Morning journal and courier., 1889-08-27
MILFORD STILL CELEnRATING.s

pleasant tnlnHs hpoub tno ouubou and the gentlemen whom he was in- troducing. The venerable looking old chair which was formerly among the possessions of Governor Robert Treat stood near tho pulpit, and this Calhoun occupied as he pre- sided over the evenings exercises. He be- gan the ceremonies by expressing the pleas ure which all felt in gathering within the old cherished church to hold an unpreten- tious social reunion, and congratulat- ed his many brethren before him in once again visiting their old parish. He said he had noticed two points of Congre- gationalism brought out in Mir. North's ad- dress: First that the Congregational church is always built on a square, and second that Congregationalists are great conversational ists. He called upon Rev. MT. Fitzgerald of Milford Episcopal church, as the next speak or.
 Rev. Mir. Fitzgerald began his remarks with very entertaining story about some of his Episcopal brethren. He said he was en- tirely edifed in the services yesterday and knew the people recognized that they had en- tered into new age. The church in the old days, said he, was quite different from the church of to-day. .Episcopalians were not perhaps. But the great problem of this day is spiritual unity. And this, think, we are approaching nearer and nearer every year.
 Mayor Peck, of New Haven, WAS called upon and responded very happily. He said that in looking over his pedigree he found that his progenitor was Joseph Peck, who came over to Milford sometime near 1645. His great grandfather was captain in the Revolutionary war and his grandfather was the architect and founder of Milfords first church. The Mayor remarked that he did not think man should pride himself much in ancestry, however great they may have been, for the best part of it is like unripe potato and under ground. l think it would be we'll, he continued, in speaking of the bigotry which our old fathers sometimes fell into, to look and see if the pendulum has not swung too far the other way. We may bs coming too near to an age of lightness. The
 Mayor, thought, however, that the ceiebra-
 tion ought to go on without thinking much
 of this possibility.
 Rev. MT. Cowies then made few remarks. He said he hardly knew whether he was a Methodist or Congregationalist, for he had studied under various professors of different creeds. He spoke with much feeling of the fine college acquaintances which he had among his Congregational brethren. I like Copgregationalists also, said he, because they
 are euch magnificent fighters. If you ques-
 tion this look at the grand discussions and debates being carried on to-day all through the land. Our brethren are bearing a bold part in them. I admire this church for it's vigor. It was well born, and that's good
 deal. am delighted with the spirit of the men who founded this church and by the good work done by it since.
 Hon. s. M. Hotchkiss of Hartford followed. He began by bringing the greetings of sis- ter church in Hartford, which celebrated it's anniversary in 1889. He told many anecdotes
 of early church life in England and the church of Joseph Hooker.
 Rev. Mr. Hunt of Orange said he was happy to congratulate the church, not only for the
 good work done during the past 250 years,
 but also during the last 48 hours. He told
 several pleasant stories
 Colonel Baird, US. A., said that there was
 an impression that the sword and gown were
 antagonistio somewhat, but he assured the clergymen present that he thought there was much sympathy between the two professions.
 This came from the one fact of duty. This is fundamental in both. There is close
 relationship between old Puritan churches
 and military spirit, and it Is strongly shown in the Old Testament. Every true patriotic
 man, he thought, was a soldier. The soldier
 is the man who must transmute patriotism from an emotion to an action. This was grandly illustrated 28 years ago when the first bugle of war sounded.
 The wife of a former pastor of the First church, Mrs. Riddle, spoke very pleasantly. l She dwelt very forcibly upon the honor which belonged to the wives of ministers. They were ably defended and the speaker proved most interesting, The late Mrs. Brace, the wife of a former pastor of the First church, was highly eulogized by Mrs. Riddle. She said she spoke of her as an ex- ample of the great work which women can do in a church. Three-fourths of church members are women, she said, and if the affairs of the church roll smoothly, it is be- cause woman is continually at work smooth ing over difficulties, making everything smiling and joyous and bearing every trial with sweet and Christian patience.
 The chairman agreed with Mrs. Riddle that the minister's wife was e great power In the church and spoke of many women whom he was acquainted with who were preaching themselves.
 The elder of the First church of Brooklyn Rev. E. P. Tibballs, spoke eloquently tor [ few minutes. He told of many happy hour which he had spent in the old Sunday schoo | of the First Milford church, with Betsy Tow | Ter and Samuel Platt as his teachers. H, paid a glowing tribute to the memory O these cherished friends. In speaking of tn, honored forefathers who had founded tn, church, he declared that the spirit that con | queIed in the late rebellion was the same al | that which had stood like stone wall upoI Bunker Hill, and that was in at the death a | the surrender of Cornwallis in Virginia. H continued with many words of praise for th | old pioneers.
 Milford had the first saw mill that wa ever set up in North America or England | Chairman Calhoun, and the first carrisg bridge for the crossing of teams ia Nortf America.
 This bridge was on the same spot where
 the new memorial bridge now stretches. H, then called upon Rev. J. G. Baird.
 The speaker said that he had relative oi the same name who came to Milford in 1889 He mentioned several well known names which were and are borne by relatives of his He, ss did Brother Tibbals before him, spok very feeling of the old infsn both sat long ago and daugled their leg down from the high seat.
 The chairman then remarked that som, people thought that the church began witl Peter Prudden and had been Petering ou
 ever since. To show that this was not so he called upon Rev. MT. Riddle, of Norwalk
 who began his ministry at the First churcl in 1875.
 Rev. Mr. Riddle began very wittily. H'
 said he wanted it understood that neithe
 himself nor his wife had "petered out" Ii
 fact he thought that he had grown fat sine, he had left Milford. He said if there wa any "petering out" 1t was with his wife, bu Mrs. Riddle smiled with confidence which preoluded that idea. H
 said that himself and wifi, had put their young lives into the good lift | and welfare of the church and had alway
 been joyful that they did it. He though | the present was no ordinary celebration ant | that none had half risen to the magnitude O { the affair. He eulogized Connecticut mel | and brains and said that, if true to itself, thu | influence of the State would be felt all ove the world.
 In closing the evenings programme Chair man Calhoun said that the occasion had beel one long to be remembered and spoke strong | ly of the importance of true Christian worl in the ohuIch. He characterized the ol, founders of Milford in 1889 as seers, God
 fearing, loyal and digniAed.
 mlLFORD,s FETR CHAmPETRE. A Brilliant Society Affair upon th
 Durand Grounds as Broad an,
 River streess-A Gay Spectacle.
 One of the most beautiful events of Mil
 tord's big four-day celebration was the fet
 champetre, Gypsy camping ground, as 1t wa
 called, that was given under the auspices o
 the Junior Aid society of St. Peter's Episco pal church on the Durand Grounds at Broa,
 and River streets last evening. As the train
 of the Consolidated road passed through tn
 town the passengers looked down upon a
 brilliant and happy a scene of mirth and eel ebration as one ever saw. A veritable gar den of lights andlanterns spread out in all di rections over the ground. Within the cente of the gaily lighted inclosure sat the Milfor, cornet and brass band and the note | vhioh continually poured from thei