New Britain herald., 1922-10-14

One of the most unique social func-
 tions ever held by the members of the Stanley Memorial church took
 pastor and his wife, Rev and Mrs Raymond N. Gilman, were kidnapped, by a group from the congregation, driven blindfolded about the city in an autom obile and then escorted into,
 what they thought was a hall miles away but what turned out to be the basement of their own church.
 In the church which was ella borate- ly decorated with autumn foliage and flowers, alternated every few feet with hanging baskets of flowers, platform was arranged. A solid wall of autumn leaves formed the back of the plat form. Both front corners held large potted plants, connected with bright colored paper ribbons to blue and gold canopy on the ceiling. A chair | stood on each side of the platform, | flanked with ferns. What "old timers" said was the largest gathering of Stanley Memorial members ever held, was seated in the room when the pas- tor and his wife were le1 in.
 When the blindfolds were removed the latter were greeted with upwards | of 200 packages piled on the floor | in front of them and were invited to open them. The packages contained a variety of household articles rang ing all the way from kitchen hard ware, and bathroom towels to a com- plete set of dining room china, cut Iglass and silverware, winding up with a corn cob pipe for the minister. He was rather confused as to what use to put the latter article until ad- vised by someone that it was used II for blowing bubbles.
 Following the opening of the sur prise packages several vocal selec- itions were rendered by Walter Talk, after which brief addresses were given by the minister and his wife.
 Mir. Gilman spoke along the usual lines of gratitude and closer feel ing of sociability in the church, but 1t was when his wife spoke that the affair became for a moment a little more serious. Mrs. Gilman began by stating that it was two years and two months to the day when she left her home, her friends her people and her country to become the wife of an Am ercan. She spoke of the difficulties Of being minister's wife in a coun- try where she is more or less un- familiar with the customs and her voice shook as she remarked that the evenings affair was evidence that her husbands congregation had accepted her as one of them. She asked for assistance from the women of the l parish in learning the customs of the | country.
 An address was given by A. w. Rit- | ter, who was master r-of-ceremonies. It | was when they first were led into the | hall that Mrs. Gilman made her sen sational identification of her husband MT, Ritter and other men shook hands with her when she came in. finally placing her hand where she could touch the finger tips of her husband. Immediately came the cry, That's Raymond.
 Mrs. Oscar A. Marsh and Mrs. Arthur Knapp were the committee in charge of arrangements.
 Mir, and Mrs. Frederick West Porter of Garden street will attend the Hull-Wedmore wedding in Bris- tol tonight.
 Miss Virginia Judd, daughter of Mir, and Mrs, Harold l.. Judd of Der lin entertained several young friends at her home on Thursday afternoon In observance of her sixth birthday
 Mir, and Mrs. C. B. Stanley are oc- ,upying their new residence on Shut He Meadow avenue.
 
 Dr. and Mrs. r. P. Lee and chil. : lren of Summer street have left for Bermuda.
 Miss Lois Kirkham, daughter of Mir. md Mrs John Kirkham of Cedar street and Miss Barbara Swift, daugh- CT of Talmadge Swift of Cedar street nave left for Putnam Hall, Pough- teepsie, N. Y. |
 Mrs Kenneth Soper of Lake street eft yesterday for Bermuda to spend everal weeks
 Men of the South Congregational church Brotherhood are enjoying an outing along the Pennington river, near Avon this afternoon. They left oy automobile at 12:15 o'clock,