The Newtown bee., 1897-02-12

lesson was read, there came from thls source the call, ''That's pretty good read ing" After further Scripture reading, the rough sang out again, That is as good reading as I ever heard" Such were some difficulties of trying to do good to the lawless but Deedy. Gum town was found not to be good center, and fioally the chspsl was removed to Naugatuck, where it was made into the Episcopal house Of worship, used until quite recently. Next the Episcopalians held meetings in the lower part of the Academy, or select school building, for about dozen years. generally Sabbath afternoons. Amos Camp. father of Rob ert Camp, offered them site for chnrch opposite the Allerton place. At first it seemed likely that they would build there. But their brethren in Gunntown went more and more to Nsugatuek and SO hope of a center for their worship here died out The Methodist preacher, Jesse Lee, visited Middlebury as early as 1790, preaching his views. Others followed in the early years of the century AS a. most the entire population were Congre- gationalists, their meetings were held here and there, as in private houses and barn even at one time, then st the school hou in BreakDeck, and later in the schoolhouse at the center.
 GRArUALLY THEY GAINED MORE
 footing. drawing & few over from this church for different reasons. I hold in my hand Daniel Wooster's debate over the knotry problem of decrees, which ended in joining the Methodists, and fn- ally becoming a local preacher. In our records are notes of earnest discussions about how to act when letters were asked to join this new body. By 1882 they had gained sufficient strength to plan build ing a meeting house. A schoolhouse stood where their church now is. and it's site was desired for the gentle slope there would allow of a basement. Finally it was secured and the schoolhouse moved farther north. and back to the bank wall, behind the present one. That little red schoolhouse is now the barn in the rear of Frank Tyler's home. James Wooster was very prominent giyer in erecting the Methodist church and supporting its preaching. A legacy of $500 was left to it at his decease. Those early Metho- dists were good workers, had some fine singers and helpers in the class and pray CT meetings, as the Woosters, Abbotts, Munsons. Ephraim Futile, John North rop, John Fenn. At harvest time, gifts were annually made their ministers, like potatoes, apples, grain, in addition to the regular salary. Several preachers grew out of their habit of setting as many SIS possible at work. Doubtless the pres- ence of these two denominations in so small a town has helped to prevent spir- itual tagnation. while emulation may sometimes have bred little hard feeling, especially in times of ingatbering from special meetings.
 have alluded to the present center schoolhouse as used for select school pur- poses. It was erected so years ago, early in the ministry of MT Mead, for higher grade of schools. During whole gen. eration or more really good, advanced school was kept in it's upper psrt during some months in the winter, or the sum mer and autumn. The district school was kept in the little red schoolhouse back of
 fcoNTINUED ON PAGR THREE