TWO SPLENDID EASTER GIFTS

 

Cortland Standard Semi-Weekly Edition, Tuesday, April 1, 1902.

TWO SPLENDID EASTER GIFTS.

Great Surprise for the Congregational Church of Homer.

Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Newton gives $3,000 for the purchase of a New Organ in Memory of their son, Frank M. Newton—Deacon E. G. Ranney gives $5oo for new windows in Memory of His Daughter, Miss Harriet A. Ranney—Ladies now to secure new Carpets—Splendid Financial condition of the Church.

   Easter Sunday, 1902, will be cherished as a red letter day in the annals of the Congregational church of Homer. Two magnificent memorial gifts were presented to the church and each came as genuine and glad surprises to the large congregation which was present at the Easter morning service. Not more than two or three persons in the entire congregation had any intimation of what was coming.

   The first surprise came when the pastor announced that Mr. and Mrs. Charles O. Newton had given to the church as an Easter offering in memory of their son, Frank M. Newton, the sum of $3,000 for the purchase of an organ, the second when he read a letter from Deacon E. G. Ranney giving $500 to be used for the purchase of new windows for the church edifice, as an Easter offering in memory of his daughter Harriet A. Ranney.

   At the opening of his sermon the pastor, Rev. W. F. Kettle, announced that his Easter sermon would be preached in two parts. The first part would be in accordance with his usual custom for Easter morning and along lines of thought appropriate for such an occasion.  The second part he would preach after the anthem which would be sung by the choir and while it would be entirely different from the first part of his sermon he felt sure there was no one present who would not be deeply interested in what he had to say.

   Mr. Kettle chose for his text I Cor. xv, 14— “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” His theme was “The Resurrection,” and the sermon was full of practical truths and suggestive thoughts for the Easter season.

   As he closed the first part of his sermon and the choir rose to sing the anthem a spirit of expectancy seemed to hover over the congregation, and when he arose to begin what he had termed the second part of his Easter sermon, every one seemed to be aware that something unusual was about to happen and that the pastor had something in store for them which was in the nature of a pleasant surprise.

   The pastor referred to the beautiful Easter decorations and stated that some of the flowers and plants had been sent as memorial tributes for those who had been wont to worship there, bat whose faces were now no longer to be seen among the congregation. A beautiful thought in connection with the Easter service was the words of Christ, “This do in remembrance of me.” Memorial services and memorial tokens are as old as the Bible. The Old Testament is full of examples of such memorials from the time of Jacob and the prophets clear down to the New Testament. One of the most beautiful features of our religion is that it cherishes the tender things of life. It puts away sin and iniquity, and all that is tender and beautiful in life is cherished and fondly remembered.

   The pastor referred to the beautiful memorial baptismal font recently presented to the church by the ladies and spoke of what that meant to the church as a memorial. He referred to the magnificent gift of the late George W. Phillips, a former member of the church, in presenting to the village a public library which would soon be completed; he spoke of his having been called to the home of Mr. Phillips to talk over the matter with him before the gift was made; of the act that Mr. and Mrs. Newton had at almost the same time spoken to him of making a similar gift to the village in memory of their son: of how they had given up this cherished plan in order that the wishes of Mr. Phillips might be carried out in this respect and of their intention to in some other way carry out their plan at another time. He spoke of the recent purchase by Mr. and Mrs. Newton of the Homer Water Works for the benefit of the village; of their recent liberal contribution given with gladness to meet the deficit and current expenses of the church and of the fact that Mrs. Newton said at the time that she had something more in her heart.

   Saturday the pastor started to walk to Cortland. He had scarcely reached the city when he was recalled by a telephone message. He went to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Newton and was told by them that they had fixed on a memorial for their beloved son, Frank M. Newton. Mr. Kettle then read the following letter:

   Homer, March 29, 1902.

   Rev. W. F. Kettle:

   Dear Sir—As an Easter offering and in loving remembrance of our dear son, Frank M. Newton, we present to your church and society the sum of $3,000 for the purchase of an organ.

   (Signed) Charles O. Newton, Elizabeth S. Newton.

   A prayer of joyful thanksgiving seemed to go up from the congregation when the pastor had finished this announcement, and when with a few introductory words he followed this by reading Deacon Ranney’s letter announcing his gift as an Easter memorial for his daughter, the stillness which prevailed and the expressions of gladness upon the faces of those present indicated the spirit in which these gifts were received.

   The following is Deacon Ranney’s letter in full:

   HOMER, N. Y., March 29, 1902.

   To the members of the Congregational church and society:

   MY DEAR FRIENDS—As an Easter offering and in loving memory of my dear daughter, Harriet A. Ranney, I wish to give the sum of $500 to be used to procure new windows for the church edifice.

   F. G. Ranney.

   The pastor then appointed the following committee to take suitable action and draft appropriate resolutions in connection with these gifts: Deacon D. C. Carpenter, P. C. Kingsbury, Geo. D. Daniels, W. H. Crane, Geo. A. Brockway.

   Two other committees were also appointed: One to look after the purchase of the new organ and the other to take action towards the purchase of new windows. These committees are as follows:

   Organ committee—Charles O. Newton, chairman, Mrs. W. H. Foster, Mrs. Martha J. Jones, Prof. L. H. Tuthill, Rev. W. F. Kettle.

   Committee on Windows—Dr. F. R. Thompson, Thurlow Blackman, James H. Clark.

   The church is now in a most satisfactory condition financially. All bills are paid and sufficient money has been raised to provide for all expenses to Feb. 1, 1903. It is also interesting to note that during the pastorate of Mr. Kettle, a parsonage has been purchased, changes have been made in the arrangement of the pulpit, a new lighting system and city water have been put in, and the ladies have presented the church with individual communion cups and a handsome baptismal font.

   Immediately after the morning services Sunday the ladies began to assemble in little groups which came together in one large group. They had had their own plans for raising money for the organ which they so much desired and for the new windows which were also longed for, but since both of these needs were so amply and unexpectively provided for they decided to turn their attention at once toward new carpets which are much needed but which they had thought they must do without for a little longer. They will doubtless soon be purchased.

   At the evening service the following acknowledgment was presented and read:

   On the eve of this beautiful Easter Sunday, our hearts involuntarily go out in gratitude and praise to the Divine giver of life and all that makes life glorious, and far reaching, even penetrating beyond the bounds of time, and laying hold of the eternal. And so the manifestations to us of love, and good will from our brother man, awakens within us emotions of love and gratitude. We needed no further tokens of love from our friends, Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Newton, to endear them to the hearts of this people, but we cannot now be restrained from the expression of our heartfelt appreciation of the generous, and timely gift of an organ as a memorial to their son, Frank M. Newton, presented to this church today. We, the committee, believe we voice the sentiment of this community in this expression of your thanks.

   May the memory of the gift vibrate like the melody of music in the hearts of both the giver and the receiver and may the names of Newton and Ranney be cherished  and honored with scores of others who have planted, and watered, and given noble service to their fellows, the church, and the kingdom of God.

   DEWITT CARPENTER, P. C. KINGSBERRY, GEORGE D. DANIELS, W. H. CRANE, GEO. A. BROCKWAY, Committee.