The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-05-19

Thought and life., Here is not the pres /
sure that drives 9 man through the work
ing hours OF the day and the unworking |
hours of the night; here is the absence of
pressure that lets man think so that |
truth gets hold of him. People say there |
is an overplus Of quietness in the coun- |
try SO that people think only in ruts |
Fhat may be; but thinking in ruts leads |
TO conservatism, and that makes a good |
oalance-wheel. The only question is,
what are the instrumentalities to bring to |
work TO promote the deepening of truth
In general the instrumentalities must be
the institutions which compel men to
think. One Of these institutions ia the
public library. The public library has
had grand history in the country town
because it has been among those who
have had leisure to think. The supreme
influence comes from the country church.
Though in this beautiful modern edifice
L have ia mind the old white painted edi-
fee; we thank God for it. There never
has been a community In which the
church has not made history, but it never
has made such history as in the country
town. 1t has forced men to think.
What chance has the city church to get
into personal contact with men. The
power Of the Church of Jesus Christ ia in
the chance to do individual work. In the
country the church keeps company with
men until it moulds them into conviction !;
and yet the Governors of our States are
telling us that religion In the country
towns is decreasing and degenerating.
Magazine writers are saying that there
are no more terrible vices than are found
In country villages. IL these things are
SO, it Ia not because the church and the
public library have no mission in the
country parish, but in spite of them. Ii
the church and public library have lost
their power, it is because they have Civ
en- up their leadership.
| God bless the country town, the place
where He has given the chance for con
viction, the conviction that goes out into
our cities and saves them for Christ, that
goes out into our halls of legislation and
saves them for Christ, that goes out into
our craftsmanship and saves it for
Christ"
People are supposed to 90 to dedica-
tory service or any other service of so
high en- order for the mental or the spir-
itual food which they receive uainly.
| Frnn tho irto FOL yar Ia -, >
was said, we suppose that this rule held
strictly on this occasion; and yet when
it came to the intermission between the
morning snd the afternoon session and
the luncheon" was announced, it took
two solid hours to dispose of it.
The ladies of Trumbull would lie good
members of the commissariat department
of the United States army. If they were,
we do not think there would be any com.
plant about ''doctored beef" indeed the
element of complaint would be entirely
obliterated and every soldier would then
find himself in the position of the writer,
not knowing how to say good things
enough about the rations.
Though the afternoon service began
late, the numbers On the program, owing
to the good management of Rev W. F
White, were promptly taken up, and no.
body got uneasy as to the length Of the
service. The ''Te Deum" by the choil
and the solo, ''Hark, bark, my SOUL
prettily sung by Miss Frances Eaton
with prayer by Rev Fl. L. Slack, wei
prefaced the series of rapid-fire addres Sci
from the representatives of the variou,
churches.
Rev Joel S. Ives, the pastor
spoke for the mother church in STRAIT
ford. my church sends to you it
heartiest congratulations by vote takel
at regular session. do not know
when church has received 80 prompt
blessing in the line Of discipline; Got
forgave you the mistake Of trying Il
patch up the old edifice on so unfortu.
nate site. 1t ia beautiful building
There are things in the old dispensatior
which we ought not to forget; the lily
work and the embroider work were
as necessary as any part OF
the Temple. May this be an inspiration
in the things that belong to God. 1t is 6
useful church. 1t is building in which
the people can hear; it is a building
which will ever be to you an increasing
Joy; every part will contribute that fol
which it was planned. classify, 1t Is an en-.
during church. 1t is built of stone, q
solid edifice. It was built in faith moi
alone for the things of to-day, but for to.
morrow. May God bless you, pastor and
people, in this new church which you
have builded.
Rev Andrew j. Park spoke for the sis.
ter church in Huntington. -"We desire, "
he said, 'to bring the Godspeed of the
Huntington church. In 1880 this church
was organized, six years later than ours.
Our experiences in many things have
been common. We have been called to
pass through trials and discouragements
In the l69th year of our organization our
church in some mysterious way was
burned at midnight and everything de-
stroyed. So, in like manner, this church
in the 169sh year after its organization
was burned in some mysterious way at
midnight and all was lost. Again, in the
l70Sh year of our history we were per-
mitted TO dedicate our new building and
now this church, in the 10th year
| of its history, dedicates this beautiful
| edifice. What would our forefathers
| think to compare this chu! ch with the
| TN hoI ,,s-t