Norwich bulletin., 1909-07-05
NATIVE SONS SPEAK
 AT UNION SERVICE.
Large Number Gather to Hear Them at
 Central Baptist Church.

Sunday evening the Central Baptist church was we'll filled at a union ser vice including the Second, Broadway and Park Congregational churches and the First Baptist church, whose pastor, Rev. William T. Thayer, opened the service with the invocation. The scrip lure, Psalm XIX, was read by Rev. Clifton K. Flanders, acting pastor of the church in the absence of Rev. P. c. Wright, and Rev. Joseph F. Cobb of the Universalst church announced the hymn. After which prayer was offered Second Congregational church.
 With commenting remarks upon the quility of Norwich citizenship and the city's contribution to other communi ties, Dr. s. H. Howe of Park Congre- gational church then introduced Rev. George E. Martin of Lowell, a native of this city. Retrospecting somewhat upon what the church had been to Norwich, Dr. Martin went on to speak church to Norwich at the present day, which he said he would focalize in one sentence: Tt is the duty of the church to be sovereign in the affairs of men" Time was when men of clean hands were in charge of the city affairs, men of the altar, and William A. Bucking- ham was the consummate product of a 6lOdQ VI cuCli Cilul CAilCus W ldl lilC church has been is a fair challenge to the church today. It should be sove- reign too educationally, for 1t was his church standing back of Rev. John P. Gulliver that made possible the Nor wich Free Academy. this fairest blos- som of the Rose. Sovereign also the church should be socially. Time was in Norwich when the church deter mined social lines and not to be a church member was to be off color. Disclaiming any intention of saying that the church was not exercising an influence in these lines today the speaker said that the church in the past was a fair challenge for the church today. It was the same in Tfrom the past meant for the church and the ministry a massive fight upon their hands.
 Dr. Benjamin w. Bacon of Yale The ological school was next introduced by Dr. Howe as a son of Norwich dis tinguished in the realm of scholar ship, bringing a response from Dr. Ba- con of the kindly thought that includ- ed sons-in-law as we'll as sons. The beauty of the day, the loveliness of the city at the present time, the strength of her granite hills as seen in her sons and the stately grace of her elms as seen in her daughters were all men, tioned with congratulation by the speaker. As we have had noble an- cestors there is upon us a responsibility towards them and from us should go forth a generation that is to make Norwich even more beautiful more noble than it has been in the past.
 After the anthem. Praise the Lord (Marker), finely rendered by the aug mented choir under the direction of James l.. Case, the Rev. E. s. Worces- ter of Broadway Congregational church introduced Rev Edwin W. Bishop, D. D., of Oak Park, H., also a native son of this city. The great spiritual herit- age which Norwich is heir to, and the tremendous potency of the church in Norwich history was the thought iIn- pressing him, said Dr. Bishop, and it is only the man with foreshortened vision who will say that the church has not been a momentous power here Speaking of the men and women from Norwich who had entered the clerical field, he sounded a call for a mani- festation again of the pilgrim spirit, which he said he believed had not fled.
 Rev. Clarence M. Gallup of New Bedford was next presented by Rev MT. Worcester, with reference to the lack of need of introducing the speak CT, as he was upon the pupit of his home church. Rev. MT. Gallup spoke of his pride in occupying the place and of seeing in the audience Beriah s. Rathbun, one of the music committee fifty years ago, and Dr. John A. Rock we'll who made an address at that time. Mentioning with reverence the names of Palmer, Bacon, Geasey, Jew cit, Pratt Howe and Herr as minis ters who had given to his life it's first incentive to the ministry, Rev MT. Gallup affirmed that he noticed that not quite the same note was struck as before in our churches. and he called upon them to consider in some meas ure the beauty of their past and if the church would give to the city that inspiration and beauteous ex- pression which they ought.every rrob lem presented them will be solved.
 After the singing of America, the benediction was pronounced by Rev. Mir Flanders