Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-03-10
Centennial Cong'I Church, Tunbridge
W., Feb. 3, 1892.
H1sroRIcAL DISCOURSE
BIZ Rec. James Ramage.


There has been a total membership Of 2s2 dnrl nn
4 49, n.rt,,rv The present membership IS 00 lht
| highest membership ever reported 70 me Zen e
Conference was 81 in 1889 inc next nisnrs' ~ me
| membership were 1881, Il additions ls4z' - a"ui
| tons and 1891, 10 additions "a. .A.,.,t hay.
been noted for their devotion to the work o. me
| Lord Among the number was MISE JeIusH 10, -.
Tracy daughter q pea ,s,5 receiyed into the
church In 1881. She is worthy ofhonofape menu
ibeeause OF the interest she TOOK - te
| III nv her and her hands were ever busy menuins
| clothing for the needy. Her generous requests %
various benevolent societies a. well as her releii
brance Of this church proved her love TOT inc WIZ
OF Christ She passed to her = "a teo seAis a.
sarho' dead she yet speaketh," Let "a be ioloN
ers ~ chem who throi faith and patience are in pos
session Of the promises. There nave k9hs - ~
this town several who have done ahe afs aoi,'s IN
eellent work in the vineyard Of the Master Among
/ Them may be mentioned Rev. Reuben ;. Hazen porn
| in 1880 graduate Of Yale, 1913, pastor o. several
| churches in Massachusetts and Connecticut. ne
died in Canterbury Conn, m iset. icy s,,se
| r. Drea now pastor Of the Congl church IN SOW
VT, Rev. A. A. smith, pastor Of the eongl , =,
Rev f. Drew. -
The following is a list Of deaeons aud elders, with
date Of appointment; Hezeklah Hutchinson; Zen s
con 1888 James Andrews, Deacon, 1873. Elders,
Hezekiah Hutchinson, Joshua Foster and james
Andrews IN 1906. Ruling Elders, Hez. Huichih-
son, Joshua Foster and James Andrews, chosen
Jan 10. 1914. Daniel Tracy, Dea., $500. Eillah
Tracy Deacon, 1895, resigned ISL hezekiah hussh
1926 He died suddenly in 1852, aged 49, when CON
veying wood to the church upon wheelbarroN.
church Deacon 1853 died in in 1901. He was a
most earnest worker for Christ and the ehnreh.
Jasper Lyman Deneon iSos ~ ose 2sv Ross
Deacon 1877, died 1873. Geo. b. kilburn, Deacon
1877. Dismissed. B. i. Butterheld, Deacon, 1917.
Dismissed to California Feb. II, 1889.
Sabbath School Superintendents in order Of ser
vice No reliable data earlier than ls52: John
Church, 1852. Beloved by the children. DIED IN
1851; James Brown, now dead; Franklin Fisk, now
dead: tDied in 1864 Elizur +. Howe; Rev. y ;.
Morris; Rev s I Longesi z. Howe =. r bul-
ago the Sabbath School had $500 bequeathed 70 y,
the interest to be used in purchasing books Tor
July is. 17s2, the town appointed 'cyrus Chap
man. Ebenezer Wills ,choristers TO lead In singing.
In the first church the choir occupied two seats IN
the gallery facing the pulpit The choir WAS large
and the singing, | am Informed, was very me
bass viol was the instrument used Mr.; SnstaVas
Rolfe was chorister in the second church prior 70
1910; Mr.. Vim. Farnham, lsf0-65, 25 years bass
viol and trombone were musical instruments
used part Of this time. The choir was large IN
those days, rehearsals were frequent and the mem
beers OF the choir attained a good degree o. prom
cheney in vocal music Mr. James L. Farnhan, our
present efficient chorister, has filled the position y
This ship of Zion launched century age, has
sailed onward. al times under the sunny SKY OF
prosperity, at times under the frowning cloud Of
adversely. The flames have kindled upon Il, the
tempest has beaten furOusly against Il bat II lives
to-day, because the Lord Of Hosts has been with
We believe thnt TINS chufch mas not llNeu a tfn-
tury In vain. No church lives in vain that pro-
claims the truth with earnest lip and consistent
life. A stream OF moral and religious influences
whose value cannot be estimated, flows from every
.ue church Of Christ II is no insignificant fact
that ii has for century proclaimed liberty to the
captVes, bound up the broken hearted. given spir-
itual sight TO the blind hearing to the deaf speech
TO the dumb. strength TO the weak, hope to the de-
spairne and life to the dead. No matter HOW. fee
bic numerically or financially church OF Christ
may be- its benencient influences cannot be meas
ured. This church speaks 81 lives redeemed, o.
crosses lightened, OF pathways Frightened, OF
hearts comfored, OF foes yanquished, by the divine
power working IN her and through her The pres
ence of church In a community Is constant re- |
hinder OF duty and destiny, Is constant condem-
nation OF sin and constant incentive to the prae-
lice Of righteousness.
Perhaps the glorihed who passed from this church
militant TO the church triumphant are interested |
spectators OF this solemn service. They are In |
with US to-day. What do they wish for |
lsp Do they not wish that may forget the /
Kings that are behind and reach forth to the things
hat are before, and press toward the mark for the
Prize OF the high calling OF God in Christ Jesus.
May there be a prayerful, hopeful, cheerful con- |
ecrated steady and triumphant advance In the !
econd century Of our church life. May the work /
% prosecuted with heavenly vigor and may the 1
lew century be made bright with the continued 1
presence of the Triune Jehovah In the life and work
i this church.
'The Lord hath been mindful Of US and he will
less u.s.
Save now we beseech thee, o Lord o Lord We
eseeeh thee, send now prosperity