The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-10-19
Special to The Farmer.)

Newtown, Oct 1s.---The ftwoS hum dredth anniversary of the founding Of the Congregat ationa1 parish of NewtoVVn is being fittingIy observed in this town. The celebration proper began Sunday afternoon, but in reality the morning service at this historic church took on the tone and character of the formal event.
 From fhe distant farm houses as we'll as from the centers of the town the members Of the church came by teams and autos to attend divine ser vice. but most brought lunches. ana enioyed with their families and friends refreshments in the church parlors. This celebra tion began promptly at p. m. and was in the nature or aL unaon Christian service In which not only the evangelical pastor ana people. but both ministers of the Episcopal churmf1es and their charges joined III the service Of praise and pray yer Ar ter the address of welcome by the pas tor. Rev. T. J. Lee, Rev James H. George. rector of Trinity, addressed the assem hlage Following this was the solo saCone Unto Him. Handel. by-t Mrs ". IF. Hale of the church choir. Then followed an address on Christian Fellowship by Rev. MT George. assigned to Rev. c, A. lib balls Of St. Johns. Sandy Hook, ap- sent through illness. The principal ad-s
 
 SherrodI Soule of Hartford The ad- dress was r4plete with the fervor or faith and charged with historic knoWl5 fedge of this IN evs England religious denomination and it's work in New England and of this historic church 'si part in the work of that faith in western Connecticut It was listened to with rapt a.tten tion-
 The celebration was ushered in by the ringing both of the bells of old Trinity in unison, with the bell Of the chief evangelical church of the town i; and this commingling of the member ships of both churches in the celebraL- ton is hailed wdth delight by all be- lievers in a union of all Christian hosts This aspiration was the key note of all the addresses of the open ing session of the celebration, Sun day evening there was a Christian En- deavor rally at T.S0 o'clock, which was as farvid as the afternoon service. many of the elders remaining with heir children for the services and to. hear Tsev. Otis ". Barker of Hart fold. a former pastor who made the principal address Besides the leaders of this church adjunct, words of en- coura gepaSz1e and advice were heard frons leaders in neighboIing E- SO ctetiee.
 At both services the new organ of the church was heard to full advan- tage and it deep tones added soiern- nifty to the hymns and exalted the l-ehoir members to 9. pitch of musical lsexceIlence seldom excefled.
 The origin of this church is con l temporaneous with the town, and it's 1 history is history of the town until the constitution of Connecticut sep arted church and state in 1918 It's l first minister was Rev. Thomas Tou- sey. born in Wethersfeld. Conn.,, in 1888, was graduated at Yale college 1n l HOT, and settled in Newtown in 1707. l Several years later he was ordained minister by the Ecclesiastical coun7 I ell In TIT he married Hannah | Clark of Milford, who bore him nine children. He resigned his ministry in l1724, owing to dissatisfaction in the ] church membership, went to England and received a captains commission from the British crown Returning to Newtown he took up the practice l of medicine. filled many town offices I till 176I, when he died. His remains Lie on the hillside of the village cem- | etery under a blue slate slab with an I inscription briefly telling of the man l but teaching that Human honors and thes hoary head see in the grave with I deep. concern the end of man." senti-
 ments characteristic s1f that age o4
 strict belief in foreordination and an angry God but no inkHng of belie1 | or hope of the beatific vision. The first church in NeWtown stood about I five rods from this present location i near where the flag pole now stands l and was built in 1719, the people UT to this holding services in the homes lof members. It remained where
 erected until 17s2. when it was re moved to the foundation where the I present structure stands Churcf
 services as we'll as pubic gathering.
 were announced and assembled by th' tbeat of the drum until 1745, wheI
 a bell was purchased and hung on the
 meeting house to be used on al public occasions This by town vote I In the early part of the eighteenth I century a great schism in the churcl
 arose, which almost disrupted evan I gelicisrl in the town. Rev. Johi
 Beach, a pastor had imbfbed the ide;
 of a church liturgy. and the necessit! for holy orders, and had introduces into his simple Bible service, forms and prayers which srnacked of the ol'
 order of things, and there were vio lent objections by the Puritan ele
 ment. The pastor seeded, carrSslnl
 a large body with him and went oye
 to the Church of England The frs I church of the Episcopal faith wa
 built in 17s2. and the present hea,uti 1 fuI Trinity church stands on the foun T dation of it's wooden predecessor bull < about the year 1900. During tn