USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Danvers > Exercises in celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the First Church, Congregational, Danvers, Massachusetts: October 8th to 15th, 1922; with an address at the centennial of the Sunday School, November 17th, 1918 > Part 1
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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 07954424 7
THE 250th ANNIVERSARY THE FIRST CHURCH OF DANVERS CONGREGATIONAL 1672-1922
I
1
EXERCISES
in Celebration of
The Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary
OF THE
First Church, Congregational, Danvers, Massachusetts
OCTOBER 8th to 15th, 1922
With an Address at the Centennial of the Sunday School, November 17th, 1918
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 505421 A ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS R 1930 L
NEWCOMB & GAUSS Printers SALEM, MASS.
DEDICATION
In honor of a noble past ; In hope of a great future ; In gratitude for help and co-operation ; In prayer for the continuance and extension of friendship and love, This book is sent out.
F. WALTER MARSII, E. H. PERLEY, A. V. HOUSE, MRS. FRANK T. FERGUSON, MISS FLORENCE MUDGE, Book Committee.
7
1672
1922
250th Anniversary
of the
FIRST CHURCH OF DANVERS CONGREGATIONAL
October, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 . 1922
This, the present Meeting-House, was erected in 1891 and is the sixth in which this Church has Worshiped, all but the first having been erected on the same
site
.
.
--
Erected 1839. Destroyed by fire 1890.
Sunday, October 8 10.30 A. M.
Lemare
PRELUDE. Andantino.
CALL TO WORSHIP. (Congregation rising with the Minister) .
DOXOLOGY.
INVOCATION.
RESPONSIVE READING. Rejoicing in God, Psalms 95 and 48. Minister. O come, let us sing unto the Lord;
People. Let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto Him with psalms,
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
For He is our God; and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.
Beautiful for situation. the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, the city of the great King.
We have thought of Thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Thy temple.
According to Thy name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth; Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Thy judgments.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her; tell the towers thereof.
Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ve may tell it to the generation following.
For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.
GLORIA.
ANTHEM, GLORIA, TWELFTH MASS Mozart
SCRIPTURE LESSON AND PRAYER.
Rev. Prof. Curtis M. Geer, Pastor 1895-1897
RESPONSE.
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
OFFERING.
OFFERTORY ANTHEM. He Shall Give His Ange's Charge
Over Thee, from the Cantata Ruth Biocd
HYMN. (Tune of State Street).
(Sung at installation of Rev. Charles B. Rice, Sept. 2, 1863)
1. I love Thy kingdom, Lord, The house of Thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.
2. I love Thy Church, O God; Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand.
3. For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend, To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.
4. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
5. Sure as Thy truth shall last. To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven.
Amen.
ANNIVERSARY SERMON. Witnesses of Our Faith, Calling Us Forward. Rev. Austin Rice, D. D.
HYMN. (Tune of Wareham).
1. O Thou whose perfect goodness crowns With peace and joy this sacred day, Our hearts are glad for all the years Thy love has kept us in Thy way.
2. For common tasks of help and cheer, For quiet hours of thought and prayer, For moments when we seemed to feel The breath of a diviner air;
3. For mutual love and trust that keep Unchanged through all the changing time, For friends within the veil who thrill Our spirits with a hope sublime :-
4. For this, and more than words can say, We praise and bless Thy holy name, Come life or death, enough to know That Thou art evermore the same.
Amen.
SERVICE OF COMMUNION. BENEDICTION. POSTLUDE in A.
Faulkes
Miss Flora A. Richmond, director; Miss Rita Wheelright, organist
REV. ALBERT VIRGIL HOUSE, Pastor Installed 1914 Historical Address
Sunday, October 8 12 M
Sunday School anniversary observance under the direction of Superinten- dent William Richmond.
3 P. M.
HISTORICAL SERVICE.
Mr. Charles H. Preston, Moderator of the Church, presiding
PRELUDE. Quasi Pastorale.
Smart
ANTHEM. Unfold Ye Portals, from the Redemption Gourod
DEVOTIONAL. By Rev. Elliott O. Foster.
