Putnam patriot., 1930-08-21
zOOh Anniuersary OfThompsOn Church

 and he was installed May 15. 1850.
 Soon after he began his work here was thought necessary to have a more modern church building. The -hurch was fortunate in having a very good friend in the person of Mr. William H. Mason. man of wealth and great public spirit, and t was largely through his generosity hat tho new church. in which we are now gathered, was built.
 Mr Mason was the owner of the mill at Masonville. now known as Grosvenordale, and lived in the house now owned by Miss Beebe.
 The corner stone of this church was laid July {, 1855. and the church Ras dedicated July &, 1856, my fa- sher preaching the sermon from the text. Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary"
 Nothing Sassy at Funerals
 May I be pardoned for telling one aneedote about my father. for it will give some idea as to the regard in which he was held by the people.
 4 certain men had died, and l in-e fer that his life had not been such as to reflect much credit on himself, his family. or the community. The family was not even connected with this church. and yet by choice of the mans vie. my father was asked to conduct the funeral service. This caused some surprise among the neighbors. and the woman was ask cd why she had chosen thus. To which she replied. doubtless remem- bering the stern denunciations that she had heard from other elergymen In similar cases. 'I understand Mir. Dunning never says nothing sassy at funerals and we of the family, knowing it to be true that our father would never have done anything to cause discomfort to another. have al- ways considered this as a eompli- ment to him.
 After a service as pastor for twenty-two years my fathers life on earth ended in 1872. In the vestibule Is a fourth tablet which bears this testimony from those who knew him and who loved him. Servant of the Lord. Gentle unto all men. Apt to teach. Patient. Thoroughly furnish ed unto all good works"
 Four pastors in 142 years was the record in 1872. each one ending his days in the service of the church. In the olden time. as Miss Larned has written, "A minister was taken for life, and the people would as soon have thought of changing a religion as of changing a minister But since then a change of policy is evident, for the church has had eleven min sters in fifty-eight years since that date, whose names. and terms of service are as follows;
 ]. (. Bodwell March 1872 to Sep tember 1874. About 2ia years.
 ]. A. Hanna. July 1s76l to October 1879. About 3 years.
 1. (. Adams. November 1879 to May 1886. About 6 r years.
 Marcus Ames. December 1886 to March 1887. \ few months. i c. II. Cummings. May 1888, to I May 1900. Twelve years.
 I N. l. Jones. January 1901 to July l 1908. About I ia years.
 A. (. P. Huizinga, January 1, 1909 to December 31, 1909. year. , ]. K. Moore. March 1910 to Sep. teniber 1916. About F years. W. B. Chase. April 1917 to April 1919. Two years.
 $. T. Livingston. November 1919 to November 1926. Seven years.
 These gave of their best in the service of the church, most of them leaving because of physical infirmity. Our present pastor. Rev. V. &. Lyon, came to us in October, 1927, and we hope 1t will be long before another name is added to the list.
 Tn 1901, during the pastorate of : Dr. Jones, the church was remodel led, and the service of rededication was held November 10. of that year. At that service was also dedicated the organ that is now in use. Rev. ]. (. Bodwell. a former pastor, preached the sermon. and an histor- ical address was given by Miss Larn- ed. Mir. Bodwell died in 1913.
 In 1905, also when Dr. Jones was here, were held services in commem- oration of the l75th anniversary of the founding of the church.
 For this occasion Miss Larned ! prepared paper giving the history ' cf the music of the church. and also gave us a very interesting account ] of the deaeons whe have been in of fee. These papers deserve to be ! quoted more fully than time permits today We have touched upon the election of Benjamin Bixby and Jonathon Eaton as first deaeons. Mir. Bixby serving fourteen years, until 1744. and Mir. Eaton eighteen years until l7s4. Since then the list of deacons is as follows:
 Jonathan Clough serving forty years; William Larned serving five years: Jacob Dresser serving forty. one years; Simon Larned serving fifty-three years; Lusher Gay serv- ing forty-nine years; Thomas Dike serving thirty years; Joseph Gay serving twelve years; Aaron Bixby serving thirty-six years; Moses Blk by serving twenty-one years; Josiah Thayer serving seven years; Charles Brown serving forty years; Danie Alton serving twenty-seven years Elijah Crosby serving fourteen years; Charles C. Brown serving
 fifteen years; Marcus r. Towne serv' ing thirteen years; Josiah W. Dike serving thirty-nine years, and George $. Crosby serving twenty