Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-01-28


have another and a more congenial one to-
morrow, but Gods command is to work to-
day. There may be young men and young
women here who long for wider field, for
greater opportunities, for something better
than they have yet experienced, but for all
such the lesson is to use faithfully tho
means of the present, trusting God for tho
future. To the girls and boys she said that,
when in her youth she wanted an educa-
ton more than all else, the way was dark
before her, and she saw greater time of
gloom and difficulty than she had ever OK
perionced since; but in the midst Of it all
she remembered the grand old provorb
"Get thy spindle and thy distaff ready and
God will send thee flax" She was helped
and comforted by 1t, and 1t had helped her
in every time of trial since. "WorlS where
you are," she said. "Are circumstances
adverse Do the best you can, and God
will send something better" Tho practical
teaching of this central idea was urged re-
peatedly and earnestly, upon all class
cs of Christian workers-on Sunday school
teachers, on parents and on church menu
bers as a class. The speaker could not I'M
derstand how men can enter so carelessly
| on the dut les of fatherhood, or how moth
ers can accept the greatest of all human re-
sponsibiities without prayerful and fearful
anxiety. She earnestly besought the young
to take caro- not to let the spirit OF their life
and actions in the sacred domain Of home
be such as should lay up for them store
of unavailing ponitental remorse. IRE
momber," she said, "thst every one has a
sickle given him in his own band" Be-
ware of trying to use tool or to do work
| too great for you, but be faithful in the
| place and with the material which God has
| given you. Miss Townsley spoke of the
| encouragement TO earnest ondeavor in the
day of small things which is furnished in
such lives as those of Elhu Burrltt, of Sa-
rah Smiley, and Of d. L. Moody, all of
whom arose from lowly and seemingly un-
favorable surroundings. In conclusion tho
speaker said,-wc don't have TO wait for
the wages Of Christian work, it brings its
own payment but let us remember that at
the last day reward comes greater than it
bath entered into the heart Of man to con-
ceivo Of.
Miss Townships discourse was listened
to with marked attention by congrega-
| ton which filed the church, and tho i'm
preston which she created was very favor
able. She breaches every evening this
week except Saturday, and engages in the
social and enquiry meetings so far as her
strength will allow. The revival work in
tho church continues and increases, with
many encouraging results.
AsKETCH OF MISS TOWNSHIPS LIFE.
In view of the interest which Miss
T ownsley's appearance here has created, as
well as in consideration of the work which
she has done in other towns in the county,
short sketch of her life may not he out OF
place in this connection. She was born in
Albany, n. Y, in 1910, and received her
education in Wheaton College, n. Y. She
taught for some years in the graded schools
in Illinois, and afterward in academies and
seminarics, where she met with good sue
cess. She has fine literary abilities, and
several of her poems have appeared in Har-
per's Weekly, while she has contributed
prose writings 10 other publications. She
commenced her work as an evangelist a
little more than two years ago--it having
been undertaken contrary 10 all her previ-
Gus views, and ailer she had said and writ.
ten much against such n course of life fol-
lied into it, little by little, by the hand Of
the Lord" She preached first in Chicago
and soon after was compelled TO come East
on account Of her health. For year she
assisted feeble churches in Massachusetts
Sue then came to Vermont, her first work
+ as an evangelist in this State having been
done in Bellows Falls year and a hall
ago. 4 year ago she taught two terms ia
f the Wilmington high school, and also con.
, Quoted religious services on Sundays dur.
ing that time. During the months of June
, July and August last She acted as pastors
, supply in the church in West DummerSton
She began her revival work Of the present
season at East Wallingford, whore about
sixty conversions took place. She then
went 10 Woodford, and aflerward II Clare
mont, y. H., where She lahored three
, weeks, and where a magnificent work was
Il ccomplshed, or rather begun, aud which
has been continued ever since she LEFT
VI ceilings have been held every night anC
baptsms have been solmeuized every Sun
day. More than one hundred conversion!
have taken place there. She spent two
weeks in North Wallinsford, her work
the re being blessed with about eighty con
: versi ons. She was then in Town shcnd fol
fortnight, her labors resulting in from
eighty TO a hundred conversions. Mis-
To wnslcy commenced work in Jamaica
but was obliged TO leave on account of e1,
:, baustion from over exertion. A marliet
feature of the results in several of the plac
es named has been the awakening OF num-
!, bers of the most hardened sinners. AGlel
a few days rest ut the Brattleboro House
where she is now stopping, she has begun
her labo rs here, as stated above, although
her health is not yet such as to permit hel
TO enter so vigorously into the work as she
otherwise would. In her mission as al
!, evangelist Miss Townsley is under no saa
ry, nor is she employed by any person Of
party. She looks for payment solely L
the thank offerings OF the people of thj
churches, believing that in religion, as il
every thing else, people are willing to pay
liberally in proportion to what they receive
In her personal appearance Miss Townsle,
: is of medium height and slightly built. II
social conversation sho is lively and agree
, able, and her religion is evidently quite tht
reverse of the gloomy and morose type
In the pulpit she speaks easily and clearly
and her style is graceful and impressive
She has entered heartily upon line Of du
ty into which she believes that God has lo,
her, aud We bid her good-speed in doing il
her own way her part of the great world
work which Christ begun.
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