Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-11-09
Rev. Mr.. Mills, Anniversary Ser
mon

Rev. Edward Mills, pastor of the Bap-
fist Church, preached his third anniver-
sary sermon on Sunday last, from the
text, Hitherto Hath the Lord Helped
U.s." lst Samuel, 18th, 18th. The sermon
was one of mnch interest aside from its
local incidents. We gather from it the
following statistics of his labors and of
he church during the past year
Mr.. Mills, during the year, preached
$50 sermons, made 267 pastoral visits,
attended II funerals, celebrated IS mar
riages, baptized six persons into the fell
Iowship of the church, beside attending
conventions, anniversaries, board meet
ings, and other duties Incl dent TO minis
terial life.
The past year had been characterized
by but little sickness and one death.
There has been no special religious in
terest during the year, but, on the part
of some of the church, there has been a
commendnble activity and earnestness in
the Masters service. There has been a
prevailing spirit of harmony in all the
work of the church. The finances of the
Society are in favorable condition, the
expenses of the year being $3.50. and
the income less than a hundred dollars
short of meeting the expenses, The be-
nevolenoe of the church and society for
~, 81 ~ 60 ahus
GUS reasons, has not, in one respect,
reached the standard of former years, yet,
in another, it has reached the highest
point, for, in addition to the ordinary ex-
penses eff the society and the heavy tax
for q new house of worship, $3.50 have
been subscribed to outside causes.
In the annual sermon last year, regret
was briefly expressed that the society had
not entered upon the work of building a
new edifice for worship and there leaving
the subject. Three weeks from that date, at
special meeting of the society, it was
voted to build, and the necessary commit
tees were appointed. Ia the second week
of January a subscription was opened, and
many noble subscriptions were promptly
made. On the 221 of March the sum of
fifteen thousand dollars had been sub
scribed, and on the 9th of April the work
of excavating fer the foundation was
commenced, and has gone steadily for
ward, until the outside including the
tower and spire are neerly completed.
Thus in seven short months, substan-
tial house, having a solid marble base
ment, brick superstructure, tower, turret
and spire, has been erected. The society
has especial cause to be grateful to the
building committee, for the faithfuIness
with which they have discharged their
duties. The friends of other denomina-
lions have aided the work cheerfully and
literally. CongreQationali-ts, Episcopal
liane, Methodists, Universalists, jews and
Gentiles, all contributed something which
should be subject Of gratitude, for sure
" Hitherto the Lord hath helped u.s.
In concluding bis discourse, Mr.. Mills
thanked his brethren and friends for the
cordial support they bad given him the
past year Every obligation having been
promptly met, and every want of tenn
poral nature supplied and he asked of
his church a more hearty conservation
and zeal IL spiritual thin2s, and that they
might labor together for the glory of their
common Master and the goo3 Of immor-
tai souls.