Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-02-24
2EDEDIoATIoN OF THE CONGREGATION
AL CHURCH IN CORNWALL.

RepEpoArloN OF THE CONGREGATION
Al CHURCH IN CORNWALL.
The church had been closed for repairs
ince the first of October. AT that time
Eomething over $1,000 had been subscribed
o provide for contemplated improve
nents. But these had been only in part de-
ermined and so the work was entrusted to
he committee with discretionary power.
The committee were Curtis III. James,
Harrison E. Sanford and Henry T. Peck.
AS the work progressed new needs be-
came apparent, so that much more was
done than was planned in the beginning.
(The committee made their final report to
the society on Friday afternoon, Feb. 10.
The work done, briefly stated, is as fol-
lows: The exterior of the house had re-
ceived three coats of paint. The changes
in form consisted in an enlargement of
the vestibule and room above by taking
In the receding portico in front and car
rying in the partition that divided the
Eestibule and the audience room five feet.
In the vestibule, closets were built and
from it a passage and stairway to the
basement were made. Over the vesti-
bule a chapel and ante-room were con-
structed. The chimneys at the rear were
taken down and new one built by the
partition above mentioned. A new cell
ing was put in. The singers platform
|was transferred from the rear of the au-
dience to the right of the pulpit. The
pulpit platform was lowered and en-
tlarged and new cases for the Sunday
school library were built into the parti-
tion behind the pews. A new floor was
laid in the aisles and the pew doors were
taken away.
The walls and ceiling were frescoed
and the whole interior painted by Mr..
George w. Bennett of Manchester. This
work was admirably done. A new fur
mace was put in by Mr.. Calhoun of Mid
|dlebury. This, with an ingenious device
|of Mr.. Calhoun's to check draft, prevent |
over-heating of chimneys and at the same
time to warm the vestibule, furnishes |
heat ample for all the rooms. The la
dies raised $1S4, with which they purch-
ased damask to cover all the cushions for
the pews, corrugated paper to cover all
the floor and the needed additional car
pet, and, with the aid of volunteers, reno
waited the cushions, made over and relaid
the carpets. New chairs for the chapel
and for the singers platform were purch-
ased, also new pulpit suit and commun-
ion table. For the latter and for the
hanging lamps and chandelier to light
the chapel and audience rooms, funds to
the amLunt of S1O4 were secured by the
pastor. The report of the committee
showed that there had been an expendi-
ture of about 5000, of which about S720
remained unprovided for. The report
was heartily and unanimously approved.
The pastor proposed that the 500 to be
raised be divided into IA shares of S.
each, and that these be offered to purch-
asers who should have the privilege of
paying in four equal quarterly INSTALL
ments. The proposal was adopted and
within few minutes 50 shares were ia
ken. A committee of two was then cho-
sen to give chance for investment to
those not present. The committee found
ready purchasers for the balance.
The services of rededication occurred
on Sunday, the 18th. The day was fine
and large audience gathered. In con-
nection with the notices the pastor made
the welcome announcement that the
whole expense of repairing, etc., had
been provided for, with little surplus in
the treasury, and asked the congregation
to rise and sing the doxology. 1t was
done with the spirit and with the under
standing, also" The sermon was based
upon Ezra vi, l6.
The preaching servi,e in the evening
called together another large and atten-
tive audience. The day was memorable
one, most heartily enjoyed by the people,
who had worked unsparingly, and given
most generously, to accomplish an excel
lent work. MICS.