Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1910-04-14
Mems Missionary Meeting.

The impetus Of the forward missionary
movement, promoted IN a marked degree
by the recent Burlington meeting, was
renewed in local way at Bethany Parish
house Friday evening by one OF the fol-
low-up meetings that are being held in
the principal towns IN the state. About
sixty men we're present. The ladies OF
Bethany church served a nice supper
without charge, the Bethany Girls acting
as mattresses.
Principal f. @. Ham presided at the
speaking program. DIR. g. I'll. Gutterson
of Boston, secretary OF the American Mis-
sionary society, gave the first talk, deal
ing principally with the important mat
ter of finances. file said that until re-
Gently the business OF missions had been
conducted in a loose, haphazard way.
Obligations had been incurred as the
work demanded, and then came the tack
OF trying to raise the funds to cover ex-
penses. The result had been gradual
debt accumulation which finally reached
a total OF 1855, 900. Last year a campaign
Was carried on to lift this debt and 1t was
done, some 1925, 900 having been raised.
But to prevent repetition OF this labor,
with accompanying worry and embarrass-
ment, and to put the whole system on
buainesslike basis a new scheme called
the apportionment plan has been adopted
by the Congregational churches. Under
this lump sum OF 100000 the esti-
mated minimum amount needed for car
rying on the work, Is to be assigned
among the different states, conferences and
churches according to their strength,
membership and ability to contribute,
and they are to be asked not required
to meet the apportionment. Vermont's
share is 0,000 Mr.. Gutterson claimed
that it would be en- easy task to meet
this, il all would share, and that there
would result no crippling OF the local &C.
tivties OF the churches, but rather an adj
vantage from the growth in interest.
MIR. Gutterson was followed by Rev.
George 3. Knapp, for twenty years a mis-
sionary in Turkey. Mr.. Knapp gave
most interesting address and depicted
clearly conditions under Ottoman rule.
He had seen Mount Ararat's snowy peak
from a distance OF hundred miles. This
historic mountain is now the corner stone
OF three empires Russia, Persia and
Turkey. In all OF these the past few
years has seen remarkable social, political
aud economic changes. All have turned
4 from absolute to limited monarchies, in
which the people are now accorded a
measure OF self-government. Turkey. es-
peciaIly, was changed almost in a night,
/ during last years revolution, from do
main OF mediaevalism to one OF nearly
modern thought and action. From
censored press, censored speeches, limited
area OF travel and rigid Mohammedanism
bigotry, Turkey now has free press, free
speech, free movement and complete reli-
gious federation. OF course the thing is
so new, so novel, that many crudities,
and some abuses, appear, but it is hoped
these may pass away in time. The chief
danger is that the comparatively few ac-
tive and progressive Young Turks who
engineered the revolution and are admin
istering affairs may not be able 10 "hold
down the lid, . for it is realized that the
great mass OF the people are still attached
to old forms and prejudices.
Mr.. Knapp had first hand experience in
several Armenian massacres, for his work
was mostly in the Christian schools OF
this people. He gave many facts con-
cerning the slaughter at Harpoot, Bitliss
and Adana, and OF other massacres that
barely escaped happening through quick
action OF the Americans. lie held the
Turkish government directly responsible
for the atrocities. He had been arrested
and imprisoned for activity among the
Armenians and owed his release to the
coming of an American cruiser. Mr..
Knapp told OF the good work being done
by the American missions IN various
parts OF Turkey. not only for the cause Of
religion, but for education and enliehten-
ment.
Barking. Hacking, Rasnina Cough
csp 10 b-,ken mn quickly bv Aliens Lang B..l-