The annual Cottage City whaleboat race announced for Friday, but which was postponed on account of the high wind and the non-arrival of the New Bedford competitors, came off Saturday afternoon at 4 o’clock. Four boats were entered, viz.: The Oak Bluffs, The Edgartown, and the Sixth Ward and Sixth Ward, Jr., of New Bedford. The course was three miles, the boats starting from the judges; boat off the south end of the plank walk and pulling alongshore passing the Oak Bluffs and Highland wharves, thence around the buoy off East Chop and return. In drawing for positions, Edgartown was No.

The first public religious services were held in the new Baptist Temple at the Highlands, Sunday morning last, and Rev. G. L. Lewis, of Vineyard Haven, preached from 1st Corinthians, 3-16. Theme - “Our body the temple of God.” It was announced that religious services would be held in this place every Sabbath hereafter, at 10.30 A. M., and that the “Temple” would be dedicated Aug. 19th.

Taking into consideration the benefit that would thereby be conferred upon the patrons of the VINEYARD GAZETTE, we have disposed of the property to Messrs. KENISTON & JERNEGAN, two gentlemen highly qualified for the important trust. The few months we have labored among you have been filled with encouragement, and will be often looked back to as among the brightest in our experience. With heartfelt gratitude, we thank you, friends, one and all, for the helping hand and encouraging word, and hope that the same support will be extended to our successors.

The Baptist Pavilion, at Vineyard Highlands, will seat from 2,500 to 3,000 persons. The Vineyard Baptist Association has purchased a lot of the chairs lately used in the Moody Tabernacle in Boston. They have been brought to the island, and are now in the Pavilion, which is approaching completion.

Work on the Baptist Tabernacle is progressing rapidly, under the superintendence of the contractor, Mr. Tilly, of Hyde Park, Mass.

Oak Bluffs, Aug. 11, 1876

The whale-boat race came off Friday afternoon, as per announcement, under circumstances generally auspicious. The day was fine, with a refreshing breeze slightly ruffling the water, and the crowd which lined the bluffs and shore from “Lovers’ Rock” to East Chop light, attested the degree of interest felt in the event, and was certainly calculated to fire the breasts and stimulate the muscles of the gallant oarsmen, There were four entries for the race, as follows: -

The first introduction of Methodism on this island was subsequent to the Revolutionary war. The Baptists then had a flourishing society, chiefly consisting of residents of Tisbury, but numbering some from other towns on the island. The Congregationalists were here from the earliest settlement, and were often spoken of as “the standing order.”