St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-07-01

ton, there being about so organized
societies and 20 preachers.
We have seen that the Northern Asso-
citation was organized in 1904. In
1922 a new body was formed, called the
Franklin, and another the Green Noun
tain. in 1929. This indicates growth
and interest tor it is TO be remembered
that at first these associations were
alone responsible for the welfare OF the
church. having the same oversight now
given by the state convention.
Taking up now the earliest records OF
the ASSOCIATION in existence, we find
the meeting in 844 being held in Lyndon.
The names of Revs. L. P. Mallory,
H. Tabor. Eli Ballou and John E.
Palmer appear on the records as having
participated in the deliberations. At the
same session the parishes at Charles
town, Irasburg, Washington and Chel-
sea were admitted to membership, and
one ordination was held. Iu 1S47 the
association met at Glover, and action
was taken to still further reduce the ter
ritorial size by selling off what is now
the Central association, to be- composed
of the parishes in Orange, Washington
and Lamoille counties.
At the session held at Concord in 1S4S,
Rev. l.. H. Tabor introduced motion
respecting the proper posture during
prayer. 1t seems some sat, some knelt,
some stood. The discussion following
this notice led to action in the following
resolution: Resolved. that we recon-
mend our societies throughout this asso-
citation to adopt the practice of either
standing or kneeling during prayer, and
we also recommend our preachers to
enjoin this practice upon their several
societies.
This was the first meeting after The
| Central association was set off, and we
| find nine parishes reporting. Listen to
| their names - Burke, Concord, Glover,
Hardwick, Kirby, Lyndon. St. Johns.
bury, Troy, West6eld. Do these all
sound familiar to us today? In 1852, at
the annual meeting of the association
held in West Concord, the parish at Dan
vile was admitted to fellowship. This
session also voted to memorialize the
state convention to appoint state
missionary to look after the believers
scattered abroad where no churches ex-
listed. There was also vote taken to
assist in all possible ways the Orleans
Liberal Institute at Glover and for sever
al years the yearly records show that
this institution received the fostering
care of the association.
That the members of the Northern AS
ISOLATION were patriots, is evidenced by
the fact that in 1854, they put them
selves on record, with no uncertain
sound, but in ringing words, regarding
the Fugitive Slave Bill and the Nebraska
and Kansas Bill. 1t was the same spirit
that developed everywhere throughout
the north until, like mighty wave, it
swept the nation clean of its dread blot.
In 1857 the annual meeting was held in
Glover and motion was introduced to
have committee appointed from each
parish represented, to have new Gospel
Liturgy, by Abel c. Thomas, adopted,
to be used in the services OF worship that
larger degree of uniformity might be
secured. 1t ought to be said in passing
that tor ten years the records of this as
ISOLATION were kept in wonderful clear
ness and tulness, by two men. whose
names are household words in this whole
vicinity-Rev. l.. Fl. Tabor, and Rev. T.
R. Spencer. Mr.. Tabor served four years
and Mr.. Spencer six. There is one son,
one daughter, and two grandchildren Of
{ Brother Spencer actively engaged in the
work in the two parishes in St. Johns
bury.
In 1857 find these societies making
{ reports: st. Johnsbury Center, Lyndon,
{ Glover, West Concord, Coventry, West
field, Charleston, Newark, Burke and
Danville, and notice of several preaching
, stations in Canada, Province of Quebec
There is also record of effort being made
at Lunenburg, Guildhhall, Maidstone
Holland, Greensboro, Craftsbury, Wheel
ock, Sheffield and Sutton. You will al
,, readily see that many OF these places are
not mentioned now in our records. AT
| ter this meeting OF 1857 there is another
, break in the records and nothing definite
is known of the doings of the associa
| ton until Is years later. In 1872 {
movement was made to revise the con
stitution and bylaws. The first meet
ing recorded in the new book is that o
1874 at North Hatley, Province of Que
bee. In the years intervening since 1885,
t great changes had taken place in various
parishes in fellowship with the associa
ton. Lyndon was dormant or dead; st
: Tohnsbury Center was really out of exis
J tence as parish and the church building
J was burned soon after 1874, and Their,
r being no insurance the property was en-
E tirely lost to the cause. At this meeting
5 in 1874 there were reports from Wes
Burke, Derby Line, North Hatley, Pro
l vince of Quebec, ST. Johnsbury where {
i society had been formed in 1868 and {
, church built in 1873, and West Concord
t AS you listen to this reading you wonde
e at once what had become in 1874 of tn
4 parishes at Coventry, Westheld, Charles
. ton, Newark, Danville. | am not jus
t able to say exactly what had become @
? them, but imagine that the saying c
: the Master may apply to them, that be
= cause they had not much depth OF cart
$ they withered away. suppose Their
4 were small companies OF believers i
r these places, and that they were for
e time represented in the association, bu
i because no property was acquired or be
r cause of opposition or failure of interes
), the cause declined.
2 For the history of the IS years sine
r the meeting mentioned in 1874 there
Il little to record except a repetition c
e what | have given already. The session
e have been held regularly and have been
e source of inspiration and comfort to
t large company of men and women iror
It all our parishes. The faces change iror
, uaor 70 yaar hr,t eti1I there are thOS