The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-02-08
Surpriss Party.

Surpriss Party.
On Monday evening, 3Oth ult the
friends of Rev. Mr.. Fort and lady, of
this place, made them Surprise Visit.
About y o'clock large party came
and took possession of their house, and
had they, as one might expect on such
occasion, in their own way. The hap
ply salutatlon and greeting of friends
was of the most cordially and interest
ing character. Each seemed to vie
with each other in this respect, as well
as 10 the good old-fashioned shake of
the hand, &C., &c.
The Committee of arrangements,
who ever they were, seemed to have
all things cut and dried for the occa-
sion AS soon as the first excitemet
Of the hour was past, Rev. DR., Stud
diford, of the Presbyterian Church, was
selected to present purse to Rev. Mr..
Fort, and Rev Mr.. Armstrong, of the
Baptist Church, to present a cake bas-
ket to Mrs. Fort DR. Studdiford
said -
DEAR BROTHER Il have been un-
expectedly requested by the company
here assembled to express to you their
sincere esteem and their lively interest
in the welfare of yourself and family.
A large number of your people, friends
and neighbors have gathered around
you this evening to enjoy social in
terview, which they trust may tend
somewhat to your encouragement in
your labors among them, while it con-
tributes to their own enjoyment and
qualification And as token of their
good will and esteem, they request me
to present to you the sum of sixty dol
lars, contained in this purse. You
will please accept it as evidence that
this people are not disposed to disre-
gard the comfort of those who are la
boring for their spiritual good. You
may take it as an illustration Of the
prevailing spirit of this community
towards their christian pastors. and of
what we doubt not will he the contin-
ued feeling of your people toward your
self while you reside among US We
have sometimes heard people saying
that money is the root of all evil, and
claiming that the scriptures so teach.
Such persons have read their Bibles
very carelessly The love Of money,
the inordinate desire of wealth, is, in
deed, prolific root of all kinds Of evil.
But money itself is talent that may
be applied to purposes good and use
full, or to those which are evil and per-
nicious. A portion of it the christian
pastor needs, and his family need, to
meet their wants and enable ham to
perform the duties of his office So
your friends on this OCCASION have
judged
In presenting to you this token of
their regard, let me assure you, Sir,
that you have our best wisherS for your
welfare. Our prayer is that while la
boring here you may be greatly blessed
in building up the spirit aud kingdom
of our Saviour among this people, and
that wherever Providence calls you
you may be prospered in your work
and with your family protected, guided
and blessed by the God of Heaven for
time and eternity.
1 To which Rev. Mr. Fort replied -
DEAR BROTHER Through you
would say am so much surprised will
this whole thing know not what tt
say; but 1t would become me to say
that to these dear friends / thank them
from the bottom Of my heart for this
manifestation of their christian regard
and for this exhibition offraternal kind
ness This, to me, is an indication Of
their love and good will, and kind O
spontaneous impulse of their high re.
gard to me | have always loved my
Lambertville brethren and sisters, and
friends, and this feeling of friendship
so mostly exhibited on their part, viii
make deep and lasting impression OF
nv mind, and cause me to hold then
in higher regard than ever. To me
nothing could come more timely thai
this purse, my expenses at this periot
of my life are unusually large. ! an
striving, as all parents should do, tt
provide suitable education for my chil
dren, and to prepare them for useful
ness IN those positions that Providence
may assign them; and my friends hay
ing knowledge of these facts have SEN
the hand of christian kindness and at
fiction While / set high valuation
on this, it shall be my greatest pleasure