Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-02-18

breast high, having u uOOI oh eieHNA ~s~1
and these were closed wheD the Preaenet
entered his watch tower.
1t possessed movable platform, ABOUT
inches in heigh for the purpose OF eleVat-
ing preachers who like lacheus were
short of stature. Above the pulpit was
unique sounding board feet In diameter,
fiat underneath and conical above, sus-
pended by an iron rod from the ROOF. lhls
sounding board was supposed to possess
certain marvellous acoustic properties ana
was connected with every pulpit IN tnose
DAYS Pastor Williston, whose voice was
somew hat feeble, requested that the SOUND
ing board be lowered; thinking doubtless,
that this would result in his being better
heard. This most important matter was
acted upon by the town and II was voted
to grant the PASTORS request. says an olu
resident, who attended religious services
in this house when boy: 81 remember
frequently exercising my Imagination up
on the possible result should the sound
ing board fall while the preacher occu-
pied the pulpit In front OF the pulpit
and fastened to 1t by hinges was an az
Unstable communion table, oval round,
feet by feet, which could be lowered or
raised as occasion required.
In front OF pulpit was, likewise, the dea-
cons seat where h deacons were won't
to sit facing the congregation. There was
gallery on the two ends ana east size
With two rows Of seats in front and row
of is box pews around the wall. The choir
occupied the gallery facing the pulpit.
There was no provision for warming the
house i'm cold weather. Footstoyes, how
ever, were carried by the worshipers Tor
their comfort. A resident OF the town re-
members having seen large boy sitting
shivering with cold, one intensely cold
Sunday, the tears streaming down ms
face. A well ventilated and comfortable
a fC a iFannFfqnf auxiliary
in preaching the gospel effectively.
The meeting house had seating capac-
itv of about 1000 II was used for secular
as well as sacred purposes, all town meet
ings being held there. Different denomi-
nations held services in il from time 10
time 1t was allowed to fall into state OF
disrepair and was finally taken down in
1851 The timbers were then as sound as
when fresh from the hands of the hew
ers; they were taken to South Royalton
and were used in the construction of the
existing M. +. church and village school
house. 1t was current saying some years
age that everybody in town had a souve-
mir OF the original meeting house In the
form OF pail or tub or other uteDsil made
out OF the pine boards OF the old church.
THE Presbyterian and Congl society
was organized in 1907 for the purpose OF
building meeting house for social and
public worship II necessary" In 1893 an
unsuccessful effort was made to raise funds
for the building Of a meeting house in
this village. Oct. 20, 1895, an association
for the building of a Congl meeting
house in Tunbridge was formed. The as
ISOLATION voted that it shall be lawful to
raise money at any meeting legally warn
ed for that purpose, to fence the ground,
make repairs on said house and when
found necessary, said money TO be raised
bv a tax upon the property in said house.
appointed. A subscription paper for a
new meeting house to be built in the viii
iage was drawn up aud headed by Ahijah
Curtis and ID. Fl. Williston, seventy five
dollars each. There were three subscrip-
tion papers really. The first was for the
Congl church edifice which had by far
the largest number OF signers. The second
was for a union house in which the Bap-
fists and Congregationalists might hold
their services. The third was signed by a
very few who wanted the house to be used
bv all denominations. Nov. IT, 1895, VIM.
Putnam and Harley Farnham were APP
pointed a committee to select and pur-
chase building site. The land on which
the church was built was decided to the So
ciety by Mr.. Amos Hutchinson for the
sum of $50. 1t contained 90 square rods
and forms the site of the existing church.
VIM. Putnam, Harley Farm ham and GUS
tavus Rolfe clerk of the church building
society for many years. were appointed
trustees to receive the deed of site and hold
in trust for subscribers. The edifice built
upon this site resembled the meeting
house in Stafford upper hollow. This
church had two entrance doors and two
aisles. The pulpit was at the east end,
reached by two steep flights of stairs with
a gallery back of the pulpit which was oc-
cupied by the choir. There were IS pews,
one of " hich was reserved for the use of
r 10 and HE 70 Tfc
pacity with the gallery, was not far from
400. The house cost q 500 which was
raised by sales of pews. Ii was begun in
1886 and dedicated June IA, 1887; ten mos
afterward this beautiful house was de-
stroyed by fire The Building Association
has on its records the following: "April
20, 1898, about 2 O'Clock in the morning
the meeting house of the association was
discovered to be completely destroyed.
Cause of fire unknown. The loss OF their
new and commodious house of worship
was a severe blow to the little band but
they courageously went forward with the
erection of another house more beautiful
than the one destroyed. Mr.. John Cilley
of New York offered TO give a suitable
bell to the Westinghouse if they would
rebuild. His offer was accepted and
vote of thanks given him. The bell con-
tinues to call the people to the sanctuary.
June 30. 1888 a building committee was
appointed. Inc lnlTu mouse was SuDStan-
tally the same as the second with the ad-
dition of belfry. In this church the puI-
pit which was in the form Of Greek cross.
was at the east end as in the former build
ing, with gallery behind il. 1t cost =, 475.
The pews were sold for 81 ,29s, the balance
being made up by donations. This house
was dedicated July %, 1899. In 1865 ex-
tensive alterations were made upon the in
terror of the church. The. original choir
gallery was lowered, the pulpit changed
to the west end and the pews reversed.
There were two entrances and two aisles
reaching to the pulpit, with a row of pews
upon each side. The house was occupied
Jan. 1, 1866. In 1878 a committee was ap-
pointed to repair the house of worship.
Under the efficient leadership of the pas
tor, Geo. w. Osgood, the house was thor
oughly repaired. The interior was fres-
coed and re-carpeted. Stained glass win
dows and new pews were introduced.
cushions recovered and an organ and
chandelier purchased, at an expense of
Il 800. About Il 600 was given by friends
rn,f he 80,