Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-12-07
Hymns sang witch were Used az the
Dedication Of the OId Church In 1915
--StFucture Cost $1,000.


HYMN.
To Thee, Our God. this house we raise,
And humbly consecrate the same:
In honor Of Thy love and praise,
Accept II in the Saviour's name.
Great God of Love, within these walls,
o may our notes successful ring;
When from this desk thy mercy calls
And from these seats thy praise we
Lord, may the souls that hither throng.
To bow before thy feet I'm prayer,
Grow in the Saviour's strength more
And more and more his image wear.
TIL each redeemed before Thee stands,
IN purer light,-in higher love,
Within "A house not made with hands
Sermon,
Rev; Albert Hammatt of Bellows Falls
Duet, Wanderers night song,
Mrs. Frost and Miss Stebbins
Dedicatory prayer,
Rev. DR.. F. E. Marble
HYMN.
To dedicate this house today.
:, meet TO hear, and sing, and pray;
Here would we raise our grateful hearts
To Him, who needful bliss imparts
when here We raise our voices high
To Him who fills both earth and sky,
May gratitude our lays attend,
10 bless our Father and our Friend.
10 God we consecrate these walls;
May each attend fair duty's calls;
Duty and bliss will always blend
Until eternity shall end.
ADDRESS, A.idi Rev, Mr.. Miles of Brattleboro
Mrs. Frost and Miss stebbins
Sddress. Rev Mr. Lowe of Brattleboro
SOLO over Ihere, Mrs. Pratt
Solo, He Shall Feed His Flock.
Mrs. Pratt
Address, NJ. /. Reed
HYMN.
Great God. to Thee. whose Temple is all
Accept the offer of this dwelling place;
ABIDE with us;-Thy presence here inn
= ur altar crown. and hallow every heart.
Here may our willing souls to Thee be
Drawn by Thy love in rich profusIon
shed,
LAY we, m duty, earth-born cares resign.
DO" at my teet' ana worship at Thy
Presentation of keys TO the association
by J; n, Henry. builder OF the church.
Benediction.
To give in merited terms any definite
account of the sermon, which was appro-
priately drawn from the text What
think we OF Christ" Matt. XXII:42: the
issrvent prayers and eloquent remarks OF
me several elergymen. or the matchless
singing by Mrs. Pratt, Mrs Frost and
Miss Stebbins would require an ADLER pen
than this, and would lengthen this
sketch beyond reasonable limit.
The site OF this church is the same as
OF the one burned June Is, 1893. and is one
Connecticut valley and has frequently
been subject for the artists pencil and
camera. To the north Il miles away we
see Black mountain and its kindred hills
In Dummerston and Putney, then majes-
&C Mantastiquet seven miles away from
the foot OF which comes winding down
the valley the silvery Connecticut, bend
ing as II approaches and dividing to form
Elmers Island. reuniting and doubling
nearly upon Its course as II recedes, then,
again dividing to make room FOR Steb,
plhs island, while Just opposite in New
hampshire we see the lovely village OF
ltinsdale, nesting beside the singing
<Nshuelot as IL hastens to join its forces
with the Connecticut From Hinsdale at
almost any point, the church is plainly
Visible and II has been said by our New
Hampshire neighbors OF the old one with
us LOFTY spire. that wherever they went
II seemed 10 follow and like guardian
sentinel stood always just across the
river.
The dimensions upon the ground are the
same as the old edifice, 4Ox50, with the adj
diuon OF projection of five feet on
either corner in front. From the south
east corner rises the bell tower which is
which was rescued from the fire, and
in which may be seen the tongue, silent
now but whose, familiar tones are so
well remembered when summoning it's
hearers to Christian worship on Sunday
mornings-anon ringing out in joyous
peals the wedding bells of a happy bride
and groom, then telling the oft-told sad.
sad story of last farewell.
The audience room is entered from the
mann ulItNllg III 'front.' OF from
anterooms in either corner and is finished
In ash, sheathed to the window seats
The walls and ceiling, arched similar to
the old one, are plastered and beauti-
fully frescoed, as are all the rooms
throughout the building. The pews and
pulpit furniture are of oak of beautiful
hnlsh and came from the Cedar Rapids
urniture company.
The windows are cathedral glass of
Charles F. simonds Of New SH York Wh Who.
also, has placed directly over the front
entrance an elaborate memorial window
for her late husband, a former resident
OF Brattleboro. II is of circular form
hye feet In diameter and represents
Christ Christ, IN a. the he. Temple It was manu-
and should be seen to be appreciated
From the southeast ante-room a stair
way communicate with the tower. also
large lecture or dining room, 25x3S, with
alcoves on either side. five feet deep,
closets cloak and fuel rooms in corners
The kitchen and pantry are in the
northwest corner with sliding doors con-
parlor with cloak rooms is in the north
east corner, connecting with kitchen also
with the dining or lecture room. The
lected hardwood and the finishing of
southern pine. hard finish. The walls of
the lower story are of brick. The roof
throughout is of finest Guilford slate and
the main part of the building is painted
white. The whole cost of the church
seen subscribed.
When the question of rebuilding the
church was first agitated 1t was at once
decided that the requirements of this
Gown were such that its best interests
could only be served by building one
whose doors should be open to all Chris
tian denominations and that is the
foundation of the association, and on this
basis call for contributions was is
sued.
The liberal response which was return
ed by non-residents has touched the
carts of all who hold the best good of
lne town dear. Especially will Vernon
old In grateful remembrance the names
on her sons and daughters who in draw
ng their checks We're moved by the magic
word home" and the memories which
cluster around the old church.
Among the names of those who were
former residents of lhis town who have
so generously given to help this church
are Mr.. and Mrs. c. c. Houghton OF
Worcester Misses Isabella and Sylyina
Whlthed of Cambridge, Mrs. Melissa
Mason Of Bethel, Me. Edward Lee of
Boston, Mrs. Minnie Eager of Pierre,
South Dakota, Mrs. $. s. Schnell of Hol-
Belding OF Springfield, Mrs. Sarah Thorn
tttchburg, DR.. G., f. Barber of Brattle-
boro, L. r. Withheld of Bernardston.
elijah Stebbins of F1tchburg heirs of
~; M. Heard of Newport, N. H., heirs of
Hiram Doolittle.
The association also wishes to sincerely
convey Its thanks to the several clergy
and the singers Mrs pro ~ Afro