St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-05-03

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thirty-nine who enjoyed that first sac
rament only thirteen have a present
connection with the congregation. Of
try. Six have died and we trust are at
the communion service in heaven. The
rest have moved away.
In the Avenue house hall the meet
ings were held continuously until the
next September when the young
preacher was required to return to the
theological seminary and complete the
fourth year of the course. From this
time until the next April there was
preaching for only some two or three
months. The Rev. j. j. McClurken
ministered to the congregation during
those months with acceptance and pro-
fit. Soon after the return of the regu-
lar laborer in the spring of 1880 about
April LIST, sixteen more connected
themselves with the congregation and
the election of a pastor was appointed
tn be held on Wednesday evening,
May 9Th at Z o'clock p. m. The cleo
ton resulted in the unanimous choice
of their future pastor. He accepted
the call and was by a commission of
the New York Presbytery ordained and
lISbtilICu HI bllS OOhSiOSotiO Oh OuhO
18th, 1890. This ordination was fol-
lowed by a second communion service
at which five more were received into
membership.
The work was now well under way
and with a settled pastor the cause
gave everysevidence of prosperity. The
hall in which the services were held
was tolerably comfortable and con
| uaYiat1f avoonf for tho vary lnuO Gt1Ir-
way by which it was reached but the
need of a church home was soon ap-
parent and plans were from time to
time discussed as to the move to be
made to secure one. At last in the
spring of 1882, three years after the
organization of the congregation this
lot was purchased here on Eastern
avenue and the contract was given for
the building. In the following March
1888 the building was SO far completed
that the congregation could occupy the
basement and they entered their new
home with joy. Here, since that time,
the congregation has worshipped, en-
jOying in many ways the tokens of di-
vine favor not the least of these being
the very evident sympathy and respect
of the other Christians of the town,
who seemed to realize with this con-
gregation that there was work here for
a Presbyterian church to do, and with
all apparent readiness gave the new
congregation a place in the sisterhoOd
of churches.
Subsequent to this entrance into
their new home there was but one
great disadvantage in the prosecution
of the work. This was the existence
of a heavy church debt. Some five
dollars per week was required to pay
the interest. But the interest was
paid and a little of the debt itself and
in some way the services were also
sustained. Finally, that nothing might
be lacking, the Lord sent in this re-
spect the needed relief. Some five
months ago one of the members pro-
posed that the debt be at once raised
and offered to pay one-third of the
debt himself on condition that the 9TH
er two-thirds could be provided for.
With some three months labor and the
Divine blessing upon the effort, this
was finally accomplished and the great
undertaking vas completed. Thus it
is that now this congregation and their
friends and brethren of other churches
can meet together here tonight to re-
Wv WIN l" ohio
of Gods gracious guidance.
In closing this historical sketch it is
only necessary to add a few facts as to
the total growth and present condition
of the congregation. During the nine
years of it's existence the congregation
has received into membership altOgeth
er one hundred and thirty-One, eleven
of these have died. One, as before
mentioned, has entered the ministry.
Forty-one nave moved away and are
connected with or are attending other
churches. Thirteen have moved away
and no information has been received
as to their relation to other congrega-
tiOns. Two are here in town, and
have at present, so far as we know, no
connection with any of the churches ;
while three formerly members here are
now connected with some of the other
congregations of the village. This
leaves the congregation with a present
membership of sixty communicates all
of them with only one or two excep
tons residing here within its bounds.
The number under pastoral care of the
church reaches by actual oun about
II hundred and fifty.
With provision made for the pay
ment of the debt and the interest on
the same from March 1st, the congre-
CATION has been brought, we trust, to
the beginning of the most prosperous
period of its history. In setting for
ward 10 realize a grand future this au-
dience will all wish them GOdspeed.
For their encouragement we can as
sure them that in going forward they
will have our earnest sympathy /; yes, |
more than that, a continued interest in
prayers.
If in view of the near dissolution of
the pastoral relation this people are
led to think that for once Gods prOvi-
dences are severe, let them strive from
this review of the past to acquire a
faith which will enable them to trust
that even in this Gods goodness and
grace will be eventually understood.
And when in the distant future we
meet together to take from heaven
another retrospect we shall see again
that all things were made to work to-
for our good, as we stand in
grand thanksgiving service in all
will then be past we shall discover
as here tonight not one mysterious or
even doubtful providence which will
not plainly indicate and even demon
strate His love.
Sherman Ahead.