Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-16


into effect The first year after they were
taken, was spent, We are bound to believe,
though with some intimations to the contrary.
in most smicable and spirited discussion as to
the location. The plan was never a matter
of dispute. Its cOnveniences seemed to our
fathers 80 great, and its beauty was 30 obvious,
az at once to win all hearts aud command
universal admiration. Even the pews, which
were sold months before the first blow was
struck at the trees tina, went into the struc-
ture, commanded $l4oO more than the first
estimate. TIE architecture grew out of the
wants and the resources of the society," and
though subsequent generation may smile at
church which was built in times OF COM
parative poverty, the subscriptions TO which
were payable in three annual installments,
one half IN grain and neat stock and the
other half in money, and critclse it's faults of
style and it's offenses TO TASTE, still for the
days OF rs erection, for the resources of its
builders, for the uses TO which it was put,
nothing could have better met the object Ia
view. Ii was a house for the times, though
not for all times.
But the question of its-location and |
believe that question is the rock which
societies are split rather than built, WAS more
difficult to settle. 1t would seem that four
different sites were discussed. The first, Let
in front of the present State House, where
Mrs. Reeds house now stands. Second, lot
on Barre street,now owned by j. K. Langdon
Third, the location upon the hill on the road
to the hospital and back OF the present
church, and fourth, the site which it now oc-
copies The coDtrov 3rsy on the location was
very warm. Meetings were called, votes TAX
en-, reconsidered protested against, reafirmed,
and denied. The committee graded the lot
the hill while the discussion was in pro-
gress, and when the society finally determined
to build the church IN its presen, position, in
what was then a swamp, some separated, and
one of the prominent memters of the society
aud church protested with great earnestness
and had his protest recorded. Ii gives me
pleasure to say that be survived the shock of
d church placed contrary to his judgment,
continued as he had ever been, the staunchest
friend .otsthe enterprise, and brought up.ln the
walls OF the sanctuary bis children, and his
grandchildren here tonight will remember TO
the latest day the edifce built largely by the
self denial and generosity of their ancestor.
1t was not until Sep. 81, 1918, that the site
WAS determined. The worK then slowly pro-
ceeded, aud Dec. II, 1920 the committee
reported to the society the completion of the
work assigned them, and the payment IN full
of all the expenses of the building. So they
entered their house without debt. Tue
building Is substantially the same to-day that
1t vas then. The pews and pulpit have been
remodelled, the galleries changed, the organ
removed from the gallery at the opposite end
and the choir placed in the recess over the
pulpit, which Was once used as a vestry for
the social meetings of the church These
comprise all the changes IN the interior
structure. In 1S45, the present vestry was
built, snd though often too strait to accono
date the numbers who have sought It, has yet
proved u pleasant and valuable addition 10
Ihe church.
W hen this house was built II was for the
use OF the First Congregational Society. Ii
has a. times been diverted from the END tor
" which il built and to which was dedl-
Gated 1t was one OF the evils of the early
stage OF society 10 this country, tina. no places
re considered especially sacred. The re-
action from ROmanism threw Professionalism
to the other extreme. Our New England
purisanIsm partook of this extreme char
acter. 1t said that no forms, no externals
were consecrated, that Christianity resided in
spIrltualltles, 10 the heart alone, IN the strong
vii fixed IN Christ, In the spirit constItute ted
d temple OF the Holy Ghost. It disdsined all
art, ali beauty, all rhythm in the service and
III the architecture OF religion. Ii aimed to
ilberate the spirit and Get 1t free from the
of sense. lt forgot that God had
male certain laws OF beauty and certain rules
OF sacred proprlety, before ever the organza-
ton OF any church, and that not only 1T DO
Sin, Dul the highest excellence, su conform to
those essential principles of harmony and
htness, IN all Our outward garb and structure
principles which even he has obsers ed ia
painting the leaves and petals OF rose, in
planting and garnshing the forests, in shap
lng the marvellous contour of the hills, and In
lifting The steep sides OF the mountains, to be
and,
dome. It forgot that Christ had once entered
bis Fathers house. and scourged OUT the pro-
idne hucksteis who desecrated it's sacred
pl aces. 1t forgot that he who said shat God
was u spirit, and was 10 De Worshipped in
spirit and Ia truth, was consumed with zeal
eud veneratIon ior the sanctuary OF God. In
lis haste 10 say that attitude was not religion,
1t rem, mbered not that Christ himself kuelt
IN prayer, end go to avoid foTmalisiIc error
1t rushed into spirItualIstic sbsurdity. Ii
threw open the doors of It's churches to all
secular uses. Our fathers followed the com
mon custom, and from the beginning this
church has been occupied Tor any purpose
that h9e OF its proprietors might Indicate. Ii
has been the assembly room OF State political
of public lectures, and of the
House of Representatives. The ar within it
mas sometimes been poisoned with worldly con-
tamlnauons and pro!ane discourses and vehe-
ment debates. Sometimes, as have stood IN
this place, on Sunday, l rave seen the memen-
toes of the previous night and week of hot
discussion lying beside me, and felt the sad as
sociatlons lowering around me, e,and have picked
them up IN my imagin ginatlon, and almost " wo-
ven them into sermon, psalm and prayer"
But do not now complain of such things.
They are among the old things that have
passed away, and 10, all things will become
new. With ali these drawbacks l have
thought we were well provided for. and have
given God thanks Tor these old spacious walls.
Lh9 early Christians worshipped in caverns of
the ground. - In the rombs OF dead men did
The only live religion find its habItation III
.ncient Kome.'' The Star of Christ " frs,
stood stilf over stable" These old wall.
viii always be dear to me. Even the wealth
,r stains on them are more sacred than the
pictures which she genius of Angelo painted
n the Slstine chapel, or those with which
Raphael adorned the Vatican. To me they
Ire associated with the earliest labor OF my
with all the hallowed toll of my life,
Nth the holiest aspirations and devoutest
hours of my earthly being, and with the dear
aces III at have welcomed every Christian word
have learned TO speak.
As We sit by the SHE Of dying friend, We
no more tue grIefs and trials of our
ong friendship; words of unkindnsss, scenes
If bitterness fade out from the memory, and
iii that is just and lovely and of good report.
he ualitIes that knit our souls and bind our
hearts into one, are the only lneaments of the
picture on which memory loves to linger. So
90, now, on this eve, when we bid farewell to
hese old walls, we forget the discomforts OF
me place, all the hostile elements that have
narred It's peace, the winters cold that has
,hIIled us, the summers heat that has burned |
Is, the secular assemblies that have left their |
mark, their instruments and their breath be- |
lind them on the Sunday, and think only of