HYMN. (Tune of Boylston).
(Composed by Jacob Kimball of Topsfield, singing master, for the dedication of the Brick Church, 1806).
1. With joy let Judah stand On Zion's chosen hill, Proclaim the wonders of Thy hand, And counsels of Thy will.
2. Let strangers walk around The city where we dwell, Compass and view the holy ground, And mark the building well-
3. The order of Thy house, The worship of Thy court, The cheerful songs, and solemn vows, --- And make a fair report.
4. How decent and how wise! How glorious to behold Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes, And rites adorned with gold!
5. The God we worship now, Will guide us till we die; Will be our God while here below, And ours above the sky.
Amen.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
Rev. Albert V. House, Pastor
CLOSING PRAYER.
Rev. Arthur J. Covell of Wakefield
ANTHEM. Jerusalem My Glorious Home
Lowell Mason
BENEDICTION.
POSTLUDE in C. Capelen
Miss Flora A. Richmond, director; Miss Rita Wheelright, organist
Sunday, October 8
7.30 P. M.
Fellowship Meeting, Rev. Leslie Campbell Greeley presiding PRELUDE. Grand Choeur MacMaster
ANTHEM. The Heavens Are Telling, from Creation
Haydn
DEVOTIONAL. By Rev. James Richmond.
HYMN. (Tune of Aurelia).
1. The Church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord; She is His new creation by water and the word; From Heav'n He came and sought her to be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, and for her life He died.
2. Elect from every nation, yet one o'er all the earth, Her charter of salvation one Lord, one faith, one birth; One Holy Name she blesses, partakes one holy food, And to one hope she presses. with every grace endued.
3. Mid toil and tribulation, and tumult of her war, She waits the consummation of peace for evermore; Till with the vision glorious her longing eyes are blest, And the great Church victorious shall be the Church at rest. Amen.
ADDRESSES
Rev. L. C. Greeley, First Congregational Church, Marblehead. Mr. C. A. Whipple, Chairman Board of Trustees of First Church. Salem. Rev. Walter G. Thomas, Baptist Church, Danvers.
Rev. Jonathan Cartmill, Methodist Episcopal Church, Danvers.
HYMN. (Tune of Hamburg).
1. When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the cross of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
3. See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down; Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.
Amen.
ADDRESSES.
Rev. Nathan Matthews, Episcopal Church, Danvers.
Rev. John A. Hayes, Community Church, Danvers. Ar. Leon E. Grubaugh, Acting Pastor Maple Street Church, Danvers. Rev. H. A. G. Abbe, Congregational Church, Middleton.
SOLO. He Shall Feed His Flock, from The Messiah Mrs. Viola Graves Kilcoyne Handel
ADDRESSES.
Rev. John Reed, South Congregational Church, Peabody. Mr. N. H. Scott. Acting Pastor, Congregational Church, West Peabody. Rev. D. Emery Burtner, D. D., Lynn, Moderator Essex South Association of Congregational Churches.
Hon. Arthur H. Wellman, Topsfield, Moderator State Conference Con- gregational Churches.
HYMN. (Tune of Azmon).
1. O God of Bethel, by whose hand Thy people still are fed; Who through this weary pilgrimage Hast all our fathers led,
2. Our vows, our prayers, we now present Before Thy throne of grace; God of our fathers, be the God Of their succeeding race.
3. Through each perplexing path of life Our wandering footsteps guide; Give us each day our daily bread, And raiment fit provide.
4. O spread Thy sheltering wings around, Till all our wanderings cease, And at our Father's loved abode Our souls arrive in peace.
5. Such blessings from Thy gracious hand Our humble prayers implore; And Thou shalt be our chosen God, And portion evermore.
Amen.
BENEDICTION. POSTLUDE. March of the Priests, from Athalie Mendelssohn
Miss Flora A. Richmond, director; Miss Rita Wheelright, organist
REV. AUSTIN RICE, D. D. Pastor First Congregational Church Wakefield, Mass. - Anniversary Sermon and Toastmaster
Monday, October 9
The Ladies' Benevolent Society will be "at home" to their women friends of Danvers and neighboring churches from 2.30 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon in the church vestry. All will be most cordially welcomed.
