Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-11-13
centennial.
The Congregational Society
Celebrates Its Ami
VerSdry.
SERMON BY Mcmillan
The First Exercises of the
Centennial Period Began
Yesterday at the
Church.

The exercises attending the celebra
tion of the one hundredth anniversary
of the foundation of the Congrega.
tional church in this city began yes
terday in the large and beautifu
church which now stands as the monll-
ment of IA prosperous and tlourishin9
society that for a hundred years has
stood for all that is good for mankind
and for the promotion of religion and
advanced civilization.
The altar was adorned with flowers.
evcrgreenS and palms and above were
placed in gilt letters ON scrolls the in
ScriptiOnS: "l779," Centennial "
and ''lS99." The decorating was
done by the intermediate society.
The church was crowded with people.
even the gallery being filled at all of
the services.
The program of the services was
carried out according to the program
that has already been published in
this paper. In the morning the con-
gregation was favored by an eloquent
sermon from the Rev. j. Mcmillan of
Northampton, Mass. His address was
IA scholarly one and was listened to by
the large audience with great inter
est. The subject of his discourse was
Christ and Society"
The Sunday school rally took place
directly following morning service and
was opened by an interesting number
45 children of the primary department
under direction e. N!s,s O. G. Stickney,
marched to the platform where they
rendered together song and prayer
service.
The superintendent, DR.. O. g. Stick
ncy, called upon the secretary of the
school, Eli Boutwell,, for reading of
the historic chronicles of the Sunday
school. The school was first organized
in 1920 at Gospel Village. 1t was i'm
possible at that time ttrhOld the school
during the winter, owing to the fact
that stoves were unknown here at that
time. In 1881 they moved to the gall
lery of the church and then for the first
time the school continued regularly
through the winter. In lS4l they
moved to the brick church and since
that period there has been a steady
and remarkable growth from a little
band Of workers to its present stand
ard of 445 members and the largest
Sunday school i'm the state.
The superintendent who have been
at the head of this growth during that
time were Johp Gale, Nathaniel Dodge,
Cyrus Barber, Charles Clark, Stllman
Wood, Hiram Gale, . years, Jacob $,
Spaulding, Is years, Or. j. Henry
jackson, A. b. Fisher, Charles Whea-
ton, A. n. Wheclock, A. G. Reed, G.
NJ. Winch. c. \. Smith, G., $. Wallace,
George Inglis, Israel Wood, Dr. O. G.
a. G. Whitcher, DR.. j. w.
Jackson, &. ii. Pape, and the present
DR.. o. G. Stickney.
During the II years of the pastorate
of A. Royce l3l people united with
the church and of these 81 were from
the Sunday school. During the ten
years of e. |. Carpenters pastorate Al
members were taken i'm and 40 of
them were from the Sunday school.
During the eight years of Leonard
Tenneys pastorate III members came
in, of which lOS were from the Sun
day school,
Addresses were given by cX-super-
intendents G. NJ. Winch and G. S.
Wallace, upcrintendent Stlckney,
the Rev p. Mcmillan, who was for
eight years the pastor of the church
and from the present pastor the Rev.
DR.. S. n. Jackson.
At $50 the societies of the Chris
tian Endeavor held their meeting, the
exercises being opened by George E.
Gates. Reports were read from the
various departments and addresses
were given by Rev. p. Mcmillan and
George II. Conner.
The evening service was devoted to
a praise and song service.
The exercises are continued at 3.30
this afternoon and this evening con-
concert will be given. Tomorrow will
be the principal dayand several prom
inent speakers will take part in the
exercises. The pastor, Rev. DR.. S. N.
Jackson and the committee extend a |
cordial welcome to all who wish to at
tend.