The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-05-12
endeavors and abundant success for the
future days.-TOtis W. Barker.

and aDun0anJ success Tor Cne
future dsys.-[Otis w. Barker.
The foil >wing fs from the historical
discourse of Rev N. T. Merwin delivered |
on November IS, 1880:
The irst meeting house was situated |
at the foot OF White Plains street, near
the old burying ground-about mile |
and half from the present church. 1t
was very unpretending structure, as to
sizs and finish. The people worshipped
in it but q short time.
The second meeting house stood upon
the site of the present one,-except that
it stood further front, and more in the
road. It was q square building, having
doors to enter upon three sides. Double
doors were upon the south-single doors
upon the east and west. All these opened
directly into the main audience room.
Upon the east eide of the church and
midway was a steeple built upon the out
side. Through this the people walked.
as tn ough porch, as they came in the
house Of God. Directly in front OF the
pulpit, and against it, was a seat for the
deacons to occupy upon the Communion
Sabbath. At their left was table lid,
attached by hinge to the pulpit, and
lifted up and down; when raised it was
held up by a rod. Upon this were placed
the bread and the wine. Over the pulpit
was a sounding board. The seats in the
church were like large square pens
with benches on the inside-leaving
large amount of central space unoccu-
pied. The galleries were so wide as to
building, leaving not very wide Open
| ing from the lower floor to the ceiling.
In the galleries was row OF pews all
around, and two long seats still in front
of these, looking over the edge of the
gallery. There was no stove in the
building. Women used foot stoves.
Down by the lower horse shed was a
Sabbath Day house, small building
with two apartments, where men and
women could 60 at noon, each class by
| themselves, and make q fire Of wood in
fire place and eat their lunch, and con-
veese until the afternoon service. In
the corners Of this old church were high
seats for negroes. some OF them slaves.
The steeple to it had been built but g
few wears, before the church was pulled
down. A bell was bought with money
raised by subscription, and is that now
used. We have said the second meeting
house sto I'd further front than the pres
emit one. IL projected so tar south that
people turned aside to adrive past it.
Hence have occurred some novel Incl
dents. Deacon A. l.. Winton, when
boy, was sent to the mill with grist !;
comirg down the hill, a strap broke, and
the horse ran away, and into the church !;
the shaft penetrated the siding, and held
the animal fast, while the boy was
thrown upon the ground. Some men
ran to help him, when Andrew began to
cry, and said at was too bad, and real
mean to put church out in the middle
of the road, and at the foot Of hill,
tool" We may add here, that horse of
Dr Sheldon Beardsley once took fright,
and ran down the hill, and was reined
into the church to- stop him i: the horse
struck the building, and fell dead, while
the doctor escaped A warning, the
preacher says, TO all who butt against
this Church. B etter take the example
of Deacon Stephen Beardslee's nag, who
running IF one Sunday, with empty wag-
on, came down the hill, and turned right
up to his post, and stood there quietly
through the service.
Some people have Infatuated that the
old church was mean looking. A stran.
ger was going by one Sunday on some
visit Of business, or pleasure; when one
of our good people arrested him, and
told him it was against the Law to tr avel
on Sunday. Every one must go to
church. 'aWhere is your church," said
be. Our brother, pointing to this build
ing at the foot OF the hill, replied,
"That is the church," ''What, that old
concern church! I thought it was a
barn." However, he was compelled to
stop, and attend church next Sunday.
In Colonial days all persons were by law
required to go to meeting on Sundays,
Thanksgiving. and Fast days, or must
pay fine of three shillings every time
they were absent. sometimes wish we
had law like that now.
| But that church did not look like an
old barn; for our fathers here In this
parish, back as far as 1773, manifested a
taste for the beautiful. AT Parish
meeting, then, it was !. Voted to repair
the meeting house and collier the outside
and finish the inside OF said meeting
house, 80 that IL they did 'scoller', the
outside, il would not look like q barn.
In 1929, committee was appointed and
ordered, ITO paint the steeple with che
meeting house, at the expense OF the So.
Iciety.n Il was kept In good state Of
! repair. In the year 1900, Lewis Blu ton,
| stephen Beardslee, and Ebenezer Wheel