Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-02-22
RECOGNITION SERVICE.
Bethany Church Received into Fell
lowship of the Cone'l Body.


lowship of the Cons'l Body.
Bethany church of Randolph. resulting
from the union OF the Congl and
Christian societies-the two Oldest and
largest religions organizations in this
village-was formally recognized last
Thursday evening at a service held in the
church home OF the Christian body, the
Brick building, which was filed by con-
gregation of nearly four hundred.
On the pulpit platform were seated the
I visiting elergy-Rev. G II. Merrill Of st.
Johnsbury, field secretary Of the Vermont
/ Cong1 conference, who took charge Of the
service; Rev. V. NJ. Hardy, D. D., OF
Morrisville, former pastor OF the Congi
church in Randolph; Rev. +. +. Herrick
/ Of Milton, Rev. George +. Lake OF Chel-
sea, Rev. J. Hall Long OF Bethel, Rev. ID.
/ y. Strong Of Williamstown and Rev. g..
| w. Patterson Of Randolph Center.
The voluntary was played by Miss
/ Edith MarcOtt, and the congregation rose
! 70 sing the DoxolOgy, being led in their
praises by chorus choir composed Of
4 A. II. Beedle. o. j. Marcott, +. T. Sails
/ bury, w. +. and John Lamson, Misses
Blanche Sparhawk, Kate Howard, Alice
Woodward and Genieve Lamson and Mrs.
/ n. &. Greene.
Rev. Mr.. Long, scribe OF the council,
then made the following report
Pursuant to letters missige an ecclesi-
astical council assembled at the Brick
church in Randolph on Feb. 10, 1906, at
four O'Clock in the afternoon on request Of
the Bethany church for the purpose Of
making necessary examinations Of the
church polity, faith and practice, and II
the result be favorable, extend to Bethany
church the fellowship Of the Congl
churches.
1.-The council was composed Of ministers
and lay delegates Of the following
churches 10 Wiliiamstown CongI
church, Rev ID. II. Strong, pastor; Bethel
Congl church, Rev. J. Hall Long, pastor,
Deacon Joseph G.. Sargent, delegate; Ran
dolph Center Cong'l church, Rev. Geo. w.
Patterson, pastor, DIR. David II. Nutting,
delegate; Chelsea Congl church, Rev.
George f. Lake, pastor, Oliver r. Burgess,
delegate; East Braintree Congl church,
Rev. J. 4. Urban, pastor, Mrs. +. IA. Chad
wick. delegate; Mortified Congl church,
Rev. James B. Sargent, pastor, r. l.. Field,
delegate: Rev. Charles IA. Merrill, ID. d.,
ST. Johnsbury; Rev. V. NJ. Hardy, ID. d.,
Worthwhile: Rev. e. E. Herriek, Milton.
Prayer was offered by Rev. DR.. Z. II.
Merrill, and the organization was effected
by the choice of Rev. Mr.. Merrill, moder-
alor, Rev J. Hall Long, scribe.
The council enquired as 10 the proceed
ings leading to the organization OF Beth
any church and received the papers relat-
ing thereto, after an examination OF which
the council giving its full approval 10 the
Bethany chnreh-polity, faith and prac
tiee-voted to receive the said church into
the fellowship OF Congl churches.
A committee consisting Of the modera-
tor, scribe and pastor, Rev. Fraser Metz
ger. were appointed to prepare a program
for the service Of recognition IN the
evening.
The reading Of the minutes ended, the
invocation was made by Rev. Mr.. Lake,
and the 23d Psalm was read Tor scripture
lesson by Rev. Mr.. Patterson.
The greetings were brought by Rev. Mr..
Herrick ia the apostolic utterance-"Graee
be unto YOU and peace from God, our
Father. and the Lord Jesus Christ" Inc
union contaminated In this service seemed
to the speaker love match growing out
OF long and mutual courtship. Both So
cieties had dwelt in harmony together ana
though their UNCONVENTIONAL creeds may
rave been different, the creed OF the liv-
ing temples OF their hearts was the saruei
one being written and the other unwrit-
ten. ''Of a truth said st. Peter, u per-
ceive that God is no respeeter OF persons
but in every nation he that teareth hum
and worketh righteousness IS accepted
with Him. "a cloud OF witnesses IN
the membership Of other bodies and the
worlds people will closely watch TINS
practical disqualification OF the theory OF
church unity, but those who have here
been Joined in faith and work and organ
ization have IL in their power TO dispel ali
doubts and silence all criticism; for u
Christians love one another and can De
brought together, peace and happiness
must prevail. Pleasantly reminiscent, Mr..
Herrick referred TO his early connection
with these churches, in both OF when ne
was brought up. His hrst sermon was
preached in the Brick church, OF Whlen
his father was deacon. He mentioned
some o. the early founders OF the societies,
and among others Rev. Samuel Sparhawk,
first pastor of the White church, TO whose
zeal and exertions was due the erection OF
The building that still stanus monument
TO his ministry. 49, 4.
Rev. Mr.. Hardy delivered the charge 70
the pastor and pointed out that as the
temple was twice the size of the tabernacle
which il succeeded, and the temple altar
four times as large as that OF the taber-
nacle. so Is the field of responsibility OF the
two churches enlarged for the united BODY
which succeeds them. Where the OLD
societies NAV have exerted religious
pressure of so pounds to the square men,
the new must double, treble, quadrupie
the amount to be equal to its unique OPP
nOrtuuitles IN the ltesthlhE VI "N'N~
caused by division, in the absence OF sec
tartan friction, and in the increased means
liberated by the consolidation. with only
an equal measure OF work bankruptcy whi
he the result. The Christian religion has
become divided into as many parts as the
pagan religion, with consequent waste
~ power between the sister churches ana
a dissipation OF means and energy. 70
Bethany is given the opportunity to MAKE
4 practical experiment of union ana %
work out a mighty problem. MT. hsrdy
cautioned the pastor not to underVsiue
minor duties; to know his people ana g
he known of them and above all to heio
high his responsibility as an smosssaaoI !,
Of Christ in the pulpit. All doubts sha %
perplexities cen be met and vanquished Il
pastor and people model their lives :, on
Christi words to st. Peter, "Follow me
a course OF conduct that will successfully
settle ali questions Of controversy.
The charge to the people was given oy
Rev. Mr.. Merrill, who congratulated them
on the step they had taken and called
three things worthy OF note TO their at
tention. FIRST, this step rs quite IN al