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

church in this place. In preparing this
|. address | am compelled to draw largely
from reports made to the several conven-
/ tons of the diocese of Vermont. A COM
plste set of the journals stands on my
library shelves, and in leisure moments
J | often turn their pages and think UPON the
past. In the journal of 1889 / find the
names of E. b. Webb and Asa Went
worth, Jr., among those of the vestry-
men, and the number of the communicates
is given as 104. About this time the lee
ture room was built on the lot adjacent to
the old church as we call it now.
THE OLD CHURCH.
l wish l had picture of the church
buildings as they were 60 years ago. If it
were best could describe them from MEM
DRY with tolerable degree OF accuracy.
Some features thereof may be mentioned.
A modest building was the church, Of con-
venient access as to entrance. Not far
removed alongside was the lecture room,
built at the end and over row of sheds
for horses and carriages. The entrance to
the room was at one end thereof by means
Of flight of stairs, near which stood the
hearse-house so-called.
The hearse itself, like those of that day,
was gruesome thing to me and others.
Within the church edifce it was none too
warm in winter and none too cool in sum-
4 mer. | can almost see before me at this
moment the whole interior of that struc-
ture. Pews on either side and between
the aisles and in each corner near the
chancel two or three more. l can name
and place many OF the holders of those
pews as they were held and occupied year
after year by the occupants thereof. In
1912 it is reported they are all taken.
Remember l am not speaking of the pro-
priety or improperly of renting, as it is
called, portions of Gods house. l see
F before me the well-known families of
Blake, Green, Fleming, Robbins, Morgan,
[ Williams, Hapgood, Stone, Church, and
many others, not forgetting those occupied
by people bearing my own name. must
confess that as boy I preferred to sit in
the gallery in a seat near by my fathers,
who tor many years with, think, others
of the same name were, as we say, in the
choir. | need not say it was wish seldom
, gratifed.
al A FAMOUS CHOIR.
S That choir! Shall | ever forget it ?
: Hundreds 81 times have l spoken of it
e since left this parish, and often held it up
: as a model choir when speaking to my own
e church and Sunday school. Let me give
n as l remember them the names of those
d who composed it: James H. Williams,
/ who for so many years played the bass
viol, as it was then called; John w.
}. Moore and John N. Baxter, who played
: the flute; Charles Hapgood, who sang bass
! for more than an ordinary life time; James
e Wentworth, who sang magnificent tenor
It the faithful sisters, Mrs. Hapgood ant
4 Mrs. Hyde, who sang the praises of tn,
9 great Creator in manner which Nigh
a well be called soul-inspiring; the organ
! lists, Mrs. Green and Mrs. Fleming, sis
tiers by birth and both loving alike oul
h good mother, the church, even as did theil
husbands; and sometimes in later years
o one who is now living, then Miss Annie j
q Fleming, now Mrs. Lewis G. Popham.
Turning again to contemplation Of the
interior Of the church l see the slende,
q posts on the ends of alternate pews, made
! by the rector's own hands, on which were
placed lamps that service might sometimes
h be held in the evening. Can 1 forget the
service on Christmas eve when there was
scarce standing room for the people who
hocked thither? Never have 1 heard bet.
ter or more devotional and inspiring music
f than that to which listened on those occa.
!. sions. say this not to disparage the
S efforts of the many choirs to which | have
# listened, but to give that tribute of praise
/. to those faithful singers which belongs to
s them. They used their talents as giver
. them to be employed in the worship Of the
g Creator. Services in the church on Sun.
8 day we're at 1890 and about 1.30 witt
: Sunday school between. The church was
repaired and painted in 1912 and the yea,
: following statistics give evidence Of con-
t tinued prosperity.
q REV. DR.. CHASE.
In 1914 the Rev. DR.. Chase was elected
3 bishop of New Hampshire, having served
: the church faithfully for about quarter o
3 century in this parish. I know not how
u to supplement more fifty what have writ
ten concerning the ministry of the Rev DR.
: Chase and his parish. My tribute Of affec
u ton and esteem is that of one whose early
$ childhood was passed in this place and tina
l. of one who in older boyhood was privileged
to dwell for several months beneath hi
7 roof in neighboring village. Most gladl!
l would l speak at length Of those day
so full of happiness. Bright indeed the.
were. 1t is not best to linger here ovel
J their joys. He was my friend; to him
: owe much, as indeed 1 do to others o
whom have made mention. have in my
o nos session, q 70 stimopiol hriof hnf fornihlo