St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-11-13


1t is estimated that there are 223S active
and S51 associate members in the 64
societies which have not reported. So it
is safe to say that we have an enrolment
in our union today of 1895 active and
2756 associate members, making n grand
total of over 10 900 enlisted for Christ
and the church"
All over the state there is uniformity
III the work. Certain great truths are
considered settled and certain methods,
whose value has been demonstrated by
wide experience, are employed with
gratifying results. With but few excep-
tions the societies are using the uniform
topic cards issued by the United Society
OF Christian Endeavor. 1t is evident
that these young soldiers have not
neglected the armory from which our
weapons must be drawn for Satan's
overthrow, from the fact that 237 asso-
ciate members, indifferent one year ago,
have entered the service of King Jesus,
an increase of one over last years record
in this direction.
The banner Christian Endeavor soci-
ETY. for members is still located in st.
Johnsbury, being the society connected
with the South Congregational church,
its membership consisting OF 123 active
and % associate members, q total of
lfO. 1t also reports lllG IIlliIiDSI
of conversions the past year-about 25.
Six local unions have been organized
during the past year, making the num-
Der of unions i'll our state at the present
time IL, and this is one of the most help
ft1l features of the work. Right here let
me say that in all probability we shall
not show again in this state such gain
in societies and membership as we have
this year; but we trust we may be able
to report q greater number of souls born
into the kingdom.
! believe that much of the success of
the Christian Endeavor movement in
Vermont in the future will depend upon
the work of our local unions and the
work of district secretaries. | trust that
at some business session of this cOnven-
ton the matter of district secretaries
will be discussed. | would suggest that
the president or the executive committee
be empowered to appoint district secre-
taries for sections of our state where
there are no local uniOns-and perhaps
one for each local union-whose duty it
shall be to communicate with the preSl-
dent and state secretary; keep the Secre-
tary informed of changes among the cor
responding secretaries of societies COM
posing the local unions; visit as many
societies III the district as possible, and
do any other work which the executive
committee shall suggest which may be
for the advancement of the cause of
Christ and his church.
The address from Saint to Saint"
by Rev. A. ]. Hough of Montpelier,
was racy account of the recent
national gathering at St. Louis, and
many amusing anecdotes were intro
duced. Mrs. E. E. Towner of Mont
pelier read letter from Miss Anna
Young, formerly of Burlington, who
is now located in the missionary
field at Kinhua, China. The letter
described the opportunities for work
if there were missionaries enough to
carry it on, especially among the
women; and gave an account of
what had been done. The letter also
the listeners a glimpse of the
village life in China, the habits,
homes, etc, of the people. Miss
Young sent home an urgent appeal
for others to join her i'll the work
there.
Rev G. w. Phillips, D. D., of Rut-
land gave a forcible address upon
the "Christian Endeavor Unions as
ENduScllSllC AGlllIGS- 11S SctlC TIC
occupation of the evangelist will not
cease as long as there are any uncon-
verted souls in the church. The true
church is the evangelical church and
it is this that is striving to make the
whole population christian. 1t IS
the exceptional thing among pastors
to convert sinners, to lead the young
children into the church. 1t is the
first business of every Christian to
make another Christian, and SO a
small force of evangelical preachers
are going from place to place doing
work which belongs to us to do.
According to the last year book,
among the Congregational churches
the proportion of those converted
and added to the church by confes-
sion is one convert to II church
members; in Vermont it is one con-
vert to 2S church members In the
seven largest churches i'll the state,
and those best situated to win
others, the proportion is one to 80.
What the remedy is for this is the
question of the hour. What con
tribution can the Christian Endeavor
SoAlNly IitiNS 10 cllIOlliNI
Does the local union offer a suitable
centre for opera ton? 1t is inter
UNCONVENTIONAL, and has an advan-
tage there. Some say revivals are
more to boom churches than to save
souls. There is something to be
gained from revivals. The isolation
of the church must give way to CO.
operation. A local Christian En-
deavor Union is the centre of inter
denOmina tiOnal Christian evangel-
ism. 1t can make a thorough relig-
ious census; it can push the work of
canvassing with less effort; and it is
of great Importance to the evangel-
lists to have a preliminary canvass
that they may know who are and
who are not members of the church
No revival begins without it. A
we'll organized local Christian En-
deavor Union is q ready made evan
gelical alliance doing very efficient
work in the discovery and combina-
tion of variety of general leaders.
The second preaching service on Sun
day is a perpleXing question to all
and trying to the pastors. No one
likes to preach to empty seats. Is
it worth while to inquire if there is
not some way of filling these by com
bination among themselves or a
local union meeting with the young
people at the front to take the re-
sponsibility of the singing and speak
ing.
At the close of Dr. Phillips address
Rev J. l.. Sewall, of Plymouth,
Mass, former president of the union,
was introduced and gave a few
words of greeting and welcome, say
ing he had not been away so long that
it did not seem like home. He had