Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-02
BAPTIST CENTENNIAL
Weeks Celebration Begun at First
 Baptist Church Last Night

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 The celebration of the centennial an- nfversary of the founding of the First ] Baptist church in this city was begun, last night, when special services were held In the church. The congregation, which taxed the seating and standing capacity of the church to its ut-, most limit, heard an admirable ad- dress from the pastor, the Rev Oscar Haywood, who spoke at length upon T One Hundred Years of Contemporane- ous History
 This week will be a memorable one. in the history of the Baptists of Water bury One hundred years ago, when churches were very few in this city. the First Baptist church was organized by little but gallant band of thirty people. Their early trials and tribula- tions, their sufferings, their patient, persistent work, their steadfast loyal ty would make fit subjects for many. songs and verses of praise and com- nlendation. Tn the midst of hardships and setbacks, they struggled bravely and gallantly and saw their little band of thirty gradually grow stronger and larger until to-day the First Baptist church is one of the most influential of WaterbIry's churches. A memorable 100 years the past century has been J for the founders of the church and their successors.
 It was only fitting, therefore. that the present members of the church should celebrate gloriously and tTi- umphantly the founding of the church. It is only just that the minds of the speakers should revert to the small be- ginning of the church to it's firm and steady growth through the many, years to its present influence and pros, perity. Such an event is deserving Of a. weeks celebration.
 Not only are the people in this city interested in the anniversary celebra- ton, but members of the Baptist church throughout the state are mani- festing much interest in the various ex- ercises in connection with it. During the week many visitors from various towns throughout the state and in other states will visit this city to be present during the exercises.
 The services last night were opened I with ia delightful and impressive organ prelude. which was followed by the anthem Send Out the Light" Har- old Elton rendered finely the solo Face to Face"
 The text used by the Rev Mir Hay- wood for his sermon was the same as that used on the occasion of the dedi- cation of the Baptist church on South Main street more than: forty years ago. The speaker also read from the same Bible that was used as the pulpit Bible in the same church, and probably the first Baptist church building erect ed in this community. Rev Mir Hay. wood spoke in part as follows v~&A. "A ffn T4 century witnessed two revolutions, which meant much to the religious and political conscience of the world and served to prepare the nineteenth cen tury as an unbroken path in which the race was to make its longest stride to- ward the ideal liberty and enlighten- mGot of which the poets had sung and prophets had dreamed.
 These two revolutions while radi- cally different in nature and method were diverse expressions of the spirit which filled the air and finally burst forth in flame and fury.
 "One was in France. where by pop ular uprising in one of the great states of Europe against long settled order of things. overthrow society among the French people, wrought violent changes in the continent, and directed by mili- tary genius culminated In domination and conquest, followed by terrible retribution
 "The other was in America. where the children of new world, inhaling the atmosphere of the forest, imbibed at last the spirit of the eagle, which q could not be intimidated by threat nor restrained ~y force. Not by an insane and rapacious outburst,, as in France, but by sober, methodical and patriotic resistance, they threw off the yoke of foreign government, organized a con- stitution and set out in the wilderness upon the vaStest political experiment the world Had ever seen.
 During the progress of these two revolutions, ancient landmarks of req i son, of thought, of faith, of tradition, were set aside or effaced. We are probably yet too near those events to pronounce Judgment upon them, but we know that those two revolutions have tremendously influenced the whole civilized world and more than any other movements they prepared the way for the nineteenth century, which marks the high water stage in the tre- mendous rush of the worlds civiliza- tion
 gE Liberty was the battle cry of those uprisings and although in some in stances, and especially in France, the men who were fighting for liberty be. came themselves ministers of cruelty and oppression, yet they gave a new emphasis to the inherent right of every l &O 4f,j1nly opd xxrihbfv, 4ba Hy,,i%. of