The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-12-09
HAVEN JOURNAL COURIER MONDAY DECEBER 1896

tolate such persons as Rev, samuel
II. Elliot David WilcoXsep, Galus H.,
Warner Inmau Cowles, William r.
Gurnsey, Rev. William w. Atwater,
Deacon Everard Benjamin and Smith
Merwin passed away, or Mr.. MerWin,
the pastor said in a memorial discourse;
when he found the Lord and the Lord
found him it was a great meeting
brought about by the divine energy
momentous in its results, The regular
meeting of prayer was his peculiar de-
light, He brought help and strength
into this church OF Christ" Had a
memorial discourse concerning others
been published it would no doubt have
contained similar sentiments. Not
only did the church suffer from the loss
of such pillars by death, but the growth
Of business in the center Of the city
and the movement Of the population
toward the circle, inference began to
make itself felt. Churches like the
Howard avenue and the Dwight Place
occupied the midst of the territory from
which this church would most naturally
draw. The pastor, Mr., Hubbell, felt
this and in the latter part of 1876, lie
rendered his resignation. In his let
ter of resignation he says: Il do not
resign because of failing health, non
because / suppose there is any lack
of mutual attachment or confidence.
/ do it simply because, all things con-
sidered, I feel that / can accomplish
more in some other field" A letter OF
Deacon Townsend, who was laid aside
by infirmitles and who, as he says,
| had not heard a sermon, on account
of deafness, for fifteen years, is re-
| corded in the minutes He speaks
most highly of Mr.. Hubbell, but adj
vlses the church to accept the resig-
nation. Among other things he says:
"Mr. Hubbell thinks that the position
of teh Congregational churches Of New
Haven is an unfortunate one. Clus-
! tered around a small circle in the cen
ter are six of them, beside an Epis-
copal Methodist and Baptist church
He thinks. and I am inclined to agree
with his judgment, that some of them
under the pressure of the times, must
unite together ere long and do more
good by the union, or some must fail
of support" Time has proven that this
judgment concurred in by Amos Town
send was well grounded, Mr., Hubbsll
was dismissed November %, 1876, after
q passionate of seven years and six
months
DR.. Hubbell is at present pastor Of a
church in Mansfield, O., one of the
largest Congregational churches inlthat
state. Rev Henry S. Kelsey became
acting pastor of the church on the
first of February, 1877, and continued
| to act in that capacity until Novem-
Der -, 1888, when his labors ceased
after a service of six years and nine
months. He is now a resident of Chi
| cago. During his ministry the revival
under the leadership of Mr.. Moody
| occurred, whose influence was felt in
| the churches. In 1883 the conditions
/ referred to by Rev. Hubbell when he
resigned had become so manifest in
| three of the churches in the center OF
the city that it became evident that
| two of them must unite. In the latter
4 part of that year a letter was received
| from the Third church proposing a
union with the College street church
| and asking for a. conference of COM
mittees. Such a conference was held
but there was an obstacle in the way
which need not be specified, and the
union was not effected. A. few months
later the Third and the North churches
4 united and took the name of the United
church College street church was left
/ ~ ;t- ry,1-
| heartily and unitedly to the task II
extended a unanimous call to the pres
ent pastor, who began his labors here
early in January, 1884, and who was
installed in the pastoral Office by 8
council February 10 following, The
union of the Third and North churches
was the occasion of several persons
coming into the College street church
! by letter and as a result the church
was considerably strengthened. Ar
early acquaintance, however with the
location of the church and the condi
! lions of the city convinced the pastor
that if he had any mission in New Ha
ven. so far as the College street church
was concerned. it was to move thai
church. He set himself steadfastly t.
the accomplishment of this one object
| In the autumn of 1885, he preached
necessarily, a series of five sermons re
lating to this object In the course OF
| these sermons he said: TT may re
quire eight years, it may require ter
years, but westward this church mus
move" From that time may be dated
that practical movement in the minds
| of the people OF this church, which
has become practically universal ant
which issues in our united action o.
leaving this church ediffce to-day, tina
We may enter a new one in the western
part of the city one week hence. The
| history of the church during this perioc
is we'll known TO those who are pres
ent to-day and need not now be writ
| ten. Let it suffice to say that the re
| lation between pastor and people ha:
| been one Of mutual respect and affec
! ton: that differences of opinion have
| never led to division, that peace ha!
prevailed; and that, SO far as is known
/ we are united in our present and FL
/ ture work. 1t may also be added thai
! during The period the children of tht
/ church as they have become old enough
| have almost all confessed Christ anG
! become communicates; the obligation;
of the society have been met and the
! benevolent contributions have beer
somewhat in excess of those of any