St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1885-01-29
Tenth Anniversary Sermon.
Delivered at the North Church, ST. Johns
bury. Sunday Jan. as. by Rev. Henry
W. Jones, Pastor. -.-..--.. -

Ten years ago last Sunday, count
ing by SAbbaths, / preached in this
North church pulpit for the first time,
it was the third Sabbath, the 18th
day of January, 1875. 1t had not then
transpired that in the providence of
God my talented brother Southgate's
labors here had closed. From that
day my service has been continuous,
and such was the nature of the work,
to which found myself all unwilling
ly called by Gods providence that
there was practically the beginning OF
a passionate which has thus lasted a
decade. A review of this period, hasty
tho it must be, am sure will not be
without interest and profit to us all.
Indeed to many much of it will be
new.
1t has been an important era IN the
history of this church, characterized
by certain notable providences that
stand as glowing kindnesses OF the
Lord" and by steady growth that
no less demands mention among ''all
that the Lord hath bestowed upon us
/. Foremost of all was the great
acknowledgements in time and in im-
pOrtance. Its springs were back even
in the year 1874, in n desire for it that
deepened into earnestness and came
to the surface in private prayer cir
cles A canvass of the state was in
progress by committee of the state
Y. NJ. G.. Association. In preparation
for their expected visit here, union
meetings were held every evening,
with the different churches, the first
one Monday evening, Jan. 18th, in the
vestry of the Methodist church. They
came Saturday, Feb. 9th, brethren
Davis and Cook of the state com
mittee, aud with them brethren Moore
aud Remington from Massachusetts,
and held their first meeting that even
ing in the Town hall. On Sunday a
meeting was held in the same place at
three o'clock and in the South church
at half past six, at the close of which
forty two persons rose for prayers.
Monday evening a meeting for inquir-
ers was held in the North church YES
try at quarter before seven and q
general meeting in the audience room
above at half past seven, as which fif-
ty-seven rose for prayers. Meetings
were held on Tuesday also at the North
church at three o'clock, for inquirers
AT seven o'clock, a general meeting at
half past seven, many then rising tol
prayers, with full after meeting, as
had been the case on the evening be-
fore. By this time large number had
begun the Christian life.
The next week, Feb. 18th, brother
Russell Sturgis, Jr., from Massachu-
sets, visited us. Meetings were held,
in the North church, Monday and
Tuesday evenings, and in the vestry
in the afternoons, these especially fOl
Christians. This visit was marked 10y
several conversions. Two weeks la
ter, brethren Moore, Remington, Wins
low and Bridgman come. The neXt
day, Sunday, there We're full meetings
at Avenue hall at half past one, and al
the South church at three and hal
past six. On Monday, meetings were
held at the South church, afternoon
and evening. At the latter a thousand
were prese mt. Tuesday forenoon 3
| large meeting was held in the machine
shop at the Scale Factory, and one il
! the afternoon at the South church
At the latter place between eleven and
twelve hundred gathered in the even
ing, and at a second meeting, in the
vestry, seventy-fve gave themselves
to Christ. 1t was at this time | think
that one hundred and forty testified
by rising that they had found Christ
within the three weeks past. Foul
weeks later, during which the good
work moved quietly on, March 9th
brethren Moore, Remington, WinslOw
and Littlefeld came. The next day,
hall, at the same hour with the morn
ing services in the churches. In the
afternoon at three o'clock at the North
church all the Sunday schools of all
the evangelical churches were gath
| cred, filling it full. a meeting was
held at the South church in the even
ing, measured in numbers only by the
capacity of the building. By invita-
ton these brethren held meeting the
next morning at half past ten, in the
Universalist church, a crowded and
solemn meeting at which several rose
for prayers. At seven O'Clock that
evening 400 people gathered in Acad
envy hall and its passage ways, and
three hundred more in No. 10. The
meeting was one of surprising solem-
nifty and power. More than a hundred
rose for prayers.
During this period of which | have
spoken converts meetings were held 4;
private praying circles met; the sew
eral church prayermeetngs steadily
increased in numbers and interest, our
own had risen from perhaps forty to
$50 or more; religion more and more
became the topic of conversation in
all places of business, on the street
and at social gatherings: and Deigh-
boring tOwns-towns far away, as
well, were experiencing like blessings,
largely through the labors of those
who visited them from this place.
April LIST, il daily noon prayer-meet-