The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-01-02


 had eaten sour grapes, and the chil- drens teeth were set on edge.
 As just stated, the people were not complete unity. What free people ever are, long? The political and religious dissidents, no doubt, counted them selves and were counted. The members of the Church of England and sympa- thizers with 1t, were thinking, by this time of building a house of worship, Of modest dimensions, suited alike to their numbers and their pecuniary resources I name 1750 as a sort of central date to be kept In mind, and my subject IS the beginnings of the Episcopal church in New Haven. But before this date serious efforts had been made to es- tablish the church in the town. pr, Johnson probably was the first man who eyer read the service in the Book of Common Prayer in New Haven. He came hither occasionally between lI3o and 1740 from Stratford. He cast long ing eyes upon New Haven, for he was an alumnus of the college and had lived over in West Haven, and was very much attached to the place. His infrequent ministra tions did not lead to any public results, but in the year 1736 the Rev. Jonathan Arnold, native of Connecticut, who conformed to the church in 1734. was in London, whither he had gone for his ordination. He evidently had made himself acquainted with some of the traditions of New Ha- IN,N ,J ,Ntp Se1 1n thee entre of the town, which was sup posed to have been bequeathed by MT. Gregson to the church. He also had evidently studied New Haven county, and he made an application to the So- ciety for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts for an appointment as a missionary of the Society. His letter to the secretary should be quoted in full, because as a result of it, we may say that then the first serious eff forts were made for the establishment of the church in New Haven. His letter is as follows:
 q have the pleasure to be informed that my case is referred to your com passionate consideration, and that it is expected that make reply to the two following questions, namely: First what towns there are adjacent to New Haven which I should be willing to be seryiceable to, making New Haven the place of my residence; Second, what reward I should expect from the SO clety for such service.
 In answer to the first question; there is Milford, ten miles distant; Derby ten miles distant; Waterbury, twenty miles; Cheshire, twenty miles; Wal lngford, twelve miles; Guilford, twen- ty miles distant from New Haven. all of which I am willing occasionally to visit and administer to.
 In answer to the second inquiry. re- lating to my reward, l am truly willing to spend and be spent in the society s service, and whatever the society shall bestow will be thankfully accepted and shall be faithfully used for the good ends designed, and that God may en- large the socletys abilities in propor- ton to their desire of doing good is the sincere prayer of, Reverend Gentle men, Your most obedient servant"
 You see the extent of the field he pro- posed to occupy. He evidently knew how large it was. The plan was tc make New Haven the center of his operations, He received the appoint ment, but without salary. He was a man of some means, though not large This letter was written in London and, clearly the plan was that he should make New Haven the place of his residence: but the next letter writ ten to the society was dated at West Haven. which leads me to think that he could not find @ home in New Ha- yen;-in fact that nobody would rent him a house, Tho letter is rather in. teresting. Under l~-e of the 22nd of September, he says:
 "I beg leave humbly to present my duty to the Honorable Society for Pro. pagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts and also an account of my proceedings and success. After long passage and tedious fit of sickness, I arrived to my family in July last, and have, in the best manner I could, attended divine | service in the several towns to which ] am sent, preaching two sermons every Sunday, and frequent lectures at other times. By reason of the great distance of the towns where those dwell thai are under my care, my work is madC very chargeable and difficult, but with al very pleasant from the fair pros | pect of success I have admitted thir | teen persons to the communion anC | the number of communicants are fifty l six. I have baptized seven, of whict | five were infants, two adults, one O. which was q negro. performed divin,
 service last Sunday in Milford, one O | the most considerable towns in Con necticut colony, where the use of thu
 Lords Prayer the Creed and the Te, Commandments and the reading O | the Scriptures in divine service, Wal never before known. There was { very numerous auditory, most atten
 tive and desirous to be instructed il l the worship of the Church of Eng l land, but those who are looking to wards the church are commonly tht
 poorer sort of people, for the staff O
 government being in the hands of thu
 dissenters, who rule the church with al
 iron rod, those who receive honor ont
 of another set themselves in distance l rrna nd on tO in