Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-02-19
Miss Larneds Missionary Papers
The First Missionary Sent Out from Windham County
A thompson Minister'S Devotion to Foreign Missions
The Rev. Mr.. Potter's Work Among the Cherokees
The Story of Catherine Brown.

CWritten Specially for The Bulletin)
The first missionary sent out from
Windham county of whom we have
knowledge was Willard Hubbard of
Pomfret, son of Benjamin and Re
becca Hubbard. He found his field
of labor among the Mohegan Indians
in the vicinity OF Norwich and New
London. aiding the residents in their
persistent efforts to Christianize and
elevate their aboriginal neighbors. He
was allowed a small salary by the
English missionary society, supple
mented by the labor of his own hands.
From 1854 to 1774 he labored faith
fully in this field. teaching the chill
dren and carrying forward public
worship until the approaching revo-
lutionary struggle compelled relin-
quishment. 1
Pomfret gave also our second Wind
ham county missionary Thomas Will
liams, known in later generations as
the venerable Father Williams" I'm
der the auspices OF the Connecticut
missionary society, formed in 1898,
many of our ministers were encour-
aged to leave their own focks for
short tours Of service among the new
countries, but this Jealous young
minister was ordained in South Kill
ingly meeting house in 1904 with spe-
cial reference ito laboring in the work
of the Gospel ministry as a mission
airy in the new settlements of the
United States of America" DR.. Abel
Flint. secretary of the missionary So
ciety, opened the service, which was
carried through with great solemnity
by DR.. Benedict of Plain1eld and the
most noted ministers of the county.
Mr.. Williams spent some years in this
work, planting and strengthening
churches in the state of New York.
but his life work was mainly in New
England in what might be called home
missionary service. He supplied many
churches, serving In short pastorates.
His longest term of service was In the
vicinity Of Providence where as evan
gelist he reports Held no less than
1900 preaching services from 1910 to
1858" His preaching was extremely
practical and pungent its efficiency
heightened by his admitted eccentric
tiles. His knowledge and use of Scrip
ture were very remarkable. Father
William died at the home of his son
in Providence at an advanced age.
Many printed sermons still bear wit
ness to his remarkable ability and
adrOitness.
The formation Of the American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions in 1910 awakened much in
terest in this section. Reports of the
calling and ordaining the young mis-
sionaries. their departure from Salem
and subsequent proceedings were most
eagerly received and discussed in ev-
cry church circle-greatly quickening
interest in evangelical and mission
work at home. One Of the first mis-
sionary organizations in Windham
county was that of Christian women
in Kilingly and Thompson, who. on
July 10, 1916. held a meeting in South
T~s7 rt,n ], -. DIT
sulting in the formation of THE united
Female Tract society of Thompson
and Killingly, with the design Of pro-
noting the interests of evangelical
piety by the distribution of tracts,
and rendering all the assistance in our
power to other religious institutions"
At its annual meeting the society re-
ported a membership of one hundred
and twenty three, and distribution Of
about four thousand tracts. This
United society was superseded by BIZ
BILE and Tract societies in the several
towns, raising contributions for home
and foreign fields. In 1925 Windham
county Congregational church mem
bers were organized as "Gentlemen's
and Ladies' associations, auxiliary to
the American Board Of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions"
This missionary enthusiasm was &C
companied by very great and gen
eral revival Of religious interest
bringing into the churches many earn
est and consecrated young men and
women ready TO devote their lives to
any form Of mission service. The
Baptist denominations were now tax
ing an active part in the great work
That wonderful Providence by which
Judson and Rice had been led to con-
slider and adopt Baptist principles
while on their way to the mission field
had led to the formation OF the Bap-
fist Missionary union, and an immedi-
ate assumption Of UNCONVENTIONAL re-
sponsibility in the worlds conversion.
But while many joyfully welcomed the
summons others held back. It was
so new so startling. This far-off India
and Burmah were so unknown, so
inaccessible. How could plain coun-
try people know that their hard
earned money would ever reach its
place of destination. or be rightfully
expended? There was even talk of
forming a society for the suppression
Of missions"
But there was a good Baptist minis
ter up here in Thompson who was
troubled with no such scruples. He
had read of the labors of Carey and
Marshman and believed in the divine
command to preach the gospel to every
1 creature and he believed that these
young missionaries had a divine call
ing. This old Elder Grow lived on the
stoney ministerial farm with only a
small salary, but he laid up fifty dol
/ lars, sent directly to Judson, with the
request that he would personally ac-
knowledge its reception that so his
people might be sure that money given
| by them would be devoted to mission
airy purposes. It brought back a most
characteristic response from this hon