New Britain herald., 1915-04-26

y
dress by Rev. John H. Bell, Phi. D. of
Brooklyn, N. Y, the former pastor.
at the morning service and a history
of the laying of the corner stone by
Augustus G. Smith at the evening ser
vice. Short addresses also were given
by DR.. Bell, Rev. George B. Neumann,
the returned missionary from China,
and Rev. Warren F. Cook, the pastor.
Following is the program for the
rest of the week:
Tuesday Evening, April 81.
1880 p. IN. Love Feast and Glass
meeting led by District Superintend-
ent E. A. Dent D. D. and E. F. Neu-
mann.
Wednesday Evening, April %.
1880 p. m. Methodist Brotherhood
Banquet. POSTMASTER Henry Hoar.
Thursday Evening, April 20.
7:45 p. m. General rally of the
Church Night Prayer Meeting led by
Pastor.
Following is in part the history Of
the laying of the cornerstone as Civ
en- by Mr.. Smith, last evening:
Doctrines Preached Here i'll 1918.
The cornerstone of Methodism was
laid in New Britain in 1915, 100 years
ago, when Rev. Henry Bass from one
of the Carolinas who was on a visit
to this city, his native place, first
preached here the doctrines of faith
and salvation, as expounded and pro-
mulgated by John Wesley.
The next year Rev. William Jewett,
an itinerant was here, and both OF
these ministers preached in the old
Osgood Hill school house.
The center of the city, Monument
Square, is today a striking picture,
compared with the same locality IN
1920. There were then but five or
six scattering houses about the square,
and some small shops. one OF these
was a little west of the site OF the
New Britain National Bank. The
stream which supplied water power
for this shop, crossed Main street, ana
furnished power for a shop and tan
merry, which were situated near the
present site of the Center Church
Chapel, and the Herald building.
There was a dwelling house near the
site of the church, and little north
of this building, there was cattle
pound for restraining stray animals
The only store was at the corner OF
Main and West Main streets There
was dwelling house a little distance
south of Franklin Square, and near
it there was a cider mill. The town
hearse was kept in a room over one
end of the mill.
A Parish of Berlin.
New Britain at this time, had the
distinction of being a parish of Bcr-
lin. Interest in this new doctrine of
religion increased, and those who
accepted it became staunch and fear
less pioneers in this place.
The exact date of the church Or
ganization is not known for GER
tainty; however, it is assured that it
was not later than 1920, and may have
been in 1918.
Incidents showing the strong aver
sion to Methodism on the part of New
Britain residents were related by Mr..
Smith. Difficulty was experienced in
finding a good location because of the
pressure brought to bear upon those
with whom the church negotiated in
regard to a lot Richard S. Cornwall,
a man of no religious pretensions, ii
nally bought the lot at the corner Of
Arch and Walnut street and sold it
the same day to the Methodists.
A very plain building about thirty
by forty feet was erected, and so far
advanced, enclosed from the weather,
that late in the fall Of this year (1S24) :.
the first meeting, a quarterly confer
ence was held in it.
For some years, plain board benches
were the only sittings, and all seats
were free until 1S48. This building
was not completed till 1928, four
years after being commenced. The
Sunday school was organized in 1929,
during the pastorate of Rev. Raphael
Gilbert
Second Methodist Church Built.
In twenty-five years the capacity of
this small church had become alto
eether inadequate to accomm odate the
people who would attend worship
there, and in 1854, during the pastor
ate of Otis Saxton, a much larger and
commodious building was arected on
the site of the first home,
This church in turn became the
cherished home of Methodists for
thirty-six years. In 1859 it was i'm
proved decorated and ref1nished, and
first-class organ was installed.
Ground for the present church was
broken on the newly purchased Lewis |
lot, July l. 1889 and the cornerstone |
was laid April IA, 1890.
South Congregational Church.
The annual meeting Of the South |
Church Brotherhood will be held We'd |
nesday evening Of this week. when !
the annual reports will be read and |
officers elected.
The organist of the South church, |
W. E. Brown, and three members of |
the quartet, Mrs. Pitel, Miss Longan, |
and Mr.. Coleman, finished their work |
yesterday anda new organist and quar- !
tet will take their place next Sunday. |
The Woodruff club of the South |
church will meet at the home of !
Theron Hart, IA Prospect street,