St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-11-06
Burke East Village Meeting House.
Building Re-dedicated.- Generous Gifts
Historical Review.-List of Pastors.

Historical Review.-List of Pastors.
Friday, November 1 1907, will long be
remembered as red letter day in the
history of Methodism at East Burke. 1t
was the occasion of the re-dedication, of
the Burke East Village Meeting
House." as the Methodist church is
officially known. For a long time the
old house has been sadly in need of
repair. Last year it was shingled and
painted, and it was then thought that
nothing more could be done for some
time, at least, but there were those who
were anxious to see the "old church
home" of not only the living, but OF the
fathers long since gathered home, prop
erly repaired; movement was inaugu-
rated and as result some $500 have
been expended, and today it is one of the
most modern and neatest houses of
worship in this section of Vermont. The
old balcony, long since fallen into disuse
except as place for game of hide and
seek on occasions of public entertain-
ments, has been remodeled into beauti-
full League room; the church has been
thoroughly re-painted and papered; the
old pews, with the ever dirty and ex-
celsior giving propensities of their
cushions, have gone, and in their place
t1,nAart, re .t,c
each row set on graceful curve. The
old floor has gone, with its raised and
uneven platform, and beautiful hard
wood floor has come to take its place.
There has been an extension of the altar
platform and the addition of much
needed altar rail. The single electric
lights, suspended from a dark, gloomy
ceiling by wires and strings, have gone,
and thoroughly up-to-date electric chan
deliers have taken their place. A beau
tiful memorial window of imported
cathedral glass has been put in place in
memory of one who has gone and so
one might go on telling of the changes
that have taken place during the sum-
mer months, but suffice it to say that
one would hardly recognize the interior
of the church as it is today.
For some time preparations have been
going on for re-dedication. When all
was in readiness, November was chosen
as the date, and the forenoon was set for
an 'old fashioned Love Feast" and il
was certainly all that the term implies
The meeting was in charge of the vener
able Rev. c. P. Taplin, former pastor
and if any think that the old-time fires o
Methodism have gone out, it would
have been well for such an one to hav,
been at that Love Feast" At 2 ococl
the members and friends gathered unit
the house was well filled. The presiding
elder of this district, Rev. F. w. Lewis
presided. There were present on tn
platform, Rev. William Shaw of Lyndon
vile, Rev. c. p Taplin of Montpelier
Rev. Joshua M. Frost of St. Johnsbury
Rev. Douglas G. Guest, the pastor il
charge, and Rev. 0. E. Hardy, pastor 0
the local Congregational church. Praye
was offered by Mr.. Shaw, and then Pre-
siding Elder Lewis announced that Rev
Mr.. Frost would preach the word. Tn
text was from LIST Corinthians 1928
Therefore let no man glory in men: 70
all things are yours" At the conclusion
of this particularly able sermon, tn
pastor, Mr.. Guest, announced that tn
repairs and gifts amounted to nearl,
$500, and that enough money had BEEF
pledged to leave but 5000 due. He aske'
for pledges to pay the rest, and $131. Il
was given, leaving less than $40 to b
raised.
Letters from the following former pas
tors were read: John Thurston, S.
Brigham, John Mcdonald, c. W. Morse
A. G. Austin, and George w. Manning
Space willnot admit of giving the letters
but a brief excerpt from that of Mi
Manning will serve to give the reade
their tenor.
Dear Brother Guest:-I would yer
much like to be present with you an