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

we'll remember those old riven oak shin
giles three feet long, covering the sides of
the house where we met for worship
more than sixty years after they had !
first been put on. Capt EbeneZer HickOk
gave to the Society the land fer burying
ground, and the site for meeting house. /
On the goth of August, 1860, it was
''VOted, universally in the affirmative,
that the Society proceed to call the VOL
thy MIR Noah WetmOre, to the work of
the Gospel Ministry in this Society" On
the 18TH Of October, Mr. Wetmore formal
ly accepted the call, and the time for his
ordination was fixed to Wednesday,, the
10Th of November; but as the Governors
subsequent appointment Of Thanksgiv-
ing iNterfered, the day was afterward
changed to the 25th.
The old council of one hundred years
ago which convened for the ordination of
the first minister In this place, was con-
stituted of the following members
Rev Elisha Kent and John Ryder,
Phillippi, now South East; Rev Ebene-
ger White, Danbury; Rev David Judson
and Richard FairmsD, Newtown; Rev
James Beebe, North StratfOrd; Rev EZ.
rahiah Wetmore and Dea Elnathan
Wheeler, Stratford; Rev Elijah Sill, New
Fairfield North, now Sherman; Rev Ma
thaniel Bartlett, Reading; Robert Ross,
SCratfield, now Bridgeport; Rev James
Taylor and Dea Samuel Trowbridge,
New Fairfield South; Rev Thomas
Brooks and Dea Joseph Smith, Newbury,
now BrooktieId; Rev -Elnathan Gregory
and Dea Elizur Hamlin, West Phillippi,
now Carmel.
Mr. White preached the sermon; Mr.
Kent made the ordaining prayer; Mr
Judson gave the pastoral charge; and
Mr. Sill the right hand of fellowship.
A form of confession Of faith and COW
enaut was drawn up and read by Mr. Jud
son, and the following persons, who bad
been recommended by Mr. White from
the First church in DanburY, were en-
bodied into a distinct Church of Christ
In full communion, viz
John Benedict and his wife, Rachel
Benedict.
Ebenezer Hiclok and his wife, Esther
Hickok.
Philip Judd and his wife, Lydia Judd.
Nathan Taylor.
Solomon Ferry and his wife, Mrs Ferry.
Theophilus Taylor and his wife, Sarah
TAYLOR.
Benjamin Judd and his wife, Sarah
Judd.
Nathaniel Benedict and his wife, Har-
nah Benedict.
Abraham Benedict and his wife, Anah
Benedict.
James Crofut and his wife, Lydia Gro
fut
Ephrahim Barnum and his wife, Ruth
Barnum.
Lemuel Beebe.
John Dibble and his wife, Sarah DibOle.
Ebenezer Platt and his wife, Marsb
Platt.
Benjamin Benedict and his wife, Abb
gail Benedict.
Benjamin Judd, Jr.
Simeon Rockwell and his wife, Mrs
Rockwell.
Nathan Taylor and his wife, Mary
Taylor.
Jabez Taylor and his wife, Hannah
Taylor.
Samuel Judd and his wife, Hannah
Judd.
Samuel Hoyt and his wife, Jerusha
Hoyt.
Matthew Taylor.
Munson.
John Benedict and his wife, Lydia
Benedict.
Noah Rockwell and his wife, Mary
Rockwell.
Stephen Trowbridge and his wife, Ly-
dia Trowbridge.
Isaac Hoyt and his wife, Sarah Hoyt.
Benjamin Taylor.
Phineas Judd and his wife, Deborah
Judd.
Joseph Ferry and his wife, Rachel
Ferry.
Nathaniel Hoyt and his wife, Ruth
Hoyt.
Jonathan Beebe.
Samuel Benedict and his wife, Mrs
Benedict.
Ellphalet Peck and his wife, Rebecca
Peck.
Jesse Peck.
Joseph Beebe and bis wife, Mrs Beebe.
Hezekiah Benedict.
Widow Sarah Benedict.
Sarah Judd.
Mrs Hannah Seelye.
Sarah Brush.
Mrs LYDIA Bailey.
In all, II members.
At regular church meeting, Decem-
Der 23d, 1850, it was ''VOted, that this
church will conform to the practice of
the First church In Danbary with respect
to persons renewing their baptismal COW
enant, and SO have the privilege of giving
their children in baptism" Also, "Vot.
ed, that the examination Of persons In
order to admission to full communion
shall be left with the pastCr.D This in.
PRODUCED the practice of the halfway
covenant into this church &C it's COM
mencement, and which continued for
many years. Its introduction and spread
in the churches was induced by peculiar
circumstances The first Puritan settlers
OF the country designed to establish 8
strictly religious commonwealth, and
they admitted to the rights of citizenship
only such as were also members of the
Christian church. In process of time
this principle was found to be excluding
their own baptized children from citizen
ship, who were not ready TO make fall
profession Of religion. Instead of re-
nnnncina khe nrniecL Of q akrIchlY relI-