The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-11-18
CRITICISED STATE BOARD.
Rev. Duncan Salmond Spoke on Recent
Smallpox Outbreak

! speaking DeiOfe large congregation
in the First Presbyterian church last
evening, the pastor, Rev. Duncan Sal
mond spoke ON the recent epidemic ant
told of some of the redeeming featurr'
OF the quarantine period The paf
seemed to bespeak profound deg n
dissatisfaction with the attit
sumed by the state board of q "
also took fling at the SO ~ 'fn'
pulsory vaccination bill whi, foi
a hearing before a joint com sttee OF
the House and Senate. Ii was the first
evening service held in the church since
the ban on religious services and other
public gatherings was declared in the
early days of October and the clergy
mans timely remarks We're accorded a
large measure of interest.
Rev. Mr.. Salmond's sermon was taken
from the topic, "The Blessing of Small
pox," and for a text he selected the
words from the eighth chapter of
Romans, twenty eighth verse, which
reads as follows Then we knew that
all things work together to them that
know God" The pastor reviewed the
history of the epidemic and spoke of the
question which arose among physicians
concerning the true nature of the dis
ease. There were authorities who said
that it was smallpox and other authori-
ties, equally as good, he said who main
sained that it was not smallpox. Medi-
cine, he declared, had not proved its
claim to the name of science and it
seemed that the best way to learn the
truth would be to wait for Judgment.
Continuing, the speaker asserted that
so far as he could ascertain, the quaran-
tine had been exceedingly Impartial
big ado about nothing and amounting
to little after the second week, He re-
ferred to the crowded ctreet oars, aue-
tion rooms, football fields. weddings, sur
prise parties and largely attended pub
lie church wedding, supplying arguments
and proof to support his statement re-
garding the enforcement of the quaran-
tine
We We're told at the beginning said
the pastor, that the situation was most
serious. Our state board proved it two
days after the declaration. first by turn
ing the situation over to very young
doctor who confessed to little expert
enee with the disease; but be it said to
his credit that he has done his work well
and he has shown tact and skill for
which all citizens should be thankful. In
the second place, continued the clergy
man, the state board showed the serious
ness of the situation by shutting us up
aud then running away from us. They
gave us the long-distance treatment as
ong as they dared. But since self-pres-
,ryation is the first law of nature, we
should not blame anyone during the |
deadly epidemic" until compelled to, he
laid
Turning to another phase Of the situa-
ion, the pastor said that the so-called |
.pidemic, which resulted in closing down /
educational, religious ana social meet /
ngs for five weeks had not been with !
nut its redeeming features. The quaran- /
Inc has shown us the importance of the I
hurch in our lives. Says one man, !
Another miserable Sunday tomorrow, /"
md the invalid has missed the sweet |
music Of the church bells. Without the /
hurch, life would be unbearable to /
many in Barre, he continued. Again,
he quarantine has given US a chance to
raetice some of the Christianity which !
ge have professed. There was no quar-
ntne on friendly calls on the SABBATH,
isits to the sick and writing cheerful
.tters. These are some of the things we I
nd little time for in busy days Then /
gain. quarantine gave many of us
hance to live, to live without jumping
rom meeting 10 meeting, from club to
hub, from social function to social func.
ion, as in the past, until we We're al.
lost strangers in our own homes.
We can thank God for the chance to
et acquainted with our own children,
eclared the pastor. The quarantine has
roved that we can get along without a
pod deal of frieolity and nonsense. fac
,rs that occupy 90 large place in our
YES. at the outset there were many
aople in Barre who thought they would
e II they could not spend their Satur- ,
~ evenings in ball room. Such peo- ,
e are still alive and they have little /
ore vitality for going to bed early.
Latterly. the speaker referred to the |
mpulsory vaccination bill which is the ,
bject of large discussion at this time.
e favored vaccination, he asserted, but !
did not sanction compulsory vaccina !
on. He declared that the stamping out
smallpox as well as every other dead I,
disease depended more upon santa
on than anything else. .