St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1886-07-29
CHURCH WORK IN VERMONT


Ss
In keeping with what may be thought
its chief excellence everywhere, as {
pOlity, CODgregatiOnalism in the Green
Mountain state cares less for itself as
an ism, than for it's function and re-
sponsiblity in building the Masters
kingdom. 1t has to contend with spe-
cial difficulties. Vermont youth, from
the beginning, have been exception
ally enterprising, with a decided flavor
of independence i'll their thinking.
Spiritism and the more Objectionable
phases of Second Adventism, and even
MOrmOnism in its early days, have
found facile fields in some localities.
Once small academies abOunded in the
Il larger towns, and, although these have
given place to few better endowed
Institutions, ambition for progressive
culture thTlves yet more. Such ener-
gy early seeks other fields, and steady
emigration leaves many ancestral homes
to ruin. Population gains very slowly
and interior townships are depleted.
What shall keep the church in int1u-
ence when the sons emigrate and the
fathers dieP The energy of our church
es rises with difficulties, resolved to
meet new problems with new methods.
In emphatic confirmation of this as
sertiOn are the proceedings and spirit
of the state convention of last month
"VermOnt for Christ was the motto.
h Statistics gathered at large cost of time
and money by Prof. Henry Fairbanks
Phi. D., and summarized in this journal
last week, gave data for intelligent
calculation and adaptation of means to
II ends. These figures were not to feed
curiosity. They are landmarks fOl
vigorous campaigns. Several county
conferences had anticipated the state
convention 10y months of evangelism
conducted by special agents, supported
by the united churches.
In times of revivals the old churches
Il of Vermont have been signally blessed
/ from the beginning. The oldest and
strongest, where ruts would be mos
expected, have been fields the mos
Il fruitful. During the past winter, Mid
Il dlebury, New Haven and Orwell have
been instances. These revivals have
been fruitful in missionary cOnsecra
ton. For example, Miss Leitch o
CeylO said, in IL private letter of re
cent date: II believe in revivals.
learned to work in revival in st
Johnsbury, VT, held by Messrs. III. NJ
n.
chusetts. Had it not been for that re-
vival | would never have been here
Miss LeitclI is in the line of an illus
trious succession-the first Mrs. Ham
lin and Mrs. Ladd of ConstantinOple
Mrs. Perkins of OrOomiah, and many
others.
Only three times in the last thirty
years have additions to the churches
equtlled those of the past year. Spe
cial quickening came to forty of the
two hundred, in some cases with larg
er accessions than for generations. As
might be expected, such special quick
ening has been anticipated or followed
10y Increased care of sanctuaries an'
4 parsonages. Said State Secretary Wild
4 in his annual report: "For decade, a
least, there has not been apparent 81
extensive planning for the improve
ment of church property rs during thu
Il last twelve months, nor a larger out
Law, actual aud prospective.
Twenty five or more report an outla,
In this direction of from several thous
ands of dollars, in some instances, TO
new houses of worship and parsOnages
or the thorough remOdelling of the old
to the lesser hundreds in the majOrit,
of cases, not less an evidence of desir
to render the service of the churcl
more attractive" This in times O
business depression. Other hopeful
indications are, the organization O
three new churches; a decided in
crease i'm the number of settled pastors
SO that larger proportion of our con
gregations than for twenty-five year
sit under the stated ministry of tia