Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-01-30
ACTIVITY IN OLD AGE.
Instances from the Church-English
 Woman Busy at 1O3.

There never were so many old
 people alive as to-day. The church
 provides several instances of activity
 in old age. The aged dean of St Paul's
 is S7 years old, but is frequently present at the services in the cathe- dral. Prebendary Hutchinson Is one
 of the oldest living clergymen in the
 church of England. having been or dained deacon as long ago as 1893,
 and is still able to discharge the du-
 ties of his office, though over 90 years old. Bishop Courtenay Is not now in ac- tive discharge of the duties of a dio-
 cese. having retired from the bishop ric of Kingston in 1879. He was born
 in 1913. and had aspirations toward
 q barrister's career. But. although he
 was called to the chancery bar in 1888
 he decided to enter the church. and
 was ordained three years later. A
 great part of his life was spent in Ja-
 maica, where he was archdeacOn and
 bishop successlvely. For five years afterward he was chaplain at LET mitage.
 The oldest free church minister in
 active work is undoubtedly Rev Thomas Lord of Horncastle. who is
 now in his 09th year, and is the oldest Congregational minister in the united Kingdom. Mir Lord has held pastor ates at Wollaston. Brigstock, Ded- dington. Great Bridge and Horncas- tie, but he retired from active minls- try in 1878. He resides at Horncas- tie. and takes a keen interest in local
 affairs, besides frequently preaching in chapels in the district. Last year when preaching with remarkable viz.
 or from the text. Thou are near, 0 Lord he mentioned that this service
 concluded the list year of his minis try since his ordination.
 1 had the pleasure of congratulat. ing personally that wonderful old mu- sician Senor Manuel. Garcia on his tooth birthday. He Is now 101 years old. and in very fair health. He taught Jenny Lind. .'the Swedish NigthIn- gale" and up to quite recently im- parted his special method of voice training to the younger singers of the day. Senor Garcia can still enjoy a game of chess. and likes to have a story read aloud to him. On his Tooth birthday the veteran was invested by
 King Edward with an order at Buck. ingham palace. and afterwards spoke
 at a commemoration gathering. He
 was recently an interested spectator at game of pelota.
 Miss Mary Alexander will be 1Oa in September. She is one of three
 sisters who have survived to an ad-
 vaneed age They belong to a long
 lived family. Miss Alexander and
 her two sisters. who are. respective ly. 8 and S9 this year. reside at Rel
 gate. and are the daughters of a Lon.
 don banker. The aged sisters are
 members of the Society of Friends.
 which has always had a number of
 men and women of advanced age. it's
 peaceful principles conducting to long
 life. All the sisters have been total
 abstsine-s for over sixty-five years,
 and they were the first to join the To-
 fsl Abstinence society when 1t was
 started at Stoke NewinRton. where
 they resided many years ago. Miss
 Mary Alexander. the centenarian. is able to knit and read. though she
 now requires glasses: her two sisters dissiain specfscles. and are exceed.
 ingiy busy-Quiver.