ability, and every thing was "made ready" for the successful inauguration of the interesting ceremonies of the approaching jubilee.

With the aid of the ready hands and executive ability of the ladies, the church was most beautifully decorated by Mr. Henry C. Curtis, a special artist, of Hartford. A more striking and ap propriate mode of decoration could not have been devised, than that adopted by Mr. Curtis, whether considered historically or artistically. It is a remarkable fact that the first four pastors of the church occupied the pulpit, in the aggregate, the long period of 172 years, out of the two hundred celebrated. We think this a length of time unparalleled in the history of the churches in this country. This fact was beautifully represented by introducing the four names; Walker, Stoddard, Benedict and Andrew, into a large cross composed of six circles, the names occupying four of the six circles, "172 years" the center, and a cross and anchor, the lower circle. This was placed in the recess behind the pulpit. Beneath the cross were two tablets, the one containing the "covenant, of 1670," and the other the names of the original signers.

THE COVENANT OF 1670.

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"We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being (by y⚫ alldisposing providence of God, who determines ye bounds of men's habitations) cast into co-habitation on wth another, and being sensible of o'duty unto God, and one to another, and of orliableness to be forgetfull, and neglective of ye one and ye other, do hereby (for y further incitent of o'selves unto duty in either respect) solemnly give up o'selves & ours unto ye lord, engaging o'selves by his assisting grace to walk before him, in ye religious observance of his revealed will, as far as it is or shall be made known unto us. We do also in ye presence of God solemnly ingage o'selves each to other to walk together in church-society, according to the rule of y gospell, jointly attending all y° holy ordinances of God, as far as it shall please him to make way thereunto, and give opportunity y' of: and walking on wth another in brotherly love, & chtian watchfullness for o'mutual edification, and furtherance in y° way to salvation. And jointly submitting orselves & ours to y° government of Cht in his church, in ye hand of such church governours, or officers as shall be set over us, according to gospell institution. The good lord make us faithfull in covenant with him & one wth another, to walk as becomes a people near unto himself, accept of

ye offering up of o'selves, & ours unto him and establish both us and y" to be a people unto himself in his abundant mercy through cht jesus, who is o' only mediato' in whom alone we expect acceptance, justification and salvation: to him be glory & praise through all ages. Amen."

"The names of y persons y' subscribed this covenant, & again publickly owned it, May 5th, viz: ye day of my ordination were as followeth :

Between the tablets was the name of the present pastor, Rev. Gurdon W. Noyes, in golden letters. At the apex of the recess above the pulpit was an elegant golden cross and crown. At the top of the pillars on either side of the pulpit, was a large golden "C," on which appeared the years 1670-1870, under which, respectively, was a list of the deacons of the first and second centuries, on tablets upon the pillars:

On the panels of the gallery face were the names of the mother church at Stratford, and the six churches which have gone out from the first church, with the date of their organization, viz: Stratford, 1639; Southbury, 1731; Bethlehem, 1739; Judea, 1741; Roxbury, 1743; South Britain, 1766; and North Woodbury, 1816. On the two panels nearest the pulpit were the names of the pastors succeeding the first four, viz:-Wright, Strong, Curtis, Williams, Robinson, Little and Winslow. A beautiful white dove was suspended from the pulpit desk beneath the bible, which, with outstretched wings seemed to be alighting upon the communion table below. The pulpit was splendidly decorated. Festoons extended from the corners

of the church to the center orna ment in the ceiling, whence de scended a large anchor, beautifully wreathed in evergreens and flowers, while wreaths ran along the galleries, over and below the recess, and to the letter "C" at the caps of the pillars, above which appeared two century plants. The whole was completed with the mottoes "Welcome," and "We Greet You." Throughout the house, in the lamp brackets, were vases and baskets of flowers and drooping plants, producing the finest and most artistic effect.

The clearest and balmiest day of the year heralded the coming