Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

istry had been years of broadening intel-
lectuality and deepening spirituality for
Dr. Fennell, and of blessing to the
churches he served. He richly abounded
in the spirit life, was the servant of God,
resourceful and convincing in establish-
ing the truth, strong and fearless as a
herald of righteousness, a true servant of
God, friend of man and apostle of better,
greater things. He wrought well, loved
much, was honored by his people and
exalted by his Master.
Dr. Fennell was for many years a mem-
ber of the Board of the Baptist Ministers'
Home Society of New York, Connecticut
and New Jersey. He was a trustee of the
Connecticut Literary Institute in Suf-
field, also president of the Alumni Asso-
ciation of that school. At the time of his
death he was secretary of the State Baptist
Education Society, of which he had
been president for a number of years ;
was a prominent member of the Baptist
State Convention, serving on several of
its important committees ; the work of
the Connecticut Children's Aid Society
especially appealed to him, and he will-
ingly lent his energies to the cause, serv-
ing the society as its first vice-president.
In January, 1917, he was chosen chaplain
of the Senate in Hartford, and during the
few weeks he had served made many
friends among the Senators and State offi-
cials. Dr. Fennell was also very active
in the work of the McAll Auxiliary, a
world-wide society to aid in the cause of
the McAll Mission in France. He also
took an especial interest in the large
number of attendants and patients at the
Connecticut Hospital for the Insane,
which had previously been a much neg-
lected field.
Dr. Fennell was a great lover of books,
and in his early life this love was as keen
and almost as discriminating as it was in
later years. When he made his pastoral
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
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calls he generally carried a book or read-
ing matter with him. These he was accustomed
to show to some person, many
times a boy or girl in the home where he
was calling, and he urged them to read
and return the volume. Another excel-
lent trait was his attachment for his
mother. He hardly ever preached a sermon
but what he spoke of the little
woman up in the Litchfield hills, and
while pastor of the church in Middletown
she paid him a visit, much to the delight
of his parishioners.
Dr. Fennell married, June 30, 1885,
Inez Clarine Warner, of Suffield, Connec-
ticut, who survives him. Children
Guinevere, born December 21, 1887, now
secretary and pastor's assistant to the
Rev. Arthur T. Fowler, D. D., pastor of
the North Orange Baptist Church, North
Orange, New Jersey ; and Marjorie W.,
born May 27, 1889, lives at home.
Dr. Fennell was always a great lover
of his home, and of flowers, and he took
great pride in planting trees, shrubbery
and flowers. He maintained a summer
home at Suffield, Connecticut, and while
on a visit there was suddenly stricken
with paralysis, February 26, 1917, and
breathed his last at the home of his friend,
ex-Assemblyman Edward A. Fuller, a few
hours later. His remains were interred
in the family plot at Suffield.
On the day following the announcement
of the death of Dr. Fennell, the
clerk of the Connecticut State Senate
read the following message from Lieutenant-Governor
Clifford B. Wilson:
It is the sad duty of the president of the Senate
to advise you gentlemen of the sudden and re-
gretted death of our chaplain, Rev. W. G. Fen-
nell, D. D. Although he has served a few short
weeks only, and came to most of us as a stranger,
yel his Christian character has left its impress
upon all, and we realize that in his demise a true
spiritual leader and a loyal friend has been removed.
His high spiritual life was typified in his
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