The ax all day resounded,

For the arm was strong and free,

And none was heard to utter,

“Oh, woodman, spare that tree."

No grand and lofty steeples

Were pointing skyward then;
But plain and simple structures
Where staunch and honest men

Might worship in the forest,

Where simple, loving words

Were uttered on each Sabbath;

And they praised God with the birds.

Oh! for one glorious morning

Of that "fifty years ago!"
Oh! for one blessed vision
Of that forest, all aglow
With flowers of every species,
Of every shade and hue-
Bright pinks and in our parlance
The "Old maids' bonnets blue!"

Oh! for one childish ramble

O'er slope and tangled glen,
The hills all flowery-mantled

The same as they were then!

But where the wild flowers blossomed
The evergreens now grow,

To shade the graves of loved ones,

O, fifty years ago.

Liberty, Mich., Aug. 8, 1886.

Mrs. M. A. Sutfin.

What a change in fifty years! From the ox team and lumber wagon to the railway train and parlor coach, from the mail on foot or horseback, to the telegraph and telephone, from the old stage coach to the lightning vestibule express. From the log school house, with its hard benches for seats and tallow dips, to the inviting carpeted church with its cushioned pews and electric lights. None can fully appreciate this change save those who have experienced it, and all this, within the memory of many of us here assembled.

Fifty years-yes, fifty years. Tonight as the clock shall strike the midnight hour, and the faithful watchman in his nightly round shall call out, twelve o'clock and all is well, the door will close upon the first fifty years of our organized church work, and with tomorrow's dawn we will stand upon the threshold of the open door to the many years that are to follow, and gaze upon the future with all of its grand

possibilities. And what an inspiration to contemplate the great future as it rises before our view. To one standing at the beginning of a journey of one-half, or even one-fourth of a century, its consummation seems a long way off, but when the end is reached how short the road, and the time in making the journey seems but a span. Yet, short as it may seem, the opportunities for usefulness have been many, and the /question that comes crowding upon the conscience, or should at least, is, how have they been improved? And tonight, as we stand beside the fiftieth mile-stone of our journey and look back over the past fifty years what serious question should we be asking ourselves? Is it not this? Are we the worthy successors of those brethren who so faithfully labored to lay the foundation of our church in the then wilderness of this county, and worked so diligently to keep it constantly in the advance, under such adverse circumstances? Have we continued the work as well as they began it?

We must not forget the fact that the entire population of this county was then but 1,078, men, women and children, about the same as the fourth ward of our little city, that the voters in the county were but 233, being less than the number of votes cast in the fourth ward. And then the population of the four towns of Hastings, Carlton, Castleton and Woodland was but 269, about two-thirds the seating capacity of this audience room, and within this territory of twelve miles square there were four regular preaching places-Hastings, Mudge's, Barnum's and Carlton. Then think of the roads in those days, merely paths, or trails through the woods and around the hills and swamps, and then the mode of travel, almost entirely on foot, horseback or with ox team. No telegraph and not a railroad within 100 miles of us, and yet from all parts of the county would these faithful Christian people come to attend the quarterly meetings. Oh! how much we are indebted to these earnest workers will never be known here, they are entitled to, and should receive our lasting gratitude. There is another question that might be very properly asked here: What has Methodism done for this community? The question could be more easily answered by asking what has it not done? It has made its influence for good felt on every hill top, in every valley, in every school house, and, in short, everywhere, for it is emphatically the church of the common people (in which we rejoice) and as an evidence of this fact we point you to the 27 Methodist Episcopal church organizations and of one-third of the church edifices in this country as belonging to the Methodist Episcopal denomination alone.

And this is not all. It is first in all real reform movements and

charitable work. I ask you to stop and think if this is not so. Look at the amount raised for benevolent purposes, and the reports of the Women's Home and Foreign Missionary societies as shown by the statistics given you for the past year on a preceding page. It is aggressive in everything for good.

Then we point with pride to the fact that not one of these thirty different pastors and seventeen presiding elders that have so faithfully labored here have left this field before the full expiration of their term, and then in no instance under a cloud, no suspicion or taint attaching to any one of them, each and all have a warm place in our hearts and a strong hold upon our affections-ever welcome to our homes and the pulpit, with no church wrangles or quarrels to divide or distract us. Is this not a record of which to be proud? Until some other denomination can point to one that is better, then and not till then, will we surrender the claim to be at the head.

