Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-11-17

records. The church called pastors
and invited councils for their install
lation and dismission without any re-
cord of conference with a society or.
ganizatiOn. Later such references are
made, both in relations to the call OF
a pastor, the building of new church
and the sale of the first parsonage.
The meeting house at Gospel Village
was a proprietary church, individuals
absolutely owned their pews and hav-
ing complete control of them. When
the building was sold the proceeds
were divided among the proprietors.
From 1S4l to 1878 their existed an
organization known as "the proprie-
tors of the first Congregational meet
ing house in Barre lower-village. '"'It
consisted of siXty-four owners of pews
in the first brick church. These pews
they had bought at auction Jan. 18th
1871, at prices ranging from ten to
ninety-nine dollars, George w. Cola
mer being the auctioneer.
Another organization existed for the
same period for the purpose of "sup-
porting the ministers of the gospel. "
1t was named "the First Congrega-
tional society of the town of Barre"
1t was formed according to the eighty
first chapter of the revised statutes Of
Vermont and authority was given to
raise funds, first by subscription, and
the deficiency by tax to be assessed
upon the grand list of each member.
Yet another organization for the
same period existed, called "the pro-
prietors of the Congregational parson-
age" They were the owners of the
parsonage and attended to the build
ing and keeping it in repair. These
three organizations which, with the
church proper, made four, were by act
of the legislature in November 1878,
all merged into the Barre Congrega-
tional church. This incorporation was
completed and the present constitu-
tion adopted February 18th, 1890, I'M
der an act of legislature of November
oath, 1888.
The church has had ten pastors in
the present incumbent. To-
gether they have given service of
about eighty-two years. The longest
pastorate was a little more than fifteen
years and one-half. The shortest was
one year, two months and three days.
The total length of time the church
has been without pastoral oversight is
about eighteen years. This includes
the seven years preceding the first set
Element. The longest interregnae was
of three years and occurred after the
of the second pastor The
three periods next in length were but
little more than a year each, and the
other five, embracing the last four set
were less than year each in
duration.
The first pastor, the Rev. Aaron
Palmer, was installed February 23d,
1907, and continued in office until his
death, which occurred Feb. 7, 1921.
He was a faithful and devoted min
lister and a public spirited citizen,
deeply interested in the cause of edu-
cation. During his passionate of near
ly fourteen years, forty-three members
were added to the church. The year
following his death the ministers of
the association supplied the church
and the salary was given to Mrs. Pal
mer.
The Rev. Justus Warner French
was the next in succession, and was
installed pastor May 23d, 1922. After
A service of nearly nine years his
health failed and he sought dismission
which was accorded Dec. 21, 1881. Mr..
French organized the first temperance
society in Barre and procured the
first Sunday School library. He also
took deep interest in the educational
ltfairs of the community. The first
great revival was under his ministry
md at one communion, in 1927, more
.han seventy were added to the men,
)ership. Throughout his pastorate
)ne hundred and tifty-eight were
into the church.
The third pastor was the Rev. Joseph
who was installed January
9Th, 1885. He was devout Christian,
/ thorough gentleman, somewhat
august in bearing and abrupt in adj
lresS. Discussions prevailed in the
church and after ministry of three
years, he retired, Jan, 81, 1888. Dur
ng his passionate, sixty-tive were add
I'd to the church.
The Rev. James Ripley Wheelock
to the passionate, Sept. 20,
1898, and at his own request was dis
missed Nov. 20, 1889, making his stay
With the church but little more than
| year. He was by profession a law
yer before he studied divinity and had
/ law office at Royalton, vt. 1t was
hiring MIR. WneelOck'S brief naStOrate |