The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-04-12
bAP T|ST CHURCH
Of BENNINGTON
IS 81 YEARS OLD
Fittingly Observed
Monday Evening
REMINISCENT ADDRESSES
Pastor and Others Speak of Re-
ligious Conditions Nearly
a Century Ago
REMINISCENT ADDRESSES


its oath anniversary Monday evening.
The committee in charge was Mrs.
Bradford, Mrs. Lester Nichols. Roy
Paddock Mr. and Mrs. Harry Moses.
The first part of the program was
held in the church. the pastor spoke
Of the early days when there was no
church in Benn ngton then known
as the East Village. A group of men
and women of the Bapt st faith came
together for services and after
while invited the Baptist churches
of White Creek, Pownal, Hoosick ana
the First and Third Churches Of
SALISBURY to send delegates that
they might organ ze as a church.
They met on April H. 1927 and the
Church was organized. At first the
services were held IN homes but soon
the present site was purchased
from George Potter for the sum of
$340. A church was erected and
dedicated July 4th 1880 The church
had a fine spirit and worked in har-
mony At times the discipline was
street and the New Testament idea
was followed to the letter.
The Second Congregational breth-
ern met In this church for the pur-
poses of organization and their first
minister was ordained here. The Y.
lM G. A. was also organized in the
baptist church and it was the Y
headquarters for some time A poem
VT tten by James White was read
by the pastor
Mr. w nslow spoke Of the early
days and the interest of this church
in the Y. James White was its
first leader and Mrs Edward Norton
was the first president of the Ladies'
Auxiliary. He emphasized the spirit
of cooperation that was evident in
the past and the fine spirit of coop
Grafton shown by all the churches at
the present.
| Mra Hawks famous hymn Il Need
Thee Every Hour" was sung after
which Rev. Raw Booth told OF the
| influence and power of that hymn
and his earliest recollections of hear
| Ing great congregations sing ng ltlir
Italy. He spoke of the early days IN,
Bennington when the Old Church on
| the Hill was taxed to its capacity.
Those were the days before the peo-
! pie began going down hill He EN-
phasized the fact that today there
was a finer spirit OF tolerat on and
the consc' BUSINESS that the great bod
| les represented so many different
units in the great army. He believed
| that there was more aggressive
spirit shown and that a fine healthy
rivalry was the best thing possible.
/ Frank Hurley sang solo. Mr..
M lis spoke of the fine relations that
existed among the Churches N the
village which he as the Dean was re-
ioiced over. He did not think Ben
nington was over churched and that
there was plenty of oportunity for all
to do aggressive work. He empha-
sized the cordial relations that mad
existed between HI mself and the
men who had served as pastors OF the
! Baptist church
The Church clerk then read the
names of the oldest living members
Or. Wilcox is the; Oldest Among
those present were Mrs. Norton,
Mrs. Pratt, Mrs Nichols, Miss Hutch
nson There were several others VINO
have been affiliated with the church
for forty years or more,
A social hour followed Tho re-
rreshments were furnished by the
aides Aid. Mrs VILLAIN Myers,
leader of the Red team was In
charge Earl Chase sang two selec-
tons. Miss Starkey and Miss Kin.
ME played piano duets and the Ben
nington lad es quartet sang several
selections. The church is starting
its 95th year full OF enthusiasm and
hone and is already beginning to
think OF the Tooth anniversary.