The Newtown bee., 1897-02-12


 first half century, fruitful in conversions and in usefulness ?" The answer Is very pleasant Ia the about 10 years of MT Hart's ministry, s5 were added to it; in 20 years of MT Mead's, 153; in 15 years of MT Atwater's, 1s4. To these add the 3s who joined before the first of pastor- ate and we have 460 received into the church during its first 90 years. They much surpass the last half of the century, when 275 only have joined it. But is should be noted here that almost all these 735 came into the church by pro- fession, not much over one-fifth by letter. This is quite the reverse of what would have happened had we been a manufacturing center. Our church en- joyed very precious revival in 1799 and others later. MT Hart had only recently taken up his work and the young church been without regular shepherd for almost three years. Its piety had grown cold in this long lack of care and cases of discipline were troubling it. But it's first pastor was man of intellectual vigor and earn est piety. His own heart was greatly stirred by visiting some other towns which were sharing the great awakening that spread over much of New England at that time. The church began to arouse under his urgent appeals. He showed them that nothing so hindered Gods working among them as unfaith- fitness toward shining members. At length they felt willing to take up the painful duty of calling some such to ac- count. Charges'were formulated against an aged member of 80 years, he being summoned to appear before the church and answer to them. At first, he was inclined to resist. but soon
 BROKE DOWN IN HUMBLE, PUBLIC CON
 FEssION
 which had most helpful influence over the whole community. It was among the members of this mans family that the anxious pastor soon heard the first ones lnquiring, "What must we do to be saved?' Ere long an additional weekly lecture, as it was called was appointed :; then more prayer meetings, from neigh borhood to neighborhood. Neighbor- ing pastors assisted. About 70, it was thought, were very deeply convicted of their sins and over 40 united with the church as the fruits of this revival. A goodly number of these were young people and many a devoted Christian life proved the power and genuineness of the work. MT Hart published two articles in The Connecticut Magazine for 1902 which give very interesting account of this revival. These articles contain the experience of several indi viduals which show how thoroughly they were made to see their sinfulness and destitution of all merit and how { sense of Jesus loveliness and feeling o1 forgiveness stole in upon their distress like the beams of morning into a darl room. The depth of this interest wal right in the midst of harvest-time. Ye extra meetings and gathering seasonabll the crops went along together, showing that we can be both "Dil1gent in busi ness and fervent in spirit' at the sam time. Other seasons of refreshin. have been --enioyed by the schurch, ad ding to it's number in 1882, forty-thre and in 1868, forty nine.
 think am right in saying that ove one-half of all it's members have re ceived letters and gone forth to bles other communities. May we not i'm agine many of these, after their trainin here, as they went from us, becomin useful heads of families, teachers i Sabbath and other schools, deacons
 ministers, men and women of large ir f1uence in other places? Many of tn early settlers here had lived to a grea age, through their simple and corree habits, rearing large families. Thus
 the original planter lived to S1, with
 children; his son Isaac to 93, with
 children; his son, yCapt Isaac Bronson
 to 90, with g children; another son (
 the planter to 91, with 8 children, an
 Aaron Benedict, father of the gres
 Waterbury manufacturer, to 96, with
 children. Were some of the many whel we sent forth to other comm unities {
 very long lived and blessed with liz
 great and useful families2 Let me hes
 say word about
 THE LARGE EMIGRATION FROM TH TOWN WESTWARD:
 It begins almost with the century
 Jefferson county, N. r., of which '
 shall hear more in another pape
 About 75 years ago, the first fami
 started for New Connecticut or Westel Reserve in Northern Ohio. Our sta
 laid claim to large tract of countl
 there and Middlebury did good de
 toward helping to settle it. Robe Camp we'll remembers the starting Q of Jacob Hall from the Fred Smi E Tr N xx,rc a ha,,% T n,