The Newtown bee., 1905-08-25
HON d. N. MOK0AN'S ADDRESS
AT THE HUNTINGTON CELEBRATION.

AT THE HUNTINGTON CELEBRATION.
The early history of St Paul's par
ish of Huntington, 1740-l9O5, is 50 in
terwoven with that Of the parish of
Christ's church in Stratford, that it
seems necessary to refer to the latter,
which was the first Episcopal church
in Connecticut, erected in 1928, al
though our form Of service had been
rendered as early as 17O6 in that town
Daniel Shelton came from England
to Ripton, now Huntington, about
1857, was married in Stratford in 1892
He was vestryman in that venerable
parish, which is among the Oldest in
the country.
In petition to the Bishop of Lon
don, April l, 1907, among the first ef-
forts of the Episcopal people to secure
a minister. Daniel Shelton was a
prominent signer. In a letter from
the wardens and vestry of the veneer
able society in 17l2, Daniel Shelton of
Ripton was signer. In 1924 Daniel
Shelton made an effort to establish
services. Wardens and vestrymen
were chosen for Christ's Church Par
ish which included Stratford, Fair
field, Newtown and Ripton, wardens
for the latter place were Daniel Shell
ton and Charles Lane: vestrymen,
James Wakelee, Richard Blacklatch
and Nathaniel Cogswell.
At a much earlier date there were
those in Stratford, brought up in the
Church of England, who did not in
cline to follow all the forms Of the
church, as with Rev Adam Brakeman,
who was deposed in 1866. They OBJ
jected to the cap and surplice, the
ring in marriage, the cross in baptism,
the rite of confirmation and the kneel-
ing at the Lord s Supper.
Rev George Munson went to STRAIT
ford in the summer Of 17O6 and about
"a were baptized. The parish was Or
gained in 1923 and that year the first
Episcopal church in the state was
built there. In that same year Rev
Samuel johnson went there as a mis-
sionary. His field of labor included,
besides Stratford, Fairfield, Norwalk,
Newtown, Ripton, West Haven, New
Haven, New London and sometimes
Rhode Island.
THE FIRST ORGAN USED IN A CHURCH
in this state was in ChriSt's church,
Stratford, in 1850.
Rev Samuel Johnson, D. D., was dis
tinguished in the early history of the
church in Connecticut and one among
other rectors Of the parish of Christ s
church who officiated in St Paul's
church. The inscription on his monu-
ment in the Episcopal burying-ground
at Stratford may be tittingly appro-
pirate to be read here:
"M. S. Samuelis johnson, D. D.
Natus die 18th Oct. 1696-obit. 9th
Jan. 1772.
If decentdignity and honest mien,
The cheerful heart and countenance
serene;
If pure religion and unsullied truth,
His ages solace and his search in
youth;
If piety in all the paths he trod,
Still rising vigorous to his Lord and
God:
If charity through all the race he ran
Still willing we'll and doing good tC
man;
If learning, free from pedantry and
pride;
If faith and virtue walking side by
side;
If we'll to mark his beings aim and
end.
To shine this life a husband, father
friend,
If these ambitions in thy soul can
raise,
Excite thy reverence or demand thy
praise;
Reader, ere yet than quit this earthly
scene,
Revere his name and be what he has
been.
Myles Cooper"
On Easter Monday, 1739, church war
dens were chosen for the parish of ST
Paul's at Ripton: Joseph Shelton and
John Beardsley. The first church was
erected in 174O and the parish became
an independent one when it was set of
from Christ's church at Stratford, ir
the year 1749. This parish was the
fourteenth founded and the church
was the fourteenth erected in Connec
ticut.
REV CHRISTOPHER NEWTON WAS THE
FIRST RECTOR
of the twenuy-six ministers and rec
tors the parish has had prior to the
present incumbent, Rev H. L. Ever
est.
Mr. Newton went to England fol
holy orders of the Episcopal church
and was ordained by the Bishop OF
Bangor, at the chapel Of Spring Gar
den, Westminster, by order of Thorn
as, Lord Bishop of London. He was
admitted to the holy order of deacons
on the 25th day of July, 1855, being St