Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-07
FAIR HAVEN NEWS.

FA1A 6Av EN NE wSs lfter sixty Years-Anniversary Cele- bration at the Methodist Church-A Religious Enterprise Wonderfully Blessed The Pleasant Exercises Last Evening.
 Yesterday was 8 red-1etter day for-the people of the East Pearl street M. E. ,hurch. It was the day set apart to mark ,ixty years of history of this religious en- terprise, and the celebration was season | of joy and graduation for all the people | connected with the church and congrega- | tion. During the day the time was devoted to preparation for the more formal cele- bration of the evening, but all through these hours of preparation there was a hum of conversation kept up about the church so dear to the hearts of all, whose three score years was to be commem- orated.
 The services of the evening began with the banquet spread in the Sunday school room upstairs, for the members of the church and their guests. A fine spread had been prepared by the ladies served from several long tables prettily decorated. The banquet was great success, as all who partook can amply testify.
 Soon after g o'clock the company ad- journed to the auditorium and with the added numbers in waiting the church was crowded. Rev. Hiram Weston, D. D., the pastor, was the toastmaster. The prelimi- nary exercises included selections by the Epworth chorus, Frank Moody, director, and by the quartette. This was followed by a pleasant greeting from the pastor.
 There is & tradition that Methodist meet. ings were held in Fair Haven as early as 1Sl6. A brief history of the society, pre- scented by the pastor, is as follows:
 Methodist meetings were held under the leadership of Ammi Mallory in 1895, in little brown school house on Exchange street. >. -,- '- ,"
 1881 or 'S2 First class is formed; Ammi Mallory, leader. Members: Mary Mallory, Susan Futile, Thyra Chipman, Patty Bunnell, Henrietta Futile, Ebenezer Allen, Thomas Johnson, Sylvia Holt, Will lis Bunnell, James Thomson and David Bunnell.
 1881 or '32. First church built: loca- tion, Exchange street, near East Pearl, size, 32x24; cost, s65O. Wilbur Fisk, president of Wesleyan college, Middletown, present.
 1883. First board of trustees: Ammi Mallory, Ebenezer Allen and Zina Nal lory.
 1885, New and larger church built, on corner of Exchange and East Pearl streets, and dedicated by Rev. Nathan Bangs, D. D. Cost of church nearly $6,000; built chiefly through the generosity of George Bristol.
 1871. Corner stone of present church edifice laid Addresses made by Rev. M. L. Scudder, presiding elder, and Rev. J. M. Bucklev D. D.
 1873. Present church dedicated by Bishop Simpson.
 1884. The new parsonage is built. The elegance, stability and beauty of church and parsonage are apparent to all.
 The present value of the church proper ty is estimated at $50, ,O00 and there is small debt of 5000. The membership is 528.
 H. W. Crawford, treasurer of the Park ington Sinking fund, made a report on same, which is in part as follows: 'In the year 1880 our church was burdened with 8 debt of 10000, which was the cause of great anxiety on the part of our pastor, Rev. George A. Parkington, and of the official brethren of the church. After much thought sinking fund was proposed by our pastor to raise $1 ,000 year. After five years the trustees were unanimous in continuing the fund and in respect to our pastor, who did not live to see the full fruits of the plan, the fund was named the George A. Parkington Memorial Sinking Fund.- On September 10, 1883, the land upon which our old church stood was offered to us and the board of trustees took formal action and voted to buy the property and to erect thereon a substantial brick parsonage for the clergy of this church. The wisdom and good judgment of oAG o1a iV,% houo been questioned.
 The cost of land, building, furnishing, etc., amounted to over $9,O00, of which amount $6, 900 was raised by subscriptions and other ways, and a $3,O00 mortgage was placed upon the property. This action resulted in increasing our whole indebted ness from $1O, 900 to $13,000.
 Now after the expiration of the second five years, making ten years in all, have the pleasure of making my tenth and final report.
 Of this s13,OOO of indebtedness on our church property s11 ,000 has been paid. have been taken up and our indebtedness now consists of note of $2,000 in the Connecticut Savings bank, secured by the personal obligations of the trustees. Thus as the years have rolled by during the past decade, by the blessings of our heavenly father your contributions have been silent ly dropping into this fund, and the result is one which causes gratitude and thanks giving to the kind providence who has blessed you and East Pearl street M. B.. church for so many years. He will con- tinue to bless his church long after the present actors have passed away.
 Rev. Dr. Weston made further report on the finances, which included the fol- lowing statement:
 The above magnificent work does not include all the generous doing of the East Pearl street church and people. While paying into this fund and meet ing current expenses they have also dur ing the last ten years done the following work, thus completing their church and parsonage:
 Frescoed res the interior of the entire church. 1soo Completed the spire. e....................... sso0 competapd cu ln p1Ps the soea and kitchen apart ments of the church. ............... 1S5 Enlarged the pulpit platform. 165 Improved the parsonage at cost of..... 154
 For these improvements they have raised and paid $12, ,462, making the grand total, including the sinking fund, of $23, ,462. In passing let me remind you of the faith, the heroism and self-sacrifce of the people who prayed and paid prior to the ten years I JuSG 1dOGcO, duA UuuS AAho0 tAc5o tcA J Cnl D possible. That you may continue with your faces toward the sunrise and build a spiritual church home which shall exceed the past as the reaping exceeds the sowing, is the prayer of your pastor.
 Of the surviving pastors Rev. George A. Hubbell, pastor in 1850-51, who was invit- ed, was i'll at his home. Rev. George Stillman, 18634, had prior engagement at his home on Long Island. Rev. R. H. Gallagher, 1873-5, now president of Apple ton university, Michigan, was too far away to attend, and Rev. Samuel M. Ham mond, 1981-3, was officiating ata wedding. The former pastors who were present and spoke words of congratulation were Rev. Henry D. Latham, and Rev. Edward Gun ningham and Rev. Arthur H. Goodenough, both of Brooklyn, N. Y. It was a delight to the people to welcome their old pastors again.. .a ... -.- .,.-.- -~~
 F. c. Hill spoke of the church up to 1871, John Sanford, 2d, told of the history from 1871 to the present time, and L. W. Moody spoke of the church's probable flu ture. During the evening there was fine music by the chorus and quartette.
 The church was prettily decorated with towering and foliage plants. The recep- tion rooms were made very pretty. The lamp shades were of various colors which gave soft and mellow light. These rooms were also made attractive with pretty paintings and engravings, cut flowers, etc. A book for registering the names of the