The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-05-13

| OF minister, and the multiplication OF
Candidates foI settlement. The fault i:
| not always on one side; the pastor NAV
be as often and as much to blame as the
people, and sometimes changed circum-
stances without the fault Of either smay
make what was once desirable connec-
| ton, inexpedient to be longer continued
but the prosperity and peace of any
church and society, is always most found
in that state when the mutual attachment
OF pa stor and people holds them togeth-
er j9yfully and permanently.
For varied reasons on one side and
another, the changes of pastors have here
been frequent, and often sudden and has
tv. The sepulchre of out one clergyman
of the denomination is in the midst of
you, and he was only your preacher TO
time as a stated supply. Ofthe 10 pas
tors of this people, none have as yet laid
their bones to rest with yours, sbut have
| gone to sleep and to awske at the gener-
al resurrection with other congregations.
1t would be a sweeter sofa to the Twin 2
and source of tenderer sympathies, and
more sacred influences. if the sainted and
venerated forms of their pastors were
now slumheriDg side by side with our
fathers. 1t would seem to give deeper
sanctitv to their resting pace, ard D'oIe
perfectly to hallow their memory. You
have now recently, and with great unar-
| unity settled another minister, and it is
worthy Of careful effort on both sides,
that connection which has begun 60
happily, should be mutually cherished
and sustained till death dissolVes it.
Finally, this centennial retrospect
should
LOOSEN OUR ATTACHMENT TO THIS WORLD
and hasten our preparation for Heaven
The life fhS orHnnf hnnoC ond no
strong attachments or antiparhes of the
past generations are ell now quenche in
their graves. The earthly schemes which
once so interested them, have passed
away, and only those influences which
bore their account upon eternity, have
any interest for them. Our own hearts
may be throbbiug with Just such ankle
ties as they have experienced, but as all
temporal interests have ceased to have
any power over them, so we shall soon
be as they are, ard have dealings and
communiHgs only with the spirit world
| What may buy enjoyment here, may have
no influence to give blessedness there
and what may be called honor here, may
bring US only shame there; and our vain
mirth in this life may turn to weeping ip
the world to come.
The congregation of the dead in thif
place, has long since become more nu-
merous than that of the living, and the
eternal world has much larger army of
those who have gone before US, than could
| be mustered from those OF US who still
remain behind. Another generation will
soon take our places, and we shall rapid
| ly pass through the dark valley between,
| to join our fathers on the other side.
1t is strong claim upon us all, that
we hasten to moderate our attachment
to the earth, and speedily set our affec-
tons on things above. This hour which
we have together so sacredly spent in the
retrospect of past scenes where our faith
ers and grandfathers were the actors,
| loudly admOnishes us that the longest
| life is vet but a shadow, and the earth
has still left only shadows for us to pur-
sue. The durable riches, and abiding
| treasures, are alone in the eternal world
| Even the children, in many cases, have
| long since gone before their parents, ard
| young and old must soon pass on, and lie
down with the young and old of the last
century. The cry from an hundred
| years. sepulchures, is strong to-day in
our ears, ''Keep your loins grit, and your
witnesses against ourselves, if, after
go down to our graves unprepared. But
il we will learn and henceforGh practice
the lessons here taught, this centennial
retrospect will have been to us most
profitable occasion. It will help US bet
| ter each to travel his own way through
his remaining pilgrimage, and help also
to bring US all at last together where the
pious dead have gone.