The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-04-28
CHURCH OBSERVES
ITS E|GHTIETH
Anniversary
Exercises at Second C0ngrega-
tiOnaI Chapel Last Evening
MEMBERSHIP IS NOW 497
Reports of Officers Show That Society
Has Had Prosperous and Success
full Year.

tional church was well filled last even
ing when the church celebrated, with
appropriate exercises, its eightieth
anniversary, the church having been
organized April 9th 1886.
The committee on arrangements,
Mrs. Edward c.. Bennett, chairman,
had tastefully arranged the interior OF
the chapel, in keeping with the occas-
ion, by the plentiful use Of palms
and ferns. The reception began at 7.S0
and lasted thirty minutes. The recep-
tion committee consisted of Rev. and
Mrs. George S. Mills, Mrs. Edward c.
Bennett, Mrs. George II. Bickford,
Mrs. L. H. Ross, Karl Estes and Fred
erick Beecher, representing the church
and its various auxiliary societies.
The moderator, Rev. George S. Mills,
opened the business meeting by an
nouncing the hymn, "Blest Be the Tie
that Binds" which was sung by the
congregation, led by the choir with
Mrs. Keeseman at the piano. After
prayer by the pastor and brief remarks
the church clerk read his annual re-
port. The membership is 497. 19
members were added during the year,
IL on confession of faith and by
letter. 10 members have been dis
missed, s by letter and by death
There were Is baptisms, adult and
IL children. Bibles were presented
to s children on Children's Day, fol-
lowing out time honored custom.
DR.. l.. H. Ross presented his report
as treasurer. S634.00 had been raised
during the year for benevolences, in
cluding bout $115 for the sufferers
in Europe. Karl Estes, secretary of
the Sunday school, read his report;
the largest attendance, 225; smallest
attendance, 43. Total receipts, s144.S3;
total disbursements, $135.45. The
Guideboard Sunday school was report.
ed by Arthur Elwell: the average at
tendance was 40: the collection
amounted to $50 or about SEC. per Sun,
day.
The Woman's Missionary society,
reported by Mrs. T. H. Southall, Sec
retary, has held seventeen meetings
during the year, about equally divided
between Home and Foreign study;
$123.90 has been raised in various
ways, but all showing hard work and
careful planning.
Miss Maude Belden, secretary, read
her report of the Ladies Aid society.
The society has had good year, the
Christmas sale was most successful
has purchased new chairs for the
chapel and a new runner for the hall;
expended over $50 for decorating,
nearly half as much for new silver
plated ware; gave SO for Christmas
decorations and $40 for Easter lilies;
1t has given and pladged 5000 for an.
other worthy object and still has
money in the treasury. In the abb
sence of the secretary the report of
the Senior Endeavor society was read
by its president, Frederick Beecher:
Meetings have been held weekly;
union meetings have been held with
the Baptist and M. e. societies; the
number of active members is 35; as
sociate, 8; honorary A. absent z; total
81. Raised for Home and Foreign mis-.
sions $21, Raised for current ex-
penses, $30 The Sunshine Mission
circle of young people reports through
its secretary, Miss Hilda Wahlquist,
meetings every fortnight and mem
bership of %; 1t raises money for
both Home and Foreign missions.
The Sibyl Bingham Missionary band,
reported through its secretary, Phllo.
NM Rnunn a hnr In 30
was organized February IS. 1916 and
five meetings have been held already.
Money is raised by these young girls
and sent on to the mission field.
After the various reports had been
read, the choir sang two selections
most delightfully."-, Mrs. Keeseman play.
ing the accompaniment on tho new
piano. Mrs. VIM. B. Sheldon read the
neurology for the year. An amend.
ment to the bylaws was presented by
+. b. Pope, providing for eight deacons
instead of six. II was carried. OF
ficers were elected as follows: Clerk
one year, Philip T. II. Pierson; treas
urer, one year, Lucretius II. Ross;
auditor one year, George r. Grant;
members of church committee, one
year, Miss Mary L. Bigelow, Mrs
Frank B. Pope deacon for six years
Ernest Z. Bottum; deacon for si'
years, VIM. S. Boynton; deacon fol
five years, Arthur j. Elwell.
After a few remarks by the pasto
regarding the State Conference whic.
meets here May 1918, and repor
from committee on Revision of Roll
refreshments OF ice cream and cak
were served and social half-hou
was enjoyed, and the S0th annual meet
ing stood adjourned.
s., Philip \. II, pierson.