New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-13
DIR. BLOOMS SEMECENTENNIAL.

FIFrIErH ANNIVERSARY OF TIE INSTALLATION OF
DIR. LEONARD BACON OVER THE CENTER CHURCH,
NEw-HAvEN-AN IMPRESSIVE SERVICE.
IPRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEi
NEw-HAvEN, March 10. - "A New-Hayen
audience has witnessed since the war 80 Impressive
a spectacle nor listened to address involving 80
many varied OF power were afforded at the
Center Church yesterday afternoon on the occasion OF
the celebration OF the 5Oh anniversary Of the ms ala-
ton of the Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon over that church.
The occurred at O'Clock and the great church
was well filed The pulpit and cOmmunion-iabie were
tastefully dressed with flowers and over the desk,
against black -bOrdered background was the le-
gend in flowers: "1S25 Them that honor Me will
honor 1878" The exercises consisted OF music by
tho choir the reading of appropriate selections from the
Rible nv the Row. George l.. Walker d. d., prayer by
the Rev Dr. Dwight OF Springfield Mass. the singing OF
the hymn, "How firm a foundation ye saints OF the
Lord" sermon by DR.. Bacon, prayer by Dr. WALKER a
closing hymn and doxoogy and the Benedicton by Dr.
Bacon. In the evening there was reception at the
church parors
Dr. Bacon was in admirable health. and delivered bis
addresses with vgor and tenderness which suffered not
tbe interest TO lag for moment. His text Psalm
Xxi 14-ls with special stress the words, o God
Thou hast taught me from my youth" Or the Sermon
which is regarded one OF the aDlest oi Dr. Bacohs
oforts-the following Is a summary:
or the nine pastors who had preceded him In church
now 236 years old beginning with John Davenport and
ending with Dr. N w. Taylor, all but one had lived to
old age but none had remained in the pastoral connec
tion half century The speaker had accordingly asked
his people to meet with him IN cOinpemoranS so uh
pastorate eight and half years before he had dev-
cred An historical discourse be should now deal more
,,b rnr,niscence March o. 1926 then, bright with
the prophecy Sprug and the ecclesiastical council
having its preliminary WORK inc uiy pco'c' sI
t,ba mol In
council not survived. President Day OF iaIe tOl
ece was Moderator and the Rev DR.. Fitch OF the Yale
nupit scribe The Rev. Mr. Wilcox OF the North church
Hart ford. offered the introductory prayer; the heN
1r loci Hawes OF Hartford delivered OF his best
sermons: the Rev Mr. Stebbins OF West Haven offered
the prayer OF installations Dr. Taylor gave te charge
~ ne fastor the Rev. Samuel Merwn OF the North
Church gave the right hand Of fellowship and the clos
ing prayer was offered by Dr. Fitch There was IN nose
days no charge the people with It's quips and Jess
wears away the same walls, the same Vauteu
rot tn" same spre catching the morning and
sUn and the same old graves underneath. but those in
that audience who looked DacK as lr IRON tnat dy as
those who remembered chat day from ms anticipated
the first gun red at Lexington and the sack OF New
Haven by the British-a kind of legend noW-was yet
When the speaker mounted the old high pulpit and
looked the audience his eyes hled with tears at
the thought responsibility he was assuming; but
how INADEQUATE were his antic patiOns! He reckoned
himself Inadequate. but how far too high did he rate
himself! He the mpulslve anticpatlons OF youth,
but how incompatible with those antcipatiOns were
the evOlutiOns of ibe years-,he most eVentiu haii
century in the worlds history! And yet he, and all
who looked back far. changed though they were In
all things-n person. IN mind, in view-utterly some.
thing else-Were yet the same personalities the II"
living on, indestructible IN personality, yea,
more than EARTH or pole star or the ultimate
atoms OF matter. With similar realization OF person
alty running back from hoary age 10 childhood, the
Psamis had recognized in the words OF tho text the
thought OF life being long teaching; and to-day,
making those words his own, the speaker wished 10
dwell now ne had been taught of God from his
youth
From IL all he mad boen taught From stage TO stage
clearer jiser views oil truth; he saw truth with
wider reach when he just from Andover,
than ten years ago. and he hoped ever 10 1t clearer
and clearer broader and more liberal attitude to-
those differing from him enthusiastically though
he he far removed as ever from rel eous
tpdifferentism 5. view OF what the Christian
life was L. A better appreciation and larger faith
corning Christs work and kingdon IN tue world In
these most mOmentous fifty years OF history he had
the coming the glory OF the Lord. Having thus
instructed far and hoping TO be taught thus TO the
end OF life why should he not be ready to say its
close Lord now ettest Thou Thy servant depart IN
peace according to Thy word ior mine eyes have