The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-30
Congregational Society Fit
tingly Observed 25th
Milestone
LARGE AUDIENCES,
MARKED INTEREST
Many Speakers We're Heard
in the Two Days
Program

The 25th anniversary OF the East
Barre Congregational church was OBJ
served July 81 and rs. Rev, c. Il, Mer-
rll, d. d., secretary OF the Vermont
Missionary society preached the annlver-
sary sermon from the text |. Tim. 3:l5,
THE Church of the Living God.
DR.. Merrill said in substance that the
church is different from all other insti-
buttons. It is in class by itself. He
spoke OF the three great institutions IN
life, the home, the state and the church.
The home stands for social culture, the
state for political privileges and the
church for moral and religious culture.
All three are indispensable to normal
life. Fraternal orders that minister to
the welfare of their members in different
ways owe their existence to the church
and what 1t stands for The church is
the mother Of all kindly and helpful or
CARNATIONS, and is divine in its origin,
the representative of Jesus Christ and
the agent that is bringing in the king
dom of God. Ii is in the world to do a
special work; TO bring man into right
relationship with God II exists for wor-
ship, for the culture of the spiritual life
in man II should do its work in a
thorough, businesslike way. 1t is in the
world to instruct religiously and this it
does through the preaching service, the
Sunday school and the Y. p. 5. {. +.
II is in the world az an evangelizing
agency, to carry the gospel to the ut
termpst parts of the earth, II is in the
community to serve in all possible ways,
TO transform and Christanize life in all
Of its departments. The sermon was
strong, practical and feryent and was
much enjoyed by the congregation.
AT 7 o'clock Sunday evening a praise
service was held followed with selec
tions by the choir and solo by Miss
Georgia Palmer. Rev. y. l.. Goodspeed,
d. d. pastor of the Barre Congregational
church, preached an able and interesting
sermon on the topic, What the Church
Stands For"
DR., Goodspeed said that the church
isn't society of ethical culture. II
doesn't exist by reason of wealth or so
cial standing 1t is means TO an end.
1t exists for the kingdom The church
ISN'T religious club. II is a mutual
association of Christians whose great
bond is loyalty to Jesus Christ; who are
learning how to live their own lives and
to help Others to conduct life rightly.
The church has been called "the union
of all who love in the interests of all
who suffer" The church is to the king
dom what steam is TO the engine 1t Is
a motive force, II is the kingdoms pow
ers harnessed for service. II is the d.
vine channel through which God would
pour current of Transforming, vitaliz-
ing influence into the social, business
and political life of the world. Factories
stand for the physical--the church for
the soul Without the church of the
living God men would forget the true
balance and emphasis of life.
The church. continued Rev. Mr.. Good.
speed, breaches seven days in the week,
telling OF something above buying and
selling. just as the schoolhouse stands
for the mind, library for the intellect,
a factory for food and clothes, so the
church stands for the soul and all its
heaven-born privileges and possibilities.
There is many man who has no pas
toral connection except when there is
death in the family, then he wakes up
to ask, What minister shall we have Z
The church is for worship. 1t is the
great memorial of the living Christ. II
represents the work and the passion of
Christ.
Monday evening an interesting pro-
gram was carried out An historical
sketch of the church edifce and church
choir was given by A. G. Dickey. As
Mr. Dckey was one Of those who helped
to build the edifiee and has always been
connected with the choir, he was able to
draw from memory's storehouse in pre-
pairing his interesting paper.
An historical sketch Of the church,
showing its growth and work in all its
various departments was given by Rev.
James Ramage, who has been the faith
full, earnest, well beloved pastor the past
eight years. An original poem, beauti,
ful in thought, depicting incidents in the
life OF the church. was given by Mrs.
Z. w. Tucker. A letter from daughter
OF Rev. A. j. Eastman, former pastor,
was read, also one from Rev. S. r. Ach.
enbach, who served the church as pastor
from 1905 to 1907.
-Four short addresses were given by
Rev. Frank Bloomfield, DR.. c. Petersen,
Rev. Amos Lord and DR. c. H. Merrill.
Rev. Bloomfield spoke in a reminiscent
vein OF the time when he was pastor in
1910. DR.. Petersen brought hearty
greetings from the Baptist church at
Websterville and Rev. Lord from the
church at Orange. DR., Merrill was the
last speaker of the evening. He re-
counted many incidents in the life of the
church and touched rather feelngly on
the fact that he was the only surviving
member Of the council that met to organ
ize the church. His words viii long be
remembered by those present. During
the evening several excellent selections
were rendered by the choir Large au.
dences were present at all the services
and included goodly number from out
of town.