Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-06-24
METHOD|STS CLOSE
THEIR ANNIVERSARY
Representatives from Other
Churches Extend Greetings
and Longtime Members Give
Historical Facts and Remi-
niscences

"reminiscences. words Of conzratuls-
ton and messages of good will for the
future made the church home night at the
Methodist Church Monday one Of the
best gatherings of its kind which has
been held in the city in long time. The
occasion was the closing exercises cele-
brating the 50th anniversary of the ded-
ication OF the First Methodist Episcopal
church. the program of celebration start
ing with the church services of Sunday.
/ The Rev. John A. Hamilton. pastor Of
the church, presided at the meeting last
evening, which opened with the singing
OF Onward Christian Soldiers This
was followed by prayer and scripture
reading
! Then came words of greeting from rep
resentatives Of other chuhchcs in the
city The Rev. G. C. Adams brought
greetings from the First Church; Arthur
q. Crane from the Baptist Church: the
Rev. !. G. Smart from the College Street
CONGREGATIONAL Church. the Rev. G. J. /
staples from the Unitarian Church, and !
the Rev. S. ". Watkins from st. PAUL. ,
jFhurch. In all of these messages of {
greeting there was the expression Of
wlshes for greater unity in church af- )
fairs. with the hope that the future (
would bring cooperation and success to !
the Christian churches of the world
Miss Ada S. Blair read historical 4
paper. which covered quite completely the /
course of Methodism in Burlington from
the time it came into Vermont with the
circuit riders down to the present church
lie OF this community She spoke of the
lnilnE OF the first articles Of association
Iof the Methodist Church in Burlington
on October 3D. 1893. The frst services were
lheld in the old academy building which
was on the site whore the present Junior
tevn C,k<
ices were held in the old court house.
and later still. in another school house
winch stood on the site now occupied by
the home of Clark c. Briggs on North
Union street
The first church building was put up
on the present site about 1892 This was a.
simple frame building. costing about 500
the present church edifice was begun in
1861 and finished and dedicated in 1870
the cost being about s65O0o
Miss Blair spoke Of the various psstors
of the church during the last 30 years
She made special mention of James
taughey. who was pastor Of the church
in 1894 and again in 1898. He later became
one of the greatest evengelists the world
has known. being the man who converted
General Booth, the founder of the Saliva
ton Army.
Many "reminiscences were. given by Will
liam 3. Lund. NJ. D.. one of those who
was member of the church at the time.
the present edifice was dedicated Dr.,
Lund told many interesting facts aboutI
the early life Of Methodism in Burning .
ton. He told of the boxed-in pews. of thst
whale oil lamps, which were the only
light OF the first meeting houses: of the
music, there being nothing but vocal
music furnished by volunteers at first.
Later a bass vio was added. but this
was not always in tune and Produced
istrange. noises at times. The large audiences
sighed as DR.. Lund told of four sermons
on Sunday in the old days. besides a
prayer meeting or two. and Bible classes
sandwiched in between. Sunday was full
day in those days. and most of the time
was spent in the-church. Then there-were
frequent cottage meetings during the-
week.
Further "reminiscences were given by
Mrs. G. V. Russell. another member OF
, the church who could recall the days OF
! 80 years ago. She was one of the prom
inent Sunday school teachers of those
days. and from her class of boys came
some of BurlinEtons most influential citi-
, zens of the present day.
The Rev. j. r. Mead of Plattsburr
who was pastor of the church from 1901
to 1904, spoke briefly, telling some of his
pheasant recollections of those days spent
r in Burlington.
At the close of the exercises. the Ladies'
Aid society served refreshments.
The 50th anniversary of the con-
struction of the Methodist Church
building calls to the mind of A Free
, Press reader several other prominent
members than those already men,
toned who were leading citizens in
1870. including Wesley c. Drew, AM
brose A. Drew, w. H. Vickery. Har-
mon A. Ray, Socrates Beach, William
Mead John X. Gray, Ira Russell.
Hiram Walker, 0. ]. Walker. A. J..
Howard Edward Martin. T. W. Greg
ory. w. H. Fl. Barker. A. H. Blair.
Hilas Roby, Rodney Roby. William H.
Russell. Moses Spear Aaron Spear and
Joel r. Thomas