The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1902-05-09

THE METHODIST CHURCH ANNIvER
SARY.
The celebration, by the Methodist
church, of the SD anniversary
of the dedication of it's present
editice, on last Sunday, was a Joyful
success in every particular. The Quar-
terly Conference business meeting ir
the morning promptly voted to make
the salary of DIR Taylor, as pastor
$1,000, besides the use of the parson
age; and, finding the budget for the
years regular expenses already wei
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 financiering, with a re-
suit of $3.50, for the mornings work
Brief memorial addresses we're 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 It. Gilbert, A
NJ, 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 fol-
other letters of interest, which would
probably yet arrive, though too late
for the day. The Epworth League had
its historical address at O'Clock by
President E. H. Bradley.
In the evening the congregation
which filed 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 finan.
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 wipine
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 valuable fac
tor in the whole days success Re,
William T. Gilbert was deservedly
thanked by a rising vote of the Quar-
terly Conference for his very efficient
work as treasurer, and DR. Montgom
cry, the new Presiding Elder, wor
golden opinions and the .Chautauqus
salute for his admirable service.
The flowers, brought by Mrs Rogers
lent charm, and the peerless weathe
of the day was providentiaf gift TO
the joy Of all. This church will lonl
remember the gladness. of this anhiver
sary.
DIR Taylor's themes next Sunda
will be, "The Good Ground Hearer,
in the morning, and at night, 'Som
Lessons Of the New Milford Fire.;
with reception Of members and Com
munion after the morning sermon.