Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-01-07
THIao ANNUAL MEETING.
Bethany Church Elects ofHesrs FOR
Coming Year and Hears Reports.

meeting IN the Parish house Jan. / and
reelected the following officers for the
coming year:-C1erk, E. 4. Salisbury
deacon for six years, A. B. Tew ksbury
treasurer, e. w. Tewksbury; receiver OF
offerings, z. A. Thomas; trustee for four
years. NJ. NJ. Wilson; deaconess for four
years, Mrs. Eugene Wardneh; warden for
four years, c. w. A. Putnam; superin-
tendent Of the Sunday school, DR.. 6. o.
Blanchard; chorister, A. n. Beedle.
The clerk reported a membership of 31S
Jan. l, 1908; received during the year by
profession, 10-all Of whom were bap-
tized by letter, 4 removed By death, A.
Mrs. Martha Dupuis, Mrs. Alethea
Mann, Mrs. w. w. Bean, Mrs. c. o.
Pratt Bowen; removed BY letter, 5-Mrs.
H. P. Riford, Mrs. Anna (Nichols) Bos-
worth, Mrs. fnez (Abbott) segar, Mrs.
Fay Wells, Charles II. crandail; Jan. i,
1909, membership, 32s-91 men and 232
women.
There were held in the year 40 regular
Sunday morning services and the church
was closed July II, 10 and 20. Janitor
A. J. Huse reported total attendance Of
s1s1; including the evening services, IL
725; average per month, 72s; per week,
167; largest congregation, April 10, PSI /;
smallest, stormy Feb. I'd. 76.
The treasurer reported q balance Of
$3.50 on hand.
Janitor Huse stated that the Music hall
had been open IS times in the year, and
$40 meetings had been held in the Parish
house, which Is used by the Y. P. s. @.
e., the Young Mems Christian Brother
hood, the Bethany Girls. the Christian
Brotherhood, the boys club, which has
no - brsn ~ 81 Kr.rr~ -
Arthur, Junior C.. f., Bethany guild.
6anatorium Aid society, Woman's Mis-
sionary society, church committees, choir
Randolph Woman's Literary club has met
in the Parish house i've times; the Uni
versity club had its Ladies' night there;
and election returns were received there
IN November. The gymnasium has been
well patronized and both men and women
have enjoyed the bowling alley.
The Sunday school has had total at
tendance Of 4z16. with an average Of 90,
not including children, and OF 100, chill
dFen included; smallest attendance, 45;
largest, 126. The school hes q cash bal
ance Of s126.4s on hand.
Bethany guild has contributed money
toward the choir fund and. has betrayed
the expense OF cleaning the church and
papering two rooms in the Parish house.
The Christian Endeavor society has en-
gaged In missionary work in town and at
Thanksgiving time sent ont 30 dinners,
IS boxes Of flowers and IL boxes Of fruit.
The sum Of e60.46 has been expended fer
Tsissions aud there Is balance on hand
|of 9z.17- The society has SIS active men,
t1Es and - kcu1rarF; & has taken - 6.
active and honorary during the wear,
and OF Its members have united with
the church. Five persons were dropped.
two of whom joined elsewhere.
There are 81 OF the Bethany girls, i2 Of
whom joined the club in the last two
months. They devote the FIRST part Of
their meetings to q study Of the life OF
Christ, and the latter part to gymnasium
work under the direction OF Miss Olive
81. Moulton. By 3 Christmas carnival
the girls raised s45 for the support OF the
Parish house.
The Junior c. E., organized Sept. %
last, has 23 members who invited IS less
fortunate girls to the Parish houss
short time ago and entertained them
pleasantly, serving refreshments. The
Juniors have raised SIS, contributed e2 to
the Parish house fund and paid the
freight on . box to the Kurn Hattin
Homes.
The treasurer Of the Music hall report
ed an Indebtedness OF ef0o4.aI, due to
the installation Of the electric light plant,
which Is giving good satisfaction.
The comprehensive report Of the pastor
follows:-
Since you have heard the reports of the
different officials of the church, it will be
my purpose to discuss conditions more
than to report details.
Let me state in the beginning that 50
far as 1 know all our work is being
done in the name Of the Master; IN this
refer to the management Of the Music
hall no less than to the sermons preach
on Sunday. know only too wen, that
mistakes have been made and will be
made, but It must be remembered that
we are facing big problems and big prob
lens are not solved in day. This is not
an apology and is not q plea for forbear-
ance in any respect. Wherever wrong is
done, there censure should be laid. II
would be calamity indeed to cease Civ
ing censure to wrong doing merely be-
cause it was done in connection with our
own affairs. Our church should never
fail to call to account any Official who
fails to fulfil his trust as q man who is
dominated by the spirit OF Christ. On
the other hand, every official who accepts
these responsibilities at our hands Is de-
serving OF our most loyal support.
In regard to our Sunday services and
prayer meetings, may say that our con-
gregations have been good, while the at
tendance at the mid-week service has not
been good, averaging q little over twen-
ty. Our Sunday school has been gaining
ground and our Christian Endeavor soci-
ETY. has been thriving. am asked ooca-
sionally as to the spiritual condition OF
the church. do not always know what
to say, for I do not always know what is
meant. In my opinion, each person may
answer that question for himself, for be
knows how near to God he stands. II, as
see it. spiritual life is that which finds
expression in cur activities; II spiritual
life is our daily thought and conduct; il
spiritual life Is our every impulse and de-
sire, then we can only look within our
selves as members Of this church and un-
derstand what the spiritual condition OF
the church is. Ny own faith in God was
never greater or my trust in Christ more
complete.
One Of the trusts which rests upon our
I -. n =