New Haven · Membership and death references

South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865 · scan page 36

Uncorrected OCR. Name spellings, dates, symbols and column order may be wrong. Verify against the original scan. Includes an alphabetical past-member list, death dates and explanations of death and dismissal symbols. Also contains sermons and church history. A dismissal to another church is not a death.

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28  MINISTRY    OF    DR.  STILES.
mercy  standing  between  me  and  an  offended  God,  and  there
earnestly  and  faithfully  pleading  that  the  light  might  illu-
mine the  darkness  of  my  wicked  soul,  and  salvation  be  given
me.  How  often  since  I  have  obtained  a  knowledge  of  this
great  plan  of  salvation  through  Christ,  (for  until  then  I
could  not  spiritually  discern  it,)  have  I  thought  of  his
anxiety  and  earnest  pleadings  with  his  Master  in  my  behalf,
as  resembling  the  attitude  in  which  Christ  now  stands  to-
ward me,  as  my  Mediator.  It  would  be  a  happy  day  could
I  meet  this  good  friend  again  ;  but  should  it  be  ordered
otherwise,  I  feel  the  consolation  that  we  shall  know  each
other  there,  in  Christ's  kingdom.  Blessed  thought,  and
thrice  blessed  hope!"
We  have  followed  out  this  case  to  such  a  length,
not  only  as  one  of  special  interest  in  itself,  but  as  an
illustration  of  the  transforming  power  of  religion  in
the  soul ;  and  also  as  showing  the  character  of  the
ministrations  with  which  the  South  Church  was
favored  at  this  early  period  of  its  history.  By  a
corai)arison  of  dates,  it  wall  be  seen  that  the  person
alluded  to,  was  struggling  with  convictions  nearly
five  months  before  he  yielded.  During  all  this  period
his  anxious  Pastor  was  bearing  him  on  the  arms  of
faith  to  tlie  Throne  of  Grace,  often  conversing  and
praying  with  him  personally,  and,  as  we  have  reason
to  believe,  passing  many  sleepless  hours  of  night,  and
sometimes  nearly  the  whole  niglit,  in  mingled  emo-
tions of  hope  and  fear  as  to  what  would  be  the  result.
Verily  he  watched  for  souls  as  one  who  knew  he  must
give  an  account.  Otlier  cases  of  conviction  and  con-
version occu])i('d  liis  thoughts  also  ;  but  he  seemed  to
feel  that  "  this  kind"  of  possession  was  not  to  be

Cite this page

Silent Grounds Collective, Church Burial & Death Records, CH-P004-0036. South Congregational Church history and catalogue, 1852–1865, printed page not verified, PDF page 36. Hallock, Gerard, 1800-1866; digitized copy contributed by University of California Libraries https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthco00hall/page/n38/mode/1up Accessed September 8, 2026.

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