The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1909-09-02
CHURCH CELEBRATES CENTENNIAL
First Congregational Church of St. Johns
bury Observes tooth Anniversary of It's
0rganization-Gif of $4,000 Fund
Announced
Special TO the Journall

celeDraln Ing the ccnte nnlal OF cnurcn or
ganization in this town, and the building
is the only one of real historic interest in
the town. The church odifice is trife
over 100 years old having been erected
in 1902 as a meeting house. The actual
date of organization is November 81, but
for many reasons it is thought best to
observe the cen ennial earlier in the season
and this date was chosen. There are many
former pas ors and old friends present
and the day will be a memorable one fer
those in. crested in these services, and they
have come from all the ry round.
The morning program included welcome
by the resident pastor, Rev. J. X. Kill
bourn; prayer by Rev. L. G.. French of
Lyndonville; an historical address by
Rev. f. T. Fairbanks d. d., of St.
Johnsbury, who was pastor of the church
from 1868 to 1874; greetings from the
Caledonia County Ministerial Associat ion
by the registrar, Rev. w. c. Clark, of
Lyndon; singing All Hail the Power of
Jesus Name" and the bene diction,
At noon the ladies of the church served
dinner at the church, the honorary chair
man of the committee being Mrs. Eliza
Ranney, the oldest living member of the
church. She is in her 9th year, but her
young appearance and great interest in all
the services of the day made her the center
of attraction of both residents and visitors.
At two O'Clock the exercises were resumed
with devotional service led by Rev. S. G.
Barnes, ID. d., of St. Johnsburv, pastor
of the South Congregational Church;
Rev. Perrin b. Fisk, of Plainield, former
pastor, read paper on " Puritan Psalmody
and the Musical Ministries of the Cen
tury," during which some of the hymns of
100 years ago were sung. Greetings were
given from the North and South churches
at st. Johnsbury, both of which are off
springs from the old church.
Rev. CHI. Merrill DID,, of st .Johnsburv.
secretary of the Vermont Domestic Mis-
sionary Society, brought message from
that society, and there were greetings
from former pastors sister churches and
old friends. Rev. George W. C. Hill, d. D.,
pastor of the North church, spoke on
"The Twentieth Con ury Church"
On Sept. 2, 1902, the citizens of this
town met and voted to raise $3.50 PAYABLE
in good wheat az the ma ket price for the
purpose of building a house for holding
town meetings The land was given by
Lieut.. Thomas Pierce and it was situa ed
near his house west of this village. The
building was raised in the autumn of
1904, and the raising was great event in
this community. At the setting of the
sun Zbe Tute assembled one of the rafters.
stood on his head at the end of the ridge
pole and after emptying the contents of
his flask, he descended head downwards
to the ground. The shingles used in this
building were taken from single tree.
There were 81 pews on the ground floor
and 25 in the galleries. The purchase RS
were of different nominations and with
the ownership went lien on the use of the
house, as opportunity might occur, for
preaching of the purchasers favorite sort.
The highest price paid for pew was
S137, The floor pews brought S619,5O
and the gallery SIG. The building stood
on a high hill for Al years and in 1916 was
moved to its present location. The ound
floor was used for all town meetings until
1855. For time the building fell into
dsuse, but later it was taken down and
removed and lis present site is near the
little graveyard where the remain of
Lieut.. Pierce rest together with those of
other Revolutionary soldiers. After five
years of desultory preaching six men and
three women were organized as the First
Church of st. Johnsbury. 1t was six
years before they had pastor, Rev.
Pearson Thurston being stalled in
1915. He was dismissed in 1917 owing to
ill health. 1t was Is years before his
successor was installed, making only two
years out of % with pastors service.
From this church have sprung the North
church organized in 1925, the church at
st. Johnsbury East organized in 1910,
and the South church organized in 1851.
In 1902 the church was extensively re-
paired and rededicated. The old pulpit
was then repaired together with the com
munion table and in them the church now
has two beautiful old pieces of furniture.
Another relic is brass chandelier that
was put into the church when it was moved
from the hill.
At the close of DR.. Fairbanks historical
address he announced the gift of $4,000
from Charles Hosmer Morse, of Chicago,
son of the late Deacon John Morse, for
merly of this town, to be used for the sup
port of preaching, and to be known is the
John Morse Memorial fund Rev. Dr.
Fairbanks and Frank H. Brooks, also of
St. Johnsbury are to have charge of this
fund and deacon from this church is to be
selected to aid them.
BICYCLE RIDER ARRESTED