Tuesday, October 10 7 P. M.
Banquet, Rev. Austin Rice, D. D., Toastmaster
The following invited guests will speak:
Mr. William B. Sullivan, Danvers Rev. Arthur J. Covell, Wakefield
Mr. Edward H. Chandler, Boston Miss C. Amanda Keife, Asbury Grove
Mr. Irwin W. Tapley, Haverhill
Prof. Gilbert H. Tapley, Hanover, N.H.
Mr. William Siner, Marblehead Rev. James Richmond, Otis
Rev. Elliott O. Foster, Athol
Soloists-Mrs. Viola Graves Kilcoyne soprano; Mr. Percy L. Crosby, bass.
Instrumentalists-The Curtis Trio :- Miss Lucy N. Curtis, violin; Miss Eleanor F. McIntyre, cello; Miss Ruth Mckenzie, piano.
Wednesday, October I I
7.30 P. M.
ORGAN RECITAL. By Miss Bessie Cleaveland.
HISTORICAL PAGEANT. Scenes from History of the First Church.
Directed by Miss Lillian R. Hartigan, Instructor in Elocution and Pag- eantry in the Cambridge Latin School.
Thursday, October 12 7.30 P. M.
Meeting in the Interest of Church Unity, Rev. Albert V. House presiding
Subject: Obstacles to Unity, How to Overcome Them?
PRELUDE. Grand Choeur in B flat Dubois
ANTHEM. Praise Ye the Father Gounod
DEVOTIONAL.
ANTHEM. God of Our Fathers Schnecker
ADDRESS. Rev. Prof. Samuel McComb, D. D., Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge.
HYMN. (Tune of St. Anne).
By A. Cleveland Coxe, Episcopalian
1. O where are kings and empires now Of old that went and came? But, Lord, Thy Church is praying yet, A thousand years the same.
2. We mark her goodly battlements, And her foundations strong; We hear within the solemn voice Of her unending song.
3. Unshaken as eternal hills, Immovable she stands, A mountain that shall fill the earth, A house not made by hands.
Amen.
ADDRESS. Rev. A. G. Dieffenbach, D. D., Editor Christian Register, Unita- rian.
HYMN. (Tune of Louvan).
By Oliver Wendell Holmes, Unitarian 1. Lord of all being, throned afar, Thy glory flames from sun and star; Center and soul of ev'ry sphere, Yet to each loving heart how near.
2. Lord of all life, below, above, Whose light is truth, whose warmth is love, Before Thy ever-blazing throne We ask no luster of our own.
3. Grant us Thy truth to make us free, And kindling hearts that burn for Thee, Till all Thy living altars claim One holy light, one heavenly flame. Amen.
ADDRESS. Rev. Prof. Woodman Bradbury, D. D., Baptist Theological In- stitution, Newton.
HYMN. (Tune of Boylston).
By John Fawcett, Baptist
1. Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
2. Before our Father's throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims, are one, Our comforts and our cares.
3. We share our mutual wces; Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.
-1. From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin, we shall be free, And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity.
Amen.
ADDRESS. Rev. William E. Gilroy, Editor of the Congregationalist.
HYMN. (Tune of All Saints No. 2).
By Ozora S. Davis, Congregationalist
1. At length there dawns the glorious day by prophets long foretold; At length the chorus clearer grows that shepherds heard of old. The day of growing brotherhood breaks on our eager eyes, And human hatreds flee before the radiant eastern skies.
2. For what are sundering strains of blood, or ancient caste and creed? One claim unites all men in Christ to serve each human need. Then here together, brother men. we pledge to Christ anew Our loyal love, our stalwart faith, our service strong and true.
3. One common faith unites us all, we seek one common goal, One tender comfort broods upon the struggling human soul. To this c'ear call of brotherhood our hearts responsive ring; We join the modern new crusade of our great Lord and King. Amen.
BENEDICTION.
