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Description of the Church in Fairfield, &c.

house of Mr. Thomas Hanford. At this time the members of Episcopal families were about six, who assembled every Sunday for prayers, which were read by some one of the number. The Rev. Mr. Johnson, who succeeded Mir. Picket at Stratford, occasionally attended and administered to them the sacraments of baptism' and the Lord's supper.

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On the 22d of June, 1725, they erected a small Church, near the place where the present Church stands, and on the 10th of November following, it being the annual thanksgiving, the Church was opened by the Rey. Mr. Johnson, and a sermon preached in it suitable to the occasion, 5W C

in the year 1727, they purchased half an acre of land, as a glebe, with house standing thereon, in the center of the town, and sent the deed thereof to the society for propagating the gospel (in England) by the hands of Mt. Henry Canner, with a request that he might be put into holy orders and settled over then as their clergyman. In October of the same year, Mr. Canner returned, clothed with priest's orders, with the appointment of a salary of fifty pounds sterling per annum. Under his ministry the congregation multiplied so that they were soon under the necessity of building a larger Church; which in the year 1738, was erected with a steeple, about eighty rods from the meeting-house, and, with the charitable donations from New-York, and thẹ society in England, together with their own exertions, was finished in a very decent manner, and furnished with a good bell of about five hundred wt. The principal members that composed the Church at this time, were Messrs. Ward, Lowring, Handford, Wilson, Adams, Jinnings, Lyon, Barlow, Sturges, & Beerst The Rev. Mr. Canner continued rector of the Church until the year 1744 He was then, by the missionary society, removed to Boston, much against the wishes of his congregation. He was a man of eminent talents, inuch respect ed in his profession, engaging in his public performances, and agreeable in his general deportment. He continued to officiate in King's Chapel in Boston until the year 1775, then returned to England, lived to a great age and died in the land of his nativity, leaving no heirs.

In the year 1745, Mr. Joseph Lampson obtained holy orders, and succeeded Mr. Canner in the Church at Fairfield, with a salary of fifty pounds sterl ing per annum.

In the course of his ministry, the charitable Mr. St. George Talbot, of New York, presented the Church with a set of plate for the communion table, and about one hundred pounds in cash, with a part of which money, the members purchased a piece of land, about nine acres, at a place called the two mile rock, about two miles from the Church; the remainder of the money was put to interest; some of which has since been collected and applied to the builds ing of the present Church,

red and applied to the builds

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The Episcopalians in the parish of Stratfield, in the cure of Fairfield increasing in numbers, in the year 1748, erected a Church in that parish, and the next year it was opened and called by the name of St. John. The prin cipal proprietors in building this house, were Col. John Burr, Messrs. John' Holberton, Timothy Wheeler, Joseph Seeley, John Nichols, Richard Hall and Samuel Beardslee. Col. Burr was a man of superior talents, he possessed at large property, and was a warm advocate for the prosperity of the Episcopal Church. He was educated in the congregational profession, and zealous in promoting the same, until Mr. Whitfield, Tenant and other warm preachers came through the state, and fired the people with enthusiasm, and an overheated zeal for religion, which the Colonel looked upon as inconsistent with the true spirit of the gospel, which teaches order and good government to its members; he turned his attention to the Episcopal Church, and finding her doctrines and government to be consistent with the word of God, he joined the Church, and spent the remainder of his days in it, and died in a good old age, and was gathered to his fathers.

This Church was not finished until the year 1789, then it was consecrated by the Right Rev. Bishop Seabury, it being the third Church that was consecrated in this state.

In the year 1762, the Church of North-Fairfield, now called Weston, was elected. This was also in the cure of Fairfield, and under the rectorship of Mr. Lampson, at which place he officiated only once a quarter, 'another fourth at Stratiield, and the other part at Fairfield. In the year 1773, the Rev. Mr. Lampson departed this life. He was born at Stratford, educated at Yale

A Dialogue between a Clergyman, and his Parishioner.

