Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-09-07
A TOWN MONITOR IN WILLISTON.
To the Editor of The Free Press.

Seldom has a town and never before
Williston within my memory of more
than half a century past. engaged in an
enterprise that bound all its citizens, men
and women, young and old together as
one man and gave higher satisfaction to
all than that of procuring and setting up
n town clock on the Methodist church. 1t
it felt that the clock has been placed in the
right place. the place prepared for it,
Providentially we doubt not in the location
and building of the church third of a
century ago. Tho church Is located in one
of the angles where four ways meet, one
from the north. one from the south, and
the others from the east and west. And
not only this fortunate location of the
house. but its beautiful spire leapinS up
into the heavens, make the place all the
more fitting. The clock placed here IL seen
from either direction afar off. 1t unites
with the spire to admonish us to mount
higher than any spire ever reached. even
up to the throne of God. In the words of
holy scripture they exhort to give all
diligence to make your calling and cleo
ton sure"
The interest and delight in our enter
prise eliminated Wednesday night in the
church. where large and eager audience
gathered to dedicate this heavenly moni-
tor. The surroundings and entrance 10
the church was tastefully lighted up by
Chinese lanterns to make ingress all the
more inviting. Within we were in the
presence of the University of Vermont
represented by President Buckham and
Prof. Goodrich. They. with the Hon.
Chauncey w Brownell and wife. had
come out to be sharers and helpers in our
festal Joy. In addition-and II was no
small ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the band from
Essex Junction. AS we were all now in
1.-The house of prayer" the exercises began
with prayer and praise, praise led by the
80 NJ. l.
temple Of old on Mount Zion when praise
was celebrated with sound OF trumpet
psaltery and harp. stringed instruments
and organs" The whole congregation
then rose and sang Praise God From
Whom all Blessings Flow" and were led
in prayer by Rev. Mr.. Crawford. Next in
order was a report by Mr.. Horatio John
son and Mr.. Frank Clark. who had taken
the lead in this enterprise and worked
diligently many days in obtaining sub
scrptions material and laborers for set
ting up the clock AS their bills had not
all been sent in, they could only report
generally, and so were authorized by
/ unanimous vote to write out their report
and deposit it in the town clerks Office
for future reference, so that we might not
forget who were our public spirited citi-
zens in this work for the benefit Of all
The Introduction of President Buckham
opened the way for a few words upon the
all must unite in II, and that there is a
close connection between all the grades
Of school, from the kindergarten and COM
mon up to the college and university and
that the direction and influence necessary
for progress in education come down
from the higher and tend to raise uo the
lower to the higher. There is no break
between them so that we are interested
in all. The presidents address was high,
ly practical. In relation to the clock he
! showed how by its regular running and
constant marking off of our hours and
minutes, and it's loud sounding at definite
/ intervals of their passing away, 1t was
prompter to regularity and promptness
efficiency and fidelity. He congratulate ed
us in the advance we had made in setting
up Il town prompter for fidelity in all our
duties social civil and religious.
Pastor Crawford followed the president
and emphasized the fact that promptnes.
and fidelity secured efficiency and salts
faction in all our duties, and SO made u.
better ana happier. He too noted the fac
that the first town clocks OF which W,
have any knowledge were set up or
churches. and so We're intended to teach
and inpress upon us the value of time anC
how to improve It. At the close of thes,
remarks "A vote of thanks by rising, wa.
rendered to President Buckham, the Es
sex band and all who had helped us anC
shared with us in these festal exercises
Then as we had been ministered to in on,
social and Intellectual life. we were nvit
ed 10 go down into the basement wher,
the society of the Kings Daughters haC
made further preparation for our socia
life while we ate and drank of their cake
ice cream and lemonade. The entertain
ment here was relished equally with tina
above and with music by the band helc
us all until a late hour. My limits ALLOW
me to note here only one fact evident [,
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