lawn at the south of the church, where seats had been fur nished, and where all partook of an abundant and we'll served collation..
 Associated with MT. Sumner, who chief ly superintended the work of remodeling, were Radcliffe Hicks and w D. Holman, as building committee. In the gathering were many aged persons from Holland and other towns, many of the latter of whom had at some time been identified with the old church. Among persons present, not above mentioned, were: Wm. Sumner of Ohio, and Mayor Hyde of Hartford, who are summer residents of the town, Rev. A. J. Mcleod, Dea. F. J. Chandler and J. w. Chandler of Stafford Springs
 The old Congregational church, built in 1755, the second erected, stood at near the south end of and upon the common. facing to the north. The original court house also stood in the Street farther to the north, and facing to the south.
 The following account of the CONGREGATIONAL MEETING HOUSES IN
 HOLLAND
 is not an exact copy of what was said by MT. Benton at the dedication, but an ab- stract of the same kindly furnished to The Press in answer to request for it
 Before 1717 few families had settled in Holland. The records prove two births had occurred, and the citizens organized as town in the choice of town officers.
 Two years later, in 1719, a vote to build a meeting house 30 feet square is record ed. Next year the vote was amended 10 read 30 by 55 feet.
 The house so described was used in 1722, certainly in very unfinished state, for added inside work was provided for from time to time for twenty years.
 This must have been a rough building, for saw mills then were not, and the axe and the drawing knife were the familiar tools of the times, yet it was the house of God to our fathers, and there they wor- shipped their God. There admonition and encouragement came to them.
 There they covenanted together as a church; they called their first minister, and enjoyed much after Godly sort.
 But they soon outgrew the place, and in less than thirty years we find move for larger and more commodious ed;fic ).
 In 175I it was voted to build a new house 40 feet by 56.
 This was opposed by considerable mi nority. Several times the question was tried, and each time increased majorities ordered the building erected.
 The house was ready and occupied in May, 1755. .
 This building was the house of the church for eighty-four years, and WIS re- moved in 1888.
 Here two men in their youthful men, hood took their ordination and installa