Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-01-18
EVENING.

". Psalms for the DAY :-NXlIL- &C, read
by Rev. E. Bruce Of Shorsham.
Y. Prayer by the Rev Z. Bsliou.
VI. Anthem, and the Hymn. by Emerson,
commencing
We lore the venerable house
Our fathers uilt TO God;
In heaven are kept tier greatfs vow.
Their dust endears the sod
VII. Reading Of the scriptures, hy the Pas
VIII Hymn, by Rev DR.. Fr.thirgham,
read by Rev. Mr.. rockingham q Bgattlsboro.
lX. Sermon by the Rev. Eiwsrd Everett
Hale, Of the South Congregational church Of
Boston, Mass
X. Prayer BY Rev Nj. Hale.
XI. Anthem, Il will lift Up m.u, eyes uato
the hills
XII. Benedetion by the Pastor
Mr. Hrle's sermon WAS from Eel !.
"Oae generation pascal a.0oy and another
generation oODiefh but he Earth cJidsn for
eper." He spoke Of tie worth u tie last hall
century, since thus building was dedicated.
abiding to the work accomplished BY God
through the lives OF individuals, and the
physical triumphs OF the age, fcrcihly illus
trated to the SPEAKERS mind in this spot, for
he lad Lizard the story Of tie settlement Of
Burlington from one who saw it when i
consisted Of but three houses where now lies
this t7riity city, whose career is still hut
jist fcgun. From the victories Of tie past
half century he passed to the duty aud work
Of the next half century. rs need Is iaose
of that life which cJm,s from God, more re
ligion Of action NOT more religious sun
days, lat more religious weekdays This
want tie speaker considered could be better
met by Unitsrians than by any other body
OF christmas. lie believed it would be met.
and that the child Of today will at three score
look back on such energy, justice, purity,
earnortness. bic, a. a century ago no pro-
phet dared predict and no poet dream Of.
The sermon was an interesting, able, and in
Passages eloquent discourse. and We are sorry
that our limited space fJrbids Us 10 give the
fuller report of 1t which We had prepared
The singing was very fine, under the dr.
ection of Mr.. Ii. /. Proctor, orsanist and
chorister, the excellent choir Of the church
having the aid Of the fno base voice Of Mr.
Hindces of the Baptist choir, and the finish
cd tenor of Mr.. Phillips of S. Adams
The Leyee in the evening at the house Of
Mr.. Horace L3omi- was a fitting close Of the
day. Fifty years ago 80 Uncle Horace - and
Mrs. LOOMS in Ike manner threw open
their house, on the evening OF the first dedi-
cation. feeling OF regret that Mr.. Loomis.
who was the c-ief pillar in tie erection Of
the church, could not have lived to see this
occasion, was in many hearts but it
was mingled with glainess and wonder
that Mrs Loomis should be able,
at 90, to dispense the cheerful hospitality of
her mansion, with 50 great a measure OF the
vigOr ami kindly grace Of her younger years.
By her side stood to receive the guests, AlRs.
FooTE, formerly Mrs. Clark, relict Of Rev.
Samuel Clark the first pastor Of the Society,
81 Yeas old, bat in the bloom Of a compare
lively youthful old age. and Mrs. Ingerson,
widow Of the second pastor of the church,
and who was its pastor for ti0enty-tIoO years.
Three members of the church at the time Of
the dedicatIon-Mrs. Loomis, Mrs Foote
and Miss Nye-still survive. Several men,
b,rs of the Society of over fifty years stand
ing, were also present, including the venera-
bic Mr. Benz. JoslIn. who hauled the brick
OF which the church was built.
1t was a large and pleasant gathering of
old and young, and one long to be remem-
bered
A delegation OF about forty oil Mr.. Aliens
society in Montpelier, were present during
the day and evening, with the pastors and
lay delegations from the Unitarian societies
in Mortified, Shoreham, Brattleboro and
Montreal The whole occasion was one Of
high interest and complete success.
The following letter which was received
too late to ne read with the rest at the Semi
Centennial Of the Unitarian Church last
Wednesday, was read on Sunday from the
pulpit by Rev. Mr.. Ware, at the close Of
the mornings services
CHICAGO, Jan. 7th. 1857.
pEAR BROTHER WARE:
doubt whether this will reach you in time
for your jubilee, but whenever it comes, it will
bring my most hearty congratulations and good
wishes TO you and TO all that are in fellowship
with you IN Burlington.
IL is q great thing for a church 10 come to this
golden year, and yet to be still young, not past
her prime in any way, and promising to hye
through many more cycles, while al over the
country her sons and daughters are living, and
holding her image in their hearts beside the
image of their old home, and thinking Of her
always with tender holy love. 1t is what you
will all think | know as you meet, and your
eyes will be misty the while with happy and
thankful tears. But doubt whether you can re-
al1e 1t 60 entirely do after meeting this
years in the West SC many who, leaving the dear
old church somewhere eastward, never find an
other quite like it, or in which they feel per-
fcctly at home.
do not wonder at this, and far less 10 CON-
plain, for | fnd, as rule. that those men and
women who came to see Us out Of the old steady
going eastern churches, are among the very
best in every way for the up building Of living
churches IN this new land.
In the old order from which We get cur idea
Of jubilee, one thing was INST prominent and
important, every letter was broken then, and
isvsry man was free Except the man who should
volunteer 10 have his ears fastened 10 a post,
aud Of course he was served right). | trust
Brother Ware it will be so with the church in
Burlington. That no old fetters, bonds or
slavenes Of any sort, if there happen to be any,
will survive the subtle searching spiritual fame
OF your jubilee, and if any way you have fallen
back from perfect freedom. it may now be all
made good. Il was grand thing fifty years
ago for the Fathers TO take the stand they did
In advance OF the age to put their time far
ahead Of the moan time about them, because
they dared TO trust the sun. But what John
Robinson said to the grandfathers OF our church
be said to the fathers and their children. "For
my part | cannot sufficiently bewald the conii-
ton OF the Reformed churches, who are come to
a period in religion, and will at present 90 no
further than the instruments Of their Ref5rma-
ton God bless the church in Burlington at
her jubilee with emancipation from any letters
that have been cast round her in the half cen
tury, and with a whole heart for that service |
which is perfect freedom. Amen