St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-11-28
LOWER WATERFORD.
LOW Tx VIZ In VFNDs
RPdediCaIiOu of n House of Worst

RedediCaIiOu of N House of Worship.
Your readers will be interested in
kno ing hat on Thursday last the Con-
gregatIonal church redtdicated its house
OF worship with attractive functions,
social and religious. hechurch was or
gained in 1898, and, with the exception
of he churches at PeaCham and Danvile
represented at its council of organiza
ton, is the Oldest church Of the denOmi-
nation IN Caledonia county.
The occasion OF the rededication was
the completion OF extensive repairs in
auditorium and vestibule, at a cost OF
about 1920. The main feature Of the
renewal and decoration was a metal
ceiling from the establishment of H. S
Northrop, New York city, put in place
| by F. c. Bullock. The tresco work in
| the audience room is very effective,
bringing out by its rich harmony of tint
and color the designs stamped upon the
ceiling, and was executed under the dl
rection Of H. {, CuIrier OF Littleton.
The central chandelier is Wheeler rehec
tor. An important item of the improve.
ments is the lemOval OF the singers gal
lery, extending from the auditorium into
the vestlbule. The pulpit platform, oc-
cupied by the choir, has been lowered,
and will receive new furnishings.
The exercises of rededication were lit.
erary and devotional, the spoken word
varied by organ voluntary, bvmn and
anthem. An impromptu incident OF the
program was rising vO e of he church,
conveying to the pastor, Rev. y. f.
! Thayer, cordial thanks for his energy
and wisdom in securing all necessary
subscriptions and in pushing the pro-
jected repairs to a successful issue. 1t is
fitting, also, that mention be made OF
the Jealous cooperation ofDeacon Frank
Brown. and OF valuable aid rendered by
the choir After the report of the tinan-
cial committee by Deacon Carpenter,
sho wing the liquidation OF all indebted
ness and balance in the treasury, an
historical address was given by Charles
Ross, now of St. Johnsbury. The adj
dress reviewed the spiritual history OF
The church from its foundation, but was
specially devoted to a timely description
OF the location and architectural charac
ter o the various church properties built
and improved by the society. Following
his reading of the scriptures, Rev. {. ii
Merrill, secretary of the Vermont Home
Mis- sionary Society, delivered an impress
sive dedicatory sermon, based on Ex
25: 81, %, and John 4: 21-24. The
sermon traced the rivalry and alternate
ascendancy OF the principles OF localized
worship and worship in the spirit, anc
showed that true wisdom must seek &
middle course between the two ideas.
Ruskin's thought was dwelt upon, that
all matera! forms, however beaui al
the cathedral, the altar, were represent
tive of higher beauty-the mind ant
conscience OF the builder and designer
1t was made plain that in the deepe
sense there could be no enmity betweeI
the outward and the inward i'll religion
Character was built by the self sacrfic
that entered into the uphullding OF tn
holy shrine. The church touched tn
communal life at all points, and CAV
back, hundredfold, upon all materia
investment a spiritual return.
The prayer of dedication was by Rev
G. w. Patterson of East st. Johnsbury
. and advanced to the idea the church
also, symboized a moral life in Coo
representing divine sacrifice and renur
citation.
After the services of rededication dir
! ner was served and pleasant receptio
, held by the ladies of the Lower Waite
ford church.
F. 7. Stoddard has sold his sto1
and goods to Charley Bowman.
But few were able to attend churc
, Sunday, on account of the sno
storm. The new reflector was use
|. Sunday night for the first time. III
+, light is excellent.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Ross ar