Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-02
GRACE M. E. CHURCH.
Reopening of the Edifice at Waterville
 Yesterday.


 After having the audience room of Grace Methodist church closed for a period of five weeks, services were again held in the church proper Sun day, and the transformation that has taken place in the interior of the church was very pleasing to the large audience that filled the room Sunday morning. The entire wood work and plastered walls of the editice have been repainted ill light and cheerful colors, giving most harmonious effect. A wide boz der of neat design has been painted around the ceilings, with modest dec oration just above the wainscoting, all of which combine to produce a most pleasing general effect ill harmony and coloring.
 The interior decoration is the work of Irving E. Gilbert, young man of the society of a most versatile make up, and is his first attempt at work of this nature, and 1t reflects great credit on his artistic tastes.
 The new carpet is a green with small yellow figure and is much appre- ciated after long period of bare floors, waiting for settlement of q strike Ill the carpet factory after the order had been placed
 The new electric fixtures were on. of the surprises that greeted the audi ence Three refectors are suspended in the center of the body of the church, each having a cluster of incandescents arranged like the spokes of a wheel above which is porcelain reflector to throw the light down to the best ad- vantage.
 The parlors have additional. lights in- stalled, and perhaps the one that will be the most appreciated on dark nights will be the one installed. on the front porch, which will light the approach. from the street to the church. The need for this light has long been felt.
 The morning service consisted of re- ception of members four by letter and six on profession of faith after having been on probation for period of six months or more
 The pastor address was to the six candidates for admission, who were all young persons, and his theme was the new relationship which they were about to enter with the church, giving them kind and helpful advice and en- nhasizing that the VOWS that they were about to take meant new responsible. ity, as heretofore they had been under the guardianship of others; now they were to come into full relationship of church membership and assume their part of the burdens and responsibilities of the church and it's work. After the right hand of fellowship had been ex- tended to the newly admitted members the holy communion was celebrated and probably participated in by the largest number of people of any previ- ous communion service held in this church
 The exercises of the Sunday school were the regular rally day exercises and were little late in the season 0 account of not having the use of the audience room of the church until the work of renovation was completed. The rally day address was given by Mir Platt, who is teacher In the Barn ard school, and was very plain and practical one on the work of the Sun- day school and It's influence on the after life of the pupil, He illustrated his own, what a deep and lasting i'm pression had been mate by one who taught him when in the infant class, and another whose influence he was under as an older scholar in the Sum-
 
 CTS not to graduate from and leave the Sunday school when about IT or 1S years ola but to adhere to 1t till 1O1 should they attain that age. He con c1uded by giving the school a history of the life of Christ In five words: He went about doing good" and urged his hearers to emulate that life.
 MT Platt was followed by General Secretary Robert S. Ross of the Wa terbury Y M. c. A. Ills subject was the advantages offered to boys and young men in the Y. M. c. A., and he gave them an earnest invitation to visit that institution and profit by the many advantages 1t offers to boys and young men for mental, physical and spiritual development. At the close of the exer- cfses each one present was presented with menento of the occasion in the form of a sheaf of wheat with a scrip tural motto on it.
 It was expected that some out Of town clergyman would fill the pulpit fn the evening but a vigorous canvass on the part of the Rev MT Moffitt failed to lind one who was at liberty or one who had not arranged some special ser vice for Sunday evening, therefore MT Moffltt announced In the morning. that an old friend of the congregation would preach in the evening, and in the even- ing he presented himself as the old friend Of the congregation. There was special music in the evening which the large choir rendered very pleasingly. The solo and chorus by r. R. Buck and choir. lift Up Your Gates o Jer1sa iem," was much appreciated. The pastor announced at the regular time for the offertory that he had something special to say before this was taken, and 1that he thought best to defer the offertory till the close. of the sermon. He. explained that after the grand ef- forts that the people had been making that there was still deficiency in the