St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-09-13
CONGREGATIONAL CLUB MEETING
AT NEWPORT.


The special meeting Of the Passumpsic
Congregational Club at Newport on
Monday was thoroughly successful
and pleasant gathering. A dozen or
more people went from st. Johnsbury,
and all along the line accessions were
made to the party, so that about thirty
landed at Newport and were cordially
greeted by Rev. E. A. George at the sta
ton. The day did not look promising
for fine weather from the first, and when
Barton was reached, rain was falling,
and the prospect for delightful trip on
Lake Memphremagog was decidedly
dark. However, the skies were more
lenient when Newport was reached, and
from that on the weather improved.
The company at once made their way
to the church. which is delightful and
comfortable structure, situated on Main
street. While waiting for luncheon,
which was served by ladies of the church
in the basement, many Of the visitors
took advantage Of the occasion to walk
around and inspect the building. The
audience room is amphtheatre shape and
seats $50 people. In front is very
tasteful parlor, which can be thro wn open
into the main auditorium, greatly in
creasng itscapacty. The same arrange
ment is followed upstairs, so that the
class room can be opened on the gallery.
A splendid repast was served downstairs,
which was done full justice to by all.
About so sat down to luncheon around
five beautifully decorated tables covered
with good things.
POST PRANDlAL.
After the demands of the inner man
were supplied, the club met in the parlor,
Rev. DR.. A. H. Heath, president, in the
chair. He said he never ielt more like
singing the doxoogy than after such a
bountiful repast as he had just partaken
Of, and asked alltojoinin singing Praise
God from whom all blessings fow,"
which was done.
Prayer was offered by Rev. L. P. At
wood of Lowell. A hearty rendering of
one verse of "Blest be the tie that binds"
was then given bv the meeting, which
numbered not less than 100, many resi-
dents of Newport having come in after
luncheon.
Rev. DR.. Heath spoke few words of
congratulation to the club on its meeting
in such a delightful locality, and said
that although the Newport people were
strangers to him, he could see they knew
how to do things so as to insure good
opinions from their guests.
One thing he spoke OF regarding them,
which did not seem thoroughly orthodox.
They had made us take free luncheon
"We'll stand it for once, said the speaker,
"but after this we will insist upon pay
ing our way. We give them our hearty
thanks"
Rev, E. A. George then rose to speak a
welcome in the name of Lake Memphre-
magog and the Newport of the north,
which he did in manner to elicit much
applause. Suitable to the social nature
of the meeting, he punctuated his remarks
with ready wit, which was heartily
appreciated. He hoped the people had
not come to Newport by the law of
gravitation, but by that of light hearted
ness. The Passumpsic seemed to flow back
wards on this occasion into Lake Mem
phremagog, the river st. Lawrence. and
flow down the water shed sloping )wards
the aurora borealis. He illustrated the
free luncheon situation by a story of a
l,C 1o n n 1a
was exhibiting to all who wished to see
it, for an entrance fee of twenty-five
ceuts, whole family being admitted for
that sum. A man who heard Of this gen.
erous arrangement gathered large num-
Der of friends and arrived with them to
enter as one family. Pass right in"
said the owner of the moose, ''if it is
worth twenty-five cents for your family
to see my moose, it is worth the same
for my moose to ste your family" And
so the Newport people considered the
matter was about even. The freedom of
the city was rendered the guests no key,
however, being given, as there was none.
The first two speakers on the pro-
gramme, President Tucker and ex.presi-
dent Bartlett Of Dartmouth, were not
able to be present, so DR.. Heath called
upon Prof. Henry Fairbanks to say
few words for "old Dartmouth" Prof
Fairbanks rose to speak and was re-
ceived with applause. He did not say
much about Dartmouth, but made some
fitting remarks about the special beau
ties and advantages of Newport-its
young ladies in particular, the best wo.
man in the world having come from
there.
He also expressed his firm beliefin Con-
gregationalism as a sound formative in
fuence, which has shaped, and is shap-
ing, the destiny of our country.
Mr.. Baldwin of Barton was the next
speaker. on the subject "Vermont and
New Hampshire, the twin states of the
north He had taken the advice of his
better half and written out what he had
to say, which was an historical sketch
of the Congregational church previous
to the revolutionary war. The paper
was deeply interesting and was listened
to with great attention. Every one felt
glad Mr.. Baldwin had decided to prepare
his after-dinner speech-the first one,
probably, said Mr.. George, that was
ever prepared!
Rev. c. L. Skinner OF Haverhill, N. H.,
continued the sentiment spoken to by
Mr.. Baldwin, his own state and its rela-
ton to Vermont being his special theme.
In the course of his remarks he woke up
his audience to the fact that Congrega-
tionalism has some grave faults. 1t was
not the church of the People it repre-
sented the wealth and learning of New
England, but was careless as to the work
of expressing the warmth which comes