First Congregational Church of Hampton

Three Hundredth Anniversary

1638 - 1938

The Sixth Meeting House - 1844

Rev. HERBERT WALKER, Minister
MRS. ESTHER B. COOMBS, Choir Director
MRS. LOUISE BENOIT, Organist

Order Of Historic Pageant Service

August 21, 1938

O GOD BENEATH THY GUIDING HAND
(Tune: Duke Street L. M.)
O God, beneath Thy guiding hand
Our exiled fathers crossed the sea
And, when they trod the wintry strand,
With prayer and Psalm they worshipped Thee.

Thou heard'st well pleased, the sons the prayer;
Thy blessing came and still its power
Shall onward through the ages bear
The memory of that holy hour.

Laws, freedom, truth and faith in God
Came with those exiles o'er the waves;
And where their pilgrim feet have trod,
The God they trusted guards their graves.

And here Thy name, O God of love,
Their children's children shall adore,
Till these eternal hills remove,
And spring adorns the earth no more.

PRAYER
REV. RALPH W. E. DEWOLFE, Pastor of Baptist Church
ADDRESS -— "Our Spiritual Foundations"
REV. ROBERT G. ARMstrong, Secretary, N. H. Conference

WE LOVE THIS GOODLY, HOLY PLACE
(Tune: Dundee. C. M.)
We love this goodly, holy place
Where Pilgrim fathers trod;
In Heav'n are kept ther grateful vows,
Their dust endears the sod.

Here holy thoughts a light have shed
From many a radiant face,
And prayers of humble virtue spread.
The perfume of th' place.

And anxious hearts have pondered here
The mystery of life,
And prayed the eternal light to clear
Their doubts and aid their strife.

From humble houses all around
Came up the pensive train,
And in the church a blessing found,
That filled their homes again.

They live with God, their homes are dust;
Yet here their children pray,
And in this fleeting lifetime trust
To find the narrow way.

(Costumed Congregation will form in casual parade of twos,
threes and fours across athletic field to the Congregational Church).

10:30 A. M. — ORDER OF SERVICE IN THE CHURCH

INTRODUCTORY WORDS -— Rev. Herbert Walker

OPENING PRAYER
REV. J. E. PRESCOTT, Hampton Falls
Representing Rev. Stephen Bachiler, first minister of the church, 1638-1641.

METRICAL VERSION OF PSALM 100
Congregation. Lined by Precentor
(Tune: Old Hundredth L. M.)

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell,
Come ye before him and rejoice.

The Lord ye know is God indeed,
Without our aid he did us make.
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.

0 enter then His gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For Why? the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is forever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

READING FROM GOD'S WORD

REV. EDGAR WARREN, of Hampton
Representing Rev. John Cotton, fifth minister of the Church, 1687-1810.

THE LONG PRAYER

REV. ROBERT G. ARMstrong, of Concord
Representing Rev. Josiah Webster, eleventh minister of the Church, 1808-1837.

CONGREGATION

HOW LOVELY ARE THY DWELLINGS FAIR
(Tune: Belmont C. M.)
How lovely are Thy dwellings fair!
0 Lord of Hosts, how dear
The pleasant tabernacles are
Where Thou dost dwell so near.

Happy who in Thy house reside
Where Thee they ever praise;
Happy whose strength in Thee doth bide
And in their hearts Thy ways.

They journey on from strength to strength,
With joy and gladsome cheer,
Till all before our God at length
In Zion do appear.

For God the Lord, both sun and shield,
Gives grace and glory bright;
No god from them shall be withheld
Whose ways are just and right.

SERMON
REV. FLOYD G. KINSLEY, Minister-elect
Representing Rev. Nathaniel Gookin, sixth minister of the Church 1710-1734, who preached
this sermon on November 1, 1727.

COLLECTION

A MATTER OF BUSINESS

0 GOD OUR HELP IN AGES PAST
(Tune: St. Anne. C. M.)
O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home.

Under the shadow of Thy throne
Thy saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is Thine arm alone,
And our defence is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
Or earth received her frame,
From everlasting Thou art God,
To endless years the same.

A thousand ages in Thy sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

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 for years to come,
Be thou our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home.

BENEDICTION

REV. HAWTHORN H. BENEDICT, of Hampton Falls
Representing Rev. John A. Ross, twenty-second minister of the Church, 1887-1902