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521

[[newspaper clipping]]
Tribune Nov 21. 1888
FIFTY YEARS OF UNIVERSALISM.
AN INTERESTING SERVICE AT THE CHURCH OF THE DIVINE PATERNITY.
The semi-centennial anniversary of the Fourth Universalist Society was celebrated last night, at the Church of the Divine Paternity, Fifth-ave and Forty-fifth-st. The anniversary of the founding of the Society was, strictly speaking, on November 11. and Dr. Eaton preached a historical sermon on that occasion; but last night's services were to celebrate the founding. A remarkable circumstance was that there were four men present who took active part in the founding of the society, fifty years ago, and two of them spoke from the pulpit. E. B. Phelps, who was one of these two, presided, and made a short historical speech. He was followed by the Rev. Dr. J T. Sawyer, dean of Tufts College, who was the other, and who is eighty-five years old and has been a preacher for sixty years. It was truly a pleasure to hear this old gentleman, to listen to the familiarity with which he talked of scenes and incidents in this city's history from 1828 through two generations.

He showed wonderful memory in speaking of men and their characteristics, who lived, and many of them died, before a majority of those who were listening to him were born. And above all was it a pleasure to look on such a specimen of vigorous old age as he presented. After giving a most entertaining history of the society and the men who had been identified with it, he said they had great reasons to rejoice, in the success that has attended their efforts, and spoke cheering words for the future.

The Rev. Dr. E. C. Bolles delivered an eloquent eulogy on Dr. Chapin and his work. The Rev. Dr. D. M. Hodges spoke of the needs of Universalism in this city, and said that the first need was that there be more of it. He was afraid that Dr. Sawyer felt like asking why they had not done more with the opportunities they had had in the growth of the city, with which growth the church had not kept pace. He pleaded for more vigorous work in the future, and hoped to see Universalism firmly planted in the northern part of Manhattan island, where it now had not a representative. An interesting service of song was given. After the services were over the congregation all came forward and shook hands with Dr. Sawyer and offered their congratulations.
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being ill and Tom away working on our lot in the cemetery. I wrote to Mr. Sawyer in N.Y. several days ago to make us a visit before they returned but have not heard from them. The men have been shingling all day. 

Thursday Nov. 22" 1888. 12° above this morning. The men are shingling. it is cold and clear Went down town. Received a circular from Jay Smith of the Minneapolis exhibition wanting my pictures for a private exhibition of his, indicating conclusively that not one of them is sold. I have written him that he can have them if not sold but that I dont think I have much encouragement to send my pictures out. The fact is I am discouraged about selling any thing. One must be a charlatan and make a noise to do that. The two carpenters finished shingling the house about 4 o'clock. Directly after lunch I dressed myself in my painting clothes and went up on the roof and secured the places around the chimneys with paint skins. I also painted the valley on the North side and on the dormer but in attempting the front gable I became frightened because I was so stiff and lame and got the Carpenter to finish it for me, for which I gave him a dollar. I do not think that henceforth I will attempt any such thing. I am too awkward and have not sufficient control of my leg. The gutters are still to be painted but we have left the ladder up and I think I can paint them from the ladder; if I cannot I will not do it at all. It has taken 14000 shingles laid 5 inches to the weather and about 250 running feet of ridge board. I pay 5.50 per thousand for the shingles and $2 pr. m. for laying them including the nails. Two men have worked 6 days each. I feel a sense of relief that it is done and will feel still better if I can paint the gutters tomorrow. Tom has cut down two or three apple trees which I marked. Two were about done with and the other was a sweet apple tree of which we have several. The wind is blowing from the N. tonight but the temperature is considerably higher

Friday Nov. 23" Very cold. 4° above 0. I went down town and in Canfields store a man from Rhinebeck said it was 2° below 0. I paid Mansterstock $30 for putting on the shingles although it was only $26 according to agreement. It actually cost him $30. and although he did not ask me to pay him more I did it voluntarily as his men worked faithfully. I also paid Turck for the shingles and ridge boards $77.39 and he took back the 2 m. shingles I had left over, making the cost of the roof 108.39 with the dollar I gave the carpenter and not including the paint. I got up earlier this morning to start up the fires and after I had rake the hall stove it began to roar, and pulling out the slide of the coat receptacle the gas exploded directly in my fact singing my eyebrows and filling my eyes with gas and dust. They pained me for a time and do again this evening. We have been discussing a new stove and today I decided to get one as this one is worn out and I am afraid it is dangerous particularly when we have to urge it. I authorized Canfield to send for the largest "Asgarrd" [[Asgard]] which costs $36 and he hopes he can put it up next week. I had a letter from Mrs. Sawyer saying they 

Transcription Notes:
only clipping transcribed/most of the rest done, save a couple ? Asgard - a wood-burning stove ---------- Reopened for Editing 2023-05-21 18:34:47