Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-06-14

was spiritual prosperity. This IS
| the basis of every church. The early
history of thes church was coincident
with that of the town. A new church
and new town were formed at the
same time and a meeting house built
as proof of this relationship For two
hundred years there was a sanctuary
in the midst of every community
which was the center of its prosperity
and to these old meeting houses scat
tered over the country. is due the
prosperity of Connecticut. The pros
porous church IS one of faith-wealth,
numbers, popularity do not count.
That was g remarkable century of dis
cipline for the nations of northern and
western Europe. after 1892, which
trained them in faith and conscience.
Faith drove the Pilgrims to these
shores. Faith gave power to- Abraham
Lincoln. Faith animated the church
on Canterbury hill. Faith is intansi-
Bile and hard to define, but it is real
and lasting. 1t was the essence of the
early church. it is the sum and sub
stance of missions yesterday and to-
day 1t sent missionaries to Britain
in Roman days and siehtseers 10 Bos-
ton i'll thousands lately. Faith is that
which links man to the infinite and
makes him part of His plan. 1t gives
the right perspective r. which to see
things CLEARLY and plainly. 1t gives
to human organizations a share in di-
vine power
Faith IS not so easy to gain now as
formerly. The big things of TO-DAY
make appeal to material things, ana
faith is not quoted on the stock mar
ket.. But it can be found If ore makes
the effort. md whether the faith of
your church is above CT below par
rests with YOU. what you are willing
TO sacrifice for it.
Canterbury Separate Church.
How frm a foundation. wss then
:, .-,.I-
read a carefully prepared paper on
The Canterbury Separate Church. She
pictured the early settlers, strong,
sturdy. industrious men with whom
the church was first. last and al
ways E9r which tl1ey We're all taxed
ard oil made TO attend. The town
meetings were then general courts
and those men had civil power who
best know low to use 1t in a Chris
fian WAY But as all were taxed. non
church members wanted the right of
voting and new party arose. This
reSs!lted in the halfway covenant and
the eontrove -sy over the Cambridge
and the Saybrook platforms Alas,
the church lost lis liberty and purity.
Then arose the schisms which divided
the churehes and were tbs beginning
of the separatist churches A large
number left the Canterbury church
and formed new society with a
building on the hill west of the green.
In 1889 they built the Red meeting
house in North society which was TAX
We're added after 1904 and it eventual
ly returned to the original church.
This widespread movement had one
good result, in that il put more spir-
1tuaHty into the life OF the church.
Professor Brown Heard.
Prof. H e. Brown of the normal
school in Worcester. Mass. gave pleas
and early recoIlections of his home il
Canterbury He also reviewed the ed
vocational history of the town from the
first record of a school in IT'S. the
first school building in 1880, the min
listers schools and other private
schools, and the many college gradu-
ates and college presidents on Can
terbury's roll of honor.
Lawyers From the Town.
Attorney I. E. Babcock of Norwich
spoke of four well-known lawyers of
the town. Gen. Moses cleveland, An
drew T. Judson, Abraham Paine and
Hon. Daniel w. Bond. Greetings Of
former pastors and those of neighbor-
ing churches followed Ret C. o.
Parker of Berlin. Mass. praised the
sincerity, faith in God and Sloya1ty of
his Canterbury parishioners who were
dearest to him Of al and whom he
rejoices to find still walking in the
II I'LL tILSl THESE Hie-i1S
Greetings and Regrets.
Letters of greeting and regret were
read by Mrs Hadiy from Rev. C. c.
Lyon of Hadlyme. Dr. Pearl Williams
of Providence. Frank D. Sanger of
Baltimore. Hon. George P. MacLean
and the oldest Congregational church,
Barnstable, Mass. = message from
Rev A. T. Poland of Westchester
was read by Mrs. Roland, and other
greetings Were given by Rev. j. w.
Higgins of Packerville and Rev. G.. z.
Smith of Canterbury Plain. A poem.
The First Congregational Church of
Canterbury by Rev. Andrew J. Het-
N. Bamford closed the afternoon ses-
sion
The Colonial Sabbath.
In the evening the pastor, Rev. Geo.
w Clark gave an address upon the
Colonial Sabbath. This was a day
long 70 be remembered, kept holy and
wholly by a Jealous, sodly people. 1t
was a day Of Worship ana praise-a
Sabbath day-not a Sunday 1t be-
gan on o. M on Saturday with
the pFeparations-the study of the BIZ
bic, last Sanbath,s sermon and psalm
singing. The church building was
called a meeting house-square log
hufs at first. These early buildings
az ere not consecrated, often used for
other purposes and usually placed on
a hill. A church raising was a great
event 1t was q sign of vanity to dec
crate them. He spoke of the pulpit
and sounding board, the procession to
the meeting house, the men armed. the
proper seating according to arbitrary
laws and the consequent discofds and
FRANKS of the young people and ne
cessity of the tithing man. The serv-
ices were long and tiresome-from /
to 4 hours One minister divided his
sermon into two parasitic first for
sinners, the second for saints-no one
left after the first. At first the build
ings were not heated anc the minis
ter often wore mittens while praying
The first stove was used in Hadley In
1924. There was much opposition.
They said il would start CONGREGATIONS
and would warp ladies' back combs.
He describes the noon house for lunch
and shelter and then the return to the
afternoon service. Their Saboatfs
were as strenuous as their other days
Music by an old-fashioned choir was
also an attraction at this service.