The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-07-10
Centennial of Centre Con-
gregational Church
at an End
SERMON PREACHED
BY REV. H. r. MILES
Historical Paper Given by Walter A.
Gilbert = Many Antique Articles
Shown at Exhibition - Open House
and Refreshments. p

Shown at Exhibition - Open House
and Refreshments.
The last of the services commemorate
ing the founding of the Centre Congre-
gational church 100 years ago were
held III the church yesterday, and the
church now faces another cycle with a
resolve to let the heritage of the past
| spur it on to greater Accomplishments
| in the future. The church was favored
with clear weather for its centennial
program, and the various events were
TO a great number an inspiration and
| blessing.
! On Saturday afternoon the church
! kept open house in the chapel from 3
to 6 clock, and at the same time
there. was an exhibition of articles of
olden days which was verv entertain
ing. The articles had to do mostly with
the early days of the church The Wis
itors were received by a committee con
sisting of the president and past pres
! idents of the Woman s association and
| the wife of the pastor, and the host
| esSes of the occasion were representa-
| tives of early families of the church.
/ Many wore costumes of several genera
tOns ago. Refreshments of ice-cream
and cake were served by Caterer A. E.
/ Miller from a tent on the lawn and
strawberry punch was served in the
ladies' parlor.
Articles of Antiquity
One article shown was an arm chair
which down to Oct. 10, 1898, had been
owned by these generations: Lucy
Goodhue, Francis Goodhue, Joseph
Goodhue, Harriet Goodhue Holbrook.
Franklin F. Holbrook, Frederick Hol-
brook, Lucy Brooks Holbrook. Two
. books which were owned by Rev Alb
ner Reeve, the first minister in Brat
tlebOro, were shown, one printed in
! Latin. They are owned by Mrs w H.
Bigelow. Grouped around the picture
of Rev. William Wells, the first pastor
of the Centre church, were oil paintings
and other pictures of early members of
the church and society, including Mr..
; and Mrs. John Holbrook, Mr.. and Mrs.
Uriel Skies, Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Good
I hue, Joseph Steen and others. Photo
/ graphs of nearly all who have served
, the church as deaeons were exhibited,
j. also silhouettes of many of the church
) people made 25 years ago.
There were exhibited the first record
books of the church and society, that
of the church containing the handwrit
cient official documents and deeds of
pews were shown. A hymn book print
cd IN l766 was the property of Myron
F. Dutton of Dummerston. There were
II large number of very old books. in
Guiding the family Bible of Samuel Ell
lot, for whom Elliot street was named,
. also Bible published in Brattleboro
y by Holbrook & Fessenden. t s,s.s
The first communion cup used in the
| church on the common was exhibited,
"a also the first communion table used
r after the church was moved to its
IS present site. Samplers, ancient jewelrv,
t foot stoves, warming pans, j. Good
hue's leather water bucket, the first
'el ballot box used in Brattleboro, pewter
n articles brought over in 1880 by
Il. William s. Newton 8 ancestors all at
yI traeted much attention Silk made BY
,eI the wife of Chief Justice Royal Tyler
I'd starting at the beginning of the process
with mulberry leaves, aroused much
h curiosity. Judge Royal Tyler $ tai
k hat case was interesting.
There was a chair, owned by II. r
Lawrence, which was once the property
of benjamin Gorton, who participated
. in the attack on the Westminster conrl
house March Is. 1875. A veil AM
If cuffs embroidered in 1929 by Mrs Eliz
tabeth Skies Cune were displayed. aIs6
| a dress made by the late Deacon G. +
al Thompson s grandmother more than 10t
rsI years ago.
al A collection of pictures Of earl,
a. buildings exhibited by Miss Mary r
ID Cabot was especially interesting
,dl Among the pictures shown were thos,
81 of the Burnside military school, til,
i. watercure buildings, the residence o
Joseph Goodhue where the librar,
stands aud many others Not the leas
interesting exhibit was an oil painting
of Rrattleboro showing the old churel
lon the common.
Centennial Sermon.
av Rev Harry r. Miles of New Haven
Conn, former pastor, preached tn
centennial sermon yesterday mornin,
he and was greeted by a large eongrega
Io-l ton. The children Is story was toll
sr- by Rev. Roy M. Houghton of Ne,
Haven, a former pastor. Fred c. Ad
ans rendered a solo in the opening ex
II ercises, and after the sermon a com
II munion service was held, at which fou
- persons were received into the churc
10 by the pastor. Rev. Frederick "
Greene of Middletown, Conn.,, made
statement of the meaning of the con
munien service, and the communion
was administered by Rev DR.. George F
Martin of Auburndale, Mass. and Re,
DR.. Samuel III. Lee of Springfield
Mass, both former pastors.
eel The theme of the sermon, which wa
let one of the most impressive feature
nd of the centennial, was HonoriHg til