Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1915-11-12
GUILDHALL.


people of each or any one denomina-
ton. whose members are holden to
guarantee, in case of deficiency of
subscription, the payment of what
ever salary their committee may
pledge a minister; such deficiency to
be assessed on and apportioned to
the grand list But the people Of
town, we believe never formed such
society, but have depended entirely
upon voluntary contribution.
A decided majority of the people
of the town have always been Con-
gregationalists;and of the same sect,
it appears, were the first preachers,
who were missionaries, principally
from Connecticut. Besides Mr.. Bell,
who is first mentioned, were Mr.
Ripley, Mr.. Nathaniel Waldo, Mr..
Calvin Noble, during the earlier
years before and Immediately after
the organization of the Congrega-
tional church, and Rev. Messrs. Mott
and Hart from Connecticut, and
Aims worth from Jaffrey, N. H.; but
for what length of time each may
have supplied the desk, cannot now
be ascertained, as the records are
very meagre and imperfect through
out. And there has always been a
considerable society of Methodists,
and we shall depend upon some in
divid ual of that sect for a sketch OF
the same. There are also few Uni
versalists. but, we believe there has
never been a regular society, and
but little preaching of that doctrine.
The Congregational church in
Guildhall was organized April l.,
1893 by Rev. Seldom Church of
Northumberland - formerly OF
Campton, N. Hand Rev. Joseph
Willard of Lancaster; composed of
seven MEMBERS Benoni Cutler,
Joseph Berry, Samuel R. Hall, Eliza
beth Hall, Sarah Berry Mercy Howe
and Hannah Amy. S. R. Hall, first
clerk.
The next record bears date Nov.
"a 1909 at which time Samuel K.
Hall and Joseph Berry were chosen
thp first deacons; also Heman Bias
sett, Daniel Dana and William Cut
Ter and a committee to assist the
deacons in examining candidates tol
church fellowship. In the meantime
26 persons had been added to the
church it appears while Messrs. Bel
and Ripley were preaching here. II
1903. the town and church gave Mr.
N Waldo a call to settle. Said cal
not accepted, and but four addition
made in 1904, and but three more Il
1907. when the church gave Mr.. Cal
yin Noble a call, not accepted. Il
1901 the town made provision TO
building a Westinghouse, Capt
Simon Howe, William Cutler an
Zanhaniah Perkins, committee TO
the purpose, and Messrs. "Lemut
Holmes, William Amy and Samut
r. Hail. were chosen to draw tn
plan; the place fixed for the locatlo
being the centre lot, and situated o
the hill above the John Bothell farm
about one-half mile from where MI
Emery now lives. This hill has eve
since been called the Meeting-HouS
Hill. Such a place would now /
considered very out of the way; bi
then it was central, besides the Poop
of those days had much higher NJ
tons respecting the situation OF the
houses, and the location OF roat
than is usual of late years. Lemu
Holmes. Isaac Bundy, and Samu
Howe were the committee to sell II
pews. and the building was set up
vendue to him who would bul
cheapest. Mr.. Nathan Cass bids tt
sum of S2400, and it was struck c
to him, and he built the house, tu
nishing all the materials. Complete
inl8O5, and July 8, 1903, the chur'
gave the Rev Caleb Burge "a call
be installed over us in the Lord,
voted unanimously Mr.. Burl
was. installed first pastor on the la
Wednesday of August following; al
sustained that relation with good sr
cess until Feb. 16, 1914, when ne W
dismissed for want of adequate su
port, consequent to the many reno
ais, deaths of many others, also t
public calamities" resulting fro
the war with Great Britain. A
ditions during Mr.. Burgess admin
tration. 99;-74 united with t
church in 1910, and Al were adm
ted at one time. From 1914 to le
nothing appears upon the record b
an occasional business meeting.
In 1928 Rev. Andrew RAM
fabored among the people, and
were added to the church. He "
invited in January 1923 to SETTLE
declined; and from 1923 to 1929
church seems to have had no We