Evening star., 1901-11-09
Mt Pleasant Congregational Cele-
brates Fiftesnth Anniversary.
EXERCISES CLOSE WITH A RECEPTION
CongratuIatory Addresses by Min
isters Of Other Denominations,
THE MUSICAL FEATU RES

The reception held last evening in the
Mount Pleasant Congregational Church
brought to close In a most fitting manner
the fifteenth anniversary jubilee celebra-
ton of the founding of that organization
which was begun Sunday. Every room in
the brightly lighted edifice last night be-
spoke a genial welcome. The church had
been made beautiful by the rich foliage OF
autumn and the bright colors Of chrysan-
themums and roses. The members of the
church and the many well-wishers who
came from neighboring churches We're first
received by the pastor and a reception COM
mittee in the church parlors. For an hour
this committee was busily engaged in hand
shaking. A stringed orchestra and the joy
Gus hum of conversation made the recep-
tion most brilliant affair.
A feature Of the first hour was the break
ing of earthen jugs which had been dis
tributed among the members of the con-
gregatfon several months previously to re-
ceive their contributions toward raising
the church debt. The jugs yielded $500,
which. together with $500 raised by the
church debt committee this year, will ma
terially lessen the obligation which the
church is carrying.
In the auditorium, beginning at $50
o'clock, there was a series of addresses,
in which various pastors Of the city spoke
words of encouragement and rejoicing.
Music also formed part of the program in
the auditorium, after which the parlors of
the church were again visited and refresh
ments partaken of during an hour OF So
ciability.
The Receiving Party.
The receiving party last night in addi-
tion to Rev. and Mrs. Fishburn, included
Gen. Ellis Spear and Mrs Spear Mr.. and
Mrs. N. e. Young. Mr.. and Mrs. B. p.
Davis, Mr.. and Mrs. H. L. West. Mr.. and
Bowman, Mr.. John R. Eddy and Miss
Edith NJ. Fisher. For forty-fve minutes
there was a continuous stream of people
passing down the line, receiving a few
the party. Musical selections were rem
dered by the Mount Pleasant Orchestra
Messrs. Nyman, Conwell, Brown, Meiners,
Ane, Exley and Quinter and Misses Clara
Young Myra Chittenden, Elton Ronsa-
vile and Mamie Dickey.
The services in the auditorium were
opened by the rendition of the Lost
Chord" by trio consisting of Mrs. A. D.
Pond with Miss Chambers as pianist. Rev.
Professor Chickering was introduced by
Rev. M. Ross Fishburn, pastor of the
church, to pronounce the invocation, after
which DR.. Fishburn spoke briefly of the
occasion.
Remarks by MIR. Fishburn.
He said: 1.-The black night Of denomina-
IlNdlIy hllu SlTllt Is DeluS swiftly
superseded by the dawning day Of interde-
nominational fraternity. The sects are not
being abolished, 1t is not desirable that they
should be, but sectarianism is being abol-
ished. UNCONVENTIONAL leaders are coming
to understand that what Herbert Spencer,
in his Data OF Ethics.,i designates as the
fundamental ethical law, operates as inexor-
ably with churches as with individuals,
and they are learning that best results can
be obtained, not by sectarian Isolation, but
by cooperation and fellowship. That.
while there are dfYersities of operations, 1t
is the same God that worketh all in all,
and that to claim the divine blessing for
ones own denomination to the exclusion of
all others Is to put on airs, which the Lord
condemns, the church diScountenanceS and
the world holds in derision. And so it
comes about that in this anniversary cele-
bration we do not rejoice alone, for in the
best sense the fortunes of our church are
shared by all the churches of our city.
For the establishment of these propositions
| summon as witnesses the good friends
who bring to US tonight the fraternal greet
ings of seven various denominations"
Congratu1atory Addresses.
Congratulatory addresses were made by
Rev. j. G. Butler, DID,, of the Luther
Place Memorial Church; Rev. F. D. Power,
DID, of the Vermont Avenue Christian
Church; Rev. Luther B. Wilson. DID,, of
Foundry NJ E. Church; Rev. Teunis 8.
nant. and Rev. S. M. Newman, DID,, of the
First Congregational Church. Mr.. Fish
burn read letters from Rev. George F.
Dudler, rector Of ST. Stephens P. E.
Church, and Rev. S. H. Greene, DID,, Of
Calvary Baptist, regarding their inability
to attend and expressing good wishes.
Mrs. A. D. Melvin sang q solo, Called
Back" Denza), with an exquisite violin
obligato by Miss Myra D. Chittenden.
The exercises were brought to a close
with the benediction by Rev. Wallace
Montgomery, pastor of the Fifth Congre-
gational Church.
The committee in charge Of the decora-
ton and refreshments included:
Mrs. w. D. Quinter. chairman: Mrs B.
P. Davis, Mrs. F. L. Campbell, Mrs. D. w.
Herriott, Mrs. II. l. West. Mrs. Charles
Calhoun, Mrs. r. R. Bagger, Mrs E. S.
Peck, Mrs. George Redway, Mrs F. L.
Fisher. Mrs. w. R. Simpson Mrs. w. ].
Bowman, Mrs. Thomas s. Rogers, Mrs. w.
E. Buell., Mrs. D. s. CARL, Mrs. Dr. Hard
ing, Mrs. D. w. Ronsavlle, Mrs. c. B. D.
Dickey, Mrs. George N. Rose, jr., Mrs
Mayfield Mrs. James Frizzell, Mrs. Frank
Davis, Mrs. T. s. LASER, Mrs. William
Snyder, Mrs. George H. Zeilers, Mrs. John
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