The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-09-14
GRAYS' SOTII ANNIVERSARY
ENJOYABLE CELEBRATION AT CON-
 P0UNCE LAKE.


 Company by Rev. Dr, Masden-The Or ganization Attended First M. E. Church in Body.
 The eightieth anniversary of the New Haven Grays was capitally celebrated Saturday. In the morning the com pany and the veterans went to Lake Compounce, where they spent the day in a social manner and enjoyed fine dinner.
 Among those who spoke at the lake were Mayor Hendrick, General E. E, Bradley, Colonel Frank T. Lee Captain E. A. Gessner, Major B. E, Brown, Cap tain c. c. Ford General George H. Ford and ex-Postmaster B. R. English, "Parson" Isben of Westvine delighted the gathering with his inimitable rec itations.
 Among the veterans present were: Edward Armstrong, Sidney H. Daw son, Wooster P. Ensign, pr. Eillhouse, Newcomb M. Bassett, F. H. Russell, George E. Kelley, Henry w. Blakeslee, John Ruff, David Steele, Frederick Thompson, John H. Phillips, Tracy B. Warren, Frederick Gilbert, Lieutenant John T. Sill, Fred Gorham, James Wood, F.. E. Osborn, Wooster A. En- sign, Theodore H. Macdonald, Harry Anderson, Howard c. Webb Captain w. H. Sears, Edward Hull, H. T. Mix, Edward Taylor Edward Somers, Ed ward c. Reecher, George H. Scranton. Joseph Cunningham, George c. Pown- ing, Harry Clarke, Albert Peck, Ed ward Rice, William Stratton and T. P. Dickerman.
 On their return to this city at 7:30 o'clock they found the Foot Guards, to the number of about eighty, assembled with open ranks to receive them at the Union depot The Foot Guards met at the armory at z o'clock and, under the command of Captain Johnson, formed and marched to the depot, where they awaited the arrival of the company from Lake Compounce.
 Headed by the Second regiment band and drum corps, the Foot Guards. formed in a hollow square about the Grays, marched from State street to Chapel, thence to Church and
 
 armory.
 The entire route was lined with spectators and the companies, brilliant with blazing torches of red fire, were cheered at every step. Both Grays and Foot Guards presented a fine appear ance Conspicuous in the parade were Mayor Hendrick and General Bradley. At the armory an elaborate, although informal, collation had been spread un- der the direction of George T. White of the con1nissary department. There were present about 250 Grays and eighty members of the Foot Guards. A few3sremarks were made by Captains McCabe and Johnson and by General Bradley, and the companies separated about o'clock.
 At 10 o'clock yesterday morning the company assembled at the armory and marched to the First Methodist church, and listened to a sermon by Dr. Mas den.
 At o'clock in the afternoon they again assembled at the armory for their annual decoration of the graves of their deceased members. Headed by the Second regiment band, and in company with about thirty veterans, they march ed to the old cemetery, where details of the command decorated the graves. During the time the band played a number of sacred selections. After the decoration there the graves were dec orated in the Evergreen cemetery.
 Among the veterans that were out yesterday were General Bradley, Ma jor Brown, Wooster P. Ensign, Henry Blakeslee, "Parson" Isbell, Theodore H. Macdonald and Colonel Fox
 The sermon preached by Rev. pr. Masden to the Grays yesterday morn ing was from the text: II. Timothy ii, 3, 4: Thou therefore endure hardness as good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" The subject of the sermon was: '"The Good Soldier of Jesus Christ"
 Dr. Masden said among other things, that although there might be intermis- sions of peace and alternations of victory yet generally human life is a vast con- fict in which indifference and neutrali- ty are impossible. God calls and satan tempts; two worlds contend for man; he is the center of moral conflict in the universe. There is in man self who is proud, envious, jealous, and loves self and also self who is modest, gen. erous, ungrudging, the higher self. Just as the lower self is repressed and just as the lower self is pampered, the high CT dies; the victory of the better self is salvation.
 The conflict of life is inevitable, the only question of choice for us is on which side will we fight. In order to become a soldier of Christ, you must first enlist This involves more than the matriculation of a scholar or enroll ment of a citizen, not merely a pro- fession of faith, declaration of beliefs, but devotion to person. Christ found religion a rite and made it-a passion.
 Not only enlistment but also equip ment is essential for "the good soldier of Jesus Christ" We have complete armor. "the girdle of truth binding together all scattered forms and facts into one beautiful creed of harmony. By prayer the armor is rebraced, the swork elasped with tighter grip, the foot planted with firmer purpose, the helmet worn with a more gallant ges- ture and the Christian goes forth in Christ's strength and his path leads to victory. There is no armor for the