Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-06-25

the tables OF hundred years ago and the
present time. Among the first things that
called the reporters pencils into action was
the coming of Dea. Cheney up the broad
aisle leaning on the arm of his son. lie is
blind and feeble, physically but he is a
sanity man whose very presence is an en-
blem of sanctitSation. lie was seated in an
easy chair on the platform. The meeting
was called to order by Capt. Nathan Robin
son. President Of the society, and DR.. n. H.
Thomas read the order of exercises Next
came singing by mixed choir of the aged
and youthful. Miss Libbie Wade presiding
as organlst. Next Dea. Cheney was called
on to offer prayer. lie said he was blind as
to things of this life, but clear as to thoso
pertaining to the next. No one who lis
tened to his fervent prayer will ever forget
it, His voice Is still full but quayering
The President excusing himself from the
fatiguing duties Of the char appointed DR..
Thomas as his substitute. who introduced
Rev Mr. Hall of Morrisville.
THE SERMON
DR.. Hall selected a text for his dis
course Pharoah' address to jacob How
old art thou?' The boy, he said looks for
ward to the time when he Will be man
The aged look back instead of forward for
many pleasures. To-day our thoughts
naturally take retrospective course
There has never been so eventful a three
sc1re and ten years as these lust passed
none 50 important. and | can say | love
them still, though fraught with hardshIps
Ii i within the last half century that
a portion OF Iowa was inhabited by Indians
and no land beyond there was occupied
In l'20 our population was between nine and
ten millions. In 1870 there were 10 600 600
Abiding TO the progress Of commercial and
manufacturing interests, and Improvements
in modes Of travelling. the speaker asked
How did you get into Stove fifty years ago?
IL took 81 days 10 90 10 Cleveland then
Now steam takes you almost to your own
doors How great the progress in the
means OF communicating intelligence by
means OF steam and telegnphy? Mauy and
useful are the Inventions Of The past cen
tury. The moving machine OF today takes
the place OF the scythe used by the venerable
fathers before me. Time was when all the
linen and wooden goods they used were
spun, woven AMI made by the aged mothers
before me. But to-day we hear the whirl
OF noisy machinery. making the delicate
fabrics we wear. The old spinning wheel
Is almost entirely land aside and the buzz of
the sewing machine takes it, place Ii j.
very useful but does more than it ough: to
we fear. The art o. photography which
preserves the faces Of our dca- friends, i
another modern Improvement and a source
of unSpeakab.c satisfaction and pleasure
Abiding to the increase Of religious priv
lieges, Mr.. Hall said In the carly history
OF some of these before me the gospel wa
seldom proclaimed to them. ine towns
had no ministers. others had Preaching
once in two weeks There was no minister
IN the town OF Waterbury for several yelr-
after II was settled. Now the gospel j, pro-
claimed IN every town. tracts are published.
missionary societies are formed and Chris
tianity i spread broad cast over the land
The last great event OF the century. noticed
By the speaker was the abolition OF slavery.
the great curse OF oar nation. We had
worked and lab1rei. for the emancipation
of the slave but God took his own way
and time 10 90 Il, and you have lived to re
i0ice in the c0odre-ult. Nou mast consider /
It privilege to have lived these long years.
II have been spared for 50 much usefulness /
and pleasure The same loving hand has /
clothed and fed you and for such tender 1
compassion ten thousand thanks are due to 4
that loving and merciiul God Keep your /
hearts fresh and young, let your yoke rest ]
moro lightly on yOnr shoulders. Alter We
get 10 be 30 lr "a years old We often begin .
to look on the dark side Of life. o. think We
are useless and IN the way. Bat do not +
think 50 Keep the heart fresh AID Young .
by sympathizing with the Young. Pick up .
the little ones and euj0Y them. Avoid say
ing Il am worn oat and have no more 70 /
DO. " Aou may not be able 10 30 a. You did 4
once, but still there are duties for YOU and .
when YOU are indeed useless God Will take .
you. Seek the consolation Of pure re-
igi0n; this will give You support.
Vt appropriate intervals in the discourse.
the speaker reaa two poems By Rev Ma
thaniel Colyer, Of Boston, one Of them
written while Waiting to Die" also
poem entitled just e..
After the discourse came singing by the
,hoir. Next the records of the former meet
ng was read. together with brief sketches
If the lives of those who had died the past
-car The society then adjourned to the
ablcs, where the grey haired and bald
headed sat down for a social rcpast. Two
hours were spent in friendly greetings, and
he smiling faces told how much each one
vas enjoying it. At > p. IN. they re-as-
embed in the church to listen to those who
wished to relate their experiences
apt. Robinson was first called up. lie
aid he had some msgyincs in the attempt,
or he saw many literary men bs'lre him
nd feared theircriticisn- lie had lived ia
'towe - years, coming here when l. years
Id, which made bin now 80 years DID,
When came here, said he, there were only
3 families in town. The first death was a
on Of William Utley, who was drowned
hen came fatal disease which took off !
bout every ninth person. Three adults
led. Among the noticeable events, in his
collection, were a revival carried on by
zeal Dow; the burning Of Methodist
hurch, and in a short time after the burn
lg of a Congregational church. Mr. Fish
-as the missionary minister, and when ,
hey saw minister in those days the boys !
Il bowed to him.
After this came song from sam Stay |
IN, who has been noted for his poetical
llent. bnt who j. nearly blind now Rev. :
IT. waIbriieo next took the desk No /
oodness he said. ever fades out of the life I
man. Honor the aged. DON'T forget !
he obligations 10 them, for our grandeur
thought We have Inherited from them.
0 be rs deserving a. they We ought to be /,
etter, and to accomplish more with our
iperior advantages Addressing his aged :.
carers he said: Time has unrolled its length v
ned scroll TO YOU and you are soon to pass o
ehind the vail, but ere You have finished =
fe's journey don't forget the blessed pleas :
re to be found in Savi0ur's love. y
Dea Cheney related his Christian expe- ?
ence OF IS years lie said the riches Of
ligion Were better - him than all his
Irthly riches. ii, expressed himself so L
nderly toward every body that there was e
arce a dry eye in the house. His speech a
ent to the heart OF every hearer No re- :
,rtcr can do it justice. Mr.. Asa Luce, a
lother aged man, gave his testimony as
wing witness of the beauties of religion h
r. Earle of the Morrisyille CHi@en was "
He'd up and made characteristic speech :,
Mr. Spcer of Hydepark, aged IS, said he i
W the first wool-carding machine that was fl
ed in the United States and the first cot o.
n factory that was built. He said also n
at be signed the temperance pledge 40 II II
ars ago and had never violated it. 4 .,
ZEN was read by Judge Foster several
dies made excellent remarks; Sam Slay- W
u sang THE old oaken bucket; Rev. Mr.. OIL
lrdy and Mr.. Smith made appropriate re- Ia
arks and thus closed one of the never-to- 81
forgotten days of Stowe. in
ST. ALBANs.-The proprietors Of the Bel te
yne DRIVING PARK Messrs A q and II RI