USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Jericho > Centennial anniversary of the First Congregational Church of Jericho, Vermont, at Jericho Centre, June 17, 1891 > Part 4
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November 21st, 1866, he was ordained pastor at Bradford ; in 1872 installed pastor at West Rutland. He removed from his pastorate here to Peacham in 1889.
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Mr. Nathaniel Kingsbury labored earnestly some months, and they gave him a call, which he declined.
Rev. Leonard Baker Tenney became acting pastor here and at Essex in the spring of 1890. He entered upon the work with zeal, and fruits are already apparent. He was born at Jaffrey, New Hampshire, September 12th, 1854, son of Rev. Leonard Tenney ; graduated at Dartmouth 1875 ; studied at Hartford, Union, and Andover ; was ordained at Barre April 14th, 1882. He has labored as a Home Missionary at the West and in Vermont.
This church has had frequent changes in its ministry-too many short pastorates. There are churches organized about the same time which have had only a few pastors, while this has had twelve or fourteen. Some of these pastors might have been kept longer by suitable effort on the part of the people.
This church has had some remarkable manifestations of divine power ; would that a full history of its revivals could be written ; the record of both its earlier and later ones would be to the praise of its glorious Lord.
The influence of this church has blessed the town, giving a higher tone to society ; many souls have been saved by its work through divine grace ; numbers saved here have already joined the church above; numbers have gone forth to bless other churches.
The fathers and mothers sacrificed, toiled, and prayed for this church : so should you, the sons and daughters, do. Per- petuate its influence and usefulness ; it would be a crime against man, a sin against God, to let it languish and die.
NOTE .- The records of the church in some periods are very meagre ; much has been gathered from various sources. I am much indebted to Rev. A. W. WILD, the painstaking and accurate historian of our churches.
THE FEMALE CENT SOCIETY.
This has been the most permanent institution in town, except the church. In the summer of 1805, tradition says, a few women met in Jericho to devise some plan to do good. They hardly knew what to do. " Not a Female Society was known in all this northern region." They continued their meetings for some months, and were at length regularly formed into a Society under the guidance of Rev. Ebenezer Kingsbury, their pastor.
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His wife and six others were the first members. £ Their earliest written document bears date July 31st, 1806 ; its title is " Arti- eles of the Female Religious Society in Jericho." There is also a pledge signed by the first members, four of them promising to give fifty cents yearly for missions, and three twenty-five. They met and prayed and talked and gave their money for years.
In 1812 Rev. John Denison, their pastor, assisted in forming a Young Ladies Society, with twelve members ; in four years the number increased to forty-one.
In 1816 the two Societies were united, and called " The Female Cent Society of Jericho." About seventy members united, each was to pay fifty cents yearly into the treasury.
In 1877, under the lead of Mrs. Hazen, it became auxiliary to the Woman's Board of Missions. The whole number of mem- bers from the beginning is some two hundred and seventy, and the whole amount of money given seventeen hundred dollars : it has been given to Home and Foreign Missions, the Bible Society, American Tract Society, American Education Society, American Missionary Association.
In 1832 the Ecclesiastical Society being unable to raise the salary of Rev. II. Smith, the Cent Society gave nineteen dollars towards it. Again in 1835 the Society renewed their request for aid and received it as a loan, because " some objection was made to giving the money thus all at home," but it does not appear that the loan was ever repaid.
None ean tell us all the good the money given in these more than four score years has done in this and other lands ; none ean estimate what the prayers and labors of the givers have done for this town and the world. The great day will disclose it.
The life and soul of the Society for many years was Mrs. John Lyman, long Secretary, Treasurer and leader. One mem- ber of this Society, Andelucia Lee, went as a missionary-first a teacher of the Indians in New York. In 1836 she married Rev. Daniel T. Conde, and went to the Hawaian Islands ; after twenty years of labor she died there. Thus not only by its prayers and gifts of money, but by one of its own members, this Society had a part in transforming those pagan islanders into a christian Commonwealth.
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THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Sunday School of Jericho Centre has always been large in proportion to the congregation. Of its early history there is no record. In 1836 a Constitution was adopted by a vote of the church, and for some years the officers of the school were chosen or confirmed by vote of the church. In 1844 the church voted that the Assembly's Catechism be introduced into the Sunday School. In the times before this they committed to memory verses of Scripture, and some recited a number altogether too large for modern girls and boys with all their improvements.
