The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-09
CONGREGATIONAL CLUB.
ANNIVERSARY IS
 CELEBRATED.

ute Speeches by Prssiding Officers of
 the Year.
 At the Dwight Place church last night was held the twentieth anniver- sary meeting of the New Haven Con- gregational club In the early evening the members of the club were given complimentary supper prepared by the ladies of the church. The supper was preceded by a social half hour. The supper over, the members assem- bled in the church and under the guid- ance of the clubs president, Rev. D. J. Clark, of East Haven, conducted the annual meeting and held the election of | officers. The election resulted in the choice of these officers: President-Walter R. Downes. 1 e-presidents-Rev. F. B. Doane, Elihu A. Beckley and c. E. P. Sanford. Secretary-Rev. George Foster Prem tiss.
 Treasurer-Harry W. Flint. Executive committee-Rev. Dr. W. W. Leete, George R. Chamberlain and Gull len B. Foote.
 Nominating committee-George F. Burgess, A. o. Norton and Levi T. Snow.
 Outlook committee-J. H. Mansfield, Rev. T. B. Wilson and John B. Ken nedy.
 Social committee-R. c. Davis, S. H. Street, George c. Kirkham, Edward L. Nettleton, N. A. Tanner, V. T. Ham, mer, E. H. Weaver and Frederick S. | Ward.
 Necrologist-Rev. Dr. Watson L. Phillips.
 The clubs membership is limited to 200, and last night there were reported 197 members. Four applications for membership were received, upon which action will be taken at the next meet ing.
 l At the conclusion of the business meeting the president, after a few in- | troductory remarks in which he told of the clubs formation and early life. in- troduced sixteen of the clubs ex-presi- dents, who made flve-minute speeches on the subject Memories of the Twen- ty Years"
 | In his opening remarks Rev. D. J. Clark, president for 19O2-3 said in part;
 At the urgent request of our late brother, Deacon Alfred Walker, this club was formed in the spring of the year 1885, The object of the club was to foster a social and better feeling among the clergy and laymen of the 1 Congregational churches of this city.
 About forty brethren of our faith were gathered at the clubs launching, and the presidency of the organization was offered to Yales venerable and be- loved ex-president, Theodore Woolsey. l His advanced age and enfeebled condi- tion prevented his acceptance, and the Rev. John E. Todd, the senior pastor of the city. was elected in his stead. To Judge Simeon E. Baldwin was entrust- l ed the drafting of the clubs constitu- ton, and right well did he discharge his duty.
 | Originally the club met each month, and no ladies were admitted. Later this infelicitous feature of the clubs life was remedied and in 1889 the ladies were invited to attend all of our gath erings; and from that date, and to their endeavors,. the increase in attendance and interest is largely due. To-day our membership reaches its maximum, 200.
 "Rev. Dr. Todd, who now resides in California, was sent an invitation to be present tonight, but no answer or mes- sage has yet been received from him, so no word from our first president will be heard tonight"
 Rev. Newman Smyth, D. D.. was then introduced as the second president. He presided during the years of 1SS4-5. In part Dr. Smyth said
 q remember well the first informal meeting attended by clergy and laynen, and remember our departed brother. Deacon Walker, on those first nights. He seemed to think that in his deelin- ing years he had accomplished good work, and indeed he had.
 "In those days our refreshments were served after, not before, our meetings, as at present, and it was meet that it should be so for the brethren needed refreshment after our discussion to re- cuperate from their oratorical efforts and to take away the tedium of listen- ing to them.
 "The underlying idea was to promote fellowship and to give expression to common belief"
 Hon. Simeon F. Baldwin, president 1SS5-6 followed. He said in part:
 When this club was formed the the- ological atmosphere was somewhat clouded. The Andover controversy was at it's height We had Todd of the old school Calvinists for our first president and then smyth of the new Calvinistic school and there they dropped down to me, not any kind of a Calvinist. | Tt is sometimes said that most men carry on religious business in their \ wives names. This being true in a measure, the admission of women to gathering is a good thing, even if they have turned our organization into a supper club"
 The Rev. Dr. McLane. president in 1SS6-7. said:
 q do not remember of any important events during my reign, but think the l first time the ladies were invited was during my term of office. One lady told me that presided with grace and dig nifty. This one remark do remember well because it made me feel so good" The late Dr. Justin E. Twitchell, D. D., presided in 18SS-9. His memory was paid high tribute by the presiding of ficer.