Norwich bulletin., 1910-06-01
Especial to The Bulletin. }

dref or more guests and returning
citizens united with the toWnspeopie
and members of the church in fitting
l7- com nemoratins the 10Oth annIVer-
Eary of its foundation.
a. ne exercises opened at the church
at 10 O'Clock with a devotional Serv-
ice conducted by Rev Eugene M. Fra
~ of Bernardston. Mass, a former
pastor Of the Chaplin church. The
welcoming address by the local pas
Tor. Rev Granville Ieager, followed,
and there was an interesting histori-
cal address by Frank c. LumIniS of
Chaplin Music was furnished by
1Ielmo1d's orchestra of Willimantic.
Soprano solos were rendered by Miss
Iuez NJ. Litchfield a student of the
Damrosch institute of New York, who
Is Chaplin young lady. daughter of
Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew NJ Litchf1eld
\ bronze tablet to Benjamin Chap
lin, founder Of the church, was I'M
yelled at noon a reception was held
in honor of Miss Jerusha Crosby, the
Oldest resident OF the town. VINO IS
III her Tooth year and who was taken
To the church in her wheel chair as
she is Hnafle to walk.
Afternoon Session.
The afternoon programme compris-
Cd a poem written by Miss Josephine
n Robbins, the sehoolnnistress Of
rod Soule OF Hartford. and number
OF short addresses by visiting cler-
gymen from surrounding Congrega-
Iionai parishes
Inst before the unwilling OF the me-
mortal tablet there was an impressive
christening ceremony. Murlel Louise
Copeland being christened by the Rev.
7. d. Sargent of Putnam. She is the
child OF Mr.. and Mrs. Willis l. Cope
land Ct Chaplin and direct descend
ant OF Deacon Benjamin Chaplin. the
memorial tablet was unveiled by Katy
Ochendorf and Cene England
The fine bronze tablet is a memorial
10 Deacon Benjamin Chaplin, founder
Of the church, and is given 10 the
church by the founders descendants.
Dwight Track of New York in behalf
Of the dese enCants and was acceDred
for the church ~ Pew. Granville Yea
se-. the pastor. The inscription is as
1oliows-
Erected to the Memory of
BENJAMIN CHAPLIN
BY His Descendants
On the Centennial Anniversary of
This Church Which He Founded
1slO-lSlO-
Lord. I have loved the habitation of
Thy house Psalms. XVI: g.
Dinner Served.
An excellent dinner was served TO
tire large crowd present by a caterer
from NIllimaptic.
Church Organization.
May 81, 1910. Deacon Benjamin
Chaplin. who was q member Of the
church in South Mansfield, organized
the church. the deacon having offered
properly for the founding of a min
ister'al fund which should be used in
establishing a new church and sc"4-
ETY. and an ecclesiastical society was
incorporated in October, 1899. the
church being organized later at a
council held in the house Of Rev,
David Avery. whose wife was Benja-
min Chapltn's daughter.
Original Members.
There were fifteen original mem
beEs. eight males and seven females,
who came from the Mansfield First
church and the Mansfield church. A
meeting house (the present one) was
erected in 1914. and it was remodeled
3n 1922. 1894. 1857, and again in 1891
A steeple was added in 1884 and in
1887 a parsonage was built.
The Chaplin Ecclesiastical society
took Important nart in securing
she Incorporation of the township by
the general assembly in May, 1922. It
vas taken from the towns of Mans
field and Hampton. The boundaries
IF the ecclesiastical and school socie-
lies were made Identical with those of
The town, which was named in honor
81 Deacon Chaplin The town govern
s7ent was organized July 4. 1922. Eras-
fus Hovey was moderator, Dr. Orrin
Nitts- was chosen town clerk and
treasurer John Boss William Martin.
Crigen Bennett. Luther Ashley and
Nehemiah Holt were elected selectnlen
The Rev Jared Andrus was pastor of
he church when the town govern
h1ent was formed Darius knight was
elected deacon that year.
Early Pastors.
Rev David Avery acted as pastor of
the church for a time, but Rev. Jared
-Andrus was the first settled pastor.
Rev Mr. avery had been a cha plain
up the revolutionary war and had been
present at the surrender of Burgoyne
and the capture Of the Hessians at
Trenton. He was born in Franklin
april 5. 1T46. and was converted at
he age Of 20 under the preaching of
YVhitefe1d. the English evang elist. He
zrsd1z ted from Yale in 1899. He stud
Ted theology under the Rev. Eleazer
sFheeIock and was ordained as mis-
sioDary to the Oneida Indians August
s9, 17T1-
Chaplain in Revolutionary War.
He entered the revolutionary war as
, chaplain. DR. Avery died at Middle
DOWN, Va. February 16. 1918. Dr.'
George w Avery. surgeon in the gulf
Department during the civil war, who
Eied in Hartford in 1893, was q grand
Bon OF the first pastor in Chaplin.
The Rev Jared Andrus. the second
pastor. was born in Bolton, May, 1854.
lie became pastor at Cha pin Deem
Der p, 1920. and held the position I'M
81 May II 1880.
Rev. Lent s. Hough succeeded Pas
kor Andrus, assuming the duties of
HE passionate August II, 1881. and
su9osO IIlun TIoM aql VI SuEuuIluo0
her 20, 1896
The pestorate of the Rev. Erastus
Dickinson, which lasted from October,
1857. until January. 1S49. was char
scterized Eoy the largest revival in the
history of the Chaplin church-in 1910
when SO members We're added.
The Rev Merrick Knight, the sue
CesSor of Mr.. Dickinson. began his
work in Chaplin in May 1850, and re-
manned pastor until December, 1852.
The Rev. John Robinson Freeman
was pastor of the church from April,
1853. until May 1855
The Rev. Joseph Willes Backus be-
came pastor of the church in January
1854, and retained the pastora tie until
December. 1857 He was a graduate
of Yale, class of 1916 He was man
of marked ability and his pulpit min
1strations were of q high order.
Rev. Francis Williams entered upon
2 long pastorate in the church at
Chaplin, February "a. 1868, and re-
manned at the head of the church UNI
til May 2. 1892. Mr.. Williams was a