The Press., 1897-01-14

GROWTH IN MEMBERSHIP.
 The early Methodists of Stafford were earnest christians, and the services were at times too enthusiastic to suit the New England sense of propriety. One of our oldest members says that when Rev Mir Moulton engaged the old Universalist church on West Stafford hill for services he insisted on having a written lease He feared that if this precaution was not taken series of revival meetings would seem out of place to the church authori- ties, and would result in closing the doors of the church to the Methodists. Certain excitable persons always added to the in terest of prayer meetings, and helped to make them attractive to young people.
 Mingled with the excitable workers were men and women of quiet bearing and solid worth, whose words of exhortation and testimony carried great weight The lay element was employed in the religious services much more extensively than in other denominations at that time. The preaching was pointed and pungent. Like the Salvation Army officers of to-day, the speakers kept the thought close to the great fundamental doctrines of the Bible. sslt is not surprising, therefore, that many were co8verted under the second sermon present limits of thA village, nor that constant enlargement of the place of worship was a necessity.
 Spiritual transactions cannot be set down in black and white like financial matters. The building of a spiritual church and the strengthening of the king dom of God on earth are not always un- derstood by men. We can only judge by indications, and doubtless, we fail to judge them correctly.
 Under the early circuit system, the travelling preacher" or ''circuit rider'' spent only part of his time in any one To- cality. The class leader was to large extent the pastor, and upon his efficiency depended largely the success of the work As we have seen, the first class leaders in Stafford were Amariah Bemis, of Tray Hollow and Orrin Harwood, of West Staf- ford. Of the work of the former we have but little knowledge. His daughter, Mary, became the wife of Rev. l.. c. Collins, who was pastor here in1946 and 1947, and became a prominent Methodist preach CT. Of Mir. Harwood we know much more His house was for years the tray. cling preachers when they were in West Stafford, and was the center of the Metho. dist influence of Stafford in those early days. He and his descendants have beer prominently identified with the interests of Methodism in Stafford from it's incep tion till now
 Daniel Fosket, the first leader of tho class at the village, lived near the present house of Calvin Smith. Aaron F. Greene was for many years 8 class leader, and tower of strength in all spiritual move ments. Meetings of great power were held in the old church, and conversions 1 were of frequent occurrence Revivals were common, as the growth of the churcI clearly indicates.
 The great revival in AZ and '43, under the labors of the pastor, Warren Emerson still finger in the minds of our older mem bers. One sister says that when she re turned from school at Wilbraham at thar time it seemed as though everybody hat been converted Another revival of deer interest occurred under the pastorate O. Rev. Loren c. Collins in the years '46 anC AT, adding to the church some who art now among it's most valued members Another revival of special note occurred in 1857, Rev. Erastus Benton pastor About 50 professed conversion. Rev. J T. Benton wrote in 1866: II cannot lear1 that single year has passed without con versions. While some faithful pastors have witnessed but few conversions, others have gathered large numbers into tht church I have never seer upon any church book so much writer indication of the complete triumph of the departed in the hour of dying as upon this | death-bed of several members I am con vinced that nothing but the strictest truth has been expressed
 The early quarterly conference records show that the moral tone of the church was ~at high level! In 184O and 1841 there is a detailed record of the trial anc expulsion of an official member for immor ality. The original charge was that ht had sold spirituous liquors. Later he was charged with falsehood in his testimony and with other minor offences. The whole record shows the determination of those men to keep the leadership of the churcH pure. The questions asked and the an swers elicited show that human nature il Stafford was about what it is now,