The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-09-12
ATTEST FAIR HAVEN NEVIS
1oIYGS AT VARIOUS CHURCHES
 YESTERDAY.

srand Avenue Congregational Church
 Re-opened After Undergoing Exten-
 sive Repairs-"some Lessons From
 the History of This Churehy-suBjeet
 of Evening sermon-PersonaI and
 Social News.
 The Grand Avenue Congregational hurch was reopened yesterday after he completion of the extensive repairs
 md refurnishing. costing s14.OOO. There gere large congregations both morning md evening, and much praise was be- towed upon the beautiful auditorium. rhe services of "reopening week" will De continued during the present week, h include the '. P. s. c. E. social this vening, and the installation of the pastor on Wednesday evening. The yesterday morning on The Blessing in Zion" and the topic last evening was, 'Some Lessons from the History of This Church." Tn the evening Dr. Sheath spoke in part as follows:
 Ut is not our purpose this evening give "reminiscences. This we leave or the Fellowship Gathering. We de- ire to present few lessons from the past history of the Grand Avenue Con- yregational church. The history of a :hurch teaches valuable lessons as well Is the history of any life. This church has had a fruitful history and with an
 Educated ministry has done an excel ent work. This church was born in a revival, and revivals have been char acteristic feature. In the year 1908 about forty families lived in Fair Ha- yen, many of which were members. And yet in that year thirty-eight per- sons united with churches in East Ha- yen from this section. With the forma- tion of this church in 1880 came other tevivals and all through the ceuntury
 hey have been witnessed. While to- day training of the children into the thurch is the safest method of church
 Increase. nevertheless revivals are de- birable, and should earnestly be sought For by prayer and service.
 This church has had debts to con 1uer. In 1880 the first building was Erected at cost of $10,O00. In 1854 the second building was put Up, costing s25, ,000. In 18979 the front portion of this edifce was built, costing $10,0O0, knd now repairs amounting to $i4,OOO have been made. These debts came at Intervals of about twenty-five years And were met in heroic Christian manner. Who says that the balance of the present debt will not be met in the same manner? There are hanging in wonder rooms picture of a pastor and 3 deacon. should like to see third frame containing the picture or pie lures of the person or persons who will make possible the speedy payment of bur presentindebte tedness. This church has ever shown the beauty of unselfish service for others. The early history shows how the people walked to East Haven and to New Haven to services until able to erect church building. Then with noble sacrifice they built snot only for themselves, but for their lchildren. In the nearly seyenty-five lyears this has been true of the people eewho have worshipped here. And now you are putting this building into a condition, that it will last for one hum 'dred years-yea, two hundred years. sThink of the many lives that will be benefted thereby. This is the privilege of all of. us, Tolive after we pass away Fin the lives of those who follow us,' Michael Angelo, gladly with noremun- eration. painted the dome on St. Pet ler's. What thousand of lives he has 3bIessed by his sacrifice! I cannot con- ceive how many lives are to be made better and happier in this place; but the sacrifice of the fathers and moth- sers of the past and of the present.
 Money, time and love put into hos pitals, homes and other philanthropic Swork are well spent; but that which is iput into a church, which seeks not only physical, but also the spiritual welfare, lis, to my mind, infinitely better in- 'lvested, George Eliot expressed her A1onging in these words: Oh, may I join the choir invisible of those immor- Igtal dead who live again in minds made sabetter by their presence. May the the love, service and sacrifice, which would make such a desire reality in each Nof our lives be earnestly sought and < shown from day to day
 The Rev. George A. Alcott the new sTector of Grace F. E. church began his Jpastoral labors yesterday, preaching X both morning and evening.
 A sharpie race was sailed on Quinni- .lpiac river Saturday afternoon between a the Lizzie, Capt. Frank Larraby, and 2 the GleniIda, Captain Fred Brown. The ' Lizzie won easily. There were two a prizes, $15 and $10 The course was
 about six miles in length. Many spec l tators watched the race from Grand q avenue bridge and at Wharves along [ the river.
 Joseph E. Preston has sold to An f tonic sullo property fronting twenty. < two feet on Haven street.
 At St Andrews M. F. church last } evening, the pastor, the Rev. Martin o. Lepley, preached the first in a SC.
 ries of discourses on Coming Events j Topic: .Christs Coming
 ' Patrick McCartin has sold to Patrick } McManus of 191 Pine street the two. E family house at 205 Atwater street. MT
 NGclfanus will remove to his new pur
 chase.
 George Graham, tender of Grand ave de,a f,,a.,o