Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-09
PITTsFIRLD FIRST CHURCH.

Ats 125th Anniversary Celebration
 New Haven Represented as the In-
 teresttng Occasion.
 The First Congregational church of Pitts. field celebrated the 125th anniversary of its organization Thursday. and the occasion was one of peculiar and lasting importance and interest. It was a quiet observance, devoid of ostentation. It was simply the gathering together of the generations of greatly pros pered Christian people, to draw aside the curtain and look for a little down the 125 years of their corporate existence-dating from the day when Parson Allen, youth of about 90 years, was ordained with 8 service of puritanical simpioity-and to render thanks for the blessings vouchsafed through these many years. Three sessions were held, not including the reception in the chapel from 5 to 2 o'clock, and at all of them the attendance was large, The sermon of the pastor, the historical papers and the evening addresses were extremely entertaining, and even the singing of the choir was in full ac- cord with the spirit of the past which the oc- oasion so forcibly recalled.
 The attendance was large, among those present being President and Mrs. Carter, Prof. and Mrs. Griffin, Prof. and Mrs. Nor ris and Rev. MT. Austin of Williamstown; J. N. Dunham and wife of Springfield, Hen. ry Marquand and Frederick T. West of New York, Mrs. ". E. Cushing and Mrs. H. Wood of Cleveland, O., Rev. and Mrs. W. w. 0. O. Bartlett and Prof. o. O. West of Brook lyn, Mrs. H. 0. Cogswell of Bridgeport, Rev. T. T. Munger and Prof. George E. Day of New Haven, Conn.,, Mrs. N. H. Brown and H. W. Dwight and family of Boston, Rev. Myron S. Dudley of North Wilbraham. and Mrs. John Parker, Miss Julia 0. Burbank and Mrs. c. N. Spencer of Hartford; Prof. Humphrey Neill of Amherst; Rev. and Mrs. Andrews of Dalton: Mrs. Dr. Brinsmade of Great Barrington; Mrs. Elizabeth H. Cook of Chatham. N.Y.; Rev. H, Laird and Rev.J.C. Seagrave, Hinsdale; Mrs F.J. Gibbs, Lee; Mrs. Aaron Baker of West Sylvania, O.; Mir. and Mrs. James s. Fowler of Buffalo and Rev. Mir. Sargent of Adams. The pastors of the Pitts6sld churches of other denomin stions showed thsir interest by attending.
 The service opened with an anthem by the choir, and after scripture reading and prayer by Prof. Day of New Haven, Mir. Jenkins at once proceeded with his address
 A paper was read by W. l.. Adams on church buildings and furniture. Harlsnd H. Ballard gave an interesting talk on "Parson Aliens Shorthand" Parson Allen used Westerns system of stsnography now obso- lete. Informal speeches were made by Hem ry Marqusnd, of New York, President Car ter of Williams college (formerly of Yals),
 
 Hill of Norwich and others. Prof. Days talk was in the line of mem- ories of his boyhoed days in Pittsfeld. The pastor, Rev. Mr. Jenkins, in that part of his address devoted to memoirs of former pas tors of his church, spoke naturally at some length of Rev. Dr. John Todd, father of Rev. Dr. John E. Todd of New Haven. In his introductory words regarding Dr. Todd: "His worth is so recent, so conspicuous in the memory of those hearing me, all are so familiar with his achievements, that no word is needed from me. None is needed. but to withhold would be & self-violence. Long 8 stranger, and as such entering into his labors, must bear my testimony to the excellence of what he did for the church he so long served and loved. This most peeu- liar and richly gifted man will be often dur ing the day and night before our minds; not too often, and we shall not render him too generous homage. We are amid his works; this people is his workmanship, and the workmanship honors the workman.
 Rev. MT. Hill of Norwich, Conn.,, who was called upon to speak of Dr. Todd, gave per. sonal reeollections of that good man. He was the first man who was married in the new church. Miss Todd, daughter of the pastor, became his bride. The first sermon MT. Hill ever preached he preached in the pulpit of the First church.