Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-03-22
Barnard "Reminiscences.

Mr.. EDITOR: Your Barnard CORES
popdent in a recent issue OF your paper
which l read with much interest, ha
stirred my memory like "The gaud!
gossip when she's set agng." And be ma
brought yividIy TO my mind the days Of
boyhood and former home. Notwith-
standing many years have elapsed since
passed into the care and possession o
| strangers, fond recollect ion brings to my
| view many hsllowed associations OF thost
| DAYS and the people then living In my
/ native town. Although your correspond
ent is few years my senior too remem i
/ Der most OF the men whose names ne
mentioned. He closes the article on
| Barnard land church theatricals incident
ally) with the pertinent and most
momentous question mortal can ask, "Are
we farther from or nearer Heaven ?"
lam OF the opinion that | can remem-
Der the first ''dOnation party" at the par
sonage of the M f. church where my
parents Worshipped. From such begin
nings has sprung up all the cnurch
sLciabIes, suppers and theatricals which
are 30 common these days. / seem to see
in nv mind the most active promoters OF
those measures for filling the Lords store
house. / also fancy i see the following
names OF Christian men who were leaders
of the religious strength OF the denoml-
national churches in those days, and OF
whom / never heard but what their pro-
fession and Christian characters were in
harmony at the head OF the list Tor the
suppression Of the "DuisaDce." have no
doubt from my personal acquaintance
with them they would gladly sign their
names to the petition and persuade others
to do likewise. congregational lchabod
Nye. Alpheus Howe, George Townsend.
Methodist Thomas Perkins, Timothy
Bancroft, George Cox. | have no DOUBT
there we're many others, equally jealous
Christians in all the churches OF that
period VINO we've OF the same mind. The
above sesmed to me in my boyhood to be |
the dwarf religious representatives and /
leaders OF the spiritual devotional life OF I
heir respective churches in upholdtng 4
The hands OF their pastors and leading IN /
an religious meetings for conference and /
Tor the support OF the Gospel OF Christ to
he extent OF their ability. For many
years after the event mentioned by w. Z. /
D., Barnard supported three pastors and
East Barnard partly supported fourth
With an average population, suppose, OF
bout eighteen hundred, or nearly double
What ii is now. Four churches well filed,
srge Sunday schools at the noon hour on
uuday between tine two long, ted iOus
srmous for the wideawake children,
nd the quickeniug OF the minds aud
earts Of the older people on religious
uhjeots,
Now permit me to point the readers OF
his article 10 some Of the fruit which an
arrest, church going and God-fearing
eople produced. Eternity only will re-
cal he good accomplished in the chang
q lives Of individuals and entire families
rom bad and sinful to good and righte- {
us. And what was true OF Barnard at {
/ that time | suppose might be said in
rester or less degree OF every community
I Vermont and perhaps New England.
etween the years 1910 and 1850 there was
wave of temperance agitation as the re- u
alt OF the prayers and labors OF the min 2
tiers aud members OF their respective I
nurches which led many to sign the 4
ledge OF total abstinence and eliminated a
the demand for and passage Of prohibi. l
Try laws. Since then the churches have
,ased mostly to use the Gospel OF Christ
they did previously, and seem to de-
end more and more upon the law-mak
Ig power to prevent gross sins, which +
ithout the aid OF a Christian public
,nscience made manifest by a manly
.otest has never accomplished its pur- o
)se, Intemperance, dram selling, gam
ing and otuerlsins are seldom mentioned o
18th the earnestness which characterized
le sermons and addresses OF the time A
our correspondent mentioned.
DENNIS $. BRIGHAM. ,