Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-11-01
THE MASS MEETING
OF the Young Peoples Christian
Union,

Universaltst Church "wednesday and
neutrality-suspicious. and Discussions
give n Helpful UplIn.
The semi-annual mass meeting of the
Young Peoples Christian union of Yer
mont and the Province of Quebec has been
held here this week. The delegates, who
arrived Wednesday afternoon were enter
tanned at the church by the local union, a
social hour following the supper.
The convention opened with a service of
song. After prayer by DIR. Shinn, Mrs. H.
NJ. Wood, president of the local union, gave
the address of welcome il the behalf of the
union, the church, the homes and the town.
Alfred F. Booth, president Of the state
union, made a fitting response, after which
he introduced Rev. Walter Dole of Enfield.
N. H., as the first speaker of the evening.
Mr.. Dole is an ex-president of the Vermont
union. His subject was, care we equal
to the occasion?" or as he preferred to put
it "Are we equal to our opportunity?n the
"we," as he said, meaning the Universalist
church and the Young Peoples Christian
union. The opportunity that is offered
the church and the union is expressed by
the apostle Paul in the words "That in the
dispensation of the fulness of time he might
gather together in one all things in Christ"
II
union, to unite all in Christ. For 1900
years, the speaker said, the churches have
been trying to save humanity and have
failed largely because salvation has been
interpreted by them as something to be at
tanned by arbitrary means. Salvation is
not matter Of place-heaven and hell
it is a matter of character Is the church
equal to this opportunity for building and
making character? If the Universalist
church is to be Gods church, the church
universal, it must do this work better than
all the other churches. God has created
the universe, has created man and has en-
dowed him with all moral and intellectual
possibilities, has given him the Christ type.
This is Gods part. All that man has to
do is to enter in and take possession of the
inheritance. God gives man freedom of
will, he may accept or reject this inheri-
lance. II he refuses he will become re-
possessed by his animal nature which is
the environment of the spiritual nature
This then is the unions opportunity TO
build up character, to become the men and
women God wants us to be, TO enlist in his
work, and to know his purpose concerning
us.
After a solo by Mr.. Stearns, the presi-
dent introduced the Rev. G.. II. Shinn, the
general missionary of the Universalist con-
ference and the national organizer of the
Young Peoples Christian union. DR..
Shinn in his enthusiastic way told of the
specific work of the union to develop the
religious life of the young people. After
| speaking of the work of the local unions
he told of the national work in organizing
unions, especially in the South and West.
After speaking of the different denomina-
| al ant Iar To-
nected with the state meetings IN the
| South.
| Closing Exercises Thursdsy Evening.
The morning session on Thursday opened
with song and prayer service, after which
representatives of 13 unions reported on
the work of their unions. Mrs. Flora F.
Miller of Hartland read paper on "Our
aims, our helps" This was followed by
an admirable paper on personal infu-
ence," by Miss Florence Lamson of this
place. Rev. Mr. Maxwell gave the closing
address on Rational thought and spiritual
worship" after which there was a COM
munion service conducted by Rev. E. E.
Marggraf of Bellows Falls.
A devotional meeting, the topic of which
was Reverence" opened the afternoon
session. "How can we aid the juniors?''
was the title of an interesting paper by
Mrs. II. o. Markham of Ludlow. The re-
mainder of the session was taken up with
an open parliament on matters pertaining
to the work of the union, the remarks OF
Rev. Walter Dole and DR.. Gunnison being
especially helpful.
A model devotional meeting was con-
Quoted by the Brattleboro union. The
leader was Miss l.. Myrtelle Eason and the
subject CHARITY" The Junior union
was present and assisted in the music
After duet by Messrs. Brasor and Stearns
the address of the evening was given by
Rev. Almon Gunnison, d. D., of Worces-
ter, Mass. DR.. Gunnison introduced his
remarks on the work Of young people:
unions by referring to the pleasure he fell
in again visiting Vermont. He then re
ferred to the young peoples movement a:
the most significant movement of recen
years. The churches were losing thei
power when this movement began and it il
doing much to revivify the churches. TIL
young peoples movement was not the re
suit of the genius of any one church; il
was brought about by the genius of youth
The older we get the more calculating ant
cautious we are. The forlorn hopes ar
led by young people. Young men hav
been the leaders of the moral and religion
movements of all times. This movemen
by young people in the interest of youn!
people has affected for good, not only tn
life of the church, but the young peopl
/ themselves in developing and TRAINING
them for service. Never in the history 0
, the world has the Christian church been S
} influential as today The past is glorious
but the present has prophecy of create
/ good in the future. The outlook for tn
/ the Universalist church, the speaker said
I was never so grand and beautiful as to
; day. He recalled the hardships of tn
( fathers who founded the church nearly 10
. years ago and declared his profound reve
: ence for the men who took the advanc
step that led to the founding of the demon
5 ination. He said the great body of Chri
/ tan believers are pitching their tent
r where the campfres of UniVersalism hav
| been burning for nearly 100 years. TIL
great and growing liberality of the evaI
4 gelical churches has in it reason for thanl
( fulness. In congratulatory way he II
S ferred to the fact that while many of hi
: orthodox brethren were coming to tn
light he was free born. He was proud {
y the outlook before the young people of th
e church and assured them of the deep il
y terest of the older people and urged thel
t to lay well the foundations of all their ell
+ terprises.
:
500 Reward.
The readers of this paper will be pleased