Middletown transcript., 1910-07-02
THE ANNUAL MEETING
AT Old 81. Annes Church a
Great Success

dletoTn were held az usual IN the V6ner'
able, historic edifice mile TO the South
of the town, we'll known to all the coun.
try-side as "Old st. Anne's." IncIement
weather had delayed an earlier meeting.
Last Sunday, however, amply atoned for
ell earlier lacks, for finer, fairer June
day in every respect one could not have
wished to see. It was indeed one of the
ideal June days our poet Lowell SO beau
tifully sings in the Prelude to the "Vision
of Sir Launfap'
"What is so rare as day in June2
Then il ever come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays. F"
A cool, refreshing breeze swept through
the opened church windows, or without
stirred in the branches of the tall oaks,
hickories and waInuts that sdorn this
lovely old burial-ground, affording abnn-
dant sheltering shade for the groups Of
ladies and gentlemen-soms of them came
from surrounding toWns-to renew in
friendly social chat and "reminiscences the
acquaintanceships and memories Of other
days.
By way Of historically refreshing the
readers memory about this noted church,
the writer quotes from his own article on
Religious Denominations" in Conrad's
History of Delaware. "The present old
st. Annes Church was built out of brick
brought from England, it is said, in l76S,
in the reign Of Queen Anne (good Queen
Anne, as history deservedly styles her)
whose name it bears, and who presented
a covering for the communion table with
the initials OF her own name ga. R., Anne,
Regina" worked upon it in satin en-
broidery, with her royal fingers most
probably. This precious relic was saved
at the time of the fire in 1882, when the
church in town was burned.
The old church, 30 deeply cherished for
it's hslloWed associations of years long
past, is in fine condition, and carefully
cared for; and once year service is held
within its consecrate1, ivy-mantled walls.
Near it stands majestic oak of giant size
and height, in whose aged top the CEN
tury-old crow might have died. One
huge horizontal arm of this Briareus Of
the wood, stretches for distance OF 40
feet over the church pathway almost to
its very portals, as if in perpetual benison
upon the worshippers." This mighty
oak stands sentinel still over the scene,
and under its wide-spreading leafy tent,
all the three hundred visitors who came
aud more, might have found a covert from
the sultry ray. The noble patriarch needs
Iittle surgery, however, not 30 much on
his own account, perhaps, as for those
upon whom some of his outworn limbs, a
prey to decay, might chance to fall.
The walk from town would have been
as fine as the day but for the dust; not
few Of the saints, and sinners too, "were
tried" If not "as by fire" at any rate as
BY dust-no trivial test when ordinary
carriages and autos passed-but which
was in one instance an intolerable annoy.
ance, viz, when after all but few had
gone home some foreign vulgarian went
furiousIy scorching by and fairly hid the
persons past whom he rushed. The writer
thought TO himself as he lodged in be-.
tween the sitting dust storms, "what q
graceful courtesy it would have been to
those ladies and gentlemen on foot, and
in fitting keeping with the day and their
common purpose, the worship of Him
who ordained it all, the Sabbath, the
dust that blew, the ''dust" that walked
and the 'dnst" that rode-had all these
vehicles passed at 80 slow a pace as to
have caused none OF that discomfort" !"
But the writer must not usurp the func-
tion Of the learned Bishop.
The church was almost filed even to
the gallery, some 25O persons being pres
ent, chiefly EpisCopalialns Of course, but
with representatives from at least FIVE
other denominations-not to speak OF a
number of individuals who seldom attend
any church in the town.
The chancel window was handsomely
trimmed with flowers, among others with
one of Mr.. Jacob Fosters large magnolia
blooms. The singing was very fine, the
service opening with that beautiful hymn
with its no less beautiful tune, 20 Mother
dear jerusalem" sung as a Professional
and closed with "For all Che Saints who
from their labors rest," as a RecessionaI.
The offertory was an anthem, based on
that stirring, sacred Lyric of Sir John
BoWring, the famous English linguist aud
writer, I'm the Cross of Christ glory"
Sir Johns knowledge of languages was
remarkable enough to class him with the
worlds greatest linguists like Mezzofanti
and our own Elihu Burritt, the Learned
Blacksmith, for he is conceded to have
known 40 languages, and claimed TO be
able to speak 1901 1t was cherished
ambition of his to dc. something for which
he would ever be remembered; had he
done or written nothing else, this superb
song would alone have immortaIised him.
The organist Mrs. J. Allen johnson,
is to be complimented for the volume and
character Of music she brought out of the
small organ that furnished accompani.
ment for the choir.
The Rt. Rev. Bishop Frederick ]. Kins-
man preached from Matt. 2O:eO, a fine
sermon on the ''Greatness of Serving''
and gave some useful lessons to his hearers
on the blessedness of giving both self
and pelf.
A generous collection Of $50 lacking q
few cents, was taken, which brings the
''new fence fund" up to 5000. Il is pur.
posed to raise $1,000 to enclose this fine
old yard and church with appropriate
fencing, and all persons wishing 70 con.
tribute to this fund, can do 90 by remit.
ting to Mr.. NJ. N. Willis.
The rector, Rev. Percy L. Donaghay, is
to be congratulated on the highly success.
tuI iasna of his entire nroOraD, NJ oor,.