St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-06-19
Y. M. c. A. HISTORY.
A Historical Sketch OF the St. Johnsbury AS
ISOLATION.


citation of St. Johnsbury was organ
lied on October /, 1855. The first
sentence of the bylaws then adopted
reads 1--WE whose names are here
unto affixed agree to associate our
selves together for the purpose OF DO
ing ourselves and Others good. "
The objects OF the association were
clearly defined in article eight OF the
same code which reads as follows
ut shall be the duty of each mem
Der to seek out young men taking up
their residence in this village, and en-
deavor to bring them under moral
and religious influences, by aiding
them in the selection OF suitable
boarding places and employment,
by introducing them to the members
and privileges of the association,
and by endeavoring to secure their
attendance at worship on the Sab
bath, and their connection with one
of the Sunday Schools, and by every
means in their power surrounding
them with Christian associates.
At the meeting for organization on
Oct. 1, 1855, these bylaws with
others were adopted and the follow
ing 81 members were the charter
members of the association:
c. L. Baker, H. w. Brickett, c. M.
Stone, George D. Rand, Selim Frost,
H. c. Knapp, Edward G. Pierce, 0.
F. Russ, J. w. H. Baker, Franklin
Fairbanks, William w. Reynolds,
lanes A. Harlow, Chauncey S. Wal
ker, F. O. Pratt, l.. W. P. Wilmot,
Sylvanus Graves, H. A. Sanborn, M
J. Hazeltine, Henry Fairbanks, Mil
ton D. Holden, |. D. Kilbourne. Mr.
Rand is now resident of Winter
Park, Fla, Mr.. Walker lives in Rich
mond and Mr.. Hazelton lives in Po'
To-, III. Rev. Henry Fairbanks is the
only charter member now living in
St. Johnsbury.
The first officers of the association
were as follows:
President, Thomas L. Hall, vice
president, Chauncy S. Walker; secre
tary and treasurer, c. M. Stone
executive committee, Franklin Fair
banks, Clark l.. Baker. William w
Reynolds.
For the first eight months Of it
existence the association met at tn
houses of the members, alternating
between three or four Of those mos
centrally located. In June, 1856, I
large room was rented in the build
ing which stood so many year
where the Fairbanks dry goods stor
is now located. One of the bes
rooms in this building was secured
at a rental of $50 a year. Thougl
this seems a small sum to us nov
the 81 charter members found it to-
much of burden and the following
winter it was given up. After tina
meetings were held in private houses
the old Academy or in one of tn
church vestries.
In these earlier times meeting
were held every two weeks and tor
les discussed which had been ar
nounced at a previous meeting
Sometimes the meeting was give
over to Bible study and at othe
times great subjects like Faith,
Growth in Grace" or "The Hol
Bible" were discussed. That thi
little band had discouragements b.
sides those of a financial nature,
evidenced by the fact that one NEE
ing was devoted to the them
Cause of the religious decline in OF
churches and at another time tt
relation of the church to dancing
card playing and the theatre W.
debated.
From May, 1857 to June11, 1856
the association slept, but soc
awakened to a new lease of life ar
reorganization and adoption of su
stantially the same bylaws tn;
were first adopted. At this time 4
new members joined the associatio
) seven of whom are now living in S
ohnsbury: S. w. Hall, Daniel Ca
penter, Jonathan Ross, c. H. Ma
shall, T. M. Howard, G. H. Tapl
and Edward T. Fairbanks. Tho
living elsewhere are Rev. Henry
Jewett of Vacaville. California, E
S ward A. Jewett of Chicago. So
: as | can ascertain all of the othe
t together with the Is charter me
bers have passed to their reward.
- The revived organization took
n ,,,,cb hroo dee line nj yuork opd n