Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1901-10-18
EVANeELlsTIc CAMPAIGN.
Movement Started with a Union Meet
ing at the Methodist Church Last
Sunday Evening.

Sunday Evening.
The union evangelistic campaign
was inaugurated Sunday evening at
the Methodist church. In spite of the
rain the church was filled, and great
interest was manifested. This being
a preliminary meeting, all the pastors
participated in setting forth the pres
ent conditions of church life, the end
to be sought and the measures by
which it is to be attained.
Rev. H. II. Miles was the first
speaker and in setting forth the con-
dition of the churches to the communi-
ty and the Kingdom said in part One
is made uncomfortable by loss of
possession. partly because of the
worth of the thing lost. largely from
the feeling that the loss need not have
occurred. We do not brood upon what
is spent, but find it hard to give up the
quest of lost things, because haunted
by the consciousness that they ought
to be still ours. Christ had this feel
ing about men who did not live as
children of God. He did not give them
up, but regarded them as the shep-
herd his lost sheep which are in the
wrong place. as the woman her lost
coin which is out of use. Christ gave
himself to such people. He was bur
dened with a sense of their need to
be brought where they belonged into
the service of Cod He was criticised
for giving his time to outsiders. Our
churches are families brought together
by common sympathies and strivings.
They are doing a good work for their
own, are tending each its own gar
den plot; but these garden plots are
not BrattlebOro, not the Kingdom of
God in BrattleborO. We do not put
the emphasis Christ did on the work
for outsiders-fOr the lost and the
sick We are ministering to the
fourth of our population that needs us
least. and hardly touching the three
fourths that need us most. The pur-
pose of these union services is to
reach them Let us bend thought and
effort in this direction.
The second topic, "The End to be
Attained" was presented by Rev, R.
F. Lowe. who said that what we want
is a united effort to usher in to fuller
degree the Kingdom of Heaven. The
human spirit within this Kingdom is
not cOnformed to this world, but
moves in an orbit of which God is the
centre. Such a man shows forth the
fruits of the spirit, loves JOY and
ptdOCs GU OuA " al u vi I hll 20 Wv
not destroy his peace of soul. He
passes as a SHINING pilgrim through
the world. We need a sense of the
reality of spiritual things, in brief.
we need the mind of the Christ. If we
could look at the world from his view
point we could accomplish something.
We need to realize the fundamentals
of one common faith the persuasive
ness and power of sin the terrible
condition of those outside Of Christ,
Gods love for the race, as manifested
in Christ, the presence of the Holy
Spirit in the church. If we could re-
turn the apostolic church as for our
example and wait upon God for the
outpouring of His spirit, a great bless
ing would come upon BrattlebOro.
-- "The Means to be Used" were then
discussed by DR.. Marble. He said
that there are two sides to a work like
the one proposed. A divine side. God
must give the increase. 1t is not by
mass meetings or machinery but by
my spirit saith the Lord of Hosts"
Our "eXpectatiOn is from him" At
the same time there is a human side.
Works go with faith. Paul must plant
and Apolos must water before God
can give the increase. This is true
in grace as well as in nature. The
usual agencies-churCh services, Bi-
bic school and prayer meetings-will
be continued only we hope to add to
their power and effectiveness. But it
is earnestly desired that the CONNER
cial side of church life, that is, fairs,
suppers and entertainments for rev.
enue may be reduced to the lowest
terms, if not entirely given up. during
the coming months. Strength and in
terest should be concentrated upon
the work in hand. Added means also
will be employed, such as the union
meetings on alternate Sunday even
ings to he led by the pastors in turn,
assisted by large chorus choir un-
der the direction of l.. w. Hawley.
Wednesday evening gospel meetings
will be held at the church in Estey-
vile and the schoolhouse at Centre
vile. Cottage prayer meetings will
be held all through the community.
The pastors propose, so far as they are
able, to make a house to house vista
tion of the entire township. They are
also undertaking to develop a trained
corps of personal workers and helpers.
1t is hoped also that there may be a
general inter-visitation between the
churches at their regular services to
promote the spirit of unity which now
so largely prevails. Outside help will
be called in. The Rev DR.. C. |. SEQ
field of Mortified will address the
next union meeting Oct. p in the Bap-
fist church. Others will be invited
and on Dec. 30 our evangelist, the Rev.
E f. Davidson, will be with us. He is
SPLENDID leader, but is not coming
to do our work. Let us therefore get
ourselves right in the sight of God,
and then carry the gospel into the
stores and shops and houses of Brat
tlebOro.
4 brief devotional service brought
the meeting to a close
By rising and unanimous vote the
audience approved of the action of the
county court in behalf of temperance
and pledged its support to Judge Stat
ford and the officers who are endeavor-
ing to enforce the prohibitory law.
Mckinley Memorial Vermonter.
Fwt.