St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-04-24

A. Turner were admitted in full ant
elected deacons; E. A. Legg was admit
ted to full connection and elected elder
under the seminary rule; George C
Mcdonald was elected to full connection
Charles w. Kelley was continued in
second year class on trial. VIM. E. Lang's
connection was discontinued at his own
request.
The business was followed by Bishop
Berry's address to the class for admis-
sion which was one of the strongest, il
not the strongest, address of the convetl-
ton. At times it moved the audience to
tears, again there were outbursts of
laughter and several times the Bishop
was interrupted by applause. The adj
dress abounded in epigrams which were
very telling. Among other things he
, said,
| When religious experience is only a
memory, preaching is the hardest thing
to do on earth Our churches have gone
insane upon having boys as preachers.
The idea that preacher is not wanted
when he is over so is an illogical and in
sane delusion. The ministers have got
" SluSH lilS HlONSllSlll lOI tHelT Sell
preservation.
Talk about this church you are going
to serve. Methodism is the most
potential spiritual force in the life of the
republic. First, you want to make the
church progressive church. There will
be changes in the polity of the church,
but never in the doctrine. Second, hold
the church loyal to the Bible. Scholar
ship and heresy are not synonymous.
Higher criticism has not done much harm
and the wave is receding.
Hammer away we hostile bands,
Your hammers break, Gods anvil stands"
Never tolerate the preacher or teacher
who proclaims his doubts or who shakes
the confidence of the common people in
the foundation of their faith. Third,
help us to relate our church more closely
to social and industrial issues. John
Wesley was a christian socialist and
laid the foundations of the institutional |
church. 1t is not education, agitation
or legislation that will give us. the |
remedy but regeneration. The socialist /
is foreordained failure be- |
cause it fails to recognize human de-
pravity. We are the peoples church and
when Methodism adopts the spirit of
the Salvation Army it will accomplish a
greater work Learn to love folks with
plain clothes, with calloused hands, and
sweaty faces; just common folks, for
among the common people you will find
the aristocracy of America.
Fourth, relate the church more in
with the civic problems. A
good many of these can never be solved
in the prayer meeting. Evil exists be-
cause of our permission. The church
should be represented in politics by its
citizenship. Be sure you have
n your church converted membership.
Don't lose sight of the old-fashioned CON
,iction of sin.
And finally, if you succeed you have
rot to be evangelists. John Wesley was
he evangelist of the century. Don't
i've up revivals. Every minister and
very christian should be an evangelist.
Professional evangelism does not fit us
ecause you are evangelists yourselves.
'ut above everything else remember that
he evangelstic forces of the church are
l the pews ifthey are but awakened
This service closed with brief prayers {
y the four candidates and the closing
rayer by Rev. Joseph Hamilton. '
FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
The anniversary of the Woman's For $
On Missionary society was observed \
riday afternoon, Mrs. NJ. P. Donaldson G
Sheldon, the conference secretary, pre- T
ding. The devotional exercises were n
'nducted by Mrs. c. S. Nutter of St. n
lbans. Mrs. Donaldson reported the +
,ar's work as the best since its organi- \
tion, and said the receipts had been n
ny nearly $4,000, the largest ever re- +
ived. She presented Miss Emily Har- g
y, member of Grace church, who T
is spent many years as missionary, n
acher and matron, in India, large "
rt of her time being spent in Raipur, v
here she found the people in the lowest i
gredat1on She made encouraging
between the conditions OF
e present day and those when she went
ere, and her talk gave a clear idea of n,
2 needs of the people and the oppor- oil
mites for work in the district of A
.pur. One year ago Miss Harvey P;
lded at San Francisco, the day of the fe
to find the city in state of eli
ISOLATION, but she was deeply impressed nc
the spirit of helpfulness that prevailed W
long those who were in positions to 10
e help. She was obliged to remain on ly
boat three days before landing. Her su
dress was followed by collection for tn
missionary work. Miss Collins sang be
olo at the close of this part of the
ogram.