The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1885-07-17

the family and the difficulty Of accommo-
dating them all in the carriages. 1t was to
me u great distance in those days-the two
or three miles between our house and the
church; and the church itself was to me a
wonderfully large building. Every time l
have entered it in more recent years | have
hardly been able to believe that the meet
ing-house has not been reduced in size. 1t
certainly used to seem about as spacious to
me in my childhood as the Cologne cathe-
dral does now. My recollection goes back
to the time when the old Westinghouse was
standing, with its tall steeple, its high pull
pit its gallery going around three sides of
the building and its square pews. My faith
er's pew was near the pulpit, on account of
my mothers deafness; and we had to make
an effort. if we for a long time held our
heads up high enough to pay fixed atten-
ton to the minister. For this reason, and
because'lwas really too young to.understand
much, if anything, that was said. perhaps |
, ought not to he very severely blamed be-
cause | sometimes occupied the time in put
ting pins into the little worm-holes of the
pillar which stood in our pew-one of those
that supported the gallery.
| The work of reconstruction was of course II
great event in my eyes, and much admired
| the new building. Yet | have never quite
got over my disappointment that it did not
| have side-galeries like the old one What
| would the Middlebury church he on great
occasions without the galleries. Half the
inspiration contributed by the audience
would be gone if the preacher or com
mencement orator did not feel himself
looked down upon, rs well rs looked up TO-,
| by crowd of listeners. 1t was a disap
| pontment to me also that the new steeple
was not so high as the old one; and could
never quite like the "bobbing off " of the
steepe which was the fashion about that
time The rebuilding of the church was ac-
| nt,licha6 | hplIpNp without anv aariOue
accident. One man, however, fell from the
steepe to the roof and expected to proceed
| from there to the gJound, but his progress
was fortunately arrested, and he had struck
the roof in such a way as not seriously to
| hurt him. But | heard wonderful stories
of the rapidity with which his thoughts du-
ring the few seconds while he was falling
ran over all the history of his life. Anoth.
er excitement following soon after the COM
pletion of the new church, was the fire
which broke out in the basement just before
| the services commenced one Sunday morn
ing Perry Bingham and Calvin Tilden
were appointed to direct the work of ex-
tinction, and the work was accomplished
without much troHble, | think. but the SER
vices had to be adjourned to the vestry.
OTHER LETTERS.
Brief letters of regret for inability to
be present, received from the following
gentlemen. were next read by Secretary
Bond: Rev. Truman NJ. Post. d. d.,
st. Louis. Mo-. Rev. II. ID. kitchel. ID i.
d.. East liverpool. Ohio, and Rev. Joel
S. Bingham. Other letters were received.
but owing to lack of time, were not
read.
REV. JEDEDIAH BUSIINELL's PASTORATE.
Rev. Hiram Bingham of Windham.
Ohio, next INDUCED in some pleasant
otl-hand "reminiscences of Rev. Jcdcdiah
Bushnell. who was pastor of the church
for thirty-three years and who wss great
ly respected and beloved by all who
knew him.
REV. DIR. BLAKE'S ADDRESS.
Rev. :. l.. Blake. d. D., of Fitchburg
Mass, followed with an elaborate adj
dress on "The Value of Christian lnsti-
tutiOns Illustrated by the Cornwall
Church" Mr.. Blake's main idea was
that it pays from the material. worldly
point of view to have churches and re-
ligious institutions in the community.
OTHER ADDRESSES.
Brief speeches were then called for by
the president from the following gentle
men. all of whom responded: Rev. Gin
ton Douglas. Tanckton, Dakota, who is
a grandson of one of the original organ
iZcrs of the society Rev. c. G. Mclntire,
, Pittsford; Rev. DR.. Hamlin of Middle
bury, Rev. f. W. Olmsted of Bridport
Rev. Mr.. Heath of Salisbury. Rev. A. A
Robertson of Vergcnnes, and Rev. j. c.
Houghton and Rev. 5. l.. b. Speare OF
, Middebury. This closed the speaking
and after singing the doXology. in which
, the audience joined, the audience inform
ally adjourned for a hundred years.
: NOTES.
1t is intended to print a history of the
days proceedings in book form at 81 pei
copy. Many copies were subscribed fol
, as soon as the project was suggested.
There was in the church copy of the
revised bible. printed in four volumes
, and most elegantly 1t is Il recen
present to the church from Prof. Charles
n. Mead and was greatly admired
1 Rev. Hiram Bingham. who spoke O.
the life and services of Rev. Jededial
f Bushnell, married a daughter of Mr.
Bushnell and hence was thoroughly ac
quainted with his subject.
1t will be many year before Cornwall
4 will see such day again.
: There were at each persons plate lat tn
: first table, clothespin napkin holder
;. painted and marked "l7Sj-lSS5." with
: japanese napkin and handsome button
I hole bouquet. Diners at the following
i tables did not secure these souvenirs, al
: though there were plenty to 90 around
y on account of hurry and want of time.
= Personal.
The health of Hon. f. A. DOud of NoN