Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-25

,mblem by earning points In educational, |
physical and social work. and 35 Of them |
also won the camp banner by extra
points; over 10 boys Joined the Silent
League; II learned to swim; q took in
struction in first aid to the injured; "a
were in the nature study class; 70 read
n book on sex instruction.; and 1W went
on some Of the two day hikes. Many
parents visited the camp and commended
very highly the manner In which 1t was
conducted. Tho annual reunion was re-
Gently held at Swanton and one OF the
boys who has been in camp several years.
in making a speech after the reunion
dinner, said: 1.-THE camp has been one
of the most influential, X not the most
influential factor in my life" Plans are
now under way for raising a fund for
new buildings. tents, boats and other ne
cessary equipment.
BOY SCOUTS.
The desirability Of uniting the Boy
Scout work with churches, associations
and clubs was early recognized. and the
State Secretary. who mas been made the
State Scout Commissioner. has given
somo time to their organization In the
state. The movement has peen found very
helpful. especially in the towns where
there is no Association. Al present there
are five local councils. six commissioners.
72 scout masters and about 800 Scouts
in Vermont. Parents. school teachers,
ministers and business men are observing
the good changes 1t is bringing about
among the boys and are commencing It
most highly.
CORRESPONDING MEMBERS
There are now liz Corresponding Mem
bers in the towns of Vermont where there
Is no Association, and their work has
been of much real worth. They have re-
ported to the state Office the departure
of 200 young men and boys from their
home towns and these have been follow
ed and loked up in the towns to which
they have gone and been definitely help
ed. This is work Of much value and all
its results cannot be known.
STUDY CUP.
Early in the fall the State Committee
purchased a handsome silver cup to be
used as an incentive to the Bible study
in the Associations, On May LIST II will
be awarded to the Vermont Association
having the best record in Bible study, In
proportion to its members, from Deem
Der LIST to May 1st.
VERMONT ASSOCIATION NOTES
The periodical. Vermont Association
Notes. has been published bi-mon thly
throughout the year.. containing records
! of the work that has been done through
out the state. and Judging by the compli.
nentary things being said about 1t, the
publication Is proving to DO Of value r
bringing the work ana the needs of the
Association before the public.
! CITY AND TOWN ASSOCIATIONS
The Association in the cities and large
towns have had busy year. 1t Is not
possible to have a very large work done
in any Vermont Association because o,
the lack Of large equipment large finan-
cial backing and a large force of employ.
ed officers. But perhaps when the fna
results are known they will be large in
the lives of the men and boys of Vermont
More and more the Association buildings
are being used by various societies for
their meetings and are the centers OF
the religious life of the towns
| At Bennington the year was closed with
all bills paid. Religious work has been
put first, with meetings and Bible class
es. while the physical. social and edu.
cational plans have no, been lessened
Bowling is still strong feature with the
older men. and a successful lecture course
has been conducted. The dormitories have
all been rented continuously and have
proved to he home to young men who
are away from home An addition to the
employed force is Robert Greer, as assist
ant
The Burlington Association observed its
18Th anniversary last May and its 46tl
year has been gratifying one and al
the annual meeting the current bills wer.
reported all paid. The religious work has
been good, with four sunday meetings a.
the theatre with an attendance of abou
200 men. besides other meetings anc
Bible classes. The physical department
has been extensively used and the soca
life has been helpful The work of tn,
boys department has been very success
full. The boys themselves have done rea
service and have demonstrated anew tn,
wisdom Of employing Boys Secretary
giving his whole time to leading them il
their work for other boys.
Island Pond. our only railroad Asso
citation. has experienced very busy year
(
on the Grand Trunk railway. many NOR
men have been using the building. which
has not been closed for one minute sine
its opening in 1904. The dor1nitories hav,
been used several times daily and man,
men have had to wait Tor beds. whil
the baths, lunch. game and reading room
have been actually lived in AS one en-
gineer said recently. 1t means more 4
us railroad men to have this Associa
tion here than anyone else can realize
We come in here cold. dirty. hungry an
tired. We get warm. have a good bath
cook our supper, talk little, perhap
play some game. and go to bed 1t
certainly Christian work the Association
is doing in so helping US.
The Montpelier Association has bee
hampered because of several changes Il
its employed officers Geo. A. Buck ha
been succeeded by Ralph O. Stratton a
general secretary, and other resignation
were Grover G. Buck. X. J. Charles an
+. Is Steer. Nevertheless, some goo
work has been done with the meeting
and Bible study, as Well as wi..i physical
social and educational plans. Recent
the flood did some damage to the build
ing and on April 10th occurred the dealt
OF +. A Sherburne, who has been vice
president for several years.
The Industrial association at Procto
has had "A busy year and closed with al
bills paid. The large Bible class for me-
has been continued, as well as one 70
boys. and occasional sunday Afternoon
meetings have been held, The four edu
cational classes for men of foreign nation
alities have been well attended and tn
al, ba