USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > East Windsor > Historical sketch of Warehouse Point, Conn., dedicated June 17, 1900; and also of the Methodist Episcopal Church, from 1822 to the present time > Part 5
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or among the wild men of Borneo. We little think how much our environments have to do in making us what we are rather than what we might have been under different conditions.
O! presumptious man, the reason would'st thou find Why formed so weak, so little and so blind.
First, if thou can'st, the harder reason guess
Why formed no weaker, blinder and no less.
Third, I am thankful for receiving New England teaching and Christian instruction and being able to imbibe somewhat of its ideas of life, duty and destiny, rather than the cold, soulless dogmas of agnosticism, which give no comfort to the heart and no inspiration to the soul. I would not forget to mention home, family and friends congenial-three very important factors in making life worth living.
Surely for all these favors can we not say with the psalmist "The lines have fallen to us in pleasant places and we have a goodly heritage," and sing with the poet " Praise God from whom all blessings flow." With Tennyson I would say :-
Ring out the old, ring in the new.
Ring out the old dispensation that demands an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and is marked by man's inhumanity to man, and ring in the new gospel dispensation-the golden rule of love, of doing to others as ye would that they should do to you, which is the highest ethical teaching of which the world has ever known or heard, and which if fully prac- ticed would make the earth a paradise regained.
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
Ring out ignorance and superstition, error and vice, greed and corruption, the hell of war and whatsoever worketh evil; ring in wisdom and knowledge, truth
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and righteousness, virtue and peace, faith, hope and love and whatsoever worketh good.
Ring in the Christ that makes us free.
free from the slavery of sin and Satan, free from the tyrany of evil desires and passions within us -- and who invites us by a free and full salvation to enjoy the freedom of the sons of God and to become par- takers of the divine nature through his exceeding great and precious promises, causing us to rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Thanks be unto God for all his unspeakable gifts. Let all our hearts and voices unite in singing three stanzas of that grand old coronation hymn.
All hail the power of Jesus name, Let angels prostrate fall ; Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown him Lord of all.
Ye chosen seed of Israel's race, Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail him who saves you by his grace, And crown him Lord of all.
Let every kindred, every tongue. On this terrestrial ball, To him all majesty ascribe And crown him Lord of all.
REPLY BY O. F. CONE.
This glorious Easter day is a day of sweet me- morial to Christian hearts, of the culmination of the thought and purpose of God in the redemption of man. His thoughts and ways are sometimes incomprehen-
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sible and mysterious to our finite minds, but always for our best good, for He doeth all things well. From the earliest history of mankind, we see God's thought in his love and care for him, and when he fell we see immediately God's love in the thought of his redemp- tion, For he said "The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent's head;" then farther on we read, "We all, like sheep have gone astray, we have turned every one to his own way and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all," and the birth of Christ was the culmination of the love and thought of God towards man, for Christ came to turn our sorrow into joy.
In his life was the thought of God manifested, for he went about doing good, but in his death was our redemption and our hope of a resurrection. The women arose very early in the morning and went sorrowing to the sepulcher, but one returned with joy in the knowledge that her loving Saviour had risen. So this day should be a day of joy to all Chris- tians for herein we see the thought of God complete.
Now upon this happy Easter morning we first hear the tones of this sweet bell sounding forth an expression of the gratitude of the donor and of us the followers of our risen Master, Christ. The thought which prompts the gift of this bell, in mem- ory of those godly lives and examples, was love, im- planted in the heart of the donor from earliest childhood, and is now culminated in this sweet memorial. And we, the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal church of Warehouse Point, do most sin- cerely express our thanks and gratitude to Almighty
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God, and to Mr. Mahlon H. Bancroft, his servant, for this munificent gift to the society, and may its sweet tones call us to closer union and fellowship in the service of our risen Lord and Saviour. And as its tones shall ring out the call to the worship of God, may its voice be heeded by all, and come give praise and glory unto the risen Christ, who has done so much for them.
And the memory not only of those to whom this bell is given as a memorial, but also he whose love for the house of God and generosity will be perpet- uated. And may the expression of every heart be voiced in the sweet hymn: "Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love."
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DESCRIPTION OF NEW CHURCH.
