Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1901-03-15

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lie which extended over three wears.
Two events OF this period should be
One is a change in parson-
,ge property. The hOuss on Cross street
vas sold and the Church bought the
mousse on Railroad street next to the
Clarke block. The other event was the
of Chapter of the Ep-
worth League which, taking the name
Of the pastor, is called Cooper Chapter.
II was organized in 1889 with about
80 charter members. A room was fitted
up for its use in the vestry of the Church
where its meetings have ever since been
held. This organization has constituted
an important aud encouraging part of
our work.
During the year 1912 the church |
did not have a regularly appointed pas
tor. The conference was unwise in its
provision for this charge and the Church
decided to get On as best il could for
one year. Various preachers occupied
the pulpit until the last of July when
Rev. y. NJ. Learned was secured as
supply" for the balance OF the year. 1t
proved prosperous year and there were
a number of acceSsions to the Church.
Ia the spring of 1892 Rev. Geo. o.
Howe was appointed TO Island Pond
charge and three times was reappointed,
making his stay four years in all. The
church continued to prosper during this
time and every department of the
work was well looked after. II was dur
ing this time that change was again
made in parsonage property BY an
exchange, the house now occupied as
parsonage was secured. Mr.. llowe's
ministry was enjoyable and profitable to
/ the Church and his influence in the
community was positive and helpful.
He is still often referred to 10y the peo-
pie of the place.
Rev A. +. Atwater was pastor the
next two years. lie had the full conf
dence and affection of the Church and
his longer stay was very earnestly de-
sired but larger place was opened to
him and the conference sent him to an
other field of work where he is proving
the right man in the right place. Dur
ing his pastorate union revival services
were held under the leadership of Rev
Ralph Gillian and a number of Access
sions to the Church resulted. This
brings the record down to 1895 when
the present pastorate began. The his.
tory Of these last three years is too re-
cent Ia need recording.
Statistics are proverbially dry, but a
few figures CLEANED from the Church rec
ord may not be without interest. The
Church has had IL pastors. OF this
number two, f. 5, Locke and T.. Folsom
are dead, The rest are still in the minis
try. K l.. Bruce is in California, w. |.
Todd in Ohio, and y. NJ. Learned in
New York. The others are all in the
, Vermont conference. The Church book
contains a record of lS3 marriages and
2T7 baptisms. In all, 30S different per-
sons have been members of the Church.
About so of these were received by let
ter; rs have died and large number
removed from town. The present mem
bership is 1862, the largest it has ever
been. OF the original 33 members only
, are upon the present roll. The Others
are accounted for under "deaths" and
removals.
) 1t is not out of place for the present
| pastor to pay tribute to his predeces.
sors. This Church has been fortunate
in its pastors. They have been almost
invariably men of ability and are recog
nized as among the best men of the
Vermont conference. have been much
{. impressed during my stay with you by
the way in which you have spoken OF
> your former pastors. Rarely have
heard a word of criticism; continually
have heard words of praise and apprecia
t ton. Such a fact speaks well for those
S who have been pastors of the Church
, 1t also speaks well for the Church. 1t i,
always gratifying to pastor to heal
= kind words of those who have precede,
}, him, for it is an assurance that when he
: too shall have taken his departure hi,
!. failures will be overlooked and forgotten
and only the good he may have done b,
remembered.
would not fail to mention one othe
t pleasing feature of the records of til,
!. Church. Almost invariably the pastors
. in the course of their reports, have takel
: occasion to speak of the unfailing cour
tesy and kindness of the people. The,
/ have been cordially welcomed; thei
d stay has been made pleasant by tn,
v kindness and appreciation manifested
+ and their departure cheered by til,
: Goodspeed of the Church. To all tina
l. they have said upon this subject, can
C out of my own experience, give mos
d hearty assent.
q This Church has from the ,beginnin,
been signally favored with the Divin,
y presence and blessing. To God belong
u all the praise for the prosperity of til,
II past. He must be our reliance in tn,
j. years that are to come. With His ait