St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-10-08

sci and financial help. We still have IN
our possession the first pulpit, git OF
Thaddeus Fairbanks. The communion
set, which we still use, was the git OF
Horace Fairbanks. Mrs. Calvin Nor
rill wrote a history oil the first pulpit
which was published in the st. Johnsbury
CALIFORNIAN. The Bible you now see on
the desk before me was a gilt OF X. b.
Graves. l think that these are all the
gifts now in our possession when nave
any extended history. But today could
go through the house and point out
object after object that was given. And
| could name to you scores OF those VINO
have given out of their bounty and out
OF their poverty. These gifts have ranged
| from $40 down to one cent. God S
blessing on the boy who thought that
perhaps one cent would help. The boy
was Harold Olcotts The next gift IN
point of smallness was 16 cents and
came from Carl Hovey. May heaven
smile upon him, too. But what has been
worth more than all this has been to
see how the hearts of the people were
twined about this historical structure
and how they desired its prosperity.
When Mrs. E. B. Winch sent me gift OF
500 all the way from Grants Pass,
Oregon, she sent with it her prayers for
myself, and for the church she remem-
bered with much love.
Not long after the church was built as
l have been led to understand it the
senior deacon of this church, Ebenezer
Severance, was stricken with fatal dis
ease, and the time OF his end drew near.
At the same time the communion season
was at hand, and he expressed strong
desire to meet the people TOR that occa-
sion. 1t was thought imprudent for him
to travel TOUR miles. But his entreatles
prevailed. And to the surprise OF many
he was brought to the church. Two per
sons were required to assist him from the
carriage into the church, and to seat
near the platform prepared for him. AS
the people passed he woudg give bis hand,
but could speak only in whisper With
trembling hand he received the emblems
of a Saviour's dying love from those who
had so many times received them from
his own hand. You need not be surprised
when l tell you that that spirit of love
and devotion is still alive and that we
have here people as spiritually minded as
were ever the fathers of the church. And
so down through the years the legacy
has come to us, and the hearts of the
people still respond to the needs OF the
church and to the cause of our Lord and
Master. And each year finds for some of
us new graces. Yes, every morning and
every nightfall finds us nearer home and
the promise of the Eternal gives us JOY
when he assures us as he came and as
sured bis loved of old in those comfort
ing words-"H Him that overcometh will
make pillar in the temple of my God,
and he shall go no more out, and | will
write upon him the name of my God, and
the name OF the city of my God which is
New Jerusalem"
At O'Clock the ladies of the church
served bountiful supper in the vestry.
At the evening service the church was
completely filled, and the meeting was of
interest. The exercises opened
with an organ voluntary by Miss Mabel
o. Handy, the regular quartet led the
in singing two hymns and
a boys quartet consisting of Will |.
Wood, Clarence 6. Wood, Will c. Hovey
and Russell Griswold sang THE House
Of the Lord" The dedication prayer
was by Rev. P. B. Fisk of St. Johnsbury
Center, and the sermon by Rev. Smith
Baker, D. d., pastor OF the Williston
church, Portland, Me. Dr. Baker spoke
on the church in its various relations to
life and his address was an exceptionally
: a1n yola fOr 1a oh h
as place for religious instruction, as a
religious home and as training school.
Many came from surrounding towns
to attend the services, and there were
some visitors from distance. Following
is a partial list of the visitors: Mrs.
Elmore Chase, Fair Oaks, CAL; Mr. and
Mrs. Julius A. Morrill,, Springfield, Mass;
Mrs. Ezra Pierce, South Britain, Conn.
Mrs. R. S. Stark, Glover; Mr.. and Mrs.
E. H. Stone, St. Johnsbury Center
Charles Ranney, Danville; Mr.. and Mrs.
E. E. Hovey, Mr.. and Mrs Albert Har-
rs. Mrs. Morrison, Miss Eliza Morrison
and Mr.. and Mrs. Ephraim Blodgett,
Rev. Mr.. Granger, Mrs.
Fred Brewer, Mrs. Ernest Lee, Misses
Jennie and Nellie Ranney, Mrs. John
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Forsythe
and Dan Burroughs, West Concord;
Mrs. ]. 6. Hovey, Mrs. M. ]. Hovey,
Mrs. John n. Gale, Capt. Edward +.
Griswold, George Ranney, William A.
Little, Mrs. Carrie Orcutt, Rev. DR..
T. Fairbanks, Rev. DR.. S. G.
Barnes, E. A, Sisby, T. M. Howard and
ohm o. Hale, S t. Johnsbury.