Ground was broken for the new church, August 22, and on the 17th of September, the corner stone, the gift of Mr. and Mrs. T. H. Munson, was laid with appropriate services. The church is located on Main Street, near the center of the village, and stands 45 feet back from the road line. It is built of wood and is designed by Architect F. R. Comstock of New York, and built by Amos D. Bridge of Haz- ardville. Its largest dimensions are 75x49 feet. The main floor of the building is taken up with the audi- torium, 48x36 feet, in which the seats are arranged in a semi-circle with a seating capacity of 225. Just back of the seats and in the front part of the building is a room 30x20 feet, to be used as the chapel, which may be thrown open by means of large doors into the auditorium. In front of the auditorium and back of the pulpit is the choir loft. On one side of the pul- pit is the entrance to pastor's room and on the other side the entrance to a hallway leading to the floor below. In the basement, which in the rear is on a lev- el with the ground, is the kitchen, 18x12 feet, the dining room 34X18 feet, the social parlor, 30x18 feet, all finished in hardwood, and the furnace room. The basement may be entered by two doors from the outside and by two stairways from the floor above, one going down from the vestibule near the main entrance in the bell tower, in the bell tower is also a winding stairway ascending to the ladies' parlor, 24X20 feet, located in the second story, directly over the chapel. This room also opens into the auditorium
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by large doors and may be used as a balcony, thus giving the church, with the room below, a seating capacity of 400. On the north corner of the building is an entrance from the driveway into a vestibule in which is the lavatory.
In the auditorium the ceiling is of natural south- ern pine and the woodwork of ash, finished in me- dium antique. Around the walls runs a wainscoting of ash, 372 feet high. The rest of the walls is of plaster, tinted a warm buff color. The frescoing and interior painting were done by Pietsch & Eberle of Hartford. Above the high arch over the choir loft are the words "Praise Ye the Lord" in neat blue letters. The seats are of red oak, through which run four aisles and one stub aisle.
The church is brilliantly lighted by 45 electric lights, which in the auditorium, are hung from elec. troliers. The building is heated by a hot air furnace, which will warm each room separately. Provision is also made for stoves in each room, and runing water is put in on two floors. The ventilation is admirable, being secured through the roof and by means of sev- eral of the windows which are made to swing. The organ, a two-bank Johnson instrument, was removed from the old church and has been revoiced, tuned and decorated and supplied with new stops and pedals by H. Hall & Co. of New Haven, at a cost of $450. Wind for it is supplied by a Spencer water motor.
The ladies' parlor on the second floor, called the Wesley Room, is a very pretty room and its entire furnishings, including a beautiful oak library table, oak chairs, pictures and brussels carpet are the gift
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WALTER JEROME BAILY.
Member of compiling committee. Joined the church June 5, 1892. Elected steward March 14, 1893. Served in office of President, Vice- President and Treasurer of the Y. P. S. C. E. several terms, and is the present President, and is serving his third term.
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of Mrs. M. H. Bancroft. The room is lighted by the upper half of the large front memorial window in which is a large medallion of Wesley. Over this win- dow, written in a scroll is Wesley's motto: "The World is My Parish." The new church bell, conse- crated and first rung on Easter Sunday last, is the gift of Judge M. H. Bancroft in memory of his pa- rents. It was made by Menely & Co. of West Troy, N. Y., and weighs 2,013 pounds. It is in the key of F and has a very fine tone which gives off a rich, swelling reverberation. The bell bears the inscrip- tion : "In memory of William and Caroline B. Ban- croft, by M. H. B., Easter, 1900."
"Ring out the old, ring in the new ; Ring out the false, ring in the true; Ring in the Christ that makes us free."
Perhaps the handsomest part of the new church is the beautiful memorial windows designed by L. S. Welsh of Hartford. There are 24 in all and a mere description cannot do them justice. Made of a fine quality of opalescent glass, of the scroll pattern, they possess a symmetry of design and harmonious blend- ing of colors which produce a beautiful effect, either at night from without or by day from within. Twenty-two of the windows are in pairs or compan- ion windows, the pairs on the east end being to- gether, and those on the sides arranged so that one window is on one side and its companion on the oppo- site side of the room. On the front or east side of the church is the largest window, composed of six panels and surmounted by an opalescent medallion of John Wesley, the entire window being the gift of Mrs. M. H. Bancroft. On the medallion are the initials "H.
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DELLA E. A. BANGS (BAILY).
