The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-12-22

ministry in this village the entire
/ community felt the keenest regret,
For eleven years, and more, think,
| you have been with us as minister,
and before that was the ministry of
your father. Together you have
served the old church and the COM
munity upwards of half a century.
Both of you have not only made
history in that service, but you have
rendered great SERVICE TO all who
love Vermont by your scholarly in
vestigations into its early history,
and your efforts in making that his
| tory known to all.
A spontaneous movement, repre-
sented by this committee, arose to eX-
press to you, Sir. our love and ap-
probation of all that you have done,
/ all that your presence has meant to
us and to all the people of the COM
munity We have tried to indicate
our feelings in this address which |
hand to you. With 1t | hand to you
on behalf of your Pensioners, your
neighbors and friends a check. We
thought that you might be able to use
the money to good advantage in con-
nection with your historical re-
! searches. If you so decide, it Will be
source of pleasure to us to know
that it helped to facilitate the publi-
cation OF the important historical
| papers which you have prepared.
The address is a masterpiece OF the
art of engrossing and illuminating by
hand. 1t is in book form. each para
graph being on separate page, exc
| cuted in a different style of type, the
colors being black and gold. 1t is
| handsomely bound in soft gray leath-
err lined with silk. On the outside
| the name of the recipient Is embossed
in gold and the whole is contained in
case. All who have seen it declare
it to be a magnificent piece of work.
The address reads as follows:
To the Rev. Isaac Jennings, d. D.,
Minister of the Old First church,
Old Bennington, VT.
Reverend and Dear Sir:
We, the undersigned, q committee
representing your parishoners. and
your neighbors and friends regard
less of sect or creed. at the close of
your ministry in the Old First
Church, Old Bennington. Vermont.
desire to express to you our grateful
appreciation of your work in the COM
munity and our regret that the i'm
pairment of your health makes its
continuance impossible.
In the historic old church of your
boyhood, i'm which your honored and
revered father was minister, you
have for eleven years worked with
gentle Christian courage. unfaltering
faith and ripe scholarship, minister
ing to all with boundless devotion.
BY your extensive and scholarly
researches into the early history of
Vermont. and especially of Benning-
ton, you have rendered the state an
incalculable service and placed all
students Of its history for all time to
come under great obligation.
1t is our most earnest hope that
your retirement from active minister
ial work will afford you leisure and
opportunity to prepare for publication
the priceless historical paper which
you have from time 10 time read at
the Old First church and elsewhere.
Assuring you of the lasting friend
ship and esteem of all your parish
oners and neighbors.
We have the honor to remain,
Very sincerely yours,
Arthur Holden, Chairman,
Il. S. Chandler,
Katherine Jane Hubbell.
Guy b. Johnson.
Samuel L. Robinson.
Della A. Sibley,
John Spargo.
December 1916.
Overwhelmed by the tribute paid
him, DR.. Jennings found it very diff
ficult to make reply. In a voice that
trembled with emotion, he said, in
part:
Il love Old Bennington l love not
only the friends of old, associated
with memories of the long past, but |
love the new friends who have come.
with whom ] have made many dear
ties. love the Old First church.
am leaving its ministry. not because
would but because / must. The
All-Wise Father knows what is best.
His work is not dependent upon any
one man. You will have new minis
ter and he will lead you along toward
the heavenly goal.
We have been very happy here, my
wife and I. We do not like the
thoughts of going from here. In these
recent days we have often wondered
if we can ever hope to be as happy
any where else as in Old Bennington.
Fortunately, we do not have to break
completely yet. ] shall come back
again after short time, and both OF
us expect and hope to come again and
again to the dear old home.
1t is impossible for me to thank you
for this gift and for the spirit back
OF the gift. ! feel that | have done
very little But | have done my best
and have had most efficient helper
in my wife. / hope that after a few
weeks when | am rested somewhat
to take up the work Of preparing the
historical papers to which Mr., Holden
so generously referred for publica-
ton, and it will be q JOY to use your
gift in that connection. In my col
lection of Bennington books this ad-
dress will be the most priced as it is
the most beautiful. | cannot say
more-perhaps | have said enough.
On behalf Of my wife for your gift