The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1911-10-20
THREE SPLENDID ADDRESSES.
Many Heard Rev. F. l.. Thompson az
Methodist Church Sunday.


Rev Fayette l.. Thompson, d. ID. OF
New York city, general secretary oil the
Methodist brotherhood and associate cam
naien manager Of the Men and Religion
| Forward Movement, gave three interesting
addresses in the Methodist church Sunday
morning, afternoon ndevening. DIR. Ihomp'
son was the guest of honor at reception
and banquet in the vestry given Saturday
evening by the brotherhood. During the
simmer hour he asked and solicited cues
ltions in regard TO brotherhood activity
and cited many interesting and remarkable
examples coming under his own observa.
ition. The guests went away feeling that
| they would hear something Of value to
men on the following day and in this they
were not disappointed. The vestry OF the
church where the reception was held was
deliberately decorated with autumn leaves
and ported plants, A sumptnous suppe,
served by the Ladies' Aid fully sustained
| the reputation of that organization as
caterers.
An unusually large audience greeted DR..
Thompson in the church Sunday morn,
ling, In introducing the distinguished
clergyman the pastor Rev. f. a. Wells,
said: 1--WE have felt for some time that
we needed waking up bit; We knew. OF
no better place in which to find that stim.
| illus than the west, the land OF earth
louakes, cyclones and tomadoes and we
| knew of none in all that strange and terri
BILE land better fitted to do II than DIR.
Fayette l.. Thompson now of New York
but formerly of the great state OF Mlchl'
gan"
DIR. Thompson took his text from. Acts
| 4: 4, "Iowbeit, many of them which heard
the word believed; and the number OF the
men was five thousand" He showed the
prominence and preponderance OF men IN
the early church but placed emphasis not
on the quantity but the quality OF the man
hood of those early times, They we're men
who believed something, men OF convie-
tons. They were not only men who belev-
ed but men who acted as il they believed;
men who translated their belief into life,
their theory into practice and that, too,
with a vengeance.
DIR. Thompson said this is true in every
other branch of life but the religious. In
this branch they have somehow come to
regard their religious beliefs as something
vague and nebulous. and incomprehensi-
ble-mere intellectual and emotional pas
times. Thus regarded they are left for the
women and the babies who have the time
and the disposition to indulge them. The
gospel is not theory but program; not
a scheme but a campaign. In business and
professional life men not only believe but
they act as if they believed As an illus
tration DIR. Thompson said, "Brattleboro
has always been the most familiar name of
any town in the United States to me.
Why? Because that name was over the key
board of little cottage organ in our home
in Michigan Now Jacob Estey believed
there was big money to be made in the or
gan business. He acted as if he believed it
and the great Estey Organ works, famous
throughout the country, is the result.
Like instances might be cited ad infinitum.
A bunch of 100 men, or 80 men, or even
dozen men, who believe--men of convie.
tions-can accomplish wonders. The ser
mon was stirring and forceful appeal to
the manhood of the age.
At $50 o'clock Dr. Thompson addressed
an audience composed Of men only made
up from the various denominations of the
town. About 100 were present. All of
the Protestant churches of Bratteboro
were represented. Dr. Thompson dwelt
upon the Men and Religion Forward Move
ment He emphatically declared that he
believed the movement would be epoch
making; that men of the not far distant
future would look upon this great upris-
ing of men as we look upon the Reforma-
ton. DR., Thompson said the movement
providentally launched is Gods appeal,
Gods call, to the men Of this age. 1t is as
| if God was saying to men 81 have poured
into your lap riches and blessing beyond
those of any age Of men living upon the
earth; now give me back manhood to
match my mercies-a manhood to match
the age"
In the evening Dr. Thompson spoke to
an appreciative audience, his subject be.
ing The Methodist Brotherhood, Its Or
ganization and Work He cited many con-
crete examples of the value of brother
hood to a church and made bold to say
that such brotherhood was the most diff
fcult organization to launch successfully
but when once launched it would prove the
most valuable organization of the whole
church, He said at will solve the finan-
cial problem, for the man carries the bag
and bears what is put therein 1t will
solve the boy problem for the boy follows
the man 1t will solve the home problem
for if the man is religious the home will
be-"