The subject of this sketch was born in Springfield, Mass., and at- tended the public schools of that city, and moved with her parents to Warehouse Point, Conn. August 15, 1888.
She was converted during the pastorate of Rev. F. C. Baker, No- vember 10, 1891, and joined the church June 5, 1892. She married Mr. W. J. Baily January 6, 1892.
She was a member of the compiling committee, and was chosen sec- retary and the publisher's assistant on this church history. Has been treasurer of the Y. P. S. C. E. for two terms.
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H. B." in memory of the giver's deceased daughter, Harriet H. ; on the top panels-an anchor and a cross- and-crown window-are "M. L. B." and "L. B. B." the initials of Mrs. Bancroft's daughters, Mrs. O. L. Judd and Mrs. C. A. Soper; on the bottom panels- an I. H. S. monogram and a Greek monogram win- dow-are "M. S. B." and "M. H. B.," the initials of Mrs. Bancroft and her husband ; on the two middle panels, visible only from the outside, are the words in large letters, "Wesley Church." On either side of the large window are two lily windows with the words "Behold the Lilies of the Field," given by Mrs. J. A. Barber in memory of her parents, Wil- liam and Caroline B. Bancroft. The transom over the front door was given by M. H. Bancroft in memory of George D. and Mary P. Woodward, and contains the word "Welcome" and a cross and crown. On both sides of the auditorium are five lower windows and a large upper circular window composed of three smaller circles. Those on the north side were pre- sented by Mrs. Carrie J. Heath in memory of James Pascoe, a crown window; Mary E. Watson in mem- ory of her daughter, Mary C., an alpha window; children of Mrs. Almira Warner in memory of their mother, a Bible window; and two windows, an omega and tables of-the-law window, by Dr. George L. Cooke of Milford, Mass., in memory of his mother, Mrs. Sarah S. Cooke Phelps, and his sister, Mrs. So- phronia Cooke Fowler. Those on the south side are given by Joseph R. and Ellen G. Sperry a crown window; Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Cutler, in memory of Electa A. King, an alpha Window; the local W. C. T. U., in memory of Frances E. Willard-this win-
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MISS LENA J. ABBE.
A member of the compiling committee. Compiler of the historical sketch. Joined the church June 5, 1892. Superintendent of the pri- mary department of Sunday School, and is church organist.
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dow contains the emblem found on the title page of the "Union Signal," the national organ of the W. C. T. U. ; Frank H. Whittlesey, in memory of his first wife, Rebecca, an omega window; and the children of William H. Heath, in memory of their father, a tables-of-law window. The two large circle windows are the gift of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Parker, whose names they bear. A descending dove and two cross- and-crowns form the centre of the circles in these two beautiful windows. In the pastor's room is an open book and Grecian lamp window, in memory of Moses Fifield the founder and first pastor of the church, given by his grandchildren in Rhode Island. In the hallway leading down stairs, which is used as a choir vestibule, is a harp window given by Mrs. H. M. Sexton and her daughter Miss H. A. Sexton of Bridgeport, whose names it bears.
Among the other gifts to the church are, the lot on which it stands, M. H. Bancroft; the pulpit fur- niture, Mrs. M. H. Bancroft and daughters, Mrs. O. L. Judd of Norwich and Mrs. C. A. Soper of Chi- cago; carpet for the auditorium and chapel, Mrs. J. A. Barber ; furniture for the pastor's room, Mrs. Iona Pascoe; electroliers and fixtures, Rev. J. A. Wood ; curtains and fixtures for the choir rail. Mrs. O. F. Cone; door mats throughout the church, Miss Lena J. Abbe; lavatory, Children's Society of the Loyal Legion ; pulpit Bible, in memory of Dorothy Patchen, Edward Davis; 65 hymnal and psalm books and hymnal for the pulpit Olin S. Rockwell. Down stairs the rooms have been furnished by gifts, including silverware from Mrs. Arthur F. Eggleston of Hart- ford, and many others, too numerous to mention.
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FEAST OF DEDICATION.
A more beautiful day could not be desired than was June 10 with which to begin our Feast of Dedi- cation, the new bell rang out a welcome call to the first service in the new church Sunday morning 10.45.
The Rev. Dr. L. B. Bates of Boston, New Eng- land Conference Evangelist preached the first sermon subject, "The better country," a large audience was present and the singing was by a double quartet.
