Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-02-09
DNDBAvoRERs' Anniversary
Young People ut the Baptist Church
Look Back over the work ora Decade.

At 6:30 o'clock there were gathered
about go members of the society, who with
their invited guests, sat do VI TO a very in
viting banquet prepared through the
activities of a committee of the ladies'.
The guests included the speaker of the
evening, Rev. j. +. Cowan, ID. d., of
Boston, representing the United Society,
Arthur Lawton of Dummerston, president
of the Windham County Union, Rev. j.
II. Babbitt and Mrs. Babbitt, with Mr..
and Mrs. Charles r Prentiss of the West
Brattleboro Congregational church, Rev.
and Mrs Lowe of the Methodist Episcopal
church, Rev. Mr.. Miles and Robert Gregg
of the Centre Congregational church, Rev.
and Mrs. Cross of the Advent church and
others.
Prof F. c. F. Cramer, OBLIGATED at the
church organ during the entire ii re of the
banquet and added much to the enjoy
ment of the occasion, the door from the
banquet room opening in the audience
room.
After the banquet President II. L. Gale
of the Baptist society extended to the
guests heartiest greetings in very grace
full manner. Rev. Mr.. M les for the Wis
itors replied most happily. Many good
things were crowded into his brief re-
line of caution that the Christian Endeavor
members should always remember that the
church and not their society, had the first
claim. Less for self and all for the church.
Mr.. Laughton brought in fitting words
the greetings and congratulations of the
county union.
After a solo by Mr.. Maynard which
stirred the hearts Of all, Miss Mary Horton
presented very interesting paper under
the title Echoes from the Decade"
Speaking of her childhood ideal of history
which should contain naught of statistics
or dates, she said incidentally that having
searched the records she found necessity
reinforcing inclination toward her ideal at
many points.
On the 10Th of February, $780, the so
ciety was organized. OF its 80 charter
members 20 were still enrolled. Another
10 years may see a superannuated branch
organized as the only means of disposing
| gracefully of these persistent Endeavorers,
but can you doubt that they will still be
| found in the service.
There have been 275 names on the list
of members during the decade and there
are now in all about 70. Much work has
been done in neghboring towns, in remote
parts of the country, and during its entire
history the society has contributed to the
Vermont Baptist state convention; it has
also continually aided in the work of the
home and foreign mission work of the
denomination, has aided the Floating sOci-
ETY. in the establishing of a sailors home
at Nagasaki, Japan. Probably $500 and
more has been expended in these ways.
An announcement tablet has been placed
on the front of the church. but the most
,swt., 49, IL.
upon the church steeple.
We have been represented by delegate
at six OF the nine international conventions
held since our organization. A Junior
society has been 10 existence a good part
of the time.
Seven members have been called up high
er during the decade, and TO these Miss
Horton paid fitting tribute. Two OF the
members are now preaching the gospel,
and over 80 have united with the church
from the ranks of the society. LET us
not forget that we are still making history,
and that If the coming years are 10 be
profitable ones it will be because each
member is striving to do ever more COM
pletely whatever He would like to have
me do"
Following this admirable paper, so i'm
perfectly reproduced, came the inspiring
address of Dr. COwan, one OF the editors
of the Christian Endeavor World, who
spoke upon the topic, THE Things that
Endure" Among the things that endure
he mentioned first principles, second en-
thusiasm. Not the question, "What must
| give up?' but chow can | best serve?"
"One is your Master, even Christ" He
emphasized most strongly the Lordship OF
Christ and that clause of the pledge,
"Whatever He would have me do"
Dr. Cowan spoke of the power of en-
thusiasn. Enthusiasm was not efferves-
cence, not emotion but motion. Every
man has enthusiasm if you touch him at
the right spot. He spoke of his boys ad-
miration at the Worlds Fair of the govern
ment exhibit of models of soldiers, in
fantry, cavalry, artillery, etc, but his
amazement that they did not move, and
his disgust when he found that they were
only wood and had no life, was intense.
Come papa, let's get away from here
let's go where horses go and guns shoot"
The finest horses he ever saw were in a
harness manufacturers window, but they
were wood and wouldn't CO.
Methods and work are to the church
what the gun is to the soldier. The
church's duty is to provide methods and
conserve the energies of her young people
to find harness for the youth and fit ii
ever SO gently to them and set them to
work.