The Newtown bee., 1899-12-22
ERlIGEWATER..
REV WARREN MORSE INSTALLED AT BEN.
NINGTON, VT,

REV WARREN MORSE INSTALLED AT BEN.
NINGTON, VT.
The installation of Rev Warren Morse
as pastor of the old First church at Ben
nington Center took place, December ID.
Mr. Morse, who had just come from
BridgeWater, Conn, is the twelfth pas
tor that the society has had permanently
settled over it. The parish Is the oldest
in Vermont, having been organized in
1862, the first church being completed In
season to be occupied for the tirst time
in 1865. The first parson was Rev Jede-
diah Dewey, who went there fGOm West
field, Mass. The size of the old meeting
house was so by 40 feet with porch 20
feet square. In the upper part school
was kept for several years. There were
galleries around three sides Of the audi.
enc5 room. The pews we're square, Or
namented with little ratings. lhere was
huge sounding board oyer the pulpit,
and exit was through three doors. The
inside was SO arranged as to leave a tier
of wall pews all around the house, and
EWO tiers of square pews in the body Of
the house. 1ne old meeting house was
the scene OF many memorable events in
the early history Of the state. Town
meetings were held in it for a number Of
years. In it the people met to give
thanks after the taking of Tic0nderog8,
Ethan Allen at that time being resi-
dent Of the town. From the pulpit Par
son Dewey preached q war sermon the
Sunday proceeding the Bennington bat
tie. In its rooms were confined for sew
eral days the Hessians and other prison
ers captured at that battle. In this meet
ing house the first Legislature of YER
mont assembled in June, 1778. The leg
islatures of 1879 and 1880 also assembled
iv7S unWr I,,A ri Fn@ Skn Nuv
Gus trial of " hitney and Tbbets for the
alleged murder of an Indian, Stephen
Gordon, at which time the accused wera
successfully defended by Pierpont Ed
wards of New Haven, Conn, he coming
from there for that porpose. The old
church was destroyed by fire about 1896
and the present one was erected and oc-
cupied ABOUT 1904, it being the eldest
church edifice in the state. In it's CON-
struction it was largely patterned after
the old church and with the exception
that the old pews we're taken out in 1886
and replaced by slips it yet retains much
OF the old form. The order of service
was as follows:
Doxology.
Invocation Rev Mr. Harrington.
Reading OF Minutes OF Council, Scribe
Scripture Reading, Rev q. W. Collier,
Anthem.
Sermon, Rev william L. Tenney.
OrdRtntng Prayer, Rev William Even.
Hymn.
Charge to the Pastor, Rev john Bascom. d. D.
Right Hand OF F Fellowship,
Rev Charlas H. Peck
Address to the People,
Rev Charles R. Seymour
Prayer, Rev F. ID. " Garretson.
Hymn
Benediction, Rev Warren Morse
ROLL OF HONOR AT THE CENTER SCHOOL.
The following names appear on the
roll of honor In the Grammar department
OF the Center school: Grover Allen, Edith
Bronson, Clarence Greer, Lena Greer,
Mary Hatch, Flora Higgins, Mabel Keel
er, Louis Livingston, Isabelle Orr, Grace
Pitcher, Clarence Roberts, Willie Schlot-
terbeck, Sadie Taylor, Burr Youugs,
Dana Burgess, Owen Burgess, Howard
Hatch, Ethel Starr.
M. B. Mallett spent Sunday in New
York City.
Miss Sarah Sanford entertained friends
from Newtowp, this week.
The Center schools will resume their
regular seFions after the New Year.
There will be service in st Marks