The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1895-09-01

WeSley'S works ana letChel
"Checks to Antinominism" La
ban Clark and Martin Rutter
were trained for honored places
in the ministry.
The society was formally or
ganized by the, formation OF a
"class" of five members in De-
cenber. 1898. Though their
numbers increased and preachers
of the ability of the renowned
Jesse Lee and Elijah Harding,
afterward Bishop, were sent to
them yet they continued to wor-
ship in a dwelling house until
1881 when the first chapel-a
structure 40x5O feet and covered
with rough boards was built
near the top of Bliss Hill. Here
services were held until lo49
when the site of the present
church was selected in the vii
lage and a church erected. Two
years later the present parsonage
was built. In 1881 the church
was rebuilt and remodeled and
thoroughly modernized. The
valuation of the church and par
sonage property is now est1mat-
ed at $4,000. The church has
seating capacity of about 800
and on certain occasions, like
the sermon of Bishop Warren,
April '94, has held more than
500 people. 1t has a commod1ous
chapel attached, and is equipped
with thoroughly furnished kltch-
en- and ladies' parlors. The
present membership numbers, IN
Guiding classes at Fairlee and
!, West Bradford, 800, Its mem
{ bership has increased $50 during
the last four years.
The Vermont Conference has
four times been entertained IN the
, town and has held its services IN
this church. These great gath
: erings will long be remembered
= by all the citizens of the town.
, The membership OF the church
| has always included some persons
, of heroic mould-sturdy, active,
, conspicuous citizens of the COM
) munity. Persons who are older
will remember the Pockets,
James McDuffee and family,
: Joseph Clark, M. O. Barber, DR..
| A. A. Doty, Asa W. Howard,
( Ezekiel Johnson, John Pearsons,
, T. r. Andross, r. r. Aldrich,
; Rev. D. F. Palmer and many
e others.
E Fifteen persons have gone out
= from its fold into the ministry
, of the word in the church at
: large. Several of its pastors have
/ been men endowed with great
gifts and achieving great use
: fulness. Notably so was Charles
Parkhurst, D. D., who was pas
a tor in 1876, and is now editor OF
$ lions Herald of Boston, a paper
: of wide circulation and vast in
: huence. No less conspicuous is
Rev. T. P. Frost who was pastor
for three years, from 1881 to 1888,
. and is now in charge of the First
= Methodist Episcopal church IN
n the city of Baltimore, man who
t is an accomplished scholar and
who combines the humility OF
i the christian with the graces o:
tho fit1iS1 ed ora tor
d The present Board of Stew
# ards is composed of W. E. 5. Gel
s lev, A. A. Heath, Robert Rem
# frew, DR.. C. B. Wilson, F. K
e Prescott, Robert Fulton, J. E
J. Sleeper, w. C. Lowd. The class
IS leaders are J. G. Norcross, w
" C. Lowd and L. ]. Heath. Th'
d superintendent of the Sunda,
e school is L. ]. Heath, and tn
:, president of the Epworth Leagu
/ is Warren w. Goodwin.
CONCLUSION.
- AS we grow older we grow t,
have more regard for the tradl
tions and associations OF tn
= past, and take more delight il
y. ~ witnessing reminders of the goo
~ old times.
9r It is often said that the pat
p riotism of a people is best Judge
e. by its generation OF h1stor1ca
If associations and traditions. 1t
at something more than an i'd
Sc curiosity that animates this II
III terest. We find a prlmlt1v
simplicity, a confident courage
= and strenuous endeavor, IN tn
H. life of those early communltie
e. q that quickens and refreshes u
% like the memory of youth, or tn
balmy breezes of spring.
III Only a few of the actors {
s. those early scenes remain wit
ne us, and they will soon join tt
e. silent majority. Honor the