A delightful childrens day concert was given by the children at 2.30 p. m.
The first child to take part in the new church was Gladys Ruth Baily, her selection was as follows.
"We are here to welcome happy childrens day
Each a tribute bringing of earths blossoms gay : Little ones are we, yet gladly may we sing,
Caroling the praises of our Saviour King;
O this day of gladness, dearly do we love:
May it lead us nearer, to our home above,
Ever may we serve him till our life shall end,"
For we know that Jesus is the children's friend.
At the evening service Dr. Bates spoke from the theme "God helps those who help themselves" which he illustrated with stories of his own experience.
Thus closed the first day's service in the new church.
Monday evening 7.45 evangelistic service con- ducted by Dr. Bates.
Tuesday evening the bi-monthly meeting of the Enfield Union Societies of Christian Endeavor was held, and was the best attended since the services began. The Enfield Christian Endeavor union was
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present in large numbers, and chairs had to be placed in the aisles to accommodate the company.
The meeting was presided over by the new pres- ident, the Rev. J. A. Wood. The program consisted of a short devotional service, led by F. L. Jacobs, followed by a business meeting. The roll call by D. W. Brainard, secretary of the union, showed over 100 Christian Endeavor guests, and the Scantic Congregational society was presented the banner, it having the largest per cent. of active membership present of any society in the union.
Dr. L. B. Bates of Boston, father of Lieutenant Governor Bates of Massachusetts, gave a very inter- esting address to the young people.
Subject "The uprising of the young people at the close of the nineteenth century."
He began his remarks by showing the audience a small vial containing a piece of the forearm of one of the martyrs, taken from the catacombs at Rome I. 830 years after burial. He called attention to the fact that many have died for the love of Christ, but that we were called to live for Christ, and that the young people of our nation were doing this in great- er numbers than ever before.
At the close of the address Dr. Bates called for a rising testimonial of consecration, and followed it by an earnest prayer of consecration. The bene- diction was pronounced by Dr. W. F. English of Scantic.
A series of afternoon bible readings conducted by Dr. Bates began Wednesday at 3 o'clock with fifty-one persons present, a half hour was devoted to the former pastors reunion.
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Rev. H. H. Martin entertained the company with reminiscences of the past.
Rev. F. C. Baker said in his remarks that he could see the hand of Providence in not being per- mitted to carry out the scheme of remodeling the old church in 1892. He asked if any present were present at the dedication of the old church 67 years ago, Mrs. J. Sanford Potter responded.
This service was followed by a children's meet- ing and Dr. Bates addressed them on the 23rd Psalm.
The evening service convened at 7.45 the scrip- ture was read by the Rev. F. C. Baker of Westerly R. I., Prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. Buckingham of Mittineague, Mass.
Sermon was delivered by Dr. C. B. Pitblado of Windsor Locks. He took for his text Proverbs 23:26 "My son give me thine heart" it was an able, scrip- tural and helpful address. Dr. Bates followed with an altar service. Benediction was pronounced by the Pastor.
Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock Dr. Bates gave a bible reading and at 4 o'clock conducted a childrens meeting which was very well attended. At 7.45 p. m. a grand union service was held including St. John's Episcopal Church. It was a most inspiring service. The scripture was read by Rev. W. J. Brewster, rector of St. Johns Episcopal Church of Warehouse Point Ct; prayer was offered by the pastor Rev J. A. Wood. Rev. Mr. Brewster, in a few well chosen words introduced the speaker of the evening Rev. Ernest De F. Miel, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church of Hartford, who preached a grand sermon.
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His discourse was on Sacrifice illustrated by II Sam. 24 : 24 "and David said unto Araunah nay but I will surely buy it of thee at a price, neither will I offer burnt offerings, unto the Lord my God of that which doth cost me nothing."
The two churches were well represented and a grand spirit of union manifested; service closed with the singing of the hymn :
Onward Christian Soldiers, maching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ the Royal Master leads against the foe,
Forward into battle, see his banners go.
The benediction was pronounced by Rev. W. J. Brewster Friday afternoon at 3 o'clock Dr. Bates gave a bible reading and at four o'clock gave the children a drill exercise.
