The Newtown bee., 1898-08-12

| HI DSualL oI Gslo pATIS0s"
 The new house of worship was much admired in it's day, on account of it's fair proportions and it's tall and elegant steeple, the belfry of the church con- manding an extensive view of the Long leland Sound and shore. One historian, MT Barber, declares that no other spot in Connecticut can show such com manding, extensive and beautiful pros- pect." In his day, from the belfry of Dr Dwight church could be seen seven teen churches, five lighthouses, and East Rock, near New Haven. In that meet ing house the people of Greenfield wor- shipped for the long period of .S2 years. At length, like all other material things, 1t grew old, and 8 new meeting house was demanded for the worship of Jeho- yah. Soon after the settlement of Rev MT Sturges as pastor, the subject of building new house of worship was talked about and agitated by the people of Greenfield. But how could 1t be done when all the pews in the old house were held by deeds derived from their fathers ? 1t was difficult thing to get the consent Of even ma lority of the pew owners to give them up, as step preparatory and necessary to the pulling down of the old meeting house. Still, after much labor on the part of the pastor, Rev MT Sur. ges, Governor Tomlinson and others, the consent of majority of the pew l holders was obtained to pull down the 1 old and build 8 new meeting house, The committee of the society, then con- sisting of Deacon John Banks, Deacon William B. Morehouse and Samuel Betts took the responsibility of pulling down the old church. Having done the work of taking it down. new house of wor- ship must be built. Governor Gideon TomlinsOn, Dr Rufus Blakeman, Dea William B. Warehouse, Dea John Banks and Horace Banks were appointed a committee to superintend the building of the new meeting house.
 | While all the members of the church and society contributed generously and worked nobly to secure the new Gothic meeting house, special mention should be made of Dea John Banks and Dea William B. Morehouse, who were most active in the laborious work of build ing that most beautiful house of wor- Ship, which was much admired, until five years after it's erection the house was entirely consumed by fire, Sunday night, November II, 1853.
 Those persons who had built the Gothic church at great expense, toll and sacrifice, could not help exclaiming, as they saw It in ruins;
 "Our holy and beautiful house, where our fathers worshipped, is burned with fire, and all our pleasant things are laid waste." Some of those who did much towards defraying the expense of build. that house of the Lord, Including seve ral persons of the Bronson family and o1 the Murray family, have passed onward to their heavenly reward. Soon after the burning of the Gothic church Capt Abram D. Baldwin opened his large house and invited the people of Green field to meet there for the winter to wor Sulp the LOru Gn6lr GOQs
 Though for time the people were somewhat discouraged and cast down or account of their loss, yet they were mol destroyed. Under the leadership o1 their pastor, Rev MT Sturges, aided by his office bearers, Dea William B. More house, Dea John Banks and many others he said unto the people, "Come, let us arise and build" So they strengthened each others hands for the good work As $4, ,000 insurance money was obtained on the burnt building, and $2, 300 haC been subscribed by members of tht church and society, they engaged witl new energy and zeal in the work o building the house of the Lord. In tn, following month of March, 1854, the society voted to build new church ant none but those who engaged heartily il the work of building this sanctuary
 where we are now assembled, can tel what an amount of labor, time and Urea u-e it cost. But those who did th'
 work and contributed the money kno1
 what it cost them. May this house lon remain as lasting monument to thei
 memory.
 In August, 1757, the Society voted send for Rev Mir Burritt, of New Fail field. to come here and preach as a pro r bationer. The following year, May 3(
 I757, put to vote ''Whether the Societ is willing that Jonathan Elmer shall b recommended to the association for the , advice; whether they think proper t recommend Rev Mir Elmer to the societ to preach the Gospel among us, as , probationer." It was voted in the aff :, native by majority of 71 to 9. W , suppose the association did not approy
 of their sending for him, for at subs' quent meeting of the society, Septembt
 2, 1757, it was put to vote ''Whether tk Society is willing and desirous to hay z MT Pomeroy to preach with us as pr = bationer, in order to his settlement in tt ; ministry, and it was voted unanimousi < in the affirmative by v persons.'
 The committee of the society, cOnsis ing of John Gilbert, Joseph Bradley al IDaniel Sherwood, extended the call :. MT Pomeroy, and he gave an affirm
 tive answer, and December 8, 1757, w s ordained pastor. The committee of 8
 engagements for his ordination were Ca Moses Diamond, Capt Daniel Bradle ir John Gilbert, Joseph Bradley, Jr., a ,4 Daniel Sherwood. The services of t ~ " ordination were: Introductory pray = by Rev Samuel Sherwood, sermon '. Rev Noah Wells, ordaining prayer , Rev Moses Dickinson, charge to the pi =. tor by Rev Noah Hobart, right hand