USA > New Hampshire > Sullivan County > Goshen > History of Goshen, New Hampshire : settled, 1769, incorporated, 1791 > Part 18
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
Down on the floor of the house the same line of box-pews encircled the walls. Up through the center, from door to pulpit, ran the wide main aisle, a tier of single pews upon each side that were separated by another aisle from the outer family- pews. Above towered the high, old pulpit, an arched window behind it. With fascinated interest small children watched the minister enter a little door at the side and again reappear upon high, he having made his ascent by a short flight of steps inside. A summer visit to the old church at Newbury on the Lake brings a rewarding glimpse of similar achitecture that has for- tunately resisted modernization.
In April, 1823, a leaking belfry demanded attention and the selectmen were also authorized to collect the money due the town for pews or take them back. March 8, 1825, four available pews were purchased by James H. Messer, Joseph Chandler, Virgil Chase and James Rogers. In mid-March, 1831, Isaac C. Sargent certified that he had sold wall-pew No. 9 to Thomas Robinson.
During their annual inventory the first of April, 1826, the selectmen were directed to "ask and enquire of every pew-holder what religious denomination that he is willing should occupy his share of the time and what property (value, or investment) he owns in the Pews in said House." The result appeared in 1830, with the finding that the
"Congregationalists own $945.68
Methodists own 797.36
Methodists own 592.33 Freewill Baptists own 380.83
Calvinistic Baptists own 355.41
A committee from the several denominational societies was formed, consisting of Seth Chellis, Congregational; John Gunni- son for the Methodist Society; Micajah Peasley, Freewill Baptist, and John McCrillis and Virgil Chase, representing the Univer- salists. Dea. Reuben Willey, Calvinistic Baptist, was not present.
Upon the basis, as adopted, the committee allocated the time each society should have in the meeting-house as follows:
Ist Sabbaths of each month through the year, excepting August and February, to the Methodists.
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THE OLD TOWN MEETING HOUSE
2nd and 5th Sabbaths, Congregationalists.
3rd (and the first Sabbaths in Aug. and Feb.) Universalists.
4th Sabbaths in Feb., April, June, August, October and De- cember, Calvinistic Baptists.
4th Sabbaths alternating with above, the Freewill Baptists.
Apparently the leaking belfry continued to give trouble, for on March 12, 1834, a committee of inspection recommended "That the Belfry be cut off down to the Porch and the breach secured by boarding and shingling." The windows were to be repaired, also, stone steps provided and the exterior to be painted yellow. The cost was estimated at $191.00; voted that the repairs be completed by the Ist day of October ensuing.
The first committee, which had consisted of Virgil Chase, Par- ker Richardson, D. L. Stearns, Royal Booth and Levi Under- wood, was replaced by a three-man group, Virgil Chase, Royal Booth and John Currier, who were delegated to superintend the repairs.
A strong probability exists that the yellow paint (of ochre base) was the first application that the meeting-house had re- ceived. Unpainted, weathered siding was of common occurrence. Actual cost slightly exceeded the estimate. Taking down the belfry and closing the resulting aperture was performed by Jacob Reddington and totaled $22.26; the stone steps cost $16.00, paints, oils and lead and window-glass, $108.23. Minor items in the bill, paid in 1835, include service of Virgil Chase, $4.22; keeping horse, $1.92; cleaning interior, $1.00; committee, $4.25.
Marriage intentions were at first publicly announced in church-service, but later were posted in writing upon the out- side door. Two tithing-men and sometimes three were elected by vote in town-meeting until 1815. A pound, with heavy walls still standing in good condition, was built of field-stones at the west end of the common.
Burning of the Meeting House
The year was 1860, late in the month of June. A violent elec- trical storm had passed during the evening when someone - very likely Uncle Joe Marshall, because he lived the nearest - discovered that the old meeting-house was afire. There was a
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
deep well nearby, but the blaze had gained such headway as to make volunteer efforts to subdue it of little avail. The old landmark, carrying to destruction the quaintness that today would be of great interest, fell in a flash of flame and sparks.
