The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-03


 and Mrs. Huntington proved capable, judicious and efficient helpmate in all his undertakings.
 The mission which preceded St. Johns church was the child of St. Paul's and was nursed and fed through its infancy by that parish; it continued to receive nourishment from time to time from the mother church, through all the early years of it's childhood. By taking on the organization of a separate and dis tinct parish it was hoped that it would afford a stimulus that would promote healthy and vigorous growth. The promise of such result was good. Un- der the skillful direction of MT. Hun tington the congregation grew in num- bers faster than at any other time in it's history.
 Perhaps it was growing too fast. Psychologists tell us that too rapid growth in youth is not always indica-
 tive of vigor and health.
 MT. Huntington's genial disposition and happy temperament carried sum-
 shine and gladness into every household he visited If his acquaintances could have been enumerated and his friends counted it would have been found that the totals were the same. He made friends everywhere, and the little church was rapidly filled. Before two years of his ministry had expired We felt justified in enlarging the building. Probably. we were imprudent, as it would incur a debt which might be bur densome.
 1 tf1 tba f1ffTITa
 Our capital was energy, resolution and faith. There was not a rich man in the congregation. Every man in the parish
 was earning his daily bread and every
 woman was helping him. MT. Hunting
 ton was enthusiastic and inspired us with courage. His lieutenants were nu-
 merous. If I mention names l shall
 only regret it, because must omit oth-
 CTS equally meritorious and active.
 We struggled on tremendously, hope
 fully and with confidence. We were
 still receiving some pecuniary aid from
 St. Fouls, but MT. Littlejohn had gone.
 A new rector was in charge and the
 step-father was not as loving and help full as the real father. The money came reluctantly and more scantily.
 Then our rector showed symptoms of
 overwork and finally because of failing
 health resigned. Through the winter of , '61 and '62 and the following summer we
 were without a rector and the Rev.
 Henry DeKoven acted as minister-in-
 charge, having declined pressing and
 urgent call to the rectorship.
 In the autumn of 1862 the Rev. Dr.
 Benj. w. Stone accepted the office. He
 was a man we'll advanced in middle life
 and of experience in several previous
 parishes. His advent gave us new hope and encouragement. But he had en- tered upon his office under very adverse circumstances. The growth of the par [ ish had ceased. The debt had not been f reduced. The war of the rebellion was . in progress. Times were hard. If the , cushions Of our pews had been stuffed . with cotton we could have discharged
 the debt at once and have had a bal . ance to our credit enough to have made
 the plank protectors of hair cushions
 as many another poor parish had done , Unfortunately ours were not cotton |, The attention of the people was on the events Of the war. The times were
 hard Money was scarce. A gold dol
 lar was worth more than two of paper money. Our debt was a discouragins , burden. More than once we had resort F ed to the unchurchly methods of fairs
 and feasts. We had spent weeks in toi and worry to prepare for them. We , had begged and besought each other . and all our friends, to buy things they q l did not want at exorbitant prices, tt r eat things that were not good for then
 at unreasonable hours, We had raf- f1es and grab bags. There had been , several disquieting differences of opin f ion about trif1es, and finally we had re- lieved our anxiety by an auction an6
 had the qualification of knowing that , we had not lost any money in the ven , ture, but to the surprise of many hat , made a few dollars The mountain hac l brought forth a mouse. The indebted P ness was never materially diminished : by those efforts.
 2 Dr. Stone was scholarly man, an eX' ] cellent preacher and much beloved bI = his people He resigned in the spring o1 s 1866.
 . Dr. Stone was succeeded by the Rev - Richard Whittingham. It may be men r toned, as a peculiar incident observed e in the experience of few other par
 ishes, that when an invitation was giv' l en him to become our rector. not { S member of the parish had ever heard l him preach or even seen him. He wa: Q called to St. Johns with the consent O - the bishop solely on the reputation = which he had made as successful
 parish minister. Our experience woule
 fully justify that method of choosing { . rector rather than by the trial system I But this is a delicate subject and I vii 3 not venture to pursue it further. = I cannot refrain from one or two re B marks on the personality of the Rev
 MT. Whittingham. Like the president n of Yale university, he was more distin n guished for personal beauty than any 0 I his predecessors. As he strode througl n the streets of New Haven he was con- l spicuous figure. He had strongl! q marked features. He was tall, spar 5 and erect, and in every action i'm = pressed one with an idea of energy, ac e tivity and force of character.
 In entering upon his duties it was a }, once apparent that he had his owl y ideas of the official functions and pow = CTS of rector, and of his relations t' - the vestry, and to the people of hi = charge. He took an early opportunit. s.I. l.