Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-01
wEsTM1NsTBR WEST.
tn. Field Family.

Aho EAeiu HHhhI'
In a short article in last weeks Phoenix
respecting the Field family there is a slight
error in regard to the relationship of Rev.
Timothy Field TO the more celebrated
members of the family. He was not the
brother of Cyrus W. or Judge Stephen j.
Field, but their uncle. Probably the
writer of that article drew his information
from the Windham County Gazetteer,
which so afiirms. 1t is not safe to place
reliance upon that publication, for its
errors are very numerous. In the copy in
possession of your correspondent, Ia correc-
tions are to be found In the compass of a
small part of the space devoted TO the west
parish of Westminster, made by person
now deceased, who was familiar with its
history. The error noted above Is one of
them. Timothy Field was an elder brother
of Rev. DIR. David Dudley Field, who was
long minister at Stockbridge, Mass, and
was the father of the celebrated Fields.
David ID. graduated at Yale in 1904. Tim
othy had been several years In the ministry
at Onondaigua, N. Y, at that time. He
came to what was then known as the sec
ond church in Westminster in the fall of
1906 and was installed as pastor Jan. 81,
1907. The church there had been only
seven years in existence and the number of
its members was small, not much exceed
ing so. But the population of the parish
was large and as nearly all attended church
in those days, the congregation was doubt
less larger than can be found today at any
church in the county. A list of pew hold
ers is In evidence now, containing 100
names. As families were larger, 1t is be-
lieved that audiences of four or five hun
bred were often present.
Mr.. Field was not great orator, but he
was regarded as faithful and acceptable
preacher. His sermons were considered
short, as they were for those days, plain,
often spicy, and usually with much of the
thought and the language Of the Bible in
them. Apparently he was not as talented
as his brother, though the fact that he was
content TO settle here is not an evidence of
it. Few parishes were then more desirable
than this. Probably he considered it bet
ter than Onondaigua which was then in
the western wilderness, and very likely
equally as good as Stockbridge. Mr. Field
secured the affection and good will of his
people and his work among them was
greatly blessed for % years. Remarkable
revivals occurred on four occasions, by
which 225 persons were brought into the
church upon confession, 90 joining at one
time in 1924. Directly after that this
church was presumably the largest in the
county and one of the largest in New Eng
land.
During his ministry and under his
direction the Sunday school was started
and grew strong; a missionary society was
organized, such as is not found in other
churches in the vicinity, and has been con-
tinued to the present time; and temper
ance movement was entered upon, but not
upon total abstinence platform, which II
is understood the ministers and some of
the leading men in the place did not favor.
At least three printed sermons of Mr..
Fields are In existence, two of them were
preached forenoon and afternoon OF Nov.
Z, 1924, the day of the great reception Of
members, and the other at the dedication
Of the new church, Nov II, 1929, which
replaced the former building, burned just
ten months before.
After retiring from the ministry on the
first of January, 1865, Mr.. Field continued
to reside in his large mansion south of the
church. His mental powers and his last
days were clouded. he died Feb. II, 1S45,
at the age of 20, and his remains rest in
the cemetery hard by the church which
standslupon the ancient lot. With the open
windows Of summer, the preachers voice
can easily be heard where they lie.
Miss Ruth Hitchcock met with fall
last week by which she was considerably
injured.
Miss Nellie G. Cutting is TO continue
her school in Hamilton, Mass. She ex-
poets to spend short Christmas vacation
at home.
Miss Bertha Miller has returned from
Maiden, where she has been kept for sew
eral weeks by illness from diphtheria,
which has been somewhat prevalent there.
Miss Laura Stevens is no better. The
services of nurse, Miss Rideout of West
minister, have been obtained Mrs j. b.
Gorham of Putney was with her for a few
days last week, but was unable to stay
longer.