Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-09-22
Guildhall Church
Centennial.
Thursday, Sept. ID, go.
A Memorable Occasion.
MORNING EXERCISES.

Thursday, September IA, the
day set apart for this memorable
occasion, the weather seemed
threatening and many were anX-
iously watching the clouds. Be
tween 9 and 10 O'Clock it was
bright but somewhat chilly, and
teams were seen travelling down
the river from Guildhall and up
from Lancaster so that standing
on the hill and looking down at
the Connecticut there was seen
an almost continual line of people
from the river to the old church |
site; and soon in the fields and |
wherever a spot could be found
in the woods horses and car
riage were disposed of, and the
pilgrims assembled around the
tasty monument reading the in
Scriptions thereon, whilst the
oldest inhabitants were deScrib-
ing the old church, INDUCING in
reverential "reminiscences relating
to the manner of removal, etc.
The scene was simple, rustic, but
very impressive. Everything in
Dictated that the spot was sacred
in the minds of the people otthat
locality. Miss NJ. A. Brokaw
read a very appropriate scrip
ture selection, prayer was offered
by Rev. A. c. Fuller, pastor
of the NJ. E. Church, G. Irving
Fellows presented lease Of the
lot, and Hon. E. c. Benton the
memorial to the church and So
ciety which were accepted by
Deacon Robert Chase i'll behalfO
the donees. The presentation
and acceptance were expressed
in brief but very appropriate and
affecting terms. Rev. ,. +. Mar
Ston of Lancaster offered n dedi-
catory prayer, which was follow
ed by a very interesting histori.
cal address by Hon. L. {. Ben.
ton, which we publish. Rev. Theo-
dore F. Prudden of Newton,
Mass, a former pastor of the
church was then introduced. In
a pleasant manner he recalled
many interesting incidents of his
pastorate and closed with an
earnest eXhortatiOn to the chill
dren to take hold of the examples
of the fathers and to profit by
the lessons taught by the hour
The exercises were closed by a
benediction pronounced by the
venerable S. S. Benton. Souve.
Mrs of the old church foundation
were distributed in tasty ervel-
opes and all descended from the
mountain feeling that they had
passed an exceedingly interest.
ing forenoon, expressing much
commentator for the donor and
hearty wishes for the success oil
the recipients.
AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
At 2.3O in the Congregational
Church the programme was car,
ried out as given in these col.
umns last week. The address OF
welcome was made by Hon. Rob.
ert Chase. The singing by the
two quartettes was much ad.
mired, and the address by our
townsman, Hon. Geo. n. Dale,
was what was expected and was
delivered in the speakers usual
manner, the large audience testi-
flying very earnestly their appre-
citation of his admirable address
1t is given in full elsewhere in
this issue. Master Jay r. Ben
tons solo was rendered in a very
creditable style, and met with
hearty applause. Mrs. w. F.
Burns of Lancaster delivered an
interesting, pungent and aggres-
sive address, vindicating the po-
sition of woman in a modest but
quite effective style. 1t sparkled
with points and illustrations,
and sharphits which was enjoyed
even by those on whom they fell.
She closed with a solo, Beck
oning Hands," ginrare taste,