The Newtown bee., 1905-10-27
FAREWELL RECEPTION.
TO REV AND MRS o. w. BARK ER

FAREWELL RECEPTION.
 TO REV AND MRS o. w. BARKER. | A farewell reception to Rev O. w. Barker, the retiring pastor of the Con- gregational church, and Mrs Barker, was rendered them, Wednesday night, at the home of Mrs s. F. H. Hewitt. SanthemumS, while the diningrOOm ta- ble was bower of beauty in it's decor 1 ations of white chrysanthemums, red tissue paper and Salvia flowers. An l informal program was enjoyed, con- sisting of a reading by Miss s. J. Scud- der, banjo duets by Dr Schuyler and Charles Bishop. Arthur T. NettletOn presided ds master of ceremonies and called on Allison P. Smith, who spoke for the church, of their regard and es- teem in which MT Barker was held by every member of the church. B. L.. Johnson spoke earnestly of his deep re- gard for MT Barker and of the loss the | whole town SuStainS in MT Barker'S departure. MT Jewell said he admired MT Barker'S religion as he believed it was entirely free from cant and pre- tense. He referred to the large space MT Barker occupied in the local life. Mrs s. F. H. Hewitt read the following | tribute to Rev and Mrs Barker:
 Mrs Cora A. Hawes Hewitt read the following tribute to Rev and Mrs Bar ker: To our pastor and wife: We are shaking hands and hearts too, think, tonight as we group ourselves around you once more in the old familiar way. A few words we wish to speak for one and all. You are going to another home, but we cannot let you go with out again telling you of the tender re- membrance you leave of such loving, happy service to your people. The parsonage was home to us all. Its dainty mistress always ready for us, no matter how tired or busy and the parsonage within, so exquisite was its order, it was the despair of more than | one houSekeeper to emulate. And the garden where the pastor excelled; his vegetables were vegetables l assure you. We can only dimly realize the night and day given for the people, for to fully comprehend would be to as. sume the same responsibilities, but l just look into our hearts behind these poorly expressed words and you will | read the deep appreciation of the un' varying interest, sympathy and kind ness always bestowed with such deli cacy that the recipient was made to feel he was conveying the favor by his acceptance. Such a pastor and his wife as we have enjoyed these 12 years and how we'll we have been disciplined | You could not forget your church du- ties long. No, indeed, just get ready with good book to read, the lamI nearby and cozy evening to yourself in prospect. The prayer meeting bell | "Oh dear, well, next week I'll gO,'
 but your door bell is rung also and g pleasant but decided voice asks
 "Aren't you coming to the meeting to
 night?" Of course you go and afte1
 the hour spent with thoughts of God
 with the greetings and earnest prayer'
 exchanged among the little group
 how rebuked you feel and so in all th'
 but firmly have been.held to our duties The life among us of our beloved pas
 tor and wife has been a heart inspira
 tion. thought awakening, soul con vincing influence, leading always tt
 the foot of Gods throne, as we say
 good night we will leave them in hi
 care, for our tenderest solicitation, ou
 warmest desire for their happiness il
 their new home cannot approach thu
 love with which He will enfold them
 Piano duets were rendered by Miss 6S UldUCl EAOI duu AdOC1 Lay 1Ol.
 Arthur T. Nettleton read the fol
 lowing letter from Rev o. o. Wright
 which was applauded:
 !. Sandy Hook, Conn.,,
 October 25, 1905. II My dear brother Barker: Lest 9th
 care of the world and the deceitful ness of riches" shall prevent me frOn
 seeing you before you leave NeWtoWI
 l will use my pen to express my dee]
 and high appreciation of your fare
 we'll sermon which l have read wit
 inspiring interest.
 Not only in itself does it impress m
 as message from the divine Master , full of thought and earnestneSs, an
 the power of love; but it seems to lu
 so fitting as the closing word and bent { diction to 12 long years of strenuou } and fruitful labors with the NewtOw : Congrega tional church..
 7 AS l have said to you before, and g l have often said to others, you hay done great work for your parish an s for the town; and your success hs l been full and complete. 8 In your home, in your church, and i f the larger social life of the cOmmunit } you have earned, and won, and con f manded the honor and praise of a ] good people: and the rest you need ,an ) the changed conditions of life you see 0 are richly deserved, and in the highe' y sense yours by every consideration t; And l am glad, and l congratula e you from the inmost, warmeSt feelin d of my heart.
 e am sure that you and Mrs Bark' l will look back upon your first expe e fences together here with happy rect e lections, and 1 hope and pray tn S with renewed health and strength al Il with the ripening years of experienc n larger opportunities for the beautif e- and delightful service of God for m ,. may open to you, and that the perfe