The Newtown bee., 1897-04-30
NEW FAIRFIELD.

WILLIAM 0. BERCKMANN INSTALLED AS
 PASTOR OF THE CONGREGATIONAL
 CHURCH.-A RED LETTER DAY FOR THE
 CHURCH.
 "Winter fingers long in the lap of spring.; that saying was upon every one's lips who thought on Tuesday of expressing his sentiments in regard to the weather through the form ot an old proverb. It was said in the papers about the Grant parade in New York City that the chilly weather would have killed any event of ordinary interest; it might also be said as to the council which convened at New Fairfield, Tuesday, that the raw weather would have utterly ruined any event of less interest than the installa- tion of pastor over the Congregational church for the first time in p years. AS it was many braved braVed the elements, and the galleries of the church must have wondered what was happening when they found themselves filled. The council was called to assemble at l2 30 o'clock, and at that hour the delegates, whose appetites had been whetted to an unusual degree of sharpness in coming long distances, sat down to bountiful lunch provided by the ladies, and by l5 everything was ready for business. The usual papers relating to the call by the pastor, and especially the statement of his theological belief by the candidate, William o. Berckmann, which evinced unusual power in clear thinking, all of these were very satisfactory. On the roll-c every member of the council voted "approved," some taking occasion to heartily commend Mir Berckmann for his evident promise of large usefulness in this field.
 The installation services were very in- tor Gnph pXtPnE EhqE EhpV won from pr Hubbard, the Baptist clergyman of Danbury who was present, the confession that he was almost Jemptt d to wish himself a Congregationalist. Rev c. w. Francis, of Brookfield Center, Moderator of the Consolation, opening the program of installation by reading parts of the 3rd chapter of 1st Timothy and the 1st chapter of Romans. Rev Frank Russell, D. D., of the South Church, Bridgeport, preached sermon which got the closest atCe ntion of all i from Lu. 3 :60, ''but go thou ana preach
 the kingdom of God" Dr Russell showed very clearly that the kingdom of ! God was here and now, that the distinct.
 ion often made between the sacred and
 the secular was not good distinction,
 and that if man breaches and lives the kingdom his theme will be Christ. The ! prayer installing MT Berckmann into his office was made by Rev +. A. Hatch, pastor of the 2nd church of Danbury. l The prayer was peculiarly appropriate and expressive. In giving the right
 hand of fellowship Rev c. F. Luther, of Bedding, was happy in his remarks. He said that he could find nothing in his books suggesting what was appropriate for him to say, but the occasion was so
 unique that he found some things in his | nF 1~l
 in the charge to the pastor said giving
 advice was generally accepted as $
 thankless task because each one took
 experience only as it came through hii
 own, yet he would venture the sugges
 tioll that the chief thing in life was no
 to make noise. In quiet New Fairfield
 MT Berckmann might do work tha
 would not be spoken of in the papers
 and yet it would be work that would
 tell in good results. Rev A. F. Pierce
 pastor of the 1st church in Danbury
 happily closed the regular program b.
 giving the charge to the people. H.
 said that he almost felt himself to bt pastor of the church, since he had hat the joy of extending welcome to tn
 communion table to all who had joined the church in the last few years. D Hubbard, of Danbury, who for som
 time has preached at the church on Sun day Iafternoons, and Rev MT Berger
 largely through whose work the splendit revival in the church life was accomplish . ed, made brief remarks. The new
 pastor, MT BerckmanD, closed the ser vice with the benedictiOn. It is under Iood that 13 persons are to unite witt the church next Sunday morning. Tn
 church seems started on thorough, new life, and it's people are to be warml. congratulated on the bright prospects,.