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The Chusch at Weston has much increased, and the people are very regu lar in their attendance on public worship. The house is decently finished without a steeple." ખાતા ન¢ & 1985 The Church at Stratfield, by reason of the population of the Borough at Bridgeport, became not central to the members; it was thought best to demolish it, and build one in a more central situation, accordingly in March 1801, it was taken down, and in July following, another raised in the Borough, and so far finished, as to perform service in by the November following, and on the next season it was walled; and in January 1804, the ground floor was sold at public vendue for the purpose of building the pews and seats thereon and finishing the Church, and the money raised in the sales amounted to between six and seven hundred dollars.-The work has gone on with christian zeal, in harmony and love. The expence of the building has amounted to about three thousand five hundred dollars, all which has been collected very readily by voluntary subscriptions.

Isaac Hinman and William Peet were the acting committee through the whole building; all which has been conducted, in harmony, with good pru dence, strict economy, and a degree of elegance and taste, which does honour to the committee and adds respectability to the place.

FOR THE CHURCHMAN'S MAGAZINE.
A DIALOGUE

BETWEEN A CLERGYMAN, AND HIS PARISHIONER.

P. Rev. Sir, I have thought upon the observations you made to me, the last time I conversed with you.-That it was the absolute duty of every Chris tian of age and understanding, to partake of the Lord's supper, or to furnish

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The Ocean of Life, an Alegory.

themselves with such an excuse as they think will satisfy Christ the judge of the world, when he shall ask them at the last day, why they did not comply with that command of his, the night before his death. "Do this in remem brance of me."-And the more I think upon it, the less able I am to find out any such excuse, as I believe will satisfy that Judge.-I am, therefore, resolved, to waste no more time in pursuit of an excuse for my neglect and diso bedience, but set about what I believe to be my duty, and make excuses needless. Having a sincere desire to learn and do what I ought to do, I earnestly entreat your assistance, in instructing and pointing out to me the path of duty. C.-I rejoice that it has pleased God, to bring to your mind the observations I made, and to animate you with the noble resolation of setting about your duty, without delay.-Assure yourself that you would have lived and died, without excuse, had you neglected it.—For this command of Christ being given to none but the Apostles in person, will either be obligatory upon none but the Apos tles, or it will embrace all christians of age and understanding. That the Apotles understood it to be binding upon all Christians, as well as themselves, appears from the practice immediately following (which is always the best expounder of a law) which was, that the Apostles, and other Christians met together in religious assemblies and partook alike of the Lord's supper. That this was the custom of the Churches, where the Apostles were not present appears from the history of the Corinthian Christians abusing this sacrament (1 Cor. chap. xiy also from the Christians communicating in bread and wine, in order to deter them from eating things offered to Idols. In which argument the Apostle makes this communicating a badge of their belonging to Christ; as the eating things offered to idols, was the token of an Idolator, of course it is evident that he supposes all Christians under obligation as occasion should offer to communicate. And if it had not in his time been the custom for Christians to so come to the Lord's supper, his argument in the tenth chapter would have been of no force at all. And if it had not been their duty to come to the sacrament he would not in the eleventh chapter have reproved them for coming in so irreverent and disorderly a manner, but would have forbidden their coming at all for why should they commemorate Christ's death unworthily, upon their peril, when there was no obligation on them to commemorate it at all? Since therefore he bids them "examine themselves," and come, he knows that it is absolutely necessary that they should come; and this obligation could only arise from Christ's command given to the Apostles at his last supper, and repeated to St. Paul personally, by Christ himself. From which, you may see, that all Christians, are certainly under obligation to come to the Lord's Table; and that no one should exempt himself from obeying this command, whom Christ hath not exempted.- Let those, therefore, look well to it, who neglect or refuse to partake of the Lord's Supper. As to the instruction you ask of me, I know it to be my duty to afford you all the light, and to give you all the information within my power; I shall therefore lead you to, and lay before you the instructions of that branch of the Christian Church, of which you are a member, and she will teach you what you ought to know and do, and direct you in the way of Knowledge and the path of duty... If therefore you understand, First, what a Sacrament is; 2dly why the Sacrament of the Lord's supper was ordained; 3dly what the benefits are of which we are made partakers thereby; lastly, what is required of those who come to the Lord's supper; you will sufficiently understand your duty. You will know all that the Church requires of you. And this you are to learn from the Church Catechism, and the Communion service; this, as it is the most plain and easy, so it is doubtless the safest method of instruction, and what you may depend upon. [To be continued.]

