St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1870-02-25
Dedication of the NeW VI. e.
CHHycH at WeSt Concord.


Methodist society at Concord have felt
the necessity of having IL church in which
to worship God-haying for many years
Eeld their meetings in school houses. and
in the town hall: but, being few in
numbers and limited in resources, have
not seen a way in which they could Sc
cure their desire.
At the session of the Vermont Con-
ference at, Swanton, April, 1868, Rev.
=. Is. Currier was appointed to the
charge. He found the society thus stu
atcd, and soon sympathized in their anx-
icty for Il ,hurch OF their own, and b.
gan wJlk for lis accomplishment. At
I the close of his first year he had secured
pledges for some $500. Receiving
re-appointment, cOm'-ittee for build
inc was chosen, of which Bro G.. was
one, and he Immediately went about his
work. La the course lie pursued, the
faith and spirit OF the man was proven.
Some Of Us thought he was going too
far, and ihat the means of the people
were not sufficient 10 carry out The plan
of building. Bot he persstcd--he was
building for God, and was confident
means would be secured. For ten
months he persevered-woIking day by
day himself diligently, and preaching ey-
cry Sabbath-;,ll the time retaining the
confidence of the committee associated
with him, though they knew the church
was costing much more than they had
funds to meet.
The church was nearly completed, and
FEB. 20, assigned for It's Dedication to
the service and worship of Almighty
God Bishop Simpson was engaged 10
preach the dedication sermon. The
week previous, on examination of their
account, the committee found their re
sources amounting to about $1,000 and
their liabilities about $1,000, leaving :,
debt of $1,000. This was "a trying time
After careful thought and consultation.
the one conclusion v;>--thc whole deb:
must he provided for before the dcdica-
ton.
At II o'clock Sunday, Feb. 20, 1870.
as beautiful a Sabbath morning. a. we
can wish TO elJoy-tAe new church was
filled TO Overlooking, and in this lar.c au-
dlence were many anxious hearts 40
doubt earnest prayer waS offered lhaI He
10 whom We were to dc Heat, iii, "IIuu-c
OF Wor,hir," woulI give willing and
generous hearts. About Il dozen minis
tiers from The various chaIgc~ wcr" pre-
ent. After the usual intr, durrurv ,N.r-
ri>c~ the Bishop arnuuu,cI liz text.
John Is: p. And the glory which thou
gavc>t me, | have given them: that they
III iy he one. even Is we are one For
one hour and 4 quarter the large audi .
cnce Were held IN closest attention to the
cI,vi,u v,rI- eliza, ,.,. ,.....I,.,,
ihe qulvering lip, the falling .car-. th,. .
l.,,r,,. ,r,,,,- I .I
>ponScs, showed that the Great hear, ot.l .
the people felt it To dc glorious To- hc one
Win each Other and viii, t.,,r,., and +,
receive hi. GLORY
At the 81 SO of H., Sermon, ~. 1i.l,.,,
addressed tb.. .udi,,,,.,. j., ,....,,,.,.,
the church and th, ,,n,n,t nj d.t..
a.ains, il. and ur,,ej uro, i.iou ,,. j..
pavncnt before h, pro cc,d ii 1o fine w,r,.
of d,rl,uion. When il was opronr,.J
that the. were in debt - 600 whi.rcr.
were h.a,d. at cannot h, pgiI" VIII.
we were fraIin.. III. bi.hnu rnuIi,r.J =,
plead. Presently. one who had pr,.,;-
ou-ly subscribed liberaily. thuuoh rot g,
member of the society. responded. Il
will pay 500 more" The KEY not
WIS struck. Another and another. and
others soon responded ill +IlOu WA. oh.
tanned in 500 plr,lgcs-thcn $50. S25. /:
$40 and -, and finally Il basket coll,c-
ton of all The fragments. -, in Jour
s'ort hours from the commencement OF
the 'Xerciscs-the congregation ali re-
naming intensely interested, the fac, was
by the bishop that their work
was nobly done, aud the payment of the