The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-05-13

in strengthening the society, and adding
to the church. During the period of his
charge there were added to the church
by profession, los, and by letter, 80.
The seasons 0f special interest were NAV
1855, when 81 were admitted, and March,
1856: when 45 were admit
ed, and at the next COM
munion in May, ID were added. There
wera two members communicated. Mr.
Harvey afterwards removed and settled
in Milford.
! Rev Selden Haynes was called as pas
! tor, September 7, 1858, which call was
not accepted. Rev Newell Price was in
vited TO preach for year, April, 1859,
and during his supply one was admitted
by profession, and Is by letter.
December 30, 1859, it was voted sThat
there be committee of six to consider
the propriety of centennial celebration
of the organization of this church, and
report at future meeting" This COM
mittee consisted of the following mem
bers, viz: Deacon Seth Seelye, Andrew
C. Hickok, William A. Judd, Isaac H.
Seelye, Ethel T. Farnham and Deacon
Andrew L. Benedict
This committee requested DR. Hickok
of Union College to prepare and deliver
historical discourse, AID the day for
the celebration was appointed for Novem-
Der 80, 1860.
Rev Elijah G. Baldwin was called to
settle as pastor June II and was ordained
September 5, 1860.
There have been the following minis
tiers who have been reigiously nurtured
in this church, aside from others who
have belonged to families not in connec-
ton with this society, though residents
of the place. OF Congregational or Pres
byterian connection: Rev Messrs Eben-
eZer Plat, Lawrens P. Hickok, Dennis
Platt, Bennett N0rthrop, George Barnum,
John L. Amber, Samuel T. Seelye. JUL
ius FL. Seelye; and licenciates, Theodore
Benjamin and Laurenus Clark Seelye.
OF the Baptist connection, Rev Messrs
Levi Peck and Nathan Benedict. OF the
Methodist connection, Rev George Judd.
Rev Henry Lobdell, Missionary of the
American Board at Mosul, was teacher
ligious experience while residing in this
place in 1916. OF these, Messrs Amber,
Benjamin, Judd and Lobdell, are now de-
ceased.
We have thus brought the history of
this church and society, IN it's general
outlines. from it's first organization in
1850, through the century to 1860. We
now close the narrative by applying some
practical suggestions from the review we
have taken.
Your strength is in union and harmony.
The experience of a century shows, that
in proportion as the members Of the
church and society have thought, and felt,
and acted together, they have been pros
pered. The days of weakness and en-
barrassmenC have been when there was
divided cnunsels and conduct. The bles-
sing Of God, in his providences, and by
His Holy Spirit, is the ultimate fountain
of all prosperity, and this blessing has
come in the past, and can only be hoped
for in the future, when spirit Of concil-
istion and self-sacrifice for public good
invites and prepares for the divine Inter
position, No one can have all his own
opinions and wishes gratified, nor his
own best judgment followed, in the gen
eraI arrangements and movements of anv
social organization; the result must al
ways be a compromise and combination,
in modified degrees, of the influences and
interests and counsels of all. When each
wheel runs in the direction of the moving
power to the ultimate end, the machine
has little friction, makes little noise,
works well and wears long. Like the hu-
man system, healthy church is always
| where there is no Fchism In the body (;
when every member does its nwn work in
the body, and for the body. Losses and
| disasters are soon made up by prompt,
cone rted action, but the greatest gains
and richest prosperity NAV at once be
| thrown away by discord and contention.
A more permanent pastoral connection
ia desirable. Much diversion of effort
and occasion for divided feeling in the
| churches, has arisen from the dismission