The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-03-30
AN INTERPRETING REvIBW.
Rapid Growth and Prosperity of New Ha-
 ven ChuIch.

whom he Is about to separate to enter upon another field of pastoral labor: Dear Brethren and Friends;
 It is with much pleasure that we send out this pastoral report of the three years work accomplished during the present pastorate. In hastily glan- cling back over the three years it seems almost incredible to believe the results achieved for God and Methodism.
 When the "old St. John street M. E. church property" was sold in 1890 very few believed the society could survive, so sent had 1t become with dissensions and divisions.
 A mere remnant of the membership was identified with the new movement which inaugurated. its work in the East Rock part of the city at the corner of Orange and Edwards streets, under the name of the Epworth M. E. church.
 A rude wooden building, fondly called "The Tabernacle" was erected and tha little society went zealously to work in its new quarters.
 The first pastor in the new locality, Rev. W. c. Blakeman, labored faithful ly to build up the society, spiritually and financially, and the church grew somewhat under his administration.
 In the autumn of 1891 a committee from Epworth church waited upon the present pastor, at that time stationed in New Milford, and very soon a call was extended and accepted Bishop Goodsell, in April, 1892, appointed the present pastor to Epworth church, and with great anxiety the new pastor en- tered upon his work,
 The demand for the erection of the new church was imperative and the church building committee repeatedly assured the new pastor that eight thou sand ($S,00O) dollars was the sum that he needed to raise in order to make the erection of the projected new editice certainty.
 The financial outlook for the new church was gloomy enough. The church membership, although financially poor, was rich in faith and exhibited so much enthusiasm that it speedily became ap- parent to the entire city that the Ep- worth church people meant business.
 Jews. Roman Catholics and Protest ants of every denominational name, to the number of 2,511 persons, rallied to the aid of the pastor. Subscriptions, ranging from 25 cents to $500 kept pouring into the coffers of the church, So great was the faith of the people and so nightly did they labor that almost as if by magic the massive church structure sprang into exist ence.
 
 When the dedlcatlaa day, Sunday, March 19 1S9S), arrived. Bishop Cyrus Foss was amazed at the beauty of the new sanctuary and his wonderment was still more manifest as he witnessed the noble sacrifices made by many for the liquidation of the debt of the church.
 The entire valuation of the church including the parsonage lot, is fifty-one thousand &51 ,00O dollars. About SIT 900 was realized from the sale of the "old St. John street" prop erty, after all debts were paid
 Before, since and during dedication week, pledges have been taken by the pastor with the following result:
 Whole amount pledged, 1928, 97S.S3; in- terest to April l. 1895, $1,23250 total S25, ,2O6.3S. Paid, 17,39s4S; interest to April 1, 1895, $1, 1,OS250; total. $1S S4S0,93 Due, $6,575.4O; interest to April 1, 1895, $150; total S6,7254O. Outstanding debt, $17,000. Less pledges, $6,725.40. Unprovided debt, $10,274.60. These financial statements have been | examined and are approved: James White, George H. Bunnell, auditing committee from board of trus- | tees. Since dedication the beautiful walks l lround the church property have been | aid, and the grounds graded at a con iderable expense, which together with | careful pruning of the subscription | ist of the building fund pledges, has | iept the pastor constantly busy in mak- ng up arrearages
 While so much has been accomplish d financially, the spiritual work has ,dvanced apace.
 One hundred and thirteen members were enrolled in April, 1892, and in farch, 1895, 247 members are reported, | ogether with six probationers.
 The Sunday school also has enjoyed reat prosperity, and with no dead yood on the list, 1884 persons are iden- flied with the school.
 The Y. P. S. c. E. with sixtysix | the Ladies Aid society with orty-five members; the Woman's For ign Missionary society, with forty we members, and the band of Earn st Workers" with sixty members, are Il loyalty and faithfully working for he upbuilding of thespiritual, social, nd financial interests of the church. Although weighed down with an op- ressive debt, Epworth church will re- ort this year the largest benevo- mt collections in her history, in ad- ition to responding to the many calls ,r assistance from the outside work. In conclusion the pastor will render nfeigned thanks to Almighty God for le strength given him in the per- ,rmance of the herculean work which 1 as devolved upon him. To the pa ent and long-suffering people also, the l astor would offer the most grateful / ibute of praise. I This pastoral letter is most cordially . lbmitted to the prayerful considera- on of the members and friends of Ep- I orth M E. church.
 RUFUS T. COOPER,
 Pastor Epworth M. E. church. New Haven, Conn.,, March 21, 1895. I