Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-06-30
centennial PLANNED
Congregational Celebration Be-
gins with dwelling Marker
Program to Cover Five Days-Pag-
cant, Concert, Communion, Exhibit
ton, Historical Paper, Etc.


tion, Historical Paper, Etc.
Preparations are practically com
piete for the celebration of the cen.
tennial of the Centre Congregational
church, which will mark an era in the
history of this church, the first to be
organized in the east village of Brat
tleboro. The celebration will cover
period of five days next week, and in
preparation for the occasion the church
IS now receiving its second coat of
white paint. The change in color is
recognized by all as decided improve
ment. The interior of the chapel and
lparlors also are being done over.
The celebration will begin Wednes-
day afternoon, July ., on the village
common, where the church originally
stood. At that time n granite marker
with bronze table will be unveiled and
dedicated, the service beginning at
$50 O'Clock. Rev. Roy NJ. Houghton
| of New Haven, Conn, a former pastor,
will give the address and there will be
Sunday school pageant showing the
! growth of the Sunday school, in which
| West Brattleboro people will join, this
church having been organized by per-
sons who left the church there. The
public is invited to this service, which
occurs on the exact centennial of the
Organization of the church.
On the following evening, Thursday,
July q, concert will be given in the
church at clock, at which Mrs
Mary Howe Burton of Clinton Mass,
will sing and her brother, Lucien Howe
of Boston, will be at the organ. On
account of the limited capacity of the
church it has been decided to admit
only members of the Congregational
parish and few invited guests. Tick
cts will be issued, but no charge will
be made for them.
The first communion of the church
was held July 7, 1916, and on Friday
afternoon at 4.30 centennial com
munion service will be held in the
church. Arrangements will be made
for bringing the aged members of the
parish to this service so that as many
as possible of the parish family may
be present. In the evening of the
same day service of "reminiscences
Twill be held at 7.30, at which as many
las possible of the former pastors will
speak. The living former pastors are
!, Rev; s. II. Lee of Springfield, Mass,
an nr.i ls.s.a- aulssradaie,
ta.lss and Rev Harry r. Miles and
lAscNs IVY ~hs AAouBheo VI 4NO" iIdNch,
Conn. All have written that they will
be present at some part of the celebra-
ton.
In the chapel and parlors Saturday
afternoon, July s, from to 6 clock,
the parish will keep open house at the
chapel and parlors. An exhibition of
antiques and curios rejecting condi-
tons 100 years ago will be held and
Refreshments will be served on the
lawn.
On Sunday morning, July Q, Rev.
Harry r. Miles of New Haven viii
preach the sermon which will be fol-
lowed by the regular communion SER
vice. At 100 o'clock Sunday evening
Walter A. Gilbert will give a histori
cal paper covering the 100 years of
church life in some of its phases,
which will close the celebration. The
lpublic is invited to the services of the
day.
| There will be special music through
out the centenary, and if the weather
| is favorable the exercises are sure to
be attended by a large number. Invi-
tations are being sent to both resident
and nonresident members
The general committee for the cele-
bration consists of Rev. Richard II.
Clapp, chairman, Christie B. Crowell,
George l.. Durham, Miss Florence NJ.
Wells, Mrs. Clarke c. Fits,
Walter A. Gilbert and Mrs Charles H.
| Thompson.
| Finance committee, George L. Dun
ham, Fred C. Brown, Francis E. Perry,
Clarke C. Fits and George NJ. Clay.
Program committee for defeating
of marker. Miss Emma j. Gregg, Miss
Florence NJ. Hemenway.Wel Mrs.
F. w. Kuech, Mrs. w. T. Haigh and
Mrs. F. +. Perry.
Historical committee, Walter A.
Gilbert and Mrs. Charles II. Thomp-
son.
Music committee for the entertain
ment, Frederic C. Adams, Fred C.
Lcitsinger and George II. Clapp.
Committee on antique articles, Mrs.
Leroy F. Adams, Miss Jessie L. Gregg
and Miss Emma Dutton.
Committee on "open house" and
refreshments, Mrs. Clarke C. Fits,
Mrs. Fremont Hamilton and Miss Eve
lyn Durham.
Invitation committee Miss Florence
NJ. Hemenway-Well Miss Margaret
E. Root, Miss Maud A. Brown, Mrs
Louis A. Whitney and +. II. Crane.