St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-06-07

Dedication week at Grace Methodist
church opened most aucpiciously Fri
day night with big banquet in the as
sembly room, served by the Ladies'
Aid society at which 300 covers were
laid. Grave was offered by Rev. Joseph
Hamilton of Randolph, former pre-
siding elder of this district, and dur
ing the dinner hour piano selections
were rendered by Miss Eklof.
The postprandial exercises were in
charge of the pastor of the church,
Rev. George A. Martin, who was most
felicitous in his introductions. Rev.
Clarence L. Eaton brought the greet
ings from the Church of the Messiah,
congratualting the church first upon
their achievement and second upon
their leader. And lastly he congrat-
ulated the church because of the 10y
atty and self-sacrifice of its people that
have made possible the erection of
such a beautiful edifice.
Mr.. Martin expressed his thanks to
the thoughtfulness of the pastor of the
North church in Offering that church
for the Methodists after the fire and
said he regretted that a previous en-
gagement detained Mr.. Richards. He
also said thanks were due Rev. Paul
D. Moody for making a similar offer
on behalf of the South church and
next introduced him. Mr. Moody
said he had been inspired by the work
that had gone on here and said it was
so beautiful that he was almost afraid
some people might be tempted to set
their church on fire. Though it rep
resented the work of one denomina-
ton he thanked God that We all be-
longed after all to one church-the
church of Christ in ST. Johnsbury
Rev. e. T-eFairbanks.
Rev. DR.. Edward T. Fairbanks
spoke in a reminiscent vein of the ded-
ication of the former structures on
this site without any banquets. He
said our forefathers missed
great deal, though when the first
meeting house was built in ST. Johns
bury they consumed ten gallons of
rum at the dedication. In closing he
paid deserved tributes to the early
pastors of the church, now gone to
their reward.
Miss Kahlo of Portland, Me-, the
deaconess of the church under two
pastorates, said words were too mad
OA0olO ~ S4PICSS u0T real I66unRS,
confessing that the magnificent edifice
was far beyond her anticipations.
Rev. DR.. c. H. Merrill brought the
greetings Of the Congregational de-
nomination in Vermont, saying that
the way in which out of disaster you
have achieved success is worthy of
note. You have found it easier to ac-
complish a great thing than a small
one. The new building is an asset
in church efficiency in which we can
all share.
Rev. Fred Wilcock, pastor of the
Center church. brought the greetings
of the mother church. He said his
church looked at her daughter with
the same pride that a mother beheld
her own daughter. Our message to
you is to press on with vigor, but in
the midst of your rejoicings and busi-
ness care do not forget the mother
Congratulatory letters were read at
this time from Rev. w. S. Smithers,
pastor Of the church in the early
nineties; Mrs. Caroline F. Harvey and
her two daughters of Washington;
Miss Lucy M. Sinclair and Mrs. Caleb
H. Marshall, the only one now living
of the founders of the first church.
Mr.. Simonds for Congregation.
Robert w. Simonds spoke for the
congregation, making a decided hit by
opening an effective address with the
words, Fellow Methodists and Visit
ing Sinners" He said after the church
burned down there was so much en-
thusiasm to rebuild that the people
had to get into the boat or drown.
There isn't a Methodist but what is
intent on making this church what it
should be, and what under its past and
present leadership it must be.
A. L. Bailey, who had been on the
building committees of the different
structures spoke largely in a reminis-
cent vein, and after describing num-
erous incidents relative to the con-
struction of the edifices told of various
trips after the pastors that were
among the guests of this occasion.
Continued on Page I'D