Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-09-24
An Interesting Anniversary.
CAMBRIDGE, Sept. g, 1880

To the Editor vi the Free Press and Times:
Sunday, September ), 1850, will be day
long remembered By the friends of Rev. Ed
win Wheelock, who celebrated then the 2jth
anniversary Of his ministry here
Seldom does the connection between pas
tor and people survive tho changes Of a quar-
ter of century, and it was pleasant to offer
ones congratulations on this occasion. The
Old Church, where Mr.. Wheelock first
preached, in September, 1855, was decorated
with flowers and filled with his many friends
in the vicinity.
IL the evening Il Sunday-schOol concert
was held in which the excellent singing, con-
Quoted by the superintendent, Mr. Wires,
was specially pleasing feature. After the
exercises by the children Mr.. Wheelock was
called ON for remarks.
He referred TO the many changes which had
taken place since the beginning Of his min
istry, TO the many faces which had vanished
from sight since the early days when he
preach' d in the old-fashioned high pulpit
with the choir in the high gallery opposite,
and stated that during the twenty-five years
he had attended six hundred and fifty fun
eral services in town-two-tifths of the pre-
sent population.
As he recalled from the shades of the past
many name, once familiar, and many
face long buried from sight, he reminded his
hearers that the next twenty five years would
find few left who are now here, and urged
them 10 greater zeal in training those who
arc TO fill up the ranks.
Mr.. Bentley followed with illusions to
many others who have gone from the church
militant TO the church triumphant and many
hearts were thrilled as he spoke of faml-
liar friends. The interest of the evening
eliminated in n poem written for the oc-
casion by Mr.. Pease of Your city. of which
the following is an extract
"Thy kingdom Gomez o loyal soul.
This Is the keynote of the whole.
| Nature and Providence, and Grace
Atru1ed before one Fathers face,
~ 49, -i- - -s.ss,al .ar r1..1 Sln,-me
| Tiny kingdom come - o Ioya. soul
Exultng, see how through the whole
Domain of water, earth, and air,
Those silent forces everywhere
Ave working IN obedience sull
To the Creators F-lfect wlI
Thy kingdom come - II echoes still
By blooming vale or winiswept hill,
By tDrril plain or frozen coast.
By wave on hoary ocean tossed,
By HcTc. volcanoes belchns side,
or ca thquakc's caverns opening wide
These all as ministers do bring
All glance TO Jehovah King.
Those unclaimed powers we deem .nlligI
Are st.!i a part III Gods design.
Earthquake. tornado, lightnlnss Still
Are ministers 10 do his Will;
Tcacliu2 mankind how feeble arc
Our best devices; that Gods care
And gracious, holy providence,
Higher and holicr than mans sense
OR reason ever can attain.
MCsj guard us STILL or We are slain
Thy kingdom come - Then let Us say,
And guard us in dangerous way,
Good PrOvldence o gracious Power,
Watching Thy creatures hour by hOurs
Binding all natures widest sway
On, Lead Us In the chosen way
OF wisdom, truth and righteousness
All loyal souls shall yet possess,
That Providence shall surely gu;i,
And guar,l, whatever i'll betlde.
Each child OF Cod, till sdsictiici
All at the Elder Brothers side
Shall fulfilled that sOul-iclt prayer,
And God bcworshippeu everywhere
A. toprn ST leaf on tormOst bOugh
OF lbftiest oak still feels the How
OF health AMI life drawn from the root
And nuurishing each living shoot,
Though thousand times ten thousand mnre
Are nourished still FROM that sane store (;
/ A. every leaf excites and gains
Thai vital and which swells Its VEINS,
SO human souls regenerate
| Are bound to Cod IN bissfu STATE.
On hl!Ssfdl state in heavea above,
Gods Kingdom Of Eternal Love-
| For this our Iniercessor stands
With bleeding side and pierced hands;
| His wafchful eye through time and space
! Stlll reaches TO the darkest place.
Nor grateful blast nor vengeful spite
! Shall overcome the child oil light.
and as even now in reverent guise
We sit and look with upturned ewes
| To linn. our friend, to duty consecrate
| For WHOM these wears We gladly watch AMI
wait.
| And catch the ardor which his words inspire,
| There kin,.es in each heart new desire
To well fulfil the mission Cod has given
And tram rising race for life and heaven.
! Long may that voice In sweet persuasion flow.
| Or clad in laundering tones, or melting low
In gentle cadeuces of holy fear
Sound In these walls and We he there to hear.
! Long NAV be the fruit of his unselnsh care.
As week by week he gives those lessons rare
OF rich experience IN the Masters Held
Remain, and NAV al last yield
! OF hundred fold more be his 10 reap
Ere with the faithful perfect he shall sleep.
Yes, VIXEN we part as surely part must,
Nhel I'll that's mortal turns from dust 10 dust
VIA; hopa shall sparkle IL each tear-dimmet
EVE
That us not all OF life or death TO die.
For when beneath the darklInS cypress shade
Our dear ones all in waiting still are laid
Beneath that low green tent . grassy mound
st.ll shall our Faith and Hope and Love abound
Alas Alas , for him who never sees
The sunshine stealing through his cypress
trees;
Who hopeless lays his dead away
Nor waits 10 see the breaking day
Across the mournful marbles play.
For Love will hope and Faith Will trust
That somehow, somewhere meet We must.