Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-06-22

was dedicated On July IA, 1872, the &C
tivilies of the church were extended and
the brick church in West Brattleboro hav-
ing been bought by j. Estey, L. X. Fuller
and j. j. Estey, was opened for religious
purposes and dedicated For a time this
work was carried on as a mission interest,
regular preaching being established in 1873
On October 30, 1874, a petition came to
the church from the Baptists in North
Hinsdale, n. H, asking that they might
unite here and form an auxiliary branch in
that town. The petition was granted and
the work thus begun was constituted as a
Baptist church
After labor so abundant and 50 wonder
fully blessed Mr. Matteson closed his pas.
torate Sept. Is, 1875. He was succeeded
by Rev. Horace Burchard, who carried on
the work with distinguished success. A
new field was opened in Putney. After
him came DR.. George B. Cow, a man of
splendid ability and great force of charac-
ter. While he was here the Putney inter
est was organized into branch church
Sept. "A, 1880. On Feb. 2, 1888, letters
were granted to 90 of the members to form
an independent Baptist church upon that
field.
Rev. F. Z. Tower next succeeded to the
pastOrate, and he was followed in turn by
Rev. f. j, Parry, whose term of eight
years was the second largest in the history
of the church. ave are now on familiar
ground" the speaker said, land | shall
say no more than that the most conspic-
uous achievement of this period was the
renovation and enlargement of the church
editice at an expense of $4,000. As for
the rest it shall remain for 20th century
review.
Attention has been called to the salient
features which mark the steady growth In
power and influence which has character
lied this church, but the record would be
incomplete without the mention of that
splendid group of laymen who wrought
successfully in this great work" DIR.
Marble then mentioned, among a multitude
OF others, Deacon Jacob Estey, Gov. Levi
X. Fuller DIR, Post, Royal Wood, Isaac
Hines, Daniel Snow, z. l.. Brown, Moses
van Doom, Edgar StOddard b. n. Cham
berlain and S. II. Sherman. Proper rec
ognltlon was also made of the Woman's
Missionary and Aid society, and allusion
was made to the Bible school, the Chris
tlan EndeaVor societies and other agencies
of work in the church.
In the history of this church nothing
SA''A4N9 ShV uAOIO OlSdllJ JldH her bplflb OF
benehcence. The records are incomplete
up to 1860, but from that time on the
church has given to beneficent objects
the munificent sum of S31, 746. An evan
gelistlc spirit has ever pervaded the church.
IL was born in revival and has been Wis
lied again and again with gracious seasons
OF refreshing. 1t has been a missionary
church in the best sense. And finally il
has been loyal church, and if TODAY
should be the contamination of the age
she could truly say Il have kept the faith
Sixty years of church life How prec-
ious the record How great the achieve.
ment! AS we contrast the feeble begin
nings of 1910 with the sturdy growth of
1900 we can but exclaim What hath God
wrought Men and methods? Yes, but if
that great company of the dead should
come forth and assemble again in the
church they have builded they would sing
in mighty chorus:
All hail the power OF Jesus namel
Let angels PROSTATE fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all
THE inheritance is ours. The future
remains to be possessed. As we address
ourselves to the task let us bear i'm mind
that 1t is not by might, nor by power. but
by my spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts"
union service was held in the evening.
and very large audience was present
Frof. +. q. +. Cramer opened the service
with an organ selection from Mailman"