The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-10-21
The soldiers Home chapel and Visit
of the Legislative Committee.

The soldiers Home chapel and Visit
of the Legislative Committee.
Yesterday members of the Legislature
and other prominent gentlemen, trustees
of the Soldiers Home, ct. al, to the
number of fifty, visited Bennington, ar
irving on the LOS p. m. train. The Mill
tarY Committee of the House: Darling of
Chelsea, Weston of Newfane, Fiske of
Weybridge, Bridges of Baltimore Reed OF
= Concord, Camp of Elmore, Rising of
Pawlet, came in their official capacity.
Senator Abel, also of the Senate Mill
tary Committee was in town. OF the
Home Trustees there were Judge Henry,
president, Gen. Mccullough, Colonies
Childs and Kinsman. Representative
Dewey was the guest of the Military
Committee. Col. Colburn and Gen.
Kingsley were of the party. Dinner was
served at the Home, a visit to the monu-
ment was made at $50, and lunch was
served at o'clock, prior to the depart
ure of the visitors.
The chapel at the Soldiers Home was
transferred to the State, accepted and
dedicated at o'clock. Maj. A, B. Val
entiue presided. Major Valentine, it will
be remembered, was for long time ac-
tive in the management and spent good
deal of time in furthering its interests.
The programme consisted of these
numbers as performed. First came an
organ voluntary by Chas. w. Bennett.
The organ is the gift of Col. Julius J. Es-
tey, and is a fine instrument. Mai. Val
entine then said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: 1t seems especially APP
propriate that we should dedicate this modest lit
tie chapel 10 the purposes for which 1t was
erected, on the eve or the grand demonstration all
over this land, in memory of the 4OOth anniver.
nf ifC hiaanN of anld
homes springs from the patriotic impulse to save
the land Columbus sought and found, to liberty
and unity, and had thar impulse been for naught
this chapel and this Home might not have been
needed, and to.morrow's sun would shine notion
our present united giant nation Of freemen but
rather on discordant country. nearly half under
| the cloud OF African slavery, and sorrow and
| shame would cast its shadow over the anniver-
sary which is now to be one only Of rejoicing and
pride; But 1t is not my province to do more than
preside, and 1t is pleasant task, made doubly
| by the presence Of representatives Of our Legis-
lature called hther on official duty, as well as to
participate in the joys of this occasion. From
| every part of our State friends of Vermonts
soldiers and their Home, have assembled here.
and we extend to them a hearty welcome
This was followed by prayer by the
Rev. u. Marten, pastor of the First Bap-
fist church. Present and seated on the
platform were the Revs. W. B. Walker
and A. d. Heaxt. The Rev. Mr.. Sey-
mour was absent on account of the rea-
son stated elsewhere in this paper-the
death of bis mother. The Rokilebro
quartette -four young gentlemen), of
Rutland, rendered Remember now Thy
Creator" the music being one of the
choice settings of that anthem, in very
fine manner. The chapel was then pre-
sented to the State by the Hon. James
K, Batchelder in behalf of the donors of
the funds contributed to erect 1t. Ex-
Gov. w. P. Dillingham; had been selected
to make the presentation speech, but he
could not attend and James K. Batchel-
der of Arlington took his place. Mr..
Batchelder said: -'-7 ~
Every Vermonter is proud of our soldiers home
| Through the generosity of some of Vermont's
most distinguished citizens these grounds were
| given for the purpose of erecting thereon a home
for our veteran heroes. 1t is fitting that those
| who fought to preserve the nation, as they go
down the decline of life should pass at this home
the remainder of their days, and at its close rest
beneath the shadow of that grand monument that
| commentaries one of the present important
| events that gave it life. When the home was
| completed something seemed to be lacking; the
| old soldiers were one by one passing away, time
was whitening the head and age was dimming the
eye, which in the prime Of manhood had looked In
the face of danger and did not quail. Each year
| the living and numbered with the great army of
the dead 1t was desirable, therefore. a chapel
should be erected near the home upon its grounds,
be paid to the memoryof a fellowhero by his COM
rades before they bore him to his final rest.
That this need for chapel might be met numer-
Gus contributions from all over the State from
Vermonters elsewhere, were willingly given, and
with them this beautiful structure has been erect
ed To-day we have met together here within its
walls to present offering to the board of
trustees of the Soldiers Home.
In behalf of all who have contributed now
present it to you and dedicate it to the memory of
the widows, fallen heroes and to that iGfnte Be-
ing who guards and guides us all.
Judge Henry, president, accepted the |
gift in trust for the veterans of the |
Home. In so doing he gave running |
account of the history of the Home from |
the incorporation of the Board of Trus-
tees in 1884, until the present time, He |
paid tribute to the heirs of the estate of |
TrenOr w. Park for the munificent gift |
of the broad area of land, the high
fountain, the spacious mansion house
with the extension by the STATED, the
hospital, etc., which now constitute the
Vermont Soldiers Home-a refuge for
the aged Union Ve ett""Gsan second to none.
And now by the generous donations ct
the people, representing the Grand
Army Posts, the w. r. c., S. o. ", and
others, the Home has been provided
with a chapel, built and paid for to the
last cent by volunteer subscriptions, and
now presented to the Commonwealth.
In closing he named it the "The Thank
Offering Chapel" The Polyhymnia
Quartette sung under the Tree-tops
there is Rest" in charming manner.
Gen. Mccullough was called out as the
representative of the heirs of the gener-
Gus Vermonters to whose beneficence the
Home largely owes it existence. Gen.
Mccullough in response collected togeth-
er in few complimentary remarks the
import of these exercises. He paid
graceful tribute to the two quartettes and
was applauded. He said that Judge
Henry had been from the first firm be-
lever in the Chapel idea, that he had
been on both sides of the question, as
giver and receiver and that to his energy
and faith was largely due the credit for
the erection of this beautiful edifice. In
so doing he spoke of the bright sunshine
of this autumnal day.
The Rokilebro quartette sang "Fare-
vel, 'and the benediction by theiRev. VIM.
Bogert Walker concluded the exercises.
Following these, which were attended
by number of prominent citizens, the
visitors visited the monument, and re-
turned to their homes on the evening
trains.
WEDDING BELLS.
This week has been notable in many
tIs.a 30 L |