Morning journal and courier., 1883-07-13
Church of the Ascension.

O44OLCA WA bAk0 &ASG5uS1OA. The Conservation Exercises by Rt. Rev. Bishop WflIiams-Thirty-TWO Clergy
 men Present-Impressive servfees-ser-
 mon by Rev. Dr. BeardsIey-The New Church EGlIfice-The After Exercises.
 The new Church of the Ascension was con- secrated yesterday forenoon at Il o'clock. The handsome new edifce was filled by large congregation, many being compelled to stand. Bouquets of flowers were profusely displayed about the church. On the altar was large gilded cross fisnked by vases of beautiful flowers. A quintette choir render ed the music and w. H. Carpenter presided at the organ.
 Shortly after II o'clock the bishop and the clergymen in attendance passed from the vestry room around the east side of the church and entered the main entrance. Here 1 the wardens and vestrymen were ranged on l each side of the doorway as the solemn pro- l cession passed up the center aisle to the chan 1 eel. The twenty-fourth Psalm was repeated | as they marched up the aisle. After taking seats in the chancel the bishop read the open l ing services. Rev. MT. Babcock, the rector, ! read brief history of the new church and | then presented the instruments of donation and endowment. Bishop Williams then read l the prayer for the success of the undertak- 1 ing. Dr. Harwood led the general prayers l for the day, atfer which the choir sang the ''Cantate Domino" and the 122d and 132d 1 psalms. Rev. MT. Hartman, of Portland, read the first lesson and the choir then rem i dered the ''Te Deum Laudanus." The sec- 1 ond lessou was read by Rev. MT. Randall, after which the choir sang the F'Benedictus. D The nicene creed was repeated by the congre- | gation, the bishop leading. Professor
 
 wash my hands in innocency, o Lord, and so will go to thine altar,' was then sung by l the choir. The bishop read the opening prayers of the communion service and col lects. Rev. W. M. Groton, of R. l., read the epistle and Dr. Vibbert the gospel. The choir sang the ''Jubilate Dec" and Rev. pr. 1 Beardsley preached an appropriate sermon l from the 12th verse of the 17th chapter of 1 Exodus.
 Following came the offertory ard the sing. 1 ing of the doxology by the congregation and l choir.
 The bishop celebrated the communion, of fering to the clergy first and then to the con- gregation, assisted by Dr. Vibbert and Revs. Babcock, Bennett and Mason.
 | Among the clsrgymen present were Revs. Harwood, Beardsley, Lnes Vibbert, Shears, | Larom, Jacocks and Wilcox, all of this city Binney, of Middletown Bennett, of Guil; 1 ford; Wilkins, of Newtown; Wells, of Willimantic; Hartman, of Portland; Sel- leck, of Norwalk J. B. Cheshire, jr., of Charlotte, N. C.. Streibert, of West Haven ; ] Randall and Martin, of Meriden Hubbard, of South Norwalk; Potter, of Stratford Roberts and Davis. of Ansonia; Denslow, of | Rutland, Vt; Bielby, of Mystio Groton, of Westerly, R. l.; Scott, of Wallingford l Mason, of New York city; Eddy, of East Haven; Fitzgerald, of Milford.
 Dinner was served in the old church edi. fee at o'clock under the supervision of
 
 | Mrs. Edward Peck, Miss Clara Stevens, Mrs. M. W. Curtis, Mrs. Walter O. WelIes Mrs s. l Gibbs Smith, Mrs. c. Twitchell, Mrs. B. I. ] Barrett Mrs. Chapman, Mrs. Benjamin Pres colt, Miss Fannie Prescott, Mrs s. B. Scott, Mrs. E. D. Gilbert and Miss A. Kohautik. Some thirty or forty other young ladies of the parish also assisted in arranging and dis. tributing the dinner.
 l The church was consecrated free from all debt, owing in the main to the energetic ex- | ertions of Rev. MT. BRbcock The building is composed of East Haven sand stone built in the English gothic style of archi- | lecture. It is 11S feet long, 50 feet wide and 50 feet in height. The windows are particularly. Zine the one over the front door is the gift of the children of the Sunday school and represents the Saviour blessing 1 little children. It is very pretty and taste. ] full window. Behind the chaneel are three ! lancet windows, all donated to the church 1 The one to the left is in memory of the late Rev. MT. Purves and was given by St. PauIs | Sunday school. The central one represents the ascension and comes from the Parish Aid society. The right is 8 memorial of Amer filling, erected by her son, David H. filling, junior warden of the parish, who aided lib 1 orally the erection OF the new edifice. On | the left side of the church is l window to the memory of the late Rev. | C. II. B. Tremaine. Next is one with s"r'' in the shape of cross from the friends of the rector made while he boarded at the Tre- mont House with them.
 On the opposite side are three memorial windows. One is to the memory of the wife of Franklin Scott. EAnother is in memory of Stiles Twitchell, former warden of the church, and is the gift of the family. The other is gift from the Sunday school class of David filling.
 Only few things remain to be done in the future to make this one of the handsomest churches in the city. It will seat at present 800 people and with new pews will seat considerably more. On entering the church one is surprised at the loftiness and extent of the building. The general effect gained by the architect is excellent, l both as to proportions and acoustics. The exterior impresses the eye at once favorably, suggestive of the historic part, and massive and enduring. The tower Hanks the right corner, giving effect to the picture. In it is the bell which SO many times already has called the people of the church to prayer and praise. A vestry room and rector's study, a very pleasant room, Hanks the chancel on the right as you enter the edifice. The ar- 1 chitect is MT: Henry M. Congdon of New York. The contractors are Maurice Reilly and R. T. Merwin. The building committee are entitled to much praise for their work
 At the collation. very enjoyable scene was presented with so many ladies present in their charming summer attire and so many graceful and gallant gentlemen, including many of the younger clergy and some of the older, whose presence added much to the dignity of the hour, together with lovely col lections of flowers which spoke of the mid summer with all it's abundance of loveliness in nature. On silk bannerette over one table was inscribed, 'FOur Meriden friends, ," in honor of the rector's delegation of friends from Mer1den who were present with him in the happiness of the day. A number of the rector's Rhode Island friends were also present. There were present a number of ladies prominent in social stand ing and usefulness in other Episcopal churches of the city.
 sketch of the excellent discourse by Dr. Bear6sley yesterday is as follows: After 8 few words explaining the text he said we gel many grand lessons and stay for our souls from the life of the past. Among them are the lessons of the perpetuity of truth and the mighty power of him who rules in the midst of his enemies. Israel marching to the con. l tian church pushing It's way into the world and struggling with bitter foes that start uI on all sides to deny her divine character and oppose her progress. Miracles were multiplied for the benefit of the Hebrews, but Moses encountered great difficulties in guiding them. Never has any people before or since been called to such mission or such work The Christian church is but the continuation and development of the Jewish. What God did to guard and preserve the one he will dc if need be to fortify and uphold the other Every church built as this has been is con, l tribution to the testimony that the power and truth of God are invincible. He drew other and more practicable lessons from the text, and said that there was nothing in the rod which Moses lifted on the hill which could never of itsell have saved Israel from the power of Amelck. Yet if he had thrown 1t away he never could have invented anything tc work miracles and accomplish his mission The church beautiful for it's architecture will not save souls or be 8 blessing to neighborhood unless it is filled with those who come to it for worship instruction ir righteousness, the testimony of the word, fol the comfort and life giving power of the sacrements. He closed by first congratulat. ing the rector of the parish, who with singu-