The Press., 1922-11-02

iel Fuller, late worthy pastor of ye Church of Christ, in Wilmington, who died of ye small pox, December ye 69th year of his age, and ye 31st of his ministry"
 July 2, 1759, the town voted to hire Rev. Gideon Noble of Westfield, Mass, on probation, and August 22, he was called, his salary to be G60 annually, and E15O for a settlement; There were about 80 members in the church at this time. The Revolutionary War took place during MT. Noble's minis try. He was well educated, and good and moving preacher, yet of lively disposition, which may have led him into temptation to the fault which he confessed; in connection with the convivial habits of his day He was dismissed in 1790 after pastorate of 31 years; and died NOVemt CT b, lIS1, in his 66th year. '.-
 The third minister was Rev. Abishai Alden, hired June 28, 1791. He began preaching once each quarter to ac- comodate members who had pushed their settlement into the northeast part of the town. Up to December 29, 1794, the town and the church had act ed together on church matters; but at that date the first meeting of the Wilmington Ecclesiastical Society was held. A new meeting house was built, in the most approved style of that day, in 1798; with square peWS, high pulpit, and long gallery, occupied by large choir of well-trained singers. May Il, 1901. Mr Alden asked for an in crease of salary, which was refused, and the pastoral relation was dissOlv- ed at a council held September 30, 1902. Rev MT. Stone, Rev. Aaron Hovey, and Rev. MT. BigelOW, supplied the pulpit for short terms, 1SO2-3. May 3. 1894, a unanimous call was ex- tended to the Rev. Hubbell LOOmis of Colchester, Conn.,, the society having concluded that the method of support ing the minister by general taxation was not in conformity to the princi- pIes of the gospel, and put many out of sympathy with the church, estab- lished a permanent fund of $5,00O, the interest to be used for the support of preaching Nearly 80 subscribed, the highest single sut tscriptiOn being $33334 MT. LOOmis commenced with salary of $350, increased to $400 in 1915. He put licly renounced infant aDtism, and asserted that immersion was the only proper form, March 20, 1928; his people were surprised and grieved at this change, az he had been strong advocate of Iaptism by sprinkling; and the church called council; and both church and council deemed it expedient that the pastoral relation | e dissolved. Some 12 mem bers of this church with several from the western part of Ashford, and Elder DiVid Lillibridge from what was later the Burnham Lillibridge place, al out 30 in all, organized Baptist church December IS, 1928, to which MT. LOOmis ministered for about four months, when he was succeeded by the Rev. s. s. Mallory, who was pastor for several years, during which a meeting house was erected on land given by Daniel Glazier, who lived west of the site, (nOw Miss Merser- eau's), The first Sunday school in Holland county, was organized at Will lingtOn, June 9, 1915, during the pas tOrate of Mir. LOOmis, who taught the Bible class, or most advanced grade. The youngest children went as far as the Commandments, the next class completed the Catechism, then adVanc- ed to the Bible class. Deacon John Holt, and Captain Elijah Eldredge taught the first two classes; the school being mostly of young people from ten to fifteen years old. The reading consisted of tracts, there be- ing no library OOks at that time. The school was reOrganiZed January IT, 1919, and Wilber's Catechism adopted as the first Question book used by the school. At the reorganization of May IS, 1923, the school had 16 classes of 6 members each. In September 1928, the Holland County COnsOciation was voted a Sunday School Union for the county, and a meeting was held Sep tember 29. at the house of Deacon John Turner, east of the Commons at WillingtOn Hill The scholars met at the Center schoolhouse and walked in procession to the Congregational by the Rev. MT. Ely, and the Rev. MT. Hyde.
 MT. LoOmis set out the two rows of naples forming the avenue on the east slope of the Hill, and lived dur ing his pastOrate at the cottage now known as ''The Naples" He removed first to Webster, Mass, later to Upper Alton, Illinois, where he died Decem- Der 15, 1872, aged 97.
 The next pastor was Rev. Francis Wood; October 29, 1929 to July 26, 1888; followed by Rev. David Bancroft, August IS, 1888, to January 5, 1858.
 The church building was divided in to an upper and lower story in the summer of 1840; the upper, being the audience room, the lower used as a town hall.
 Joel N. Emo.