Norwich bulletin., 1919-09-01
TAFTWLLE PIONEERS CELEBRATE

Taftville royalty welcomed the Pion village Saturday and Sunday for their seventh annual reunion The villaE- CTS had decorated their homes with flags and bunting, and along Front street three banners were hung. the vile Pioneers, Sailors and Soldiers. The many strings Of lights strung
 along the street turned it into yeri table white way.
 The weather Saturday caused de- cided change in the affairs of the day. and as the athletic games were all postponed, trips around the village to visit with friends and relatives became the feature event.
 The first event provided by the en- the evening, when. at seven o'clock Pinoeers sailors and soldiers, and their friends. met at Ponemah hall, where a reception in honor of the re- dies of the Taftvi1le Red Cross had charge of the evenings programme and were heartily thanked for their fine programme. From seven until eight there was a general good time and many a fIEend who had not been seen for years was welcomed by a hearty slap on the back. accompanied by Well, how are you -? Guess you've forgotten me. I am -"
 From eight until nine came the en- tertainment of the evening in which the following programme was pleas ingly given:
 Address of welcome. by F. B. Rick etson, who welcomed the Pioneers. Red Cross. Vocal solo, My God, My Country, My Flag, Miss Jen nie Kendall; piano solo, J. Olson; vo- cal solo. Hugh Kinder. The soloists were all forced to respond with an encore. Frederick Dugas gave an in teresting exhibition of roller skating. mixing fancy skating with tricks per formed while travelling at a fast rate over the polished floor. Livingstones orchestra then rendered two selections. Refreshments of ice cream punch and ,ake were then served by the ladies. From nine until twelve dancing held sway. old fashioned quadrilles afford unity to take their places upon the floor with their younger friends. At he stroke of twelve lights were put put and the Pioneers returned to their stopping places firm in the belief that he morrow would be pleasant day.
 Sunday Sermon.
 Sunday morning arrived and still times rain fell. but the morning lours passed the clouds \ lifted and shortly after noon the sun broke trough and the Pioneers were to en- camping style The churches in the yillage were well attended and many new face was seen among those in he congregation, faces of men who lad left the village in their boyhood lays, but who had returned to their birthplace for the seventh reunion. At he Sacred Heart church. Rev. l.. O. Sellerose, rector, the usual Sunday morning masses were held and were largely attended. Reference to the sig Father Bellerose welcomed the Pion- ,ers to the church of their youth At he Congrega tional church. Rev. Ar hur Varley, pastor. the morning ser win Hill. of the Norwich Y. M. c. A, vho spoke in part as follows:
 You have been speaking in these ecent days about your pioneers re- urning for a reunion and such oc- asions are always enjoyable. I con meaning of the word pioneer. and T. ound that briefly. it means "One who goes before to prepare or clear the way; to remove obstructions for an ,ther. In a real sense we are all pioneers. and if we are the kind Of nen and women we should be our i'm in life will be of real service to thers. I want to take for the text If the morning the words found in the ,ld book of Deuteronomy. the wenty-hfth verse of the thirty third hapter: Thy shoes shall be iron and IS thy days so shall thy strength be-" These are. the words of one of the most amous pioneers of history. his name -ision of life. He had travelled life's oad for 126 long years, and knew lis journey was about to end, and he lesired to bless the twelve tribes and he words of the text constitute a ,art of the blessing he pronounced for Asher. Thy shoes shall be iron, and IS thy days so shall thy strength be-" Part of fishers allotment was in agged and rocky country and the wooden and leather sandals would not tand the wear and tear and so Moses suggested the iron shoes for Asher. the ioneer. Our government supplies our olderS, who went overseas with very eavy and clumsy shoes, with heels nd soles covered with iron for the ong hikes and the trench warfare. Let IS leave the literal meaning of the ext and consider the spirit of the lessing as it reaches down through he ages and touches every child of tod. The words of the text suggest hat we may expect some of the road vay of our lives will be rough and ugged before we reach the end of the ourney. Velvet slippers will not suf ice, we must have iron shoes. The
  ts pathway is filled with struggles nd self denial. but God will give us he iron shoes in the shape of courage nd strength and grace sufficient. a ul enumerates his trials. which were many. but at his Journeys end. wrote hat he had fought good fight and lept the faith; what a. real pioneer he vas. Job encountered rough experi nces and when they were the most errific his family urged him to curse tod and die, but he arose in the night f his pioneer spirit and said, Though Ie slax me. yet will I trust Him."
 The easy way is not the werthiest way and if we live true to God we will need the iron shoes in the shape f the rugged grace of God. Even hough our paths are crowded with 'roblems, difficulties and sorrows. let Is remember that no problem is quite O big as God, no difficulty that He annot help us overcome and that Het will enable us to bear the burden of very sorrow. No matter now rough he way. God will give us suitable