The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1912-04-11
NEWTOWN
MINISTER
FOR FORTY YEARS.
Advancing Age Causes Retirement OF
Rev. Otis o. Wright of Newtown.

Rev. Otis Olney Wright. one of the
best known Episcopal ministers in
the state and for twenty-one years
rector of ST. Johns Episcopal church
at Sandy Hook, has resigned and is
intending to retire from the minis
try.
Rev. Mr.. Wright was born in Scitu-
ate, r. l.. May g. 1874. In 1873 he was
graduated from the Christian Biblical
Institute, Stanfordville, N. z, and
was ordained to the ministry of the
christian Connection at Amesbury.
Mass in 1874. Int 1879 he became can
didate for holy orders in the Epis.
copal church in the diocese of Rhode
Island. He was ordained deacon and
priest, by Bishop Clark IN Grace
church, Providence, and was rector Of
Christ church, Swansea Mass, from
1881 to 1888 and of st. Marks church,
Riverside. r. l., from 1888 to 1891.
since which time he has been rector
Of st. Johns church, Sandy Hook.
Since the Liberty pole question has
been forced by the enthusiastic pa
triotic as well as broad spirit exhi-
bited by w. T. Cole who when ap-
without liberty pole is mo mans
land'' and who further suggested that
the subscriptions should be spontan-
eous; better by far. as expressing the
sentiment involved. to have a large
number of small subscribers than
few to make up the total. Also arous-
ing the proper spirit in old and young
by his timely words. We learn that
collections are being taken up in
both schools on the street. The Boy
Scouts have pledged 81 at their last
meeting. Thus the subscription list
is daily growing, but the question of
placing the pole has changed since
Cf h
the supervision of the State by the
building of the State road and pole
placed in the old position would be
considered an obstruction on State
road. It has been suggested by one
of the towns sound thinking men,
that meeting be called to be held
at the Town Hall for the purpose Of
coming to some decision in the mat
ter Of purchasing a pole also on the
matter of placing the same. If the
Mems club will attend to the calling
of a meeting the affair can finally
be settled without delay. A short his
tory of the original liberty pole, w1p
following is taken from the original
subscription list dated Newtown.
June 20, 1876 which has been secured
by the courtesy of Arthur T. Nettle-
ton, as found among the papers OF
the late Charles Henry Peck, who as
donat ton: We, the undersigned for the
purpose of erecting in a suitable To-
cation in this Centennial year in the
Town Of Newtown, liberty pole and
to provide for same the National flag
with such fixtures as will be render
ed necessary, hereby agree to pay in
to the hands Of Henry T. Nichols,
Esq, treasurer, the sum set opposite
to our respective names: Charles H.
Peck SIS; Mrs. Frank Coe IS: Bennett
Blackman So; D. B. Beers So; NJ e.
Hawley IS; H. A. Sanford 50; j. D.
Fairchild 81; Douglas Fairchlld 50;
81: Charles Northrop 81; D. c. Peck
81; A. B. Terrill s.: James Turner 81;
A. B. Prindle 81; Isaac N. Hawley 81
F. Sanford So; John r. Peck 81; r. s.
Bla ekman 81; E. M. Peck 81: VIM
Plat IS; F. L; Johnson o1,, 81 ~ VIM IN n
ssamc2e s: fetar V " 81 Shs s.
S. B. Lake 81; L. B. Booth S.; F. S.
and M. B. Glover S.; A friend 81; Mrs.
Morgan IS; Father McCartan So: j.
Coles 81; Robert N. Hawley 81; H. B.
Camp SOC; r.: S: Hawley soc A. \.
Matthews Soc; VIM. c. Hawley soc:
R. A. Clark soc; Cash paid for Cen
tennial Pole and Flag: Lawrence
Mitchell for pole $40; top mast and
expenses s1e.S3: Edward and Carroll
for labor $1,000; Flag S6o.22: Tim Ner
81; Fireworks $40; Camp and Gay
S.; Paint 50; total amount of cost
s131. 65. Total amount of subscriptions
s1O7. so. Deficit paid by Charles Hen.
ry Peck $2415. This above was the
first and original pole which was lat
er struck by lightning, when the Hon.
VIM. N Northern recertlv deceased
generously gave the main part OF the
present old one.
Rev James H. George have next
wao,- for ten day trip to the Ber-
mudas.
Mrs. F. D. Gros Claude and Miss
E. H eros Claude who have been
spending several months out of town
= "a opened their home on Sunset
hill.
Gardiner H. Walker attended the
pei .. nance of Elijah at Bridgeport,
Monday evening.
Thomas Donohue and son of New
York city were in town Sunday look
ing for a suitable summer rent.
Bishop Frederick F. Johnson, Coad-
jutor Bishop of Missouri, will con-
firm q class at Trinity church next
Sunday evening.