Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1897-02-12
OUR
FAMOUS
FRIEZE KING.
ULSTER $12 I.
Warranted all wool, snow and
water proof. The best ulster in
the world to day at the price.
VELLSfC fCOEERLY
3S4, 1886, 1893 River Street,
. 10, Is, II, 10 Fourth Street,
TROY, N. v.


imagined. Rev. Mr.. Bronson, in his
Historical Letters, suns up the
number of ''pious communicates at
about twenty. He was engaged per-
mauently at Manchester and by the
year in Arlington, the engagement in
the latter place being annually re-
newed for twenty-three years. Taking
up his residence in Manchester he
ministered regularly to these two par
ishes, making visits to the other soci-
eties in the county as often as circum.
stances would permit. His labors
we're blessed by general up-building
of the church..
In 1903, the church edifice in Ar
lington was completed, and the people
in the west part of the town associat-
ed themselves for the purpose of build
ing another church, four miles distant
down the river. The older church
was called Bethel, and the new one,
Bethesda. Both churches remained 10
the care Of one society and were min
istered to alternately until about 1927,
when regular service was suspended at
Bethesda for want Of support.
In Sandgate the church was minis
tered to for few years by the Rev.
James Nichols, who was the only
Clergyman ever having his residence
there. Afterwards it was sustained by
lay-reading and the visits Of Rev Mr.
I Bronson. 10 was rnilcd st Mathew ~
church and at one time numbered
tbirty-one cOmmunicants. Soon after
Rev. Mr.. Bronson s removal from Ar
lington it dwindled away and was
lost. 1t is the only place in the coun
ty where the church has had a foot.
hold that we find no trace at the pres
ent day.
1t was mainly through Rev. Mr..
Bronson's efforts that the lands grant
ed to the different towns for a glebe
for the Church of England were Sc
cured to the use Of the church. At
the time of the setting aside of these
lands there were no churches to take
them in charge and they lay unculti-
waited. Other societies thinking to ap
propriate them, they we're the cause
of much legislative action ana litiga-
tion in the courts.
| have spoken at length of Rev. Mr.
Bronson's work, that we in this coun-
ty may realize our Indebtedness to
him and to show how much the zeal
and untiring efforts of one man, by
the grace of God, can do for the up
building of his church.
For many years the church in Man
chester was Obliged TO hold services in
the court house. In 1920 money was
raised to nuild a suitable house OF
worship, and the present edifice was
finished and consecrated. l copy the
following from Bishop Griswold's ad
dress to the Eastern Diocese; "On
October 18th, 1921, assisted by the
Reverend Brethren Bronson, Beach |
Chase, Humphrey and Baury, conse-
Grated the new church 10 Manchester,
called Zion church. The house was
much crowded through all the SER
vices, by people who listened as those |
who have ears to hear. They re-
mained during the communion ser
vice and, with the exception of one de- |
all the communicates of |
the various churches present, includ- |
ing several Congregational ministers,
received with US the Lords supper. -
In 1920 Bethel church in Arlington
was taken down, and on October 26th,
Of the same year, the corner stone of
the present church was laid. 1t was, /
however, not completed and consecrat
ed until two years later under the
name Of st, James church.
We often hear Of the influence exert
I'd by women in the affairs of State.
We will now see what they did for the
,hurch in Bennington. 10 the early
history Of the church in the county,
We found a few church people in Ben
lington, but not until the first quar-
ser Of the century has passed do we
lote the presence Of any considerable
number, and these, with few excep-
ions were women, possessing energy
md determination, and they resolved,
~ the help of God, to have a church
here. They could not legally organ
re society themselves, but they
ould influence their husbands and
thers to do it, and they did.
10 July 1884, was organized the So
iety now called st. Peter's church. A
estry was elected and call extended
o Rev. Nathaniel Preston. Services
gere held 10 the old academy and the
iethodist meeting house, but desir-
ng a suitable place Of worship OF
heir own, a subscription paper was cir
ulated to raise money to build a
hu ch. Twelve hundred dollars were {
onn auhteri nod and IN tho ant,,s,or