Changes had been taking place in the community which had already robbed the old meeting-house of its religious signifi- cance. The church at the Corners (1835-6) and the new Baptist church at the Village (1851), as well as the Christian chapel (1853) were collectively supplying the spiritual needs of their communicants and only an occasional town-meeting called the steps of citizens to the old meeting-house again. Yet a certain prestige still attached to it and was coveted by some Village partisans who wished to further augment the growing importance of their community. As recently as the previous March-meeting an attempt had been made to gain a majority vote to move the building to the Village and the issue had raised violent public feeling. Few, if any, recalled that lightning had seemed to "strike" in the vicinity that evening of the fire and then sus- picious foot-prints were found in the mud, leading toward the Village.
Evidence seemed sufficient to lead to the arrest of Charles Cutts, who lived opposite the tannery at the Village, an excel- lent carpenter, but somewhat addicted to drink. In court the testimony centered upon the possibility of Cutts getting to his house unseen on the night of the fire. The prosecution charged that he came down the "old road," across-lots, without appear- ing upon the public highway. But Nathaniel Cofran, who lived near the meeting-house, and others of equally unquestioned in- tegrity, declared that the old road was impassable, an assertion entirely correct when applied to teams, as pasture-fences had been built across the old thoroughfare in several places. How- ever, the belief was privately held by some that a person at all familiar with his surroundings could have handily found his way home afoot that night. In the face of Mr. Cofran's testi- mony the prosecution failed to establish guilt and acquittal was ordered.
That such a feudal condition could exist in a staid New
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THE OLD TOWN MEETING HOUSE
Hampshire town is almost beyond belief. Yet it is known that intense rivalry frequently prevailed between the several school- districts in a town. General indignation was at a boiling-point and a public meeting was called for Saturday, July 21, at one o'clock, "to meet at the place where the Town House formerly stood." Assembling at the hour appointed, they decided to ad- journ to Stephen B. Cofran's barn, the Capt. John W. Gunnison homestead. Here it was voted to rebuild the town-house and to locate it on the old spot, with the stipulation that it be com- pleted by October 1, 1861.
The Village partisans were not idle meanwhile and at the next March meeting, which was held "at the house lately occu- pied by Oren E. Farr," (probably the "big house" near the No. 5 school) the proposition was put forth, "To see if the Town will reconsider their vote passed in July last, locating the New Town House upon the foundations of the old house; and locate the same near the south junction of the road passing by Daniel L. Stearns' to the old Turnpike Road, so-called, provided a subscription of $300 is raised by the 30th of March next and certified to the Selectmen of said town of the fact and payable at the completion of said House; also provided that the location and foundation be furnished free from expense to the town." Despite its allure, however, the proposition was defeated.
The new Town House was built upon the site of the old one, although facing the south and shorn of its "porch" and tower, so that the east end of the excavation was filled to accommodate the changed dimensions. The pretty cottage of Arthur W. Nel- son, Jr., now stands upon the spot and is named "The Com- mon" from its historic associations.
Hostilities subsided, but a terrific east storm on town-meeting day in March, 1870, brought the issue to life again. It is re- called that one of the few men who braved the storm that day to the town-house had to make his way up Dolloff Hill on the wall-tops, so deep in snow was the drift-filled road. The vote to move the town-house to the Village was unanimous.
During the following summer, John R. Cutts directed the work of taking the building apart at the corners, when it was
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
drawn, a whole side at a time upon low-wheeled trucks, and again erected at its new location. The excellent site now occu- pied by Louis Wood Products was considered and some desired that it be placed a few rods south of its present location, to avoid the sloping ledge which there comes to the surface. An open porch was added to relieve the barrenness of the high front.
In 1909 a hard-pine floor was laid in a very workmanlike manner by Allen Chadwick, then living at the Center. Greatly increased floor-space was provided by the addition of a com- plete stage at the rear of the hall in 1928, under the oversight of Lenly Y. Bowlby, carpenter and builder.
