Morning journal and courier., 1890-03-27
ROLL CALL AND REUNION.
A Large Gathering at tho First M. K. Church Lass NiGht-The Church's Last Debt ObliteYated.

Last Debt Obliterased.
 There was large and exceedingly happy gathering at the First M. E. church last rejoicing for the complete and final oblitera- ton of the last of the church's debt. Mem- bers young and old filled the church and e general reunion such as Is seldom seen in churches was tho result.
 The evenings exercises were notably in- formal and began about half-past seven. There was roll call and each member re- sponded to his name. There were between 400 and 500 present. With Rev. Dr. N. B. Chapman, the pastor, was Presiding Elder B. N. Adams, former and we'll remem- bered pastor. They received the hosts of guests with cordial hand shaking and @ pleasant word for each.
 The oldest member present was Rev. Aaron s. Hill. He was baptized by Rev. Jesse Lee, the founder of Methodism in New Haven and the small towns of southern New church debt. Eaton Allen was another old member present. There were eleven pres- ent who had been members of the church over fifty years. "Thus you see," said Dr. Chapman, i've are healthy church. We are not only strong in Christianity, but in the body as we'll"
 zone of the things that have lain heavily on this church for a number of years," cons tinued Dr. Chapman, "is 0 church debt. One of the elements of rejoicing tonight is that this debt is cancelled"
 "Brother Lew Gilbert then came forward with the cancelled mortgage papers. There was one of SC, 300 dated April 3, 1877, and one of $10, 900 dated January 15, 1878. The church now feels great cause for rejoicing, said Mir. Gilbert, for there is now no mort- gages or debts unpaid on either the church or parsonage.
 Dr. Chapman said the documents would be rut among the church archives, and hoped the church would never again be burdened with obligations. He said the treasury was now In excellent shape. The next thing be- | fore us, said he with @ smile, is the meeting with your old pastor, Brother D. M. Adams. The old pastor said that he thought that q roll-call was fine thing. He spoke or the pleasure which he could not but feel to be again among the bright faces or his old | parishoners. We are in the anniversary business, we may say, this year, said he. Four weeks ago on Sunday we celebrated the
 end of the first centennial of Methodism in
 Stamford. This is both glorious and sad time-glorious because of this large and happy reunion, and sad because still there | are some absent ones whose absence ts due to death. The Methodist Episcopal church
 has made grand record in the United States
 and will continue to go on its way
 rejoicing. The reason why it has grown SC | in constituents is because 1t has been perse | cuted 90 much. If you want thing to grow
 make faces at 1t, persecute 1t. It will then
 flourish If 1t is a healthy thing. Why 1t ii
 not stronger on Long leland is because it has
 had too easy time.
 | MT. Adams gave many amusing and inter
 esting anecdotes of the early days of Method
 ism in Connecticut and spoke very feelingly
 of his many friends among his old parishion | ers. e' The evenings exercises were interspersed
 with music, and the gathering will be placed
 upon record ss notable one in the history , of tho church.