In 1839 they had two hundred and forty-four names upon the roll. The school was always suspended in the winter until 1864. Among the Superintendents may be named Eben Lee, Harvey Stone, Albert Lee, Francis B. Wheeler, Edgar H. Lane, W. Trumble Lee, Isaac C. Stone, Austin Hazen, Edwin W. Humphrey, Silas J. Haskins.
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Poem
-
BY MRS. MARIA B. HUMPHREY HAZEN,
MIDDLETOWN, CONN. -
1701. 1801.
We'll sit to-day in thoughtful mood, my friends, and turn our glances backward through the long areade of years,
Till far-off arches lose themselves in dimness, and perchance the nearer ones are blurred by falling tears.
Not one of all this goodly company, who gather here in happy peace and quietness to-day
Can compass with his memory the time, the far-off time we celebrate-a hundred years away.
We only have the written story, and the tale that mothers tell the children at their knees,
About that time of grace and glory, when fair liberty was young, and free- dom pulsed in every breeze :
When all the men were brave and sturdy, and the women grave and sweet : when living was a thing sublime :
Uplifted, by its solemn earnestness of meaning, far above the shams and follies of our time.
Those were the days of Washington, our grand yet simple hero, and our first and stateliest President :
Of many another, wise and true and helpful in our time of need, whom God in His great goodness sent.
'Twas just a hundred years ago, Vermont's white star began to shine-the fourteenth on the field of blue :
And all these many years, through peace and war, our old Green Mountain State has loyal been, and brave, and true.
Not only true to men, but true to God as well, and true to old traditions born beyond the seas.
For when the laws were framed the church was formed : and men learned how to rule from bowing oft on prayer-worn knees.
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We give all honor to those men of old : to Chapin, Rood, and Lee, and Stone, whose good names linger yet.
They made the far beginnings : where their children dwell they lived out sturdy lives with purpose high and set.
They tilled the ground and built their homes, while day and night they feared the coming of a deadly, stealthy foe.
And while they labored on in hope and fear, they chose their first good pastor, just one hundred years ago.
We have the olden story of that church of early days- Its nine brave members worthy of all praise :
But out on yonder hill-side, where the graves lie thick and green, We read their names where moss-grown head-stones lean.
The ancient house is gone, and gone the people, but we still Have left their spirit, and their dauntless will.
Thank God for these examples, and the heritage they leave- The olden faith, in which we still believe.
We stand on holy ground : made holy by the prayers and tears Of this old church through all these many years.
How many little children here have learned to walk the way Through earthly night to everlasting day.
How many weary hearts have felt the comfort drop like balm, Until their sinsick, troubled souls grew calm.
Here happy brides have stood, and here our precious dead have lain, While aching hearts grew dumb and sore with pain. 1
We miss our dear ones so ! but think how many outstretched hands Will welcome us among the angelic bands.
Shall not our hearts grow braver, stronger, for this little space We linger in the dear, familiar place ?
Once, on a summer Sabbath day, A sudden picture came to one Who heard the anthem and the prayer
Within a grand church far away. A thought of girlish days long gone- Of far-off Sabbaths sweet and fair.
She only saw the rustling trees Against the deep blue summer sky Within the space the glass had left- Their idle leaves tossed by the breeze- But in the fabric mem'ry's eye Gazed back upon, they formed the weft.
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She seemed to sit, a child once more, Within the church pew, square and tall, ('Twas many a year ago, I ween.) Her father sat beside the door, Her mother next the whitewashed wall, A little boy and girl between. She felt her father's toil-worn hand Clasped round her own, a little one, And through the window, opened wide, The summer breezes gently fanned Her cheek. The sermon had begun- The words, though earnest, seemed to glide
Beyond her like a murmured song : And, half as in a dream, she gazed Where, from a corner of the green, A half-trod road-way wound along, And climbed a hill that slowly raised Its summit 'gainst the sky's blue sheen.
And, nearer than the half-worn way There stood old trees whose leafage green The gentle zephyrs lightly stirred. It all came back-the summer day ; The Sabbath stillness, almost seen ; The rustling leaves ; the voice she heard.
O happy days ! long past, long gone : When gazing down your peaceful track, Almost the heart breaks with the sight Of those sweet days so near life's dawn : Sometimes we long to bring you back, And yet we would not if we might.
O friends, dear friends, from out the past we hear the voices call, Sweet, tender, and familiar to us all : But what of future days so silent now ? no mother sweet Has told the waiting children at her feet
Their tale : no pen has given them voice : no bard has sung their lay : The story must be wrought out day by day. But we who make it by our lives may make it what we will : Shall not the poem be heroic still ?
