St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1883-02-16

Church saw the work of years go up in
smoke. Sympathy was freely rendered
on all sides, and it assumed substantial
shape from prominent members and
the pastors of the South and Uni
versalist churches, while the smoke
was yet rising from the ruins, kindly
offering the use of their churches for IA
part of the day. The generous proffers
of assistance did not end here. Short
ly after the pastor retired to his home,
and while revolving plans for the flu
ture in his mind, the door bell rang,
and note was placed in his hands
from Ex-Governor Fairbanks, gener-
ously offering the free use of Music
hall (then known as the Old North
church, until such time as the church
might be rebuilt. This offer was CRATE
fully accepted, and the society feels
under special obligations to him and to
Col. Fairbanks, who acted by one COM
mon impulse of kindness.
On the following Monday evening
the society met and considered the
matter of rebuilding at once, and n
building committee was chosen and in
structed to advertise for proposals for
building, which was accordingly done,
and contract was made with George
Guernsey of Montpelier.
June 20, just three months and TWEEN
ty-tive days from the day the church
was burned, the work upon the new
building was commenced, and June 30
the work of putting the frame in posi-
ton was commenced.
Feb. 8, 1888, seven months and six
teen days from the time the building
was commenced, it was ready for fur
nishing.
The building of this church was ac-
complished at no little sacrifice on the
part of the members of this society.
After having sacrificed much and
strained every nerve to liberate them
selves from the pressure of the heavy
debt which rested upon them for years,
they felt, when the results of all this
toll and sacrifice were swept away by
the flames, that the future had no hope
for them. But this period of depres-
sion was of short duration. Soon IA pa
per appeared containing pledges
amounting to nearly $1,000 by the
members of the church. Representa-
tlves of sister churches came forward
and produced papers containing long
lists of names of persons pledging
from 81 to S25, which, with private
contributions from friends, few days
since, together with the amount of the
insurance on the former building, ena-
bled the committee to settle in full with
the contractor and this house is dedi-
Gated to God free of any debt In be-
half of the church and society, Mr.. |
LOckhart expressed sincere gratitude
to all for their sympathy and material
aid, whether little or much, in this
their time of struggle.
read hymn, after which
THE SERMON
was preached by Rev. c. 5. Frost of
Pawtucket, Il. |. Before entering up
on the sermon proper, he INDUCED in |
some "reminiscences connected with the |
former church. He said that one wear
~ in hn
the pastor, and his eyes filed with
tears as he read the sad news of the |
burning of the church. He said to
himself, "Thank God, the ruins are
paid for" If ever he felt glad that that
church debt was lifted, it was when he |
read that letter. He reminded the peo-
pie that they would never forget that
Sabbath. Christening is never joyous,
but grievOus. When the debt was
lifted, the people thought their resOur-
ces had been exhausted, but it was not
so. The fire revealed untho ght-Of re-
sources. They were so used to giving
that the subscription paper seemed
like an old friend.
He spoke from the words of Haggai
2:9-"The glory of this latter house
shall be greater than of the former"
SolomOns temple was magnificent
structure. In point of exterior appear
ance, architectural beauty and interior
adornment with gold, silver and prec-
iOus metals, the temple far surpassed
the latter house. By the latter house
is meant the second temple that was
erected by the people by the direction
of the Lord speaking through the
prophet Haggai unto Zerubbabel. Di-
for moment he spoke of the
of the latter-day church
es, and said that st. JOhnsbury is to be
especially commended for its beautiful
houses of worship. The chief glory of
the latter house referred to in the text.
he said, consisted in the divine pres
ence: The tabernacle was dear to the
Jews, not for the gold and silver, but
for the manifestation of divine favor.
The in-dwelling presence of Christ
gives attractiveness to any church.
The darkness and gloom which envel-
up many churches is due to the depar-
lure of Christ from them. The glory
IF the house dedicated this day shall
De greater than of the former so far as
he spirit of genuine Christian helpful
ness shall permeate the membership of
he church. This help should be
hearty, earnest, genuine, and should