The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1876-08-31
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At the rrques OF several " ho listened
20 The romArks Of the Rev. A. l-helps ol
1 Painssville, o., sunday evening, Aug
20, 10 Zion Church, Factory Point the
following extract Is furnished for The
Manchester Journal;
4 when The Bishops, IN general eonven.
lion, issued their request that every con
igregetion In The Episcopal communion
! should meet 10 their respective houses of
worship on July 4th, the Csuiennial OF
tbe natal day of the Republic, and there
to repder thanksgiving 70 God for biz
blessings upon the nation, and to implore
continuance OF his mercies upon Us a. =
people, 4 was hailed as a most appropri
ste suggestion lis appropriateness was
acknowledged for THIS reason There
are times and places when and where we
seem 60 be nearer, or more IN the imme.
diste presence Of God. Our minds are
so constituted that places aud events
compel us to reflect upon special themes
The power Of association links US almost
| lofuecessiy to a serious train Of relec
llions.
Hence the uses Of churches set apart
aud wholly DEVOTED 10 the worship Of
God. There the same hailowed sssocia-
frions always point as te the one source
OF all comfort and The fountain Of all d-
vine excellence.
Apdas we enter The house of God there
viii oceurr to as the familiar form aud
voice Of, him who occupied the sacred |
desk apd preached The word OF recoDcili-
aton to Us for long series of years, al
though II may be that scores of summers
aud winters have passed since those
words OF earnest tenderness fell upon our
care, and the venerable form stood before
US as Gods messenger to point US to a
better world. 'A@
And we look around upon the seats
where sat the worshippers, aud we seem
10 see them filed with the venerable
:6fms OF those who listened atentivey
20 the preached. .gospe and who labored,
as best'they could, 10 hold up the hands
Of the servant Of Christ and helped 10
carry ior%atd ihe' cause of our divine
MISTER in this world of sin.
IpeetL scarcely say to my hearers that
the, chnnch in which we meet calls up be-
fore me associations, snch as those 10
which have referred, | seem 10 see
nm who first planted The church here,
aud who, as your frat rector, preached
the pure word OF Gud to his congregation
for more than score ahd hall of years.
see him IN labors most abundant among
you, not only, bat UP to his disconnec-
ion with this parish, forty years since
directly or indirectly instrumental Of o.
ganizing very many of the parishes in
your State up to that time.
No man knew him better than did
No man had opportunities of knowing
him better than | did from the time he
left you till the time OF his death. Ii is
with truth chat can affirm never knew
the man that Fthink so nearly without
guile as he was. No man that knew
bas ever had more seriptural views OF
the provisions fOr .snd method of a sim
aer's salvetion through the gospel Of
Christ.
Aud it'is'quite in keeping with the
scenes and celebrations of this Centen-
uial yeaf'that 'allude TO the memory OF
your first rector and his wife, that The
Older members OF this congregation re-
Inembersso well.
How real did seem the scenes and the
'evehtA Of the early days OF the century
which this. year 1876 completes, as have
heaid it.deseribed by them. Deeds OF
fyal0r aud feats of Victorious ohlvalry on
tue'bart OF your Vermont legions- cou-
testaJut a short remove from this church
'L-led ON and marshalled by heroes OF
-Sbur own soil, aud whom the whole
o1antfy delights to honor these scene.
and battles and victories were fresh IN
she nlinds Of an when the Rev. Abraham
Bronson fIsL' began his ministerial la
-bbfs here. !. A generation had not Then
passed By. ~
1, AHa Il may hoc be known 70 you all |
that his Nvp,a CcateBn mar year completes
just i00 years since lhe Dfth of Tie elie
OF your firstreoror, and bat "a few months
only to complete Tie centennial OF the
birth of'her fipsband
4',Affdft IL Hting that | speak here Of
that brave, earliest, Christian womao
inat shared with her husband the hard
ships ofthis then new country, aud with |
bat whose co-opernidh he would doubt-
ices have tailed 10 have done 50 much ia
the advancement vi HE churches
Mes. Bronson, as those VINO knew ben |
well know, was woman remarkable loI /
her strength OF. mind, conscientious adj !
lJherence'to the right, her perseyeriug |
taiiixeuee aid undaumed courage in do
Ifng ala which sbe considered her duty =
To know that a course was right wss 10
fher AN impeNasg motive 90 pursue thai
.Qeurss lill some Providence should
INDICATE 10 her That aeouler path led 10
better accomplishment OF lbe end desired
She was The type of NAe women Of nat
early day, that heryed themselves for lie
hArdsips Of new and undeyeioped
eonntfy. Certainty we owe - much TO
the mothers al II the fathers u that da,
I for the attainment oI sear national, sociai
and material advancement. A. the wife
tpf 3 mlDis,er--ss help 20 her busbaud
iS1lis labors, Ars. Bronson wa pre-emi-
nent tor her usefulness. she was not