Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-06-08


one of the new lights He had said that
If man was not moved by the Holy
Spirit, the reading of the Bible would do
him no more good than the reading of an
almanaek. Well, the consolation put him |
out of the church and then said they had
snuffed out one of the new lights and that /
they proposed to snuff them all out. But /
few years later he was heard of at Ches-
ter, Mass, where his light continued to |
burn for ffty-years. I speak of these just |
to show the spirit Of the times $50 years
ago. But 1t Is the present we all are more
interested in and think we ought to take
pleasure In coming out and expressing our
hearty appreciation of the work of one
man in one of our New England country
towns"
ADDRESS BY REV. MR.. sToWELL.
The Rev. Mr.. Marvin then called upon
the Rev. Mr.. stowell, the former pastor of
the ichurch, his predecessor. A man
of medium height, smooth shaver, with
white hair and strong but beautiful feat
ures, with full black eye, arose from a
seat in the rear of the church. Advancing
midway down the aisle he said: "Some
remarks were to have been made on the
Ideal church. The ideal church is not the
Congregational church, bat the church of
the Lord, Jesus Christ. There can be no
other church but the church of Jesus
Christ" He then said that no people
were more vili6ed than the Puritans and
copalians of Virginia. The Congregational
church today is the church of America
The people of New England should be
proud of it and should throw heart and
soul into Its support. He then called up
on his hearers to stand by the Lord Jesus
Christ, to lead lives of religion as taught
by Him and to worship IN the Divine faith
in the ideal church, the church of Jesus
Christ.
REMARKS BY REV. DIR. TwITCHELL.
DR.. Twitchell of Dwight place Congre-
gational church then made few remarks
I on "Changes in the Forms of Work and
Worship in the Congregational Church"
He spoke in part as follows:
con listening to Rev. Mr.. Marvin's SER
mon this morning ono would think that
the people who were operating this coun-
try east and west had all come from Wood
bridge. But be that as it may, the record
! shows that they are ali doing well. Thus
the Woodbridge church has been making
/ it's impression on the life of the country
all through these years.
"The New England minister of CEN
fury and half ago was the parson or
principal man of the place. He was the
head in religion and Learning. He was
generally settled for life over his parish,
and think that there Is trio of minis
ters here to day who are rather following
in the lead of the old fashioned parson in
| that respect-Rev. Mr.. Reynolds of North
Haven, Raw. DR.. Willard of Westville and
Rev. Mr.. Marvin of Woodbridge. DR..
Willard settled at Westville In '55 and has
| been there thirty-sight years. Mr.. Rey-
nolds settled in North Haven in '65 and
has been there twenty-eight years. Mr..
Marvin settled in Woodbridge in go and
has been there twenty-four years.
"There has been great change in the
| off the palms, and there was great con-
tention when they attempted to do away
with 1t. Now the singer in some opera at
the theater on Saturday night assumes to
lead the worship in the house of God on
Sunday morning in many of our fashion
able city churches. I ask the people of
God to raise their voice against such Gus
TOM"
DR.. Twitchell then traced some of the
changes which had come about and WAS
followed by
REMARKS BY REV. DIR. M'LANK.
Rev. DR.. NcLane of the College street
Congregational church, spoke on "The
Pews the Pillars of the Church." He
spoke in part as follows:
"There will be no pews without the pull
pit. No man could be great preacher or
pastor who does not have a great people
for his support. He is much affected by
his environment. A careless and light
congregation can do much to render spirit
less the work of the pastor. The congre-
Cation contributes largely to the spiritual
energy which flows from that pulpit. You
are accustomed to think Jesus Christ
could do anything, but he could not do
anything with indifference and blind un-
/ belief: 1t Is necessary not only that there
should be faith, but there should be re-
captivity. A minister who speaks spirit
| ual things and things of heaven must speak
| to people whose hearts are open to the
things of God. He who prays for the
highest things of God is lifted up because
he knows he is voicing the highest wants
| of his congregation. The congregation
should be great inspiration to the pulpit.
What an evidence of the spirituality of
| church when for $50 years men of like tai
ents to other men have been lifted up by
their congregation to speak the deep truths
/ OF God. This church stands as a monu-
ment OF the spirituality of the community.
speak to you who are beginning the
| second part of the second century of this
| church history who may be growing a
little careless in church matters You
may think that you harm no one but your
self in staying away from church, but you
detrset just so much from the minister's
inspiration. Spiritual inspiration comes
| largely from the influence Of one soul upon
another, and an enthusiastic and appreci-
alive congregation Is the greatest possible
help minister can have. Be always ready
to praise your minister when he breaches
good sermon and he will do better the
next time. I really think that the eonpre-
CATION determines the preaching powers of
pastor"
THE EVENING SESSION.
At O'Clock those present adjourned to
the basement for refreshments and the
meeting reassembled at 7:3O when Rev.
Mr.. Hunt spoke on "The Fraternal Spirit
of Congregatienalism." He was followed
by Rev. Mr.. Mulch of the Howard Avenue
Congregational church who spoke On 'The
Relations of the Sabbath School and
Christian Endeavor to the Church"
ADDRESS BY REV. DIR. WILLARD.
Rev. DR.. Willard of the Westville Con-
gregational church then made the closing
address of the day, speaking on ''The
Good Things of Woodbridge" He said in
part: Woodbridge is blessed with multi
tude of good things, not the least of which
is its good air. The hills and valleys Of
this township is sort Of . 'ehaking- hands
IL