Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-03-02
CENTENNIAL SERVICE.
Exhaustive Historical Address by 1'rof
J. n. Goodrich.

Exhaustive Historical Address by rrof.
J. n. Goodrich.
The centennial service proper with the
historical address. occurred in the church
Thursday night at 1880 o. M, Immediately
following the banquet at the College
Street Church. The order was as follows
organ prelude. .......................B atisto
Responsive reading
Praise Yc the Lord. .......... Warrington
Hymn nc, tune. "Aurelia."
Scripture lesson.
Anthem. S5th Psalm. .Mendessohn
Bass solo--"lt Is Enough
DR.. j. Churchill Hindes
Prayer. Tho Rev. Lewis o. Brastow, II, H.
The historical address,
The Rev. j. Z. Goodrich. y. D.
The Centennial Hymn. written by Miss
Mary G. Torrcy, tune "Old Hundred"
Prayer and honediction,
The Rev. Edward Hungcrford
Organ postude--"rriumpha March,"
Verdi
The historical address Of Prof. j. t.
Goodrich was a carefully written produc-
ton, the result of incalculable labor on
the part of the author. Prof. Goodrichs
longtime association with both the
church and its members gave him an I'M
usually good equipment which he supple
mented by patient research and study.
The discourse covered the entire span
of the church's existence tracing with
logical precision, the influence of the
thought and action of one generation
upon the life and ideals of those following
1t is a distinct and valuable addition to
the history of Burlington.
THE HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
The address showed that the first in
stance of public religious instruction in
Burlington, of which anything definite can
be said. occurred in 1898, when the Rev.
Cotton NJ. Smith Of Sharon, Conn,
preached here once. probably between
August 6 and October T. Women travel
led barefoot through the woods for miles.
he says. to hear sermon. In August,
1879. when the Rev. D. c. Sanders had
just been released from the church in
Vergennes. two public spirited citizens,
David Russell and DR.. John Pomeroy.
started at once for that city and engaged
Mr.. Sanders to preach in Burlington Mt a
stipend of 500 a year. for the payment
of which they made themselves person.
ally responsible. This salary was SUISSE
quently raised. one half by subscription
and one half by q tax on the grand list.
to be paid in grain. beef. pork. butter
or cheese. to be delivered to the minister
at his dwelling house on or before the 25th
of December.
BURL1NGTON'S FIRST SETTLED
PASTOR
Mr.. Sanders came with his family in the
fall of 1899 and served as the towns min
lister until 1905, preaching always in the
court house which stood near the center
OF City Park. AS Mr.. Sanders was chosen
president of the University of Vermont in
October. 1900. that institution demanded
the larger share of his attention and af-
ter six years Of double duty the minister
of burlington found himself overbur.
dened. President Sanders seems, however.
to have filled his post as town prca cher
to the entire satisfaction. OF the commun-
ity. OF the immediate results of his min
istry there is no clear evidence remain
ing. In the fail of 1904 the formation of a
church began to be considered Mr.
Sanders prepared a confession and covcn-
ant and these were signed on February
q. 1906. at the house of Moses Catlin.
which stood, until IS years ago. at the
northwest corner of Main and ST. Paul
streets. On the following Sunday, Feb
ruary %. after the usual public service
the persons so associated were declared
by the Rev. Mr. Sanders to bc "a regular
church of the Lord Jesus Christ estab-
lished in Burlington" There were Il
names all told. ana two Of these were
those of President Sanders and his wife.
There were no additions for four and one.
half years. In June. 1906 the first society
was formed. being virtually the town so
organized as to provide for its religious
interests.
EARLY STRUGGLES.
In 1896 Sidney Willard. an old pupil of
Mr.. Sanders, preached and although the
church voted to settle him. nothing came
of the effort. President Sanders still
preached occasionally when there was no
other supply. DIR. Samuel Williams, his.
torian of Vermont and formerly professor
Of mathematics and natural history at
supplied as minister for portions
of 1907 and 1905. In 1860 Willard Preston,
afterwards pastor and later president of
the University. and Amariah Chandler
preached in the church, their labors be-
ing instrumental in adding nine members
10 the cnuFCn upon pTolcSslOfi. IHlS was
The first addition to the original "A. DR..
Sanders belonged to time of transition
and seerns to have been unable to decide
10 which Of two opposing parties ne be-
Onged his sermons were not very def |
mite in doctrine or direct in personal ap.
peal.
FRACTIONAL STRIFE.
In the parish meeting OF 1909 a commit
Tee was appointed to select a site for
meeting house and they selected the five |
icre lot lying east OF South Willard street |
and between Main and College streets. |
The project. however. went no further. |
There were In the parish two parties, Of
which the more numerous ana influential |
were cslled liberal" The liberals did
not enjoy doctrinnl sermsns and their
deals of Christian life were less rigid and |
exactlns. So they took measures to Sc.
cure Just the kind of moral and religious |
instruction which they preferred. 1t was
a reproduction of the struggle which for
4 generation or two had been in progress
IN eastern Massachusetts. The con-