Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-06-18
OF INTEREST 70 vERMoNTERs.


church at WaitSield. IT VIII be he'd from
June 81 to 2S, inclusive, and will be most
| important event for the CongreRat iona l.
lists of the Central portion of the State.
as 1t will be the one hundredth birthday
of this denomination In Washington coun-
ty.
| The present pastor of the Waitsfeld
church is Rev. e. s. Fisk, a native of
Massachusetts but a near relative of the
Vermont F'isks, one of the numerous
prominent families of Washington and
neighboring counties. Mr.. Fiske has been
settled in Vermont for several years and
is the head of the effort to honor in n
worthy manner the approaching anniver-
sary of the church over which he Is set
tied. The committee In charge consists of
practically every member of the church
and nothing will he spared TO make the oc-
casion in every way successful
The Waitsfield Congregational church is
the oldest church of the denomination in
the county and Is believed to be the oldest
of any denomination. This makes the
event specially noteworthy and interest
ing to all the churches of Washington
county and many Of them will take part
in the fitting notice OF the occasion. The
celebration extending as It will over n
weeks time will give ample time for
many features that would be impossible
| If all the observance were crowded In q
| single day, therefore it Is intended to
make 1t more than birthday party for
the church and, rather, n reunion of the
| people, friends, and religious forces, past
and present of the town of Waitsfeld.
A number of young men have gone from
| this church into the ConGregationalist
ministry and one of tho features OF the
gathering will be addresses by these gem
| tlemen. Besides several former members
of the church now residing in other places
have been invited to contribute a hymn,
l higtn rta -1y ntNh to ,a rt,,t,
the exercises of the week. There will
also be n complete history of the church,
written by former member of the church
and, incidentally, events and progress of
| the towns history other than that of the
church. Among the prominent speakers
will be. Rev. p. +. Barnard of Westmn-
| ster, Rev ]. n. Babbitt Of Brattleboro
and Rev. C. S. Smith of Montpelier.
The Waitsfield Congregational church
was formed in 1896 with eleven members
Rev. Ebenezer Kngshury Of Jericho Of
ficated al the institution of the orGaniza-
| ton Before that the town of Watsheld
had taken some action in building a house
of worship. In 1894 at the town meeting
| It was voted TO build meeting house on
/ the top of the hill southeast of the site
of the present village, a place considered
| the exact center Of the town Nine acres
/ of land was acquired as n site for the
| church and n burying ground
The greater part of this land was donat-
| ed by Ezra Jones though he gave on con-
dtion that III the town moved the centre
/ AS it was quantity worded in those days
the land should revert to the original own
or or his heirs. It did afterwards so re-
/ vert for 1.-The town changed the centre"
or, in other words. It was found cxpedi-
/ ent to build the meeting house down near
/ the river where 1t now stands The land
| was turned over to the Congregational
society, which had meanwhile been form
| ed, in 1857 and that year bee was held
! to clear the land.
/ 1t was voted by the society before the
| building was begun that each holder
| should pay part of his pew rent in adj
vance as the money was needed ito buy
rum, nails and glass for the raising" 1t
was at first expected that the district the
other side of the common would join in
! the erection of the church but after the
frame was up and partially covered there
was some trouble and that community
backed out and the Watsfield district was
! left to do the work alone The building
| erected was a very substantial and well
| built one for those times and though in
nocent OF paint and varnish, served its
purpose for many years.
| The pulpit of this church was one of
the highest of tho high old fashioned kind
/ Under it was good sized room and this
room was used as an arsenal by the Local
military company. Here were stacked
thcir arms ana Announcements TO be
DrouEnt lortn once eocn year, at the an
/ hua June tralhlhS' great hoIluag event
OF those days.
! Inc ch'lrch had no regular pastor until
lNVl Wheh rev w llnam SALISBURY was
| settled here. Previous to that time how
ever regular services were held at which
there was minister but oftoncr none.
1 When there was no parson the preaching
was done ny inc doacons or other mem
! DOTS Oh tlo cHurcn anu occasionally ny
| some travelling lay preacher VINO was 10y
accident or design IN that part OF the state
MI SALISBURY was u young man ana thls
was ms hrst charge. Nheh ne went 10
! Naltsheld the church was not YET COM
/ ploted ana large pooth was erected out
OF doors and in this Mr. salisbury was
| ordained. lis salary the hrst year was to
| be $685. ana the use OF the minister lot'
After the first year his pay was increased
to $2GG.61 and the lot.
| At that time all voters were members OF
the Congregational church society unless
they chose TO withdraw by signing paper
stating that their conscience would not
allow them to worship according to the
rules of that denomination This was
changed by the law of the state of Yer
mont in 1907, after which only baptized
persons had any share in the spiritual
government of the church though many
societies maintained the church" and
society" as two distinct organizations.
| In 1915 it was decided to build n new
church edflce and at once a quarrel arose
over the question whether to erect 1t on
the old site or near the river where ma
jority of the people were. 1t was COM
promised by selection of spot on the
hill about half n mile from the river