Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-12-01

power OF the Episcopal church to assist in this
work, requiring as it does simply profession of
the Christian faith contained i'm the creed of
the ancient and undivided church of 1900 years
ago:
MIR Baury officiated as Law reader for nearly
TWO years, not being made deacon until Septem-
Der, 1890, Rev Titus Strong administering the
saCramentS as occasion offered. Oct. ~, 1921, |
the clerks of the two parishes were directed to
call meeting of their respective parishes on |
Easter Monday following at the same place, and |
on Aprll 3, 1921 the joint meeting held at the
town house IN Guford Centre, and a formal |
union of the two parishes took place under the |
constitution adopted Nov %, 1918 The organiza- |
ton OF the centre parish was thus abandoned and !
lagos
AT the parish meeting of 1924 the care of the
church was bid off at 81 per year, and the salary
of the clergyman was fixed at 1865: S270 of this
was pledged by ~ persons, sos being given by
SIX persons only. In 1921 the care of the church
was bid off for $3.50 and that of the town hall for
Sl.11. In 1880 the bell was put in place at cost
| of S11i15 subscribed by 81 persons. In the same
! year the church was painted by volunteers, the
rector's name heading the list. Prior to 1881 in
| terments were made in the old cemetery on
| BlanChard's hill. In that year portion of the
| church yard or common as it Is known locally,
| was laid out IN burial lots forming the first row
| of such lots IN the present cemetery. Later Mr.
John Melendy enlarged the burial ground, and
| last year il was again enlarged by Messrs. w, c.
Yawkey and Ed ward Carpenter.
| In 1887 services at the centre appear to have
ceased. st. Peters church in Brattleboro was or
ganized at this time, and the rector of Christ
church ot1lciated at their services In 1885 there
were II teachers in the Sunday school Ten years
later there were 60 scholars, and as late as 1873
there we're 30
I'm 1919 the rectory was built and in 1857 the
stipend of the rector was fixed at $3.50 cash, $50
in provisions, 10 cords of wood and the use of
the rectory. The parish was then in about the
same condition Ak it had been for 30 years, but
deaths and removals soon began to reduce the
membership, and a gradually decreasing roll OF
communicates is found. SO far as can be ascer-
tanned, the number of communicates was about
50 for many years; in 1873, when the last settled
rector made his report there were % at the pres
ent time there are but IL. What we may call the
past active life of the parish extended over pc
Rod of 50 years. During this time there were
81 baptisms, 1870 combinations, 2l9 marriages,
and pos burals. Since 1873, during which time
the parish has been in charge of the rector of st.
Michael's church at Bratteboro, there have been
seven baptisms. three combinations, four mar
rages and IA burials: a total during the - years
of 3lS baptsms, POI combinations, 2|3 marriages,
and BIZ burials
During the IS years there were II rectors, of
whom the Rev Ethan Allen remained II Il years,
Rev. Samuel b. Shaw eight years, Rev. }. b. Pradt
nine years, and Rev Silas NJ. Rogers seven years
four reCtOrs in 30 years, the remaining seven nav
ing served but - years in all OF the II but two
are now living: Rev. DR.. G. c. Y. Eastman, who
served 40 years ago; and Rev Silas NJ Rogers
who closed his ministry in 1874
"Of the original corporators there are natural
ly, none left There remain at present as mem
bers Of the parish, descendants of Edward
Houghton, Ephraim Gale and Levi Boyden only
But there are still living in the parish but not OF
it, those whose fOrefathers and foremothers were
communicates and active in the GOOD WORKS OF
their time 1t is true that the population OF tne
town has decreased, but there are yet within
easy reach of the church suticlent NUMBER 10
furnish congregation OF very respectable size
And it is not only with view to a proper recog-
milton of the 18th anniversary. bnt also to an en-
deavor to once more interest the people IN the
worship of Almighty God, that tins solemn as
sembly has been called And it is my earnest
prayer today that the Holy Spirit may so move
the hearts of those who have heretofore, Tor any
reason neglected to follow the good example OF
their predecessors, that we may find that now, as
when Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem,
in these closing years of the century as IN us
opening ones The people have mind to work
Two letters from former rectors were
read by Mr.. Brown as a part of his adj
dress.
short Addresses and other Exercises.
After the singing of hymn, DIR. Allen
; spoke in a reminiscent vein, recalling the
, scenes of his boyhood, and narrating how
he still saw, after lapse of more than ~
wears, some of the same things that needed
to be changed fol- the better. lie told OF
his attachment to Guilford, how much his
. life here, at the impressionable age of IA to
| : Il, had colored his after life, and with how
much of both pain and pleasure he was
here once more. He related many anec-
e dotes of past days, and closed with an ur-
r gent appeal to the citizens of Gullford to
, make the old church once more meeting
house. where they could come together
r and indvidualsm of their daily lives.
! Mr.. Brown then gave to the congrega-
e ton the thrice repeated "happy greeting
of Mr.. and Mrs. John c. Melendy, form
f erly of Guilford, now of PleasantOn, Kan
sas. Mr.. Collins followed in some happy
remarks of praise for those faithful few,
who, during all the years of discourage
q ment and decadence, had at great personal
sacrifice kept the flames alive upon the al
=, tar. and had not suffered the parish to die
d He related an anecdote of Gen. Phelps, tC
illustrate how much the town of GulforC
: was in his heart, as in that of Others who
n had once dwet there; he said that 'tht
general had once told him that when h'
o was translated to a better world he hoped
"a there would be place he could lool
t through and see Guilford"
II The congregation then united in singin!
: the hymn of Christian brotherhood, "Bles
u be the tie that binds" and after thanks
l. giving 'for the good example OF all thos
who. having finished their course in faith
do now rest from their labors," the bene
, diction was pronounced by DR.. Allen.
e After the service was closed 70anY o
z the old acquaintance of -. " en-
e braced the opportunity to n'u'
a and to thank him for his presel AL hi
h cheering words. The flowers which deco
, rated the Holy Table were afterward appro
y priatey strewn upon the grave of DIR. Al
70 lens honored father.
IA Letters.
d Rev Mr.. Rogers wrote TO Mr.. Brown; I'm" lot
v | anniversary of the parish, which sou are nov
u about to celebrate, l hope VIII form new IN
al prosperous era. Let MS offer our most earhes
H. PRAYERS 10 our God that upon the interesting o'
Y casion the Holy Spirit may be coplousy Pourt
u out upon the church, so that her members may
81 Increased: and that she may 90 on her devon
n way rejoicing There is some mystic PropeLl
err about the little village of GuilfoTd which MAKE
* IL attractive TO those who have lived there Whc
Y causes our warm affections TO flow out ana cehtr
~ upon the place" F.. ,,.,,,.,, t1o.,,o
u Rev Dr. Eastman wrote from Benton HaGpo
u Mich TO Miss Jennie Houghtoh letter nile
10 with affectionate "reminiscences of his Gulltor
Us pastorate. and expressing his regret that n
e health did not allow him TO attend the celebr!
ne tion 81 have ever re. arded my pastoTate
Guilford he said las the red letter period OF m
at diversified and protraced ministry. Most vlvdl
u comes up in memory the faces OF those whose n
To spopses went up from the heart. BeheN
,r me when promise to be with you next sunday
In Thought and rejoice with you all, and let me |
ne hardened if shed a few tears for those IN par
r. disc, whose gain does not wholly ooiterate III
W sense of loss
1e List of Ministers.
nd Following is list of the ministers an
be rectors of the parish since the organizi
II ton: