The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-11-10
SOCIAL CHURCH WORK.
Primitive Function Revived BY Rev.
Guy {. Lamson,

Guy I. LamsOn.
An editorial in the current issue of
the "atchman, the Baptist denomin-
ati1nal journal, tells of an interesting
WON which Is being done by Rev.
Guy c Lamson Of Hyde Park. Mass.
son OF Mr.. and Mrs Caleb 3. Lam
son OF Brattleboro. The editorial is
headed Practical social church
work and reads as follows:
An admirable illustration of re-
vival of the primitive social function
of the church is found in the work of
Rev. Guy c. Lamson, pastor of the
, Baptist church in Hyde Park, Mass.
The church and congregation are
largely made up of working people
and for four years Mr.. Lamson has run
an employment bureau with no ex-
pense whatever to those who received
its benefits. In the Mast year he has
secured positions for SO persons, and
IN the four years more than 300 people
have been helped to employment and
self-suppOrt through his efforts. He
is becoming known to the business
people Of Greater Boston for the care
and judgment he shows in recon-
intending men and women for posi-
tons for which they are qualified by
abilities and experience. Week be-
fore last ne had FIVE unsolicited calls
TO supply persons for vacant posi-
tions. One came from firm Of which
he had never heard. He asked how
they happened to come to him. They
replied: We heard you recommended
people for places and they made good.
Often on Sunday morning Mr.. Lamson
will say | know a woman who wants
plain sewing, or something of the
sort; and almost always his an
nouncement meets with response.
His people ana the people of the city
have come to expect him to bring the
want and supply together, and his
hold on the people is phenomenal.
Livery pastor can do the same and
Mr. Lamson's chief difficulty suggests
the desirability of their taking up the
work. Very often when he receives
an application now he is obliged to say
he does not know of any one who will
just fill the place. If there were q
number of pastors in Boston and VIC
unity who were doing the same work
for the unemployed as Mr.. Lamson
} he could, by consulting with them.
find the right person for all the
) places which offered, ana perhaps a
common place Of registry might be
found advisable. So pastors in all
cities and large towns might work to-
gether in the same way. The aid to
members of the church out of work
was one of the recognized points in
the social life of the early churches
and both pastors and churches would
immensely strengthen their hold on
the people of their communities if
they should come to be recognized as
engaged Systematically in the work of
providing work for the unemployed
The Boston Journal of Oct. "a, con-
tanned the following article in refer
ence to Mir. Lamson mo less an au-
thority than the Rev. Guy c. Lamson,
known as the employment parsOn,
who has helped more than 800 young
men and women to get work since
going into that line of endeavor four
years ago, declares there are today
good positions for more good workers
than can be found to fill them, as re-
fiected in the many appeals he re-
ceives from employers to get them
capable subordinates.
Mr. Lamson today. at his home on Oak
First Baptist church in Hyde Park
and president of the Boston Baptis,
Ministers Conference, finds his work
Of securing employment for deserving
young men congenial In only one in
stance mas any person recommended
by him failed to fill the place accept
ably.
~ ~ always willing to place a
young man in a good position said
Nj. I4ameon today at his home on OAK
street. whether or not he is a MEM
Der Of my parish. if l am sure he will
make good ! take great pains in this
regard.
Up in Vermont Mr.. Lamson is
known as the sporting parson, for he
was connected with all kinds of out
uoor ana Vluoor sports IN that state
for a number of years. While pastor
of the Baptist church in Montpelier
he acted as official scorer of the
Northern Baseball League, which in
cludes the largest cities in Vermont
Mr.. Lamson came to Hyde Park
from Montpelier in December, 1905
More than 200 persons have joined
the church here during his pastorate
Besides being a wideawake clergy
man. he takes keen interest in town
affairs and temperance. He is a grad
uate of Middlebury College and the
Rochester. y. Y. Theological Semin-
airy He has served as chaplain of the
Vermont House of Representatives.
Mr.. Lamson was born in Newfane,
!