The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1915-04-30
CONGREGATIONAL
CHURCH'S 79TH
ANNIVERSARY
Exercises and Annual Meeting at
Chapel Last Evening
PROGRAM, REPORTS AND ELECTION
Society Organized in 1885 with As
Members Now Has a Roll of
Nearly 500.

! of people gathered at the chapel oA
the Second Congregational church
last evening TO celebrate the seventy
ninth anniversary of the organization
of the church and to attend the an
nual meeting. The committee in
charge. had arranged, with the helr
of palms, ferns and blooming plants
the platform in such a manner that
it reminded one of commencement
day in the high school or college
From seven thirty till eight o'clock
reception was held, the members
of the reception committee standing
in front of the platform, whilst the
orchestra OF five pieces discoursed
various selections most asreeably.
The members of the reception com
mittee were; Mrs. G.. w. Thatcher,
Mrs. T. c. Bennett, Mrs. George S,
Mills, Mrs. T. H. Southall, w. S.
Boynton. Charles S. Mills and the
pastor AT eight o'clock, Rev. George
S. Mills. moderator ex ofiicio. called
the people to order and the program
was begun The hymn. The Church's s
One Foundation which has been
church within the recollection of the
Oldest inhabitant, was likewise sung
on this occasion, followed by PRAYER
The pastor made a few remarks on Al
new book, The Reconstruction uf
the Church" and added that he should
tonight listen to the various reports
with a critical mind.
The first report was that of the
church clerk, which was substantial
ly as follows: received into member
ship during the year, "A. of whom l6
joined on confession aud 8 by letter,
number OF dismissals, A. of whom 6
were given letters and were called
beyond, the present membership is
4SS, gain of ten members over a
year ago: 4 adults and children
were batized; there are 275 families
in the parish; bibles were given five
children who had reached tne age of
seven years on Chldren's day. at
cording to custom; II young people
joined the church from the Sunday
school on Easter Sunday; there have
been two pleasant Sunday afternoon
visitations," tAe first, Dec. 18th, aAd
the last. April 25th. The church
was represented at many important
meetings and coancils; since the or
sanization of the church in 1886,
there have been only eight pastors,
the average length of pasioIate beilg
ton years; tie longest service was
that of Re, Chah uey a. Hubbard
v he vas WITH THIS churcn ior twenty
one years; .he shortest pastorate
was that OF Rev. Frank A. Munday,
one year The membership started
in 1886 with two score and FIVE souls.
but in the past eight years has not
varied much from ten more than ten
times that number.
DR.. Lucretius I'll. Ross, treasurer,
next read his report; it showed that
the benecolences for the year were
hand in the Missionary Fund was
$l33.S3; the cash baance in all funds
is $1s523 With Mrs. Keeseman as
accompanst, Mrs. Baker and +. Il.
Bottum sang at this point a duet.
The Sunday school secretary's report
showed an average attendance of
105, gain of four over the previous
year; the membership is about $50.
Karl Estes is the efficient secretary.
The Sunday school treasurer's report
read by Karl Estes, showed collec-
tions for the year amounting to $l54.-
16; missionary collections amounted
to S4321; balance on hand in all
funds is $45.97.
Arthur j. Elwell presented the re.
port of the Guideboard Sunday school
which showed an average attendance
of about forty and an average collec-
tion of about a dollar. The report of
the Womans Missionary society was
given by its secretary, Mrs. Emma
Harwood and was in substance as fol
lows: Many interesting meetings
were held; a missionary picnic; print
ed programs adopted; the book, The
Child in the Midst has been used in
connection with the study of foreign
missions, while "The Child at Home"
has been used for the home mission
study; a successful food sale was
held last September; articles have
been made and sent to the lnterna
tional college at Springfield, Mass
and to the Kurn Hattin homes;
Thank-offering meeting the first of
the year resulted in the raising OF
SIS. A barrel of clothing was sent to
a school in Alabama; on March 16tG
a banquet was held in the chapel, at
which Mrs Ida Vose Woodbury. was
the distinguished guest, giving an ad-
dress "In Red Mans Land" Indian
curios were on exhibition and were
explained by ladies dressed in Indian
costume. Another thank offer
ing meeting resulted in the
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