The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-12-04
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hInOL

The 50th anniversary exercises of
the Methodist Church are being at
tended by large audiences and have
been successfully carried out in every
particular Sunday the seating capac-
ity of the church was tested to its ut
most by the large gathering. At the
morning session, Prof. Marcus d.
Buell.. dean of Boston University, de-
livered a powerful and able sermon. In
the afternoon, Mrs. Annie E. Smiley of
Lowell, general superintendent of the
Junior Epworth League, installed the
officers of the local Junior League, and
gave a talk to the children.
At the evening session, Joseph H.
Simpson, president of the local chapter
of the Epworth League, gave an his
torical sketch of the league, Mrs. An
ME E. Smiley gave an address upon
1.-THE Value of a Child" and the SER
mon of the evening was by Rev. Edwin
H Hughes. pastor of the Centre Meth
odist Church, Maiden, upon the text,
Christ Is All, and in All"
The exercises of Monday afternoon
were attended by a good audience. The
evening commenced with an organ vol
untary, Mrs. Florence Beebe, Organist.
The opening hymn was read by Rev.
D. H. Rogan, and prayer was offered
by Rev. F. w. Sanford of st. Johns
Episcopal Church, and Rev.T c. Cleve-
land. pastor of the church, gave an
address of welcome.
The historical address upon Method
ism in Athol" was by L. B. Caswell,
and in addition to rehearsing the work
of so years of the present Methodist
Society, he told of the first introduce
ton Of Methodism into Athol families
more than one hundred years ago 1t
was only three or four years after Jes-
sic Lee the pioneer Methodist preach
err of New England, preached the first
Methodist sermon in Boston under the
old elm on Boston Common, that he
came to Athol and Orange and other
towns in this region and established
circuit to which he appointed preach
ers. In 1902, over the Athol line in
Orange, was erected a Methodist meet
ing house, which at that time was the
only meeting house of that denomina-
ton within radius of nearly 70 miles.
The present Athol society has had 27
pastors during the so years of its ex-
jstence. and now has a membership of
$50 It has within a few months been
presented with one of the most beauti-
full and fine-toned organs in this sec
tion of New England by one of its most
honored members, Mr.. L. S. Starrett,
and a fine memorial window for the
late Rev. Charles A. Shatto has just
been placed IN position III front OF the
building. Rev. Mr.. Shatto was the
first pastor to die while serving in that
capacity.
Following the historical address was
an address by Rev. Rolla G. Bugbee of
the Evangelical Congregational Church
extending greetings and congratula-
lions from the other churches Of the
town, and an address by Rev. James
Sutherland. pastor Of the Orange and
South Athol Methodist Churches, who
brought the greetings Of their church
es. There was a duet by Miss Nettie
Forte and Mr. Charles H. Davis, and a
solo by Mrs. Hattie Colburn. Other
addresses were by Rev. Ernest P. Her
rick of Leominster. a former Sunday
School scholar. and son Of a former
pastor of the church. who gave inter-
esting "reminiscences. and by Rev.
James NJ. Gage of Belchertown. who
went out from this church and Sunday
School. Rev. S. W. Sutton of the First
Unitarian Church read the closing
hvmn. and Rev. F. B. Knowlton pro-
nounced the benedictian.
At the evening session there was a
sermon by Rev. z. r. Thorndyke, d.
D.. presiding elder OF the Lynn dis
trict.