Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-23
The Needs and Opportunities in
Vermont Discussed by
Able Speakers.
MASS MEETING SUNDAY
Special Committee Makes Important
RECOMMENDATIONS Which Arc Adopt.
ed by the Convention - Money
Raised for Employment q
State Secretary.

Christian associations of Vermont opened
formally at the local associa ton rooms
Saturday morning with a good atten-
dance.
Devotional exercises were conducted
by c. NJ. Copeland. provincial secretary
of the Ontario and Quebec associations.
His scriptural exposition was full Of
helpful suggestions. He stated that de-
votional and systematic Bible study Is n
vital and prime factor for successful as
ISOLATION work and showed how such
study Is to he conducted.
Robert Weidensall, county work secre-
tary of the international committee spoke
on Town and County Work" He en-
rhaslzed the need of State secretaries
to help organize and keep up interest in
this work but stated that local general
secretary is necessary to make the state
secretary's work effective. The county
organization overcomes this difficulty.
The county work includes the employ
ment of county secretary to have
charge of a line of procedure similar to
that carried on in the international and
state organization. This plan is being
successfully carried on in many States.
The starting of Bible training classes is
an important factor at the beginning.
The convention then organized by
electing Charles Fl. More Of Montpelier
president. G. +. Ranney of Newport and
f. II. Earle of Rutland. vicc-presidents
and Wallace y. Batcheldcr of Brattle-
boro. secretary A committee to report
on the state executive committee, COM
posed of w. J. Van Patten of Burling-
ton, c. f. Ranney OF Newport and G.
G. Wilson of Brattleboro, was then ap-
pointed and a business committee conf
posed % q. +. North and George Fitz-
simmons of Burlington, and Charles H.
DcminE of Montpelier.
Frank II. Brooks of st. Johnsbury
chairman of tho state committee, gave
paper on THE State Work in YER
mont. the Needs and Opportunities"
First OF all State supervision Is essential
and 1t needs our support Tho bringing
together of all associations in the State
must be power provided financial sup
port is forthcoming There are golden OPP
portunities for work that go hand in
hand with the needs. In conclusion he
gave several recommendations from the
State executive committee.
How to Overcome the Difficulties" was
the subject of a talk by c. *. Ober field
secretary Of the international committee.
He first stated that he believes there are
no serious difficulties. One great thing to
be guarded against ia Vagueness. The
chairman of your state committee has
outlined a clean-cut policy the adoption Of
which will prevent this. The second diff
Guilty Is lack of prayer. The next and cas-
lest one is lack of money. The only thing
good investment. Then comes the most
vital question, the choosing of a State
secretary. In cities of 1000 population or
upwards there is a field for building and
a paid secretary. The smaller associa-
tions, in fact. secure larger membership in
proportion TO population than the larger
ones believe that this work can be sue
cessfully done by organization.
AFTERNOON SESSION
The afternoon session from lis to was
given up to conferences of State commit
tees. employed officers and student dele
gates. This was followed by devotional
Bible study conducted in a very interest
ling and practical manner by c. NJ. Cope
land committee on resolutions on the
death of Gen. ]. ]. Estey. composed of
| Brattleboro delegates, was appointed.
! The meeting was then given into the
| charge of Frank w. Earle. G.. *. ODER
spoke at considerable length explaining in
n very interesting manner the Silver Bay
and Mortified conferences for 1903. Then
came practical talk on Boys Work.
by c. X. Calhoun, associate general secre-
tary of the Montreal association. He stat
| ed that scout of 500 associa tons have bows
departments and about half of the BOYS
! graduate into the senior department. This
d. partment reaches the boys when they
are easily Influenced and they grow up in
7 n
ers. He emphasized the importance Of
letting the boys do the work themselves
and come to the older ones for council.
| The boy cannot he rightly guided by
repression He must be taught by exam
pie and influenced by personal interest A
very practical discussion of this question
| followed,
| Tho committee on the executive COM
mittce's report reported as follows:
| To the convention Of the Young Mems
! Christian Associations:
| Your committee, to whom was referred
the report and recommendations of the
| state executive committee. would report
that they have given the same their care
| full consideration. They have been much
| impressed with the statement made by
| the committee of the needs and oppor-
| tunites Of association work in our State
! At this time.
Your committee recognizes that as Yer
mont Is facing new condition. conse-
quent upon the change of methods in the
regulation of tho liquor traffic. there now
exists an additional reason for every
right-minded citizen of the State to be
more interested than ever in the work
for young men. Your committee, there
fore, believes that this is an opportune
time for enlarging tho work that is al
ready done and making plans for a more
| aggressive work in the future. We
would therefore, submit the following
recommendations for adoption at this
| convention.
First-That the state executive com,
mttee be enlarged TO membership not
10 exceed Is persons That IL of these
he appointed by tine convention at this
session, and that authority be given Il
the committee to fill any vacancies that
may occur and add three additional
| names If, in their Judgment, il Is desr.
able We recommend that the committee
| ,Nf.tv tod tlnN 4, tY1