Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-06-23
Is SPIRITUALITY DECREASING

In VermOnt---Arguments Made at the
Baptist Church Friday Nlght---Rev.
DIR. Marble WDi Make Remarks on
the subject sunday, June 25.
The usual Friday night meeting of the
Baptist church was utilized last week for
the discussion of the problem of the coun-
try districts throughout the state. The
discussion has special reference to the com
dtion of matters as represented by Gov.
Rollins of New Hampshire in his Fast Day
proclamation. The immediate occasion,
however, was the collection which is to be
taken in the Baptist church next Sunday,
for the work of the Vermont Baptist State
convention. The work of this convention is
the establishing and caring for churches in
this state, where they have not sufficient
means on the field. The funds for this pur-
pose are contributed by the self-supporting
churches throughout the state.
The question before the meeting was:
"Resolved that Spirituality in Vermont is
decreasing" The participants on the af-
tirmative side were Mrs. l. o. p. Smith,
Mrs. Geo. G. Wilson and DR.. II. D. Hol-
ton. On the negative side were Mrs. l..
H. Dearborn, c. S. Hopkins and L. w.
Hawley.
The remarks of Mrs. Smith consisted
largely of a comparison of the present con-
dition of the Baptist churches in the state,
with the condition of so years ago, there
stances that a number of strong churches
by demonstrating in a number of in
had either become extinct orgreatly
reduced in membership.
The argument of Mrs. Wilson was not
confined particularly to Vermont, but en-
braced the whole of New England, and
dealt with the city problem, making espe-
cial mention of the non-attendance of
young men at the churches, the charge by
| the laboring associations so that the
churches were not in sympathy with them,
and attributing these to lack of interest
and low state of spirituality in the churches
themselves.
DR.. Holton's remarks were based prin-
| cipally upon his own observations in his
contact with the people of the country
districts and consisted of statements made
by families in different parts of Windham
county. He then contrasted the present
habit of not attending church with the
customs of former years when the whole
family went to church, and nearly the
whole neighborhood.
On the negative side Mrs. Dearborn
presented additional statistics showing
that while it might be a fact, as Mrs.
Smith had stated, that many churches had
deteriorated or become extinct, it was also
a fact that a large number of country
churches had been established, and were
in successful operation at the present time,
which did not exist during the earlier
period to which Mrs. Smith referred.
She also said that while it was fact that
the state convention was obliged to aid a
| tor har Of nl,r 1ar
standpoint it proved that many more
churches had been established and the
convention was more alive to the work
Mr.. Hopkins laid special stress on the
fact that members of churches in the
country towns could not be expected to at
i tend those churches when they were living
in Brattleboro, Boston, New York and
other places, and that in a majority of in
stances they would be found engaged in
active work in the churches of which they
were at present attendants. The diminu-
tion in the membership of the country
churches was a result of the dminution in
the population, and not, therefore, attribut-
able to the lack of spirituality. He spoke
of the fact that three new churches had
been built in this town in a short time,
and that one church had paid off a large
debt which had been hampering its useful.
ness for sometime.
During the discussion the time passed
rapidly, and as there were only few mo-
ments left Mr.. Hawley spoke rather brief
ly, and called attention to the fact that the
arguments which had been made by the
affirmative side would have been all right
perhaps, a dozen or fifteen years ago, and
that the question before the house was not
as to the state of religion, but a statement
that spirituality was actually declining al
the present time. He thought this was
not the fact at all, and that The
J churches met and considered this question
several years ago, and one of the results
was the establishing of the Christian En-
J deavor society, which has also resulted il
, the formation of the Epworth League, the
Baptist Young Peoples union, and othel
, kindred societies, really covering the coun
try with organized bands of Christian
workers, such as had not been found here
tofore
At the close of the meeting the audience
2 voting on the pTeponderance of the argu
; ment sided with the negative. The ques
= tion was not decided by the chairman, DR.
. Marble, who stated that he would maxi
4 his remarks on Sunday morning, Jun,
25, when the collection for the Baptis
state convention is to be taken. 1t was
novel way of creating interest in this laud
able work, and probably may be trie'
q again in the future.
q Another very pleasant feature of tn
evening was the music. Prof. Crane
> presided at the piano, and Mrs. Crane
, remained over from her previous engage
ment, and rendered one solo; "Turn Thy
! Face" and also sang with the quartet, tn,
: other members of which we're Mrs. Eddy
and Messrs. Maynard and knight