Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-04-04
A HALF CBNTURY'S WORK.
CELEBRATION OF THE FIFTIbph
ANNIVERsARY

"a dAUI OuN bAe4 ~ W
CONSERVATION OF THE FIFTIBTH
, ANNIvERsARY
or the First baptist Church 81 Brnile-
here.
The services which celebrated the 1Vth
anniversary Of the forming Of the First
BAPTIST church Of Brattleboro began on sun
day morning last, when the pastor Rev. r.
j. Parry, preached IA Retrospective sermon
reviewing the 30 years OF church NE,
speaking Of the enduring and fruitful char
acter of the work done, the faithfulness oil
the different pastors who have filled It's
pulpit. and the earnest aid Of the people
which had from the beginning formed 80
large a factor in the spiritual growth and
prosperity of the church, and Of the divine
favor which has crowned all On Tuesday
evening the anniversary exercises proper
began, the church being well filled with an
interested and attentive audience. The
singing Of the Doxology appropriately
opened the service, following which tine
PRAYER of invocation was offered by Rev
Thomas Gull of Greenwich, n. Y. Rev. G.
A Reese Of Rutland reading the Scripture
lesson, which was followed by prayer by
Rev w s. Smithers of the Methodist
church and after this the "Magnificat' was
rendered by the quartet choir, assisted 10y
the chorus.
In introducing the first speaker for the
evening. Rev c. o. Day, Rev. Mr.. Parry
] L .. nf ~
sympathy and help which the church had
received from other denominations, from
the time when the earliest beginning was
made in the church building Of the Metho-
dist people, then located on Canal street,
down 70 the past summer, when 1t was
placed under such special obligations to the
Congregational church 10y their generous
kindness during the trying period Of re
pairing aud remodeng.
Mr. Day, IN his happest way, expressed
his sincere feeling of neghborly interest
aud delight at this family gathering he
referred 10 the recent service ct rededlca
ton, but thought that the iOy and satIsfac-
tlOn Of this occasion far exceeded that toy
so much as the spiritual building transcends
in Importance the mere structure Of brick
and stone. He spoke OF the struggle which
attended the early wears of the church,
saying that the seemingly harsh reception
given it was not expressive Of Rntagonism,
but was a testing Of the new conner, ~ try
its worth. Three thoughts were left with
the hearers as he closed-First. that this
growth, so steady and marked is not Of
man, but Of God but that it is a grand
thing that men may be workers with God
second, that it is grand thing TO be work
ers one with another third, that progress
in Christian life and power will be just in
4 proportion as these two thoughts are i'm
| pressed and acted upon
Reference was made TO the churches
/ which have been formed as off shoots from
this church That at North Hinsdale re
| celved its first impulse from a handful Of
members Of this body, but was not represent
ed Tuesday evening Rev Mr.. Smith Of the
/ West brattleborO church spoke of the filial
[ feeling Of that body for the mother church,
/ and considered it great thing for q church
to be able 10 feel that it has been instru-
mental III forming another such organizs
ton. He brought from his people expires
sion of most friendly good will and wishes
| for further prosperity Of the mother church
Rev II. N. Douglass Of Putney, pastor
OF the youngest daughter Of the old church
drew happy comparison between the gold
en- anniversary IN home and the present
I
on the part Of this older institution there
had been no niggardliness in the sharing Of
either temporal or spiritual good things
with the offspring. The mother was con
graduated on bearing her wears so we'll
with the wish that she might grow better,
stronger and more spiritual a. the wears
passed
OF the six ex -pastors of this church now
hving, but three were able TO be present
Rev. DR. q b. Gov OF Glens Falls, \. Y.
was unable t. come because of illness in his
family, Rev Dr. II II Peabody of Rome.
y. Y, was detained by imperative public
calls elsewhere and Rev A Sherwin Of
Manchester, n. H., was too feeble 10 leave
home
II was d matter of much qualification that
Rev. DR. Joseph Freeman, now of Shafts.
bury, the first pastor Of the church, was
able TO be present, and he was introduced
by Mr.. Parry a man after the type Of
Joshua, one who AT the age of ~ wears
still breaches from one 70 three times each
Sunday, and walks five miles or more over
these Vermont hills to visit his parishion
ers. DIR. Freeman IN his first words
pleasantly corrected Mr. Parrys statement.
claiming the honor of but little over g.
Years as his age and he proved himself to
have the mental and phys vigor and &C
tlvity belonging 70 much fewer wears He
went back to the earliest DAYS Of the church.
and found that not all were hostile To il
when It appeared as an infant but recalled
many IN the other denominations who IN
IN help and sympathy aud announcement
were most hrotherly He compared the
baptlsts with the Canada thistle in this re
gard-wherever either one strikes it sticks
and for this reason 1t was that under unfa
Vorlng circumstances the church which was
organized stayed and grew. The provi
dence Of God and his favor were dweIt m
on, and the fact forcibly impressed that 70
this, and not 10 the feeble work of any pas.
tor or pastors, Is due the great prosperity
which has blessed the church
Rev DR.. Foster. editor Of the Watch
man, Boston, who was pastor from 1912 To
1870, was next introduced, aud gave care
tnl summary OF the growth and progress of
The church during his charge Of it. giving
picture OF the early DAYS which in most
respects, formed a marked contrast with
the present state of things
Rev +. L. Tower of Bristol, Conn who
Immediately preceded Mr.. Parry in the pas
torate, extended heartfelt Congratulations
to the church for the place it had attained
saying that It was "a great thing for an or
ganlzAtlon 10 reach a point from which II /
can look back. No nation can be strong
winch Is without history, for the history 4
OF the past is the foundation upon which 4
future greatness must rest and in lie /
manner the past history of this church in
It's struggles and attachments shall be the /
broad base upon which shall rise new work
and achievements. The need for bigb |
Ideals and lofty motives the importance If /
relglon 10 secular interests and the gosnel
as the one question of the day. according 4
70 the great Gladstone were strongly am
PhAslzed. In closing the church was affsc
tonately urged 10 press on in the sana ola |
way which she had pursued these 80 wears
ne" ideas aud new inventions are constant.
~ coming 70 light, but the Old wav the |
way which was good enough for David for |
ISAIAH, for Paul and John, for Christ him
sell, Is good enough for this church Is gcod /
enough for all e''1
The address of Rev DR.. L J HAYNES NJ |
fremont Temple, Boston. which followed |
was an inspiration, so full il was Of aar-
nest practical, helpful suggestions If mr.
gent eAhortauon TO the best and most usa.
iui lvlng, OF appreciation Of the wonderful
lAhd IN which We live and of the imDor
lance OF home. He would not have H. I
hearers always looking on to the hereafter
out hVe more in the here, make more Of il
ENJOY II more, make all homes cantras .
from which shall 90 out influences for r;,,bt /
Snu purity The wonderful epoch which the
'V years OF the church's life cover was DIV
en- orlei glance, with the marvellous ra
SUITS ana changes visible in Japan in Ind;s 4
III austria and Germany, in great England /
III france, m our southern continent snd /
our own land, and hopeful and cheering