Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-06-21

T" NELSON BIsHoP, Windsor.
Also the following Methodist clersymen:
Rev. W. II. WIGur, Bellows Falls, and
Rev. L. c. DICKINSON, Presiding Elder
of this district.
Also there were present Judge FULLER
Of Saratoga, N. Y, and his brother from
Hard~ick, VT, the Oldest baptized children
of the Church now living, the one aged
rs and the other 73 years, who after an
absence of 20 years returned to visit the
spot that gave them birth, and join with
0 hers in celebrating their spiritual moth
er's Tooth birth day.
A large number of former and absent
members of the Church, and friends from
abroad were present to enjoy the interest
ing occasion.
SERVICES AT CHURCH.
The services in the church commenced
as follows:
A voluntary by the choir Invocation by
the pastor anthem, " THE Lord is in
His Holy Temple !" readi z of part of
, the 32d chapter Of Deut. and part Of the
18th psalm, and prayer by the Rev. A. B.
Foster; anthem, I" How lovely is Zion"
| THE DISCOURSE.
The pastor, Rev f. J. Fairbanks, then
introduced Rev. Pliny II. White as the
orator of the day, who delivered an his
But call TO remembrance former days Heb.
fx:xxxi
He commenced bv abiding to the long
and bloody war of the Revolution, through
| Which the country and our fathers pass, d
TO establish its nationality, and to the re-
cent bloodier one TO preserve it and to
make it worth preserving. He then re-
ferred 10 the progress in the last century,
in the use Of railroads, steam, telegraph,
chlorofoIm. all so different from century
ago or even half century. The estab-
lishment of Bible Societies and the various
benevolent religious associations had all
been accomplished in the present century.
The past century had been one of revivals,
and had b, en- experienced by some in that
audience, and it could but be gratifying TO
that church that it had lived in this cent
ury.
He then commenced the main and his
torical portion of his discourse OF thai
church. The first steps were taken tt
have The gospel established in that place
in 1886, but did not succeed. In 1887 thu
first highway was laid, being the mail
Street of Westminster, and supposed TO b
the first one laid in Vermont. The plac
:, was the called No. same as Charleston
n. H., was called No. A. The Cemeter
was laid out at the same time, but it wa
not till l76l, that permanent settlement
was secured and that church was first OF
ganized in 1867. Of the 800 populatio
at that time but nine were ready 10 join th
church, and singular moi one Of them wa
woman. In 1869 their first house {
worship was built 1t was SO arrange
that sheep went under il and mingled the
bleating discordantly with the worsllippe'
above. 1t was many years before the hous
was finished and they used long seats.
was rude and uncomfortable buildin
and had no way of heating in the white
Persons were appointed whose duty it WI
10 keep the dogs out of the house durir
, service. They had patriarchal famili
in those days and tie children were r
quired to sit with their backs towards Il
: minister facing their parents, and with III
!, double watch were pretty sure to be Ike
in order.
:. He gave an account o! Rev. Mr.. Bull
:. who in its early days was settled over III
: church. lie was man of learning al
: talent, but his usefulness was impaired
y the attention he gave 10 other than spir
ual things. He kept store, manulactur
u potash, and finally removed TO Athel
- where he preached some, and some
~ Brookline. He left Athens, went SOU
I" and died in Mississippi in 1928.
:" Mr.. VIII alluded at some length
~ Rev. Mr.. Sage, a former and much
y loved pastor of the church, report
which we will not attempt here, and a
gave an account of case of discipl
- which occurred in that church in IL
20 1t was the case Of female member v
re had become a Universalist. 1t eau
nc much excitement at the time and took
Us months agitation to settle it. Il was fins
al settled by her accommodation, and
'ed pastor was so in,olerant that he refused
sit with her at his table at his house, WI
she was there visiting the family.
he In 1907 the Legislature Invested
of State of all power TO build or SUPP
ed churches, and in 1903 the first after
of was msde to support the church on
35 voluntary 81 siem- In 1912 the first fen
oh, prayer meeting was organized in Westn