The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-11-02
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STAMFORD

The banquet given last night, at Red Mems hall, as the closing function in connection with the 50th anniveT- sary of the dedication of the Congre- gational church, was the largest and most notable ever held in the history of the town. Over 300 covers were laid and a. bountiful menu was served A table for the honored guests was spread on the platform. or stage of the hall, over which Judge Howard J. A. Curtis presided as toastmaster- Seated around him were Mrs Curtis. Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Packard. Rev. Joel s. Ives. Rev. and Mrs. George F'arrar. Rev. and Mrs. Cornwall. Rev. Cyrus F. Stimson. Rev. and Mrs George Judson. Miss Sterling, Mrs. Myra Wells. Rev MT. DePue of Bridgeport, Mir and Mrs. Fred Curtis of Brook field, and others. After the tables had been cleared Judge Curtis rapped for order and said in substance: Never so many charming ladies and chival- rous gentlemen were seated at a ban quet before in Stratford. If this cele- bartion was simply to mark the fact of the elapse of 50 years since the church was built. the occasion would be trivial. It is not that, 1t is nothing for a church to stand 50 years Only flood. or fire or earthquake could over throw 1t. but if a man lives to be over 90 he has had to fight many things as we'll as millions of microbes. We cele- brate the continuity of a long suc-
  ford without it's churchesi Think of coming to this town and not finding the beautiful twin spires This cele- bration marks an epoch, the beginning of new era, 1t marks the close of the period in this church. when man was supreme. Now the women have con- trol. It is the old story of the wiles of women and the weakness of men, There was a time when 70 women presented a petition to the church au- -rf in f4ht matters. No rebuff would quench the designing women and now they have supplanted man. You remember the story of the tent and the camel The animal wished to put its head inside the tent because of the storm outside. The Arab consented. Soon the Arab was out on the sand and the camel was inside the tent. The men Of the church are today struggling in the sand and the women are in power. can see the celebration which will be held in the year 1859. All seats will be occupied with women and the men will be out in the horsesheds getting their flying machines ready to take home their wives and sweethearts. Our most cherished possession is the gentleman in our pulpit who gives us the ripened experience of long and useful life. As he comes to our fam lilies and walks in our streets his pres ence is a benediction. We love all
  sometimes forget there are any oth- CTS. The Judge paid a high tribute to the Episcopal church. saying that the Corgregationalists have always had called upon Rev. N. Ellsworth Corn wall to respond.
 MT. Cornwall said in reply that he spoke from the. fuiiness of his heart As of all people of the Congregation al church. so it is with their cooks, their good works are in everybodys mouth. Some of the Episcopalians are descended from Puritan stock He brought his greetings and congratula- tions. May the churches of this com munity catch some of the enthusiasm manifested in the two papers read on Sunday by Mrs. Bunnell and Mrs Cogswen. The present church can be altered into a cathedral. if one should be needed: Fifty years ago was an era Of building new churches in this vicinity We will adopt anything we find valuable in Congregationalism- am an Episcopal Congregationalist- a composite Christian. The Congrega- tfonal church is an evolution from the church of England.
 In calling upon Rev. George Farrar to respond for the Methodist church, Judge Curtis told about Peter Parley's account of the advent of Methodism in Ridgefield. A man stood on wood pile preaching the new gospel. Soon prayer meetings. class meetings, ex- perience meetings. etc, were held at various houses Some of the people did not like the innovation and tried to stop 1t. Parson Goodrich laid low and watched the Methodists. He lk- ed what they were doing and started meetings of his own, which he called conferences. Thus our chapel was called a conference room, a name it stIll bears. While the Methodists have had an influence over our church, which was perhaps a little too conser- vative, we have modified somewhat, and now they have got up to our point of conservatism.
 Rev. MT. Farrar said it was his joy and privilege to bring the greetings of the Methodist church. He paid a high tribute to the Puritans and said the voyage of the Mayfiower, in the history of the world. was second in importance only to that made by Col umbus when he discovered America. The Congregational church is mon ument to civil and religious freedom and when the Methodists came they found a soil the reaping of which has aafOufghed fha world You have been