Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-07
THE Es.Ex CENTENNIAL.
Opening of the Commemorative Exer
cises.

THE ES.Ex CENTENNIAL.
Opening Of the Commemorative Exer-
cises.
The exercises connected with the one
hundredth anniversary of the settlement
of the town OF town of Essex began on
Sunday evening with union religious
service ut the Congregational church, on al
most the exact location of the first church
edficc erected in town. BY suggestion of
the centennial committee, the services were
conducted by the pastors OF the several
churches in town. The music was under the
direction of T. +. Garvin aud Arthur Castle,
the choir being composed of old-tlmc singers
mainly and the music that of the olden time.
After brief service of song, in which Dun
| dees wild warbiiug measures" rose up in maj
este strains, and other like melodies follow
ed, the services were commenced with
invocation and reading the scriptures by
Rev. Mr.. Gussman, of the Baptist church.
Singing by the choir and prayer by Rev. MIR.
Wilder, of the Methodist church, was fol-
lowed by discourse by Rev. John Cowan, of
the Congregational church, upon THE
beginning, progress aud results of
our religious Institutions The first settlers
of the town were mostly from Connecticut
Bred after the Puritan fashion they were
men of strong fitted character, pronounced
IN their church preferences. AS soon as
they were fairly settled they began to make
arrangements for the preaching of the Cos
pei and voted a tax upon the grand list of
the town for that purpose. October 81, 1897
the Congregational church was organized.
| In April previous the First Ecclesiastical
society was organized by vote OF the town,
and continues to the present day in tine
Spring of 1903 the meeting house was built
which was torn down in 1889 40 to make
way for the present brick structure. In
1905 Rev. Asaph Morgan was ordained pas
tor, and continued as such till 1923. In 1909
the Baptist church was organized as al in-
dependent body. Rev. David Hubbard was
the first pastor. Chester lngraham native
of Essex, sou of the first person who joined
the Baptist church, was its pastor for Is
years. In the year 1897 the church edihce
was built, in 1889 it was destroyed by fire
and Immediately rebuilt upon its present
site. In 1899 the first Methodist class was
formed and in 1888 the Methodist church
| was organized. In 1889 the present church
was built. The Unversalst church was
organized in 1859 when the present church
was built. The fifth church organized was
the End Congregational at Essex Junction
and the sixth was the End Baptists at the
same place, both OF which have now fine
church editices. Powerful reviva's occurred
in 1921 and also in 1880 in which large addi-
lions were made to the Congregational and
Baptist churches. After reviewing the
yagaries of Nlillerism and Second Ad.
venlism that had destroyed the peace and
harmony of the churches during the past 80
years, and had drawn some away from the
churches and from the faith of the Gospel,
he said in conclusion, speaking for the Con
gregational part of our town Christianity, 81
would say that in no time since the pure church
organization was effected has there been
such unity of doctrinal belief as in the last
two decades. II there exists any consid-
cradle number who are departing from
the old faith do not know it, Among those
who wear the name and garb of Christian
dscipleship, dissent from the salient
doctrines of the evangelical faith i!
practically unknown. AS churches W.
place ourselves on the broad basis of tht
evangelical faith requiring of none whom we
admit to our fellowship those shibboleths OF
the fathers, the five points of Calvnism oil
the opposing points of Armenianism. While
we differ in some nonesscntials such IA.
church government and the mode of admins
tering the ordnance we are one as the fores
is one, acknowledging common soil, thu
principles and doctrines OF the Word com
mon atmosphere OF Divine spirit, source o.
all spiritual gifts. and common sun jesus
Christ the prophet, priest and king of regen
crate humanity. As those neighbors live OF
the best terms who keep their line fences il
good repair, so we keep up our denomina
ttona distinctions, seeking TO remember
however that Christianity is but Christianity
and looking for the time when Gods grea
spiritual temple shall stand as a building fit
ly framed, having the finish Of holiness
Doubtless the work done by these churches
has been poorly done. In this as in othe
New England communities VIC havo to labo
under the embarrassmenis Of constant
drainage of our church life through migration
and the introduction of a foreign element who
have no knowledge of and no sympathy will
the genius Of our institutions. What the flu
ture may be for these churches planted by
your fathers and nourishedb by their prayers
tears, gifts and activities can not tell. Fol
causes culpable and for causes natural ind
vidusl churches crave to have name to live
But Tie church, the mystical body of Jesus
Christ lives on from age to age, from century
to century. Darkness may have its hour Of
triumph but the light is eternal. These
churches you have received at the hands oil
your fathers, and which have known so many
sacred communlons, and 80 much of thu
| Masters presence have got the promise and