St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-08-28

There is very little to be said for us at
present. The only recent thing was our
sending a delegate to the Cincinnati con-
vention, who is to report at the next
convention which is six months away.
Our union is suffering from what we
call down here the reorganization
mania" that is, several of our societies
have desired to get rid of their older
members, and accomplished that object
by recognizing and leaving such as
they deemed too old for members. The
result has been that we lost sight OF
some OF our societies for time, and they
have had to change themselves into
bible study classes and such like to keep
alive. At the present time we are suffer
from this distemper, and some OF us are
directing our energy toward curing it.
The union voted to ask every society
for definite sum to help defray the ex,
penses incurred in our work, and the
money thus raised amounts to more
than that received by merely voluntary
contributions. One movemement we al
most got on foot, and it was thwarted
only by change in administration, that
was to have done much good, in my
OplulOu' VIC plduuSu W SClId SOIllC OnG
OF our own society, or else someone
fitted for the work, into the back coun-
try districts of our union to hold
revival services, and do what might be
done to create more interest in Chris
tianity, with the thought that perhaps
several Christian Endeavor societies
might be established to do their beneh-
cent work. For this each society was to
raise a certain sum Of money and to
heartily back up the union. Then, too, it
was thought that this worker could go to
every society and help in whatever way
would best conduce to the society's well
fare. This plan was for the few winter
months, and the worker was to be paid
a salary per month. At the time OF this
project there was opportunity for a
grand work to be done in this way, aud
am not sure but it could be undertaken
now and then we had just the ones in
our union to promote such an object. OF
course selhshness on the part of one or
two societies would defeat the plan.
The above is practically what my So
ciety has done, and l may outline its
growth, if thereby any other society
may be benefited. When / came here we
had membership of about 40, all told.
Soon one member became interested in
junior work, and right away junior
society was organized, having 25 or
more members here in the village. This
organization still lives aud has as many
members as at first, although several
classes have graduated. Then | was
called to preach at hall three miles dis
tant, in a place where there was great
spiritual restitution, according to all re-
ports, but where there were a good
many young people. 1t seemed TO me
that an Endeavor society was the thing
to reach the young people and create a
working force OF Christians. So my
church society undertook the organiza-
tion, and bus load of us went to the
place on one of the worst stormy nights
of the spring time, found a house.full
waiting, and organized a branch So
ciety which spread like fire, and soon
numbered So members. Several CONVEX
sions followed Immediately, and num-
Der of additions to my church were Sc
cured, Others joining other churches.
Most of the early members of the society
are gone from this place, since six years
will make so great changes, but the So
cety still runs, although with diminish
ed forces. | attend the meeting once in
two weeks. The meetings have always
been held Monday evening and are
yet we'll attended. Several times
when far away from Woodstock, l have
had people ask me if were pastor OF the
Endeavor Society in that South Pomfret
village, and then tell me what a former
member had said about the transform
ing work of that society. The good
done cannot be measured.
Right away another member of my vii
lage society became interested in the
children in her district, about three miles
from here, and the result was a branch
Junior society that had more than
twenty members, including several very
young children. 1t is an inspiration to
go to the meetings and hear those little
folks take part. These juniors, or rather
their superintendent, met more than the
usual encouragement in the opposition
of some parents. Meetings are held al
the close of school Friday afternoon. in
term time. One little saint has beer
gathered home from this band, and q
ray of sunshine she was in home and
school and community.
About year ago the heart Of another
of my Endeavorers was stirred over the
destitute condition OF the young people
in her neighborhood, and she organized
another branch society, which holds its
meetings in the district schoolhouse, hav
ing between twenty and thirty members
This work is taking deep root. Once a
month / preach to them Sunday after
noon, and have had as many as forty in
one service manifest a desire to lead a
Christian life. The societys meetings
are held Sunday afternoons. At present
the organizer of this society is in the hos
pita, suffering under the surgeons
knife, but the work goes on, no doubt
gathering impetus from the prayers o.
the faithful woman in the affection in
which she is.
Last summer the young man who was
then president became interested in the
people in another district three miles
distant, where there is little done and
great need. He arranged for Sunday
school which was held several weeks
and sowed the good seed there. This
summer another young man, who is an
Endeavorer and Sunday school teacher