The Newtown bee., 1890-07-04
SHELTON.
DEDICATION OF THE CHURC

SHELTON.
 DEDICATION OF THE METHODIST CHURCH.
 Sunday, June %, the new Methodist church, which is pleasantly located on an elevation in the central part of the borough, was formally dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. The services were divided into three parts and occu- pied the greater portion of the day and evening. Rev Dr D. A. Goodsell, bish- op of the Methodist church, preached the sermon of the morning. The speaker is one of the most powerful advocates in the Methodist communion and, on this occasion, delivered an impressive and el- oquent address from the text, "Neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me noth- ing,'' urging upon his hearers the lesson of giving to God the best, because he has givenHis best for us and tracing the doc Urine of sacrificial service through the ages of human development in the relig- ious history of mankind. After the ser uuOu3 ltCS Is " SouSil oI DIoohiyh up pealed to the audience for contributions, stating that the cost of the lot and edifice was $11 ,500, that there had already been pledged $4000, that the lot and chapel were estimated at $2S00, leaving deficit of $4700, which he wished to obtain, so that the church might be dedicated free of debt. Few men have greater talent for raising money and, at the end of the morning service, $2775 had been secured.
 Presiding Elder J. W. Beach, D. D., preached at the afternoon service. Bish- op Goodsell announced the hymn and of fered an invocation. Addresses were made by some of the former pastors and resident clergymen. Rev MT Blakeman dwelt on the importance of loyalty to the particular church of ones member ship without bigotry. The depressing effect of church indebtedness and the sacrifice of the obscure ones who had given almost like the widow of old, all their living, to erect this temple of God. Rev E. D. Bassett congratulated the peo- ple and recounted the self denial which the church represented, while he looked forward to greater influence in bringing souls to Christ. Rev E. J. Bosworth ex- tended the congratulations of the Bap- tist church, praying that the Lord may help the sister churches in this commun- ity to work together without friction for the benefit of souls. Rev W. A. Richards of the Birmingham Methodist church ex- tended the hearty congratulations of the mother church, where so many of the people of Shelton formerly engaged in public worship. Rev c. W. Park said, among other things. that he had taken his life in his hand and crossed the Hunt ington bridge to tell the people how cold and unimpressive are the Congregation alists and how he wished sometimes that they could be bitten by the mad dog of l Methodism; it might warm them up a little. He drew a graphic picture of the great church militant with it's divisions of Christian workers like the armies of the sister States, moving grandly on each with it's distinctive emblem, eacf having it's peculiar work to do and over all the blood stained banner of Calvary for which we live and for which all woulo be ready to die. Rev James H. Buck o1 St. James Episcopal church wanted th' people to let the church with it's pur,
 walls exalt their life, making it pur' within. Rev R.S. Putney of Ansonia ex tended the congratulations of the Meth
 odist church in that place, saying, amons
 other things, what the church needs to day is deeper baptism of the Hol,
 Ghost. At the conclusion, $500 was raised
 In the evening, the sermon was preach ed by Rev Dr Couch from the text ssFea not, for will help thee" After the ser mon, the balance of the deficit was can
 celled and the church free of debt conse
 crated by the bishop, who offered tn
 dedicatory prayer. The congregation 7 then rose and sang the doxology, ss Prais
 God from whom all blessings fiow'' an'
 closed with the solemn benediction. Tn event marks the beginning of ney
 epoch in the religious history of thi community.
 7, A. ". Paige is able to sit up and ' slowly improving.
 Dr Leach is building cottage to ren : at South End.
 It is rumored that T new dry good
 store is to be started in the Williams i, Ferguson block.
 o $. R. Beard was in Bridgeport, las $ week, attending to the case of John
 Wheeler of Stratford against the estat of Noah Baldwin, the deceased father-il < law of Mr Beard.
 F The contract for grading Prospect a' ItI enue has been awarded to Henry Boylal
 F.J. Terrill is to build another hon'
 at South End