St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-02-01
A PASTORS ANNIVERSARY.
Tcontinued from 1st pagel

so called, for that ship-dissipating,
soul-embarrassing, critic-feeding pertor
nance hadn't been performed at all.
1t simplifed the matter, that, while
mnch warmth was in it, no engineering
was discernble: it raised very anxious
thoughts, but a Voice was presently
beginning to say arise, go: for the
Lord will be with thy mouth and teach
thee"
So it came to pass that in about nine
weeks there was an installing service in
this pulpit, it being Friday eve, Jam 80,
1874. The mercury was 90 below zero,
but people were not having grip in those
days and large congregation gathered
Some of you who were there may have
forgotten Mr.. Thompson's text and
excellent sermon, the prayer by Mr.
Wells. and even the words that Mr.
Humphrey addressed directly to you,
but you have not forgotten probably the
Enthusiastically forceiul charge that
your former minister gave to the new
one, charging bodily down upon him
until it looked as il both together might
90 over the north edge of the platform,
notwithstanding he had just then stoutly
affirmed that no man living could suit
him better as successor on this same
platform. OF those who took leading
parts that evening only DR.. Brastow
who charged, and Mr.. Southgate who
right handed, survive. Mr.. Southgate
said his people OF the North church
wanted to come down Sunday evening,
so they did, and at the close OF the service
a hundred or two of them came up with
right hands OF fellowship-some OF the
cordiality of which has been reciprOcated
in the occasional right handing OF new
ministers into their pulpit.
Twas looking over the diagram oichurch
sittngs as they were in 1874 and the
families occupying them. At that time
you remember the organ and choir were
in the rear gallery, and the wing pews
swung quite around so that Alex,
Iivingstons family on the south and
John Massey's on the north, faced each
other across the platform. Tho know.
ing VERY well that the changes OF five and
twenty years were many had hardly
believed that the families removed
outpumber those who remain. More
than 70 families then occupying these
sittngs have no representatives now
with us. Against these are about 60 still
on our directory,
1t is striking fact that in ! A families
that have worshiped here tor % wears no
deaths have occurred. Most OF these are
small families. On the other hand,
husband and wife of 20 families that
were in these seats to greet my coming,
have passed on. In all but few cases
it was my privilege to be with them in
sickness and at the last service. You
will be interested to have me call these
names-Mr. and Mrs. Geo. w. Ely, Eben
ZONES, T. Spooner II. DEMO- !. Harlow
list, l. Emerson, c. Chamberlin, l.. F.
Cady, F. Bingham, J. Warner, II. Steele,
!. Halves J. c. Paddock, J. Harlow 2nd,
w. W. Thayer, A. Stuart, S. Jewett, J.
Berry, w. Moore, L. B. Flint, W. Green,
w. H. Nutting, l.. Graham, A. E. Pride,
Asa Livingston, b. F. Wright, W.
Clement, | Wheaton W. H. Horton.
Tin one or two cases there were remar-
riages SO in ALL of whom 40 were mem
beers OF the South church, and all but
two or three were fathers and mothers.
During these years about $50 members
OF the church have been removed by
death, most OF them resident: number
more than twice that OF the origina
membership, which was &C. Not all o
them were Of superior worth, but very
many were: going up from these seats
they have taken to the church invisible
beauty of spirit and ripeness OF characte
nourished in the atmosphere OF this holy
place which they loved so well
seem to ste again coming slowly VI
the aisle some venerable men: Nalentn
Clement, the Elder Harlow, Franci
Bingham, Thaddeus Fairbanks, Joh
Halves, all above 80, Jacob Clark we
up toward it, Orchard Eastman
benignant countenance ranked hi
among the goodly patrarchs tho hi
step like his speech and heart were ligh
as a Youths Among women OF like hig
age was the widow of Calvin .Jewett
and OF J. Harlow list; Mrs. Halves lacl
ing one day OF 90years; also Mrs. Swal
daughter OF Cynthia Hastings, Jonatha
Arnold's widow, only two years memb'
with us, but as devoted to this church {
tho she had been in it all the while SIM
serving breakfast TO Gen. Vim, Hem
Harrison. Age only strengthened II
Three ther of the elder widows, octoge
arians, always hungry for some word
might bring them about the church, we
Esther Hutchinson, Betsey Emerso
Emily Wilcox. | am thinking too
many good mothers in this Israel who
presence is still with us in the childr
who now represent them in the Sou
church: Charlotte Paddock, Mary E
Eliza Ross, Elvira Baker, Corne
Adams, Elizabeth Green, Mary Moo
Jane Halves, Anna Gale, Jennie Har,
Eizabeth Horton. Partly in the sa
group and active in the woman's socie
prayer meeting, socals or Sunday sch
were Le6e Billiard, Jacintha Page, M;
Livingstone, Charlotte Bowman, Nj
B. Flint, Sarah P. Colby, Elijah
Jewett. Also Emma l.. Taylor, alw
light.bearer before her name ,
written in to the chandelier that 10
down upon her seat and her elder si
Almira, whose only name to me was
first sweet word framed on childh
lips. Then too there's the little grou
unmarried women whose home fideli
or Dorcas usefulness we remen