Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1898-07-30

was, The parish in the present and the La
dies Aid Society. Mr.. Sanford said that
during the first five years of his work in
Bellows Falls he laid to rest 50 of his par
ishioners all over 40 years Of age,the aver
age age being &C years. This was the passing
of generation, but their successors had
rallied nobly to the support of the Lords
work He paid handsome compliment
to the old Ladies' Society with emphasis
on the "old," and referred to the little
handbook that Miss Ann Hapgood as treas
urer of the society frequently passes about
as penny catcher. This box is II years
Of age and has been used by the society
continuously.
Rev. S. H. Webb responded to The
humorous side Of parish life and recalled
several humorous incidents connected with
the early life of the parish.
Hermon Holt, Esq, Of Claremont spoke
of Claremont and Bellows Falls,-the tie
between them. These two places are
neighboring villages and alike in many re-
spects. Mill employees go back and forth
and one of the largest industries in Clare
mont is owned by Bellows Falls man.
Citizen, of the two places visit back and
forth and intermarry. A strong tie be-
tween the Episcopal parishes of the two
villages was the lamented Bishop Carleton
Chase. He was born in 1874, graduated
from Dartmouth college in 1917, and be-
came rector OF Emmanuel parish in 1919.
He lived well, dressed well, and reared a
family and yet had salary of only $500,
and he wrote in one of his diaries that his
income never exceeded $3.50. To be sure
living used to be cheaper then than now,
but great economy bad to be exercised
nevertheless. Prior to 1910 beet steak
sold for six cents pound, mutton, pork
aud veal two cents, butter - cents, and
cheese six cents. The people of the Con-
nectlcut valley were angry when railroad
was introduced and the price of beef steak
went up to seven cents. In 1914 Mr.. Chase
was elected bishop Of New Hampshire at q
salary of $500 and also was rector of Trim.
ity parish in Claremont at salary Of $500
He died in 1870 possessed of property
valued at $4,000.
Rev. George F Chaplin of Saxtons River
responded to Christian work in Rocking.
ham. He said that the Congregationalists
first began organized work in Rockingham
In 1878 church was organized with Is
members with the Rev. Samuel Whiting, 8
graduate of Harvard, as pastor. A Con-
gregational church was organized in West
minister in 1867, and the first church il
Vermont was established in Bennington il
1862. The Congregational church at Sax
tons River dates from 1925 and in Bellows
Falls from 1850. Mr.. Chaplin said he
brought greeting to Emmanuel church from
the other churches in Rockingham and de.
clared that for tie present occasion al
were Episcopaliars.
| MI. STdWlOTO CdilCO vi ~. IL. w
ESQ.,, to respond to the toast, Village i'm.
provements. In doing so he referred to q
modest professional man, DR.. ON. George
by name, who had been doing great dea
this year to improve and beautify the streets
of Bellows Falls. One morning before
breakfast he was taking stroll and found
DR.. George with overalls on caring for one
of the flower beds in the streets. Mr.. VIII
liams commended the excellent condition
of our streets, and BRIT fly argued the cry
ing need OF public park and in this he
voiced the sentiment Of every thoughtful
citizen. We have the land and the money
aud why not the park.
Mr.. Crawford said that in arranging the
program he had some difficulty in deciding
whether to open with big gun or close
with ore, and so hal compromised the
matter by using big gun at both the
opening and closing. Bishop Hall bad set
the ball rolling and II. ID Ryder, Esq
who is chairman of the school board and
therefore his big gun would finish the pr :
gram. Mr. Ryder was asked to make re-
marks on Secular education in Rocking
ham. 1t was in 1892 that the town OF
Rockingham was divided into school dis
tricts and just 100 years later the
town system was adopted in Vermont by
legislative enactment. An important fl c.
tor in the growth and effectiveness of our
public schools is the 'art that all OF the
children of the town attend them. Th, re
is now no parish school and there never
has been parochial school and this is bet
ter both for the children and the c1mmuri-
ty than divisions along aristocratic or re-
ligious lines.
4 VISITORS PRESENT.
Besides the clergy previously mentione d
there were present at this centennial Rev.
w. II. Collins of Brattleboro, Rev. b. w.