Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-06
\ PRosrEHoUs OUTLOOK.

The Now year Ron Call Head Last Evening at the Dwight Place Church-Iore Than Four Hundred Responses-A Poem Read.
 The annual roll call of members belong ing to Dwight Place church was held last evening in the lecture room, and nearly 500 people were present. For nearly two hours and half E. H. Barnum, clerk of the meeting, was busy reading the roll of 683 names, from which a little over 400 responses were obtained This was very favorable showing over the roll call of last year, when only 28O were present to reply when their names were read. Interspersed with the reading of the names there was singing. There were between forty and fifty letters received from the absent mem bers, all expressing the deepest regret that they could not be present, and wishing the new year to be rich one in blessings for the church. Among the letters received were those from Frederick M. Ryder, United States consul at Quebec, and one from his wife, from Fannie E. Sperry in Chicago, one from Mary F. Thompson in Litch6eld, R. B. Barnum from Bridgeport,
 
 lar1y touching, coming from member who has been practically shut in from the world for the past twenty-two years, an invalid.
 At the conclusion of the roll-call few remarks were made by the pastor, who spoke with feeling You don't realize, he said, how much it means, many time, when silence follows the reading of g members name. You don't know, per haps, what sorrow or suffering it is that has caused the absence of many. I want you to look out and see to which one of these 683 you may be ministering angel. Go out in the name of the master and be comforter and blessing to many. During the evening the following poem by William Edward Penney, and dedicated to the Dwight Place battalion, was read and enthusiastically received:
 THE ROLL CALL. DEDICATED TO THE DWIGHT PLACE BAT
 NEW HAVEN, CONN.,, DECEMBER, 1890.
 By William Edward Penney.
 In these days when truth and error
 ' Battle iercely for control,
 Zion needs to know her soldiers,
 Halt the ranks and call the roll!
 And the brave Dwight Place battalion,
 Nearly seven hundred strong,
 Gladly halls the order given,
 As it peals the ranks along.
 Some of our brave ones have fallen,
 And are now beyond the goal,
 Who are left beneath our banner?
 Halt battalion! Call the roll!
 Surely not one has deserted
 From our ranks, away the thought!
 Who would leave a cause so holy,
 With such endless glory fraught?
 It is better to fall fighting
 For the right, than live slave, Scars received in open battle
 Are the glory of the brave
 Far and wide the combat deepens, Life and death in conflict meet, Shall not the Dwight Place battalion Fearlessly the issue greet? Where the orifiame of Jesus Flashes brightly in the van, We will ever be found fighting Sturdiy for God and man. sEver onward,' is our motto; Fearlessly through good and i'll,
 Wa w GIr radT Esss1 foilo% s Faith and hope were never stronger Since the conflict first began; Truth immortal plants her banner On new fields for God and man. s'Forward the Dwight Place battalion!'' Comes the captain order clear And with solid front it grandly Dashes forward with cheer. But when comes a lull in battle, Then, my comrades, let each soul Stand erect and proudly answer To the calling of the roll. So, when the Dwight Place battalion, Shall before the king appear, And the roll is called in heaven, Each of us may answer, "Here!''
 The words of the last hymn entitled ''Ths Roll Call Hymn" were also composed by MT. Penney. The hymn was sung t. | the tune "Webb." A vote of thanks was extended to Mir Barnum for his efficient services in read | ing the roll. J. T. McDermott was chairman of tn meeting and c. W. Clapp secretary. Oak ! and cream refreshments were served.