St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-09-19

speed of the present. We would not
forget here, Others who generously and
faithfully labOred in those early day >.
though time will not permit us to cX-
tend the list, but we can cherish their
memory us we pass on. After the
church was built it was used constantly
for years. The bell has been recast
once, through some cause it became
| Darling it was taken down, sent to the
foundry and recast. 1t was again placed
in the belfrN and there remained till it
was taken down to give place to the
new church. when it WAS again lifted
nearly to lis old resting place there to
continue ringing out notes OF Joy. of
sorrow, and of praise. The recastinS
did not improve the bell but rather
took from it its richness of tone.
The first settled pastor of the old
church was the Rev. Samuel Goddard
he was followed by Rcvs. Samuel II.
Hall, SOlon Martin, Richardson. Wor-
cester, Morse, Burton, all of them Con-
gregational clersymen. The dates of
their settlement as also the given names
of some of them, have been unable to
ascertain, but | understand that they
ministcred in succession in the order in
which their names are mentioned At
ter these, the Revs. Mr.. Wells. McMul-
len, Norris and Aspnwal, Methodist
clcrgymen. were settled over the parish.
The dates of their several settlements
the time of settlement and also their
given names | have been unable to
learn. Besides those already mentioned
there was occasional preaching 10y other
clergymen at times when the parish
had no settled minister Under the
ministrations of Rev. Mr.. Goddard. a
congregational church wa. organized
which, | believe. is still in existence.
and if am rightly Informed this was
the only church organization ever di-
rectly connected with the parish and
holding the churce building. Rev. Mr.
Goddard was ordained i'll Il barn near.
or at Concord Corner. before the church
was built; this fact is another tcstimo-
nlal to the religion. devotion of the
people who were determined to have a
minister with them whether they pos
Sesscl II church or not.
For a number of years the old church
had not been in regular Use and the
building of the new was Uccasioned 10y
the dilapidated condition of the old.
During the several Years i'll which it
had been in di.use. il had become a
custom for almost any one wanting nice
pine boards or lumber. to tear it from
the interior of the church. To preserve
any relic of the ancient structure it he
came necessary to repair or rebuild it.
for it was in danger of being entirely
destroyed or carried away. To the
Ladies' | Mon of Concord Corner. he
longs the credit of rebuilding. Feeling
that they could no longer bear to see
the old church deSecrutcd. they en-
deavored to see what measures could
he adopted for its preservation and
their consultation resulted in starting
Il subscription list at once which WAS
the first of Il series of steps. which led
them onward. day after day. till they
have now called us here to dedicate
what they have redeemed and saved.
BY their Jealous efforts the temple in
which We to-day meet has been finally
completed. it contains in its frame
work much of the old church. 1t is.
cut down, remodeled. and rcclothcd
with new dress without and within.
The ladies in their work have been
greatly aided by friends from all dirrc-
tions and among them we would make
mention of Mr.. y. j. Graves. whose
funeral yesterday was the first to sane
ufy the new building by that solemn
baptism which attends funeral ser
vice. He was the first to sign the
paper for the rebuilding of the church.
His was the first earthly remains car
ried from here to the tomb, and his the
most generous hand that was extended
in all the work. 1t was the pride, the
joy, and the crowning work of his last
days to have the old church rebuilt
his mind dwelt upon it in his last sick
moss and If would boya Uiyan him
great pleasure could he have entered
here alive and witnessed the dedication,
but that was not to he, and by his pass
ing on, to leave this closing work of
his life for others to complete he has
sanctitied the building to many hearts
His was one of those large hearts, and
which grasped all humanity in its en-
brace, and he desired that all might
alike enjoy the privileges of worship in
this temple. His expressed and de-
cided wish was that it might in the
fullest sense be Union House.
Now, to pass on, the house is finish
ed and the ladies of the Union Circle"
would at this time tender to all who |
have aided them i'll any way. their
hearty thanks. Citizens of st. Johns !
bury receive a share of these thanks for
their generous gifts, among which may
he mentioned that of the Fairbanks
firm, also the private gifts of Mr.. Thad-
L. IL h,. 4