Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1915-10-29

oHhNh "A 5tDDh.uhT IouSE anu
sometimes several families Joined in
building one. In 1722 the inhabitants
were given liberty to build stables for
themselves near the north side of the
meeting house Mr. Williams died
March 2S:h, 1853, closing a term of
pastoral service e nearly forty years
Rev. Noadiah Russell of Middle
town preached through the summer Of
1913 and was called to the pastorate
but before ordination took place dis
agreement arose regarding church dis
cipline and he withdrew.
Rev Aaron Putnam was next called
and WIS ordained March 10th, 1756. A
frame Of a new meeting house was
raised sept. 9Th, 1850, on the home lot
of Zachariah Waldo where two acres of
land had been purchased for the pur-
pose. 1t WIS completed during the
following year. Galleries were built
around the sides and a high pulpit
and massive canopy was erected. The
outside of the house was "culleredp in
the most approved fashion of the day,
the main body being orange and the
trimmings white and chocolate. While
yet in the prime of life Mr.. Putnam
was in great measure disabled by a
failure of voice and physical weakness
and Oliver Dodge of Ipswich, recent
graduate of Harvard, was invited 10
act as his assistant Mr.. Dodge mani
tested an alarming license in speech
and conduct and objection was made
to his ordination. The council called
Ia ordain him refused to do SO Another
council was called to hear The charges
and sustained them. a majority both
in church and society were in favor Of
him but by a strategic maneuyer Of
Mr.. Putnam their desire WAS defeated.
This led them TO indignanlly repudiate
All connection with the First church
and strsightway organized in a new
form as the Reformed Christian
church and congregation in PomfFet.
Crowds floeked 10 the new meeting
house and minister and the old church
and minister were almost deserted
Conflict Of sentiment ran high and
there was reeriminative war of words,
from platform and from press, not
only in Pomfret but throughout the
state and county.
The first public act of the new so
a 80 IN To I II
Is minister and he was ordained, al
though many ministers of good stand
ing shrank from introducing him into
the ministry. The old Grosvenor
house in which his congregation wor-
shipped could hardly contain the con-
gregation and no minister in the coun-
ty had 30 wide popularity. Some Of
the most respectable families in Brook
Ign, Abingdon parish, Woodstock,
Thompson and killingly left their
churches and united under the Reform
church of Pomffet.
But there was a small but powerful
minority banded against him and an
attempt made by the Reform society
to obtain possession of the church was
unsuccessful, the county court decid-
ing that Mr.. Putnam's adherents were
the First Ecclesiastical society and had
a right TO the property. The breach
continued until near the close of the
century. The conduct Of Mr.. Dodge
became so outrageous that at last his
followers abandoned him, he was tried
by his own church, found guilty Of
drunkenness and profanity and was
excluded from the rites and privileges
until by his reformation he should be
restored To lis charity, The members
decided to return to The First church
society and the Reform church wilher-
ed and died
Mr.. Putnam was dismissed in 1902
owing To gphysieal disabilities which
prevented him from the further per
Torrance OF his duties. Sixteen min
listers have followed Mr.. Putnam out
his activity in the ministry of the
church was of longer duration than
any other The third meeting house
was built in 1852 and WAS enlarged
and ren.odeied. 10 its present proper.
tons in 1897, 1872 and 1891. The
church has given lis spirit and life TO
The formation of churches in Brook lyn,
Putnam, Abingdon and Pomfret, NeT-