Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-11-28
HISTORICAL SKETCH.


the three decades previous to 1880, the
early struggles OF the first settlers,
the slow growth Of the parish because
Of the hostile feeling towards English
institutions, the outcome Of the Rev
olutionary struggle. and tho poverty
of those who adhered to the princi-
pies of the church Passing on down
Mr.. Allen touched on the first Fpisco.
pal convention held at Arlington In
1890, the legislative action on the land
grants In 1924. the making of Yer
| mont member Of the eastern do
ccse In 1910 the conservation Of Rish-
op Griswold In 1871 his work in tho
parish up TO 1892, when he was sue
ceeded by the Rev. John Henry Hon
kins' p. ~ Mr.. Aliens paper was
thorough and gave a splendid idea NJ
the work In Vermont up to the time
when St Pauls parish was organized
ST. PACL's PARISH
Mr.. Allen then took UP tho history
of ST. Paul's, beginning from the time
1t was organized In 1880. touching on
the first service held in tho old court
house In 1891, the building o. the first
church and its description. and the
manner in which II was decorated
The church was completed in 1882 at
| cost of $500, and was consecrat.d
November 25, 1882. by Bishop Hop.
kins. rs years ago yesterday. Mr.
Allen then spoke of the first addition
to the original building in 1881. the
manner In which It was changed and
improved. and then, In later Years I'm
1866. when the growth OF the parisa
required It, 1t was further enlarged
and decorated after designs made by
Bishop Hopkins. A review Of tho
subsequent additions was also rada
by Mr.. Allen, together vita the build
Ing of new rectory, the parish house
and the many other improvements
which have made the church what /,
is to-day. After giving n careful re
view of the history of the parish tho
result Of much research and carofrI
study Mr.. Allen presented. in coaclu-
sion the following summary:
Such, as briefly ms | feel could and
should relate IT, Is the history OF rho
material growth of ST. Paurs narlsb
since the conservation of its church
10 years ago. l have not ATTEMPTED
10 name or describe the personal gifts
to the church, which represent the
love. and often self-denial of so many
of her faithful worshippers The list
is a long one. Her history is one OF
announcement and IS full of instances
of Gods special guidance and bless
ing. It cannot be measured by statis-
tics alone.
ON her parish register are found the
names of persons baptized. 2.l00; CON
tirmed, 1869; marriages. $50 burials.
l.O9a
Towards sustaining the parish the
following trust funds have been given:
The Hannah V. Howard Fund" of
$4,000; The Louisa Howard Fund" Of
$500 The Julia II, Beckwith Fund
| Of $1,000: and THE LeCirand h Can
non Fund" OF $4,000. Total. s2l.5OO.
one great cause Of her steady growth
| Is that she has been n radiant. not an
| absorbent centre In tho cunmunity.
According to her annual parochial
reports she has contributed, since her
| organization, for work within the do
cese the sum OF s7o.027, rrd for work
outside the diocese the sum Of see
500, n total amount Of s92.593. or an
average OF over $1,000 year This
does not include certain trust funds
which should, perhaps, he added. Be
sides this she has increased her orig
inal church lot by one and half
acres OF ground, and has caused to be
erected upon this land buildings which
are conservatively valued AZ $50. 900.
with no indebtedness And what Is
better than all, she has, to-day, n CON
gregation OF LAS persons. of whom
100 are earnest, harmonious, God fear
ing communicates. Let II be the
prayer, the pledge. the effort of each
one of us to make St Pnuls Church
better In the future than I'm the past
THE RECTORsHIPS.
Following the paper by Mr.. Allen, the
Rev. George Y Bliss, rector OF the
church, delivered an address on six
Rectorships In st. Pauls" Mr. Bliss
took UP tho lives Of five rectors who
have guided the affairs OF st. Paul's
parish for the last three-quarters of a
century; the Rt. Rev. John Henry Hop
hns, D, D.. LII D.; the Rev. David Hin
house Buell.: the Rev. +. II. Atwlll
the Rev. William c. Dawson; the Rev
Joshua lsham Bliss. u. u. Mr.. Bliss
gave short description of the work
done by each of these rectors, the con-
dition of the parish, and the many odds
which they fought against in their eff
forts to enlarge and care for their flock
OF the five rectors included In Mr.
Biss's history of the parish. only one s
now living, the Rev, f. r. Atwill, who
was rector from 1857 to 1881. DR., Bliss
read the following letter from Mr. Atwill
expressing his regret at not being able
to be present at the anniversary Nom
day;
Kansas city Mo. oct. o. 1907.
My Dear DR. Bliss:--Your kind invita-
ton creates In me strong desire to visit