Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-23
St. ALBANS CHURCH
IS REDED|CATED
Bishop Hughes Officiates at
Opening of Remodeled Metho.
dist Edifice-Worth 100000

st. Adams. May 1s.-The Methodist Epis-
copal Church in this city, which has been
closed all winter while II has been under
going extensive repairs and alterations.
was re-dedicated this morning. The church
was packed to the doors. many standing
and general public being unble to gain adj
mittance. Bishop Edwin Holt Hughes. D.
D., LII. D., of Maiden. Mass, resident
bishop of the New England area, con-
Quoted the ceremonies and preached the
sermon. A patriotic rally was held this
evening and the services in connection
with the dedication will continue through
Monday and Tuesday.
The estimated value Of the remodeled
church edifce is s6O.O0o. The repairs cost
something over $4,000 which included the
memorials. About $1,000 had been secured
or pledged before the dedication. At the
services this morning pledges were made
and what was designated by Bishop
Hughes as a dollar-level offering was
taken The total secured was considerably
over $500.
A member of the congregation this
morning was Mrs. Lucy Roberts, who last
month observed her ssth birthday ami
versary. Mrs. Roberts was resent at the
dedication Of the original church struc-
ture.
The Rev. William Shaw. Phi D.. of this
city. superintendent Of the southern dis
trtct Of the Vermont Methodist conference.
and the Rev. John Benjamin Magee, pas
tor Of the local church, assisted in the
re-dedication services. A vested choir of
about % members. under tho direction of
A. c. S. Beeman. sang at the services
this morning and tonight. The members
were the regular choir of the church with
a few from outside Miss Margaret F..
Buckley was the orgarist and II. E. Olsen,
violinist and II. w. Hatch, 'cellist, as
sisted. in the musical accompaniment. The
| offertory was played by Mr.. olsen At the
morning service DR.. Shaw offered prayer.
The address of the evening was given by
the Nev. ]. Ralph Magee, d. D.. Y. NJ c.
| A. chaplain, of Boston, brother of the
local pastor. The invocation was given by
Dr.. Shaw. Miss Irene Marvin sang still.
still With Thee" during the offertory.
The church is one Of the finest in the
State. During the winter. while the build
| ing was closed. the congregation united
with the Congregational and Baptist
| Churches in services at the Bellevue
theatre. The congregations Of those
| churches united in the re-dedcation serv-
ices to-day
The exterior of the building is I'M
changed with the exception Of the spre,
which for 40 years has stood as one of
| the highest structures in the city. The
tower was buttressed in modern way
giving symmetry to the front.
The interior of the edifce was remodeled
and the auditorium redecorated. A new
| wall in the form of a sounding board
encases the organ, built so as to con-
form to the Gothic structure of the in
terror of the building. The organ has
been remade and an electric blower in
stalled, making the instrument one OF
the best In the State. A new hardwood
floor has been laid in the auditorium ant
the pews were remade. All the windows
eight in number, are memorial, given b,
sons and daughters of original, or ole
time. members of the church. In the yes
tibule are gift windows from the Willing
Workers and the Ladies' Aid society.
The vestry has been divided into si'
class rooms. with sliding doors, making
, 1t possible to throw the rooms into on
for larger gatherings There is a new
kitchen with modern conveniences, ant
a hardwood floor has been laid in thu
vestry throughout. There are new win
dows OF rolled glass in this room. Par
Tors with new furniture have been fittet
up and there are choir and secretaria
,
new steam heating plant, the only on
Of its kind in the city. and Of which Their
are only one or two others in the State
has been installed.
, From the new vestibule broad stair
ways lead up to the auditorium ney
and imposing door for the middle en-
trance to the church was the gift of Mrs
Henry G.. Morton and was given i
memory Of Elkanah Haight, the origina
, builder Of the church. and his wife
Elizabeth ]. Haight. There is a ne,
! baptismal font given in memory of job
P. Conner by Martin Conner and o
, the front of the building is a bullet
board given by the Fidelity class of tn
Sunday school.
The memorial windows and their donor
are as follows: Henry A. and Sarah \
Lyon. by Mrs. G. F. Barker. Edward F
, Lyon. George f. Lyon. Mrs. Alice
Weed and Mrs. Henry f. Beeman; Edga
and Lucy (Place) Wilder, by Mrs. c. +
Morton and Drs. w. o., f. l.. and F.
Wilder: Joel B. and Laura NJ. Thoma
J by Mrs. c. H. Anderson, Mrs. A. T. Co
Inns. Mru. L. o. Flint and j. B. Thomas
Sheldon S. and Emma A. Beeman, b
? Mr.. and Mrs. A. c. S. Beeman; Chaur
= cey and Candance p. Temple. by Mr.. an
T. Mrs. A. c. 8. Beeman; Carrie f. Alvi
. d. and Emile ]. Collins, by Judge an
Mrs. A. d. Collins: James &. and Marth
. fAllen) Curtis. by Edward A., Alberto
. T.. Harry B. and Miss Helen l.. Curti
;, and Harmon and Elisabeth tFoss) Vel
nal. by Mrs. Elizabeth F. Vernal.