Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-08-18

roetings we're held uulhS sno "oeA.
and LARGELY attended. As the results s ABOUT
S0 Joined this church, and ABOUT SoO con-
versions were reported, members o1.ns ~
ded to all the churches. Inc "noo s
bership of the church from It's o'S nn r
is 600. Its present number Is 80 nm IT.
grafton has deprived the church Oh many Oh
81 nsmhers but other churches have re-
ce;red the benefit, so that the influence OF
,hs chnrcb il not lost. In this connection
he allnded TO several families In town. tne
older members of which have passed away,
bnt large numbers of whose descendants
from the first to the fourth generations, arc
Christians. Of the families menti0ned'
2-g of their descendants are IN the Cniis-
tan Church. mh;ob
The address, only briefabstract OF wnich
10 given here. was listened to with deep
interest. and was highly appreciated Dy the
large audience. Its practical Deductions
were eminently appropriate. As an iiiuslIa-
ton of the position OF the churen IN 'ue
reforms of the day in Its carrier history, no
mentioned the fact that Apollos far'riIse
refused liquor at funeral. At the eonciu-
sion of the address the audience Ioineo tue
choir in singing the following hymn, VIII,
ten for the occasion by Mrs ueorge
Byington:
HYMN.
With songs Of glad thanksgiving.
We come with one accord,
To Thee, our ever living,
And ever present Lord
Our fathers did before US
Thy lOvng-kindness prove;
That kindness still Is DER US
We. too, would praise Thy love
Among these hills was planted
Thy church Ling years ago
Thy help, in mercy granted,
Has kept II until nov.
Continue, Lord, to guide US,
That may keep Thy way
And grace and strength provide "
For every coming day
Whatever may assail US.
We fly to lnee for aid
Thy rength can never al US,
We III not De afraid.
10 love and faith ABIDING;
Help US 10 spend our days
And in Thy cure conhdins,
To give unceaSing praise
Rev. Mr.. Woodward then made a brief
address. in which he alluded to some pleas
ant scenes in his early ministry, IN which
the people expressed their attachment TO
HIN. but dwelling more particularly upon
the duty which seemed to be laid upon him,
and which he endeavored to meet IN the
strength of his Master, of defending and
sustaining the church and the pulpit, dur
ing the Miller and other excltements when
threatened to overthrow and destroy 1t. Those
were years Of labor and anxiety, and OF
earnest work, bat were the means OF say
ing the church.
The - old singers" under the leadership
of Mr.. Tyler Chase. a noted " singing mas
ter - of former days. then sung All hail
the power of Jesus name" The voices were
tremulous with age, but the melody was Oi
! the heart.
Rev. e. c. TOrrey then spoke of the Won
derful progress in every department OF
| art, science, domestic economy, etc., dur
ing the past seventy-fye years. and drew
from it an urgent appeal to the church,
and Christians generally, for more ear
/ nest. aggressive and progressive work IN
the future. Another selection was sung by
| the choir which closed the exercises at the
church. Then came the long procession led
| by the Westfor1 Cornet Band, and the march
to the beautiful grove where four long rows
! of tables were bountIfully spread with ample
| provision for the hungry crowd. The num-
/ Der present was not less than thousand,
but there was no lack, and more than
twelve baskets full" must have been taken
| up as the fragments" left. The hospitali
1 ty of the citizens o Westtor1 was unbound
| cd. The intellectual feast which was more
| than excellent, was bOuntifullv supplement-
/ ed by the feast of fiat things for hungry
humanity, both Of which were enjoyed with
zest by everybody present, strangers, citl-
zsns, women and children. Following this
was another season Of refreshing" speak
ing and singing and band playing from
the Stand" erected for the occasion.
in which Rev. Mr.. Chamberlain. Rev. Mr..
Sabin, Judge Wales, Mr.. Sibley, Mr.. Wood.
and others participated, giving statistics and
/ interesting "reminiscences of events, with
which they had been familiar. during their
residence in Westford. Mr.. Sibley alluded
to his early conversion and to the idea then
| prevalent among Cong egatiOnalists that
| children should not be permitted TO join
I the church. lie thought II was wrong.
| Ii proved injurious To his spiritual interests,
but the grace OF God had kept him, and in
after years ne found a home in another part
| branch Of the church.
The exercises throughout were exceeding
| ly Interesting The occasion will long be
remembered, by the renewal Of old ae-
| qusintances. the reunion of friends long
separated. the revisiting OichildhOod scenes.
and the worship together of trends and
neighbors in the church Of their fathers.