The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-10-06

that Christianity achieves its highest honor
and accomplishes It's greatest results when
1t enacts laws according to Christian prin-
cples. Christianity is becoming more and
more dominating and controlling thought
in laws enacted. This point was eloquently
and forcibly elaborated by several illustra-
tions, and the speaker closed by saying that
there is no danger of sending too many
Christian men to the Legislatures, that only
when the law and its execution shall be-
come the capitalization of Christianity, will
the highest duty OF man be performed.
PEOPLE who resided in Montpelier forty
years ago will remember the excitement
that was caused when it was known that
the man who had robbed the Citizens bank
Of Bangor, Me-, Of 5000 900 had been located
at what is now the Exchange Hotel. A
noted detective from Boston named Pelham
tracked the burglar TO Montpelier but in at
tempting to arrest him in his room at the
hotel got bullet in his breast and his man
escaped. A hermit who has lived near Dry
Run, Ohio, since the war, died last week,
and from letters and confessions left by
him, there is no doubt but he was the i" Bill
Preston" who committed the largest bank
robbery ever known in those days, and who
narrowly escaped capture at Montpelier.
From written confessions left by him 1t was
shown that he has never been out OF the
United States. He served four years in the
Union army in a New York regiment under
the name of Charles Russell, and was, for q
time, scout on the staff of General Grant.
OF the amount stolen $4,000 was in cash,
and the $4,000 in bonds and securities he
never negotiated. Since the war he has
lived in the hut where he died. The docu-
ments left by him do not explain how he
spent anything like such an amount of
money. 1t is believed that large part Of
the cash and the securities are hidden or
buried in or near the place where he has
lived for thirty years, and vigorous search
for the missing wealth is in progress.
THE annual meeting Of the Montpelier
Educational and Benevolent Association
was held at the rooms of Mrs. Joel Foster
last Friday evening The work done dur
ing the year under review was reported as
an advance upon that OF previous years,
both in the amount and character of the in
structon in the Industrial School, and in
the number Of garments given to the des-
titute. The treasurer's report showed a
balance on hand of $16.S4. The old board
of officers was reelected, with the exception
of Mrs. Anna Dillon, who requested to be
relieved from further service as treasurer.
The board comprises the following persons:
President, General j. III. Lucia; vice-pres-
dent, Mrs e. M. Denny; secretary, Rev.
j. Edward Wright; treasurer, Mrs: Flora
Guernsey; executive committee, Mrs. o.
l.. Watson. Mrs. f. M. Cory, Mrs. s. l..
Howe, Mrs. W. A. Stowell, Mrs. Mary w.
Foster and Miss Adelaide Griswold; finance
committee, Hon. Joseph Poland, A. w.
Ferrin and Mrs. o. II. Richardson 1t is
hoped that the association will be permitted
in the Union School building A commit
tee was appointed to frame some express
sion of the gratitude of the association to its
retiring treasurer, and longtime faithful
friend, Mrs. Dillon, and we append their re-
port. I" Mrs. Anna Dillon:-The Montpel-
Ter Educational and Benevolent Associa-
ton desires to express to you its grateful
appreciation of your Invaluable aid through
all the years Of its existence, both in so hos
pitably furnishing room and every conve-
nience for its Industrial School, and for the
care OF all supplies contributed for its dis.
tributon. In various ways you have shown
great generosity as d member of the organ
ization, and self-sacrihcing and loving in
terest in the welfare and progress of the
children, its beneficiaries. The work of the
executive committee, and of the teachers
has been made easier and pleasanter by the
| influence of your example, and we are hap
PLY assured that diviner approval awaits
you for 'Inasmuch as you have done this for
the least of these, the children, you have
done it for the Master" Mrs M. w. Foster,
Mrs. e. Nj. Denny, Mrs. f. NJ Cory, Com
mittee.
AT Christ Church last Sunday morning
Rev. A. N. Lewis delivered his sixth ami
versary sermon. The text was from LEVITT
Gus XIV: 81: II will command my blessing
upon you in the sixth year" After speak
ing to the rectorship, he gave the following
list of his official acts Baptisms, 1S91-1897,
II adults, SO children, s.; combinations,
1891-1S97, 90; marriages, 1S91-1S97, "a;
burials, IS91-l897, 10 children, IA men, 80
women, &c. He also showed the growth of
the parish as evidenced by the increased
number Of families, communicates and Of
| ferings since its organization in 1912, fifty
five years ago The number of families
since 1S49 has increased from 40 to los; the
number of communicates from 81 to POI; the
| communion aims from $40 So to SIPS SO.
| The increase in the number of families dur
| ing the last six years has been from 70 to
| 1903; communicates from 156 to 201 4 COM
munion aims from S51.94 to 1928 SO. The
| average amount Of money raised for church
purposes during the past six years is
$3,072.12. The rector also gave list OF
gifts to the church since 1S91-An altar
Memorial Cross, from Mrs. T. p. Redfield
| pair of brass vases, Mr.. and Mrs. w. II.
| Cowell; two candleabras for the altar, and a
set Of communion linen, Mrs. Fl. n. Taplin
Bible, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Dewey; red,
gold embroidered stole, Mrs. j. w. Ellis; a
white gold embroidered stole, Mrs. f. A.
Adams; table for the robing room, the
Kings Daughters: an umbrella stand for
the porch, the same; chiffonier for the
robing room, the Kings Daughters and the
Ladies' Guild; a brass bookrest for the al.
tar, Mrs. Kate Squires and her Sunday.
school class, Ruby Heaton, julia Adams.
Ella Blackwell and Robert Best marble
altar, Mrs. 7. p. Redfeld; memorial
cross, N. S. and Fl. r. Lord; hood and
surplice for the rector, the Kings Daugh-
ters; a stained-glass memorial window,
| Charles Dewey; two service books and
two prayer books for the altar, Mrs. Mary
e. Peck; silver baptismal she'll by the
same; two altar hymnals by Mrs. Lucy
Moulton; brass ever for the font by Mrs
I. p Redfeld; one hundred dollars to the
Sunday school by Newell Paine of Boston,
| in memory of DR.. and Mrs. Ezra Paine
Besides the above, many valuable gifts OF
furniture, china, silver, money, etc, have
been presented for the parish house. The
rector also stated that other valuable gifts
have been promised.