Morning journal and courier., 1885-09-07
First mE. Church.

First M. E. Church
 At the First M. E. church last evening the pastor, Rev. Dr. Goodsell, preached an able discourse, his subject being 'sThe True Note for the Fall Campaign" The text was from 2d Corinthians, 10th chapter, Sd verse, "For though we walk in the flesh we do not war after the fiesh' In the same connection the verse following was read, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" In his opening remarks the doctor referred to their going and coming through the summer months and to the fact that the church as collective body was not so well prepared for work in the summer sea- son as in former times. He then proceeded to urge upon the church the necessity of pre- pairing for the fall campaign against the hosts of evil and assured them that they could with safety adopt the words of the text for their motto. He urged them to re- member that if any good work was to be ac- complished in the church it must be done by those spiritual forces which may be brought into activity by the church itself. The pas tor closed with an earnest appeal to the church to unite with him in the great work before them, using for their motto the words of the text.
 Personal.
 Professor w. K. Townsend is at Mount Kineo, Moosehead Lake, Maine.
 John Stack, jr., and Sol. Asher, who have been playing in Providence, have returned home.
 George Ridge, while riding on his bicycle, took a header in front of the postofice yes terday afternoon. He escaped with a few bruises.
 Miss Fannie c. Howe has returned from her sojourn at Asbury Park and is prepared to resume her instructions in singing and on the piano.
 E. H. Eggleston and J. H. Bronson start this morning to ride to Springfield on their bicycles to attend the three days bicycle tournament in that city. ..-.. . George W. Somers, of West Haven, clerk in the freight office of the Northampton rail road has gone on a two weeks vacation to be spent mostly in the West.
 MT. Harry Allaway, late city editor of the News, was given parting banquet in this city by few of his numerous friends on Saturday evening. He leaves to take his old position on the New York Times after paying a visit to his parents in Dover, Del, and talk ing trip into central New York.
 A DOVE IN A PULPIT
 Lights on the Pastor's Head Dur
 ing Service-A Remarkable Scene
 in the East Haven Congregational
 Church Yesterday Morning -SiRgu.
 lar Condolences. .
 The worshippers ia the East Haven Con gregationa1 church yesterday morning wit messed scene that will be long remembered. The pastor, Rev. MT. Clark, was about fin ha sermon when dove lit upon the center gal lery in full view of the congregation and be- gan gently cooing. As the clergyman fin ished his prayer the dove flew to the side gallery and perched on the gallery rail ing about opposite the clergyman. When the pastor was reading the chapter from which his text was taken the dove cooed when the pastors tones grew louder and stopped when he paused. The pastor was reading the 1st chapter of Johns gospel and when he read the 32d verse and came to the clause, tI saw the spirit descending from heaven like dove, and it abode upon him." the dove, which had by it's motions indicat- ed an intention of flying to the pastor, flew to the sacred desk and perched directly upon the open pages of the sacred volume. The pastors text was the 4th verse of the chapter. The dove shortly after flew in 8 circle over the singers heads in the side seats and settled down upon the platform below the pulpit, and here it remained throughout the sermon, occasional ly emitting ''coo" as if in appreciation either of the pastors words or the share of notice the congregation gave it. At the conclusion of the sermon the pastor stepped down to lead in the sacrament services, and before doing so closed the Bible, where upon the dove flew up and lit upon the closed book and cooed. The bird thrice stepped off the book and returned to it. It then nestled down by the side of the sacred book and remained there until the sacrament ser vice was closed. The climax here arrived. MT. Clark finished the service with few re- marks in which, after noting the interrup- ton that the dove had occasioned as hay ing been remarkable in view of the singular -coincidences which all had noted, he added that as the Holy Spirit had descended on Christ might not the presence of this winged visitor be taken as mathematical of the pres ence of the spirit in this church at this time, whereupon the bird flew and lit directly up on the pastors head. The effect upon the pastor and audience was electrical, and where before the dove had been regarded with sim pie curiosity and had caused smiling faces, now many of the ladies were moved to tears and the whole assembly seemed to be deeply and strangely affected. The pastor took the dove down and held it against his breast, and in that position closed the services with the benediction.
 The dove was Stevey Bradley's pet dove, which, somewhat like Marys little lamb, had followed him, not to school, but to church He saw it following him and motioned it back. The dove flew back, but seeing Stevey's sister en route to church took heart and followed her, and when she entered the church the bird stole in by the gallery stairs and flew into the gallery. There being no one in the galleries the bird had no ono near it, and from this vantage ground descended upon the pulpit.