POSTLUDE. Processional March LeBlanc
Miss Flora A. Richmond, director; Miss Rita Wheelright, organist
Friday, October 13 7.30 P. M.
Devotional Meeting, of reminiscent character
Sunday, October 15 10.30 A. M.
Lemare
PRELUDE. Andantino CALL TO WORSHIP.
DOXOLOGY. INVOCATION.
RESPONSIVE READING. Selection No. 58.
GLORIA.
ANTHEM. Praise Ye the Father
Gonnod
SCRIPTURE LESSON.
HYMN. No. 479. Faith of Our Fathers, (St. Catherine).
PRAYER. RESPONSE.
ANNOUNCEMENTS.
OFFERING.
ANTHEM. Gloria, Twelfth Mass. Mozart
HYMN. No. 555. Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken. (Austria).
SERMON. The Road Ahead. Rev. Frederick E. Emrich, D. D.
HYMN. No. 1. Our God, Our Help in Ages Past. (St. Anne). BENEDICTION.
POSTLUDE in A. Faulkes
Miss Flora A. Richmond, director; Miss Rita Wheelright, organist
4 P. M.
Pilgrimage to Wadsworth Cemetery to visit Graves of Ministers and Members.
6.30 P. M.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR RALLY
Members past and present, and friends, cordially invited. Mr. Russell G. Blair, Field Sec'y Mass. C. E. Union will speak.
CHURCH OFFICERS, 1922
Pastor, Rev. Albert V. House
Moderator, Charles H. Preston
Clerk, Nettie M. Pratt
Treasurer, Alfred P. Hutchinson
Collector, Edna W. Roberts Auditor, Frank E. Sweetser Deacons, George W. French, Fred H. Nowers, William Richmond Denconcsses, Clara M. French, Mrs. Abby J. Hutchinson, Florence A. Mudge Sunday School Superintendent, William Richmond EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Walter T. Hutchinson C. Ralph Tapley Walter A. Tapley
George A. Wilkins Charles H. Preston
HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE
Everett C. Carr Fred A. Chase
Linwood N. Eastman Mrs. Abbie C. Goodale
Mrs. E. Florence Prentiss Mrs. F. H. Poole Mrs. Clarence W. Wentworth Henry O. Verry
MUSIC COMMITTEE
Mrs. Frank T. Ferguson Mrs. Richard S. Herndon
Ilenry H. Thomas Mrs. Chester E. Wheeler
Edna W. Roberts
TRUSTEES OF TRUST FUNDS
Alfred P. Hutchinson Charles H. Preston
C. Ralph Tapley
President Ladies' Benevolent Society
President Y. P. C. E.
Mrs. Annie M. Gardner Mrs. Gordon F. Woodbury
250TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEES Managing Committee Charles H. Preston, Chairman; Mrs. Frank T. Ferguson, Rev. Albert V. House. Fred H. Nowers, C. Ralph Tapley.
Sunday Observance
Miss Harriet P. Roberts, Chairman; Deacon George W. French, Rev. A. V. House, Mrs. H. G. Johnson, Deacon William Richmond, Miss Nellie Wood, Mrs. Gordon F. Woodbury.
Musie
Miss Flora A. Richmond, Chairman; Mrs. F. W. Marsh, Henry H. Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Chester E. Wheeler, Miss Elizabeth C. Woodman.
Decorations
Mrs. Walter A. Tapley, Chairman; Fred A. Chase, Loring B. Goodale, Mrs. Henry E. Lombard, Mrs. Edward H. Reed, Mrs. Clarence Wentworth.
Printing Sidney F. Swinerton, Chairman; Walter T. Hutchinson, George H. Poor, Frank E. Sweetser Edward A. Wheeler.
Pageant
Mrs. Frank T. Ferguson, Chairman; Mrs. Richard S. Herndon, Mrs. Fred H. Nowers, Mrs. Frank E. Sweetser.
Friday Observance
Miss Nettie M. Pratt, Chairman; Miss Fidelia J. Bowdoin, Mrs. Alexander Gardner, Miss Margaret Nowers, Miss Mary F. Pitman.
