Norwich bulletin., 1915-10-29
ooMPLEFgs Two cENTuRIEs.
Pomfret Congregational Church Notes 6ieentsnniaI Anniversary Thursday Rev. Harry A. Beadle, Pastor.

Exercises in observance of the bi- centennial of the Congregational church Thursday. with visitors present from many neighboring towns.
 The morning service opened at II o'clock with the doxology and scripture reading. Prayer was by Professor Alexander R. Merriam of the Hartford sary poem was by Rev. John F. Trow- bridge of West Groton the church his- tory by Rev. Harry A Beadle pastor. The Meeting House was the subject of Rev. Charles E. Gordon of Derby. Vt.
 The Church Members was the sub iect of Darius Mathewson of Norfolk Nebraska. formerly of Pomfret. at the afternoon session. Other speakers at this session were Rev. Sherrod SouIe, Hartford. The Church. in the World; Greetings from the Grandmother kChurch, Rev James DeNornnandie; The Mother Church, Woodstock, Rev. Fosdick B. Harrison; The Fellowship of the Church, Rev. F. D. Sargent, Putnam: Pomfret, Vermont. Rev. George E. Ladd. Pomfret: Pomfret, ter Pomfret school. Reading of letters from absent members. The sacrament Of the Lords Supper, administered by Rev. Albert E.. Kinmouth of Brooklyn and Rev. Frank A. Fuller of Abingdon. An outline of the history of the Nh0ANIl AOAAOWS.
 Plans for Worship in 1713. After receiving confirmation of bounds in 1713, one of the first things Pomfret did was to settle religious worship. The town in that year voted one hundred and fifty pounds for an orthodox minister with which to buy l land and build himself a house and 1 fifty-hve pounds salary until the town should contain sixty families. Rev | l,.vz q six months religious services, being held in some convenient private house February 18th, 1714, the town gave 1 MT. Williams a permanent call and he | accepted. Work was soon begun on a meeting house, which the town had voted to build. The frame was saised April 27th and it was covered during 1 the summer. It stood on the east side of the road about a quarter mile south of the present Congregational church The house was opened for public use in the autumn and privileges granted to build pews in specified parts.
 Organized in 1715.
 church was organized with Ii male members, Oct. 26th, 1715, and MT Williams was at the same time or dained pastor over it. In 1776 the meeting house was fenced in and c privilege granted to build a "Sabba- day house." an institution of that pc.
 
 this is the only record of one iI Windham county. It was a small hous, with good fireplace and chimney, 1T which a few persons could sit ana warm themselves, and eat their lunch . when they had come a long distance o church and wished to stay througt 10th morning and afternoon services
 Foot Stoves Necessary.
 A good fire was kept up, and iron he coals thus accumulated their foo 5toyes' were filled to carry into thi , meeting house to help them keep warn during the long service. there beint no fire in the meeting house. Some times a single family owned a Sab ba-day house" and sometimes severa families joined in building one. In 172 the inhabitants were given liberty t build stables for themselves near tn north side of the meeting house. Af Williams died March 18th, 1753, clos ing term of pastoral service Of near ly 40 years.
 Called MiddIetown Pastor.
 Rev. Noadiah Russell of Middletowl preached through the summer of 175 and Wa@ ra1fAd fa fhA ramfnrafa hna