Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-13

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their abundant iberality, with limited means, at
tests. After the eapse of about Is years the pro-
ject of merging this branch society with the State
Convention was started, and soon afterwards was
effected. During the 20 years next following our
churches report, in the minutes, contributions to
the amount of about $500, varying different years
from 81 to 1872, and giving average of about
s24.75 annually.
During the sitting of the convention, at Bur-
lington, in 1852. on the spur of the moment, with
no unusual effort, $500 cheerfully subscribed
by those present. This, of course, left the
churches, for most part, uncanvassed. Since that
time, doubtless, occasionally church has remem-
bered this object, but generally 1t has been most
sadly neglected. During the year just closing cir
cumstances have given a new i'm portance to this
subject. Our young men, studying with the min
istry in view, have been pressed by want heavily.
When the majority of them were at Fairfax their
expenses were small and their opportunities for
helping themselves were unusual Il so that, with
| the aid their friends were able to furnish, many
were able to strug lie through the course there.
But things are greatly changed, except few pur-
suing their preparatory studies,-most of them
are at Hamilton and Newton. In almost every
case some aid is needed. Their expenses are
| nearly double what they were few years ago. At
| first the N. Y. E. Society welcomed all applying
for its benefactions. But friends there have
found applications increasing beyond their power
to supply With l20 on their list, and others wait
ing to be encouraged, they naturally turn and ask
| if we cannot do something for our own sons, born
among our hills and in our churches. The fact
that the N. i. Society does not ask the same ques
ton makes the case no better for u.
The relation of the churches TO these young
men is not in doubt They are the wards of the
churches. They have been born Of God in an
swer to our prayers. They have given them
| selves to the work of the ministry in answer to
prayer. Usually they concuce to discharge this
duty only after throes of pul not less violent and
painful than those attending their new birth II
is a sad day when the father, with the cold form
of his companion by his side, is compelled by the
force of inexorable providence, to see his new
born child draw its nourlshment from the breast
of a stranger. But sad eran hundrr d fold would
that day be to him if that mother, living, in the
strength and vigor Of her womanhood, should
turn utterly from her helpless tfspring and leave
1t to the care OF those WHO had no natural aHec
ton for it And, yet, here are these tender ones
belonging to the Savior, whose bride l. the church
left with indifference which ing esses IL
most for its uniformity and its continuity. There
are beOrglng to the Baptist churches of OUl
State about twenty five Of them. Some churches
are blest with two Of them Still, the cases where
any adequate home provision has been made fol
them is the exception to a rule. OF thos- who
have pursued their studies at Newton during the
last 10 ears, not one Is known to have been aid.
ed by the church to which he belonged. In refer.
enc 70 those studying at Hamilton, and speak
ing Of a period less extcu5 ed, wherever an excep
ton is found to the statement made above, Il
only reminds one Of the sleeper, rubbing his eyes
as he rises from his long repose That there may
have been, here and there, individual faithful
10 his duty, is fully c need. d. That he church
| as a whole, Ia, a.rn dead, J"u- lead t. tie
claims Of this deserving charity, J. squtlly true
This neglect is all the more to be regretted from
the fact that our ind ff-r-nce relieves them from
all serse of obligation towards Us. II they were
| an indifferent class Of young men we ceuld the
better afford TO turn them from Us. But inst al
of this, they may well be made the JOY and tho
pride Of our hearts, for, in promise OF future use
fitness, they stand above the average, md ought
20 20 be bound to us that when their studies ar
concluded it will be PRIV ege 10 them to dimin.
Ish our too great destItution.
The work needing to be done is before us, anC
the question is, will We doit? Wrought to raise
this coming year $1,000, at least, and we can il
if we are united and resolute. But it will not
answer to adopt and print the report on minis
terial education and go home thus satisfied.
Last winter, prompted by the opportunities o.
these young men, IS hey raised the Macedonian
cry, Come over and help us :" stimulated, also,
by the request of the y. Y. E. Society to do some
thing for their relief committee was raised a.
I.l.-
ruary last for the purpo-e ofcallng the attention
of our churches more particularly to this subject
This was done chiefly by correspondence. But i
is to be regretted that no very general response
! has been made. And in What has been done
| Fermont independence AZ been most conspicu.
Gus. Some have RENTED 20 a student OF then
acquaintance; Others to the Students Aid So,ie.
ty; others still to the committee above named
The result is that the money raised fails to do as
much good as it might inasmuoh as some get
more than their proportion, while others Obtain
nothing like what they deserve. L respec fully
submit ted whether there may not be some simple
organization effected at this session of the con
vention auxiliary to the two societies now al ing
young men from our State, so as to secure throush
them the most efficient ana satisfactory disburse-
ment of moneys raised for this purpose. God
has given us the means of doing this work, and
we shall be guilty and lose the blessing If we fail
to do it.
% The Committee On the Publication
Society reported
THE AMERICAN BAPTIST PUBLICATION SOCIETY.
No intelligent man entertains the least doubt
of the immense value of the press IN the dissem-
nation of any principles, or the advocacy of any
measures Its power and its triumphs are re-
rded in the whole history of modern civiliz7-
ton, from the invention of the art of printing
until now. 1t has been used by all W no have
been intent on accomplishing any considerable
object of personal advancement or of general IN
terest. Every year furnishes new and more po-
tent illus ratOns and proofs of its incalcnabe
force and of its continually charging Influence.
without it any political party is poweress, and
any enterprise of moral reform becomes disas-
trous failure. So terrib is its energy that des-
pots upon their thrones tremble before IT, and
vainly seek to repress its manifold tongues, while
false religions cover before It's attacks and hasten
TO stlhe its utterances, or hide themselves from
its sc4thing exposures and rebukes. Ipfdehty
long since learned its wondrOus eticaev and Ia
bors to suborn it to purposes of unbelief, and
to make 1t etficacious owng its seeds of skep-
tlcism aud crime.
An agency thus powerful the Church of Christ
cannot afford to overlook or neglect, and wise
men in Israel through long succession OF years
have emp Dyed it most benefcently in scattering
the leaves of the tree OF life, which tor the
healing of the nations.
N denomination, however small in numbers or
feeble in influence, hopes for enlargement, or even
for long continued existence without its aid. IT
is indispensable wherever true religion is TO
rnaiutain its foothold and extend its triumphs.
The fathers Of our denorniu alton well compre-
hended all this when they originated the Ameri-
can Baptist Publication Society, and we upon
whom their mantle is fallen, and who are, und +
God to sustain and carry forward the vast ard
magnificent work which 'ty commenced, cannot
dispense win this absolutely necessary agency
which they have inaugurated. Rather is 1t our
duty TO multiply its means, to largely enhance its
IN increase i+c m rif,ld