Finance Frank W. Marsh, Chairman; Frank T. Ferguson, Alfred P. Hutchinson. Invitations Walter A. Tapley, Chairman; Miss Florence A. Mudge, Charles H. Preston. Publicity E. H. Perley, Chairman; Jasper Marsh, Charles S. Tapley.
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4
THE " WHITE CHURCH." INTERIOR BEFORE REMODELING Front of auditorium
The First Church of Danvers, Congregational, early began to prepare for an adequate observance of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the "Beginning of preaching in Salem Village." A half century before, 1872, the Bi-cen- tennial had been celebrated and, as an outcome, an invaluable history of the parish, an enlargement of the historical ad- dress given by Rev. Charles B. Rice on that occasion, pub- lished. It was felt that the intervening fifty years had been of such character as to demand commemoration and further that the people of this day owed it to those of the earlier times to make visible before the world the continuous history of the church.
At a special meeting, April 29, 1921, the following vote was passed : that a general committee be appointed to formu- late plans for the appropriate observance of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the church; that the moderator, Mr. Charles H. Preston, be chairman of that committee and that he appoint four others to serve with him; that the com- mittee report back to the church.
The moderator appointed the following to serve with him: Mr. C. Ralph Tapley, Rev. A. V. House, Mrs. F. T. Fergu- son, Deacon Fred H. Nowers. This General Committee chose Mr. Nowers as secretary. Sub-committees as named by the General Committee appear in the program of the Anniver- sary Week bound up herewith. (See front of the book.) By mistake the names of the Banquet Committee were not printed. They are given here.
Mrs. Charles H. Preston
Mrs. Jasper Marsh
Mrs. George H. Clark
Mr. and Mrs. Peter N. Wettlauffer
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Knowlton
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Forness
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Flint
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Curtis
Mrs. Edwin Palmer Mrs. C. Ralph Tapley
Mrs. Alex. Gardner Mrs. Gustave Dreher
Miss Caddie O. Sargent
Mr. Otis Verry
1
2
THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
Also the name of Mr. William Hobart Clark should appear as a member of the Decorations Committee.
Deacon George William French, who served on the com- mittee for Sabbath Observance, was not entirely new to anniversaries of this sort, having been a member of the Committee on Decorations fifty years before.
By vote of the General Committee the week of October 8-15, 1922, was chosen for the observance, and the general character of each day's exercises fixed. Also Rev. A. V. House was asked to give the Historical Address. Details of the pro- gram were left in the hands of the sub-committees.
As regards the printing of the program, the committees on Printing and Publicity worked together. In this connec- tion Mr. E. H. Perley, chairman of the Publicity Committee and a practical newspaper man, gave invaluable assistance.
The work of the Ladies' Benevolent Society in raising money should be mentioned. Teams were organized among the members, an interesting scheme of socials and entertain- ments was carried out and soliciting both within and without the parish thoroughly done, with the result that $1,441.67 became available for purposes of the anniversary.
Moreover, the special Finance Committee, working with the Executive Committee of the church, was instrumental in raising a large sum, so that, with money from all sources, the expense involved in the anniversary was fully met and all outstanding bills against the church (some of which were for extensive repairs on the parsonage) were liquidated. The parish began the new year, 1923, with a clean financial slate.
Invitations.
The work of the Invitations Committee is here summarized in their own words:
"The Committee on Invitations began several months in advance of the Anniversary to prepare a list of names of persons and families who had formerly been connected either with the church or parish but who had moved to other places. This work involved much writing and personal inquiry. The oldest persons in the church and parish were consulted and were of much assistance in furnishing names of people whose ancestors had once been influential members of our congre-
3
FIRST CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL, DANVERS, MASS.
gation. Two hundred and fifty invitations with a brief outline of the program were issued. Many responded in person to these invitations and many written acknowledg- ments were received."
Music.
