Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1901-06-21
RELEASED FROM ALL DEBT
The Methodist Episcopal Society So Enters
on Its Second Century.

Its Second Century
Sunday last marked the close of the
weeks celebration of the centennial OF
the Middlebury Methodist Episcopal
society, and In many respects it was the
most interesting day of the series, both
in the character of the program and the
method of carrying out.
No higher compliment could be paid
Bishop Andrews than was shown in the
fact that long before the hour set for the
beginning of the program people began
to fill the church edifice. When the
hour came, the beautiful house of wor-
ship was crowded to the limits of its
capacity. After the opening anthem by
the choir, which was finely executed,
Presiding Elder Brown offered up a fer
vent prayer. Then followed the Bishop,
who took his text from Math. ills,
81 will build my church." The venera-
BILE speaker has wrought so long in the
building and Strengthening of his church
that he could not fail to be at home in
such a subject; and it is no exaggeration
to say that the sermon he delivered ex-
celled anything of the kind ever heard in
Methodist pulpit in Middlebury.
After Bishop Andrews had closed, Dr.
Brown made few practical remarks on
the finances of the church. lie said that
the necessary funds for clearing the
church of all debt was still short of the
required amount by $500; and following
this statement the speaker, seconded by
the pastor, Rev. E. j. Guernsey, made so
powerful an appeal to the audience that
500 of the amount was subscribed in a
few minutes. The remaining 800 was
allowed to stand for the evening service,
in order to give those not present in the
morning an opportunity to subscribe.
The enthusiasm had reached a point
where the people deemed it privilege to
give and give literally. A hymn by the
choir and congregation and ithe benedic-
ton by Bishop Andrews closed the morn
ing services.
The evening service was repetition of
that of the morning in point of attend
ance, crowded pews marking the interest
all felt in the occasion. The other
churches of the village held no services,
in order that their communicates might
attend the Methodist church and con-
graduate that society on the SUCCESS of
their noble efforts to throw off the in
debtedness which had become such a
burned to the membership.
The choir opened the service with the
anthem "Hark, hark, my Soul :" followed
by reading of the Scriptures by Rev. E.
j. Guernsey. Rev. r. w. Thompson of
Weybridge led in prayer.
The pastor then outlined the program
for the evening, and called upon Rev.
tional church to lead. Mr.. Simms made
a stirring appeal for combined effort on
the part of all Christian churches. He
said that the walls of sectarianism are
getting lower and thinner
as the years roll by, so that a Christian
of one denomination can reach over and
shake the hand of his friend of another
denomination. His words of congratu-
lation were presented in so hearty man
ner and were so cordially received that
only time and place prevented the hear
ers from giving the speaker a rousing
cheer.
DR.. Brown followed with hearty en-
dorsement of the views of Rev. Mr..
and added few wel-chosen
words of congratulation. Bishop An
drews then made a telling five-minute
address. demonstrating to his hearers
that the work of the combined churches
during the past century had bettered the
world. He pointed out that at the begin
ing of the nineteenth century only one in
fourteen of the inhabitants of this
were church-members now the
of one to four and one-half
were enrolled on the church records. In
spite of his years, bishop Andrews re-
tains remarkable degree of forcefulness
in his speaking, and to hear him is
pleasure long to be remembered. His clos
ing remarks, advocating unity of Chris
tian effort no doubt found an echo in the
hearts of every church-goer in the
audience.
Bishop Andrews was followed by the
black 'board-an innovation in object les
sons. On the board was marked off 100
squares, representing So each. OF this
number all but 20 squares had been
checked of during the morning exercises.
DR.. Brown and the pastor again greeted
the audience, and their appeals for the
removal of the remainder of the debt
(SlOO) met with hearty response, result
ing in the checking of the remaining 20
squares on the blackboard. AS proof
that there was even more money to be
had for the asking, the church contribu-
tion box was passed around "for current
expenses" and the count-up resulted in
over $50. The burning of notes and
mortgages followed, the pastor explain
ing that he should use dummies" for
the purpose, as they wished to preserve
the originals on the files of the church.
This proceeding was very interesting,
and while the smoke of what represented
the last incumbrance was still ascending,
The doXology was announced and the en-
Nt,, :. To- 1T.