St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-03
Burke Church Re-Dedicated.

The union church at Burke Hollow,
which was organized in 1907, was re-
dedicated Sunday, over 600 people wit
Messing the interesting exercises.
The exercises began at 2p. m. and
were in charge of Rev. c. II. Merrill OF
st. Johnsbury. After singing the doxol-
ogy, the invocation was offered by Rev.
!. c. Bodwell Of the East Burke church.
The dedicatory sermon was given by
Rev. NJ. c. Henderson Of st. Johnsbury
from the text found in Psalms 26:S,
Lord, have loved the habitation OF
thy house, and the place where thy
honor dweleth." Mr.. Henderson
preached an excellent sermon and referred
very ieelingly to the former pastors and
ministers who had labored in this his
toric parish. The speakers wide ac-
quaintance with the people made 1t es-
pecially fitting that he should have
given the sermon on this occasion.
Perry Porter read extracts from an ex-
ceedingly interesting historical sketch
written by Mrs. Walter. The dedcatory
prayer was given by Rev. Henry Fair
banks of st. Johnsbury, who preached
there in 1857 So. A hymn written for
the occasion by Miss Jennie Gale OF st.
Johnsbury was sung, after which the
benediction was pronounced by Rev. c.
H. Merrill.
Another service was held in the even
ing which was well attended. Rev,
Henry Fairbanks gave some interesting
"reminiscences and letters were read by
Rev. DR.. Z. P. Goodwin of Chicago
Rev. DR.. Elbridge Mix of Worcester and
and Miss Brokaw.
DR.. Goodwin wrote as follows:
only wish could follow my impulses
and say yes to your pleasant invitation
Nothing would please me more than to
be sharer in the services of re-dedicatior
of the well remembered church at Burke
Hollow, endeared to me by many sacred
associations. Practically ! began my
ministry there, although my very first
appearance in the pulpit was at the East
village in the Methodist church at after
noon service of my first Sabbath il
Burke, but the Hollow was my head
quarters.
But there is an old word, sometime!
| ,,1t =
think, that stands in the way. My
duty" does not seem to allow any sucl
luxury, so shall have to thank you fol
the invitation and forego the very great
qualification such service and its fel
lowship would afford.
went to Burke in the spring of 1857
expecting to do work chiefly as Sun
day School missionary, and found to my
amazement that | was expected tt
preach three times a Sabbath, twice il
some one of the churches at the East vii
lage or Hollow and once in some neigh
borhood school house. There was nj
retreat. for had desired it l had n,
money to take me out of the country.
had reached my last dollar in finding m,
parish and so must needs stay. But
never regretted the necessity. The worl
was prospered of the Lord. During tn
last year when | was there continuousl
and as an acting pastor, though no
installed, the Sabbath School grew til
we often had hundred and twenty O
thirty, and the Sabbath congregation
was an exceedingly good one.
| used to enjoy after manner, whe
| got used to it, that old half-barre
fashioned pulpit, though in my earl
efforts felt good deal "cribbed am
cabined" in it, and long ways up an
off from the people | wanted to reach.
believe did threaten in some of my ras
moments to tear away the barnacle an
get little more sea room, as we'll as &c
down from the skies. But managed t
make myself heard fairly we'll to thos
whom did not put to sleep in the war;
summer days. How the good peopl
ever contrived to put up with such
harum scarum thcologian upon the DO
never could quite understand. BIZ
they were wonderfully patient and mas
unanimous, and probably went home say
ing kindly, the young man meant well.
But we really did have some mos
enjoyable gatherings in the old church
and to this day it warns my heart t
recall the goodly fellowship of that lttl
church, those who were sure to be a
the services whatever the weather. Tt
Kilbys, Carpenters, Finneys, Brown
and Newells, Harveys and ever so man
Others come up before me as l write, VIII
were almost as certain to be at ehurc
as the Sabbath was to come. How the
came with loving prayerful hearts, cage
to hear the word, and as looked int
their earnest faces great gladness use
to fill my heart at the thought tha
however unsatisfactory the presentation
of the truth, these devout worshippe,
were upbearing the messenger before tt
mercy seat and seeking for HIM tt
amounting of power. And to this day
can most truly say that l have new,
enjoyed trying to preach gospel MOI
than in that old Burke Hollow meetiu
house, and never ceased to be thankf
that in his good providence God ser
me there to begin my life work in tt
ministry.