The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1901-11-01

comes forward the first year of the |
new century when entering upon his
8Oth year with a zeal for the Lords |
house which he has always manifested
and begins to build entirely at his own
expense church which will certainly
cost as many thousand dollars as the
old church cost hundred. Dea Gilbert
says that for number of years he has
been trying to save up enough money
to build a church and thinks that
perhaps now he has got enough to do
it. He intends to make this beautiful
building, l believe, in the inst place,
a personal thankoffering for what he
knows the Lord has done for him; Sc
condly, memorial of faithful and be-
loved saints of God who have lived
and labored in this church and COM
munity in years gone by and who have
long since passed to their reward. He
built this church moreover that it
may be an abiding blessing to the
people of this community and finally
he desires, am sure, that in all, God
may be gloriied. He says, as Solomon
said in building the temple: 1.-THE
house which l build is great, for great
is our God above all gods," and as
David said before Solomon ''The house
that is to be builded for the Lord
must be exceeding magnifcal." Sum-
marially he is seeking to honor God.
Equal praise is to be given to Mrs Gil
bert as to Dea Gilbert for what we see
and rejoice in to-day. She has hearth
ly encouraged and supported her hus-
band in this grand project. Their de-
sires in the matter are one. Indeed
they are one, having been made so just
IS years ago to-day. Doubtless re-
membrance of the wedding day of long
ago and the many pleasures of the
years which have interviewed is the
chief cause of the great joy they feel
to-day. The Lord has blessed them in
large measure. How very few are
thus spared to celebrate the 55th an
niversary of their marriage! Hearty
congratulations are certainly in order.
We thank Dea and Mrs Gilbert with
all our hearts for what they are doing
) for us and we hope that they may be
spared, if it please God, to see the
completion of this beautiful editice,
and to worship in it and to live yet
man, years to be a blessing to this
7 church and community and to the
: world. The location of the new
< church is, SO far as know, satisfac
tory to all. 1t is central and easy OF
access, which is very desirable for q
) church. A river divides our village
and to- be in the center building
: must be either in the river or on the
) banks. The latter has been chosen
We are in the valley rather than Or
the hilltop, but this may tend tt
humility, which is an important Chris
tian virtue. The phrase "beautifu]
r for stuation'' which in the Psalms j!
: applied to Mount Zion, is in truth ap
plicable to this spot which will be
sacred henceforth. Another signifi
can't feature of this site is it's near
! ness to this great and tlourishing fac
81
2 factory, signifies anything it is thai
this church is to be built for home
4 for the working men. OF course
we do not wish to draw any
r from another church home, but We
t would say if you are seeking church
= home this is for you, come and feel al
2 home here and be blessed, you anC
r your families, and be a blessing.
t think 1 can assure you also that the
2 church doors will not be closed to yol
5 six days in the week, as is the custom
2 in too many churches, but they will b.
: open other days than Sunday and thai
here will be freely dispensed thai
F.: which is good for the body and min(
] as well as that which is good for the
soul. 1t is a source of qualification tt
r us that the granite of which thi
: church is being built is from our owl
e hills, namely from the Branchvillt
quarry, SO we trust the chief strength
of the church in coming years will b.
= in it's sons and daughters indigenous
to the soil. The workman say tina
e this granite is good stone, so we trust
e the members of this church may b.
0 Of equally good quality, as beautiful
e in character, firm and enduring. Thu
\ original members of this society, O.
: whom this church is to stand as me
o mortal in accordance with the wish 0
i the donor were: Sturges Bennett, Ben
g jamin Gilbert, Matthew Gregory, Eb
e enezer Hill, David Nichols, Isaac Os
) borne, John o. StJohn. l would b.
r glad to speak somewhat of these nobl,
i men and of their noble descendants
r but feel that it is not right for m,
d to take more of your time. Others
d who follow may refer to them wh'
e know much more about them than
j.; do.
o Mr. Sanborn then introduced Charlie
o Jones Ogden, student of Columbi;