The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-13
Plymouth Congregational Church
Observes Silver Anniversary.
soRMER PASTORS PRESENT.
Interesting Remarks on the Occasion and
Letters Read From Absent Ones,
Following a Dinner.

The 25th anniversary of the organiza-
ton OF the Plymouth Congregational
church was observed with fitting ceremo-
nies In the church last evening, about 700
members OF the church and congregation
assembling to take part I'm the exercises
In addition to the recently installed
pastor. Rev. Archibald McCord. three
former pastors were present, inciudihs
Rev. Henry u. Roberts OF Winsted con-
necticut, the first pastor. Rev. Henry A.
Blake. the second pastor. now OF Roches-
ter. N. H. and Rev. William c. stinson Of
New York city.
Letters were read from Rev. Thornton
A. Mills, the third pastor, now OF San
lose, Cal, Rev. S. III. woodrow or
Springfield, Mass. the fifth pastor. who
vas unable 10 be present on account OF
Illness, and the sixth pastor. Rev. Her
bert A. Youtz of Sharon, Conn. -Four OF
the charter members OF the church were
present.
A dinner opened the ceremonies, being
served In the auditorium. The church
was tastefully decorated with palms and
iery bore a shield with the date 1878 In
closed by wreath. Poole's orchestra fur
nished pleasing music through the SER
wing of the dinner. The Dairy d Anthony
company catered, and the menu was elab-
crate Dinner was served at O'Clock ana
was followed by speechmaking, Eustace
Cress officiating as toastmaster and In
PRODUCING each speaker In a felicitous
manner.
The toastmaster in introducing each
former pastor asked all those present who
had united with the church during his
pastorate to rise. and then the pastor was
introduced. This same method was fol-
lowed In reading the letters OF the alb
sent ones.
Rev. Mr.. Roberts said that probably
very few realized how primitive the be-
ginning OF the church was. The early
days were a struggle. he said. and he re-
ferred TO the Beneficent Congregational
church as the mother of Plymouth There
were IL different denominations represent
Cd I'm the church when started. he said
and it was a matter OF some difficulty to
get all these different opinions assimilateo
but II was done, and unity of purpose was
established.
Rev. Henry A. Blake, the second pastor
of the church could remember when Their
was no church I'm that section OF Provi
dence and very few houses. He referred
10 the DTpKTeSS tIldt flsiu nttH hitdts
The next speaker was Rev. William G
Stinson, who spoke reminiscently ant
told OF n number OF humorous incidenti
connected with his pastoratc.
Rev. James @. Vose. ID. D.. was nex
introduced He said that he had beer
asked TO speak on 1.-The Preacher OF the
Day" and ne thought he might well bt
considered the preacher OF the day
as ne preached last Sunday and expects
to preach next Sunday. THE preacher
Of the day is very much like the preach
ers Of other days. The preacher must
have a love for humanity. You will find
the best lessons I'm life among the com
mon people, right down 80 humanity. II
II better to know human than German
as my friend. DIR. Greer, used to say
meaning that the study OF humanity !:
the best study Of all
"The preacher must preach Jesu.
Christ. We must present Christ's truth
as we find II in common life.
1.-THE sticking power Is great A Jour
nalist once said OF newly discovered
counterfeit postage stamp, that you could
tell Il from the genuine because It had
better sticking qualities. You now have
your seventh pastor here in rs years
TOO many cooks spoil the broth B'
sure that this latest cook sticks more
than three or four years"
Rev. r. Taimage Root spoke next. "W'
live I'm an era OF change" he said
change i'm the business world. the scien
-tffe world, the Industrial world. ant
change I'm the religious world. We arr
passing through crisis today much th'
same as the Jews OF ancient times, whC
set their faces toward the hills and higf
places May II not be that we have
come to consider the local church as the
end and not the means Another thine
we are steadily losing ground in the large
cities. especially In New York. II Is be-
cause we have set up the local church
as In n high place. as an idol. I'm sense
We need to change our IDEAS The
Ghurch is not an end but only a means
20 serve the community. The Congrega
tional church OF Providence should he
considered one church. meeting In diff
ferent places for the sake OF conven-
ience"
other speakers were Rev. A. 8. Hawkes.
OF Edgewood. Rev. l. 8. Woodwork and
]. Wilmarth Rice OF Benehcent church.
and the pastor. Rev. Mr.. McCord. The
anniversary exercises OF the Sunday
school viii be held next Sunday at 2:S0
y. m.
The anniversary dinner was arranged
by committee consisting Of Eustace
Crees. r. G. Vennerbeck. Frank Dodge.
Fred ID. Thompson. Lewis wiswal Mrs.
Charles II. Barker and Miss Mabel Dun
ham.