Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1906-11-02

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The edifice occupied as IA place OF
worship by the Methodist Episcopal
Church in Island Pond having under
gone extensive alterations and improve
ments, it was deemed proper to hold
dedication services which occurred on
Tuesday, October %.
The most noticeable feature in these
changes was the erection of tower Il
feet by l. on the ground, and rising to
the height of So feet. Instead of ter
miuatiug in pointed spre the upper
part of the tower is finished i'll the lndo-
Saraceuic Stvle of tue Renaissance. a
town clock is to occupy the upper por-
ton, and below this has been hung II
inch B'ymyer bell, OF excellent tone
The entrance to the church is now
through this corner tower, the door in
the center of the building having been
removed and replaced by window.
The lower part of the building has
been entirely remodelled, hard wood
floors have been laid in the several
rooms, and new paint applied through
out.
l he bell was raised to its place in the
tower at 1918 A. NJ on Tuesday, the
process being witnessed toy some 400
people; SO we'll had the arrangements
been made that there was no accident or
delay, aud at noon it was in place and
ready to send forth its summons. The
privilege of ringing it for the first time
was very properly accorded to Mr., 5. d.
Iobson, the senior member of the
Board of Stewards of the church, and at
exactly twelve o'clock he performed
this duty.
The first call was to refreshment, din
ner being served i'll the large vestry OF
dining room of the church. The ability
of the ladies' as caterers was well tested.
but proved equal to the occasion, fully
500 people sharing the meal. Grace
was said by Rev. \. l.. Cooper, ID. ID.
In order to accommodate the large
number present, the post-prandial eXer
cises were held in the main audience
room and were under the direction o.
the Rev. William Shaw, who acted a
toast-master. The male quartette of the
: local Y NJ. c. A. rendered several selec
tons that were highly appreciated, All,
J added much to the exercises.
The response to the toast Past an,
Present. was carefully prepared pape
, 10y Mr.. ). ID. lIobson, which, at his re
quest, was read by Rev. w. 5. Smith
ers. This paper was of sutiicien
interest to deserve reproduction here; i
was as follows:
"Perhal | may be pardoned for 90
ing back of our church history in thi
" Town to say a word about the earle
! struggles. ! came here in September
1852 the place was then IL wilderness
The first train of cars came in January
B53. The depot, the Island Pom,
House, the saw mill and several othe
buildings were erected in the summer 0
; 1858.
"Rev. NJ ns4s Robinson, a most devot
I ed minister and self sacrificing man
preached here occasionally during thi
year 1888, and was planning for
y church building, which was erected til,
= following year, 1854. Mr.. Robinson
owned the land on the bank of the pom,
from which he had the timber cut TO
Il the frame and boards for the church
assisting with his own hands in thu
y work. Deacon {. {. Cummings was
generous contributor and took the lea,
u IN raising the subscriptions; it was du,
l. to his persistent and self-sacrihcin.
work that the funds were raised and III,
y church built.
ga. ). Downing, customs officer
was the first Sunday School superin
tendent' lie and his godly mother wer,
IA spiritual power. After he went ava,
Mr. Eibridge Poor was superintendont
, and with his accomplished daughter at
! the organ, did good work for God and
Ills cause But business changes called
'lm away in 1860, and then |. having
been born into the Kingdom, took ur
the work under most discouraginc cir
cnmStances, there being no regnla,
preaching; but with the stedfast sup
port of few godly women, (not ma,
came to our relief We "held the fort