SUNDAY SCHOOL EXERCISES.

Anniversary exercises, open to the public, were held by the Sunday school directly after the morning service in the church, and the spacious chapel on Mason Street was filled to its utmost capacity.

Supt. Hewitt G. Fletcher opened the exercises with a brief prayer, and the church quartette sang, "The King of Love my Shepherd is." Mr. Fletcher then read a scriptural selection, and Deacon Charles F. Stratton offered prayer. The hymn, "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord," was then sung by the entire gathering.

Superintendent Fletcher, in his opening remarks, said that the school was glad to give up its regular exercises for the time being and to observe the happy occasion of Dr. McKenzie's fortieth anniversary as pastor of the church. If there is one thing that ought to be recognized at this time, said he, it is that boys and girls should live the life of service. That is the keynote of this church, and that was the keynote of Dr. McKenzie's sermon.

The superintendent then presented as the first speaker, Hon. J. M. W. Hall.

A very pretty exercise followed Mr. Hall's remarks, when the little children of the school all entered the room and, passing by Dr. McKenzie as he sat on the platform, one by one laid a fragrant flower before him, and by the time they had finished, his chair was entirely surrounded by their sweetsmelling tokens of the children's devotion.

Dr. McKenzie was then called upon and spoke with great feeling of his pleasure at the part the Sunday school had in the observance of his anniversary. He expressed his gratitude for the beautiful flowers laid at his feet by the children,

which he should always remember, his appreciation of the service which the superintendent and teachers had rendered, and his thanks for the kind words and good wishes expressed by the members of the school.

Prayer and the benediction by Dr. McKenzie closed the exercises.

RECEPTION.

ON Monday evening, January 21, a reception was tendered to Dr. and Mrs. McKenzie by the present and past members of the congregation, which was very largely attended. After an hour or more spent in extending to Dr. and Mrs. McKenzie the personal congratulations of those present, the audience was called to order by Deacon Charles F. Stratton, who had been appointed to act as chairman of the formal exercises attending the presentation of a portrait of Dr. McKenzie, and the gift to him of an album and a purse of money, which had been prepared in honor of the occasion.

Deacon Stratton, in opening the exercises, spoke as follows:

Having now all had an opportunity to present our personal congratulations to our pastor, the time has arrived we have been looking forward to, and your committees have been laboring for, when we are, as a parish, to express our appreciation of this notable ministry of forty years and our love and esteem for the pastor. In point of time, this is the second longest ministry to this church, but measured by the speed with which men have lived in this generation, and by the results accomplished, it is by far the longest and the most fruitful of them all.

The most notable event in these forty years was the removal from the humbler quarters on Mt. Auburn Street to this stately and beautiful house of worship, built, dedicated, and consecrated by the united devotion, sacrifice, and love of pastor and people. As we look back over these years, a great procession of loyal and devoted men and women who have labored and sacrificed that this house should be consecrated

free from debt pass in review before our mind. Of all the true and loyal hearts who officially joined in the invitation to Dr. McKenzie to become our pastor, but one remains with us to this day, honored and beloved. May his life long be spared to us, a blessing and a benediction. A few of us remain who remember the beginnings of this ministry, to whom it has been a blessing and a delight all these forty years. We have seen the black hair turn to gray, and the lines deepen on the rugged face, but the presentation of the simple gospel truth has grown in power, force, and beauty with the advancing years.

No pessimism has found expression from this pulpit, but abounding courage, hope, and faith in God and our fellow

men.

The tenderest relation of the family life of many of us center about this ministry. Dr. McKenzie has rejoiced with us when the heart was glad and our courage high and life was opening before us, beautiful and strong; and in our periods of depression and sorrow, when our house has unroofed and the rain was beating in, he has ever been a loyal, steadfast friend and counselor who has led the way to the unchanging source of joy and peace and life. He has laid his hand in blessing and consecration upon the heads of even the fourth generation.

All the powers of body, mind, and soul have been dedicated to this people, and we are glad to-night to express our appreciation of all that he has been to us as a leader, guide, and friend; to let the esteem and gratitude and love which has been growing all these years flow out in free tide. From all parts of this broad land those who have come under the power and influence of this ministry join with us to-night in praise and congratulation and thanksgiving.

It is fitting that these expressions of our personal and united gratitude and love should take some more enduring form than the expression of the lip and the pressure of the hand, and so the pastor has, at our request, kindly consented

to sit for his portrait, that the generations yet to come may look upon the face we have revered and loved and call to mind the glory and beauty of this long and faithful pastorate. The arrangements for this portrait were placed in the hands of a committee of whom Judge Stone is the chairman. Judge Stone will present the portrait.

PRESENTATION OF PORTRAIT.

Hon. Arthur P. Stone spoke as follows:

Next Thursday night in this house there will be a public meeting in honor of Alexander McKenzie, for forty years the pastor of the First Church in Cambridge and the Shepard Congregational Society. At that time men who by fair effort have won high places in this and other communities will unite in a tribute of admiration for the successful career of one of their peers. This to-night is a far different occasion. We are gathered together in this place bringing with us a message of love in our hearts, the household met together to greet the head of the house. And on such an occasion the remarks that may be made must, of necessity, be an incident of, rather than a reason for, the gathering.

The committee that have had the exercises of this week in charge deemed it fitting that one feature of the occasion should be the preparation of a painting of Dr. McKenzie to be presented to the parish.

Of course, if you are to have a painting of Dr. McKenzie, it must be by an artist of established reputation, and I feel that we paid Mr. Tompkins the highest compliment in our power when we selected him as, on the whole, best qualified to paint a picture of this man we love so much. A good painting of a man has a great advantage over a photograph, — it not only shows with fidelity the form and figure; but it also, if it is indeed the work of an artist, shows the real man that, after all, is the man we know. But the artist who paints such a man as Dr.