The record-union., 1897-11-05
A PLEASANT RECEPTION.
CONGREGATION OF CONGREGA-
TIONALISTS GAVE 1T.
Rev. II. N. Hoyt Was the Recipient
and It Was Enjoyed by
All Present.

A large number assembled last night
IN the lecture-room of the Congresa-
uonal Church, having for its OBJECT
reception to the pastor, Rev. ii. n
Hoyt, previous to his departure on
visit to the East
The room was tastefully decorated
with palms, plants and flowers, anu
Well filled with tables garnished WIN
fine collation., and which were IN turn
filled with appreciative people, VINO en-
3oyed the good things prepared py lhe
ladies of the congregation.
j. H. Lawrence acted as POSTMASTER
and after the toothsome viands han
been discussed to the entire satls1ac-
ton of all concerned, he welcomed all
present both members and invited
guests. He said it had been an annual
custom to hold these gatherings, ana
1T was most praiseworthy one Il
brought the congregation closer togeth-
er and aided them TO work more united
ly for the great end in view Many Of
them had been away during the sum-
mer and had returned, he hoped. pre-
pared to take up their work anew and
glordfy their Master. Their pastor, too,
had been across the water and had re-
" DCSlli dltCW Ills ioOOAos eiiiN -
was largely on his account and to well
come him that this gathering had been
called. Unfortunately his wife was un-
able to be rpesent, and their hearts
went out to her with best wishes for
her welfare
Rev. Sherman was called on to re-
spond to the sentiment of The Church
in the Home" He said we may have
different definitions of the word home.
Our feet may lead us far away, but our
hearts never stray far away from home.
God loves the home, and the first time
the word come is used in the Bible is
an invitation-not to one individual, but
to a whole family-to Noah, Come,
thou and thy family, into the ark" The
best gift God has given to his children,
except that of His dear Son, was wom-
an to make home for them 1t is one
of the sweetest words in the language.
He said that a church could exist in
every home if people would have it so.
The scriptural injunction is, "Be We
not unequally yoked together with un-
believers If two in the household are
agreed the home can have a church in
it. He wished that wives and hus-
bands We're all united and would do
as Abraham did wherever he pitched
his tent. raise an altar. What a. happy
land this would be.
Mrs. Ross gave a fine vocal solo,
"Tatters,' and was persistently ap-
plauded.
1.-The Social Side of the Church was
the sentiment given to Rev. Herric<.
He said he believed most thoroughly in
the social side of the church. He be-
lieved that the next great force in the
church would be the social feeling and
q show of interest in the members. Why
do the Masons and other organizations
become so popular? 1t is because they
take an interest in each other, and it
makes their gatherings pleasant.
Rev. Drake of the Christian Church
was called on to respond to Christ III
the Church" He was glad to meet the
pastor in his own church and among
his own people, where the Christian
spirit is so strong There are in this
community large number of churches,
with millions of members, and it takes
twenty members to make one convert a
year. If we had more of Christ in the
church there would be better results.
We have just passed through a heated
pollllcdt cdflpdlSn- HOW WOulU IL NAV c
been if each twenty men had labored
for twelve months in order to make one
convert to their party. The church has
failed to take advantage of its oppor-
tunities. Because it has done so the
various orders, Masons, Odd Fellows
and others, have increased as they
have. 1t is because they offer so many
temporal advantages.
There has not been enough of Christ
in the church, but he believed that
there was growing to be more Of Him
there.
A bass solo by Mr.. Beardslee came
next and was highly appreciated.
Rev. Sturtevant responded to Chris
tian Fellowship" There is no fellow
ship more sweet and more complete, he
said, than church fellowship The fell
lowship of the lodges, much as it is
TO be admired, cannot equal the blood
bought fellowship of the church AL
though each may be attached to his
own regiment and think it the best,
there was, he was glad to say, a con-
stantly growing sentiment Of fellow
ship among the different denomina-
tionS.
Sentiments We're also responded to as
follows: Our Pastor Rev. DR.. Van
Norden; THE Christian Endeavor, -
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