Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-03-02
RE- DEDICATION SERVICE
HELD AT THE FIRST BAPTIST
CHURCH LAST SUNDAY.
Strong Sermons by Out of Town Cler-
gymen and an Interesting Historical
Sketch by the Pastor-Hymns Writ.
ten Especially for the Occasion.


ingly appropriate to the nature of the
occasion, The organ prelude consisted
of Chaminade s Ritournelle and Foote s
Andante in G, rendered by Reginald
NEAL of New York city. This was
followed by the doxology, invocation,
the Lord s prayer and an anthem by n
chorus choir, Buck s Festival TIE Deum.
After the responsive service and Scrip
ture lesson, Rev. George b. Lawson
gave brief historical sketch which
was as follows:
1t is most fitting that today, in this ser.
vice OF re.dedication to which we all come
with gratitude and rejoicing, some reference
be made to the history OF the church. II
would be to me pleasure to review in ex'
tended form the salient facts of that history
and know that such recital would be re-
ccived with interest by you all Today time
forbids am able TO make only briefest re-
fcrenccs. II will be a pleasure to you to
know, however, that the one person best
qualified to prepare a history to date, Mrs.
L. X. Fuller, has been asked to do so for the
Goth anniversary and roll call to be held in April
Many of you will remember a strong and
historical sermon preached at the
dedication of the church building December
%, 1870, by DR.. Joseph G. Foster, former
beloved pastor, in which he traced the earli,
est beginnings Of a distinctive Baptist minis
try TO the people of Brattleboro in ITO and
described the first baptism here which took
place in l772. There are records of inter
est in reference TO these early years Not
until 1910, however, was Baptist church
formally organized. April OF that same year
81 people entered into agreement together to
adopt the articles of faith and the church
covenant of the Federal street Baptist church
AZ Ros,on and form A society to be known as
tho Bantist church of Christian Brattleboro
east village. On the 9th of May, when the
church was recognized by a delegated council
as Baptist church. its roll contained the
names of 65 members, and in September of
that wear when il was received into the Wind.
ham county association, its number had in
creased to SO. June Ia Of that year a Bible
school was organized. Now, after nearly
three score and ten years Of church life, the
membership is 500 and there have been re-
ceiyed into the membership of the church
about soO neonle half OF this number en-.
tcring the membership on profession of faith
and bv baptism.
There are many incidents OF positive inter
est in connection with the earlier and more
heroic years, which ! wish we might have
time to review The first meeting house was
dedicated March 3, 1871, less than year
after the organization Of the church. That
building was enlarged IL years after and re-
dedicated Nov. 5, 1859. The church edihce
on TINS site was ereclea IN 'ne se"i ho'o' ~
formally dedicated Dec 20 h',''e ,uoie en
16 years ago IT was remodeiied ana eniarseu
and formally set apart for the worship Vi
God and the work oil the ohurcn Dee' t uo,
1851 op :" 'ne pe ,as,"rs Tho
chufeh mas oeen seiNeu ~ haIt
average term % s ser oIs features Of The
.eais -. re- Ia, hoon tho evident ability
ss',' .s.a;ano, ~ ,b;s devoted ministry.
ana enie'ehcy Vi 'nls u..V So. hnnn Constant
ne inies .,,.. - ,ono. few churches
IN 'he Yeas an". ,.taa - no broader in.
nave Deeii hio,e u,No'o a., tro,, ,b;s
'eres's VI ue hlnsuoni ~. oo,s;deroble
chureh nave so"e' ~ ~. .,i.t,,. a,5
hummer Oh hieh W VI, svSp.' 80 e.,
to MISSION helds' out aiso nave IN V''' A.
us other churo"e' =" ''""'
creditabie work' - ao.ioI,,,
The life OF TINS ehurch mas Deeh espeoiaii!
notable LOT the huinp,i CIV - go,
ability and fidelity OF iaymen VINO nave ENsn
Of their properties their Wisuoh' anu .
personal effort to her activities; ana they
have been given the united and generous sup
port of the people, men and women as lam
ily possessing common life and serving
single end A true and fine democracy that
AZ sn;rit which we describe as esprit de
-. -, aosra os tho enthusiasm of a high
~ oor,mon nnrnose. has always character
~. - 4, ,a,,,,,or az his church
Consn;cuons omono her men has been the
a,, ., ,yhom This sunerb memorial has been
ra;sod Hs gathered up into himself and ex.
re- - strorgtb and sweetness
pressed IN ne VI seione a;st;,a,,isbirc
an nave sousn' W tesar"a ana doyot;on
the peoPIe III me, sl,,1s; ,at,or frop, his
Aprii o ~. tho r.stor.
sons WAS reoei ~. ~ 49, dosirod IN place
TOT sum- e, nronriato memorial TO our
III 'ne ~ 40 lie constant devotion to
peIoNeu ia'"o ~ ..a.oats Krow;ng ms we
the shuion ailu " 20 - tho church for n more
DO the pressing neeu " W. ~, ond reaI
suitable organ '"an arnronr;ate memorial
iNins 80" 20 his memory. we shall es-
oouu .;,,iIo,o II suitable location be
.o aniaod 10 present to the church such an or
,,an as viii he a fitting memorial to one whose
deviation and love for the church were never
ee'os'on n,;,a,,
nv ,,omhors NJ the church Immediately re-
I'LL With gratitude and enthusiasm and
Sotarm;ned while preparing a proper location
for tho organ to improve and beautify the
.Lnuah hr;ld;pg throughout provide for q
ohuion IT, a1stom and make all repairs
new Ae e tho on,,rse Of Years had become nee
e @sarV The women Of the church with
their accustomed generous interest decided to
refurnish the building with carpets. me me
work was commenced the first OF August ana
has now been completed most satisfactory y
the building is now more adequately adapted
to the purposes of the church than pelore
We desire as people to express oir tp
probation OF the hospiIang " cosroaational
and members OF the center ou ar,, - con.
church during the 'llne VI. IVA oI.o our an.
probation of the indefatigable service OF our
brother; > w. hae personal oversight of the