The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-23

All the early officers and corporate
members OF this church have been re-
moved by death; it's pulpit has been
draped in mourning; its strong men
have been taken away, and the cry has
gone up from many hearts, Help Lord,
for the cody man ceaseth."
The New Haven church was few in
members at it's beginning. 1t had its
trials, Its doubts, it's dissensions, its
uncertainties, but it held on. and Is to-
day a living, active, beneflcent power
for good in this community, even be-
You'd the hope of its founders
This church had it's small beginnings,
it's trials, its doubts, its dark days, but
it held on, and Is to-day living, active,
recognized power for good in the COM
munity.
Both churches for many years Ian
guished on the ragged edge of dissolu-
ton, without money in it's treasury and
no hope for any in the coming years
sufficient to meet it's current expenses.
This church would probably have
disbanded its organization but for the
timely advice of the Rev. DR.. Taylor of
New Haven, who said to its committee,
Hold on, hold on; l will preach to you
when can, and when l can't go | will
send some of my boys in the seminary,
who will preach for you without fee or
| reward"
| A ray Of hope and sunshine came
| through rift in the clouds, and the
| church organization held on We are
| informed that during period of six
| teen years previous to the settlement
of Rev. Mr.. Putnam two hundred and
| forty different persons supplied the pull
pit, probably many of them without fee
or reward, save the reward of duty dis
| charged.
| 1 mention this fact as tribute to
their memory, and lay it upon the altar
of this church, at this one-hundredth
anniversary, as a memorial tribute to
| their memory.
| Probably not one of the two hundred
| and forty who occupied this pulpit dur
| ing this epoch of church history could
| be found among the living to-day, and
1 doubt if many could be found who
| listened to the sermons during that Pc
Rod Of time. They are gone. The star
red names upon this church manual eX-
coed in numbers its members enrolled
upon it's pages to-day-many have
! passed from this side of the street to
the silent congregation over the way;
| more past members rest in hope there
| than live in hope in this church to-day.
| Great in numbers, rich in faith, bright
in hope, they silently rest there, waiting
the coming Of the Master.
1 st,o ty,rr y,
loudly the trumpet shall sound,
Those who have labored and rested
/ shall come from the quivering
ground:
| When they have strived and suffered
/ to teach and ennoble the race,
Each shall march to the front of the
column, in his God given place,
AS they pass through the shining gate
with steady, victorious tread,
The early members of this church will
/ be found not far from the head.
One hundred years is long time in
the history of AN individual, and but
few lives pan the interval.
| Not SO with achurch. 1t goes on in
creasing in usefulness through the cen.
turtles, according to the faith and work
of it's members.
The New Haven church has passed
it's one hundred and fiftieth milestone
and the Whitneyville church has pass
ed its one hundredth milestone. Eaef
have reviewed their history, closed thu
record Of the past, and each taken or
| bright hopes for the future,
Like a great lighthouse on the hill
top, which reflects the rays of the SUI
in all directions, so these two ehurche;
stand rejecting the rays of the Son o
righteousness all over the community
penetrating even into the darkness o
heather lands. The influence of thes'
churches for good is not measured ant
will not be measured by the decade 0
years in the centuries; is not measured
by the communities in which they stan'
nor by those who enter their gates will
Thanksgiving and praise. These church
es stand as silent messengers of goot
for ALL Their gilded spires, the sount
of their bells, the influence of their al
tars, radiate for good all over their sur
roundings The life blood of thes
churches runs back to the manager Ii
Bethlehem, and their corner stones res
on Calvary, cemented in the blood Q
the Redeemer.
This anniversary brings in review tn
Christian life work in this church dur
ing the one hundred years past, VIVA
shall be it's future life work? is ques
ton that presents itself to-day.
Young women and young men, wha
will you do with this question? 1t /
for you to say whether you will keep
bright in the light that blazes from tn
Redeemers throne, whether sunshin
shall Gid its towers, or clouds an
mists surround it's base.
You step to-day from its hundredt
anniversary line, midst it's flowers o
achievement, into its harvest line o
fruit in the future. One century doc
with it's achievement closes to-day, an
another opens with promises for tn
future. Before another half centur
is reached not many now present wi
be here to rise and say you were at thi
gathering. The years are passing, tn
church will live, though we pass away
The division of church labor ha
changed somewhat from old pivot an
chorage in the pulpit to the pews, fror
preacher to the people, from elderl
members to the younger, while the re
sponsibility of the pulpit is not lessen
ed; an increased responsibility
thrown upon you, to keep bright tn
work of true Christian life in tn
church and in the community. Th
avenues of church work have broaden