Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-01-10

WIN uANt NNAN W. alNA wv ~ WY N'"iN w.
the voices that speak here and the words they ut
ter in prayer, or song though they might not
recognize the outward building where we wor-
ship nor the faces that worship here, they would
recognize tho tree that they planted and cared for
-, long; tie principles they taught, and tho
steady flowing Of mighty results springing from
Gods blessing on small causes and they would
thank God that they had laid the stones Of Iii.
church here Ia fair colurs, and made II Bethany
the place Of Chri.ts feet, long before we gave
it tho name Of Bethany and that tho church
bu.lt on the Rock, Christ, and ccmonted with His
blood. cannot die, but must remain name and n
power forever.
During my connection with the church there
have been 3i2 additions to II. There has not been
"a single year in the last twenty five without ad-
ditions, both by profession and letter The year
| 1871 just past has however witnessed but one
received by profession Of faith. The smallest
number received in any year was six and this
| has occurred but three times in the years 1856,
1850 and 1871 The largest number admitted
90 tie church in one year was so, in 1858. The
next largest number was a. in 1906 There
/ have been in this period III Baptisms or those
admitted 10 the church during this time only
twenty-five have died OF the children baptized
1uly nine have died Them TINT honor me, / will
honor With long life will | satisfy them and
show item my salvation The church now holds
ON It's roll a hundred and twenty more names
/ than It did twenty five years ago.
/ In The character Of It's founders, in the prnci-
/ pies on which it plants itself, in the rock on
which it rests in the stability Of the past and the
earnest purp ses and strength Of its present sup
9orters, We see the pledge Of its future perma-
hence. It will stand for many generations. Its
healthy existence and growth depend not on the
life of any one mun, or the lives Of many men
It gathers TO itself continually to take the places
of those who leave it, the elect names that are to
/ bear up and extend its former honors. II will
still win the love Of children, the VOWS Of youth
/ the resources and wisdom Of manhood, the bless
/ ings OF age IT, fires are vesal flames, and its
sacrifice is lighted and consumed by the living
spark Of heaven. An institution like this, when
once it has taken deep root in community, is
almost an ndc.tructible thing, In days Of fear
and humiliation 1t cannot quietly die out and be
buried Ia weakness or power it exists and must
exist. Bat it may rise from degree to degree, at
.''n anu n''u 10 'iei'u'u'' IL "neh Tue ieauer Oh
'sen.l 'onninahdeu tne sun 10 stand over uioeon,
uh''l us history snal DO mehoraole IN the hlsto-
ry of the churches in our land, and all connected
with it shall be honorcd and gorifed in its re-
cold )r it may fall from point to point into OBJ
souil'y' anu NC Known only Hs the wreck ana
SHADOW oil once slrohg ana benehcent church.
What shall be the fate of Bethany church, now
undef Hod, rests IN your hands IN yours espec-
any, my younger brethren, IN yours, also, who
have not yet put yourselves and lnmies under its
shade who still hesitate between Gods institu'
ton and mans munis and indulgencies be-
tween the ark Of God and the vessels Of your
own construction. single generation may de-
eide IT, We have young and active rivals. Hap
py are we il they inspire only our love and pro-
woke only our good works We have natural and
artificial foes, foes within us and without US
Our own connection with it may he very brief.
| In twenty years from today hardly oni Of you
will be sitting in these pews. Those that sit here
then will be suffering from the faults or unwisdom
or sins which have been ours, or be reaping the
blessings Of which we have sown and nurtured
the seed. For the time being we are Bethany
church aud society, and this congregation, ever
vary ing in its constituent elements, is the repre-
sentative Of the past and succeeding generations
As the waves pass, but the river flows on forever
50 the members Of a church are perpetually dis
appearing, but the organic body survives still
And it is mainly animated and moulded by pow
eriu law, to the force Of which every single
member of the congregation contributes. When
we have done our work, our work has not done
its work. Ii wdens its circle of results for
ever. For myself, my earthly history is blend
ed with the history OF this church. ask no
higher honor than to be known in the coming
generations rs having contributed to the strength
Of its faith and love- and mnistered to its spiritual
energy. And you, born here, nurtured here,
ebNiins h''@' tho c'ili's" OF mn ancient and H.
'us''luus muse II 'or you 10 Keep II whlte
"hu cream. us s'anu"ru' ulppeu IN Ohrlst olood
you Snuuiu sus'oIu anu 'oNoW' ana 10 lts honor
ana peace your VISION ana wealth., your sym
pathy ana love shoulu ever DC devoted For this
sacred institution II we do our duty by it, will
sn'u more houor On US 'hah we ever snail give to
l"
FOR let me tel YOU Ia the last place, that 1t ~
worthy OIL AL your loyalty ana love VIII not
compare II w'th worldly associations which never
can rival IT, OF when men who pass by do not
say we bless you IN the name OF the Lord. y
w'll not dlshoner 1t by making 1t mere suppl
ant oil your care ana suffrage Supplant 1t is,
even "heh II mas the rlsht TO command Tor 50
II becomes ehureh TO De- oil which Jesus Christ
Is Tue i'lng lead II mas en'rea'ed ana 1t has
} demanded ana Thousand souls have heard It's
voice. ana come TO tue saviour II eonlesses' Its
} OBJECT ana purpose nave oeen 10 testify 10 the
, presence ana feal'ty oil uo1' 70 the grace ana
I mercy o. Jesus, ana TO WIN souls 10 the saviour
oil the world nor does II reaeh these ends with
, OUT making men ana women more intelligent ana
"orIh'er , souhuer IN oouy ana more vigorous IN
lh'hu' hne II mas mined TO make men pure vlr-
'oons ana CHRISTIAN 10 save their souls from the
power oil evll and to tram them Tor the immortal
glory OF the resurrection 1t has also opened
their intelligence. tsterel their morals and saved