The Newtown bee., 1908-02-07
The NeWtoWn Bee.
 Newtown, Friday, February [, 1908
LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
 New Milford.
REV GEORGE II. JOHNSON -.s CALLED.

CALLED. At a meeting of the parish of the First Congregational church, of New Milford, Tuesday night, the previous action of the church was unanimously ratified, calling Rev George II. Johnson of the First church, Congregational, of Swampscott, to become it's pastor at a salary of S2l50. The church in New Milford which calls Mir Johnson is the strongest in numbers and resources in western Connecticut, having mem- bership of between 45O and 800 mem- bers. It has its own pastor in the foreign field, Rev Joseph E. Walker, Shao-wu, China. The church was founded nearly 200 years ago and is rich in history and tradition, and has been served during its long career by only 10 ministers. The ministry has been unusually eminent, such men as Noah Porter, D. D., afterward president of Yale University, and Nathaniel Taylor, D. D., long professor of theology at Yale, and one of the greatest theolo- gians America ever produced, having served the church. One of its deacons was Roger Sherman, who signed the Declaration of Independence and whose hand and mind, it is said, shaped every law enacted by the early Congresses.
 MT Johnson has been waited upon by deputation sent from joint meeting of the committee of the church and parish of the Swampscott church, every member of which was present, and re- auested to decline all overtures from the church in the neighboring State, and promising him their continued hearty support and an adequate and substantial increase in salary. Mir Johnson is undecided as to what action he will take in regard to the call, which was entire 1 ly unsought on his part. The church in Swampcotts has been brought. under the present pastorate to be one of the most attractive fields in this section of the State, with Sunday morning au- diences filling the auditorium. Nearly 90 members have been admitted to church membership during the last three and one-half years which Mir John son has served the church, and all de- partments of the church are in flour ishing condition. The recent bequest of Lucy E. Rowe of property valued at s15, 900 will increase the efficiency of the church in every way. Taken to- gether the Swampscott church presents a field of exceptional attractiveness to any minister. . ..-
 As stated above MT Johnson has not decided. nor will he for some days to come, when the decision will come from the pulpit. In the meantime united church and parish await his words, anx- iously hoping that the tie that binds may not at this time be broken. It is a matter of deep concern with the Congre- gational parish, and in the event of his going the town will be the poorer through the stepping out of a manly man. MT Johnson and his most esti- mable wife have endeared themselves to all, and the thought of parting at thls time casts something of a cloud upon the parish, which can only be lifted by him. self in a refusal. Mir Johnson is a young man, ambitious and energetic, and while the church folk are not selfish to the point of checking natural prog. ress, still there would be much satis, faction if he were to remain. If, how ever, he should decide to go, he will [. surely take with him the regard anc
 esteem of the entire church and parish
 of the First Congregational Church
 Miss Harriet Robinson is visiting
 at her uncle's, John B. Robinson. Mrs Eva Watson has returned iron
 her long stay at H. O. Averill's, wher'
 she has been for many weeks Tn thu
 capacity of nurse through MT Averill''
 long illness with typhoid fever.
 I Mrs Jones is spending sometime Il l New York.
 - MT and Mrs Hudock were called tt
 Southville to assist in the care Of MT ], Hudock's father, who is sick.
 V Mrs Fred Squires is visiting relative