Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1910-04-09
The Laymen'S Missionar!
Movement
The

Thursday afternoon and evening,
meetings were held in the interest
of the lawmen's missionary move
ment, and much was learned of this
practical, nationwide work. The
afternoon session began at 3 o'clock,
Rev Benjamin Swift presiding at
both sessions. DR.. H c. jackson,
Geo Aitken and County Secretary
A. @. Hurd of the Y. M. G A.,
spoke of the recent meeting at Bur-
lington. Rev. George II. Gutterson
of Boston gave general outline of
the present work, and Rev. George
P. Knapp from Harpost, Turkey,
spoke of the literature of the lay
mems movement.
In the evening at $50 a supper
for men was served in the church
parlors, about so sitting down to
the tables. Following this a brief
business session was held. Rev Mr..
Swift making brief appeal for a
more systematic work than has
been done in the past and calling
upon Rev. DR.. Gutterson, who made
some practical suggestions for local
work.
A committee was chosen to aid in
the raising of funds and the devlop-
ment of interest in mission work
among the members of the Congre-
Gational churches of this conference.
The members are: Rev j. A.
Scheuerle of Hartford, o. A. Whit
comb of Woodstock, and Rev. Mr..
Eldridge of Quechee.
At the evening session. which
opened at 7 30, Rev. DR.. Gutterson
spoke on the work of the seven
principle benevolent societies sup
ported by the Congregational
churches of the country. BY way
of illustration he referred to those
living in the western states when
the population is scattered and with
out the advantages had in older
settled communities. Someone goes
into such place, he said, and
gathers company of boys and girls
in any available place and organizes
a Sunday school which>is helped by
the Sunday School publishing
society Later this grows until they
n eed church, then parsonage
and these are provided by the Church
Building society. Next they become
interested in the work of the mis-
sionaries in the foreign fields, then
in that of the colored people and
mountain whites in the south, thus
connecting themselves with the work
of the American Board and American
Missionary society. Their own
children at length need higher
education and through the colleges
they undertake the work Of the
Educational society. Lastly they
recognize the fact that the preachers
become aged and infrm, so they
help in the work of the Pastors Aid
association In this way the circle
is completed and it is a grand privi-
lege that the churches have of
spreading the gosple throughout the
world.
Rev. Mr.. Knapp followed with an
address dealing especially with the
work of the American Board in
Turkey. Each Of these has recently
adopted more democratic form of
government brought about very
largely through the activity of the
Missionaries for the past 80 years.
The American massacres, he said,
were after all, the means of bringing
great blessings. Quite recently the
country has become tolerant to
christians. giving these equal right
to education, teaching and the hold
ing of public Offices The country
now has the right of free presses and
free speech, which will help to bring
about still other needed reforms.
The speaker also told of the work
done by the hospitals. colleges,
or phan homes and other agencies at
work in. that country, citing many
incidents of the sacrifices willingly
made by the Christians of that
country.
The meeting closed with prayer
by the pastor.
4 To new subscribers The Age to
/, january !, 19l1, so cents.