The Newtown bee., 1898-04-08
PLACES OF WORSHIP.


Hickok, D. D., preached November 80
1860
PLACES OF WORSHIP.
At the first meeting of the society,
November IL, 1850, mea sures were taken
to provide for place of worship, and
for a preacher Of the Gospel. Capt
Ebenezer Hickok gave the society land
for site for Westinghouse, and suf-
dcient land for a bur aground. The
Westinghouse was completed, SO far as
to be occupied the following summer,
and was located in part upon the site of
our Present house OF worship. The
house remained unfinished in its interic r
until the year 1896, when pews were
added, pulpit and the gallery. A stee-
pie was erected in 1918, and a bell pre- a
cured ten years later. In the year 1882.
extensive repairs were made and slips
substituted for pews. This building we S
burned July q, 1912. A second and
larger house Of worship was erected in
the year following, and dedicated June
LIST, Rev James Knox preaching the dedi-
catory sermon. During a gale of wind
in the spring of 1865, the house was ipjur.
ed oy the falling Of the spire, and was
not further used for the purposes OF
worship. Having been repaired, it was
| sold to the town, and now stands a few
rods west Of it's former site. The third
and present house of worship was erect
ed in the year 1866, and has been refit-
ted from time to time, as the increasing
demands of the parish required.
A parsonage was built in the year
1850, which was occupied for fifteen
years, when it was sold and a second
property purchased. This latter was
occupied for three years and was like
wise 81 Id. The present parsonage, on
CHI smut street, was built by the society
in the autumn of the year 1873, and en-
larged in the year 1888.
TIMES OF REFRESHING
In the year 1890, under the preaching
Of Samuel Sturges, licentiate, a deep
spiritual interest was awakened and with
in few months twenty-four persons
united with the church by profession,
greatly Strengthening the little flock in
the hour of weakness. During the year
1881, continuous revival interest pre-
vailed and fifty seven confessed their
faith. The most marked ingathering, in
the history of the church was In IS43,
following the brief period of labor with
Bn nrT1r1 ~ t.
single Sabbath in June of this yesr, one
hundred and nineteen united with the
church by confession. The year 1852.
under the labors of Rev Samuel Under
wood; the years 1866 and 1858, of Rev
Mr. Harvey's pastorate; the year 1874 of
the passionate Of Rev Mr. Waters; and the
year 1888 of the present pastorate, were
years of marked Divine blessing and
bore rich spiritual fruits. Two years
only had been passed during the last
half century without additions to the
roll of the church.
THE GOSPEL MINISTRY,
The church has rejoiced In it's sors
who have entered the Gospel ministry
Their names, so far as known, are Rev
Messrs Ebenezer Plat, Laurens P. Hic
kok, Bennett r. Northrop, Dennis Platt,
George Barnum, John L. Amber, Sam
uel L. See)ye, Julius FL. Seelye, Laurens
Clark Seelye. Theodore Benjamin, Henry
Lobdell, Pliny S. Smith, Arthur j. Bene-
dict, who labored in Congregational or
Presbyterian churches; Rev Messrs Levi
Peck, Nathan Benedict, George s. Judd,
and Horace Q. Judd, entered other col
nections. These have been identified
with our church or Sabbath-school.
THE SABBATH SCHOOL.
The first Sabbath-school connected
with the church, so far as known, was
that organized in the summer of 1918, by
Rev Burr Baldwin. Deacon Seth Seelye,
during the following summer, gathered
school of from thirty to fifty me mbers,
providing for 1t a small library. In the
years which have succeeded, the schc oil
has been continuously sustained, increas-
ing in numerical strength with the
growth of the church. The following
| brethren have held the office of supe riI-
tendent: Dea Seth Seelye, Dea Elizur
Benedict, Frederick seelye, Andrew G.
Hickok, Ezekiel Drew, Charles Dart,
Dea George A. Hickok, David T. Hubbell
Augustus A. Fisher, Frank W. Smith,
Dea William A. Judd, Dea Andrew L..
Benedict, Dea Charles Bailey, Maj
| Thomas and Howard Ell. Woodman, the