Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-26

his beautiful home on North Willow street with not little reluctance, the parish took up it's burden of an $11, 900 mortgage which the collector defines as . dead pledge" and began to toll for money to pay the interests. Some who were enthusiastic for the purchase were placed on the committee to do the toiling. while others not on the commit tee, had nervous prostration. But our faith, which is higher faculty than reason," triumphed, for within a year cf the purchase the will of Edward F. Lewis was filed in the probate court giving S10,000 to the parish, and on De- cember 30 of the same year. 1901, Mrs Hannah Terrell died and left the par ish $1,000 thus providing for the entire debt upon the rectory. And what have VIC gained? An ideal home for the rec tor just where it ought to be: grounds large enough to forever protect our church from the encroachments of business blocks and tenements, and believe we have gained one thing more, cur faith has been strengthened in Gods .oyerruling providence, and while this. l trust will not make Us rash in the future it ought to remind us of the way in which the Lord thy God hath led us.
 On Ascension day, 1901, May 16 there were unveiled two windows in the chancel to the memory of former JnniOr wardens whose lives and deyo- tion to this parish merit such q recogni- ten.
 such memorials not only add to the beauty and completeness of q church tut they tell of our faith. hope and love, and bind the generations yet to come to reverence and guas1 these gifts through all the changes and chances of this mortal life
 During the past ten years I have ad- m1nlstered the sacrament of baptism to 34S adults and children I have pre- srnted for confirmation 233 candidates. 1 have added to the communion list 564 by letter and continuation I have off, ciated at 2S3 funerals, and I have per- formed 174 marriages. The total num- her of baptisms since the organization of the parish has been 1 1,145. of con firmees 661. of communicants 1.13O. of marriages 547, of funerals S23. But. exceptional as this record is. there is record still grander, which is writ ten only in the book of remembrances. record of hearts that have been com forted. of souls that have been uplifted of sympathy that has gone out from member to member and from rector to people and people to rector, as together We have borne 1ife's burdens and ex- perienced life's joys. Waterbury is a better city because of the presence of this church here witnessing to divine faith and declaring the gospel of true morality and brotherly love Tonight. beloved, as we keep our twenty-fifth anniversary and look back over the past, 1 am not unmindful of the faith ful loyal support which. as a devoted people, you have given me. and Dr Micou before me. Here in a measure is the secret of all this work; it has brought omnipotence to our aid. and wisdom has watched above our heads. and God himself has been our guide 3s together rector and people have tried to follow where he leads. Such, in brief. is our past. The future tonight is to us n sealed book. T do not ask 10 see the distant scene'' enough for me that grace may be ours to make of every day and of everv>duty the most Tor the glory of God and the good of our fellow men '