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

TIE HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
After the preliminary scripture reading.
the address of welcome was delivered by
II. u. Dwight Matthews. who extended a
hearty and graceful welcome to the visit
OrS and the guests of the occasion. Mu-
sic followed and then came the historical
address. which was delivered by the pas
tor. Rev. Mr.. Stebbins. who had at Il late
day consented to do this part of the work
which been designed for another. The
address was long, but the matter was OK
tremelv interesting and the delivery was
distinct and forcible. Space does not
permit us to print the whole address, but
we give some extracts below
one hundred years ago today under divine
direction, and with the divine blessing, as we
fully believe, this first Congregational church of
Cornwall was organized.
ON that day, Jared Abcrncthy, stephen Tam.
bling, James Marsh Douglas, Jeremiah bingham,
Roswell Post, Daniel SAMSON Mary Chapman
Elizabeth Ives, sin noble stawart Christian men
and two sterling Christian women, socmnlv
coveuantCd together To- form and maintain true
church of Christ, whose steady and Frightening
light should shed "A hallowng lusrc upon this
beautiful portion of the Champan valley. This
whole region was then Il wilderness. lis scat
tered dwellings were rude log cabins The
wealth OF the scant" population was to be reckon.
ed not in gold and silver banks ana railroad
stocks not in household goods or changes of raj
mcnt, but IN the untitled and unsubdued acres OF
their farms. As the means of lettering their con
dition they did not count upon any rare chance
of speculation. The days when choice Merinos
touched up with the Cornwall finish" wnuld
command three or four thousand dollars "A head
were then in the Instant future. They were con.
tent to work hard, live rugally. deal honestly
obey the laws OF Heaven and OF the state keen
the sabbath, worship God and train the children
TO reverence His statutes. The more nlIIv we
bring to view the situation of the fathers and
mothers OF TINS church at tue time when they
were laying me foundations which Il hundred
years have left unweakcned, the more profound
VIII be our admiration OF them and our gratitude
to them.
Although the charter OF this township was is
sued to Elias Reed and his associates i'm 1861
the settlement was not commenced until l77i
when Asa Blodgct, Eldad Andrlls, Aaron scott
Nathan Foot, William Douglas, James Bently,
James Bently Jrn Ebcneler Stebbins, Thomas
Bentley, samuel Bodgct ana Joseph Trouk came
upon the ground
After dwelling for some time upon the
history of Cornwall during the Revolu-
tiOnary period. Mr.. StebbinS continued !.
Rev. Mr.. Matthews has well said in his history.
"Ihe institution of united public WorshIp ON Tho
sabbath 10y the first settlers Of Cornwall was
coeval with their arrival in town Like the Phi.
grim Fathers, they gave IA prominence to their
purpose OF securing religious privileges for them
selves and their descendants, which could not be
unnouced or mislnterpreted While they avoid.
ed oslentatlon, they as clearly manifested their
sense OF obligation IN religious as in secular
things. Hence while the township was mostiv
an unbrOken forest with no paths hut thosn
marked with 'blazed trees, 'and passablr only on
foot, they designated the dwelling of kldad An.
drus IL the north OF Joel Lnsley in the central
and OF Jeremiah bingham IN the west mart ~ tho
town where they were accustomed to assemble
by turns on the sabbath, enjoying the services of
preacher When one could be obtained but more
frequently listening to a selected sermon re- nd
by one of their number, IN connection with devo.
nonal exercises conducted by themselves In
the south part OF the town the house of Elisha
Field, SEN, was also an appointed place for sab
bath worship, and was often resorted 10 for mi.
purpose though its remoteness from the center
rendered II less easy OF access by the larger nor
ton of the inhabitants"
such selEdenyng fidelity to their religious con
VictOns and obligations could not fail 10 meet m,
approval OF Heaven, and call down the covenant
blessings forever pledged TO reverent obedience
1t Is not strangethen, that among the earliest an
hais Oh cornwall history, we find the story of Il
spiritual refreshing descending from the Opened
windows of heaven. Nor, indeed is If sin~ula,
that Its beginning should be rs simple as were
the forms OF worship. and that the tiGin0s nt il.
coming should first be whispered bv the angel.
to the hearts of the pious patriarch who seem,
never to have been disobedlent to the Master,
command, "Watch and pray"
1t was in March or April of l7Sj three Or fom
months before tn organization of this church
ana before the employment Of stated preaching
II was ON saturday afternoon that "A man from
The central part OF the town went over to Deacon
Blnghams to grind his axe. The deacon Will,
assisting MN, houced an unusual soemnity il
ms appearance, and inqulring the cause Learned
that he was anxious about his spiritual condition
The man requested Deacon Bingham to pray tol
llHl' Alt'l MS lIltHu natl gone home, Deacon
bingham retired to the woods IN the rear of hi
house. and there frequently prayed for the bur
dened soul In this solitude of natures closet h,
was endued with such measure OF faith ms con
Vlnced him that his petitions were indlted bv /
power from above. lie returned to his cabil
with iul assurance that God was about TO non
down rich spiritual blessings upon this settle
ment IN the wilderness. He said To his wife
TOMORROW Will he a wonderful day in Cornwall
IL we live to see it, we shall see such displays o
divine grace rs we have never witnessed
"Why :" she asked. For answer he told her o
his season of prayer.
That night II showed, covering the ground I,
the depth OF several inches. When thcyaWokc /
was sui showing and Mrs. b. said, "You will b,
disappointed today" but he confidently answer
ed,"No." The snow soon ceased; the sky becam,
clear early IN the day, and the scattered paopl,
began to assemble at his house. the place o
meeting for that day. Women cane on foot sew
eral miles, IN spite of the difficult travelling A.
they assem- led II was apparent that an unusua
sense of the divine presence rested upon ever,
soul. The children OF God were endued with m
unwonted faith and the impentent were exer
cised with deep anxiety for their salvation
prompting the inquiry as on the day OF Pente