THE SOUTH CIIUHCII. 1 GO 



received from him, selections from whicli were read at tliis 

 service. 



Mr. Griffin says: 



" In reply to your kind iiivitjition to make an address at your com- 

 ing celebration, I would say that, owing to private and local reasons, 

 I shall not be present. I trust it is not necessary for rne to assure you 

 of my affection for the dear church of my first love and the splendid 

 people who constitute its membership. It would give me great pleas- 

 ure to grasp them by the hand and look them in the face. It gives me 

 pleasure to think that my presence would be gratifying to you. I 

 shall eagerly await the report of the gathering." 



" Please give my love to the church, and express for me my hearty 

 interest in the dear church, whose signal prosperity under its present 

 splendid administration would, by itself, imperatively call for such a 

 celebration. May you receive an added impulse and blessing as a 

 result of your rejoicings." 



This church has had fourteen deacons, seven of whom 

 are still in its service. Of the remaining seven, four died in 

 office and one after removing from the town. But two former 

 deacons of the church are now living: Mr. George P. Rockwell, 

 a son of the first pastor of the church, and Prof. Isaac N. Carle- 

 ton, formerly principal of the Connecticut State Normal School. 

 Deacon Rockwell writes from Denver, Colorado, his present 

 home: 



"My family and I thank you for so kindly remembering us with 

 an invitation to the fiftieth anniversary of the organization of i/oin- 

 church, I suppose I must say, although it would seem more natural 

 and pleasant to say oiw church. It would give us great pleasure to 

 be with you on that occasion, but distance prevents. It is pleasant to 

 look back over the years to the time when my father was installed the 

 first pastor of the church, and recall the memories of his own and of 

 the pastorates since. I can almost see the pleasant faces of Dr. and 

 Mrs. Goodell, and of Mr. Griflin, who came to us a young man full of 

 zeal, and of the present beloved pastor and his family. 



" The old home feeling is strong, and the desire to be with you ex- 

 ceeding great, but while we may not be present in person we will be 

 with you in spirit. " 



Deacon Carleton writes from Bi-adford, Mass. : 



"It is a great disappointment to Mrs. Carleton and myself not to 

 be able to accept your invitation, but we feel that we must deny our- 



