The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-09-28
275TH ANNIVERSARY
 OF SETTLEMENT
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 during the seventeenth century-how the interests or concerns of Church and Town were identical It is when the eighteenth century dawned and the Saybrook Platform with Consocta- tionisrn was adopted that any change in method was made. When MT. Webb in 1892. was called to the pastorate the town prosecuted the business ac- cording to its usual pract1ce~ Tne town by vote declared they would give MT Webb a call to the ministry
 he declaring to satisfaction what his practice might be as to baptism and otherwise" At the town meeting of July 29th 1692 Captain John Burr, Nathan Gold and John Thomp- son were appointed to enquire of MT. Webb what his Judgment may be" In the August town meeting the vote was propoundeds'-Mr sWebb,s prin- sciples and practices being satisfactory -and as a. result the Recorder, Ma than Gold writes that there was a gen. eral affirmative vote and holding up of hands, full vote, a few or none voted against it-for I observed and saw none vote against ft'' he concludes.
 The town then appointed com raittee to notify MT. Webb of the ac- ton and at the next town meeting a committee was chosen to move the minister and his family and his goods. Major Gold, Captain Burr, Sergeant LOCKWOOD ana tom SLuFSeS senior, were named tto discourse with MT. Webb about house to live in, whether a parsonage house or the town house and the terms of it.
 These scant details of parish ways. these dim sidelights on early condi- lions show clearly that Church ill q town were practically identical at this period. The town decided all matters pertaining to the material welfare of the church.. and sacreS and secular affairs were curiously interblended and interdependent- The .toWnsmen .--or as we now call them, the select men, assisted in catechising the chil- dren on. religion and theology. Town meetings chose minister and school
 master and fixed the salary. Town. meetings taxed the people for meet iraes-house and school house and had oversi ght of all tl7e men and all the pr ropertysd devoted to the public uses of the peepIe. It was Puritanism primitive and patriarchaI, fulfilling an Important office during this early stage of parish and colonial deye1- opnlcnt.
 Daily Life of Settlers.
 Here on the Parade Ground, de- Puritan adventurerso of 1639244-'5 52- '66 and later date, gathering on Sun days. and Lecture days for the enjoy ment of their religious privileges and the transaction of the town business. We know what garments they wore for the wills and inventories in the Town house. specify these things. One of our ministers devised various broad-c1oth coats. his calarnink gown and cambrick bands, several pairs of velvet. and striped breeches, shoes with silver buckles, fancy hose fancy vests with silver buttons, silk hand kerchiefs and linens. beaver hat and several knit caps and not least in i'm portance, wig. We know what GUS toms preyailed-hew the people Wor- shipped. how magistrat tes united 1ov- CTS in wed1ocIk, how the dead were Bible, how the six training days be- came the red letter days for social We know how modest. 1y these people lived in their first log houses and their later framed, un- pretentionus structures, the humble homes reared in a compact settle ment near the Green through fear of Indian assault. We know how eager, industrious, and self-sacrifcing the first brave dwel1ers along these shores were and how their daily fare was simple, hearty whoIesonne-th pro- ducts of their hunting, fishing antl common agriculture. And we know something about the seriousn ess of these people. Surrounded as they were by a wilderness Infested with wild beasts and predatory savages- separated from the fellowship of brethren living an easy or affluent life. there must necessarily have been great burdens pressing heavily upon their shoulders and hard problems in affairs industrial, social, political and religious to solve. There was little time or inclination to sport, although the exuberance and sportiveness of the boys is repeatedly mentioned and officers were appointed as we see for the special purpose of looking after them and repressing their irrepressf b1e Iiveliness
 And there was much sickness prev a1ent in the plantation-a5 distressing fever which refused to be shaken off likewise the dire annoyances of pestif. erous insects, The seasons empha- sized their heat or their cold their dampness or dryness so that farming their main dependence, WAS a matter of greater uncertainty than today.
 Witchcraft in Colony.
 We must not omit the mention of the witch o1sessi on-the we'll nigh universal belief in the baIefu1, hid- eous activity of the Devil and his agents. The wild work of wind and flood, the curse of disease and the loss of cattle, mysterious occurrences and public calamities-these were gen eraIly attributed to withcraft by the majority of people in New England and old England and all Europe A naneIess fear possessed the average human spirit-a fear which was en- hanced and intensified by the super teries of wilderness life-a fear which religion itself did not avail to dissi- pate.
 And yet these first adventurers