Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-05-06
Anniversary Exercises at Daven-
port Church.

port Church.
| A Large COncOurss of People spend a
Pleasant neutrality-suspicious.. Cake and
Lemonade Make Smiling Faces
The tenth anniversary of the pastorate of
the Rev. I. G. Meserve, of the Davenport
church, was celebrated last night A large
/ audience gathered in the church at 7:3O .. m.
/ to listen to the more formal exercises of the
| evening. Deacon H. A. Harrison sat with
several reverend gentlemen on the platform,
and after the meeting had been opened W it'll
prayer by Rev. Mr.. Meserve MIR. Harrison
| introduced as the first speaker of the evening
| Rev. Mr.. Atwater, the former pastor of the
| church. After touching on his connection
/ with the church in its old quarters and re-
calling the memories of the past he spoke
felicitously on the pleasant ten years. pastor
ate of his successor and, congratulatiug pas
| tor and people on their harmony, wished
them prosperous future.
Rev. Mr.. Todd was the next speaker. He
aid that good minister will always preach
Sthe gospel and never be afraid to tell his
people the truth about themselves at
| hope" he went on, 'that this long
pastorate will continue; that Brother Me-
serve will stay here as long as he can be of
| use to you and you to him. I Offer you my
| heartiest congratulations and thank you for
the invitation to come down" After sing
| ing by the new choir Deacon Harrison re-
ported that he had received a letter from
| Rev. Mr.. Lines saying that he could not
come down until late, and one from Rev.
Mr.. Wyatt expressing his inability to be
present. Rev. Mr.. Butrick, of the First
Baptist church, then remarked: sit seems to
nae that according to the testimony I have
heard it is one of the wonders of the world
that you and your pastor have lived in har-
mony for ten years. It must be due to the Pc
culiarities of Mr.. MeserVe. When came here
Mr.. Meserve was among the first to welcome
me. I feel that he has always taken me I'M
der his wing without being patronizing. Mr.
MeserVe has the power of success; If he takes
hold he brings something to pass. extend
my heartiest congratulations to you to night"
Deacon Harrison then spied Rev. MIR.
Lines, who responded to an invitation to
speak by saying: ''Is will simply extend my
congratulations. We work along different
lines, but over the line We can shake hands. I
bid you God speed"
Rev Samuel J. Bryant, of South Britain,
then spoke He had been connected with
the church when in the seminary and recall
ed the pleasant times he used to have. The
last speaker, Brother Douglass" then told
of the origin of the church, and how the
debt was raised. He wittily remarked: II
don't know why was called on to
speak unless to punish me for get
ting you into debit He concluded: |
1--WE fixed on the two best looking men to |
SOLICIT subscriptions and as result by Gods |
blessing We got rid of the debit" After |
another hymn was sung by the choir tho au- |
dience partook of refreshments and then M. |
Pardee calling for order, with few felicit- |
Gus remarks presented Rev. Mr.. Meserve |
with an envelope containing 1925 in gold and |
Mrs. Meserve with 300 and beautiful |
tower cake. In acknowledgment Mr.. |
Meserve said: my wife will now make q /
speech lapPlanse) She can speak better |
than can. can say, however, that what
ever you have given my little wife il most /
thoroughly deserved. She is one of the |
big reasons why have been here SO long. |
Good things are done mp in small parcels |
If Davenport church hss succeeded it is due
to the mutual respect of its members /
trust that God viii continue TO bless rs - |
The COMMITTEES of arrangements were: H A. |
Harrison, G. Truman Smith, and Chas q. |
Cough.