And when, a hundred years from now, the tale is told again, When children's children, far away, are men, Please God, they 'll speak of patient lives whose influence shall grow Till it shall reach what none but God can know.
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*
Evening Exercises. * *
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Evening Exercises.
T HE exercises of the evening were of a more informal char- acter, consisting mainly of short addresses and " remarks " by those whose names follow : Rev. Lester H. Elliot, Mrs. Sarah W. Duren, daughter of Mr. Erastus Lyman, Mr. Joel Bartlett, son of Mr. Elias Bartlett, Austin and Carleton Hazen, and Dea. Elisha Bentley, to all of whom this was their first home church. Remarks were also made by Rev. Henry T. Barnard, of West Rutland, and by Rev. Charles F. Carter, of the College Street Church, Burlington, and a short paper was read by Rev. A. D. Barber, of Williston.
Anthem by the choir :
"The Lord Jehovah Reigns."
Abstract of remarks by Rev. Lester H. Elliot :
I hope that no one will think that I am already one hundred years old, because I have consented to speak for a few moments this evening. Fifty years ago, my father and family came from New Hampshire to this town, and so my remarks will have refer- ence only to the second half of the century.
Our family was accustomed to attend church regularly every Sabbath. On Sunday morning, whether it were stormy or plea- sant, there was no question in our house as to whether we should go to church or not. That was settled in advance. To reach the church, we had to drive two miles. As we came in sight of the meeting house, Sabbath mornings, I used to think that it was a very large and magnificent structure, with its massive stone steps, its double row of windows, and its tall steeple. I ques- tioned whether its equal could be found anywhere in Vermont, or even in New England. The interior of the house also seemed to me wonderful ; its high pulpit with its panel work, and its red cushions with fringe and tassels, its long high galleries, and mysterious encasement of stoves in brick work, for the ostensible purpose of warming that cold house, were to me matters of great interest.
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Connected with my memories of this church, nearly half a century ago, was the gathering, in warm weather, every pleasant Sabbath morning, noon, and at close of afternoon service, of a large crowd upon the stone steps. The bell would cease its toll- ing, but the crowd would usually remain until the minister began to offer the invocation, or to read a hymn, and then for a time there was little heard but the tread of the tardy worshippers. I have often questioned why such a crowd regularly assembled on those steps,* and though many reasons have occurred to me, I am not certain that any of them is the correct one.
In my early days, the music impressed me, and I was espe- cially pleased with the new musical instrument which was pur- chased about that time. I remember one Sabbath a devout dog, belonging to my friend Marcus Haskins, followed his master to church, and when the instrument gave forth its sweet notes, the dog began to sing. His voice was not altogether musical and so with some difficulty his master placed his hand upon the dog's neck, raised him high in the air, marched the whole length of the gallery and opening the door bade him a hasty and not very gentle farewell. That came near being too much for the gravity of some of us youngsters.
I remember that at one time, years ago, there was consider- able discussion over the question of whether the congregation should sit or stand during the long prayer. . The matter was brought up at a church meeting for decision, and the majority voted to sit. The next Sabbath some stood and some kept their seats during the prayer. To my youthful mind it seemed that those who stood (I do not remember who they were) took so erect a posture that-under the circumstances-it was more suggestive of grit than grace.
I remember some of the early ministers, and especially Rev. Francis B. Wheeler, and though he once reproved me for whisp- ering in church, I never felt any hardness toward him in conse- quence, for I felt that I richly deserved it. I have sometimes wondered that I did not remember a single sermon, or even the text of a sermon, that I heard in childhood. As I think of it now it seems to me that the regular attendance of the people
*The custom is still in vogue.
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upon church services made a far deeper impression upon me than was made by the ministers.
The Sunday School was always a place of interest. The small children usually commenced each spring with the first chapter of John. When the boys were old enough to join the young men's class, they studied Romans, as that was the favorite book of our teacher, Elias Bartlett. He was always finding " something new " in the Bible, and especially in that particular book. Dea. Albert Lee was our favorite Superintendent, and sometimes he gave us such good, loving, fatherly talks, that the impression made by them could not easily be forgotten.
In earlier days, the school used to have, each year, a long winter vacation. One or two winters a mixed Bible class gather- ed, voluntarily, each noon, to study the Bible.
