Douglas daily dispatch., 1926-02-11
REV. SIMONSON
HONORED UPON
ANNIVERSARY

Quietly and in a manner in keep
ing with the traditions of st. Steph-
ems parish of this city, a compli-
mentary dinner was served to Rev.
E. w Simonson on the evening of
February ., in honor of his twentieth
anniversary as rector of the local
parish.
The vestry of the parish with their
wives, as the representatives for the
evening of the entire congregation,
made the Rev. Simonson their guest
at the dinner served at o'clock
in the spacious Parish house Deep
regret was expressed over the abb
sence of Mrs. Simonson, Mrs. Clara
r. Quinn, and the Misses Elizabeth
and Katherin Simonson, who are now
on the coast.
Many superlatives were applied to
the fine work of the Douglas rector,
who practically laid the foundation
of the Episcopal church in this city.
From a little band of 20 faithful fol-
lowers he has seen it grow into
parish which now ranks next in
Importance to the cathedral of the
diocese. With more than 400 mem
bers and temporalities completed
the nice rectory-the modest, yet
really beautiful church-the splendid
Parish house-and an enviable repu-
tation for good taste, courage and
social sympathy in the community,
st. Stephens parish is bounding for
ward with rapid strides and has,
with the dawn of 1926, reached
heights never before realized. The
parish is truly "over the top" in
every department of it's undertaking,
both in it's local matters and in re-
gard to it's obligations to the church
| at large The consciousness of the
congregation is that of a servant to
I the community.
! While the rector in his character
istic modesty would not say that the
success achieved is his, those who
know and who have enjoyed his rich
! friendship, marking always his pa
tient, quiet ways, will assign to him
conspicuous place in the triumph
of ST. Stephens parish. His long
rectorship, which has meant un-
broken leadership, has always count
ed highly with the church and with
! the community. And it is great
! compliment to the Rev. Simonson, at
/ the end of twenty years of faithful
! and brilliant service, that his parish
! stands at the peak of it's career. An
even greater tribute. is the affection
and respect which he enjoys among
the citizens of the entire city.
TIL complimentary meeting Tuesday
evening, pronounced the thought of
| wider fellowship than that eX-
! pressed before the altar he serves.
| Mrs. p. p. Butler and Mrs. John
Davis acted for the vestry in ar
ranging the table for the dinner. The
! floral decorations were rich and
abundant A beautiful travelling bag
| was presented Rev. Simonson by the
| ST. Cecilia Guild, the woman's So
! ciety of the congregation without
whose wonderful attainments the
! church could never have made such
extensive progress. From the vestry,
as a mere aid to support the memory
of the happy evening, was presented
with beautiful meerschaum pipe.
H. J. Bishop, the senior warden,
acted throughout the evening as
| spokesman and president of the yes
/ try Several members of the vestry
spoke until all possible compliments
were exhausted.
The Rev. Simonson expressed his
joy in a few brief, happy remarks,
and in his analysis of the forces
which have worked for general sue
cess. He also paid beautiful tributes
to those who have contributed so
greatly to that success and especially
mentioned Mrs. Fl. C. Stillman, for
many years the mother" of the st.
Cecilia Guild, quoting Bishop Ken
drick in his compliment to her.