The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-11-18
SPOKE TO STUDENTS.
DR.. Grenfell WIS at Vermont Academy
Recently.

The students and faculty Of Vermont
academy, and with them the citizens of
Saxtons River and Bellows Falls, are
fortunate in knowing DIR. Grenfell, the
celebrated medical missionary from Lab
rador, no longer merely from reading the
magazine and newspaper articles, but
from personal contact with the earnest
and engaging personality of the truly
great man. On the afternoon of Friday,
November the thirteenth, in the chapel
OF Vermont academy, Dr. Grenfell spoke
to an audience Of four hundred, who for
an hour gave him their undivided atten-
ton. DR.. Grenfell's talk, which was de.
lightfully informal, gave his hearers in
teresting limpses OF heart and mind in
which an over towering desire to serve
the Christ by uplifting mankind is com
bined with an unusual ability to apply
practical solutions 20 the problems which
confront one in his position. And through
all his words there ran an undercurrent
of humor and of gladness, telling plainly
that here stood no martyr, no slave
driven TO his task, but one who, as he
expressed it, had chosen his work and
his field because he liked them, and one
who was enjoying his work immensely.
Resolving 70 give his life to the mis-.
sionary service, natural inclination led
him, as a young man, just out OF college,
to choose the work among the sailors
of the northern coasts. Here he found
conditions most deplorable, and no one
apparently making any exertion TO bet
ter them. Find that the worst foe TO
the physical and spiritual well-being
Of the people was the liquor traffic, he
took prompt steps to hold this traffic In
allegiance. So energetic was he in his
efforts, and to such degree was he
successful, that in short time, in towns
whore the saloon had been the ruling
factor, the church began to come into
respect and prominence; and best of all.
the international law was passed max.
ing it crime for liquor 10 be sold on
high sea. and giving TO the gunboats of
every nation the right TO seize any
vessel, sailing under the flag OF any ma
ton, engaged in this Illicit practice.
In Labrador itself, Dr. Grenfell quickly
turned his attention TO economic ques-
tions, having found the people in sad
straits owing TO the utter lack OF money. |
Practically all business transactions were
carried on by means of barter and ex
change; and large majority of men
were unable either to read, write or
read figures" the few were getting rich
at the expense Of the many This gave
rise 10 lack Of food, and sickness and |
starvation went hand in hand Before |
the physician could do efficient work, |
the economic organizer must step in and |
prepare the way. In the case of Labra- |
dor, DIR. Grenfell ably filled both posi-
tions. AS an economic leader re organ
lied cooperative stores, of which there |
are now eight which assure to every
man an exact value for his Ash or game:
and in his capacity Of physician he was
In founding four hospitals,
situated at different points along the
coast, where they might be Of the most
use to the poor fisherman who was in
trouble.
At the present time it il this phase Of
work by which Dr. Grenfell is most wide
" known. Cruising up and down the
storm beaten coasts, often in very grave
danger, often suffering severe hardships,
he visits countless sick beds, caring in
the homes for the less seriously i'll, and
bEduspu porting 10 Inc HoSplLaiS all those /
who are on the danger list In one year
he has carried over one thousand sick
men on his little steamer, service the
of which Is scarcely credible.
He is assisted in this work by young
men from the various colleges, Yale,
Brown and Bowdoin in partic
llar, who take this means OF being of
service.
Although the speech of DR.. Grenfell
1t the academy was not prepared lee
5ure, it made an indelible impression
IN all who heard it, portraying. as it
lid. in such vivid and realistic manner,
he situation in Labrador at the present
lime; and everyone felt in some degree
he satisfaction that is DR.. Grenfell's as
he realizes that he is of some real ser
Fiee to the people of that land. Vermont
academy is to be congratulated that her
Students have had this opportunity Of
learing one SO actively engaged in the
yreat things Of life. An Offering for the
work in Labrador was taken Immediately
lfteg the lecture