The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-18
MERRITT F. RUDD has been granted a


pension Original. --
WHAT know about rangesl"e See
Harry Willoughby's notice elsewhere.
q ON account of the severe storm Friday
evening, Dec. 9Th, the organization of
the Young Women's Christian Temper.
ance Union, was postponed until the fol-
lowing evening, when the parloTs of the
Second Congregational church was well
filled with young ladies. One who was
there contributes the following: "The
exercises were conducted by the County
President, Miss Anna G. Park. She
spoke of the advantages and necessity of
such society in our town, and her words
were so convincing, a Union of thirty
two members was formed by the adop-
ton of the constitution and the election
of the following officers: Miss Carrie
Hart, president; Miss Flora Durham,
first vice president; Mrs. Jennie Phillips,
second vice president; Mrs. George
Burch, corresponding secretary; Miss
Susie Rogers, recording secretary; Mrs.
w. &. Bull. treasurer. A marked degree
of interest was manifested in the cause
of temperance by these young women,
which augurs well for their own good
and the welfare of our beautiful town.
After the election, ice cream and cake
were served to all present and the re-
mainder of the evening passed in social
enjoyment. Several others have signi-
fled their intention of becoming mem
bers of this society. Gentlemen can be-
come honorary members by signing the
constitution and paying the annual fee of
fifty cents. We bespeak for this new
organization the encouragement and in
huence of the fathers, mothers and all
who are interested in the prosperity and
good name of our old historic town, that
its streets be no longer dIsgraced by reel
ing drunkards, that our nights be no
longer disturbed by their revelings, that
our prOhibitOry laws be no longer a dead
letter. But with peace and order restored
by right enforcement of the law power
fully and constantly supported by public
sentiment, our young men and young
women shall grow up in all the graces of
manhood and womanhoOd, credit to
their families and an honor to our
town." ....' Do
On the fiftieth anniversary of the adj
mission of st. Marks church, HOosick
Falls, N. Y, into the convention, the
Rev. Geo. H. Nichols, S. T. D., Rector
Emeritus, delivered an historical dis
course which has been printed. Through
the courtesy of DR.. Nichols the BANNER
and several other Bennington friends are
in receipt of the handsome and interest
ing brochure. Much of the early history
quoted by the author would be of geD-
eral interest, as goOdly portion of his
church annals are of special mention to
st. Peters of Bennington. Referring to
the former, DIR. Nichols says: The first
factory for the weaving of cotton cloth,
with power-looms, in the United States,
it is said, was built and operated within
this township of HoOsick, at Walloom-
sac" 1t appears from DIR. Nicholls's
church history that in 1894 a subscrip-
ton was started, June 10Th of that year,
to raise money for the support of divine
services to be held one. half of the time
at Hoosick Falls and one-half at Ben
nington. The Rev. Nathaniel o. Pres
ton was the first pastor under that ar
rangement Mr.. Preston was in Deacon's
orders. His first service in Benning
ton was held July LIST, 1884. He was or
dained to the Priesthood by Bishop
Hopkins, May 9th, 1885, and continued
as Rector of st. Peters church, Benning-
ton, until October, 1874. Soon after the
beginning of Mr.. Preston's labOrs at
Bennington, he organized st. Marks
church in Hoosick Falls, N Y, and re-
sided there for four years. During that
time his services were equally divided
between st. Marks and St. Peters. "The
latter church was built amid many diff
culties and was cOnsecrated July 22d,
1892 In 1889 Mr.. Preston removed to
Bennington and until 1914 devoted his
whole time to st. Peters church, until
from there he removed to Topeka,
Kansas. From the pamphlet before us
we learn that st. Peters church has CON
tinued until now, a history we should
like to quote. The sketch of st. Marks,
interviewer as it is with us here, is quite
interesting but too long for our space to-
day. The brochure is elegantly printed,
illustrated by portraits of tho author,
DR.. Moses and Attorney Munsell 1.-TWO
early supporters of st. Mark's), and the
Appendix contains much of note con-
corning the memorials recently pre-
sented, and the labors of the present
rector, the Rev. Geo. d. Silliman.