Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1904-05-13
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS
BAPTIST cHURcH'S 5oTH ANNIVER-
SARY.
Interesting Celebration on Sunday and
Monday in Which Pastors and People
of Other Churches Joined.

OF Otner SnuTCneS Jolneu
On Sunday and Monday the First Bap-
fist church of Bellows Falls celebrated its
semi centennial anniversary. it having
been organized in April. 1854.
The occasion drew together a large
number of the old members of the or
ganiZation we'll as present members
and many citizens Of Bellows Falls. At
each session, the church was crowded to
its utmost capacity and the exercises
throughout We're interesting and helpful.
The services of celebration were open
ed Sunday morning by a short prayer
service in the Vestry Immediately pre-
ceding the morning preaching service
The morning sermon was delivered by
Rev. c. r. E. Dodge Of st. Johnsbury
who for u years was pastor of the
church. the congregation being composed
largely Of his former parishioners to hear
their minister OF previous years. Mr..
Dodge's sermon treated of the deuomi-
nation as a whole and OF the churches as
parts OF the whole. The Simile OF the
harmonious blending Of the various parts
of the body to form the whole, found
in Ephesians. formed his text. In clos
ing he compared the life OF n church to
that Of a person and showed how in the
former there is of necessity no zenith in
its growth, but that ii may go on from
generation to generation, through the CEN
turtles, ever increasing but always with
a future Of further progress and growth.
After the sermon, the usual Sunday
school was held, followed by the COM
munion service. at which the roll of the
church was called and responded to by
rs members
In the evening. a brief historical sketch
of the Young Peoples society was given
by its president. F II. Mark. II was or
ganized June Z, 1857 with IS members.
The society has been active and has done
outside mission work. both at Rocking
ham and at Gagevile Its members have
. = los
to assist the church in repairs and re-
building. and has also bought a piano for
the church. OF the original IS members,
five are still active workers in the or
ganization-E. w. Parsons, L. f Will
SON w a. Ferguson, L, f, Ferguson,
and Ira \. Adams.
Following this service, sermon was
delivered by Rev. w. \. Dawson. He
spoke of the progress Of the church and the
manner Of such progress with what is
conducive to real and true growth.
The orchestra, under the leadership of
Miss Hannah Wych Cove, which has
played for the evening services for the
past few months, furnished a number Of
selections, and Mrs. \. NJ Kendall of
Burlington sang a solo.
The anniversary services proper oc-
CURED Monday afternoon and evening
and a memorial and historical program
were carried out The afternoon session
opened with q devotional and praise SER
Following this Mrs j. r. Ball Of Water
vile, p Q, read an original poem Deacon
John O. Spring read an historical sketch
tracing she growth and development of
the Sunday school, and the pastor. Rev.
c. W. Jackson. contributed a valuable
article on the history Of the church and
denomination in Bellows Falls. Rev. w.
A. Dawson spoke briefly concerning the
relation of the Bellows Fails church 10
the state convention.
A number of the pastors Of the local
churches were called upon and responded
briefly but with feeling. Rev. jay T,
Stocking Of the Congregational church
congratulated his sister church upon its
past and present. He congratulated the
pastor on the loyalty Of his people and the
people on the zeal and earnestness OF
the pastor In closing he spoke of the
great future Of the church today being
along the social line Of work Tor the
ennobling and uplifting Of men. Rev. u
L Sanford OF the Episcopal church spoke
of his personal knowledge of the church
gathered in his long residence in town.
He compared the church with the indi-
yiduals and the rich experience gathered
by the passing years. In closing he COM
pared the church as he knew IL with the
zeal OF its people to hive OF bees, and
congratulated the church on its capacity