The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-01-11
SEES IMPROVED CONDITIONS.
Joseph A. DeBoer Declares Men Are
Showing More Interest in Right Living.

7 / ~"tA6 N'ApAN AhhSASob AZ @NiEhl AAfAhb'
Before the members Of the Pilgrim
brotherhood of the Congregational
church and large gathering of their
invited guests from among the men OF
other churches in the city, Joseph A
DeBoer of Montpelier gave an interest
ing informal talk in the vestry OF the
Congregational church last evening. The
| speakers remarks We're largely concerned
with some of the fundamental teachings
| OF Christ as they may be applied by the
modern man to his religious, business
and political affairs. In prefaeng his
remarks, Mr.. DeBoer touched upon the
coming election of governor for Yer
mont. passed briefly over the fact of his
candidacy for the nomination of the Re-
publican party. reiterated the standpoint
which he assumed some time ago, and
| incidentally called attention to some of
the defects of the present system under
which man is chosen to be party
candidate and secures the nomination in
the state convention.
As Mr.. DeBoer entered the vestry, he
was rendered a rousng ovation by the
whole company present. Guy Il. Var
mum presided and prior to the address
William II. Robertson sang two solos,
accompanied on the piano by Miss
Gladys Gale, and A. w. Allen gave
humorous reading Both contributions
to the program were loudly encored IN
introducing the speaker, Mr. Varnum
said that the brotherhood and guests
were privileged to hear one whose record
amply qualified him as being among the
best business men in the state and ex,
pressed belief that good majority
OF the company present would soon en-
JOY an opportunity offered to cast a
ballot for him. While the speaker was
reaching his feet, another enthusiastic
round OF applause greeted him.
Apropos the brief reference to political
conditions in Vermont, Mr.. DeBoer re-
peated his statement that the mention
of his name and the active efforts of his
friends in putting his name before the
people had come to him as a surprise.
He deplored the condition extant N the
state which calls for an expense in hold
ing political conventions and said thai
he was personally opposed to any nm
seemly scramble Tor Office Under pres
ent conditions, said Mr.. DeBoer. AN cS-
pense is involved in getting delegates to
the convention, and after the convention
is duly organized additional expense is
incurred in making the body proceed
along the right lines.
Launching out upon the topic chosen
for the evenings address. the speake- |
said that conditions to-day, compared |
with those which existed twenty years |
or more ago. are manifestly better. Men |
are exhibiting an increased interest in |
right living and right conduct. For this
transition, such forces as secondary edu. |
cation, pulpit utterances, vital activity I
in college life. Y. NJ c. AS and lay
mems organizations have all played their /
part. But back of ii all seems to he /
the fact that men are coming to II better |
moral observance of some of the great I
underlying truths There is greater /
premium placed on the ability Of a man I
to distinguish right from wrong than
ever before.
There Is less hypocrisy than in days
past. said Mr.. DeBoer Doctors, law
yers and newspaper men are going TO
greater extremes than ever before in
their search for truth There seems to
be a concerted effort on the part of men
i'm every walk Of life to seek out tie
truth and bear il up. Truth means prog.
ress; and conservative progress is 4 sen.
sihle proposition at all times. Man rs
the product of his environment and
through his own efforts to find the things
that are true, the mental lines of his
are constantly enlarged.
Before the coming of Christ there was no
advance. His advent meant Che
reshaping of a world by new thought
His teachings are inst as applicable now
as in the past. That divine message
which says 1T is more blessed TO give
han to receive" is the very law of serr-
ce. Its manifestations are multitude
nous and no closer or worthier applica-
lion Of the principles OF Christ can be
made than in our daily relations to the
,oor and those less fortunate than our
ielves.
The speaker closed with an appeal for
rreater regard for these everyday teach
ngs of Christ and said that in years TO
ONE their best gift would be the mem
nv of their incentive to the service or
hurch, town, state and country, Mr..
)eBoer again received a round of APP
,lause at the finish and rising vote Of
hanks for his excellent talk was given [
" the gathering. A solo by Mr., Robert
on and reading by A. w. Allen
the program to an end. The
vening was brought to happy close
shen the entire company retired 20 the
ining room, where dainty lunch was ]
A I. Il. I