But I must not weary you with further details. Surely, to us this has been a memorable day, and as we have participated in these anniversary exercises I, for one, have been living in the past. I have seen the old church, as it used to be forty or more years ago ; I have located many of the pews, and filled them with their former occupants ; I have noted their peculiarities and their excellencies, and in my inmost heart I have thanked God that so many have here been victorious in the name and strength of Jesus Christ. They have finished their work. Ours is only partly done. As we enter upon it anew after the interesting and instructive review of to-day, what more appropriate prayer can we offer than that the mantle of the fathers may rest upon the children, and that He who led them safely through their journey may also lead us to great success in His service, and to glorious reward in His home above.
Extracts from remarks by Rev. C. F. Carter :
Such delightful reminiscenses as we have just heard from Mr. Elliot you will not expect from me, but there is something which I most heartily bring and which I trust may have its value as a genuine evidence of Christian fellowship. I would bring you the greetings of a sister church, next to the youngest of our denomination in this county, and in so doing gladly bear testi- mony to the value of the contributions in men and women coming to us from you during all these recent years. What has been
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your loss has been our gain, and it is a privilege to make acknow- ledgment of this indebtedness. *
It is possible for an individual to live and not become a part of the life of his time, but for an institution to endure through- out a century is manifest evidence that it has contributed some- thing of real value and has been a shaping force in the character of its time. Hence we shall not readily over-estimate the impor- tance and significance of such a fact as we celebrate, to-day, for these old New England churches have been conspicuous factors in this marvelous century of American progress. One sometimes looks upon a great river, broad and deep, as it moves majestically in its channel, and he forgets that the source of it is not there, but that the explanation of the stream comes with tracing it to its origins in the many little springs hidden in the forests back among the hills. We are at one of the springs, pure and vigor- ous,-of the stream of sterling character that has been flowing through our nation and commanding the respect and admiration of the world.
So it is well to commemorate and emphasize the worth of a church such as this has been, one of the feeders of true life ; for, as Mrs. Browning says,
" If we tried
" To sink the Past beneath our feet, be sure
"The Future would not stand."
* * *
Yet every wise look backward implies a look forward. The spirit of conservatism that does not provide for progress is already doomed. Old principles must find new embodiment if they would retain their life. Without attempting to outline any of the lines of progress along which the coming century is to move let me indicate one unit of measurement by which all progress must be tested,-a unit which we shall do well to exalt,-the unit of personal character. One of the Reviews, commenting recently on the election of Dr. Phillips Brooks to a bishopric in the Episcopal church, saw in it the evidence of the value increas- ingly placed on personality, and quoted his own words spoken in England a few years since : "show us your man, land cries to land," It is predicted that a refluent wave of immigration will
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at length sweep over these fair valleys and glorious hills of Ver- mont. What better product can the towns and villages have to show than noble men and virtuous women, fitted for membership in the redeemed human society ? If the type of Christian man- hood prevails as the supreme goal of endeavor, whatever new forms it shall attain, the century to come will be a worthy suc- cessor of the century gone.
An interesting feature of the occasion was the presence of five of the seven sons of the Rev. Austin Hazen-all, save the eldest, born during his pastorate in Jericho. The eldest, a stu- dent in Hartford Theological Seminary, the second, a graduate of the same institution, were both called out during the evening. No words were listened to with greater attention than were the words of the " Hazen boys," so large a part of the audience had watched with affectionate interest their growth and development from childhood to manhood.
Carleton, a graduate of the class of '91, referred to the fact of his youth-only nine years since he, a mere boy, had united with this church, and these, years of study, and nneventful- therefore, he could not be expected to have much to say on such an occasion as this. But he was glad to meet all these friends, both young and old. He would mention some of the more potent influences that surrounded his boyhood in this place. First of all was the home life in the parsonage, across the "green." Many hearts in the audience, as well as that of the speaker, must have been tender as they were reminded of the gentle mother who reared her boys in that home, and then, of the peaceful grave in the old cemetery on the hill-side.
As the second influence, he would name the Sunday school. " My mind goes back to my first teacher in the Sunday school, who is here to-night, and to another teacher, whose influence was second only to that of the home."
He did not unite with the church until, some time after he believed he was a christian, and even then his voice was seldom heard in the social meetings, and he had to go away from home to dwell among strangers before he dared offer his first prayer in public. He emphasized the need of young christians beginning
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early to confess Christ, and that all christian teachers and min- isters should get hold of young christian life, bring it into the church and nurture it into activity.
