Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-04-04

..,..t,.r, probable that 50 much could be Sc
WIS.," The first years payments on the sub
'N., .,'s 5htaiued amounted TO Si3lN Of this
-I '"5 s1n s23 20 was paid In stoves for com
-.,.ns housekeeping ON High street in the fol.
W,ms May s. In wood, - In clock and in
ont of this vast amount $50 was paid for
N,a rent 4 donation visit was made, and
u,ia large attendance OF people about $50 In
..arything was contributed | hold In my hand
. w. III subscribers, only two Of whom do
g'.V 10 be- now living Those survivors are ia
. b Estey and Royal q. Wood Inc subscriptions
.....tint to stqi15 Three names appear on the
t ,,1y. u the book as representing those who
1rpni-ed to pay something when the collector
a T neyt wear afforded but little increase Of the
ANS for living The receipts on subscriptions
,,,,,rted to sAB 81 and the donation visit
Uuught in $3.50, only small portion OF which
T,a dinicuites to b. encountered were not by
,rI, means all Of financial character The
IIr,h had been formed In connection with 90
.,rren,-s which produced not a little disturbance
.l harmony iu the community aud its sudden
.Irmation vas far from being welcomed. Mani
f..tations OF hostility were not wanting from
Without its limited borders; and within Il lacked
Do .rioprneousness to a somewhat forbidding ex-
.-pt Under the pressure Of impetuousy i'm
falling circumstances they proceeded at once to
.r4tt a house Of worship on Elliot street. From
Hlp highly wrought excitement OF the period Of
.u.|rirucy there was an unavoidable reaction as
,l,fn an abnormal state VI things; and the first
formally recognized pastor was made to realize
..- adverse influence Of that reaction
M. maintenance Of singing Tor the various
..r,itrs involved perplexities such as can hardly
l.i understood now. II would be sadly amusing
%. ,sb4ars. some Of the choir experiences Of those
earl, davs An abortive endeavor, In connection
With an evangelist employed during several weeks
u the summer of iSi3, was source Of very great
..IItarrassment and Encouragement But there
we're lights As well as shadows The trst convert,
tuI the first baptism, In June and July Of 1888,
iI never be forgotten by the thus greatly cheered
pastor. At the close Of the first year after the
'riiuation. there was a net gain Of - members
The third year was less apparently fruitful; but,
...rhaps more really hopeful as preparatory 70
after state " things In the more auspiciously
.iruiug future. In the fourth year. sweeter cup
which was coming to be tasted, contained the bit
f.rnrss involved in the loss Of valued members.
During the fifth year, parsonage on Green
street was built with exertiOns OF no ordinary in
feu>ity The expense at first Incurred was about
S9u u which sum the first occupant paid 500 to
i-.tu with in the giving by him therefor, which
900 all amounted to some $40, besides more than
tau months Of hard work, Of all Sorts in the cree
n.u Of the building and in its preparation for oc
rlIAtion. That notably successful undertaking,
uarkrd a new era in the prosperity OF the church.
Thus accelrratiOu uf favorable turn in the affairs
uf the church was in 1871, when the church had
l.-.u formed seven years. and had passed through
SER, much of trying experience.
Iu 1875 unusual announcement was afforded by
tue increasing number Of young people coming
forward to identify themselves with the cungrr-
gallon, and To- share responsibilities and burdens
lH '>Ig there WEIR, conspicuous achievements IN
-0- additions by letter ~ DR.. james a. Farwell
iud wife and Dpa Asa Wheeler and family. to-
s-thrr with the accession by baptism uf Chester
A Brown in peculiarly interesting circumstances.
100 lNih there was precious ingathertng OF con
verified and baptized young people, the number Of
additions BY baptism being Il All along the way
there had bten uas,-s Of gladdening influence, and
developments Of cherished excellence and ef-
'-,.tI,rnt-ss which were invaluable Nam-s OF
RARE significance came to be emhalmed IN the
pastors heart Of hearts Among these were those
u samuel Skies, one Of the constituent members:
Ehenezer Bracket, a valued parshioner; Sarah
Gill and Frances 4. GIL Elizabeth Briggs. Amanda
liAdley, and others of whom time will not allow
mention to be made. Near the Close Of ISL, Or.
FarNell. then superintendent Of the Sunday
school. died suddenly to the great grief Of an APP
urrciatiye people with whom he was dey utetsly
aud uSrfully identified.
A marked event in 1852 was the improve.
m-nt Of the meeting house ON Elliot street
at an expense Of $3.50 after which progress was
more and more evident in the various bearings Of
church lite and work. This year brought into
urmbe rshp by letter, Erastus Z. White. iona
than Cutler and Dr. .. X. Post and wife IL was
a truly eventful year. Larger congregations than
had ever before been seeu at that place OF wur-
ship occupied the improved edifice in 1883. There
we're cases and circumstances Of hopeful interest
.u 1884.
In 1875 there was near the close Of the year, re-
ugious interest " a very marked character in its
phenomenal beginning and its memorable devel
1pmrnt An account Of il led Rev. DR.. Baron
STOW OF Boston To say that u reminded him uf an
expression that WAS commonly used in his early
days when revival was said to break out here
and there. A large number VI acgessiOns u the
church by baptism were made In November and
December. and a written expression Of regard for
the pastor, bearing more than 20 names. and dated
Jan. 10, 1880, accompanying valuable gift, com
menced as follows Whereas We have recently
learned more to love our pastor, and believe that
tod has blessed his labors In that We have bene-
ntted by them, while he has sought US, and con
versed and prayed with and FOR US directing US
tl the Saviour when we were burdened with a
sense Of sin. and rejoicing with us when peace.
came to us" Among those baptized in cUnnec
ton with that season Of religious interest was
Julius J EStey.
Hardly had the converts Of this remarkable
work Of grace. been gathered into the church, b--
fore the pastor, in April, 1886, had his attention
directed To another Held Of labor, and in July Of
that wear he closed pastorate of nearly fourteen
years continuance with church which was then,
has ever since been. and ever will he, greatly en-
drared to him. His relations with his own people.
among whom he 50 long dwelt, we're exceedingly
pleasant from the beginning To the end Though
hr was called to endure something Of hardship.
on account Of limited pecuniary resources, esprc-
tally in the early part Of his pastorate, yet he al
ways felt assured that his people were dealing
generously with him. and from year To year, ar
ter the first two three years. his wants were 81
we'll supplied that he could feel that his was IA
yur,.l lot even p..runiarily as well as otherw is
Several years before his departure from Bratte-
burO. his wife. in writing TO him while he as
away from home, and mentioning some new eN'
preston Of parOchial goodwill and devotedness
to the occupants ~ the parsonage, said: Il little
thought when married minister OF taring -
well"
Il was extremely hard to part with the people
who wrrt. so dear to him and to his A large mum
Der Of that loved and loving people were at the
railroad station when the family were leaving TN
place to hnd another paruchlal home, and thai
partiug scene vas the most enrrtlnR Of all the
S,rnes in the pastors life, save the one when ht
parted with the dying wife Of his youth. NeNri
has the church In BrattrbOru CEASED 20 hc any
drarer TO him who was identified with 1t from lS''
tt