The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-04-04


to Receive for Its Files Articles of
Association at time of Reorganiza-
ton in 1914.
Not long ago there came into the
hands of Hiram +. Weatherhead of
West Brattleboro a valuable record
book of the West Brattleboro Congre-
gational church, book which he res
cued from destruction and which he
Will turn over to the church clerk for
preservation. 1t contains the articles
of association of the Brattleborough
congregational or Presbyterian society,
which are dated April IL, 1914. Mr.
Weatherhead was engaged one day in
clearing away some rubbish at q house
i'll West Brattleboro, when he discov-
cred an old papercOvered book about
nine inches wide by Ii inches long in
a pile of waste about to be shoveled
up. On the front page was inscribed
IN fancy design i'll ink the words
- Brattleborough Association and the
book proved to be one Of the early
records of the church in which he has
been an officer. The leaves are of pale
blue tint, unruled, and are sewed in
what probably was the original hemp
thread. The articles of association are
letters, and to them are attached the
signatures of about $50 subscribers
and associates, the first being that of
Rutherford Hayes, grandfather of the
late President Rutherford B. Hayes.
Bound in the book also are a list of
financial subscriptions for the support
Of the gospel in Brattleborough, -
dated June 10, 1914, in which the sub
scribers agree to pay annually ''such
sums of money as we have annexed to
our respective names, and to continue
said payment from and after our sign
ing this instrument and until the de
mise or dismissal of the first settled
minister who shall be ordained by said
society, and no longer
The first pastor in BrattlebOro was
Rev. Abner Reeve, a Yale graduate
who began his ministerial labors in
1870 on Meeting House hill. In 1885
new church was built in West Brattle-
boro near the site of the present one,
for the accommodation of the whole
town. Rev. Mr.. Reeve preached until
1894. In March of that year Rev. Viii
liam Wells, a native of England, who
had settled in town, became pastor of
the church and continued as such 20
years, giving up his charge in March,
1914. the care of the whole town be
ing TOO muen Tor his advanced years
and iufirm health.
For some time before that the cast
village had been growing rapidly and
Rev Mr.. Wells had been holding ser
vices III a schoolhouse on the common
two or three times a month. More
room was needed and it was suggested
that a church be built in that village,
in which services should be held part
o. tn time without dividing the par
ish. This did not meet with general
favor, so it was decided to form a new
society in this village, erect a place of
worship and ask Rev. Mr.. Wells to be
the minister, which was done. This
was the beginning of the Centre Con
gregational church. Rev. Mr.. Wells be-
gan his new engagement the first Sun
day in April, 1914, and in the same
month the West Brattleboro church re
organized under the name of 1.-The
Brattleborough Congregational or Pres
byterian Society," and the articles OF
association of this reorganization form
the record which Mr.. WeatherheaC
rescued. It's first pastor thereafter wa
Rev. Caleb Burge, who was installed il
August, 1914, remaining five years.