Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-01-04
SEVEN Men HONORED
Testimonial from First Ohurcn
Brotherhood Last Evening.
Iheir worth and WOrk Ncvic"eu u!
the Rev. g. g. Atkins, q Former
Pastor. at Annual banquet
Of Organization.

The ninth annual banquet Of the
First Church brotherhood was held
last night at the parish house. Tho
speaker of the evening was the Rev.
q. Glenn Atkins Of Providence. r. l.,
the FORMER pastor of this CHURCH.
This banquet was the occasion OF a
tr'bute to seven mon whose long mem
bership and faithful service have
made them notable in the church.
These men, the Rev. John Il. Goodrich,
Hamilton y Peck. Charles =. smith
nathaniel *. Brown, Urban a. Wood
hnrN, William !. Van Patten, anu
Charles E. Beach. were seated at the
head table. and az every place In tao
room was an extremely artistic FOLDER
hearing on its cover a pictur" OF the
First Church and containing brief
words Of appreciation by Or. Atkins
and Mr.. Guthrie. as well rs an account
Of the church service aud fenowship
OF each ono of the seven
Dr. Atkins vas introduced by tho
president Of the brotherhood, g. ID.
Catlin. He spoke with oil the magic
which is familiar to the people OF
Burlington. He told very simply of
his days journey. leaving providence
In the early morning and arriving In
burlington just in time Cor the pan
Duet. But tho narrative was full OF
humor and touched here and there
with the light II deeper things. When
he told of his thoughts -nd emotions
as the train began to IND its way
through the mountains. his words
wore rarely eloquent. Then he told
OF his friendship with the seven men
who sat at the head table and his ex-
periences with them. He told how he
had visited long hours with Judge
Peck in an atmosphere Of dinHy law
books. how he had gone fishing with
| n X Brown when that gentle,nans
trousers come OF the worse for con-
test with a Jagged branch. how he had
stood with Governor Woodbury. on the
field of Gettysburg and revived the
whole great struggle He told Of the
help which Professor Goodrich had
volunteered him. when n Greek con-
struction WINS inporfcctly interpreted
or some slip occurred in the calendar.
or C. p Smith ne said that II he had
striven to bring Mr. Smith the grace Of
God. Mr.. Smith In turn had tried 70
give him the saving crnce. and added
that II he had followed the advice he
would now he rolling In wealth. He
told OF hts remembrance Of Mr.. Beach,
and OF the day when Mr.. Van Patten
dropped into his study in Greenfield
and talked about Burlington and his
hopes and plans for Darlington all one
afternoon.
Then he spoke Of what these men had
been to the First Church and OF what
the First Church had been TO them.
Ard last. in wrapt and inspired words.
he told what the church Il to-day; what
lit always has been and always will be.
tho embodiment in tangible and COM
prehensible OF the great ideal realities
Of the world.
Following DR.. Atkins. Professor Good
rich Governor Woodbury.. and Mr.. Van
Pat:en were called on and spoke briefly.
and the evening was concluded with tho
singing Of, God re with You Till We
Meet AEnn.''
The present pastor of tho church. the
Rev. F.. G. Guthrie was unable to he
present on account Of an attack Of tom
sl,ts, which prevented his returning
from Rochester, y. T.. whore he has
been visiting. 4 letter from him ex-
pressing regret at the enforced abeence
was read, and the Brotherhood scnt him
their regret and sympathy by telesra nj
Music was furnished by C. a. Hngar
w. p Walker and a quartette Of uni
versity students
At business meeting. held inme
diatelv before the banquet the follow
ing officers We're elected for the ensu
ing yenr: President. Levi P. Smith: sec
rotary. w. c. Irish; treasurer, r W
Dunsrnore