The Newtown bee., 1895-06-07
Vicinity Topics.
EXERCISES AT SOUTH BRI
 TAIN.

TAIN.
 THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, ON DECORATION DAY BEING SEVENTY YEARS IN ITS PRESENT EDIFICE, FIT TINGLY CELEBRATES THE EyENT.-A HISTORY OF THE CHURCH READ BY THE PRESENT PASTOR, REV JAMES | sMILEY.--oLD MEMBERS INDULGE IN THE REMINISCENT VEIN AND LEAD THE | AUDIENCE BACK INTO THE LONG AGO. l FLOWERS, GOOD CHEER AMONG ALL, | AND A VERY PLEASANT OCCASION | ALTOGETHER. Thursday, May 30, Decoration day, was exceedingly warm the chill storm and cool weather of the early part of the week had given place to midsummer heat, and the sun blazed forth unob- structed in it's fierceness by scarce sin gle cloud. A very general display of flags and bunting on the houses showed that the people appreciated the meaning of the day. By many hereabouts the day was spent quietly at home; for others the baseball field had it's attrac- tions; still others found recreation in neighboring towns. There was one event, however, occurring near by, in the Congregational church of South Britain, which, soberer in it's nature than the delights of the baseball field, was more beautifully in keei ing with the thoughts suggested by Memorial day, since by anniversary exercises it commemorated soldiers who had served in the ranks of the greatest army that ever can be marshaled on earth, the wide extended army of the Lord. The anniversary exercises, which ceie brated the building of the present church edifice 70 years ago, comme need at o'clock in the afternoon, At that hour
 THE BODY OF THE CHURCH WAS CON-
 FoRTABLY FILLED.
 Along the edge of the platform and in front of the pulpit flowers were prettIy grouped. OA either side was bark of roses and lilies of the valley apprupristc ly inscribed "LXX." A beautiful ivy vine entirely wreathed the pulpit and formed harmonious border for the whole floral arrangement. Rev James D. Smiley, the present pastor of tbe church, sat in front to conduct the exer cises, and near him Rev w. H. Barrows of the Congregational church at South bury, mother of the South Britain church, and also Rev Homer s. New onb, pastor or the South Britain church just 30 years ago.
 The services opened with an anthem by the choir, ''Come, let us be joyful, through which ran the strain of happy greeting to all. Rev MT Smiley ther spoke few words of pleasant introduc tion. He said that the sentiment of ths anthem was his sentiment for the ocea 5 sion he hoped that all would come joy fully to the exercises and joyfully ge away, having found much profit in them After the responsive reading of Psala S4, prayer was offered by Rev MT New comb. Ia the prayer he thanked Goo that His name had not been
 SET IN VAIN
 in this spot, that the ordinances of Hi house had been so we'll sustained, an( that here for so many years there hat been Bethel for the gathering of God' \ people.
 | After the singing of an anthem by th' ! choir, Rev Mir Smiley said it devolvet | on him as the present pastor to read thu ! history of the church.
 He gave much valuable information re garding the earlier history of the churci organization. By way of introduction he emphasized the fact that it would b, much easier to write record of the pas doings of the church had there been correct record of the social life as wei as the religious life of the church, anC suggested that from this atime forward some one assume the authority of tn, the religious and social life and hand i down to posterity thatfuture decendant' might enjoy the privilege of complete records. Taking up the history he saif this church is 8 daughter of the Congre gational church in Southbury, which ir Woodbury and by tracing the family tree back far enough lineal decendanl of the apostolic church. But not at. tempting to trace history back genealog- ically, he pointed to the facts that orig nally Woodbury was much larger town, embracing many of the towns arouno her. To Woodbury they went to wor- ship on the Sabbath from one mile or a score as the case might be, through shine and storm. But in time the inhabitants multiplied and began the formation of other centers from which flowed life and desires for closer religious privileges of their own. Especially was this true in the southern portion of the town which had the reputation of being populated with
 MEN OF STERLING WORTH,
 strong in their religious fervor, and so a petition was started asking for the for nation of the Second Ecclesiastical soci- 9ty. At first the movement was opposed by the brethren in the northern part of the town, but the State Assembly step- ped in to the rescue and by their help the Second Ecclesiastical society was formed and called Southbury, in l731. It was not long after this that call from over the hills came from the Britain brethren for closer religious life of their own, and in 1734 39 members, asking for the boon, appeared before the Assembly. But counter petition stood in their way, the mother church aot wishing to have them torn from her bosom and for four