Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-27
st. Luke's Parish. Cam bridge, N. Y.
Its Anniversaries.

October 18th being st. Lnke's Day, was
duly kept as triple festival iu@ this
parish, according to the action of the
Vestry. 1t was not only the anniversary
of ''St. Luke's Guild" but also sour Bene-
factors Day." who were duly remem bered
in public and private, and especially in
our use of the prayer set forth by the
Bishop for that purpose. We feel that
we cannot do too much in their honor,
who have done SO much for Us, in prayers,
sympathies, and donations.
The day being very stormy, not many
were present at church, but we felt united
to the great company of the faithful, who,
throughout the world, and may we not
say, in Paradise also, were mindful of the
festival. After morning prayer, the
Holy Communion was celebrated. The
Rev. Henry NJ. Davis of Salem, assisted
the Rector, and gave one of the two ad-
dresses appropriate to the occasion. In
the former vacancy Of the Parish, he did
much to sustain it, and is always warmly
greeted by the people of this community
as father in Israel. The Offertory was
given to the poor, according to provision
of the Guild. The ladies, or associate
embers, had nicely decorated the church
and chancel with autumn leaves, flowers,
and other symbols
In the evening the annual meeting of
the Guild was held at the house of one of
the members. Reports of the council
and of the Bursar for the past year were
presented. This is also the time for the
annual election of officers. There are
President, (who is the rector, er-ofcj0,)
vice. President, Scribe, and Bursar, and
a Council, composed in part of these
officers. A majority, at least, of the
officers must be commandments and no
moneys can be drawn from the treasury
without an order from the council.
From the reports it appears that the
Guild has increased the funds of the
parish nearly 800 during the eight
months of its existence, being abont one
third as much as the receipts Of the
weekly ofertory. It has also increased
the attendance at church at Sunday
School, by means Of district meetings
certain street or streets OF the village and
vicinity, being assigned TO ea h pulher.
Ii has alec, We trust, promoted tn ~ Ste
matte devotion of lite members in public
and private. For these are the three
chief objects of the Guild, viz, TO organ
ize aud keep up ~ stematic effort iii rev
erence and devotion, III charity aud good
deeds especially to the poor, the sick and
the afflicted, and in the increase of pecu-
MARY resources. IL these respects the
Guild has proved success.
1t is designed to comprise all the work
ing men and women with the young peo-
pie of the parish. Il has weekly meetings,
opened and closed with special liturgy.
The guild box at church receives the
mem bers' weekly offerings, the amount
being designated to the bursar at their ill.,
itiation, and known by him alone. There
are al-o honorary members, who may be
nouresidents Its constitution, hy-hws,
and devotions are the same in the main
as those Of St. Paul's Church, Yergenues,
VI, with certain adaptations
Organized system being Indispensable
to any parish, this plan of working Is cor
daily commended to all by those who
have tried 1t. The Advantages of thus
combining the working material of the
church, Of both sexes, are evident and
manifold. There are many things that Il
rector would like to bring before his peo-
pie for advice and cooperation, with
which it would be unnecessary or useless to
trouble his vestry as such. Here then, in
this institution, he can find, at auy time,
all the help he wants or can have, in the
several departments OF church work.
For these blessed anniversaries of st.
Luke, 'the beloved physician" we thank
God, AID take courage, G.
October 81, 1870