Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-06-22

through indisposition. 1t matters not
what their purpose in coming, they go
away satisfied, but the fellow who
thought to catch our old maids, he most
wonders why.
Charles N. Williams, Greeley H. Har-
wood and Morley Griffith were delegates
to the Republican state convention
The Harrington brothers of Troy are oc-
cVpying their cottage for the summer
R. NJ. Campbell of N. Y. city is at the
Washington hotel for few days.-Jno,
Ccnnell has leased tho hotel lzrovn &c tho
Morgan house, at Bondville, and will re.
move there soon.-A. B. Roberts and
wife passed the Sabbath with friends in
Peru.
Washington Pomona Grange No. 8 is in
session here to-day. The afternoon ses-
sion was public. The address of welcome
was given by Mrs. Nellie E. Sevide, and
d. d. Howe, Sec'y vt Experiment Sta
ton, at Burlington, and of the vt. State
Grange, gave some practical knowledge
of the work done at the station with the
herd of COWS during the year 1893. The
audience was quite attentive and asked
many questions of the speaker. At the
| close OF the afternoon session the grangers
repaired to their rooms where q bountiful
| spread had been prepared by the ladies of
Dorset grange. The regular meeting of
Pomona Grange was then called to order
| by Master Albert Hopkins. A large num-
Der of members from Rupert and Pawlet
were present, which made the occasion
one of social interest, besides much val
liable knowledge gained. The next meet
ing of Washington Grange will be held
at Rupert.
Rev. p. S. Pratt, Congregational minis
ter of Dorset, is now on his fiftieth year
of pastoral work, thirty-eight of which
he has spent III presiding over this church.
During his long ministerial charge he
has otficiated at 1T baptisms, 1876 mar
riages, and 100 funerals, and has been
| present at many marriages and funerals
as assistant which are not included in the
above. That he should be able to preside
over his charge for Il period longer than
the average life of man is remarkable to
those who know but little of his minis
terial life, but to those who have heard
the kind word to the friends in their great
affliction at the burial of their dead, and
listened to him each Sabbath as he adj
monished his large congregation of the
many evils that beset all, and to place
their trust in Him whom to know Alright
is eternal life, hardly realized how strong
the tie between them and their pastor.
There is hardly home but what he has
officiated, either at the gay and joyous
wedding or the burial of the dead. Dur
ing this period many of the fathers of the
church have departed or grown gray and
feeble, and now cling close to the desk of
their beloved pastor, but know not what
he feeds the sheep who are able to hear
his voice. 1t is comfortating to know as
we look back over the years and think
how fortunate we were to secure this man.
and how wise we have been in retaining
him until now. There is move on foot,
however, and society meeting called to
take action on proposition made by the
pastor, on account Of few, not to ex-
coed one half dozen, who are dissatisfied
with him, and in point of fact they are
old men in their dotage, and are such
Jealous christians now at this late day in
life, have discovered that their pastor is
unable to interest them, and they go about
complaining like little children. They
should be Ipatient and wait for the re-
ward which will soon be theirs.