Norwich bulletin., 1915-09-16
ANNIVERSARY PRAYER MEETING
entraI Baptist Church Members Commemorate Beginning
of Church rs Years Ago Started With 81 Members
Now Has Nearly 30O-Telegram Mrs Anna w.
Hakes Pasaena-She SO and Oldest Living Member

ference was held on the 18th day Of
September, 1910, just 70 years ago.
The 81 original members OF the
church were as follows:
Rev. Miner G. Clark. Emelne e
Naples, David L. Naples. Lincoln G.
Naples, Edwin B. Gardner, Eunice
Gardner, George Child, Beriah H.
Rathbun. Josiah Rogers, Elizabeth
Rogers, Psuline H. Bidwen. Charles
Dean. Mary Dean, Christopher 3.
ford. William p. Bennett. Erastus c.
Kegwin. Edwin Park, Betsey Park.
Adelia P. Haven. Edward Ray, Lucius
Thompson, George Lewis, Ora w. Lo-
Wis, Betsey Cummin, Phoebe CummtnS
John Chapman, Alpha. R. Campbell.
Mrs. Stout, Miner Palmer, Esther Pal
mer, Hannah P. Kegwin and Harriet
Collins.
The public recognition Of the church
followed one week after Its organiza-
ton and during the next week it was
New London Baptist association.
There followed almost Immediately
upon this an addition Of so members
of the First church. making a MEM
bership of 81 in less than month
from its organization.
During the first year IS were receiv-
ed into baptism and 80 by letter, maxi
ing total membership OF 1913, an in
crease of more than five fold In its
first year.
During the first three years Of Its
history the church had received sos
members, mostly by profession, an in
crease of 1400 per cent
In March, 1916. Mr.. Clark resigned
after a passionate of nearly six years,
leaving precious memories and work
that still lives.
In April, 1s47. Rev. e. T.Hiscox
was called by the church and under
his wise and efficient leadership the
church continued to prosper and al
though so members withdrew to form
the Greeneville Baptist church, I'M
house which cost the society $4,000. In
the summer OF 1852 after a pastorate
Of i've years DR.. Hiscox severed his
connection with the church. The next
pastor installed was Rev. Joseph A.
Goodhue who after a passionate of
two years accepted the prtncipalship
of the Connecticut Literary institute in
Suffield.
In 1854 the Rev. Frederick Denison
was called. During his pastorate rs
members were added. He resigned in
April, 1859, and IA the autumn Of the
same year. Rev. Samuel Graves. D. D.
of Atlanta Ga, was called as the next
pastor. Members were added. back
sliders reclaimed and in 1852 an ad-
dition made to the house at an expense
or $1,000, which with the purchase
Of a parsonage for S2,5oo. made to-
tai Of expenditures of $4,000.
In 1859 the Rev. James Ashton be-
came the sixth pastor and remained
less than a year. The seventh pas
tor was Rev. John Davies and he yas
followed by Rev. ]. D. Herr OF New
York, as the 9Th pastor. The next
pastor was Rev. D. H. Taylor, who
served from 1885 to 1889.
Rev. ]. D. Herr was recalled to the
passionate in 1891. and continued with
the church until 1901. From March I,
1902. until March, 1913, the church was
guided by the Rev. P. Q, Wright, now
pastor OF Gethsemane Baptist church
in Philadelphia. Succeeding him
came the present pastor, Rev. Joel B
Slocum, D. D., who assumed the pas
torate on May /, 1913. Under his able
| guidance the church has continued
| to increase and this summer extensive
| improvements were started and are
now well along to completion. At this
present time the membership of the
| church, Is about $50 and the Bible
school roll shows a membership Of $50