The music, which was a very effective feature of the exer- cises of the week, was in the main furnished by a large chorus under the direction of Miss Flora A. Richmond, with Miss Rita Wheelwright as organist. Part of the report of the Music Committee is here given :
"It was the desire of the General Committee that the Anni- versary chorus should be made up, as far as possible, of First Church choir singers of former years, assisted by the present choir. As a result of the invitations extended, nearly forty singers were enrolled. Miss Annabel Clark of Medford, descendant of the Rev. Peter Clark, pastor 1717-1768, and soprano soloist on the occasion of the dedication of the present meeting-house, sang as a member of the chorus at the three services of the first Sunday. Assisting at all the services were former choir directors Charles E. Perkins, Thurman Leslie and William Richmond, the last named being the earliest of those present to be connected with the First Church choir. Another very early choir member present was Alexander Gardner who, for twenty years, gave his services.
"Two rehearsals a week were held, beginning the first week in September. These proved to be most pleasant occasions, the chorus being inspired both by the fine old selections and by the feeling of reunion.
"The names of the Anniversary Chorus follow:
"Soprano: Lucy Ballard, Mabel Benvie, Doris Carr, Anna- bel Clark, Beatrice Cook, Mrs. Edith Guppy Crosby, Evan- geline Dreher, Mrs. Viola Graves Kilcoyne, Mrs. Marion Gardner Lombard, Margaret Nowers, Flora Richmond, Eve- lyn Sawyer, Mrs. Mabel Blanchard Wheeler.
"Alto: Alice Cook, May Hole, Mrs. Esther Leibsch, Mrs. Alice Gilford Nowers, Mary Pitman, Mrs. Persis Chase Pit- man, Mrs. Annie Wilkins Rider, Edna Roberts, Helen Turk- ington, Mrs. Maude Watson Wentworth.
4
THE 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
"Tenor: Hobart Clark, Ralph Knowlton, Thurman Leslie, Ernest Pitman, Leonard Ramsdell, William Richmond, Oli- ver Turkington.
"Bass : Percy Crosby, Alexander Gardner, Fred H. Nowers, Charles E. Perkins, Ernest Putnam, Henry Rider, Henry H. Thomas."
It should be noted, in addition to the statement by the Music Committee, that some of the musicians were friends from other churches in town and vicinity who freely gave their services for the success of this important feature.
The newspapers were generous in the space allotted to the anniversary, both before and during the Anniversary Week. Notable among those which gave sympathetic and extensive treatment are the Boston Globe, Boston Transcript and Salem News. The Danvers Herald published the historical address in full the week following the exercises.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8 MORNING SERVICE
Sunday morning, October 8, beheld something like the old- time scene as the people in goodly numbers flocked to the meeting-house. To be sure, they did not come in chaises and carry-alls and wagons. The trolley brought many. Some were on foot. Automobiles were in evidence, many coming from a distance, bringing absent sons and daughters back to their old spiritual home.
The weather was not propitious. Although there was no engulfing rainfall, as had marred the anniversary day fifty years before, there was a distressing drizzle, which unfortu- nately was but the prelude to conditions of unpleasantness which prevailed through a good part of the week. Neverthe- less the response was loyal, the attendance of the first day being, for the morning 370, for the afternoon 270 and for the evening 425.
The auditorium was decorated with stately palms and potted ferns, with a large basket bouquet of yellow chrysan- themums. In the class rooms and parlor oak branches were artistically arranged about the ceilings and corners, while large bouquets of garden flowers, dahlias, salvia and snap- dragon gave a touch of color.
5
FIRST CHURCH, CONGREGATIONAL, DANVERS, MASS.
In the absence of Rev. Curtis M. Geer, former pastor, who had sent a letter of regret, the devotions of the morning service were conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. V. House, who also assisted Rev. Dr. Austin Rice in the service of Com- munion, which came after the sermon. The deacons offici- ating in the Communion Service were G. W. French, F. H. Nowers, and William Richmond, all of the First Church ; Wil- liam Siner, of Marblehead, former deacon of the First Church; and Edward P. Hutchinson of Brighton, a son of the First Church. The old communion set, dating far back in the history of the church, and consisting of two tankards and ten cups, adorned the table and was used in serving the ministers and deacons.
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