Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-10-14
Important Local Evangelical Movement.

Important Local Evangelical Movement.
One of the most remarkable religious |
movements ever undertaken in the |
entire country is soon to begin in YER |
mont. This is none other than an at
tempt to cover the greater part of the
state with Simultaneous Evangelistic
Meetings" held in selected centers at
the same time and under the same
auspices. The time will be the month
Of November, the first series to be
November 5-18 inclusive, and the
second series the two following weeks.
Meetings will be held for the two
weeks beginning November 5 at Bar
ton, Barton Landing and Newport.
At Barton the Congregational and
Methodist churches unite; at Newport
the Baptist. Congregational and Metho
dist; and at Barton Landing the
meetings are under the auspices of
the .Methodists alone, the Congrega-
tionalists not caring to unite. Usual
ly, throughout the state from two to
six denominations in place unite in
series of meetings, and the movement
is one of large magnitude. The plan
of Simultaneous Evangelistic Meet
ings" first originated in the fertile
brain of DR.. j. Wilbur Chapman, for
merly of the Bethany Presbyterian
church. Philadelphia. That is the
largest church of that denomination in
the country and DR.. Chapman's 8 tenure
was seemingly permanent in its pas
torate. but he resigned in order that he
might enter the evangelistic field, to
which he felt specially called. Since
1904 he has been engaged in holding and
supervising evangelistic meetings in
the great cities of the country. Last
spring meetings were held ir 45 select
ed centers in the city of Philadelphia
for a month, and over 10000 converts
were added to the membership of the
cooperating churches. The meetings
in Vermont are under the auspices of
DIR. Chapman. He will personally con-
duct two series, one at Burlington and
one elsewhere. possibly at Barre,
but he will supervise all of the others.
All of the evangelists and singers are of
this section, and most of them are men
who have been associated with him in
this work for four years or more, for
DR.. Chapman did much evangeli site
work for other churches before he left
Bethany in Philadelphia. The assign
ment of preachers and singers to the
Vermont fields has not yet been made,
but will be published as soon as
known. The fact that these meetings
same time is unique one for a country
section. These Simultaneous Evan
gelistic Meetings" have heretofore
been confined to large cities: now, for
the first time, they are to be tried in
sections more rural, and Vermont is to
be the scene of religious undertaking
absolutely new IN church activity
The chief value of this method is two
fold: In the first place it ensures for
each place workers of ability, expert
ence and wisdom. Too often itinerant
evangelists going through the country
are responsible to nobody, and some
times seem to do more harm than GOOD.
All Of DR.. Chapman's associates are
men whom he knows intimately and
trusts absolutely, hence they NAV be
trusted as safe and sane, as well as
able and earnest. In the second place
the interest generated in the meet
ings in each place will be an inspira-
tion to greater endeavor at eyery
other place. Tidings of victory at
Barton will stimulate Barton Landing
and Newport to increased faith and en-
larged activity. Nothing succeeds
like success and the success of one
meeting will help everywhere else.
From now on the pastors and church,
es throughout the state will be active
ly engaged i'll the work of preparation,
holding extra meetings, doing house.
toulouse visitation, training workers
and selecting committees, and doing
everything possible to get the field
white for the harvest. With proper
cooperation on the part Of the pastors
and people the meetings in these three
contiguous villages ought to result in
the addition of at least 800 new mem
bers to the churches engaging in the
effort. The results throughout the
country thus far have averaged much
larger than this.