To Mrs. S. W. Duren the remarks of Mr. Elliot on the reg- ularity of church attendance in the older times suggested an in- cident which she had many times heard related as a veritable fact, and which occurred in her grand-father's family :
" My grand-father, John Lyman,* united with the church soon after its formation. The family lived three miles from the "Centre," in the woods, where bears were occasionally seen. When Sunday came there was no question in the minds of any of the family about going to church, but all expected, if possible, to be in their accustomed places in the house of God. One Sun- day my grand-mother left a young baby in the cradle, with an- other child seated in the cradle at the foot, to rock it, the latter being not much over two years old. When it was afterwards suggested to my grand-mother that the little nurse might have gotten out of the cradle into the fire, or in some other way have been injured, she confidently replied, 'no, I knew that the child would n't get out of the cradle, because I told him not to.' Yet in justice to my grand-mother, I must say that it was said she felt very uncomfortable during the meeting. I do not think she stayed in the afternoon, and she never repeated that way of going to church."
Mr. JOEL BARTLETT, referring to the zeal of our forefathers, could but wonder what the next generation would have to say about our zeal. He also spoke, as did several others, of the influ- ence upon himself of Rev. F. B. Wheeler, who had his first pas- torate in this church. His unavoidable absence was universally and deeply regretted.
*Father of the John Lyman before mentioned in these papers.
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AUSTIN HAZEN, Jr., was called upon for remarks, as " an- other child of the church." He replied that he had always supposed that " children should be seen and not heard," 'and he had come for the purpose of seeing and being seen ; he had not expected to be heard.' He referred tenderly to the early in- fluences associated with this place, and 'thought it might be of interest to his friends here to know that he dated the beginning of his christian life from the week in which the new church was dedicated.'*
Extract from remarks by Rev. H. T. Barnard :
While listening to the story of the Century-as given in address, poem, hymn and reminiscence-two questions have forced themselves upon me, viz : What has it cost ? And has it paid ? As to the first, I presume it has cost the people of this town, for ministerial support, the building of the churches, and remodeling the last time, together with the incidentals of fuel and lights, care and insurance, an $100,000-an average of $1,000 a year. This seems a large sum, and it is. Besides this, it has cost much of toil, care, anxiety, and self-denial -- things that can- not be estimated in dollars and cents-but just as real, just as valuable, in the sight of God, as though it could be put into dol- lars and cents. Now, what has the people received for this out- lay ? What value has been received ? In a word, I say-accord- ing to the New Testament-it has received an hundred fold, not in material things principally, but in the coin of heaven. If we could have pass before our vision in grand panorama the scenes of the Century, the homes of the town, the individuals in these homes, the spiritual influence of this church upon them all ; the souls saved, the sins overcome, the sorrows lightened ; the peace, the hope, the joy, the glory of it all- we should see more than the hundred fold.
Then the influence for good to the world of those who have gone from the town-who can tell this ? Who can estimate the good to the world that shall come from the lives of those two young men who have stood before you this evening in the flush
*Reference is made to the re-dedication of the church after the repairs in 1878.
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and strength of their young manhood-children of the church, going out from it to preach the gospel and bless the world in their work ?
I read in your faces the answer-this can not be estimated. But for the good it has done to us we are more than compensa- ted ; we can never repay. Blessed legacy of christian influence ! it is unending. As the Master said : "I have chosen you and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit ; and that your fruit should remain." " An hundred fold in this world, and in the world to come life everlasting."
Dea. ELISHA BENTLEY was admitted into this church at an earlier date than any person known to be now living. * * was born in 1811, near the place, up Lee river, where Mr. Martin Willard now lives : was converted, and united with the church, at about fifteen years of age. Soon after his conversion Deacon Hiram Stone said to him, " Now Fast day is coming ; let us be- gin in the Joy neighborhood and visit at every house along down the river, and hold a meeting at the Centre in the evening. We won't eat a mouthful all day, but keep Fast." They did so, and " got a blessing at every house."
Those who were there will remember his hoary head, his venerable figure, erect, under the burden of eighty years, and his face which beamed with a heavenly light as he related memories of his early days, and christian work in this town, and bore glow- ing testimony to the goodness and faithfulness of God. The words of this aged pilgrim, now so near his journey's end, were an inspiration, and his presence like a heavenly benediction upon the church, which those present will not be likely to forget : but an attempt to tell it to those who were not there to see and hear would be as futile as the attempt to portray in words the glories of the western sky at sunset.
