Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-12-05
TENTH anniversary.
Local Baptist Church Celebrating
that Occasion.

| The exercises connected with tnc
celebration of the tenth anniversary
of one of Barrels most prosperous
churches the Baptist church, were
continued last evening, most of the
members of the society being present.
The exercises were opened with
prayer by the pastor, Rev. -. M.
Fuller, followed by selection from
the choir. Mr.. Fuller then introduced
the Rev. w. j. CloueS of Montpelier
for the address of the evening.
Mr.. Cloues took for his text Isaiah,
SO, "Lengthen thy cords and strength
en- thy stakes" His discourse was a
very able one and was as interesting
as it was instructive.
He confined his remarks largely to
his text, urging continued growth
and lengthening and strengthening
of all the churches in their missionary
as we'll as other works. This does not
imply that there has not been rapid
growth in the past. On the contrary
the church field and church strength
has widened out and increased with
irresistible force up to the present.
May it SO 60 on in the future! Espec-
ially this church growth has been true
in the Baptist society. In 1854 there
was one Baptist to every "a OF the
population In 1912 there was one to
every AZ. In 1910 there was one to
every 30, while today the denomina-
ton numbers in active members over
three and half millions and the
number of adherentS in it's conStitu-
ency will bring the number up to over
eight millions.
Particularly remarkable is the
Baptist church for it's promotion OF
education, UNCONVENTIONAL and other
wise. There are theological schools
with 700 students, - preparatory
schools with ten thousand students
35 colleges with seven thousand stu
dents while the endowments for edu-
cational purposes aggregate thirty
seven million dollars. The Baptist
people are noted for giving more for
educational purposes than any other
denomination.
The growth in the Barre church has
been steady one and today those
who have labored SO industrously to
bring it about can look with Satisfac-
ton upon the results of their efforts
in seeing the prosperous society that
now exists. Ten years ago there
were 90 members, now there are 100.
There are still several states or con-
ditions that need strengthening in
this church, as well as in all others,
to promote the best ends and do the
most good. The strengthening of the
idea of personal responsibility to God,
the idea of personal service in per-
sonal conservation, knowledge of the
lesson of opportunity:do not deSpise the
little opportunities, for great victories
may be won with weapons which
seem futile. A strengthening of
growth in religious power, and that
is being done, for we have come out
from period of skepticism and our
leading men of science who quarter
of century past were expressing
skeptical ideas are today recognizing
the Christian doctrines.
These principles should be applied
more closely in the Baptist church in
Barre and each member should make
himself or herself personally response
bic in the strengthening of the faith
in the mission of this church. Drive
more firmly the stakes in the faith in
the Scriptures. Strengthen the real
ity and reliance in spiritual things in
prayer.
This was followed by selection
from the choir and the pastor announ-
ced that at 7 O'Clock this evening will
take place the annual business meet
ing and roll call and the early history
of the church life will be read The
Rev. P. G. Abbey will also be present.
Prayer was offered by Rev. O. r.
Hunt of West Rumney, N. H., and
after the singing of hymn the bene-
diction was pronounced by Rev. P. G.
Abbey.
The history of the church here dur
ing the past ten years has been an in
tereSting one in that the church has
grown with the city and they have
gone hand in hand in a most remark
able period of progress, and now with
its brilliant young pastor at it's head,
it's prospects for the future are ex-
tremely promising.