CHAPTER XVIII
Churches
The Congregational Church
T the THOUGH the departure of Rev. Josiah Stevens in 1800 left the Goshen field shepherdless, a small group of devoted souls held on and Feb. 23, 1802, a council was called at Goshen, consisting of Rev. Elihu Thayer, "Pastor of the Church of Christ in Kingston," Rev. Abijah Wines, pastor of the Newport Congregational Church, and Joseph Hull, a delegate from the home-church in Lempster. "Calling ourselves the Congregational Church at Goshen," as their records state, seven people signed the Articles of Faith when the heart-searching service was ended:
Elizabeth Chellis Abigail Willey
Hannah Jewett, d. 1804 Benjamin Willey
Micah Morse
Ezekiel Chellis, d. 1803
James Philbrick
On the same date the following children were baptized: Polly, Seth, William, John Ezekiel, Miriam Elizabeth and Candace, children of Ezekiel and Elizabeth Chellis - also Hannah Bart- lett, Susanna Belknap and Eliza Cummings Jewett, by Rev. Elihu Thayer.
May 2, 1802, Stephen and Hannah Bartlett, with letter from Pembroke church, also Sally Morse, wife of Micah Morse, were received into membership. The following children were bap- tized: Clarissa, Hervey, Laura, Sally and Amos Parkhurst Morse; also, Abigail, Belinda, Polly, Philinda and Benjamin Willey; also, Mehitable, Polly and Charlotte Philbrick - by Rev. Abi- jah Wines.
1803, June 20. Mr. George Ayer and Hannah his wife were baptized and, with Mrs. Polly Sherburne, were admitted into the church, and Orinda, Alva and Milton Sherburne were bap- tized by Rev. Christopher Page.
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
1804
Jan. 15, Hannah Baker became a member.
Feb. 19, John and Joseph True, Rebecca and Hannah Ayer and Joseph Philbrick were baptized by Rev. Elihu Thayer.
October - Lucy Jewett, being adopted into Dea. Stephen Bartlett's family as one of his household and at the desire of him and his wife, she was baptized by Rev. Mr. Morrell of Goffstown.
1805
June 25. Brother Hezekiah Emerson was baptized and re- ceived into the church, and his children, Elizabeth, Eunice, Jonathan and Daniel were baptized, also James Philbrick, Jr.
Nov. 3, Rachel Willey and John True were bapt. by Rev. Bliss of Bradford.
The year of 1806 was clouded by charges that James Philbrick had been guilty of mixing poor flax with the good in a sale to Mr. John Church. The matter caused much concern and was only righted in May, 1808, when Mr. Philbrick was again re- ceived into full communion.
1807, Aug. Martin Baker and Miranda Sherburn were bap- tized.
1808, May 15. Truman Philbrick, Horace Baker and Wealthy Willey were bapt. by Rev. Abijah Wines.
Sept. 25. Being Lord's Day, Emerson, son of Samuel Stevens, and Hyal, son of Nathaniel Sherburne, and Catherine, dau. of Caleb Bartlett, were bapt. by Rev. Elihu Thayer, D.D., of Kings- ton.
1809, May. Olive, dau. of Samuel Stevens, and Louise, dau. of James Philbrick, were bapt. by Dr. Thayer.
1810
April 21. The Church made choice of Brother Benjamin Willey, Scribe.
Aug. 26. Olive Stevens and Miriam Cofran were received into the church, by Rev. Mr. Haven. Sophronia, Mary, Nathaniel Thayer and Thankful were bapt., children of Benjamin and Miriam Cofran.
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1811
Jan. 20. Abigail Willey was received into the church and Abigail Sherburne was bapt. by Rev. Mr. Page.
June 17. Rachel Church Stevens was bapt. by Rev. Burbank.
1813
May 1. Benjamin and Daniel True was bapt. by Rev. Mr. Fisher.
August 15. Seth Chellis, Elias Smith, Isaac Sargent and Lydia, his wife, Moses Stiles and Mary his wife, Lois Stevens and Betsey Chellis were admitted into the Church, having previously been examined and propounded. At the same time Mary Stiles, Lois Stevens and Betsey Chellis were baptized.
