New Britain herald., 1925-10-12

The building Is still standing and in daily, strenuous use by the children | of the community in their enthusias- tic and commendable efforts in pur- suit of knowledge. For some years used as the Town Hall, 1t Is famil- iarly known to US In these days as Worthington school.
 Worthington Church Formed.
 "The Worthington church was constituted. formed and embodied a particular church state, by the Hart ford South Consolation, February 9, IT'S. Thirty-eight male members signed the confession of faith and covenant and during the same month the membership was in- creased to one hundred and four
 "The figures of the original mcm- bership, 104. may be reversed and becoming 4o1 will fairly accurately denote the membership of today. That may seem small progress for these many years, but 1t is to be re- membered that during the period we celebrate more than two thou sand men and women, boys and girls have joined with their neighbors in making the great adventure of Christian living.
 Turning, for few moments, to the material side of our development we find record in 11 90 of church meeting voting liberty to voluntary subscribers, to so and build de- cent and suitable steeple and join the same to- the north end of our meeting house, at their own eX- pense.' Of unusual interest Is vote passed in 1791 expressing the thanks of the society to Mir. Jedediah Norton for the gift of an elegant organ one of first to be installed in a New England church.
 Church Destroyed By Fire.
 The old house vas entirely re- modelled in 1857, the gallery and pulpit changed and slips substituted for the fashioned square pews It was first heated by stoves in 1926. On the night of October IS, 184s, a tragic event occurred-the meeting house of the fathers was set on fire by an incendiary.. The building was saved, though badly damaged, and the organ was totally destroyed. It seems there had been bad feeling engendered over the enforcement of quor and 1t is supposed that some member of the wet faction fired the church. The identity of the cul- prit was never legally established.
 Repairs were made so that the church could be used until tha new meeting house, voted by the congre. gation should be ready, which, as the event proved was In February, 1851 And so the first meeting house oi Warrington parish was occupied for the public worship of God more thar 16 years.
 The house in which we are me- tonight was dedicated February 26 1851, and, with various alterations has served as our meeting place through the intervening years. Fol some time the academy building four doors to the north, was used a; a chapel affordng facilities for Sun | day school, prayer meetings and so cial gatherings.
 During the pastorate of ReY Henry r. Schauffler the presen 1 parish house was erected, largel, through the indefatigable efforts 0 John B. Smith. It was a greatly needed improvement to the church property and was undertaken Titl the splendid purpose of meeting the social requirements of the parish fol years to come.
 Church's Organizations,
 "Of organizations there have beer many through these years. Suffice i to speak of but q few. Most ancien and honorable of all Is the Worth ington Ecclesiastical society Thicl has functioned for one hundred ant tifty-three years and is still goin! strong.
 q am unable to determine ac curately when the women of the par iSh began to organize their work, A he head of the list is the Woman Aid society, originally functlonini under the name of the Ladies' Be nevolent society. It's interest has al Hsts been centered in all worthy ob iectives of this church.
 "The Woman's Missionary socict
 vas organized in July, 1869, and 10
 56 years has held heroically to it course. It has always been patient sometimes pathetic, but ever faithfu 10 its appointed task Of promotin
 missionary intelligence and support ing the missionary cause.
 'For more than one hundre
 years the Sunday school has had
 conspicuous place in the life of tn church, offering to all the privileg
 of Bible study, but being particular ly concerneds with the teaching C children and youth,
 Tn the line of pastoral successio there have been sixteen minister: fifteen of whom have served tn church with fidelity and often wit real distinction, All those who hay ministered here in the past hay been splendidly faithful to thei high calling and have left behind in spring records of personal devotio to this church. Of these men 1t not my function to speak, save her to express our lasting gratitude the great Head of the Church fc such earnest and able leadership. Tt is a real pleasure, too, to re cord on the program of this ann lyersary the names of the deacons the church. Many have held the O fee for long terms, but few haN served longer and none with Ereatf | fidelity than our present senior de; | con, Mir. Francis Deming.
 | The outpourings of the church
 another subject of which we sha
 hear presently. But we bear in ol
 hearts and, in behalf of the congr'
 gation, I pay our abiding tribute I nd the No