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THE OCEAN OF LIFE, AN ALLEGORY.

HEN we behold with attention the various vicissitudes of human life, we cannot but perceive that although at first view they may appear equally chequered by the glowing colours of prosperity and the dark tints of adversity, yet upon a nearer inspection the latter will be found to predominate. Painful indeed would be the contemplation and lamentable the situation of mankind

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were they left in this vale of sorrow without a guide to direct their footsteps and without the hopes of receiving an abundant recompence for the toils and dangers which they are fated to undergo. This guide and these hopes are kindly afforded them by the beneficent creator who is never forgetful of the needy or deaf to the prayers of the supplicant.

Such were the reflections which occupied my thoughts until I retired to rest, when sportive faney, ever most employed when the body is tasting the sweets of repose, assumed the sceptre.

man.

I imagined myself embarked upon an ocean whose vast expanse was further than the human eye could reach. On every side 1 beheld myriads of little vessels gliding upon the surface of the deep. As I contemplated this scene with mingled emotions of fear and admiration, a form appeared before me whose commanding brow as it struck the beholders with awe pronounced him more than huA transparent robe, surpassing even the snow in whiteness, gracefully flowed over his polished limbs. His waist was encircled by a radient golden zone upon which was inscribed his sacred office ;-Genius of Truth. An emo-, tion which we feel in the presence of a superior being, and which can better be conceived than expressed, made me shrink abashed from his presence. Conscious of my inferiority I was unable to bear the piercing glances of his eye but waited, with averted looks, to hear the purport of his commission.

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"Child of the dust," said he, "listen with attention to the voice of instruction. The vast collection of water which thou seest before thee, is called the Ocean of Life. Those who are embarked upon its surface are like thyself in " quest of some harbour where neither storms nor tempests will ever disturb " their repose and where they may ever remain without exposure to their merciless fury. Contemplate the scene with attention and never let its impres sions be erased from thy memory. Happy will be thy lot if the faults and misconduct of others teach thee to avoid the whirlpools which cause their destruction." Here the Genius ceased speaking and beholding me with a smile of benignity, vanished from my view.

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I now turned to behold the prospect presented for my contemplation. I saw myself surrounded by beings, some of whom professed indeed, to direct their course towards the same haven, yet were disunited in their opinions concerning its situation and the government of the country where they were to reside ;others openly avowed their disbelief of the existence of such a country, and maintained, that after having been tossed upon the tempestuous waves they should at length be overwhelmed in the boisterous element and remain buried in an eternal sleep.

By my enquiries I learnt that the sovereign who had so kindly offered them his favour and protection, had sent his only son to assist them in their voyage. By him they were supplied with a set of accurate charts, well constructed rudders and unerring compasses. His good intentions were however in some measure frustrated. A number of unskilful workmen engaged to correct the charts and make the rudders and compasses more accurate. To mention the consequences is needless. The former class of beings, therefore, were possessed of both these instruments, but the forms of the one were so different and the direction of the other so variable and uncertain that upon the greater part of them little dependence could be placed. Often would they, by their deceit ful guidance, hurry the unthinking wretches upon the hidden rocks of error, while they spread every sail to the wind and fondly imagined themselves waited towards the haven of bliss. The latter rejected every guide and every assistance as unavailing. They were not however entirely destitute of direction as they were supplied with a number of pilots, who, instead of conducting them to a place of safety, seemed mostly engaged in compelling them to enter the impetuous current of vice. Their escape was then almost impossible; they were forced along the stream, the companions of infamy, until at length they were consigned to the dark shades of oblivion.

