Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-01-03
BETHANY CHURCH MEETING.
First Year OF the Union Shows vev
Satisfactory Results.


The first annual meeting OF Bethany
church, formed bg the union OF the Congl
and Christian bodies, was held New Years
night The pastor, Rev, Fraser Met1ger,
ia his report, spoke OF the remarka BILE alb
senee OF friction In wi hat had been virtually
new work, and stated that the success
achieved had been beyond the most san
gulne expe citations. lie said that the pros
pects OF the church In every department
are bright with hopeful promise, there has
been deepening spiritual tone in the last
six months which means much for the
coming year, and the accessions have
greatly strengthened the society in every
way.
Exclusive OF the moneys handled by the
trustees, which cannot rightly be included
IN ordinary receipts and expenses, the
total receipts in all departments have been
=, ,e3O.22, and the expenditures :, S03.0l OF
which -, ,2hi 50 was for current expenses
and sSol sd for benevoiences. Mr.. Metzger
recommended such an increase In benevo-
lences as would bring the sum into more
favorable proportion TO the home disburse-
ments, and urged that an effort be made to
increase attendance nj both morning and
evening services by personal invitation.
lie also suggested that q roll call be held
some time during January or February
that shall be In the nature OF a grand rally
OF all the members and friends OF the
church.
The superintendent OF the Sunday
school, DR.. Z. o. Blanchard, reported an
enrolment OF $50 pupils. total attend
ance OF 57ii and an average attendance OF
| l12, an increase OF 20 over the combined
average OF the two schools before uniting.
Nineteen OF those who Joined the church
this year were members OF the Sunday
school. The treasurer of the school, John
w. Lamson, gave the receipts OF the year
| a ~{lD 2l mud the ax IA xfl- az
with cash balance on hand of sis2.Ss.
+. L. Salisbury, clerk, reported that at
the union OF the two bodies Jan. 3, 1906,
the membership consisted OF 30 women
and so men-l0i women and Al men from
the Congl church and 1l6 women and 36
men from the Christian church. During
1905 there have been added ls by profession
90 of whom were baptized) and by letter
l., total OF 25. Two have been removed
by death and five by letter, leaving a pres
ent embership OF SS me and 30 women,
or total OF 3iS. In the last 10 months
the average church attendance has been
19O
The trustees have received as moneys OF
the church s3,s47. 10 proceeds of organ
and motor sold, s535; proceeds OF Cong'l
parsonage sold, s3, l25; proceeds of material
sold, sS779, and cash loaned 500. They
have expended for the purposes OF Bethany
Parish house and in payment OF debts
connected Herewith =, 4S6.75 and have on
hand 81, ,36l.0i. They have incurred in the
construction OF the house unpaid debts to
the amount of s2i3 20. A contract has
been made to rear the walls and chimney
OF the building for si750 and when the
work is done the church will owe the
contractor a balance OF $1,000. Eight
hundred dollars has been pledged for the
construction but in addition to that
amount and the sums now on hand, it Will
be'necessary to raise from $500 to $1,000
! more to properly complete the parish
! house. In other words the trustees hold
as availa BILE assets for this purpose =, 511. .04
and have liabilities Of 81 .243.29.
The Christian Endeayor society has 79
members. II Of whom have united with
The church during the year. The society
has raised $100.7S, expending s23.0i for
current expenses and s7Sp in benevo-
lences.
The Woman's Missionary circle has
4 raised 20 for benevolenc. and sent of
, a barrel valued at s25.
!. Bethany Guild has worked in four divis-
ions, each division raising money for Q
: stated time of the year. The combined
+; effort has resulted in s2i4.49, of which
s69.44 has been spent in repairs on the par
sonage to the amount of s36.21; flowers foi
: friends and the sick, s2O0S; benevolences
5000, and incidentals, S2.25.
The old board of church officers was re-
elected, with the exception OF one warden,
N. W. McCollom being chosen to sue
ceed A. III. Powers.