Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-11-16
THE HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
A History of the Congregational
Church in Barre for One Hundred
Years.

The year 1899 has been made for
ever memorable 10y the death of George
Washington, the father and founderof
this nation. This event occurred on
the l4th day of December just one
month after the Barre Congregational
church was organized. But twenty
three years had passed since the Decla-
ration of American Independence, and
only eight years Since Vermont had
taken her place in the sisterhood of
states. our nation now numbering a
population Of 10, 900, 600 then contain
ed only 5000, 900.
1t was a momentus year for Europe
and the scenes there enacted had Il
marvellous effect upon this nation.
Napoleon fought his way through the
armies of Europe to Paris, and by his
coup Dictate founded the first French
Empire. TO maintain his armies he
was forced in 1903 to sell to the United
States for S15, 600. 600 the French pos
sessions on this continent. This more
than doubled our national territory.
Mexico, which was destined to add yet
further portions to our national do
main. was then under the domination
of Spain. who now in the closing years
of the century yields to us the last
portions of her once magnificent colo
NAL empire ON this continent.
Two Illustrations taken from John
Bach MacmaSter'S "ContraStS OF His
tory" will bring to our minds the
condition Of society as it existed one
hundred years ago. These relate to
the press and labor. In 1899 there
were but II daily papers in the United
States and not one illustrated paperof
any kind. All the printing was done
on band presses. To-day an edition OF
9G, 900 copies Of an ci%llt-page paper is
run off in an hour. The length of
time required to strike oil such an
edition a century ago would have
made the first sheet three months old
before the last was finished. In 1899
Il wori,ngman laborcd from sunrise to
sunset. and if . farm hand, was paid
SO a month. A woman who went out
to service received SO a year; or, at
home by hard work, could make at
the spinning wheel twelve ccntsa day.
The wonderful progress of the past
century is set forth by Alfred wal
lace. the author Of DalWiniSm. by Il
description Of thirteen discoveries
which have reNOIutionized the world.
These are railways, steam navigation,
electric telegraphS, the telephone,
friction matches. gas lighting, electric
lighting, photography, the photo
graph, X rays, spectrum analysis, 'hc
use of anasthctics and anticepticS.
The marvels that have been wrought
bv these inventions and discoveries
and through their adaptation in SO
many ways would have astonlshed the
people of the last century beyond
measure. Our wonder is how they
got along without them.
The national advancement made
during the same period in educational
facilities and the progress OF mission
AIRY enterprises is no less wonderful.
The Pilgrim Fathers laid the follnda-
tiOn of our common school system
when they ordained that there should
a schoolmaster in every town in the
colony. The nineteenth century has
brought that principle to it's present
perfection. 1t has also produced the
academy, which has been of such ben
eft throughout New England and by
it's influence reaching far beyond. III
has seen the multiplication of colleges
east and west, sufficient to meet the
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