The time was when it was an honor to be known as a Roman citizen, and it is now to be an American. While the greatest distinction that can be accorded to anyone is to be a true follower of Christ. It is no reflection upon any other denomination to say that it is no less so, to be a true Methodist. We have many things of which to be proud. It is an honor to be numbered as one of this great body of Christian pioneer workers who helped to make the religious sentiment of this county what it is. Although not what we might desire it to be, yet we feel it is better because of our Methodism being planted here, for it was the first to clear the way and "break up the fallow ground," therefore we have reason to be proud of our record. But, my dear brethren, we cannot live upon the record of the past. It is the present with which we have to do. We are here for a purpose and there is something for us to do. We are judged rather by what we do than by what we say. It is the individual acts of members in the performance of their obligations to God and humanity, in the discharge of the duties of everyday life that make up the aggregate of organized church work.

The most solemn obligations are not usually those made in public and heralded from street corners and house tops, but those that rest upon the honor and conscience, and often "unwritten and unsung," and are most beautifully exemplified by the faithful discharge of every known duty, of the trust received and by the principle of truth being indelibly stamped upon the inner conscience.

It is for us to take up this work and with better facilities improve all opportunities for its advancement.

The history of the past may be of value to us if we use it as a guide to avoid the errors and emulate the virtues of our worthy predecessors. For it is the influence of the good and true that makes us a happy people.

If, in bringing before you in review the past fifty years of our church work you shall find anything in it to help you to apprehend the sublime principles that underlie the great plan of salvation, urge you to increased activity, incite you to a higher life and grander accomplishments, and thus enable you to bring into practice the better part of your soul's aspirations we shall feel that our coming together has not been in vain.

1843-1893.

FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY

OF

THE FIRST CONGREGA

TIONAL CHURCH, PORTLAND, MICHIGAN.

PRELIMINARY NOTE BY REV. C. W. BIRD, THE PRESENT PASTOR.

On Saturday, February 4, 1893, the Portland Congregational church celebrated the completion of fifty years of her history.

It had been determined weeks before that the day should not pass by without some notice, and the following is an outline of what finally transpired:

In the morning after the usual devotional exercises under the conduct of the pastor, prayer being offered by Rev. L. P. Spelman, the congregation listened to a very interesting sketch of the first deacon of the church, Baruch G. Cooley. This was prepared and delivered by A. F. Morehouse, Esq., a resident of Portland, who was personally acquainted with the deacon in earlier years.

Letters of congratulation and reminiscence from former pastors still living were read, including one from Rev. L. M. S. Smith, the organizer and first pastor of the church; from Rev. David Wirt, Rev. A. Marsh, Rev. J. L. Maile, from the wife of Rev. R. G. Baird (deceased), and from the daughter of Rev. S. Sessions (deceased.) A letter from Rev. D. P. Breed was received too late to be read at the meeting.

Rev. Chas. Spooner, a pioneer missionary in this part of the State and first pastor of the Congregational church at Greenville, also sent a letter which was read with the

others. Rev. S. G. Anderson, pastor of the Baptist church, Portland, also extended congratulations and good wishes.

At noon over fifty of the members and guests of the church came together at the parsonage and partook of a bountiful dinner prepared by the ladies of the industrial society.

In the afternoon after the hymns, anthem, responsive readings, with prayer by Rev. D. E. Millard, an esteemed brother residing in the village, came the historical sermon by Mr. Spelman (who had the longest pastorate the church has enjoyed), which is here printed in full, together with some statements of facts added subsequent to delivery. This note would not be complete without mention of the communion service on the following morning which was a season of precious interest to all who were present. Rev. Mr. Spelman spoke on that occasion very earnestly and appropriately, and again in the evening, giving a very able and practical sermon. The entire occasion was one of great interest and profit, encouraging the church to look forward with increased unity and hopefulness to the work which God has for her to do in the future.

SKETCH OF BARUCH G. COOLEY.

BY A. F. MOREhouse.

The traveler, standing at the headwaters of navigation on the Hudson river and going south, naturally looks around him, not only at his surroundings, but at that part of his journey, which as yet he only anticipates. On his left hand is a large and prosperous city with its 130,000 inhabitants. Its water power turning its ponderous wheels and swiftly flying spindles give employment to thousands of the sons of toil; its orderly streets fringed with shade trees, its attractive residences, its schools, its colleges and its numerous churches, while in the background at a distance of thirty miles are the Green mountains of Vermont, forming a picture of human prosperity and grandeur of creation on which the memory loves to dwell. On his right hand and slightly behind him, is the confluence of the Mohawk river with the Hudson. Green Island with its romantic history, covered to the water's edge with their massive factories, foundries and machine shops, from the tall chimneys of which constantly ascends murky clouds of smoke, giving evidence of the tireless energy and industry of man. As his vision rises above the horizon he beholds at a distance of forty miles the blue peaks of the Catskill mountains. As he passes on his journey, the capital city of the Empire state is at his feet; with its wonderful capitol-20 years in building and yet unfinished-with its polished shafts and elaborate entablatures, yes and its foundations sinking in quicksand give evidences of rapacity of political speculation or the frailty of human judgment. With feelings of relief, as he passes towns and cities, the vision is