Genealogy of the Fitch family in North America - citizen hylbom blog

10 FITCH FAMILY
tions, and, at times, preached to the people before
they had settled ministers of their own. And, al-
though we possess but a meager record of his
ministry, there is sufficient evidence that he was
well qualified to lay, broadly, wisely and well, the
foundations of the Colony in whose affairs he evi-
dently held a prominent position of usefulness.
Distinguished for the penetration of his mind, the
energy of his preaching and the sanctity of his life,
he seems w r ell to have deserved the encomium of
Cotton Mather, who calls him the 'holy and acute
Mr. Fitch.' Many younger ministers studied with
him, who were afterwards notable preachers of the
word ; and when his venerable teacher, the Rev.
Mr. Hooker, of Hartford, died, he waa invited to
take his place. To this nattering request, his-
laconic reply was, 'with whom shall I leave these
few sheep in the wilderness.' An election sermon,
which he preached, by invitation, before the Colo-
nial Assembly, received the compliment of being
the first election sermon ever printed. To the Mohegan
Indians he not only preached in their own
language, but strove by gifts of his land, to induce
them to adopt the habits of civilization. This
called forth a letter of thanks from the General
Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, accom-