At 7.45 o'clock a very clear and forcible sermon was delivered by Rev. G. W. Winch of Holyoke Mass., a former paster of the Congregational Church of Enfield, from the text found in John 1:29. Mr. Winch said in substance as follows:
I feel like congratulating you, my brother upon this entrance into this place of worship, this place to meet your God. I am glad in the providence of God I could be with you. My own church observed its an- niversary recently, and in looking over its records of 65 years ago we found the contract for the erection of our first house of worship and in that contract was the plan of the recently erected church at Warehouse Point for our church in 1834 we copied from you.
The passage from scripture which will form the basis of thought this evening will be found in the chapter which was read, John 1 : 29th verse. The
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JOSEPH RANSOM SPERRY.
Member of building committee. Joined the church August 11th, 1878. Elected trustee Sept. 16th, 1878, steward Feb. 26th, 1889, elected recording steward Oct. 23rd, 1892, elected treasurer Dec. 17th, 1892. Postmaster since Feb. 7th, 1893. Justice of the peace since 1888.
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next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith, "Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world."
One of the commentaries says this is the most difficult passage in the New Testament; a person set forth to take away the sin of the world. Sin, the cause of all the anxiety, distress and trouble in the world. No longer shall sin and suffering re- main, or if they remain, men shall be saved from them. In truth, which is of the higher importance, removal of the sin of the world or the lifting of mankind above the realities of the sin of the world.
Lamb of God; what was the thought in John's mind when he said "Behold the lamb of God." Did he think of the paschal lamb offered as a sacri- fice by the Jews, or was it as some commentators think, Isreal's lamb of God made an offering for sin. We cannot tell. It was the vicarious sacrifice, and then that other expression "that taketh away the sin of the world." Was it that changing the sin by coming to the sin bearer? but whether we can dis- cover that practical step or not, we can tell that throught this person there was one who could carry away the suffering of men. The Baptist could give expression of the thought of his heart. He was the Messiah, the fulfillment of the prophecies and look- ing upon the person as he walked he uttered his prophetic expression BEHOLD. When we see a meteor or mountain top or work of art, we stop and look and exclaim Look! See! Behold Him the lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world was John's utterance and it was not for that time but universally as well as for the ages.
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I wish to take you under the leading of the spirit of God. I wish to have you understand Jesus the lamb of God. In the first place that you must look upon Him as a truly historical character as a Christ. He is first of all a historic character as truly as Washington was a historic character.
Jesus of Nazareth coming to the Jews was walking as others were walking that day, no differ- ent from others who were walking, and it was Jesus, as a man living and breathing. However beautiful such a story may be as a myth or a fiction of the first century, writers or later historians never can have the same power over men. One person made the attempt, starting out to refute and contradict; he wrote a book to deny the facts of the bible story but his book died before he did.
We must stand before the real Jesus; He be- comes a man for all time. Now how shall we come to an understanding of Jesus? why, as we do with others. We will take the story of Bethlehem until he comes to the waters of Jordan; we will follow him as he goes from place to place. We will stand by him as the priests and Pharisees stood by, we will be with him as he passes into the final scene; we will follow to the judgement hall, to the days of trial and death, to the resurrection, and behold him as he ascends into the clouds.
Do, I beseech you, read the story and see the man Christ Jesus, but this is not all, you will need to get beside him and get a study of his character. But how shall we do this? we must get the motive. When we find the motive we will see the cause. Here is a great difference between Napoleon and
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Grant. Both were great men, but Grant was actu- ated by a larger motive, by a patriotic love of his country, (and bears the name of the greatest man who ever served his country. ) The other was one who will ever be considered selfish and ambitious.
Now how shall we get this? we will stand at the Manger and say, why is it that he should come down to earth, have his birth like other men, and as you listen you will get the song of the angels, peace on earth good will to men. Then you will stand with him in the wilderness, exposed to the tempters power, and ask why is it? and the words of the apostle will sound in your ears: For in that he himself hath suffered, being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
You will then see him surrounded by the Scribes and Pharisees seeking to catch him in his teaching; and revealing their malice and desire for his death. Why is it? To make the captain of their salvation perfect through suffering, you will read his saying, that foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man hath not where to lay his head. Why is it? The apostle records that, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we, through his poverty might become rich. Then you will go to Golgotha and the question will arise, why is it He was put to death? Then the apostle answers "It was the removal of the sin of the world." The object of His coming, the object of His suffering when He breathed out that final word "It is finished."
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