The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

... inch of space in the church and vestibule, assembled to give thanks to God for three score years and ten of witness in the little church. Old men and women who remembered the early days of the Church, others whose parents had been associated with the pioneer days, newer members who had learned to love St. Matthew's Church and respect its traditions, all joined in the great Eucharist Service. The Right Rev. Derwyn T. Owen, Bishop of Niagara, preached an eloquent sermon. The church was again filled in the evening, when Rev. T. Lowe, a former rector, returned to preach. The following evening St. Matthew's Day, a reunion banquet was held in the Sunday School room. Three times the tables were filled for supper, and after they were taken away and the chairs set out the room was literally packed with people. But who cared? It was not just the splendid programme, but the meeting of old friends, the reminiscences of days long gone by, which were the chief attraction. It was very evident that through seventy years of its existence the church had made its influence felt among many who had moved away, but had left their mark upon its history. This was probably the most important milestone the church had reached. It was undoubtedly the last definite touch with many pioneer of the church, and from that time its history became more modern. During the time Mr. Higginson was rector the Laymen's Association was started. In response to an effort of the Wentworth Deanery Laymen's Association to get the laymen of the parishes to organize, Aldershot was the one to lead the way. Mr. T. C. Green was chiefly responsible for its organization, and he was president for several years. The laymen did a great deal of work for the church which was sorely needed. During the first two years wainscotting was put around the basement and a piano was bought for the Sunday School. Much has been accomplished by their efforts since. Through a re-adjustment of the parishes in 1932, Mr. Higginson was moved, and Rev. Canon W. Davis was put in charge of Aldershot, with the Hamilton Beach and the Church of the Good Shepherd. Canon Davis was an extroadinary man quickly won those who had resented the removal of his predecessor. But he had only been in charge of St. Matthew's five weeks when he was suddenly stricken and died within a day or two. The choirs of all three churches were at the Cathedral for the funeral service, and the three parishes were drawn together, as never before, by a common sorrow. At this time Right Rev. Derwyn T. Owen had been elected Bishop of Toronto, and a new Bishop had not been elected in Niagara, so the church was without a rector for some months. Rev. Frank Walling came out as often as possible, and the congregation rallied around, perhaps the realization that this was a difficult period, that there was danger of recession if some special effort was not made that caused this, but the congregations were larger than for any other period recorded up to this time. A delegation from the three churches was the first that the new Bishop, Right Rev. W. L. B. Brougall, received and arrangements were make for Rev. W. G. Luxton to become rector. On February 19, 1933, Mr. Luxton was inducted into the three parishes of St. Matthew's. The choir and many of the members of the congregation of the three churches were present. There