Judah (Judea ?) art not the least among the thousands of Israel," so I think we on the hills may fairly share in the honors as well as territory of some of our neighbors.

Speaking of Bethlehem, sir, reminds me of the story Dr. Taylor used to tell of Drs. Bellamy and Backus, the famous pastors of that Church, formerly. Some one asked an old negro, who had sat for many years under their preaching, which of the two he liked the best? "Massa Bellamy, sir." Why so, Sambo? ' "'Cause, Massa Backus make God big-but Massa Bellamy make God bigger!"

May it be the aim and lot of him, the now pastor of this Church, so to magnify God to the people by his preaching, that some witness will in future time testify of him, that he also "made God bigger!"

Now, as to the occasion that has called us together, I have to observe, that whenever the children are invited home to Thanksgiving, the first thing they wish to find is, that the old lady, their mother, is well. If they discover her eye undimmed, her cheek still unfaded, and the old vigor in her step, then are they glad. The times of yore seem to come back. And this is what we discover about our mother here to-day. Certainly, no signs of decrepitude or decay are visible in her appearance. I remember once taking tea with an old lady of nearly one hundred years of age; and, on asking the honor of escorting her to the table, and remarking admiringly how nimble was her step, and vigorous her appetite, she observed, as she was helped to biscuit and cake, and other things: "Old folks like good things as well as young folks!" She had, as I said, a good appetite, but she died about a week or two afterwards!

And so our old lady here in Woodbury, two hundred years old, has a quick step, and looks well, and for aught I have observed to the contrary, has shown as hearty an appetite in the town hall at the table to-day, as any of her daughters. Certainly she has shown the old hospitality.

Another thing children want to know when they come back to Thanksgiving, is, whether their mother is keeping house in the same old place. If they found her in a boarding-house or hotel, how differently they would feel! The old feeling of the fireside and the table would be gone, and they would not, as of old, seem to be at home.

Now we are happy to find that our venerable mother here is still

housekeeping. This goodly house, especially fair internally, gives satisfactory evidence of her good condition, and of her future prospects as well, and we are quite comforted on that score.

And then again, since this is a Thanksgiving Jubilee, the children are always eager to know if their old mother's love for them still remains.

Should there be any falling off of affection, how grieved they would be! The home would seem home no more, if the mother, as well as father, should be found to be changed in the quality of their feeling for their children.

We are happy to find no such change of affection in the hearty welcome we have all received here to-day. The mother church keeps the old love alive, and for that we thank God and are grateful.

One thing more the children want to know when they come back, as we now do, to the ancient homestead, and that is, if the old mother keeps the flame of piety alive and pure, as in the days of their youth. Is the Bible still in the same familiar place, and well worn, and loved, and reverenced, as of old?

We are glad to find evidence that such is the fact with our dear and venerated mother here, and rejoice that God, in His great goodness, has continued so spiritually to bless her in all these years, down to this hour.

In behalf of the church in Judea, therefore, I congratulate our mother church on her past and present prosperity. This third daughter on the hills, of which I am pastor, has outgrown her sister churches, and is the only one of them, also, that has ever outgrown in numbers the mother herself, having now over 240 members, more than 60 having been admitted by profession within the four years of my ministry, while the Sabbath School embraces 375 scholars and teachers.

May these sister churches strive in all the coming times to be faithful to God, that, at last, their work on earth being done, all the members of the same may hear the voice of the final Judge saying: "Well done, good and faithful servants; ye have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things; enter ye into the joy of your Lord."

ROXBURY!-Dweller in the "hill country," and along the river of the hills, brave witness for the truth, and companion of the

faithful, fourth blessing from a Bountiful Hand, we welcome thee to the old fireside!

Response by Rev. A. Goodenough.

MR. CHAIRMAN:--Since this occasion naturally invites our attention to the past, I feel that it would be more appropriate could Roxbury be represented by one who has shared more fully than myself in her past history-yet I flatter myself that in one particular I may have my fitness as a representative. More than any other community in which it has been my fortune to live, ours is deficient in the gift which finds public expression in words-not of course from lack of thought or ability, (which we would not for a moment concede), but, as I take it, from excessive diffidence. If this brevity should be the soul of my wit, I shall have no doubt of the fitness of it, and hope it may be accounted wisdom.

As has been suggested, we also belong to the "hill country," and I think it might truly be said of us as of the chosen nation in the older time. "The Lord our God hath brought us into a good land; a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land wherein we shall eat bread without scarceness; we shall not lack any good thing in it, a land whose stones are iron." A land of hills and valleys, and that drinketh water of the rain of heaven; a land which the Lord our God careth for; the eyes of the Lord our God are upon it from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year."

