The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-06-29
Congregational Celebration
Begins with dwelling
of Marker July 5
PROGRAM TO COVER
PERIOD OF FIVE DAYS
Outdoor Pageant, Concert, Communion,
"reminiscences, Exhibition, "Open
House, Sermon and Historical Pa
per, Features of Observance.

per, Features of Observance.
Preparations are practically com
pete for the celebration of the cen
tennlal of the. Centre Congregational
church, which will make an era in the
history Of this church, the first to pe
organized in the east village of Brat
tleborO. The celebration will cover a
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 a decided improve
ment. The interior of the chapel and
parlors 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 granite marker
/ with bronze Iable viii 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
q 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
/ VI 9dHiLdllOH OF the C0uTC0.
/ On the following evening, Thursday.
July 6, concert will be given in the
4 church at 5 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
parrish and few invited guests. Tick
cts will be issued, but no charge viii
: be made for them.
The first communion of the church
was held July :. 1916, and on Friday
afternoon at 40 a 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 a service OF "reminiscences
win be held at 7.30, at which as many
: as possible of the former pastors will
speak. The living former pastors are
Rev. s. II. Lee of Springfield. Mass,
Rev George T. Martin of Auburnda.e.
Mass. and Rev. Harry r. Miles and
> Rev. Roy NJ. Houghton of New Haven.
; Conn. All have written that they will
he present at some part of the eelebra-
tion.
In the chapel and parlors Saturday
j Afternoon, July 5, from ; to 6 clock,
the parish viii keep open house at the
+ chapel and parlors An exhibition of
I antiques and curios rejecting condi-
l tions loo years ago viii be held and
: refreshments will be served on the
4 lawn.
e On Sunday morning, July 8, Rev
Harry r. Miles of New Haven will
ha Al
lowed by the regular communion ser
vice. At 7.30 o'clock Sunday evening
i Walter A. Gilbert will give a histori-
cal paper covering the 100 years of
church life in some of its phases,
e which will close the celebration. The
O. public is invited to the services of the
tel day.
There win be special music through
out the centenary, and if the weather
: is favorable the exercises are sure TO
be attended by large number. Invi.
- tations arc being sent to both resident
, and nonresident members.
% The general committee for the eele-
. bration consists of Rev. Richard n.
( Clapp, chairman, Christie r. Crowell
,e George l.. Dunhan. Miss Florence NJ.
q Hemenway-W Wells, Mrs. Clarke G. Fits
Z Walter A. Gilbert and Mrs. Charles II.
Thompson.
IN Finance committee, George l.. Dun.
- ham. Fred G. Browa, Francis f. Perry
a Clarke G. Fits and George NJ. Clay.
Program committee for dedieating
III of marker. Miss Emma J. Gregg, Miss
IA Florence NJ. Hemenway Wells, Mrs
r. r. w. Kueeh. Mrs. w. t. Haigh and
he Mrs. F. f. Perry.
la Historical committee, Walter A
it Gilbert and Mrs. Charles III. Thomp
On son.
he Music committee for the entertain
&c ment, Frederic C. Adams, Fred C
"a Leitsinger and George II. Clapp.
IT. Committee on antique articles, Mrs
m Leroy F. Adams, Miss Jessie L. Gregl
zee and Miss Emma Dutton.
es- Committee on "open house, an'
nv refreshments, Mrs. Clarke C. Fits
on Mrs Fremont Hamilton and Miss Eve
or lyn Dunham.
ed Invitation committee, Miss Florenc
ill NJ. HemenwayW Wells, Miss Margare
nd E. Root, Miss Maud a. Brown, Mr.:
ice Louis A. Whitney and E. II. Crane.