The Newtown bee., 1907-08-09
Brookfield's
 Celebration. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 15O YEARS
 OLD.
New Chapel Open for Use.
OUTLINE PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

The celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniverary of the founding of the First Congregational church of Brookfeld will take place at the church in Brookfeld Center on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August Is, IT and IS. As long ago as December, 1905, the church began to lay it's plans for the event, and at that time appoint ed an anniversary committee. The at titude of this body has been from the beginning one of generous hospitality. Though several hundred invitations have been sent to those who would prob ably not otherwise hear of the affair, the committee wishes it distinctly under stood that the celebration of the church interests involves those of the whole town, and therefore gives cordial and general invitation to all Brookfield and it's friends to attend all the func- tions The exercises of each day will be made more pleasing by the frequent musical numbers given by The Brook field Summer School of Music, under the direction of Prof Herbert w. Greene. This will be especially true of the clos ing service of Sunday evening, which will consist of elaborate musical program, concluding with Rossini's S sac red contata, Stabat Mater.
 The program in ou time follows Friday evening at 7.3O address of vel come by the chairman of the committee, Clarence E. Vroman, to be followed by four other addresses on cognate sub jects CD on behalf of former mem bers, by Attorney Wilson H. Pierce of Waterbury; (2) on behalf of former pastors, by Rev Cyrus w. Francis of Hartford ;(3) on behalf of the consocia- ton, by Rev Harry c. Meserve of Dan bury; (4) on behalf of the non-mem- bers, by Rev Leslie Willis Sprague of Brookfield.
 Saturday has been set aside by the committee as .Old Home Day. most of the forenoon being left unoccupied by definite program, to afford oppor- tunit for the renewal of old associa- tions and friendships. At 1.45 all will gather in and about the new chapel for collation. and social hour following at the tables. At 2. 30 comes one of the chief features of the occasion-the de- livery of the historical address, by Miss Emily c. Hawley. Her discourse will deal with the history of both church and the town, since they were in their inception so intimately associated. This will be followed by greetings from Danbury, New Milford and New town, given respectively by Col J. Moss Ives, MT c. B. Marsh and Rev Otis w. Barker.
 Sunday morning will be devoted to the laying of the corner stone of the new chapel by the senior deacon, All fred Somers, at ten o'clock followed by morning worship, with a sermon by Rev Joel s. Ives of Hartford, and the sacrament of The Lords supper. The closing services, to the musical nature of which reference has already been made, will take place in the evening, at 7.3O A notable feature of this ex- ercise will be the final address, by the pastor, Rev Marion L. Burton.
 For twenty years the church has en- tertained hopes for a chapel now these are realized in a building sufficiently completed to be used in connection with this anniversary The formal dedication will occur later in the year.
 An element of permanence has been added to this sesqui-centennial cele- bration through the preparation and publication, by Miss Emily c. flaw ley, of a book of one hundred and seventy-fve pages, to which she has given months of careful research. This volume, bound in cloth boards, and con taining fifteen chapters and an alden dunn, with sixteen full-page half tone cuts, and the Brooks family coat of arms printed in four colors, can now be ordered of Mir Gerald B. Curtis, Brook field Center, and will be delivered at the close of the historical session on Saturday. The low price of dol lar (which must be paid before the book can be deliveredD will not suffice to cover the actual expense of publi- cation. Only limited edition has been printed. As a memento of this impor- tant celebration, and trustworthy record of all early events connected