Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-08-10
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF EAST
HARDWICK CONG'L CHURCH.

by large company. The foundations
of their religious faith laid a century
ago were laid so wisely and well and
the growth has been so healthy that
abundant success has crowned the
century's effort. The first meeting of
the Congregationalists of Hardwick
was held in log house, and the first
organization numbered seven men
and nine women. The centennial
celebration was observed by large
and prosperous society in one of the
handsomest church homes in Vermont.
There was large attendance aud the
exercises were most enjoyable in
every particular.
The centennial program was in
charge of the pastor, Rev. J. P. Mar
vim, and began at IL O'Clock with a
thanksgiving service, including GA
Century of Growth" by Hon. G. j.
Bell ga Century of Opportunity"
by Mrs. j. 9. Stafford, read by her
daughter, Miss Stafford ga Century
of Service" by D. E. Goodrich; IA
Century of Blessing" by Mrs. Flora s.
Field. From II to 2 there was re-
ception and dinner in Jewett chapel,
followed by banquet. At 2 O'Clock
there was historical service with an
historical address by Rev. John H.
George and an address, "The Church
and the State" by Rev. DIR. g. Fl.
Merrill of st. Johnsbury. Rev. j.
Edward Wright, grandson of Rev.
Chester Wright, former pastor, was
present and spoke briefly. The pas
tor read letters from Rev. Geo. P.
Byington of Westport, Mass, for
mer pastor, and from Rev. j. G.
Bailey of Rogers, Ark, a native of
Hardwick.
AT 7o'clock occurred the centennial
service with an anniversary sermon
by Rev. Joseph Torrey, Jr., now of
Shirley, Mass, who was for nearly
fifteen years the pastor of the East
Hardwick church. Mr.. Torrey and
his estimable wife, who was also
present, were the guests of honor at
the celebration and everyone was
glad to welcome them back. Mr..
Torrey recalled many interesting
personages and events in the century
of the church and from them drew an
important lesson as to the Importance
of the church and its interests to the
individual and the community.
The history of the East Hardwick
Congregational church for the hun
dred years just closed is an teresting
one. 1t was organized July 20, 1903,
at the house of Thomas Fuller. There
were present at an organizing coun-
Gil, Rev. Leonard Worcester of
Peacham and Rev. John Fitch of
Danville, with their delegates. The
charter members of the church con-
sisted of seven men and nine women
from New Braintree, Hardwick,
Westminster, Mass, and Sanbornton,
Hanover aud Tarnworth, n. II.
These fathers and mothers of the
church were: Francis and Priscilla
Whipple, Elias and Judith Hall,
Thomas and Lydia Fuller, Jonathan
and Eunice Curtis, John and Sarah
Nay, Lemuel Cobb, Levi Good
rich, Betsey Adams, Lucy Bell,
, Abigail Bailey and Zsrvah Cheever.
From this handful of thrifty pioneers
has grown the present church, to
whose organization during the past
hundred years have been added 879
members. The present church num-
bers 1877, of whom 1852 are resident
and "a non resident members.
Thomas Fuller was the first deacon
and Elder Amos Tuttle the first act
ing pastor. From 1907 until 1910
the church had no regular minister
and no regular preaching, although
they met regularly for worship at
dwelling houses. During 1909 and
1910 several missionaries visited Hard
wick. A great revival followed and
about sixty persons joined the church.
This religious awakening with its
added strength of members brought
the church to realize the need of
a settled pastor. Accordingly call
was extended to Rev. Nathaniel
Rawson, who was duly ordained Feb.
Is, 1911, after which the pastor and
his family were legally warned out of
town according to the curious custom
of those days. The installation SER
vices were held in barn on the farm
in the stone house district then
owned by Captain Hatch. Mr.. Raw
son was pastor until 1917. In 1921 a
call was extended to Rev. j. N.
Loomis, a graduate of Middlebury
and Andover. He was ordained pas
tor January 8, 1922, in an unfinished