Putnam patriot., 1915-10-01

An event in the annals OF the SEC
ond Congregational Church of Putnam
began Sunday and was continued ON
Tuesday and Thursday evenings. 1t
was the Silver Jubilee OF the pastor,
the Rev. Frank ID. sargent, who for
the past twenty-five years has filled
the pulpit of the church and admins.
tered to the needs Of the parish.
There Is no man in Putnam more
widely known, more highly esteemed
and respected or for whom a greater
love fills The hearts of the people thnn
for the preacher, who for the past quar-
ter century has lived In this communi.
ty. Whatever may be the religious be-
lief Of the individual his contact with
Mr.. Sargent as citizen OF Putnam has
left him with II high regard for the
reverend gentleman. a ,hearty smile
and a kind word Of greeting for all has
endeared him TO each and every one
and they have felt that behind the
minister of the gospel stood The man,
and man that was as capable OF fill
ing any position of sponsiotiity, CON
fidence, aud trust, AS OF ninistefing
spiritually TO the members Of large
parish. In this manly quality, COUP
led with a personal magnetism, those
who never came directly under bis
spiritual ministration found their ad'
miration and formed n friendship That
carried with IL respect, regard and es.
TEEN for the individual.
Mr.. Sargent came to Putnam from
Brookline, n. H., rs years ago. He
has been an untifing lahor'r for the
spiritual and physical upift of his
parish, and his untiring efforts have
from time To time received substantial
recognition. He has also been power
for good In The community giving his
hearty support aud using his influence
for ali measures that would make Put
nam better city, cleaner, healthier,
more wholesome home for the people.
Ii is to such man that the coinmuni
ty has been united In extending It's
hearty congratulations and best wishes
during the current week.
On Sunday there was a large eougre-
cation at the morning service and they
listened with deep interest To the MIS-
torical address of the pastor. The
church had been profusely decorated
with flowers and plants adding tint
of color which was most fitting In the
joyous atmosphere. The address OF the
pastor covered the whole history Of the
church from the founding sixty seven
years ago. The first half OF the nd
dress is given herewith and the re-
mainder will appear next week:
ADDRESS
I'VE are assembled this morning for
the ostensible purpose of reviewing
the history OF this church for the last
quarter Of a century. When your com
mittee requested me to take UP this
task | thought the work OF preparing
such a paper would be not only de-
lightful but comparatively easy ! had,
however, 10 sooner taken my pen in
hand before | realized that while 1t
would be a matter OF little difficulty to
chronicle the happenings of the past
twenty-five years yet the events OF
these years were 50 interviewer with
the history preceding that In order TO
speak intelligently and truthfully OF
the present pastorate, the previous
history OF the church should be given
Before then, | speak al any length up
on what I have personally seen and a
part Of which I have been, ask you
to review with me the earlier years
that we may see how. hitherto, the
Lord has helped us.
Sixty years ago, the ninth
day OF July, IN the old scboolhouae.
that stood upon slight elevation 10
the rear Of what Is now known as the
Putnam Inn. twenty-seven men and
women, members Of other churches.
after due consideration voted 10 form
themselves into Congregational
church. II is interesting, as a matter
OF history, to recall the names OF the
founders of this church and their az
filiations at the time OF its inception !:
Rev. Z. B. Huntington. Norwich; Jul
liza NJ. Huntington, Norwich: Nathan
Williams. Jr.. Thompson: Catharine
Williams, Thompson; Lydia Burning.