The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-09-27
Pastor and People.


noon commenced at two o'clock. Prayer |
was offered by Rev. DIR. 1. p Booth OF Nor
risville followed by an address by George
W. Wing, Esq, for the Church Of the Mes
church, spoke for the Montpelier clergy,
9. K. Ayers for the Young Peoples Relig-
ious Fraternity: Rev. Effie X. M. Jones OF
Barre. for the Universalst clergy; Prof o.
X. HOLSTER of Barre for educational insti
buttons and Rev. Joel II. Metcalf OF Bur-
lington for the Unitarian clergy. These
exercises were interspersed by music spe-
cially arranged for the occasion.
A large number OF letters had been re-
ceived by Colonel A. G. Brown, l.. W.
Shedd and others of the committee, in re-
Spouse to special invitations sent out. From
this number, all breathing the same spirit
of love for Mr.. Wright and appreciation OF
his work are the following:
Rev. Edward Everett Hale wrote:
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
BOSTON, SEPTEMBER 81, 1899.
MY DEAR Mr.. SHEDD:
cannot think OF
anything that would give me more pleasure
than to be present with Mrs. Hale at the
celebration of September 26. remember
my pleasant visit TO Montpelier with great
satisfaction. | knew then what a fine fell
| low Mr.. Wright was; and while L might
say know it no better now than then, l
look back on the success of his work with
| delight. You know as well as / know how
many temptations have been offered to him
to try what people call another sphere Of
in which you have known him he has
been what / like to call a Unitarian
bishop, and his influence though the whole
of our New England church has been much
larger than he knows and perhaps than you
know. With every hope for a pleasant
Very truly yours,
EDWARD K. HALE.
Rev. Charles Allen, Mr.. Wright's prede-
cessor, sent the following appreciatiye
answer:
FIRST PARISH CHURCH, BRrpaEwArER,
MASS, CHARLES A. ALLEN MINISTER.
September %, 1899.
MY DEAR Col:
1t is very gratifying to
receive the kind invitation of your commit.
tee to attend the thrtieth anniversary OF Mr.
Wrights pastorate, and very tantalizinp
that my duties here will prevent my being
present. very keenly regret my inability
80 attend, and l shall remember you all af
fectionately on the day of commemOration
Probably no one outside Of the circle of resi-
dent Pensioners can feel more interest, OF
have more reason to feel an interest, in
this occasion, beside your pastor and his
family, because my own first ministry was
passed in your town and prepared the way
for the thirty years faithful and fruitful
ministry which you commemorate mex
week. L have right, then, to rejoice with
you and to congratulate myself as well al
! You, that so bountful harvest has follow
ed the work that | was priviledged to do
look back with very tender and reveren
memories to those long-passed years; ther'
is no place in this land for which / still
have so much affection; there is no time il
t, my life in which L found more uDalloye,
happiness in doing my work. And 1T is 70
this reason that | am 30 gratifed to know
that the work which began with so mucl
enthusiasm and joy and which 1 remembe
with so much thankful pleasure, has pros
pered in the hands OF him to whom l en-
Trusted it, when L proposed he should b.
NV successor.
1 had intended to visit your city last sum
, mer, but unexpected duties kept me a
, home. hope that / shall be able to maxi
visit next year; and it will be grea
privilege to see my many old friends VIII,
survive.
, May Gods choicest blessings abide will
you and your pastor, and many years NOR,
be added to this halowed relation of affec
Tomato friendship and mutual service.
Yours ever faithfully,
CHAs. a. ALLEN.
| George Batchelder, editor of the Christian
, Register, Boston, wrote
In that small band of .honored Unitarian
ministers, less than dozen in number
who have served for thirty-one years con
tinuously in one parish, Mr.. Wright take
= he is known, he is trusted and respecte
! for his sagacity and fidelity. In his privat
, lie, and in his Intercourse with his fellow
men, he illustrates the doctrine he breaches
You are fortunate in having such long an
excellent ministry, and he has been fortu
nate in minstering to church that coul,
appreciate his modest and manly services.
Rev. William Barnes of Montreal, wrote
1t has been faithful and beautiful pas
torate which your people will common
crate, and your people do well to expres
in this way an appreciation which is 8
creditable to the congregation, 80 justl
merited by your pastor, and so cordial
shared by Mr. Wrght's many friends else
where.
Rev. j. II. Weeks, who supplied Mr.
Wright's pulpit the year he was abroa
: wrote among other things:
1t would give me the greatest delight T.
, go up to Montrelier again-to see the towI
and people and swell the song of thanks
giving with the congregation that 1 Learned
TO love during my stay few years since
A thirty years. pastorate is, indeed, IL
J these days, wonderful thing and [ do no
OF it. Many OF us ministers, / am sure, IL
our heart of hearts, are, or will he whei
this celebration is over-lamenting that
record OF the same fact will not be found OF
} our tombstones-unles the Lord adds I,
the space of our years, and allows US ais,
to sip of the elixir of life. II / could get ~
: much real happiness out Of stay of min,
months in Montpelier what perfectly tire
mendous total would the thirty years foo
up for Mr.. Wright. The Montpelier con
gregation is 80 levelheaded and sensible tina
it will not use to its own harm any assur
ance that it was the best one L ever min
istered to, and l have since been vainl,
looking for one like it.
Rev. Robert Colyer of New York wrote
, 1t would be a Joy if could come to Mont
pelier to the celebration. Your ministe
has been my dear friend these many years
| knew him before you saw his face in
deed there is dim memory that we had
r talk together before he became ministe
in our communion, and You may we'll b
glad for his ministry in Montp -ler through
all these years. glad and proud. for your
also is the honor as it is the Joy, in Brothe
t Wright, and his work among you-yol
have held up his hands and his heart.
cannot be- with you but send love and con
ordinations all round AS
Indeed yolrs,
ROBERT CoLLYER.
Scores of others, equally interesting wer,
received, many of which were read.
This evening at eight o'clock reception
ILL., i.