Such were the most important characteristics which distinguished these two classes of beings; but those which were equally applicable to both were by far the most numerous. Both were employed in gathering the weeds and filth which floated upon the surface, and both were alike incessant in their exer tions, alike arduous in this strange pursuit. With these weeds they continually decked their slender barks and each in proportion to the quantity he pos seased, was either beheld with the sneers of contempt or the smiles of cour

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placency Some indeed were possesed of sufficient wisdom to despise these extrinsic decorations and only directed their attention to stop the many chasms which were continually made in their vessels by the raging billows. The conduct of these afforded a continual source of amusement to the rest, and they were considered as the proper marks at which others might aim the shafts of ridicule. D&De to

I also observed that some parts of this immense ocean were violently agitated by tempestuous winds, while others, calm and unruffled, seemed only to be fanned by the cooling zephyrs. Those who were tossed upon the former, ap peared to struggle beneath a load of wretchedness and woe; those who floated upon the latter, regardless of their miserable companions, were engaged in the pursuit of happiness they could never realize. Intoxicated with pleasure, they forgot the purpose for which they had embarked, and few, indeed, ar rived at the long wished for haven. Alas! I exclaimed, how frail is the ma ture of man! Ever obnoxious to deceit, he grasps the airy phantom of happiness presented to his view, and engages in the most trivial employments instead of aiming at the acquirement of those joys which are the recompence of a vir tuous life; joys which will never decay and which are only to be possessed in that region where the weary are set at rest and the wicked cease from troubling. While thus engaged in contemplating these mistaken mortals, I was not sensible that I also had fallen into the same false and fatal security which in them I had severely censured. Already was I irresistably hurried towards the hidden but destructive rocks of error. The sensations of anguish at this discovery were so acute that while endeavouring to shun the impending danger I awoke.

A THOUGHT ON ATHEISM.

"All is full of Jove!"

Z.

-DRYDEN'S VIRGIL.

RE there on earth, who, bless'd with Reason's beam,

A Can doubt the being of a power Supreme?

Explore the world, survey creation round;

Atev'ry view the Deity is found.

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See! in the stars, his evidence hangs high!
The moon's his faithful witness in the sky.
Behold him in the ray of eve;

Behold! dike Thomas; and like him, believe.
Suppose ye, these no principle require ?
As well suppose a son without a sire.
Admit that God establish'd Nature's laws;
Or say, Effects may be without a Cause:
Admit a God, to govern, and sustain ;
Or say, Chaotic darkness reigns again!

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R. B.

MARRIAGES IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 1804. MARRIED by the Rev. Mr. BALDWIN, Mr. WILLIAM PRINCE, of Weston, to Miss CHARLOTTE WHEELER, of Stratford-Major EPHRAIM JOHN WILCOX, to Miss POLLY WHEELER, both of Stratford. -By the Rev, Mr. SHELTON, Mr. HILL MEEKER, to Miss CHARITY SHERWOOD, of Greenfield.

DEATHS IN JANUARY. 65 Vdol, 1299-9

DIED at Stratford, Mr. JOSEPH THOMPSON, aged 36, very suddenly ;PHEBE SHERMAN, aged 17;the Widow PICKET, aged 75;-KNEELAND WELLS, aged 26.-At Trumbull, SOLOMON PEET, aged 23.

ERRATA -No. 1, page 4, 7th line from the top of the note, for "dis tinguished," read distinguishing. Page 7, 11th line from the top, for "that i Christmas may," read that Christians may. Page 16, 2d line from the top, for unlearned," read even learned; and in the 4th line from this, for "could,” read would.

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