Perhaps also, so far as it is the home of our choice, we may take some credit to ourselves-for, in the prophecy of Agur, the conies -a feeble folk-are pronounced "exceeding wise" because they make their dwelling among the rocks.

There is the less need that I should speak in detail concerning the history of our church, because we claim a share in the glory of that common history which has been already brought before us.

Though we claim to be the "heirs of all the ages," we especially cherish the heritage which has come down to us through the faith and faithfulness of those earnest men and women who first planted the Gospel of Christ among these hills. We reverence the memory of those who before our time bravely witnessed for the truth, and through severe labors and discouragements kept their faith to the end, and it is our cherished ambition to hand down to our children untarnished the blessed inheritance we ourselves have

received from our fathers. The hearts of many children are turning toward the Father to-day, inquiring for the old paths, and desiring to walk in them. (Indeed, I sometimes think that not only does our reverence extend to the old paths, but that we are occasionally proud to stick in the same old ruts, which were worn by the ancient cart wheels).

We delight to gather to-day around the old fireside, rejoicing in the past, yet thankfully recognizing the larger growth of the present, and looking forward with joyful confidence to the days yet to come, in which the perfect harvest of good shall be garnered from the sown seed of the past.

Though allusions to a lady's age are not always welcome, they seem to be the fashion to-day, and since our Mother Church seems proud of her natural position, and herself invites us to celebrate her birthday, we join in congratulating her on bearing her years so well, and sincerely hope that she may live long in the landvigorous in perpetual youth, strengthening her children by her sympathy, and guiding them by her example to the perfection of righteousness and faith.

SOUTH BRITAIN!-Dweller in the Southwest, along the banks of the "Great River,'' "beyond the mountains," fifth pledge of faith, hope and charity, right heartily do we welcome thee to the old family gathering!

Response by Rev. H. S. Newcomb.

Venerable mother in Israel, gladly at thy bidding we have come around "the mountains" and up the little river towards its source, here to receive thy greeting and to offer thee our warm congratulations at this happy family gathering. Had the pioneers who came before thee, mother, come by the path we came, they would not have been under the necessity of clambering over those western rocks and hills to obtain their first view of this beautiful valley. But it is well for us that they missed their direction, and passed by the mouth of the little Pomperaug, seeking in vain farther up the "Great River" a more promising branch that should lead them to their future home; else this happy gathering would not now be enjoying the blessings of Heaven resulting from the prayer of the sainted Deacon John Minor, on Good Hill, where, after their weary climbing, they first cast eyes on their land of promise.

We feel somewhat abashed in view of the peculiar relations in which we stand to this family here gathered. We are thine only grand-daughter, ancient mother, the sole offspring of thine eldest daughter. We are aware, too, that there is here a more venerable presence, thine honored mother, making thy daughters granddaughters also; but at the same time making us the only little great-grand-daughter present. So, though our youth makes us bashful, we presume a little on thy tender regard and kind consideration.

We lead a pleasant life over there by the "Great River." But we would not have thee think that we are come from the ends of the earth, for we have heard that there are still higher mountains and greater rivers beyond; and some of our young people have even seen them.

We are enjoying a pleasant and prosperous life over there. We ourselves feel somewhat old, mother, having entered one year into the second century which thou art just leaving. But years do not weaken us. We have renewed our age, having put on the habiliments of youth, and we are looking for a prosperous future. We think we have kept the pledge. We "hold fast the profession of our faith." We earnestly "contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." We have that hope, which is as an anchor to the soul; " we put on that "charity which is the bond of perfectness." We are looking forward to a larger, happier, more glorious family gathering than this; where "they shall come from the east and from the west, and from the north and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God." We hope to meet thee and thy daughters there; and to furnish a list of honored names written in the "Book of Life;" and to add to the royal diadem of our King a cluster of stars that have shone with greater or less lustre here, and will shine still brighter there; among them, first and foremost, Tyler, champion of the faith; Smith, early called to his reward, and Butterfield, embalmed in in the memory of many still living. May we all meet there, where the distinctions of age shall be done away; where Christ shall be our elder brother, and we, all brethren.

WOODBURY NORTH!-Latest and nearest, the child of our old age, co-dweller in this beautiful land of promise, and co-laborer in every good word and work in the Lord, with motherly pride and affection we welcome you to this our glad jubilee!

Response by Rev. John Churchill.