Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-11-05
FINELY CELEBRATED.

The One Hundred and Fiftieth An
niversary of the Episcopal Church |
In West Haven-A Notable 0ccasiO
Addresses by Rev. MIR. Lines and
Rev. DR.. Seabury In the Day Time
The Evening Addresses-Other
Interesting Features of tho Occa-
sion.
The one hundred and fftieth anniver-
sary of Christ church, West Haven, was
finely celebrated yesterday. The attend
ance despite the lowery skies of the morn
ing and the rain of the afternoon and
evening was large and the interest
taken in the event commensurate with its
significance and interesting historical
character. 1t was day of not few
most pleasant reunions when some of the
old familiar faces long absent were again
present in the sanctuary amid hallowed
associations which memory brought up
from the murky vista of years long past.
The presence of several of the former
pastors added greatly to the interest of
the occasion. Bishop Williams was alb
sent, which, though sore disappoint-
ment, was not wholly unantici-
pated, as the multiplicity of
the labors and appointments
of this, one of the most
revered and loved of prelates, and his
| somewhat delicate health in his advancing
years, had rendered his attendance some
what uncertain. He, however, cent let
ter of regret stating this inability to be
present owing to the state of his health.
He was to have administered the holy com
| vi had
ices. In the absence of the bishop the
Rev. DR.. Seabury of the general seminary
of the Episcopal church made q few re-
marks, while Rev. Mr. Lines of st. Paul's
and Rev. Mr. Whitney, the rector of the
| church, conducted the service. At 1870
there was an early service at which Rev
Mr.. Wcodcock of the Church of the Ascen
sion in Ansonia read the itsny. At 11:3(
the holy communion took place, which wa
, participated in by the members of tn,
, clergy of the New Haven county convoca
, ton, former rectors of the parish and forme
and present parishioners. There were ais
. present clerical and other descendants O
the early rectors of the church. Rev. MI
Seabury, who preached the sermon, is
descendant of Rt. Rev. Samuel Seabury
D. D., the first bishop of the parish. Rev
Seabury's address was very brief and hi
remarks to the congregation were in par
as follows:
My first word to you is one of congratu
| lation. You have accomplished perio
\ of $50 years, long one, indeed, in thi
country, where everything is shifting an
changeable. Such a period is memorial
epoch in the history of any corporate bod
and a notable one in the history of on
church in Connecticut. What memorie
q may cluster about these years know MOI
and it ia for others to speak of such thing
have hastily looked over the records {
"a your church and find that the first bisho
n visited this church in June, 1899, and COL
a frmed eighteen persons. The words {
his text on that occasion were, "For OF
n conversation is in heaven" How apprs
n pirate are these words to to- days servic,
held 100 years since.
, How much there is for us to carry ava
4 from the service to-day. We are all cit
). zens In heaven. We believe that we liy
~ here only in preparation for that which
IS to come and that those whom we lay
r. tho ground rest in conscious existence, an
" in the place of departed spirits are OF
n with us and look forward to that blesse
y day of reunion of all Gods people. cal
ID not but think that this is one of thoi
X happy condolences which occur in the o
binary services and which every goo
n. charchman notices as the services 60 Of
r. that your rector to-day should read in Il
:. preface of the hymn of a getty Prepared
b. while 100 years ago your bishop preache
le of citizenship in heaven"
r. The communion service concluded at
o'clock, and fine luncheon, provided wi
their proverbial hospitality by the churt
T. ladies, was then served to the visitors.
# At o'clock the afternoon meeting begs
IN with literary and business meeting of Il
IN convocation, followed by the reading of {
p historical essay by Rev. Mr.. Lines of S
Pauls church.
- In speaking of the early history of Il
10 church Rev. Mr.. Lines said
n FEATURES MR.. LINES ADDRESS
~ little company of men in and about Yale c.
y | lege, now happily established at New Have
IF were thinking and reading about the claims
1f the Church of England against independent
" There we're seven men in that company of see
r. ers after the truth in respect to church ord
o Yas
st Congregational minister In New Haven, Dan
Brown Of West Haven, tutor in the collee
n, Elliot Of Kiliingworth, John Hart Of e.
ID Guilford, Samuel whittlesey. Of Wellington
IN
to | autumn of 1725 Connecticut startled in
at way which can hardly be described too strong
OF with the announcement that Cutler, JohDst
ad Browne, Wetmore and perhaps other. had
d clared for Episcopacy. President Woolsey
re- | Yale said that greater alarm would scarcely
tn awakened now il the theological faculty Of t
SO faculty were to declare for the church Of Ron
E. | avow their belief in and pray to the Virs
m Mary" Quincy, IN his history of Harvard u
yersity, writes: This event shook k: Congrel
W. quake, and filled all its friends with terror a
~ | apprehension
en- en- Wetmore to seek ordination in the church
at' England gave the Episcopal church an assur