An article in 1821 mentioned that a few had aided in missionary work “for the Heathen”, but encouraged more participation. [1]
Later that year, donations of clothing, bedding, goods and cash, were collected for the Elliot Mission. The Elliott mission attempted to bring the Indians of the Choctaw nation to salvation through making the Indians use the English language, civilizing their habits, and making them Christian in their religion. [2] [3] [4]
In 1823, the Ladies’ Society in North Guilford raised $332 and a couple articles of clothing for the Foreign Mission School in Cornwall. At that time, there were 27 attending the school including: 4 Anglo-Americans, 8 Sandwich Islanders, 3 Coughnewagas, 2 Stockbridge Indians, 1 St. Francis, 1 Oneida, 1 Tuscarora, 1 Narragansett, 1 native from the Marquesas Islands, 1 New-Zealander, 1 Malay, 1 Chinese, 1 Jew, and 1 Portuguese. It was expected that 2 Greek lads, 3 Cherokees, 2 Choctaws, 1 Seneca, and probably several other youths would soon join the school. [5]
In 1861, the people in Guilford raised $500 in money and clothing for the destitute in Kansas. Due to drought, the crops in Kansas had failed and left many destitute and in need of aid. [6] [7]
In 1875, the people of Guilford and Clinton gathered 60 barrels, 12 boxes, and 10 bags of provisions for the Howard Mission and Home for Little Wanderers in New York for the dedication of the children on Thanksgiving day. [8]
In 1879, money was collected from many towns for churches throughout Connecticut. Guilford collected $30, and North Guilford $2. Some in return was disbursed to the North Guilford church. [9]
In 1883, while Rev. J. H. DeForest was in Guilford due to his health, collected $300 and many books for when he returned to his missionary work in Osaka, Japan. “Reverend DeForest contributed much to the friendly feeling between America and Japan, as well as to the Japanese knowledge of God.” [10] [11]
And, in 1886, a concert was given at Music Hall on behalf of the Guilford Indian Association. The proceeds supported a medical missionary who was sent to work among the Omahas. [12]
[1] Middletown Gazette (Middletown, CT) 19 Apr 1821:2
[2] Connecticut Journal (New Haven, CT) 6 Nov 1821:2
[3] Connecticut Courier (Bridgeport, CT) 14 Nov 1821:1
[4] https://www.jstor.org/stable/23335323?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents accessed 24 Feb 2019
[5] Connecticut Courant (Hartford, CT) 29 Apr 1823:2
[6] Connecticut Courant (Hartford, CT) 23 Feb 1861:2
[7] https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.02001100/?st=text accessed 24 Feb 2019
[8] Connecticut Courant (Hartford, CT) 4 Dec 1875:4
[9] New Haven Register (New Haven, CT) 9 Jul 1879:4
[10] New Haven Register (New Haven, CT) 6 Oct 1883:4
[11] The Missionary Review of the World – Funk & Wagnalls 1911. Vol 34:557
[12] New Haven Register (New Haven, CT) 2 Sep 1886:3
