St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1903-10-14
Chapel Dedicated.
The New Building of the First Baptist
Church C0nseCrated with
Uns

the history of the First Baptist church
and the dedicatory exercises of their new
chapel in the evening were attended by
an interested audience that fully tested
the capacity of the house. The morning
service was preparatory to the evening
and the pastor, Rev. c. r. B. Dodge,
preached an excellent sermon from the
text found in Ps. 1874, Except the
Lord build the house, they labour in vain
that build it."
The evening service was carried out
according to the program published in
last weeks paper. After the organ vol
untary and doxology, the invocation
was offered by the pastor. This was
followed by the anthem, "TEe Lord Is
King" composed by the chorister of the
church, Charles q. Woods, and excellent
ly rendered by the double quartette. The
scriptures were read by Rev. A. F.
Walch, the passage selected being l
Kings:S, where the children of Israel
dedicated their temple. Prayer was
offered by Rev. DR.. S. G. Barnes, followed
by singing Coronation" the hymn
being announced by Rev. M. c. Hender-
son.
In announcing the taking OF the offer
ing the pastor said it was his hope that
the offering would liquidate an indebt.
edness of about $1OO which hung over
the church. 1t will be gratifying news
to all to learn that the amount of the
collection went far towards wiping out
this debt.
The report of the solicitor, Rev. c. r.
B. Dodge, was joyful one as he reported
the money for the building freely raised
and the chapel dedicated free of debt.
He said he first approached the members
of the church to interest them in the
enterprise and "they responded cheer
fully to the extent OF their ability, and in
some instances seemingly beyond.
The next effort was to obtain the
cooperation OF many in the immediate
vicinity of the church and within the
limits of the church's natural constitu-
encv. This effort proved easily success
iul. Railroad street property owners
and business men responded most cheer
fully and generously. All seemed desir-
Gus that the church on this street should
be prospered in its work, and that desire
they were willing to buttress with their
gifts.
Then it was seen to be needful to go
beyond the limits in which effort had
hitherto been confined, and that Others
be invited to lend helping hand if that
which had been begun should be success
fully carried through. Your solicitor
then visited many OF the prominent men
OF the village, and some doing business
on the hill, and laid the work proposed
before them. THIS he aimed to do giving
the situation in detail. And almost
without exception again the needs OF the
church were recognized, and the oppor-
tunities which lie before it in this local
ity, and the desirability OF having it
strengthened that it may meet those
needs and do vastly greater work Tor
the kingdom of Christ than it has been
doing in the past. Without the kind and
generous responses given to these appeals
we must have come far short of the goal
which we have been privileged to reach
To the members of this church and
congregation, therefore, the organiza
tions connected Herewith, the men II
the vicinity OF this church and the business
men of this street and under the hill quite
generally, and to many other prominent
men in the village identified with Other
churches, and few OF them the Catholic
/ feel like particularly and very emphati
caly declaring the appreciation | fee
over the kindness which | uniformly
experienced at their hands, and over thu
generous contributions which they gav'
me as your solicitor. In closing | fee
that it will be interesting to you to b.
made acquainted with the particulars o
certain special contributions which hav,
been received, and OF some OF which yoi
have not previously learned. You hav
probably all known that aid has beef
received from Mr.. Samuel N. Brown O
Boston, president of the Fairbanks Seal
Co. But many OF you do not know @
thv interest, apart from his first gilt G
$3.50, which he has manifested in tn
: progress OF the work, and OF the fac
that during the past week he sent So
more in order that the effort to dedi
cate free from debt might be made sue
2 cessful. In sense he may be said tt
{ have commenced the enterprise and t.
. have brought it to successful completion
In the annals of this church his nam
: must ever be recorded as one OF the bes
friends outside the village she has eve
e had
The state convention is also to b
especially remembered this evening. Lik
a good mother she ever has anxiousl
j. before her the welfare of her children.
e a singular way, not directly but seen
ingly through providential overrulinl
. the matter of our need was brougl
:; before her, and in a most unanimot
o and generous way her board granted /
$ the income of the Cutler fund, so calle
which was at her disposal and amountt
to $145.
It wish now to surprise our ladie
IS Without their knowledge something HI
Al been transpiring during the SUNNI
:. weeks. and recently, greatly to the
IL advantage, the kno owledge of which l a
sure will fill them with qualification al
delight. Mrs. Major Bowman is mar
always pleasant in their ears. But
the real goodness of Mrs. Bowman
h heart, and OF her interest in what b
,r been taking place this summer, they ha
80 not had the opportunity OF knowing a
% have had.
y. Mrs. Bowman comes OF good Bapt