The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-05-09
The NewtOWn Bee
Ten Pages.
LITcHFlELD COUNTY
NEW MILFORD.

THE METHODIST CHURCH ANNIvER
The celebration, by the Methodist
church, of the SD anniversary
of the dedication of its present
editice, on last Sunday, was a joyful
success in every particular. The Quar-.
terly Conference business meeting in
the morning promptly voted to make
the salary of DIR Taylor, as pastor,
81 900, besides the use of the parson.
age; and, finding the budget for the
years regular expenses already well
provided for, they also voted to use
the anniversary occasion for raising
$3.50 to put new roofs on the church
and lecture room, and to repaint the
whole.
The new presiding elder, Rev James
Montgomery, preached an excellent
and very effective sermon, and then,
at DR. Taylor's request, most admirably
conducted the tinanciering, with re-
suit of $3.50, for the mornings work.
Brief memorial addresses were made
in the Sunday school, and then came
the social basket lunch in the lecture
room, with all the free, cordial greet
ings of such an occasion.
At 2.3O O'Clock came the historical
service. Rev William T. Gilbert, A.
M, formerly pastor Of the church,
read an historical sketchIof the church,
which was very we'll written and in
teresting; which was followed by re-
marks upon the old times by about a
dozen of the old members, some of
them dating back to a former genera
tion:
DR. Taylor read congratulatory
letter from Ex-Governor P G.
Lounsbury, and said he had hoped for
other letters of interest, which would
probably yet arrive, though too late
for the day. The Epworth League had
it's historical address at O'Clock by
President E. II. Bradley.
In the evening the congregation
which filled the church in the morn
ing-overflowed into the lecture room.
DR. Taylor preached his fourth sermon
on the "Parable of the Sower," viz,
on ''The Thorny Ground Hearer.''
Then Dr-Montgomery took the fnan-
ciering in hand again, and the people
cheerfully gave the other hundred
dollars, and more than the $3.50 asked
for.
Then Charles A. Way and William
Green, on behalf of the trustees, pub
licly burned the mortgage before the
congregation, and as it's flames ascend
ed the choir and congregation arose
and sang loud and glad doxology.
DR. Montgomery pronounced the ben
ediction, and the joyful days work
was ended in mutual greetings and
happy congratulations over the wiping
out of all Indebtedness and all arrears,
and the provision for the coming years
expenses and the improvement of the
church property.
The chOir'S work was valua BILE fac
tor in the whole days success. Rev
William T. Gilbert was deservedly
thanked by rising vote OF the Quar-
terly Conference for his very efficient
work as treasurer, and DR. Montgom.
cry, the new Presiding Elder, Won
golden opinions and the .Chautauqua
salute for his admirable service.
The flowers, brought by Mrs Rogers
lent a charm, and the peerless weather
of the day was a providential gift fol
the joy of all. This church will long
remember the gladness. of this anniver
sary.
DR. Taylor's themes next Sunday
will be, "The Good Ground Hearer,
In the morning, and at night, ''Somt
Lessons of the New Milford Fire.
with reception of members and Com
munion after the morning sermon.