The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-09-24
GRACE CHURCH DEBT RAISED
$4,000 PLEDGED At ANNIVERSARY
SERVICE YESTERD1Y
Entire Apportionmento of S12,5OO Now
Pledged to the Twentieth Century
League-Enthu siastic Addresses by II.
III. BENEDICT and Others.

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League-Enthusiastic Addresses by II
III. Benedict and Others.
Yesterday was the eleventh anniver
brate the event, the congregation pledg
ed itself to rid the church of the re
mainder of its debt--amounting to 81,
500-before the first of next July, TIL
church thus pays the remainder of it
entire apportionment of $12,5 800 to thu
Twentieth Century Wesleyan league
and some hundreds of dollars beside
The total debt of the Methods
churches of the city, amounting to So
600, which the league has taken upor
itself to pay, is thus reduced to $4,000
-$55,0 900 being the amount of money
their congregations that they will be
able to burn the mortgages before an
other year has elapsed
The services yesterday were very en-
thusiastic and the addresses of the va
rious speakers found ready response
from the attentive congrega ton. All
the speakers spoke with great earnest
ness and it was largely due to their per-
suasive appeals that so large an
amount was pledged. Henry H. Bene-
dict, president of the Twentieth Cen
fury Wesleyan league of this city, de-
livered the address of the morning; but
other addresses, aside from remarks by
the pastor, Rev. j. E. Smith, were
made by DIR. Chadwick, a former pas
tor Of the church, now presiding elder
of the Brooklyn South district Rev.
John E. Adams, presiding elder of the
New Haven district; John T. Manson,
vice president of the Twentieth Cen
fury league, and Andrew Moorhead.
Mr. Benedicts address had for it's sub
ject 'The Burden LITTER 1t was by
far the most eloquent plea in favor of
the Methodist movement, that the pres
ident of the League has made since as
Stunning the responsibilities and duties
of leadership. It's effect was most pro-
nounced, and the speaker was inter
rupted quite frequently by Amens In
the address he dwelt mainly on the
good that anybody may do If he but
has the desire
He analysed interestingly the feelings
of those who feel that they cannot be
burden filters and showed wherein
they erred in so thinking No one, he
said knows of the hidden energy in
them until they put their energies to
the test. He pointed out also that even
in old age one may do much to being
burden litter; and that the best plans
are oftentimes made in the sick room.
Burden lifting, he said, may begin as
the outcome of duty, but once begun in
any way it continues to the end. One
who serves God in this way is always
courageous; he fights for humanity's
sake, contending against odds but con-
fident of victory. People will criticlse
and offer no help to the burden litter
but he should be stimulated rather
than discouraged by adverse criticism
Should he be wounded by its shaft
there is always comfort for him, far
beyond the power Of human being to
give, to be found in the Scripture.
Under the inspiration of Mr.. Bene-
diets address DIR. Chadwick preached
the subject of money to the congrega-
ton. "There is no time like the pres
ent," he said, "for lifting the burden
of the debt on Grace church" He
gave short but interesting account of
the progress the church had made up
to that time in disposing of it's obliga-
lions year by year; and then suggested
the blackboard as the best means of
seeing the hole made in what remained,
as the pledges of those who desired to |
give were received The blackboard |
was then placed upon the platform and |
started by the pastor, Rev. j. e. |
Smith, and Mr.. Benedict, who, although |
a member of another church, gave very |
literally, the entire remaining debt Of |
81 800 was crossed off the board In sums
ranging from five up to hundreds Of |
dollars.
The whole ceremony took little more !
than half an hours time, and when it /
was finally seen that the whole amount
had been pledged an air of deep salts
faction was to be perceived on the faces
of all present The result was the
more gratifying from the fact that
while it was thought possible, it was
somewhat unexpected. 1t was with
lltotl - lull VI LlidiihIulHNso lhe'l potii
pastor and congregation sang the dox-
oogy as the service came to a close.
In the afternoon a meeting was held
n the church at 3 o'clock, and large
was again in attendance.
Andrew Moorehead presided over the
meeting and before introducing other
speakers gave a short address retro
;pective Of the advance of Grace church
Under it's various pastors. John t.
Manson, whom he then called upon to
;peak followed with a very interesting
address on the growth Of Methodism in
New Haven, from the establishment of
he first church, and of the work of
Grace church since the founding of
he "Old George Street church" In
losing he spoke of the Twentieth Cen
ury elague; and after a brief review
# what it had already done toward
Tearing off the entire church debt,
made the prophecy that within twelve
months all the mortgages might be
urned. {
Presiding Elder Adams in an inspir-
ng address then referred to what
trace church had done in the morning
S a signal victory, for which it was '
they should thank God He y
,oked forward to the time when the /
ebts of all the churches would be paid,
c said, with the utmost cagerness, as