August 22. Jeremiah, Chloe, Jane Carr and Olive Ordway, children of Moses Stiles and Mary his wife, were bapt. At the same time were baptized, Asa, Nicholas, Evans and Hezekiah Emerson, children of Isaac Sargent; also, Daniel Sherburne, son of James Philbrick, by Rev. Asaph Morgan.
Sept. 3. Seth Chellis was chosen church clerk.
Sept. 5, Benjamin Cofran, Benjamin Chellis and Esther Flech- er were admitted to membership. At the same time the first two were baptized, also Oliver Stevens, son of Benjamin and Miriam Cofran.
1814, May 23. Caleb C. True was baptized by Rev. Abijah Wines.
1815
Oct. 12. Rachel Fletcher was admitted by a letter from the Congregational Church in Ipswich.
Oct. 15. Susannah Smith was admitted by a letter from the church at Mont Vernon; also were baptized, Susan Cofran, James Harvey Philbrick, Isaac Sargent, Almira Dolloff and Darinda Sherburne.
1816, Jan. 11. Abigail, Almira and Lauren True, children of Caleb C. and Hannah True, were bapt. by Rev. William Har- low. In the following March, Susan Ann True, dau. of above, and Lovina Stevens, daughter of Lois, wife of Stephen Dolloff, were baptized by Rev. John Woods. Isaac C. Sargent was chosen Deacon, and Benjamin Cofran Assistant Moderator.
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
1819
May 9. Stephen and Lois, children and Stephen and Lois Dolloff, and Mary, daughter of Mary, wife of Daniel L. Stearns, were baptized by Rev. Jonathan Hovey.
Mrs. Zemiah Carlton received into membership by letter from the Church in Hancock. James Philbrick and Elias Smith, having joined another church, were dismissed from membership.
July 18, being Lord's Day: Mr. Daniel Lakeman and Mar- garet, his wife; Mr. Jonathan Badger and Sally, his wife; Capt. Belknap Bartlett and Sally, his wife; Mrs. Phebe Calef, Mrs. Ebenezer Stevens, Mrs. Hannah True and Miss Lucy Fletcher; Mr. Peter Gregg and Mary, his wife, were received into this church.
Theodore and Nabby Richardson were received by letter from the Cong. Church in Lempster.
The following children were bapt. by Rev. Mr. Wheelock of Newport: Stephen, John and Lois, children of Jonathan and Sally Badger; also Caroline, Liza Ann and Horace Chase, chil- dren of Belknap and Sally Bartlett; also Nancy, John, Samuel and Mary Jane Calef, children of Amos and Phebe Calef; also Emeline, dau. of Daniel and Margaret Lakeman.
August. David, Nancy, Mary Ann, Jane, Christy, Reuben and Robert, children of Peter and Mary Gregg, were bapt.
1820, May 5. Mrs. Sally Baker united by letter from Lempster Church, and Mrs. Susan Booth was received by letter from the Cong. Church in Orwell, Vt. Samuel, son of Peter and Mary Gregg, and Lucinda, dau. of Caleb C. and Hannah True, were bapt. by Rev. Mr. Holt.
1821, Oct. William Badger and Lydia Smith were bapt. and united -with this church. Mrs. Bickford was received by letter from Pembroke. Henry Harrison, son of Isaac C. and Lydia Sargent, and Samuel, son of Belknap and Sally Bartlett, were bapt. by Rev. Broughton White.
May 30. Mrs. Hannah Gould united by letter from Hopkin- ton.
1822, July 14. Lucina, dau. of Benjamin and Miriam Cofran, and Susanna, dau. of Dea. Isaac C. and Lydia Sargent, also
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CHURCHES
Emily, dau. of Peter and Mary Gregg, and Adeline, dau. of John and Sally Baker, were bapt. by Rev. Broughton White.
1824, June 6. Mary, wife of Mason Booth, and Harriet, wife of Wilson Pike, were bapt. and admitted to the church; and Virgil Chase, son of Ebenezer Stevens, was bapt.
1825
Jan. 16. Mrs. Nancy Riley and Miss Phebe K. Young were bapt. and received into the church, by Rev. Abel Manning.
