Putnam patriot., 1913-11-28
CHURCH EXCHANGE
Congregational Church Notes
Services Of Unusual Interest

It was happy thought of some one to exchange Pastors and Choirs last Sunday, thus inaugurating courtesy which we hope will become regular custom. Dr. Crathern of Park church, Worcester, is no stranger here and seemed very much at home in our pull pit and the surpliced organist and choir from the Park church rendered the processional in about the same manner as is usual in our church.
 The sermon was profound and ef- fective description of the tragedy of a man who has been abandoned by the Almighty to his own wilful way. The text was from Kings, where Saul con- sults,by night the Witch of Endor. He has driven from him the priests, and the prophet Samuel has been neg lected and insulted, and has died bro ken hearted at the apostacy of Saul. The king half demented and wholly | deserted, in despair consults the "fa- miliar spirits and seems to call from the dead his old friend and counselor the Prophet Samuel, only to hear the final judgment that the kingdom has been rent from him and that he and his sons shall perish in battle on the morrow and his kingdom be given to | his neighbor David.
 Rarely have we heard so dramatic ! and tbr;IIiuo oratary in a SarD1np Shakespeare and Browning were quo- | ted in their allusion to Saul, whose character seems pathetic combina- ton of the most admirable and con- temptible qualities ever found in man. | kind.
 1 He was the most honored man of his nation. Head and shoulders was he taller than any of his people. Modest but full of courage he stood every inch a king and the hearts of the people | trusted him. But he grew envious and desc rted the Almighty and in one way and another allied himself with the idolatrous nations around him.
 The moral lesson ofsthe tragic story was powerfully forced home by yigo. rous gesture and a voice full of emo- tion. Many of our people pressed for ward to thank the doctor for his elo- quent ard helpful discourse.
 The cultured quartette of the Park church at once won high place in the hearts ot the audience. Without any of the unpleasant mannerisms or af- fected tremulous tones they sang the hymns with clearness of enunciation that betokened both culture and relig ious feeling
 In the evening at 5 o'clock Dr. Cra- thern gave children s service assisted by his quartet and ehildren's choir. The topic was the "Discovery of the Baby Moses by the Princess" While the doctor told the story in graphic style some dozen of our young ladies representing the princess and her mai6ens, and the mother and sister or the baby, acted out the events. The service was illustrative of what the doctor has in his own church every Sunday afternoon at 8. It was instruc- tive and must make the young folks | fond of the Bible in the church.
 The solos by soprano, alto, and tenor were all excellent, and the Alexander sorg, "His eye is on the sparrow and know he cares for me" rendered by the soprano, Mrs. Bowker,in the even ing service was especially appreciated. Altogether we must call the Sunday a Red Letter day in the history of oul ] church.
 1 Our pastor, Rev. F. D. Sargent, aC' companied by the choir, ofliciated at l the services of the Worcester church, i giving d service at 10.30 and the full vesper service at 5.30 in the evening They were greeted by large congrega- tions, and received hearty praise from many of the church attendants at the ! close of the services.