The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-07-08

COMMUNION
Centre Church Service Just
100 Years After It's First
Communion
"REMINISCENCES AT
EVENING SERVICE
Interesting Remarks by All Living
Former Pastors, Four in Number, and
by One Who Went Into Ministry
from This Church.

from This Church.
Continuing its Tooth anniversary
celebration, the Centre congregational
church held a centennial communion
service in the church yesterday after
noon at 4.30 0 clock, which was well
attended. 1t was conducted by the
pastor, Rev. Richard H. Glap2, and
was very impressive service on ex-
actly loo years from the day the first
communion service was held in the
church when it stood on the common
The pastor was assisted by four dea-
cons, George II. Clapp, DR.. Ansel l..
Miller, Edward c. Crosby and George
Nj. Clay, and Mrs. W. H. Bond sang a
solo. a noteworthy fact is that all the
living former pastors were present,
Rev. DR.. George L. Martin of Auburn
dale, Mass, Rev. DIR. Samuel H. Lee
of Springfield, Mass, and Rev. Harry
X. Miles and Rev. Roy NJ. Houghton,
both of New Haven, Conn There was
also present Rev. Frederick w. Green
of Middletown, Conn. who was born
in Brattleboro, united with this church
, and went out from it to become a min,
J lister of the gospel. The original com
, munion cup, which was out of the pos
has recently come into its possession
fagain, was used by the pastor.
In addition to the usual form of
; service Rev. Mr.. Clapp spoke as fol
lows il recognition of this particular
anniversary service:
''The only permanent element in the
! life of the Christian church is the
, spiritual experience of its people
! Forms of thought and organization
have their day, be it longer or shorter
and cease to be. But the deep, intimate
experiences of the spirit repeat them
selves in each generation and are com
pleted in the eternal fellowship of
the church of God.
"This church partakes of these eter
nal values. 1t has profound and init
mate contact with a sturdy and heroic
with that past is seen in the com
munion cup on the table here: the cuI
that was used at the first communion
service of the church just one hun
II dred years ago. 1t is sacramento
y witness to the worship and devotion
the faith and hope and love, of tha
II notable day of beginnings.
$50 would We by thought an,
imagination, with eager desire an
e reverent sympathy, enter into tai
e rich and tender heritage of nobl
H. spiritual life. Its benediction is upo
u, us, its grace and truth enrich us in
u measurahly. Our day too, is brief, bu
= we share in that over which time an
5 change have no final power Ours
r the high vision and eternal passion
the invincible assurance and undyin
H. hope of the generations that hav
r found their way to the God of righ
A. eousness and peace through jest
Christ our Lord
p \ meeting for fellowship and rem
~ niscenee was held in the evening
" 7.30, presided over by the pastor,
~ which the four former pastors al
T. Rev. Mr.. Green were the speakers
=, was particularly interesting, the pc
~ ~ sonal side of the church being esp
NJ ciallv emphasized, which seemed ,
ay culiarly appropriate, this taking Il
al place of the usual midweek meeting.
GU The opening services included
prayer by Rev Mr. Miles, an anthe
by the choir and solo by Fred c. A
ans.
Rev. DR.. Lee, whom the pastor {
IS corted to the platform first, said
came to Brattleboro first to participa
in the installation of Rev. Nathan
ht Mighill as pastor of this church, co
ing later to preach in exchange wi
him. He said that Mary Howe W
then beginning to reveal her tale
He spoke of her in a very felieito
ms way, expressing his pleasure at he'
ol ing her the previous evening, a
"o mentioned other recollections. A Ct
ian fury of life by a church is both
lng blessing and an achievement, he
I. il serted, and characterized the VIC
~ rs done by this church as being t
us us mendous force for progress in hum
ehs history. He congratulated the chui
n iasr upon having had such o train
Oh foreeful ministers.
y, Rev. DIR. Martin regarded the me
,ais ling as of supreme md pivotal
I'LL lportance in the series of mcmori
which the church is keeping. He !,
1.-THE five years of his ministry h
Iwere the transitional years in the
ltory of this church. Then he gs
the "reminiscences of some OF the sali'
Personalities Of the parish during
- lpastorate, in style and beauty
nv M language peculiar to DR.. Martin.
- mentioned some of their character
s, = ties, weaving them into a fascinat
,iaA story. Among those whom he m
~ ltioned were Edward Crosby, n.
ss' Cahot, Z. f. Adams, George
'oae Greene, B. d. Harris, Charles G. FIR,
Henry Burnham, R. w. Clark /;
MARY f. Wilkins. He said he ne