The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-02-06
MANY CITIZENS In
NEW CIVIC LEAGUE
Banquet Precedes the Organization OF
Laymen's League at the Universalist
Church Last Evening--The pur-
poses Outlined.

A Laymen's League Of the Universahst
church Of Barre was organized last even
| ing in the ycstry of the church with
nearly sixty charter members. A con-
stitution and bylaws similar TO those
Of the National Laymen's League OF Uni
yersalist churches was adopted, though
this league is In no way connected with
the National League. The idea OF form
ing this league was first started by the
pastor, the Rev. Edward @. Downey, at
the annual parish meeting Of the church
in January, and at that time a committee
consisting Of Mr.. Downey, A. b, Lane,
A. G. Fay, w. II. Durkee, and Frank w.
Jackson was appointed to make the nec-
essary arrangements for organizing, The
committee sent out notices TO the old
and young men of the church to meet
in the vestry last evening, and as a
result there were so men present and a
permanent organization was formed and
the officers elected.
Before any business was transacted,
the company sat down to an excellent
supper served by the Ladies' Union.
During the supper cornet solo was
played by A. =. Bruce, ir., and Prof
o. X. IIollister sang solo. Following
the supper Charles c. Kenyon was elect
ed chairman OF the business meeting ana
called upon i. w jackson to read the
constitution and bylaws that had been
drawn up and they were then accepted
and adopted.
The meetings Of the league are to be
held on every third Wednesday in the
month from September to May. There
are no initiation or fees charged and all
men whether connected With the church
or not will be welcomed into its mem
bership. The object of the league as
incorporated in the constitution is TO
engage its members in practical Chris
tian service in the interests OF the church
and the community The charter mem
bership book will be kept open until
after the next meeting in March.
After two pleasing dialect readings by
DIR. r. NJ. Lynde, the following list Of
names for officers was presented by Mr..
jackson, and the persons named we're
elected to hold Office until the regular
annual meeting in May: President, Il.
w. Bisbee; vice-president, S. d. Allen;
secretary, A. A. Stebbens; treasurer,
Homer G. Ladd; program committee, J.
Ward Carver, Henry G, Whitaker and
John w. Gordon. The newly elected
president OF the league, Mr. Bisbee, then
took the chair and after thanking the
members for the honor conferred upon
for a speech. The pastor said that he
was much surprised and gIaddened at
the promptness with which the idea of
forming a mems league was taken up
at his suggestion and his only fear now
was that its members would think that
they were to follow his dietaion; but,
he said, that is not the case The policy
and management OF the league viii be
controlled by the officers and members.
The object Of the league, be said, repre-
sented the spirit of the age today. There
was a time when congressman was
cheered to the echo when he remarked
that the ten commandments and the
golden rule played no part in his politics,
but that spirit, he said, is now passed
and to-day no man, no matter how small
the public office he il running for, would
dare to make that statement.
The golden rule is the spirit of the
age to-day, that men should do to others
as they would be done BY and if others
are not doing their part, it is our duty
to try TO make them. The church Of
the twentieth century is a mans job, he
declared. The churches are no longer
spending their time dreaming about how
to get into heaven. but about the making
of men. Seeing that the boys get start
ed with the right ideas that make for
true manhood.
"We want to magnify the social side |
of the league and get to know each
others real selves better, and we will |
be benefited by it. For the intellectual
side, we want to get prominent speakers
here who can inform us on the live and /
important questions Of the day, men who |
will give us ideas that will set us to
thinking, for only as a man thinks is
he able to step up and act for himself I
There is also the civic life Of the com
munity, in which there is a chance to |
do good. IF we have 100 men here who
are determined to do certain things,
they can carry any issue in the city /
that they set out to-"
Others who were called upon for re-
marks were e. Il. Smith. S. ID. Allen,
George Ross, N. J Roberts, Dr.. G. r.
Camp, DIR, O. n. Hollister and William
Duthie, all of whom spoke enthusiastic
ally of the league and vouched for its
and success. The banquets
Of The league win be monthly during
the winter months from September to
May, and the program committee has
charge Of the arrangements for the en-
at the meetings.