St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-01-29

crowded house many of the ablest
ministers then IN service. preached.
Among those early pastors one name is
significant, because it is preserved to us
to this day as an active force in our
church, Rev. T. X. Spencer. There is no
record to tell at what date these services
were suspended, or just what cause led
to their suspension. But the great weak
ness OF all early Universalist movements
was lack of organization, they were
simply preaching stations, there were
few Sunday schools or other auxiliary
| agencies tocontribute to the permanence
OF local churches. Although services
were practically suspended in the church
! at the Center Village sometime previous
to 1868, when this parish was organized,
the building remained until the des-
tructive fire of 1874, when it was
DESTROYED. Because there was no in
surance the whole property. including
the land, was lost to the Universalist
cause. THIS is but repetition of what
has transpired in many communities in
! Vermont, and other states.-the loss
through lack of care, of property which
the zeal and devotion of the fathers and
mothers of our church made possible.
Sometime, Just when we cannot tell,
but soon after the close of the war, a
movement was made to hold services in
this village. Among the first of these
were held in what is now g. A r. Hall,
at which Rev. George Severance preached.
From these small beginnings, and be-
cause several families had moved here
| from the Center and other localities
where Universalist services were estab-
lished, there developed a decided senti.
ment pointing to a permanent church.
Services were held in the Town Hall,
with preaching by various supplies as
! they could be obtained On January %.
| 1868, meeting was held at which a
| Profession of Faith was adopted, and
Articles of Organization were drawn,
and this parish was fairly launched upon
its career of usefulness. Just how many
men and women signed the original roll
and became charter members it is impos-
sible to state, as the early records were
copied into our present book, and the
charger members are not specially indi-
Gated. The officers who were elected to
serve the first year of the organized life
! of this parish, were men who have long
added honor and strength to our cause
Barron Moulton was chosen moderator
Qunton Cook, clerk; E. F. Brown, treas
urer; and E. A. Parks, Hiram Goss and
John l.. Couch, trustees. The annual
meetings until the church was built were
held at the old Passumpsic Hotel, man
aged by o. G. Hale, staunch Universe
| l,.H The b,NtaI aa -
the Avenue House. On December 6
1870, a most important meeting was
held, when the clerk, E. E. Sargent, was
instructed to notify Rev. B. M. Tillotsor
that the parish had voted to extend tC
him unanimous call to become it's pas
tor. This call was Immediately anC
heartily accepted, and Brother Tillotsor
entered upon pastorate covering II
years. They were years of untiring eft
fort on his part, ably seconded by a.
brave and seltsacrlhcing parish as it i:
often given a minister to serve. On Sept
S, 1871, it was voted to purchase the lot
upon which our church now stands
This action was taken, as am informed
after considering the lot where the Y M
{. A. building now stands, and also the
lot at the corner of Eastern Avenue anC
Pearl street, and now covered by par
of the block of F. A. Scott. The church
was Immediately begun, Lambert Pack
ard furnishing the plans, and John A
Stevens experimenting the construction
The corner stone was laid August 10
1872. The record OF this service is mad,
in the hand writing of the overture anC
devoted John l.. Couch, whose constan
presence and generous efforts were Sc
long part of the life of this parish.
The work on the church was prosecuted
with all proper speed and the building