The Press., 1896-12-24
tConttnued from last week. }
Continued from last weekly HISTORY OF THE METHODIST ! EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF sTAF- FORD SPRINGS.
BY REV. J. I. BARTHOLOMEW.


 was presided over by Bishop Asbury.
 Ten or twelve preachers were present. TfIe business sessions were held in the house now used as Methodist parsonage, in the north east room on the second floor. The conference continued throughout the wseak, and on Sunday BishopAsbury preach Is h the partially finished chapel from II TiaSothy 3 24-26. In view of the wig or oIs opposition encountered by Methodism throughout New England the text was certainly very appropriate.
 This chapel was frequently used by Jese Lee, and other able preachers. It wss built on the estate of 8 MT. Howard, whore the present church stands The old chapel still stands, in good repair, on @ lot back of the present church property. At this conference a new circuit was formed, called Holland Circuit, and includ- ed, probably, the country from Holland to Wilbraham. One of the villages near Holland which shared in the great revival was Square Pond. Services were first held in this place soon after Jesse Lee began his work in Holland. So great was the success that chapel was built and dedicated within two years; that is in 1792. This chapel was afterwards destroyed and new one was erected. For many years Methodism flourished at Square Pond. Among other. items of early interest we find that Methodist camp meeting was held here in 1906.
 Much obscurity hangs over the work of the early Methodists in Stafford. This is true in some measure after the work as- sumed organized form, and is e specially true of the movements antedating the organization. F A state chureh has this advantage, at least, that it's early history can be traced'in part in the town records, if any are preserved.
 Tradition must of necessity hold larger place in any effort to ascertain the early facts concerning an independent church. Fortunately, in 1866, Rev. Josiah T. Ben ton, then pastor, prepared paper on the history of the church. At that time mem bers were living who were conversant with facts which must otherwise have been forgotten. We quote somewhat at length;
 1t is certain that Methodism had an early introduction into Stafford; but it is limpossible to ascertain the precise time or fbE whom
 In October, 1790, one year after Jesse EeAsAe received his appointment to New England, and preached his first sermon al Norwalk, the Hartford circuit was formed Stevens History of the Methodist Episco pal church asserts that Holland and Will braham were included. Nathaniel B Mills was preacher.
 By faithful record kept of all the preachers at Square Pond, find that 1T 179O N. B. Mills was at that place. We conclude, therefore, that Square Ponc was one of the appointments on the orig inal Hartford circuit, The next year 1791, Bishop Asbury mentions in his journal a great revival on this circuit At Holland and the neighboring villages the interest was especially profound, anC estimates that 'one hundred and fifty were converted there, and that twice that mum Der were under awakenings in the socie ties around The history says in 1792 the following year, the eloquent Hop' Hull was appointed to Hartford circuit Geo. Roberts and F: Aldridge were hi colleagues. The record at Square POn( ) agrees with this statement. From tn, fact that Holland, Square Pond and Will braham are contiguous to Stafford -tha there were, on authority of 'Asbury, con versions and awakenings in the village and societies around Holland, we may sup pose that early, faithful itinerants, in pass ing through this town to their appoint ments, found a place and people prepared to whom they preached the gospel of fre grace through Jesus Christ.
 But we have more than presumptiv evidence on this point. A member of thi church has informed us that his father of ) ten spoke of powerful sermon breaches by Hope Hull, in the old Congregations church on West Stafford hill, from The. that were ready went in to the marriage and the door was shut So that it i clear there was Methodist preaching il this town as early in 1792 or 1793, an' perhaps earlier, :;.. |. ~.t
 The same obscurity hangs around. tn point of time when the first class wa formed. A surviving father in the echurcl has told me that when he was boy h was excluded from a class meeting hell immediately after,a sermon preached b. Justus Joselyn. The minutes show tha he was appointed to Holland circuit (the embracing the societies in this vicinity) il 1901. If there was a class meeting a that early date, we may infer that ther were Methodists residing in town; and it i well known that these torganiz Jed classe wherever, they could find members. But : if Methodism was thus early planted, ] must have had a slow and stdnted growth for F. years after, there was only small divided company in the extreme nort part of thetown, known as the Tray Ho low class, holdingreiation with the squar Pond society. In 1818,. Brother. Orri HarWoed, who had feeaRtly snoved fror i" Ludlows Mass, copseat ateato take the cIas lpaper which had been taken from them Q accoVptof dissenstoass> provided no men Der of keeclasss made any ehieetionss :sUl 1der his faithful and loving watch-care: tn members were soon, Npited, and greatl
 prospered. When the9> e9> it ibittllees7 les7 class ,:ha grown to as1nemberslip 1efss 22 persons was divided into two equal parts. .BrotI CT Bemis, at whose heuseit was customar