Extracts from paper by Rev. A. D. Barber, on The Church in the Future :
The history of the past of the Christian church has been told and recorded by faithful men ; it has been one long record of im-
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perfection and failure, not to say of sin and shame. This is not to continue : there is to be a bright and beauteous future of the church of Christ. The prophet long ago foresaw and said Thy people shall be all righteous, and love shall never fail. To this perfected state the administration of God in the world, and the training of God in the christian church are directed.
The church redeemed and gathered from the east and the west, the north and the south, and brought to its habitation and home in the city of God, shall be no longer as now and in all the past. the erring, warring, and suffering church, in the midst of a hostile world, but glorious, triumphant, and reigning with Christ for ever and ever.
Blessed consummation of the purpose and plan of the Father to gather all in One-a plan formed before the world, prosecuted through all the ages, to be completed when time is no more. When this will be, how many Centennials will have come and gone ere all this come to pass, it has not been told us. All that we know of this is from Him who testifies of these things : He says in the close of his testimony, Behold, I come quickly. Shall we not all respond " even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen."
A telegram was received from Mr. Miron W. Lyman of Chicago, son of John Lyman, also letters from many who would gladly have been with us, and whom we would as gladly have welcomed, but who were unable to be present. Among these were Dr. Homer Bartlett, of Flatbush, L. I. ; Mrs. L. A. Hop- kins, of Fort Atkinson, Wis., daughter of Rev. Simeon Bicknell ; Miss Harriet Stone, of Swanton, daughter of Mr. Harvey Stone ; Mrs. Julia A. (Latham) Walston, of Algona, Iowa ; Mr. N. Blakely, of Monroe, Wis. ; Mr. George Sherman, of Burlington, and Mr. Gardiner S. Blodgett, of Burlington, son of Rev. Luther P. Blodgett.
Rev. Charles Scott, who was finally, on account of illness, unable to be present, wrote in response to the invitation, " No- thing would give me greater pleasure than to be present and enjoy the exereises of that delightful occasion. I remember with
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gratitude the many dear friends (nearly all of whom have passed on to the other side,) that I united with in christian fellowship upwards of thirty years ago, when I preached the gospel in your delightful town. Gladly will I be with you, if Providence per- mits, at the time appointed, and so bring to remembrance the loved ones that are gone, and renew the acquaintance of those that remain."
Dr. WHEELER, after signifying his intention, if possible, of being present, wrote under date of June 15th, " Owing to a death in the parish I cannot be with you on Wednesday, much to my regret. It is a great disappointment, as I had anticipated so much being at your anniversary. May the Lord Christ be with you, and abundantly bless the dear old church on that occasion. My thoughts and prayers will be with you. The Lord make the members of your church as faithful and devoted as were the fathers and mothers."
The church was tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowering plants. On the arch back of the pulpit was the motto in evergreen, " Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord."
Dinner was served by the ladies in the basement of the church to about four hundred people, and supper to about half that number ; many families also entertaining friends at their homes.
The day was cool, the temperature having been lowered by a shower during the previous night.
And thus closed the exercises which marked the end of the first century of our church life.
This pamphlet has been compiled in part, but not wholly, for the gratification of those who were present at the exercises herein described, thus enabling us. in a leisure hour, by review- ing them in this form, to renew and enhance the pleasures of this day, and to preserve their memory for ourselves as a quickener to our faith, and an inspiration to our lives.
We have been mindful, also, of those who have from time to time removed from us, and are now scattered in many places over
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our broad land, to whom our hearts go out as to absent members of the same family, and who, affectionately remembering the home Church, yet not permitted to be with us on this occasion, would be glad of this record of the way in which she called as many as she could of her children about her, and celebrated her hundredth birthday.
The dominant thought, however, has been that the history herein contained may be preserved as a trust to be committed to those who shall come after us, and who, as we hope, will carry on the work of this church more faithfully than we, or even our fathers have ever done, years after these places that know us now so well shall know us no more, and our existence shall perhaps be forgotten, save as our names appear on the roll of membership of this church.
" Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away ; They fly, forgotten ; as a dream Dies at the opening day.
O God, our help in ages past, Our hope in years to come, Be thou our Guide while troubles last, And our eternal home."
Acknowledgment is gratefully made to Hon. EDGAR H. LANE, Hon. CYRUS M. SPAULDING and Dea. EDWIN L. RIPLEY, all now of Burlington, for their generous contribution of the plates, in this pamphlet, of the outside and interior of the present Church Edifice.
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HECKMAN
BINDERY, INC. Bound-To-Please®
MAY 04
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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