The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-12-12
, this house of praver and praise

church in Cheshire has gathered for the worship of the one only living and true l God, in these three sanctuaries, which have been, and still are, places of hal lowed memories and precious associa- tions to many who have loved this Zion, "To whom her walls have been salvation and her gates praise" In some instances seven CD genera tions have been more ore less identified with this Zion, and in their earnest longings for it's prosperity and peace could say with the prophet Isaiah For 1 Zion's sake I will not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness and the salvation thereof as lamp that burneth." We have abundant reason to believe that the | God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the | God of the Covenant. the same God who guided by His Providence and Spirit our Pilgrim Fathers over the trackless deep, and led them to settle on these New England shores, will be the God of this church throughout all genera tions. At the close of the morning service
  lessor J. R. Paddock was sung: ANNIVERSARY HYMN. OUR GOD IN AGES PAST.
 America I. es' As.
 Our fathers God, to Thee,
 Thou blessed trinity,
 Be all the praise,
 Let Earth's high altars flame,
 Let tongues of men proclaims
 The glories of thy name,
 Through all the days.
 -"Let all the people praise Three. "-PS. lxvii.8.
 Our God in ages past,
 While generations last,
 Be our strong tower.
 Defend thy truth o Lord!
 Uphold us by Thy word.
 Grant that our prayer be heard. "A mighty fortress is our God. Martin Luther.
 Grant that the church may stand,
 A bulwark to our land,
 A witness sure.
 Her walls, temple white,
 Within, the sacred light,
 Her Grown, the truth, the right,
 Held fast, secure. For witness unto all nations. Matt. Xxiv.14
 Grant that our land, so free,
 The home of liberty,
 May be Thy own.
 Be Thou, 0 Christ her guide
 Rebuke her sin and pride,
 Present her purified
 Before the throne. o,-"Forgive the sin of Thy people."-II. Chr. vi.25,
 On distant peaks appears,
 The light of all the years,
 Messiahs reign.
 Hail! hall the light of God
 'The daybreak of His sword'' 4.
 The church redeemed restored
 Triumphant sings. He shall reign from sea to sea.-A ]. Gordon. The following letter from former pastor was read among others: Rev. J. P Hoyt:
 My Dear Brother:--In reply to your es- teemed favor just received inviting me to be present on the occasion of the one hun fred and seventy-ffth anniversary of the Cheshire Congregational church, l may say, hat 1t would give me the greatest pleasure to greet you and the members of the hurch on that occasion, but other engage. nents will make 1t impossible l have ever held it's membership in fond l cannot forget their devo- ion to me when with them. It gives me pleasure to recall those early days of my ministry, the numerous, conversions which old of higher purposes. the large audiences, he unprecedented number of weddings, the warm attachments, all combine to crowd he memory with scenes which I fondly f herish. I am happy to know that the hurch is still served by a devoted and aithful pastor and trust that its future nay be as Interesting and full of good fruits $ its past history. Cordially,
 Cyrus Pickett. Northampton, Mass, Dec. 8, 1S9a