The record-union., 1899-10-24
PIONEER CHURCH MEMORIES.
INTERESTING JUBILEE SERV-
ICES YESTERDAY.
Many Letters and Speeches and
Largely Attended Banquet
at Night.

Fiftieth anniversary jubilee services
were continued at the First Congrega-
tional Church yesterday afternoon, and
there were many touching little rem
iniscences by pioneer men and women
who were with the church when it was
young.
After the singing Of hymn, Dr.
Warren led in prayer, and his lnvoca-
tion was followed by Dr. Silcox's an
nouncement that the afternoon would
be devoted to pioneer memories.
The first speaker was A. G. Sweetser,
who recalled many interesting facts
concerning the days of 40. Lumber
was then worth 5000 a thousand feet,
and the speaker paid $50 for one board.
His company got $400 for a tent that
cost $50 in Boston. It was used Tor
a grocery store. A humorous sign In
front of one store read, Rest for the
Weary and Storage for Trunks. In
those days if man owed another he
would say, Take 1t out of my sack CT
dust" and he would trust the creditor
to help himself Confidence was mark
Of the age.
In the absence of a hymn book DIR.
Benton wrote a hymn for the early
services, being a man Of great re-
sources. The early Christians in Sacra-
mento had great faith in the country,
and they resolved to do all in their
power to found the community on last
ing principles. There were but five
scholars at the first Sunday-school, and
the church attendance in those days
was small. There was but one woman
in the congregation.
After Mr.. Sweetser's speech, Sparrow
Smith said that the congregation was
under great obligations to Mr. Sweet
ser for painstaking care in gathering
data for a church history. Mr., Smith
read the following telegram from d.
o. Mills, who had been invited to be
present:
NEW YORK, Oct. %, 1S99-sparrow
Smith, Sacramento, Cal: AS one of
the earliest attendants Of the First
Congregational Church, 7 regret ex-
ceedingly not being able to be present
at the jubilee services. With congratu-
lations for the fifty years Of good work,
and with best wishes. Yours,
D. 0. MILLS. +
A letter from L. L. Strowbridge was
also read. He is now 80 years Of age,
but he congratulated the congregation
and recalled some pleasant memories OF
the early church.
Rev Mr. Wiley said he greatly ap-
preciated the fact that he was present
at the jubilee, for his mind was crowded
with pleasant memories of his days in
the church. He told many stories Of
Rev. DR.. Benton's early years.
He was very orderly man." said
the speaker, "and his room was like a
ladys. He was a sober-looking man,
but was as full of fun as anybody you
ever saw. He had carpenters tools,
however. and he did much to repair the
church. He became the editor of our
paper, and continued without compen-
sation to the end Of his life He was
at the head of his class at Yale, and
his successor. DR.. Dwinell. was the
head of his class at a Vermont college
in 1S4S
THE sight of the same old doors and
pulpits makes me think he might step
in and see US again"
The speaker concluded with the hope
that all the blessings of the past would
dwell with the church in the future.
Dr. SilcOx said he had many letters
from people who professed love for the
church, and he hoped some of them
would leave something to the church
in their wills, just as they would re-
member a beloved wife or child
The following letter from c. P. Hunt
ington was read:
NEW YORK, Oct. II, 1S99.-Rev. ].
IS. Silcox, pastor First Congregational
Church, Sacramento Cal.-Dear Sir:
Your letter Of the ID has reached me
here just after my return from the
mountains, where I have been staying
many weeks. L regret to say that my
desk is SO overloaded with a heavy ac-
cumulation of many days mail, and
my appointments are so many, that the
days are not long enough for me to
finish the daily work before me; but
am glad to take time enough to wish
for all Of you a joyous jubilee season,
and for your church a strong and con-
tinuing prosperity. I am, with kind re-
CARDS, sincerely yours,
G. P. HUNTINGTON.
A long letter from Rev. William c.
Merrill, one Of the previous pastors of
the church, was read. The writer said
the pleasantest memories of his life
clustered around the Sacramento