Morning journal and courier., 1880-07-30
An Interesting Occasion.

Opening Of the Corner Stone Box of the
 Old Methodist Church in Danbury.
 Sunday evening the Methodist church in Danbury was crowded to it's utmost capacity by an interested audience, who came to wit ness the opening of the leaden box which was found in the corner stone of the old Methodist church, now the Disciples church on Liberty street, and to listen to the exer- ciBes attendant thereon. After the usual opening exercises, Rev. MT. Steele introduced Mir. George Starr, one of the trustees of the church, who produced the box, placed it on table near the pulpit and made an address. He spoke of the first M. E. church building in Danbury, which was probably erected in 1872. At the meetings in those days the faithful carried tallow dips to meeting SO that they might have light. The sisters were par ticular about the shine on their candlesticks. emitted Q very "dim religious light and troubled the ministers. In 1881 new meet ing house was contemplated and the material was got ready, but all destroyed by fire e1- cept one window frame. In 1886 the wished for new church was built. The address pro- ceeded:
 At the time this box was built in the wall there were 13S members and probationers in the society, eleven of whom survive, the old est about ninety three years CWidow Jesse Crofut) and @ frequent attendant at the church. There was only one church in the centre, known to you as Concert Hall. In 1S36-7 there were but seven places of wor- ship, which in the aggregate contained 2,O5O sittings Now, in 1880, we have fifteen places of worship, which have an estimated seating capacity of G,250. The Bethel Congrega- tional church should be included in the esti- mate for 1886, as Bethel then belonged to Danbury.
 There were 158 subscribers to this build ing. Forty-six only can be accounted for to- day, 112 known to have died
 The population of Danbury at that time which included Bethel, it being parish, was about 1, 40S. At the time we are speaking of there was not dry goods store, shoe store, furniture, hardware, or any other except gro cery stores, but these all kept promiscuous including splrltuous liquors, which were sold and used as freely as molasses Everybody drank liquor then. Lanterns were carried on dark nights along our streets as much as Ill farming district.
 Apprentices served generally four years and the rule in my trade was to work from sunrise till sundown in summer and till nine o~Oo-- -AA five dollars year and board was allowed an apprentice until the last year, when he re- ce1ved as much as $50. Indentures were gwen by the parents or guardians for good behavior of the boy. We often wondered in long summer days if the sun was going to stay up all night Just as you ask in these days if the engineers have forgotten to blow the half-past five whistles.
 MT Starr then stepped forward to the table, and placing his hand on the box re- marked that 1t had not been opened yet. It had been sawed on three sides by him It is of lead, about an eighth of an inch thick, and IS eight inches long, six inches deep and six inches wide. Bending back the top, he took out the following articles Minutes of the Annual Conference of the Methodist Epis- copal church for the year 1S45 Sixteenth Annual Report of the Missionary Socie- ty of the Methodist Episcopal church for 1885; Q copy of the Christian Advocate and Journal, bearing William Scofeld's name copy of the Holy Bible, printed in 1880. This book had next to the cover 8 card, bear ing on one side the business announcement of Scofeld Rogers, dealers in stoves, grates, tin, etc., ''nearly opposite Judge Booths" On the other side was written, This Box Made by Scoield & Rogers, Mar 9th, 1S3G" Methodist hymn book, bearing the name of H: Humphreys, with Greek word on the fly leaf; copy of '"The Doc trines and Discipline of the Methodist Epis- copal Church ;" lastly was sheet of foolsoap, on the first page of which was written:
 The articles contained in this box were deposited when the corner stone of this church laid. A. D. 1886. The of the bishops the Metho- dist Episcopal church are contained in the minutes of the Conference herein deposited. The box con- tained- THere follows 8 list above.l This church was built by MT. Rory Starr. of Dsnbury ; trustees for the time being Rev John Nickerson Mr. Rory Starr Jesse Crofut, Thomas Stocker. Philo Wildman Underhin Nelson, Joseph Platt, William T. Scoheld, Oliver Andrews.
 Rev. Mir. Bray, formerly of this city, fol lowed with 8 spicy address, and also Wm. T. Scofield and Rev Mir Crawford