The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-14
MONTPELIER PASTOR INSTALLED.
Rev. Lewis Clinton Carson for the
Church of the Messiah.

:
OF the organization of the parish, Dec. IS
1864, an historic address was delivered
by George l.. Blanchard
The invocation was made by Rev. Gin
ton Scott of the Northfeld Univcrsalisi
society, followed by the announcement,
by Moderator George w. Wing of the
call extended to DIR. Carson last septem
Der and of the acceptance. Rev. j. b
Reardon, pastor OF the Uniyersalist
church of Barre, contributed the scrip.
ture reading, and the prayer was offered
by Rev. q. j. Staples, pastor of the First
Unitarian church Of Burlington.
Preceding the installation sermon
made by Louis Craig Cornish, secretary
of the American Unitarian association,
Boston, and college classmate OF DIR.
Carson, Mr.. Blanchard gave, as he ex-
pressed it, chronological record OF tine
more important events which have oc.
curred in the fifty years life of the
Montpelier organization. He said that
Rev. Charles A. Allen officiated at the
first Unitarian service held in Montpel-
ier, Oct. 0, 1864, the religious meeting
taking place in the old village hail. Oct.
| 10 the second service occurred at the
same place and on the 30th of the same
month a service was held in Washington
hall located over what is now the Central
| Vermont depot. From that time, un-
til the erection of the present religious
edifice, services were held in the county
court house.
Mr.. Blanchard called attention to the
fact that of the 80 subscribers who
signed the articles OF association form
ing the Church OF the Messiah, but two
are living. Mr.. Allen was ordained
March !, 1865 and among those who as
sisted in the service was Edward Everett
Hale of Boston. Jan. %, 1866, the
Montpelier Independent Meeting House
society was formed and until an act of
the legislature changed the name in
1902, the church, which was constructed
by that society, remained in the name
of that society.
Rev. J. Edward Wright took charge
of the parish in Sept. |, 1869. Rev Mr..
Allen having been forced to take leave
of absence on account of his health and
Nov 7, 1870 his resignation was received
and accepted and Dr. Wright was made
the permanent pastor, continuing in that |
capacity for forty consecutive years. |
Here Mr.. Blanchard paused for mo-
ment in his task of relating the dates |
OF events to express word OF praise |
for DIR. Allen, through whose efforts the
of the church was made
possible.
A brief but impressive eulogy was
given Of DIR. Wright. who, is might be
Qof arsI.t af0ts ~
pelier church, but of the surrounding
a nation wide figure, given
the title of the Little Bishop Of Vermont
by Ex-President Eliot of Harvard uni.
Versity, who conferred the degree of doc
Tor of divinity upon him.
When Mr.. Wright concluded his ae-
live association with the church in 1909,
Rev. j. Ward Clark was installed as pas
.or and continued to occupy the pulpit
until 1912. June |, 1918, Rev. Albert
4. Spence responded to call, but re-
igned in the spring OF this year because
II i'll health, and Sept. |, call was ex-
ended to DIR. Carson, who since that
late has occupied the pastorate.
In conclusion the speaker touched upon
he numerous societies affiliated with the /.
hurch, such as the Sunday school, the
i'd society, later superseded by an en-
owment fund TO be used for chaitable &,
purposes, the Lend-a hand Society, Ju- !
ior Alliance and the Women's Alliance. ,
Mr.. Blanchard at the close OF his ad-
ress read number of communications :
rom Rev. Charles A. Allen. founder
{ the church, who acknowledged an in
itation 10 attend the installation serv-
e but mentioned the iniirmities of old !,
ge as an excuse for being absent The !,
ritter recalled the five years association !
.ith the people Of Montpelier and ex.
cordial invitation 70 any who
tight visit Boston 20 make the short
,urney TO his home in Waverly near :,
v.
Other letters expressing regrets aud
est wishes were read from Rev. Charles
!. Wing OF Concord, n. H., Rev. Hilary =,
ygrave who filled the pulpit during ii
ev. Spence's illness. and pastors OF !
iurehes in Vermont Ia
Rev. L. G. Cornish. in opening his in i,
allstion sermon. said il was his priyi- :
ge 10 knos or 20 have known all the \,
,stors Of the Church Of the Messiah and y,
J was not only a warm edmirer Of Dr. N
right, but be had been greatly in
'bted 20 him. lie attended the same p
yinity school with Rev. A. u. Spence N
"a Rev Ward Clark and was class. q.
ate Of Dr. Carson AZ college and since ~
en- their friendship had continued un- -
ated he personally wished Cod n,
eed in the new chapter of the parish ~
= which began last evening. IC,
The minister sketchei briefly the :.
rong Unitarian movements existing 81
Japan. India. Italy and the other Eu- =,
pean and Asiatic countries and told Of y.
2 hope which exists for a liberal and
aetioal Christianity. he related the .,
Igin IF Jnitariauism, but another word pl
} pmitanism. and of tie establish / J.
M of q duuhls freedofn political lib 4.
3 and spiritual freeiom On tie hleak -.
pres Of New England back IN the sev. -
teenth ceufury. -,
.ie urEed more lifernl thinking and ~
ling and deatTfbed tlse tvre ~ men -
uHa into the eouutrF. GEN NJ p1.liti-
sl Freedom O. auate snf fnf tham-
tes Wfthnuf anr srsrtaal creed To a..
fuatisen his pnirf is stated fhat ths -.
4 ernsus ~ the polulstiou ~ New ~
Eian1 sh1uea tis rssf.is o. =. 81 Hsr -.
q fure.rn trru sud made rIsia thr ~
fruleus uIT.urtunify and gHfsilsce Of -.
- timsf FeoFls anG tnaah thew ierai
Z frartiral fasnsiianry.
r isham FL tls aitsr sfu-.s,ss Is fi.s 80
= Hst. stanisf p H.sm6sll. pastor fer