Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-02-23
BRATTLEB0R0 LOCAL
BANQUET AND ADDRESSES.
Congregational Men Dine Through Gen.
erosity of George L. Dunham-Rev.
F. w. Merrick of Springfield Speaker

F. w. Merrick of Springfield Speaker.
Through the generosity of George L.
Durham, superintendent of the Congre-
gational sunday school and teacher of
the Brotherhood class, the men of the
CongregH tional church We're given
first class banquet in the Brooks House
Tuesday evening and were afforded the
great privilege of hearing an address by
Rev. Frank w. Merrick, ID, pastor of
Faith congregational church in Spring.
field, Mass, and brief remarks by local
speakers. About 40 men were present
and the occasion cannot fail to result in
quickening the interest of the men in
the activities of the church. 1t was a
very satisfactory meeting in every par
ticular.
Shortly after s o'clock the first course
was served, and over an hour was oc-
cupied at the banquet which was deli
cious and a credit to the hotel. At its
close Mr.. Durham arose to introduce the
speaker, but before he could do so there
was spontaneous outburst of applause
from every part of the house which in
creased in intensity and was kept up
until there was no doubt as to its sig
niticance. Mr.. Durham expressed his APP
precia ton of the response to his invita-
ton by the men and introduced Rev. Dr.
Merrick from the city of churches"
DR.. Merrick spoke feelingly in memory
| of the late Leroy +. Adams who, while
| keeping MS TeSluenCe mere, was IN DuSl-
| ness in Springfield and at one time was
president of the Mems club in Dr. Mer-
| rcks church. The speakers theme was
| Renewing religion" and he spoke
straight from the shoulder. I'VE have
been remiss," he said lin allowing the
women and children to do what we call
! the religious act, while we pay a little
pew rent" Then he proceeded to show
that religion is a human interest, not a
| luxury or frill or option in life. In a
/ high ethical sense religion is the oldest
! interest of human kind. 1t is the most
| varied interest and may be manifested in
crude symbols or in the highest form of
| Christian expression. Not only that it
! is the most permanent interest of human
| kind.
In its spiritual sense religion is mani
| tested in the personal touch and contact,
| as a ma tier of the individual heart. In
| Its organized sense religion is the church.
| The live church is the church that men
go to, where the stranger is not ignored,
| but welcomed in the name of Him who
bore the cross. I'VE have been making
| a mistake" he said, lin saying that re-
/ ligion does not consist of going to church
and prayer meeting. That is all fool
| talk and goes long way toward empty
ing the pews. Worship is a large and
vital element in religion, and the man
or woman who is the most worshipful
other things being equal, will do most
| In the community to make vital the
| things for which the church stands "
Down deep in the heart of every man is
craving for fraternity and sympathy,
and when a man sees real fraternity i'm
the hearts of men he is going to ally
himself with the organization to which
| they belong.
The speaker alluded to the great work
| of the men and religion forward move
| ment and deplored the lack of interest
/ which certain ministers manifest be-
! mistaken hot ba
| movement has a commercial aspect 1t
! is as echo of the old Rockefeller contro-
versy, he said. Certain ones manifested
the same spirit when Faith church re-
Gently made a canvass for funds for
new building. He said he had no OBJ
jections to receiving funds from any
source. Hold them under a faucet or
fumigate them if necessary, but use them
for the glory of God and the salvation of
men. Dr. Merrick closed by emphasizing
the fact that when religion is renewed
the town is cleansed, the world over.
During the banquet Leitsinger's or
chestra rendered particularly pleasing
music and after the address the Brother
MOOD male quartet sang a selection and
encore, Then Mr.. Durham asked Attor-
ney Clarke C. Fits to speak on the
license question Mr.. Fits did so briefly,
stating that the license forces were dis
organized, that normally large majority
OF the voters We're against license and
that all that was needed in Brattleboro
was to keep up to concert pitch and for
every no-license man to constitute him
self an individual committee to go to the
.. polls without fail. Twelve churches and
no saloons, he said, was a great adver-
tisement for Brattleboro.
Judge James NJ. Tyler expressed very
kindly sentiments toward Mr. Durham
voicing the feelings of all for his gener-
Gus and kindly act in inviting them tc
be present He also spoke of the in
creasing attendance at church and OF
the satisfaction it afforded Rev. Mr.
Houghton. In this connection it might
be said that the attendance last Sunday
morning, evening and in Sunday school
exceeded 900. Judge Tyler said that al
the churches in Brattleboro stood fol
high things and that it was the obvious
duty of people to attend their services
He closed with a tribute to Rev. Mr.
Houghton.
The last speaker was Rev. Roy NJ
Houghton. He expressed his deep APP
probation of the manifestations of loyal
ty and his joy for the increasing sym.
pathy and support mo part of us /.
deeper than our religious nature" h,
said, land it can be gratifed only by
worship" He said that If life did no
grow better and richer there was some
thing wrong with the life, and he CLOSED
by quoting an appropriate sentimen
from Browning The singing of America
brought the meeting to a close,