The Newtown bee., 1898-11-04
()Y Al B A KING POWDER E
Absolutely Pure
Made from pure grape cream of tartar

is no more than true to say that they are keeping close to some of the larger city churches, added membership and benev- olence taken into the account
 The first annual meeting of the society was held on Tuesday, to 29 n of Febru- ary, 1S4S, and was for the purpose of choosing officers and to transact other business that should be deemed exped- ent. Daniel B. Fayerweather was chosen moderator; Eli. Leavenworth, clerk; James Beardsley, treasurer; John Ed wards, Norman Sherwood and Prosper Hurd, committee; James Hawley and Norman Sherwood, tythingmen; Charles Smith and Eli LeavenwOrtb, solicitors and collectors. One vote read: "rhat we will try to sustain preaching all the time.'' Evidently the trial was success ful, although the records do not show how much preaching they CT joyed up to
 May. Rev James Mallory commenced | his labors as pastor of the church, May 21, 1949. On that same day, after the | morning service, Bible claFs and Sui day school were organz-1 in the base
 ment of the church and the pastor was chosen superintendent. Tie first cove nant meeting of the church was held l June 3, with 25 present, and To, and be- hold l2 of them were men! On June the church was publicly recoguized by
 
 mon was preached by Rev Aaron Per kins of the Second Danbury church.
 On July 15, at 8 'very spiritual" cov- enant meeting, Abel Bear6sley and Will liam Platt were chosen deacons, the first
 deacons of the church. It seems by the
 record that the church during those ear
 ly days of it's history enjoyed in some dt-
 gree the Spirits presence, and some of
 the covenant meetir gs were favored in
 this respect. We have he folio wing for september 2, 1738: Met in covenant
 meeting. A goodly number attended
 and by their remarks it is evident thar
 the Lord is revivipg his work in the
 hearts of his people," September 30: ''Met in covenant meeting and were | much encouraged by the love and union, 1 with the interesting remarks that were
 made by the brethren and sisters" No
 vember 4 Ut being our regular cove
 nant meeting, go0dly number came to- geGher, and we were blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit" The rec ords show that the covenant meeting
 were important and that God honored the
 brethren and sisters at such times with his presence. Let us learn the lesson. l At the covenant meeting held Septem-
 Der 30, 1S4S, it was voted ito be received
 into the Fairfield County Baptist Associ-
 ation; that our pastor receive the righ;
 hand of fellowship in behalf of the
 church, provided they receive us." l
 thlnk they were received, judging from
 MT Wakeman's address, and Stepney
 united in 1S48. The church was now
 well started on it's career of usefulness :;
 organiz: d, recognized and received into
 the fellowship of the association.
 There are some facts in connection
 with it's history which we will brif fly no
 tice. In the first place we notice that
 the church during it's history as sepa-
 rate oJ ganization has had l7 pastors, iu-
 cluding the present pastor. Ten of them
 are still living, and possibly 12. The
 longest pastorate was little more than six years and the shortest a little less
 than year. The church has been two or three times without pastor for sev eral months, but not without preaching During it's history the church has liceps- ed two men to preach the Gospel, l. H l Gilbert in 1849 and Nathan Leavenwortb l in 1869. When we consider the officers of the church and society we do not have to report 80 many changes as in the pas - tOr8te.
 Dea Beardsley died in 1949, and ] judge from the record that J hn Sher. , wood acted az deacon for some time.
 find that in 1851 the church passed votf , of thanks to John Sherwood AS actir2 l deacon in time past and requested him to continue to act as senior deacon. It was also voted to request Alva Gregory to , act as assistant deacon. Brother Flu } gene Bo sford and Brother B. Hawle, were chosen deacons September 5, 1868 , 30 years ago, and are still holding tnai 2ffice. Brother Daley was appointed 3 deacon August 6. 1887, and is sti.I w's9 ] us. But the vetesssT office En!d"- il, ahjs l church is Brother Wi::tsn} Lewis, for Al years. I think 36 f he fl years he wa [ 8 member of the sncieGy's committee ] Brother and Sister Lewis were amorg the l petitioners asking to be constituted 2 separate church, constituent members of
 this church. I think there are only three 3 others living. One, I think, has diec E since l became your pastor. If Brother 8 and Sister Lewis were only on the plat t form now we night give them the Chau . tsuqua salute. May they be spared P years, to be blessing to the church. g Dea Hawley w8s chosen clerk June 5 P 1869, and still holds the position, Ei Leavenworth clerk of the society, Feh [ ruary 23, 1s4S; then treaeurer 'rin 1866 . chosen clerk again lS69-1SS5; als1 3 church clerk for several years. E. M ? Botsford clerk ftom 1885-1S94. Brother l C. D. StillsOn was chosen sOciety's clerk - February 3, 1894. May he live to serve
 as long as Brother Lewis. I find alst , that Brother A. B. Curtis was chosen : 7 member of the society's committee, De cemboF 30, 1878, and that he has helC , the office ever since. Brother Curtis father was also active as member o1 B this committee and during his life wal B treasurer, and prominent in other matter| f pertaining to the welfare of the church { He was prime mover in securing th' present parsonage property
 3 Perhaps some would like to know how
 benevolent the church has been. | I would perhaps be interesting to know . how much has been giveL in this way f but can not tell you. l have had acces to nearly all of the minutes for 3 years all but two l think, three years TO be l; nevoleDce was reported. For the 1s , years the benevolence was about $500
 One or two other things to winch will call attention. The church in i5s
 early years did rot reach a state of per lection. find that committee of foul } brethren were appointed at one time tt : visit delinquent members. This is no , the only time when such steps were taken. It shows that while those wht , were unfaithful, there was also an effor , made on the part of the church to reme dy some of the evils that existed. Whef disease crept into the body it demanded 5 attention, and when necessary the cburct I was not afraid to do bit of spiritua 5 surgery. In other words they were not afraid to withdraw the hand of fellow , ship from those who persisted in an evi course. But let me call attention to g , vote that was taken which shows per. ; hapg something of the spirit in which : that part of the work was done. In con , nection with the aprointmeDt of the fou' brethren to visit delir quent members, II , was ssvoted that two weeks from to day
 the churcf meet eO hear the repGrS eJ
 said committee and the time be spent