Connecticut western news., 1892-03-24
THE HOME MISSIONARY RALLY
At Falls Village, March IT, 1892.

At Falls Village, March IT, 1892.
 The churches of Falls Village and South Canaan sent out invitations to twenty -four churches to meet with them at Falls Village In Home Missionary Rally, on March the ]7th. The day was perfect and large audience assem- bled to hear Rev James Homer Parker, of Oklahoma, on 1.-The settlement of New Country" Rev Geo A. Hood, of Boston, on "How we build Churches" W. A. Duncan P. Fl. D. on Sunday School York;" Rev John H. Merely, supt. Home Missions. Minn., on "Home Missions in the North Vest" Rev W. G. Puddefoot. "Glimpses from Missionary Life;" Rev G. L. Maile, Christian Ed ucation;" Rev Chas. W. Shelton. 1.-The Unfinished Work of Our Country" Dr Eddy of Canaan presided. Lunch was served by the churches of Falls Vil- lage and South Canaan. Much good will come from this meeting for Home Missions.
 A better day and better travelling could not be asked. The train from the south seemed to have brought New Milford, Kent, and all the Cornwalls. The train from the north vied with that from the south and gave evidence that the towns in the north were depopula- ted. And then the vehicles from near and from afar; people came on foot and across lots until the question arose, not who are here, but who are left at home? We'll, the time come for the meeting to commence Rev Dr Eddy, the peer of moderators, was chosen chairman. Rev F. A. Johnson, of New Milford, con- ducted the devotional exercises. A word of welcome was given by the pas tor, Rev o. W. Hanna. Rev James Homer Parker, of Oklahoma, was the first speaker of the morning and gave vivid account of how new countries are settled in the west. Rev Geo A. Hood, of Boston, told how the Home Mission sry Society build churches in the west. There came the feeding of the multi tude. It was not five thousand, and few small loaves and fishes, but there was an abundance to eat with no green grass on which to seat the people in companies. The audience was finally marshalled into two divisions, the first of which was served in Mechanics Hall while the second division visited the David M. Hunt Library, took stroll to the falls or leisurely rambled where they wished until their opportunity should come to assemble for rations at the lunch hail.
 At 2 o'clock the inner man had been refreshed, and signal by Dr Eddy in- formed the large audience reassembled, through the kindness of Rev MT Rob- bins and the M. E. people, in the Meth odist church. The opening exercises consisted of a praise service. during which Mrs Geo Ford sang very accep- tably "Cast thy Bread upon the Waters. Y" Rev John Calvin Goddard offered pray CT. The program of the afternoon was then taken up. Rev John H. Merely, superintendent of Home Missions in Minnesota, gave an address on Home Missions in the Northwest, and then, oh what shall say about the thenl We'll, it is almost like trying to describe the indescribable. The programs very modestly spoke of him as a cyclone of fun. We'll, it was 8 tornado, with cy- clone appendages. All who heard MT Puddefoot will perhaps never recover from side ache caused by laughing. He gave us glimpses from Missionary life,
 and don't think anyone who heard
 him will forget what he said and how
 he said it. Rev J.L. Maile represented
 the College and Educational Society,
 and addressed us on Christian Educa-
 tion." And last, but not least, Rev
 Chas W. Shelton, secretary for New England, spoke on 'The Unfinished
 Work of Our Country" The meeting
 was then adjourned and after lunch
 at the hall the people left by the differ
 ent trains for their homes, leaving be-
 hind them many good wishes for their
 host who entertained them so bounti.
 fully.
 It is but reasonable to expect that
 the seed sown on this propitious day
 will bring forth an abundant harvest to
 the glory of God and the future vel fare of our native land.