Putnam patriot., 1915-10-01

hame. Thompson; Lueiette Bu2ing-
hame. Thompson; Sophia Smith,
Thompson; Smith Wilkinson, West
Killingly; Mary Trip, West Killing
ly; Ebenezer P. Rathhun. West VIII
ingly; Laura A. w. Rathbun. West
Killingly; Laura A. w Rathbun, West
Killingly; IIuldah Sawyer. pomfret;
Sally Dresser. Pomfret Caroline ID.
G. Perry, Pomfret; Daniel b. Piimp-
ton Southbridge; lamar d. plimpton.
Southbridge; Louisa Rouse. South
bridge; David Mowry. BROOKLYN; Ma
ria Mowry. Brooklyn; Mary Il. Brew
ster, Brooklyn. r. NJ Jackson. West
Woodstock; Judith Fox, West Wood
stock; Nancy Bolles. West Wood
stock. Abial Smith, Muddy Brook:
Sylvia A. Smith, Muddy Brook; Sally
Sumner. Eastford; amherst Robin
son. nrimield.
Ten days later July 10. 1913. an &C.
clesiastical council, composed of rep
resentatiyes from neighbering church,
es was convened and. after due con-
sideration. approved the action OF
these brethren and proceeded with
the public services Of recognition. The
sermon was preached by the Rev. DR..
Dow of Thompson. Although no
church organization had been In ex-
istence until this date II must not be
inferred that no religious services had
been held by this little band previ-
ously. As early as July 1928. pr.
Daniel Dow wrote to the executive
committee OF the Missionary Society
of Connecticut, urging them to send
missionary TO preach at Pomfret Fac
tory, as Putnam was then called. and
other points Ia he Quinenang Valley,
whose manufacturing villages were
rapidly growing. He further urged
the necessity of this action because
OF the fact that the Methodists had
recently given up the field. While
this suggestion was not recognized
or, at least, was not acted upon, relig-
ious services were held with more or
less regularity from that time on. As
early as 1912 and continuing through
q number OF years, a brick school
house, built and owned by MIR.
Wilkinson, was used for religious
meetings Although Mr.. Wilkinson
was. member of the Congregational
church at Killingly Hin and regu-
lar attendant upon its services, he
was on friendly terms with all de-
nominations and gladly allowed the
use of his school-house. The Metho-
dists held services every alternate
Sabbath for some years. On other
Sundays the Baptlsts held the fort
under Elders Grow, Crosby. Nichols.
Ross and Cooper. Reverends Daniel
Cow, Elisha Atkins or Eliphalet Ly-
man would often carry on i've
o'clock meeting SO sober and sub
staBtial was the character OF the
Pomfret Factory residents that there
were but two families in fifteen years
which habitually refused church at
tendance.
II was largely through the minstra-
tions OF Rev. George Tillotson, the
pastor Of the Congregational church or
Brooklyn that any definite steps were
taken toward the organization OF
Congregational church. He preached
six Sabbaths, the neighboring minis
ters supplying HIS pulpit In the mean
time, and so far succeeded in bringing
the people to one mind that they
agreed to attempt the support OF lay
worker. a young man by the name OF
Huntington. OF course the people
were unoreanized and without a suit
able. or at least an adequate building
Tor Worship anu tie |t@9 tiiSy pienktt
the young man for labor for six
months seemed 10 them a large sum.
This sum. however, was supplements
ed BY a gift Of 800 from tho State
Missionary society.
At this time the population OF the
village was about 800 The Baptists
had meeting house and regular
preaching services. Through the sug-
gestion Of neiYhboring ministers. IS
heretofore stated. this church was IN
stitnfed This organization being CONF
pleted almost immediate steps we're
taken to ordain and install a pastor.
Mr. Huntington. although a young
man, had endeared himself 10 the peo-
pie as wise and efficient christian
worker and their hearts naturally
turned to him and he was invited TO
become the first pastor. In Nosefn-
Der. OF the same year, second coun-
Gil was called. Al this meeting, tho
usual course OF action was pursued
and the young brother was set apart
to the gospel ministry and installed
as the pastor OF the Congregational
church at wilkinsonyille. Dr. Bond
Continued on page Four