St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1902-09-03

| IGSSlOu VI ldIlus uCSC last vi GOul Sc
had reached years of intelligence before
their baptism. Five of one family were
brought during the LIST year; six OF one
family the 2nd year; nine of one family,
Wing by name, the Sd year, each family
group together and during that first
decade 13 other families presented each
four, five, six, seven and eight children,
on the same date.
In the fifth year and for some years
thereafter, the church met, as households,
small and great, before God, to entreat
the God of Abraham to be their God and
to help their children forever. Some here
now know full well of the promise made
unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the
same, to us their children unto the sec
ond and third generation. have a let
ter from one of those same children, writ
ten me in 1876. He says | well remem-
| Der those days and scenes. On Saturday
nights we BOYS would be at ball play on
the street Toward five o'clock DR.. and
Mrs. Luther Jewett and Others including
my father and mother would be coming
out Of their yards and going to the eve
ming meeting held in some ones house.
One knew what was then to be
done. The play was to stop and we
boys (your father was among us, good
fellow were to go with our parents.
But this was so in keeping with other
arrangements that it became to us part
OF the cause of things rather than any
hardship.
At the end of the 1st decade 100 chill
dren OF the church were committing the
New Testament and learning Wilbur's
Biblical catechism.
Letter of Mrs. Lutheran Wing Shorey:
Brookline, Mass, Feb. 1895.
You will readily see why | am so
much endeared to the dear old Center
church, when you learn my name was
recorded with other baptized children
two years after its organization.
Records. VOL l. p. 6. March II,
1912. Then Arethusa Wing, Sukey
Wing, Betsy Wing, Barnabus Wing,
Apollos Wing, Fanny Wing, David Wing
Lewis Wing, Luthera Wing received the
ordinance of baptism.
can remember the first 10 members
except those who were very soon removed
by death, also all the pastors and sup
plies from the first.
Was also member of all the adjuncts
and organizations that were proper tor
me to engage in.
From my earliest recollection up to
the time the Sunday school was organ
lied, met weekly for the recitation of
scripture and catechism.
When | review the discipline, the sat
isfAction is the religious training, the in
struction | received from pastors, teach
ers aud other leaders, my heart just cr.es
out Praise the Lord that the lines fell to
me in pleasant profitable places.
For six years the church had no pas
tor. During % years, it had only two
years settled pastOrate, yet it grew
steadily; reached in ten years. $50 men,
bers, and six years later sent off colony
now the North Church equal to its or.
ignal membership. One can easily con.
Guide that this all meant a very loyal
spirit and activity. Both Sabbath and
week daymeetlngs were steadily sustain
ed. Minister or no minister Davies
Sermons, Hunters Script, Biography
or other available dscourses were
read from the pulpit by Dea. Stowell.
Hubbard Lawrence, or Dr. Jewett and
said one who used to listen, they love
the best Of fruit l have in writing
passage from the prayer of one of the
brethren repeated to me 60 years after
warJ, by woman OF retentive memory,
who recalled it distinctly. Perhaps as
was the manner of those times, the
phrases used in prayer were not always
fresh variations. l quote one clause.
May we look away to Calvary Mount,
and with an eye of faith see Jesus ex-
tended on the Cross for us poor sinners
This was Joseph Fairbanks, the father
of three brothers whose world wide
business linked with the interests of
religion has variously benefited and
adorned St. Johnsbury.
In the tenth year, the church adopted
resolution that all consider our brother
Luther Jewett Nd. d. a suitable person to go
into the gospel ministry. committee
was appointed to encourage him thereto.
He was subsequently ordained and be,
came Pastor at Newbury. His Thanks
giving Sermon given in this church in
1918 is the first historic paper ever print
ed IN town. He was some years later
elected to Congress where he served one
term
The spirit and fellowship and mutual
help was carefully cultivated during
those early years. 4 thought to myself
said young girl, whose family was not
OF the number, how these Christians do
love one another That was how it
seemed to girl of that period; what the
boy OF about the same age thought, ap-
pears in letter to me, from which
| quote: II have never seen. a
church that came so near the New Tes-
lament standard as the early members
of that one did, in Covenant watch.
mutual hepfulness and simple cousecra,
ton to Christ. judge OF course from
early impressions, for leftSt. Tohnsbury
at II years of age. My father died when
was eight and remember how much
the women of the church were to nv
widowed mother after that event, help
ing and comforting her. The night be-
fore | left home, neighbors were invited
in and in the midst of this circle of
praying people l was committed to the
care OF the covenant keeping Cod
This widow was the same of whom
spoke, who some years earlier left her
morning work to spend the day in pray
er and sBlbIe study with Mary Bissell
Her husband was one of the first deacons
OF the little church, Hubbard Lawrence
and the bov, whose "reminiscences, l have
just read, became in after years we
known and much honored in New Eng
land, the Rev. DR.. Edward A. Lawrence
minister and professor in Hartford
Theological Seminary.