The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1921-12-02
Meth0dists At Newport
Pay Church Debt
(Cnntlrlued from Page ID

VI tIldIlkSSiNiHS oWSPS 49,
| hushed audience and with ore ac-
cord they rose and sang praise
God from whom all blessings
| flow
, Praise Him all creatures here
below.
Praise Him Above, Ye heavenly
host
Praise Father Son and Holy
Ghost"
The church as it stands today
is a monument to the steadfast
| labors of the local body of the
faithful and to the judicious, wise
and tactful management of the
! official board.
The meeting Thursday evening
was one which has long been an
! ticipated by the church members
the pastor Rev. F. 7. Coontz and
the district superintendent, Dr.
| Edwin w. Sharp of st. 10 nsbury
At six o'clock a regular thanks
giving dinner with TURKEY and fix
| ings was served to two hundred
and fifty people. DR.. Sharp being
| the guest of honor. After this the
i company adjourned to the church
|! and the opening prayer was gwen
! by Or. Sharp. Rev. Mr.. Coontz
then paid q tribute to the different
groups of people who had been so
| efficient and faithful. the official
board, the men who had financed
the debt and made it --"ssible to
carry on, the Ladies Aid which mad
so cheerfully and successfully lent
them aid and paid the interest on
the Indebtedness to the whole body
of the church membership who
had contributed from their care
full savings, from their hard earn
ings and by real sacrifices.
DR.. Sharp then spoke briefly
communicating the church in New
port on this splendid achievement,
and said in closing that "the mo-
ment we had been looking forward
| to for so long has at last arrived
and with our hearts full OF graf
| itude to God we now dedicate our
selves anew to the spiritual work
of the church relieved as we are
| form financial work.
In 1914 during the passionate OF
Rev. r. N. Joscelyn, MANS We're
made and carried out to remodel
and repair the church. 1t was
practically rebuilt, as the base
ment was enlarged, large assem-
blv hall built and a new steam
heating plant installed, the inter-
ior of the upper part was entirely
changed, hardwood floors, new
pews, steel ceilings, and modern
system of indirect lighting being
put in. :,
The tower on the southwest
corner was planned as memorial
to the Rev. Carroll Dean lance,
one of the most beloved pastors
of the Methodist church, and 9
man honored by every member OF
this community.
This tower with the extension
on Third St.. gave space for sew.
eral rooms needed for the various
church activities. as well as bal
conv above.
On this side also is placed tht
beautiful memorial window TO Col
! and Mrs. z. M. Mansur. The bel
which calls the members to woIs
ship is the gift of Mrs. Mansur
In the east end of the church
another window, quite differen'
but equally beautiful was the off
of 3. F. Moore, as a memorial ID
Mrs. Martha Moore. Other win
dows placed in the lower as mem
| orials to James Y. Green p
| Spaulding and Mrs. Edmund Rich
ards.
The whole church was bricl
faced, the grounds graded, curb,
ing and steps of cement and al
equipment in the way of furniture
/ added as the needs presented.
Altogether, the task seemed Q
stupendous one for a society OF
limited means, but Mr.. Joscelyr
and the building committee were
men with a breadth Of vision ant
solid business sense.
The total cost of the building
was $4,000. About three years
ago, confronted with a debt OF
S8,5O0., the official board con-
ceived the plan of winin0 out this
debt in three wears by means OF
pledges from individuals and So
cieties of the church. This cam
paign was eminently successful
and every dollar was pledged. The
treasurers of this fl. were E. A.
| Hamilton and c. l. Moore, who
have served with unfailing per-
severance, tact and skill.
| E. A. Hamilton in giving the
! treasurer's financial statement
said that the $8500.00 had been
pledged by 1873 signers. Of this
number 1923 have paid in full and
three more are to pay this month.
Less than one uer cent is uncol-
lectable, which is rather remark
able in a drive of this kind as
there is liable to be losses from
removals or misfortune. The deed
was filed with the city clerk yes
terday afternoon.
Miss C. L. Drown who is presi-
dent of the Ladies Aid society the
principal woman's organization of
the church, presented tine docu-
ments, to be destroyed, to the
treasurers Of the fund. and told at
some length, the history of the
work of that society in connect
ion with the raising of the $500:
They paid the interest on the prin-
cipal for three. years and contrib
uted 5000 a year besides the
church expenses and $40, YEARLY
| to the Deasoness hospital and