TIIK S(MTH CHURCH. 17 



mittee from its organization, and deacon of the Cliurcli for the 

 last thirty years of his life. He was a man of groat en(»rgy of 

 character, superior intelligence, and for thirty years tlie princi- 

 pal magistrate of New Britain, administering justice witli wis- 

 dom and impartiality, and exhibiting a truly Christian lilc'. 



Rev. John Smalley, one of the most eminent of New Eng- 

 land divines, as pastor of the First Church for more than sixty 

 years of its earlier history, by his thought and teaching and 

 commanding influence so molded the opinion and guided the 

 practice of the community, that the impress of his mind re- 

 mained long after he had passed away. 



Other men, as the Norths, the Stanleys, the Smiths, the 

 Harts, and others, all descendants of the Farmington Church, 

 were active in laying the foundations both of the First Church 

 and of the South Church. 



In the autumn of 1858, Rev. Constans L. Goodell, who had 

 been preaching a few weeks at the First Church, Hartford, was 

 invited to New Britain. His first sermon here was given on 

 November 7, and his services were so acceptable to the people 

 on this day and the two following Sundays, that a call was ex- 

 tended to him, and he was ordained and installed over this 

 Church, February 2, 1859. The sermon was preached by Rev. 

 I. E. Dwinell, D.D., Salem, Mass. Rev. Noah Porter, D.D., 

 of Farmington, made the ordaining and installing prayer. 

 Charge to the pastor, by Rev. E. C. Jones, Southington ; right 

 hand of fellowship, by Rev. L. Perrin, D.D., First Church, 

 New Britain ; and the address to the people by Rev. S. Rock- 

 well, the former pastor. 



Mr. Goodell's pastorate began in the years of excitement 

 preceding the civil war. The interest and attention of the com- 

 munity was, at the time, largely absorbed in the events con- 

 nected with the nation's struggle, and this Church participated 

 deeply in that interest. Its first pastor presided at the first war 

 meeting held in the State. The captain of the first military 

 company which went to the army from New Britain was a mem- 

 ber of this Church. Other members were in the ranks. Many 

 of the young men enlisted in the army. Some were killed or 

 2 



