The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-12-09

W DCNVluucIt 1870, THIS plSSVlt 4NuSS
Of worship was dedicated, In style,
structure and size it was made like the
Center and the North churches, II took
the name OF the College street church,
and from that time the church itself
lost its peculiaritles and became like the
other Congregational churches of the
city. There are seven persons living,
who are now members of this church,
whose names were on the roll when this
building was dedicated forty-seven
years aGo-Nlrs. Mary c. Osborn and
Mrs, RoXanna WiXon, received In 1887;
Mrs, Catherine Hubbell and Mrs, Lu-
cinda Scoville, received in 1871;
Mr., Orrin Swift, received in 1872;
Mr., Asher Sheldon received in 1874 and
Mrs. Lucy Hitchcock received in lS47
(she has been for a time in Mariden).
I'M addition TO these, Mrs. Harriett Niley
had been member prior to 1S4S but
had been dismissed and was again re-
ceived by l.tter in 1858 and is now with
us. or these eight persons, five are
regularly attendant upon the services
of the church.
Certain young men united with the
church just after its occupations of this
building who have proven great SER
vice to it, Among these were the late
Ruel p. CoWles, for long time an
officer and a representative member of
the church; and Edward Bryan, Jere-
miah Wolcoht and Washington Risley,
each of whom according to the measure
Of his ability has been,a loyal and faith
full member of the church until the pres
ent time. Other men of like character
united with the church, some of whom
have passed away and some of whom
have since become members of other
churches. The pastorate of the Rev.
DR.. Strong continued for about twenty
years and was very successful one,
members being continually added to the
church, The largest annual addition
was during the great revival of 1858
when 106 persons were added on profess
sion and 25 by letter in one year. In
receiving, his ministry. Or. Strong said
that the number of members when he
became pastor could not be ascertain
ed, the records having been neglected.
The attendance upon the church SER
vices at the beginning of his ministry
was about 1850; the attendance increased
to 600 and upwards and the member
ship to 557, thus making this church one
Of the largest in the state at that time.
DR., Strong resigned his charge and was
dismissed on June %, 1862. He was
afterwards settled as pastor in Pitts
field, Mass, and in West Roxbury, near
Boston. He, ait present, is living in a
good old age in Pittsfeld, Mass; and
we are very happy to have him with us
to-day. The great civil war was in
progress when the church was left with
out pastor. Twenty-Five members of
were members of the church, &olunteer-
ed their services in defence of the ma
tional union. OF them, one was killed
in battle, two died of wounds and two
of fevers. One in five gave his life.
For a time the pulpit was filled by the
Rev DR.. William Patton, and on March
8, 1864, the Rev. Orphius T. Sanphear
was installed pastor of the church. His
pastorate was brief one of less than
three years and uneventful. He was
dismissed February %, 1867. His home
I Is now III DcESlIE, ANidos' Il VI tNO
years the church was without pastor.
A debt had been incurred in erecting
the church building and the society had
continually felt its Gripping influence.
In March, 1867, a meeting was held and
an effort inaugurated to clear the So
ciety from debt. In few months time
a sum of more than $4,000 was raised,
the debt cancelled and all the pews but
two became the property of the society.
Since that time that is during the last
half OF the society's history, there has
been no incumbrance upon the property
| of the society. Any debt which has
been incurred has been but a small
foa ting one and has easily been dis
charged.
This church was highly favored in
the character of it's founders and it
continued to be favored from time to
! time by the men who came to it not
for selfish reasons but for the ser
vice of Christ. Among those who came
| into the church, at the period now I'M
der review, bringing their families with
| them, were the late Gaius T.. Warner,
DIR. Henry A. Darlington and of our
present board of deacons Henry f.
Peck. A very little later Alfred w.
| Weld and Charles F. Beckley, also of
our present board of deacorts, were add
ed to the church. The additions of
such members tended greatly tostrength-
en- the church. One of the first acts
Of Mr. Waner-an act performed per-
haps shortly before he brought his let
ter to the church-was a gift of 81, 100
towards the liquidation of the debt,
and one Of his last acts, performed on
his death bed was to call his son to his
| side and leave in his charge $500 for
the church. Among his last words TO
the church spoken al an evening prayer
meeting were these: Brethren let us
be faithful in the cause of Christ and
endure unto the end OF our pilgrimage,
| that we may receive the crown Of glory
which God has promised to those who
love Him. Let us not be over anxious
as to what kind OF crown it will be,
but rest satisfied that it will be what
our heavenly Father sees fit to give as.
kingdom and do good to our fellowman
and leave ourselves in His hand fer
time and for eternity This is an
exhortation which we would all do we'll
to heed. DIR. Darlington has told me
that when he moved to this city, he de-
cided to come to this church because
he felt that here he could do good. His