Putnam patriot., 1930-08-21
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 place for various meetings in the new town.
 Although told many times before. TO account of Mfr. Russell is com lp5~fe without this story. The oc- <axson was while he was making a p~xforai call, and the lady of the hyuse, seeking to do him honor, of- fered him some tea. which she z=npurnt to improve by half filing -the cup with molasses Mir. Russell Fried to restrain her. whereupon she replied in words that have become proverbial in this village, Clear snolasses airf none too good for Mir. Russell"
 Mir. Russell died very suddenly, while on a journey. and the inscrip- tlcn on the tablet which bears his nxme gives us an Illuminating glimpse of his character, and the plAce he held in the hearts of his people. "A good man. A good min ister of Jesus Christ. A friend of Ixw, order and peace. Faithful in friendship. Ready to do good and so communicate.
 Calling of Mir. Dow
 Tn looking for a pastor to suceeed Mr. Russell attention was called to Daniel Dow of Ashford. favorably known to the churches of Windham County in spite of his youth, and he was called to the vacant pastorate Mir. Dow accepted the call and was ordained and installed April 20, I7s6, being then about twenty-six years old. Thus began the longest pAs2orate in the history of the church. lasting until July l9, lS4e, a period of fifty-three years.
 Mir. Dow has stated that he found the church in a cold backslidden state. the people very friendly but not very responsive to his preaching, After much meditation and prayer he changed the style of his preach ing with the result that within few years many were added to the list Of members.
 Tn 179S certain pubic-spirited young men joined together Co im- prove the church and ended by erect ing a steeple and hanging a bell, and the record further adds this cheering sentence. free from expense to the Society" At this time the old fash toned seats were removed 10 be re- placed by the more modern pews, al 90 a town clock was added, but not withstanding the apparent prosper ity of the Society it was found dif- fcult to raise money for the pastors salary, and an effort was made to start fund ''the interest Co be for the support of the gospel" "
 The Baptists in the northeastern part of the town were increasing and it gives us pleasure to read that, whatever may have been the feeling ~a the time that church was establish cd, when a new minister was chosen for the parish, Mir Dow was invited Co sit in the council. and he took an active part in the examination of the candidate.
 And now we come to the veal 1915, the year of the great Septem Der gale which wrought such havo' tn this part of the state. churche and houses being laid low. Thi church was not spared, and was lef in such a battered condition that was found that it would cost abou as much to make repairs as to buils enew and so 3 meeting that wa held about week after the gale, Il was voted. mot to repair but te build" A committee was appointed and an association formed, and Il was agreed to build a meeting-house not to cost over s6.000. Mir. Ithiel Town of New Haven. son of a Thompson man. was selected as the architect. The new house was dedi- cated September, 1877.
 Breaches 10 Legislature
 Tradition tells us that Mir. Dow was a preacher of much eloquence and power. In those days it was the custom for some clergyman to preach an annual sermon before the state legislature. and the member from this town secured the honor for Mir. Dow. He preached a very powerful and vigorous sermon on that occasion, and won much praise and favorable comment from those Legislators who had wondered what kind of a preacher could come from such a small, country town.
 In 1s40 Williams College confer red the degree of Doctor of Divinity upon him.
 On a certain Sunday one of the leading members of the congrega ton was absent, and when asked tho next day by his pastor where he has been, he replied that he had been as sisting at a meeting of another faitl in another part of the town, where upon Dr. Dow replied. "No doubt tn devil was we'll pleased with tn whole performance" It is gratifyinl Co read. that in his later years, Dr Dow became less denominationall. exclusive and enjoyed pleasant pas toral intercourse with ministers O other denominations in the town.
 The eommemoration service il honor of Dr. Dow's completion O fifty years as pastor was held II lS46 and large numbers gathered t' pay tribute to him. The record state that Miss Larned's mother. Mrs An ma & Iarned, and Dr. Dow's son, Mir J. Erskine Dow, composed origina poems for the occasion. Three year later the people assembled in th' same church for the funeral of thei beloved pastor
 Dr. Dow died in August lS49, ana we find cut in enduring marble thi estimate of his life and influence "An eloouqnt man and mighty in thl