Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-04-30
50tI1 ANOiVeFSaYv,

Last Sunday the Rev. Iitas. Z. Sey-
mour preached sermon in commemora.
ton of the 18th anniversary Of the Sec
und Congregational Church. The roll
call and social meeting will be held on
Thursday evening, as announced. We
are permitted to give a resume of the
sermon, which was closely followed in
its delivery by the congregation. Mr..
Seymour said in part:
The Rev. Aretas LOOMS had distinctly
said to the Rev. ChaunceY II. Hubbard
that he desired no eulogy passed upon
him after his death. At the funeral Mr..
Hubbard remarked that the desiIe should
be respected, nevertheless he could not
forbear quoting a passage that fifty de-
scribed his brother, and that was rs fol-
lows: mark the perfect man and the
upright, for the end of that man is
peace. Psalm XXXvii:37
Let that scripture introduce to MS this
morning the first pastor of this church.
No one questions that Mr.. LOOMS was
an upright man. He was a Puritan OF
Puritans. As his person was tall and
erect so was his character perpendicular.
His letter of acceptance of 1886 and of
resignation after a fifteen years pastor
ate are transparent. They breathe out
unaffected frankness and simplicity. He
moved from town but soon returned by
the request of the people he had served,
who, seven years after his resignation,
buried him with honor and carved upon
his tombstone these words: "A lover of
truth, righteousness, peace and order, q
wise and active pastor a kind husband
and father, good citizen, a godly man
Mr.. LOOMS was more than upright.
He added the graces of Christian char
acter Though abrupt IN his manner
and sometimes stern, he was both kindly
and sympathetic. IntOlerant of wrong,
of slipshod ways and of laZiness, he
cherished heart Of love to the pemitent
and pity for the unfortunate. His be-
nevOlenCe was extreme. 1t was his habit
to head subscriptions for charitable pur
poses. His house was an open door of
hospitality, his horse was at the disposal
of the parish Particularly was his kind
ness shown to the young poor and strag
Cling church. He frequently RENTED
portions of his salary, and finally come
to expect only two hundred dollars an
nually in cash. BY economy and excel
lent management his children eceivCd a
thorough education, his two sons follow
ing him in the ministrI, while both the
daughters married ministers.
There are a few obvious reflections
from the career of Mr. LOomis. This
people is happily the inheritor of some
of his virtues We have learned that
there is a business side to divine insti-
tuition. The Society has found by expe-
rience that thrift is an essential of prog
rcss. Again, we have discovered that
sanctiied business ability lays the basis
of liberality. BY economy and a rare in
dustry Mr. Loomis had considerable
sum each year to distribute in pure be-
nevOlanCe. He set a standard which the
Church is learning to follow. Some day
we shall give away for the gospels sake
as much as we expend tor our own luse.
Finally the mantle of responsibility
which this man wore is observed to have
fallen on the membership. The number
multiDlies of those who give time and
strength and money in the promotion of
the Fathers business. The examples of
the past are by no means void. They
are buttresSes and pillars of the super
structure which we are helping TO build.
As we depend upon these characters of
a former day SO they without us could
not be made perfect.