Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-06-25
IN REGARD 70 MIR. prrcuEn's LECTURE

The embarrassment into which the good aud
long suffering people of Braltleboro arc
put; But how can help III To ask mo TO go
thither Is like sending for a man shut up in
q foreign dungeon, and wondering that he
does not come For six months | have
been sitting in the court, almost daily, nor
do know when tho detention will end.
And, even were IL TO close tomorrow, am
IN no case to go forth a lecturng. That is
for the present out of tho question. Cannot
n lecture next season, TO be free to all tick
et-holders of the late course, and not in the
regular course, be arranged2 do not say
that i0iU, for am unable to foresee con-
ditions Of affairs and therefore cannot make
absolute engagements. One thing is Cer-
tain, have not been six months in court
here because l liked 1t, and wanted to get
rid of lecture at Brattleborol
(Signed) HENRY WARD BEECHER.
The above letter, which has Just been re-
ceived by the management of our Brattlc-
boro lecture course, explains itself, and an
swers all inquiries In regard to Mr.. Beech
er's expected appearance here. Mr.. Beech
er's unavoidable non-fulflment of his en-
gagement to lecture in Brattleboro has
been source of great perplexity and anx-
iety 10 our lecture committee, and it be-
ing now settled that he will not come here
at least before next season, the committee
their contract with season-tickut holders.
We learn that they have engaged the Bar
nabee Operetta Company, which is com
posed of some of the best solo vacalists in
New England, TO give one of their unique
entertainments here at an early day-pre-
vious at least, TO the middle of July. Hold
ers Of season-tickets TO the course of "a
70 will he entitled TO an admis sion to this
concert, and there can be no doubt that all
such ticket holders will willingly and cor
daily accept this entertainment as a com
plele luiilment on the part of the commit
Zee of their obligation to them. Patrons
of the lecture course the past season have
had their full moneys worth, and we know
that the committee have subjected them
selves TO no end of labor and expense 10
make every thing agreeable and satisracto-
ry. Our people certainly owe them a
large debt of gratitude for the many choice
intellectual treats which they have furn-
ished them. Nearly all those persons who
bought single tickets for Mr.. Beecher's lee
ture have received their money back, and
all who have not done 80 are requested to
present their tickets to Mr.. II. G. Willard
at the earliest convenient date.
chlLDREN's SUNDAY AT TIE UNIVERSAL.
Isr CHURCH.
In accordance with the previous an
nohncement, last Sunday was duly OBJ
served as "Children's Sunday" 10y the I'm
l'ersalist parish in this place. The day
was one of the few perfect ones, such as
juno alone brings us, and Nature seemed
70 join heartily in tbs 80 make tho
occasion memorable one TO the young
folks. Neither children or grown people
will, indeed, soon forget the pleasant OBJ
servances which marked the day. At the
morning service the attendance was very
large, and the church was tastefully deco
rated with flowers, the altar and pulpit in
| particular, being covered and nearly hid
| den with profusion of bouquets, ferns
and Towering plants. The opening exer-
cises, singing, scripture lesson and prayer,
were Of a character suited to the occasion.
Nine children, three of them infants, re-
ceived tho rite Of conservation at the hands
of the pastor. In place of the promised
sermon Mr.. James Fisk addressed an earn
est c xhoration 10 the school, after which
Rev. Mr.. Harris entertained and instruct
ed the children for n short time in very
happy and graceful manner. The young
est children present could hardly have
failed TO realize the import of the day and
to learn lesson from its observances.
The + loral Concert in the evening was
an occasion which had been eagerly looked
| forward TO by the friends of the school,
and their anticipation of the pleasure to be
derived from its exercises must have been
fully realized. The different parts were
well chosen and were agreeably varied in
their nature. The children without excep-
ton acquitted themselves creditably. They
were solf-possessed, spoke distinctly, and
showed thorough preparation and careful
training. A floral arch took the place of
the pulpit, and the placing upon this arch
| of bouquets of flowers representing the ell
ements of the Christian character formed
| the central feature of the exercises. Six
teen young misses took part in this piece,
the leading part being taken by nine miss
es who gave recitations accompanying the
presentation of the flowers, representing
respectively Love, Joy, knowledge, Meek
ness, Patience, Godliness, Temperance,
Hope and Faith. Several of these
Rotations were of marked excellence, and
the whole piece must have been the result
of no small amount of painstaking care
and labor. The selections by the Brattle-
boro orchestra were appropriate aud well
rendered. The house was densely crowd
ed and many went away, having been I'M
able to obtain seats.
| AS the present week closes the illh year
of Mr.. Harris's pastorate over the Brattle-
boro Universalist society, it may not be
amiss TO refer to the success which has at
tended the labors of himself and wife here.
| During this time the membership of the
church has grown from about 70 to upward
of 200, Mr.. Harris having himself received
1876 adult persons into the church and the
average Sunday congregations have in
creased in like encouraging proportion.
The children baptized last Sunday morn
ing make one hundred and eight little ones
to whom Mr.. Harris has administered that
rite. The Sunday school, too, has grown
from small numbers TO be the largest Uni
versalist Sunday school in the State, hav-
ing total membership of 375 and an ay-
erage attendance of upward of 200. The
| growth and prosperity of the school is due
in very large part, as Is well known, to
persevering hard work, combined with
rare native tact and ability, on the part of
Mrs. Harris. 1t must have been crafty
ing encouragement to this lady to see so
hearty an interest manifested in the result
of her labors, as was the case last Sunday
night. We trust that tho society may DO
blessed with the united labors of these