The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-07-15
West N
DEDICATION OF THE BELL
At Union Meeting House, July 4th.

AT Union Meeting HOUSE, July AIN.
The Union meeting house has passed
another milestone in its history, mile
stone planted so deeply in the hearts
of the people that its benign influence
will be factor for good when every
participant of that joyous occasion has
been called hence. Nature smiled in
unison with the hearts of the people,
the day was cool, the air clear and
bracing, many old friends met on the
grounds in the forenoon and exchang-
ed the compliments of the season, re-
newed old acquaintance and heartily
enjoyed genuine old-fashioned, in
formal reunion, followed by basket
picnic. The West Newbury Drum
Corps dispensed martial music during
the entire day and performed their
part of the program in creditable
manner. Not until afternoon did the
crowd put in an appearance, when the
beautifully decorated audience room
of the Union meeting house was pack
ed solid full of happy humanity, from
numerous babes in arms to the white
haired fathers of four score years.
The rendition of the program was be-
gun about 1.30 o'clock by singing, fol-
lowed by the reading of the scripture
and prayer by Rev. w. S. JENNIE, fol-
lowed by a song by M. L. Brock,
"Ring on We Bells" Then Bradley
Doe Rogers stepped on the platform
and in behalf of his sister, Mrs. Web
ster, of Plymouth, n. H., and himself,
in few we'll chosen and pleasant re-
marks, presented the bell to the Union
Meeting House Society, making refer
ence to desire long cherished by him
to see bell swinging in that old stee-
pie. During his remarks Mr.. Rogers
read the following contract which was
sent to the committee, and by them
signed and returned:
BUFFALO, Apr. IS, 1892.
5S#s SH s 57s5Hos Committee
We the undersigned, desire to make a
to the Union Meeting House Socie-
ty of West Newbury, Vt, on the following
conditions:
LIST. We propose to donate to said society
a church bell its weight to be ten hundred
pounds with frame and ropes complete,
which we will deliver at Bradford Station,
freight prepaid, for the use of said society
On the following conditions:
I'd. That said society take the bell from
lepot and hang in steeple of said church.
Sd. That said bell shall be rung ON the
Eth of July, at sunrise, fifteen minutes and
1t sunset the same,
4th. Said bell shall be tolled on the
adversary of our fathers death the number
If times he has been years dead also the
same of our mother.
9TH. We will deposit in any safe manner
dollars, the interest of which
said bell. Each year on the presentation of
he order signed by two of your committee
% the person holding the said twenty-five |
dollars, which shall be paid to him.
9th We wish cast in the bell motto, |
he memory of Levi and Betsey Rodgers,
resented by their children, Angelina P.
Webster and Bradley D. Rodgers.
18th. We want a legal contract, signed by
our committee, (for your society agree
ng in case of fire or breaking, damaging
he bell, to have it recast and replaced with
he same inscription as will be on this one,
he contract to be good until the year 20O0.
This bell will be warranted for 5years. The
ontract to be recorded on the town books.
ANGELINA P. WEBSTER.
BRADLEY ID. RODGERS.
Rev. G. II Coolidge, pastor of the
hurch, in behalf of the church and
ociety and community, in well CHOSEN
received the bell, heartily
banking the generous donors. The
ledicatory sermon by Rev. A. G. Aus
in, pastor of the NJ f. church, from
he text Exodus xviii, So, "And his
Ound shall be heard" was an able,
lear and concise address, which was
.ollowed by the dedicatory prayer by
Rev. j. L. Merrill, past of the First
church of Newbury.
The song, "Oh! Home of my Boy
ood," sung by Bradley D. Rogers,
anne in at this stage of the proceed
ngs with unusual, force and appropri-
teness. Although Mr.. Rogers claim
d to be an amateur, he was loudly en-
ored and replied amid the cheers of
be large audience, "that he had sung
II that he knew" Remarks were
lade appropriate for the occasion, by
xGov. Roswell Farnham, Rev. w. S.
enne and G. G. Doe, Esq. The choir
len rendered Hail to the Flag of the |
rec" The "reminiscences by Angelina I
,ogers Webster were very interesting l
nd formed pleasing feature of the
uICl tdlullCHt' 1hHid llOStIS DdlHes I
cad poem "Ode to the Bell" written !
y Emily Rogers Ralph. John Smith, {
So, president of the day, then made q
few remarks, reading several letters
'om old time residents. A brief adj
ress was made to the Union Meeting L
ouse by Horace W. Bailey. A unan- /
nous vote of thanks extended to the i
Onors and a request made to all who !
ere present at the raising of the :
Mon meeting house in 1888 to stand d
p and be counted Fifteen persons p
sponded to the call. America was S
EN- sung by the choir and audience, !
Flowed by the benediction by the :
lstor of the church. G
A large number could not find even o
anding room inside the building and II
ere gathered near the windows out .
lie. When the audience passed in, G
e bell was i'm the vestibule of the e
urch. When the exercises were con- 5,
lded the bell had been hoisted into L
'sition in the belfry, by E. E Avery y
ho had charge of the work, and was Il
ady for ringing. This piece of h
Orkmanship was a surprise to all, n
wing been so quietly done that no >
e had hint of what was being done, 2,