St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-08-05
Centennial at East Hardwick.

The one hundredth anniversary of the
church at East Hardwick was celebrated
Wednesday, Aug. 20, with services dur
ing the day and evening, all of which
were largely attended, notwithstanding
the rain. In the morning, after pastors
greeting, Dea c. J. Bell spoke on Gen.
fury of Growth, and papers on the Cen
fury OF Opportunity, Service and Bless
ing, prepared by Mrs. J. c. Stafford,
Dea. D. E. Goodrich and Mrs. Flora S.
Field were read. The latter, one of the
oldest members of the church, read her
own paper, while that of Mrs. Stafford
was read by her daughter. The devo.
tional services were conducted by Rev. P.
B. Fisk and Rev. G. H. Cummings.
In the afternoon an historical address
was given by Hon. ]. H. George. bring
ing out among other interesting data
the singular fact, that a minister of the
Calvanistic Baptist order had been set
tied by the town some six years before
the organization of the Congregational
church. He was settled that he might
gain title to the grant of ministerial
land, but settled without salary other
than the possession OF the land and
without a church. When the Congre-
| gational church was organized this min.
lister was engaged and continued in SER
vice until dismissed by the town a few
years later. Another curious fact was
that the pastor in Peacham was stand
ing moderator of the Hardwick church
for several years. The church had many
strong laymen during its history and
was prosperous, though pastorates were
short up to the coming of Rev. Joseph
Torrey in 1860, who remained with them
for Is years. Later Rev. G. p. Byington
came in 1890 and remained for 10 years,
during which time 1856 were taken into
the church carrying the membership be-
yond two hundred. An address on the
| characteristics OF the churches of our
order during the past century and the
notifications foreshadowed in the GEN.
fury to come was given by Rev. c. Fl.
Merrill, and was followed by greetings
and fraternal words by DR.. J. Edward
Wright of Montpelier, the grandson OF
Rev. Chester Wright, whose pastorate
of two years closed in 1910 shortly be-
tore lis death.
In the evening, following services con
Quoted by the pastor and Rev. Messrs. G
H. Cummings and w. c. Clark, and anth
ems by the choir, the anniversary sermon
was preached by Rev. Joseph TORY, the
only one of the former pastors present
on the transient and the permanent
| from Cor. 7: 81, and Heb. 10: s. Hi.
sermon was preaced by personal remin
iscenses, and tributes were paid in con
, nection with it to many of the pas
members OF the church. During his min
:. istry one OF his laymen was corporat
2 member of the American Board, attend
e ing the annual meetings regularly an,
paying 5000 year to the treasury,
sum occasionally duplicated by anothe
II member of the church. Naturally tn
a benevolences of the church were in thos
lie times large.
lie Dinner and supper were served in til
a Jewett chapel where provision had bee
Sc made for feeding 500 under the energet
L. lead of the pastor, Rev. J. P. Marvin. t
o whom credit was due not only for tt
&c carrying out of the plans for the center
lr NAL, but for the renovation of the int
rior OF the church year ago at a
- expense OF some $2700, making it excee,
- ingy attractive for all who came bac
,e to renew memories of the past and aid
&c the celebration.