April 22. Mrs. Myra G. Chellis was received as a member of this church by letter from Castleton, Vt.
September. Stephen Badger, son of Benjamin and Miriam Cofran, also Sarah, dau. of Belknap and Sally Bartlett, also Samuel Slater, Mary Wilder and Hannah Philbrick, children of Mason and Mary Booth, were bapt. by Rev. Abel Manning. 1826, June 4. Elias Chellis White, adopted son of Seth Chel- lis, and Mary Dwinnell, dau. of Seth and Myra G. Chellis, also Horatio Craig, son of Lois Dolloff, were bapt. by Elder Man- ning.
1828
Feb. 10. Lorinda, dau. of Seth and Myra G. Chellis, bapt. July 13. Hannah, wife of Ebenezer Stevens, was bapt. by Rev. B. White and together with Nancy, wife of William Chellis, Mary, wife of Jacob Morrill, and Hannah, wife of William Badger, and Thankful and Miriam Cofran, were received as members in full fellowship ... Frederick, son of Ebenezer and Hannah Stevens, and George Wilkins, son of Dr. Ira Weston, were bapt. by Rev. B. White.
1828, Sept. 10. Orissa Fletcher, wife of Jonas Fletcher, Sylvia, wife of Lauren Willey, and Lydia Booth, Sewell Ingalls, Nancy Gregg, Jane Gregg and Almira Baker were received as members in full fellowship.
1829
Jan. 11. Artemas Ward, Mary Elizabeth and Candace, children of William and Nancy Chellis, were bapt. by Rev. B. White.
July 12. Willis Huntley, Phebe and Mariah, children of Jonas and Orissa Fletcher, were bapt. by Rev. Charles Brown.
Dec. 18. Lucy Maria, dau. of Dr. Ira Weston, was bapt., also
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
Thankful Cofran, dau. of Belknap and Sally Bartlett, by Rev. Lathrop Thompson.
1830
Feb. 12. Jonathan, Milly and Lucina, children of Sewell In- galls, were bapt.
May 28. Seth Chellis was chosen Deacon.
July 11. Nathaniel Carter, son of Mason and Mary Booth, was bapt. by Rev. B. White.
Aug. 29. Myra Cornelia, dau. of Seth and Myra G. Chellis, was bapt.
Sept. 26. Sarah Merriam and Miss Sarah Dodge were recd. into this church by letter from Jaffrey.
1931, Nov. 21. Hannah Jewett, dau. of William and Nancy Chellis, was bapt. by Rev. Arnold.
1832
Feb. 19. Jacob Reddington was united with this church by a letter from the Church in Wendell, and Lois Reddington and Susan Cofran were received into full fellowship.
March 4. Henry Martin, son of Ebenezer and Hannah Stevens, was bapt. by Rev. L. Field.
Sept. 23. Susan Baker was admitted as a member.
1833, Jan. 13. Reuben, adopted son of Jacob and Lois Red- dington, was bapt. by Rev. B. White.
After the erection of the town meeting-house at the Center, in 1816, the Congregationalists held their meetings there, taking turns with other denominations who shared it in common. But in 1832, with increasing strength of numbers, the Society was reorganized and incorporated under the name of the First Orth- odox Congregational Church of Goshen and a movement begun for the erection of a church-edifice. The splendid granite under- pinning-stones and wide door-rock were obtained from the Blood quarry.
The new church was dedicated Jan. 15, 1837, Rev. Stephen Rogers being the pastor. It is not clear if Mr. Rogers was an actual resident of the town. Pastoral offices seem to have been largely filled by clergymen from the surrounding area, as indi- cated in the preceding baptismal records, though tradition
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CHURCHES
infers that Elder Abel Manning resided here for some length of time. Other pastors of the period were Aaron Waitt and Carey Russell and they were followed by Elder Henry Richardson, who had a long pastorate; he and his family were greatly beloved and respected by the people.
