St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-09-25
An Ancient Village Church.


st. Johnsbury East has recently sus
tanned severe loss. One of the old
landmarks, the building occupied for
nearly half century by the Methodists
has been taken down. This course
was necessitated by the action OF rain
which broke in the roof. 1t may be inter
esting before we say our last good-by to
the beloved building to glance over its
history. In 1918 John Stiles built in
Waterford Hollow, near the residence OF
Barton Works. Free-will Baptist
church. We have yet with us somewho
recall the plain building with its square
news. The pews were sold until Mr..
Stilse interest arrived at about fifteen
hundred dollars. 1t is told that at one
time a Universalist minister was to
speak but Mr.. Stiles proceeded into the
pulpit and ordered him to depart with
his "lalse doctrine" In time the necessity
for church at that point diminished
and it was closed for some years, though
opened occasionally for special services
and used for town meetings. In 1850,
while the Rev. Jonathan Whitney was
preaching at St. Johnsbury East, in
little building called the chapel, he urged
the necessity OF church building. The
: old church in Waterford was bought by
the conference and soon reared it's head
!, on the east side of the main street here.
It was stipulated that one-thrd OF the
news were TO be free. When the church
, was opened for worship there were SO
, members. The local preachers were
LYMAN Farnham and Daniel Carr.
: The stewards were Isaac Harrington,
] Josiah Wright, Franklin Richardson,
: Charles X. Hoeman and James B. Hill.
+ OF the little band OF worshippers find
} but four living, Mrs. Pamela Wheeler
] Mrs. Charity Young, Mrs Nancy Har-
rington and Miss Susan Lee. During its
S entire existence the church was largely
e indebted to Isaac Harrington His son
n Lemuel and his family are well known
: in the musical world. There was no
d church in the vicinity where one was SO
I. sure of good music as IN the Methodist
n church here. One entry in the old re-
t cords is certainly original. The names
:, OF three members of one family have en-
It tered against them, Disposed of by
J. means unknown" Many able preacher:
Y. have filed the now silent pulpit. Rev
y Wilbur Fiske's voice has been heard here
y Rev. NJ. Perkins, afterwards member o
IS congress, preached here and many viii
d recall Rev. Orange Scott. In 1860 Rev
lie George Bickford preached with grea
1T acceptance and endeared himself to tn
N entire community. In the years 1879
1880 and 1881, the pulpit was supplied
by the clergyman who also oficiated a
t, the Centre. In 1879 the two parishe
t. shared the ministry OF Rev. J. Ward. /
ur 1880 and 1881 that of Rev. L. {. Dick
re inson. In 1882 Rev. w, B. Worthin
n supplied the two pulplts.
On In 1888 Rev. g. E. Burnham OF Yves
ct Concord officiated. In 1884 Rev. E. "
ey Culver of St. Johnsbury preached her
of and with his ministry, so far as til
records show, closed the active career {
tie the Methodist church here. During II
he life it enrolled the names OF many VIII
at were greatly beloved and who lett las
ID. ING impression for good here. lsas
III harrington WAS q otioHS man i'm hN'''
to and morally. There stands on the chure
of books this item: Isaac Harrington w
err nav one-third OF the debt rather the
an have the church mortgaged." OF tn
I've record his children may well be proud.
nd His son, Calvin Harrington, records
is; his diary that when the new church w;
on building he adapted himself to the occ
ou- sion and became first carpenter by trad
'ut working with hammer, square and plan
ne. then as a painter he put on the tW
coats ,fwhite that finished and beau
It's, fed the new house of worship. This sc
led is known to the world as professor
we Wesleyan university for nearly % year
me and IS remembered by hundreds OF st
Jus dentsa as an accurate and elegant schola
No a careful and successful teacher, but pri
OF cipallv as the friend and the Christia
the Many recall the quiet, strong Christi;
ak lite of John Little. l may not call t
to names OF all the holy men and WON
ave who worshipped in this little. churc
the Their cody lives and examples ha
ate gone into the warp and woot OF tt
at community. When the light of t
lue eternal morning breaks, the record
en- this church will be seen to be one tn
in "maketh not ashamed"
Miss CHARLOTTE MORRILL,