THE SOUTH OHUliCH. 151 



confession of faith, and 21 by letter, and the net gain for the year was 

 156, the largest in the history of the church. The Ladies' Foreign 

 Missionary Society, two of the mission circles of young people, and 

 the Society of Christian Brotherhood were established during Mr. 

 Griffin's pastorate. The attendance at the Young People's meeting 

 was largely increased, and the church had increased in numbers until 

 its membership was larger by more than one hundred than any other 

 Congregational church in the State. 



On the 28d of September, 1877, Mr. Griffin read a communication 

 to the church, in which he said that, "For the purpose of seeking 

 rest by a prolonged season of travel abroad and study in a foreign 

 university, in accordance with previously formed plans, he tendered 

 his. resignation." The church was loth to part with him, and unani- 

 'mously passed resolutions rehearsing the prominent events of his pas- 

 torate and requesting him to withdraw his resignation. After due 

 consideration, he returned an answer in which he most affectionately 

 and lovingly spoke of his relations to the church, but his plans were 

 so far matured that he did not deem it his duty to withdraw his resig- 

 nation, and he was dismissed by council December 20, 1877. 



In three months the ^'church was again supplied with a pastor, by 

 the installation of Eev. James W. Cooper, March 20, 1878. Three 

 years after, or March 1, 1881, Deacon Wiard was employed to give 

 his whole time to the duties of his office as superintendent of the Sun- 

 day-school and assistant to the pastor in pastoral work, with a salary 

 for his services. 



Those who have been with the church during these fifty years, or 

 for any considerable part of it, cannot but exalt the overruling prov- 

 idence of God, and recognize His signal blessings in giving a succession 

 of gifted, faithful pastors, all unlike, but each adapted to the special 

 needs of the church, in preserving it from dissensions and divisions, 

 in providing for it so beautiful and convenient a church edifice and 

 appliances, in blessing our families, in sanctifying our homes, in 

 prospering our interests, in raising up a succession of men and women 

 for service in His kingdom, and in casting our lot in the green pastures 

 and by the still waters of His salvation. 



Standing here between the past and the future, looking backward, we 

 are led to exclaim, " The fathers! Where are they?" Not one of the 

 men who helped to found the church and was on its first roll of mem- 

 bers is living. The fifty who were banded together two months be- 

 fore the church was organized, to constitute the Ecclesiastical Society, 

 are nearly all passed over the river. 



Looking forward, with our faces toward Zion, by faith we behold 

 brighter scenes and richer joys than earth can ever give, where we 

 shall soon meet the sainted ones who have gone before. 



