Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-09-26
ANNUAL CONVENTION.
Continued from Page ~

prepared for any such substitution and
feared he should fall short of the re-
quirements. He did, however, make
some remarks, in the course of which he
touched on some points that had not
been alluded to in the other addresses
and which proved very interesting.
The committee reported in favor of
accepting the invitation of the Congre-
gatonal church of Bridport to hold the
next annual meeting of the society at
that place and it was so voted.
Near the close of the session Mrs.
Swift sang as a solo the beautiful conse-
Grafton hymn, "I'll Go Where You Want
Me to Co." The effort was made in
natural, sweetly modulated voice, so diff
ferent from the affected tones usually
heard in public renditons that the audi
ence listened in almost GREATNESS silence.
In his closing remarks President Seely
turned to the motto "Welcome" that was
encircled in the elegant wreaths OF
plants and flowers with which the
church was trimmed and said that he
had heretofore supposed he knew the
meaning of the word, but the welcome
accorded the delegates to this convention
by the people of Orwell, had developed
a new meaning to the word. And he
doubted not every attendant at the ses-
sions would confirm his opinion that
everything had been done by the ladies
and gentlemen into whose hands had
been conflded the arrangements for this
interesting EVENT. that could possibly in
sure to the comfort and benefit of those
who had partaken of the entertainment
afforded them.
The closing invocation was by Rev.
b. F. Swift and the convention was de-
clared adjourned
There is little doubt that the remark
of the president found response in the
heart of every person who was present
at the convention. The refreshments
were served in the ladies' parlor of the
town hall, and it is safe to say that such
excellent meals are rarely provided, eX-
cept on the tables of high-class resorts
where special efforts are made to vie with
each other, and in such abundance that
another multitude could have been fed
on each occasion. The committee had
also provided for all the teams that con-
veyed delegates and ready hands were
there to relieve the guests of any re-
sponsibility.
Before the delegates dispersed the VII
lage photographer invited them to as
semble in group on the steps of the
church where a snap shot of the assem-
y
good one MIR. Wendell will be pleased
to send finished copies of the picture to
any address on the receipt of fifty cents.
When the Register receives its copy due
notice of the event will be made.
The village of Orwell, where the con-
vention was held, is located about %
miles from North Orwell station on the
Addison railroad, and is about lG miles
from the county seat, Middlebury. 1t
Is pleasantly located, and laid out with
liberal public grounds, as are nearly all
Vermont villages.
Besides the Congregational church,
where the convention was held, the
public buildings comprise the Catholic
church, the town hall and a commodious
school house. All are substantial build
ings, modern in style, and well kept.
The place is trading center for a
thrifty agricultural section, the land
being adapted to both grain and grazing
Dairying is an important interest, the
ClOverLeaf Cooperative creamery tax
ing the milk from the majority of sthe
farmers. some of whom, however, retain
the milk of their diaries at home and
manufacture butter themselves. The
population is about 1900.
y lOCdl ulTtClOly gives lutSt RtuIle-
men as the town officers: Clerk and
treasurer, Gideon Abbey; selectmen, c,
ID. Abel, George Thomas, l.. w. Cuts
constable, c. l.. Story; listers. r. W.
Sholes, Gideon Abbey, II. f. Hack
Overseer, II. ID. Branch; agent, X. f.
Brown; town superintendent, +. o.
Champaign; school directors, w. 5.
Jenning, l.. O. Bascom, George Smith
read commissioner, j. +. Conway.
The religious societies comprise a
Young Peoples Society of Christian
Endeavor, of which Mrs. j. 5. Wilcox
is president, and Home Missionary
society, of which Mrs. j. E. Swift is
president. d. l.. Wells is worthy mas
ter of Independence lodge, Free and
Accepted Masons,
The first National Bank is solid
financial institution, which supplies the
needs of the business community. j. B.
Rich is president and j. S. Wilcox is
cashier.
Rev. Benjamin F. Swift is pastor of
the Congregational church and Rev.
Father Sullivan of the Catholic church
ID. l.. Wells is superintendent of the
Congregational Sunday School.
w. B. Wright is postmaster at this
point and c. ID. Abel, postmaster and
express agent at North Orwell. The
other agencies are Wright q French,
c. b. Cook, insurance; h. F. White,
agent for the Orwell Cheese company
ID. l.. Wells and j. S. Wilcox, notaries
public. w. II. Vincent, physician; f.
j. Wendell, photographer.
The general store is conducted by w.
b. French IL Co.; ID. 5. Babbitt also has
a mercantile establishment; Eagle hotel,
F. b. kimball, proprietor, also, livery ;
harness-maker, John Stay; painters,
w. W. Eddy, F. d. Lewis, Isaac Ray
blacksmiths, L. j. Murphy, NJ. Dundo
boots and shoes, l.. j. Duncharme car
riages, A. n. Belanger; barber, A.
Godette; furniture and undertaken, G..
w. Prior; carpenters, j. w. Kimberly,
l.. \. Lilly; stoves, ETC., j. f. Williams
Nj. j. CrOnin, trained nurse. George
Smith is the popular all around news
paper man and general hustler.
Thomas Nickerson is the new liveryman,
and is making IA record for moderate
prices and the very hest Of sprvIpp