The Newtown bee., 1901-01-04
BETHEL.
THE BOROUGH AND VICINITY.

THE BOROUGH AND VICINITY.
 Arthur Grove, who has been spend ing the holidays with his parents, MT and Mrs Michael Grove, of Grassy Plain street. returned, Tuesday after noon. to his studies at the New York College of Pharmacy.
 Midnight mass was celebrated at St Mary's R. C. church, which was very largely attended. The pastor, Rev Father Flemming, gave a very apprO- priate sermon at the opening of the 20th century. Quite a few persons of other denominations were present. The Christmas mass was sung by the choir and some very fine solos were rendered.
 Court F. T. Barnum, r. of A., at their last meeting elected the follow ing officers:
 Chief Ranger, D. A. German.
 Sub Chief Ranger, George Carroll.
 Treasurer, A. A. Gimartin.
 Financial secretary, Samuel ,JudSOn.
 Recording secretary, P. Ganley,
 The installation of officers will take place at the next regular meeting.
 Andrew Gritting and wife of Brook lyn have been spending the holidays with Mrs Gritting's parents, MT and Mrs P. Blake, South street.
 Miss NJ. PatterSonI of CrOtOn Falls, \. H., has been on a visit to Miss B. E, Culhane of Fleetwood avenue.
 Edward Culhane and WillyS Mallory went to Bridgeport, Wednesday morn ing. They were drawn as jurors for the Criminal Term of the Common Pleas Court,
 Good resolutions are in order just now and if lived up to by some of the younger generation this town will surely be |; model one.
 Joseph IT. Gillepsie of Boston has been spending few days with friends on Wooster street.
 At the last quarterly meeting of Putnam Circle, C, of F., the following officers were elccted; c. C., Mrs L.. Ohlweiler: S. C. C., Miss Lena Hell gert; treasurer, Miss Margaret King: financial secretary, Miss Agnes Mur- phy: recording secretary, Miss May tello: outside guard Mrs William Hal pin: pianist, Miss Anna c. Smith, There was an enjoyable Christmas tree entertainment held in the base ment of the Sunday school. After the recitations and singing of the little | ones the presents were distributed by Rev Father Flemming.
 A Christmas carol service was held in St Thomas Episcopal church, Sun day afternoon at f o'clock.
 The quarterly meeting of the As bury Epworth League Union was held in the Bedding Methodist church, | Wednesday evening.
 Special services were held in the Methodist church, Monday morning, afternoon and night. A watch night Saryicn Wnc hold cOnmancipo at ( o'clock.
 The Junior League of the Methodist church had a Christmas program at it's meeting, Sunday afternoon, much enjoyed by all attending.
 The Junior EndeavOr of the COngre. gational church had special meeting. Sunday afternoon, led byn Mrs Laura Seeley.
 The Young Ladies Mission Circle ot the Congregat ional church will hold it's meeting in the church, Friday evening. All ladies of the church are invited to attend.
 The annual reunion of the First Congregational church was held, Mon much enjoyment to- the members o1 the church and congregation. The audience was large and the exercises of the evening were of a most interest ing nature. A light lunch was served at o'clock. Two hundred and fifty members lunched together. After the lunch the speakers of the evening were introduced They were H. c. Judd, II. II. Woodman, Dea William Sherman and Mrs Laura Seeley. Each of these were listened to with mucl interest. Miss Grace Twiss gave two select ions on the piano and the pro T, ,I I, M Leonard smith. After an intermis sion the members came together fol an hour of conference and prayer, lee by the pastor. The closing hour was one of spiritual power in which many part icipatcd. Mr .Judd'S interesting paper follows:
 THE 10TH CENTURY. PREPARED AND READ B1
 II. CLAY JUDD AT THE ANNUAL REUNION or | THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. BETH. | FL. CONN.,. DECEMBER 31, 1900. | Rev Thomas Robins. the historian of Dan, bury' delivered century sermon NeW'l ears gay, 9a; January |: lSGi' It is evident that ou1 | mrnrcmcnt of the 10th century. We find nc | record of any obscrvance of the day in thi. pastor and his congregation joined with the mother church in Danbury in celebrating the of records many incidents pertaining to ; period in the church history from 1790 to the
 h or h t hT Whsa a us tn csley numbers and in both spiritual and materia | wealth
 During this period the first revival of relig | ion occurred since the formation of tht church in l76o About ? persons were added had remained ;'6 years and been used witt only partial finishing of the inside. February l3. I79'. the society passed q vote to finish the upper floor and put a breast work and Ont seat around the gallery, and also make two eXtending south towards the street as far a the present sidewalk goes leaving a drive r"1 t" building n9d that | live tll at remember he old square pews, large enough to acTommodate a family with seat and SD high that the children must stand tt | sec the minister who was preaching. The pulpit was elevated nearly as high as the gal l lerieS
 The tithin= man in his own estimation wa of great importance. He usually made more sturba nee than M the small boy in the gallery not then been established in the church Children went tn meeting and were taught tt in cold weather. Mothers usually carried thcil l fly to keep them from suffering with the colo | while listening to a long sermon. In those days Iy there was ;aI nnt dwelling house in sigh houses stood few rods east They were small structures wit a fire place where fir, was built to warm the house and fill the foo stoves with live colds. These houses wer, built and owned by prominent families living in remote part of the parish One which be | longcd to Drn James Scelcy was more cOmmo | diouS than the others often used in colo | weath her for holding society meetings in 1 The other two houses belonged to Matthew 1 Fay Tor and Dca Ben jamin Benedict. Famile. 1 repaired to these places at noon hour and be- l tween sermons to warm rest and refresh them | selves. The minister was a frequent guest O. | the worthy dcarons and enjoyed a lunch an( | refreShm"nt of d more cheering nature whici enabled him more clearly to discuss and de | fine the dortrnro of election and other impor- 1 tant uucStiO ions of those times
 | ITO BE CONCLUDED IN NEXT WEEKS ISSuE1