The Newtown bee., 1898-04-08

way of remembrance" from I'd Peter
81. He spoke with special earneetness
and feeling and held the close attention
of the large audience.
Speaking of the pastorate he said :
Almost any honest Christian dominic
might have served you these years for
you have been a perfect uni5 in fellow
ship and purpose. No pastor needed to
leave you for such real reasons as those
which are given in letters of resignation,
namely, "the health OF my family" "a
wider field of usefulness ;" 'Providen-
tial intimate with financial attach
ment." While there was unity in the
parish, and sympathy in the pews, there
was such an atmosphere in the minister's
study that work was a delight, and he
did not need to 60 to another church for
mental relief, which usually means an
accumulated literature.
Referring to the work of the ladies'
societies he said With an average
yearly benevolent contribution of $l219,
and total amount for fifteen years of
$l8, 1856, our mis- sionary organization of
the ladies and the young ladies' mission
ary circle. Our ladies of the sewing
society, while they have discussed the
ideals Of their we'll regulated households
about the quilting frames, have yet dis
cussed the ways and means of this
church. The speaker referred to the
deacons in these touching words /:
There are no officials in a Congregation
al church who stand 50 near to PASTORS
heart as his deacons; their prayers with
his own are for the spiritual prosperity
of Zion. God has given me deacons and
deacenesses in this church who were the
elect of Christ. They have walked be-
fore US, the living epistle of the Gospel.
[ recall the good works, and must be
pardoned the mention of the names of
two or three deacons, who have passed
away: William A. Judd was the first
to be buried by my hand. George A.
Hickok was a spiritual counselor to the
young pastor. 1 have met no more con-
scientious Christian than Dea Charles FL.
Hawley. Dea Oliver Stone was a man
of consistent and prayerful life. This
community is the poorer for their alb
sence to-day and Heaven the richer.
The roll of 1883 consisted Of 346 names.
Only 153 of these persons are in the COM
munity to-day. OF the 1913 removed,
1855 have been removed by death. Truly
the membership of this church has chang
ed. The mantle has fallen upon others.
1t is grand commission when we are
called to step into line and fill the ranks
and fight the battles Of those who have
fallen. 1t 10 q grander thing to turn to
the Great Captain and ask for original
orders. The 264 members who have en-
tered the church In decade and q half,
so largely younger men and women,
must represent the hopes In new gen.
Grafton. The Great Head of the Church
asks us what of the dsybreakP What
are the powers consecrated to His uses .
In closing Mr. Slack spoke feelingly az
follows;
] It ID privilege you have afforded me
that this passionate should continue until
it became identified with the life of the
community. Ny heart burns with To-
cal patriotism impossible to one in q
transient ministry. Your interests have
become my interests. Your prosperity
or discouragsment seems part of my
self. might have devoted my time more
exOlusively than have to the pastoral