In early 1868 a union with the Baptists was formed. Rev. John Bragdon became resident pastor of the united church and did much for its welfare, both spiritually and materially. Ex- tensive repairs were made and a Junior Lodge of Good Tem- plars was organized among the young people. A local branch of Y.M.C.A. was also formed.
Rev. Henry W. Thurston was the last pastor to reside here; he was held in highest esteem. Rev. M. T. Runnels of Newport supplied the church for a time, as did Rev. Austin Reed and others, but for several years it was closed and without services of any kind.
In 1907, with the generous aid of summer residents, needed repairs were made, the roof recovered, belfry repaired, etc. Preaching services were thenceforth held for one, two, or three months during the summer, largely supplied by young theolog- ical students, among them being: George Adams of Westboro, Mass., acting pastor for eight weeks, Edward W. Felt, W. G. Greenlade, William S. Gooch, Ernest B. Patten, Harold Barber and Harold Austin, all of whom did excellent work. Rev. Sheri- dan W. Bell preached here two summers while younger men were engaged in military service, following which the pastors of the Congregational Church at Newport successively took on the added care of the Goshen work, Rev. David Lewis Yale and Frank E. Bigelow.
An observance of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the church was held Aug. 14, 1927, and was well-attended. The service was opened with singing by the congregation, with Miss Ruth Perry of Newport at the organ. Scripture reading and prayer were by Rev. Horace Sibley of Keene, general missionary for southwestern New Hampshire. Mr. Bigelow made the open- ing address and read the brief historical sketch by Mrs. Althine F. Lear, whose phraseology has been largely followed here. Mrs.
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HISTORY OF GOSHEN, N. H.
Lear was church clerk for many years. A finely rendered vocal solo was given by Miss Margaret Richards of Newport, after which Rev. James Alexander, former pastor of the Newport church, who had a summer home in Goshen and had often supplied the pulpit here, gave an interesting address of a remi- niscent nature, and was followed briefly by Rev. William S. Gooch, pastor of the Court Street Congregational church in Keene. H. H. Metcalf, President of the N. H. Old Home Week Association, expressed his sympathy and praise for all such anniversary celebrations. The final address was by Rev. E. F. Stearns of Concord, Secretary of the N. H. General Conference of Congregational Churches, who spoke in his usual happy man- ner upon the work of the church. (Argus and Spectator, New- port)
The following poem by Mrs. Althine Lear was written for the occasion:
THE OLD CHURCH
O brave old Church, that all these years Hath stood for God and truth and right, And through unnumbered hopes and fears Hath been to souls a beacon light; With reverent hand we turn the page
That tells us of thy work and worth,
And read of that long vanished age When thou didst have thy birth.
But where are they who planted here This Church within the wilderness, Bedewed the blade with many a tear, And prayed that God its growth would bless; Who, faithful, led their little flock Through summer's heat and winter's cold,
Brought water from the riven rock And guided to the fold?
O Angel we call Memory! Adown the vista of the years Bring back the faces and the forms That to our sight no more appear, We call their names, no answer comes,
But faint, sweet echoes far away; While mid the flowers the wild bee hums Above their graves today.
On yonder hillside, green and fair, They rest beneath the marble white;
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CHURCHES
This Church which was their tender care Still stands though they have passed from sight. In widening circles evermore The influence of their lives shall spread; Lo, they have only gone before,- We know they are not dead!
Ye who are ever wont to meet For worship where the many throng Along the busy, crowded street To city churches, rich and strong, Perchance ye think, with pitying smile, This little Church, so weak and small, It seemeth hardly worth the while That it should be at all.
Nay friend! upon the mountain side, Far from the busy haunts of men, Hast thou not seen some little spring Pour forth its waters down the glen? A little spring, it did not grow To large proportions, but it fed The river with its ceaseless flow Through fertile country spread.
And ye, if ye will look, shall find Wide scattered o'er our noble land The ready hand and willing mind Of those who went from out our band, Find varied fields of usefulness In which they labor for the good, Shall find the happy homes they bless With gracious womanhood.
Then blessings on thee, dear old Church, Thy labor hath not been in vain, He who the hearts of men doth search Reward thee o'er again,
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