St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-04-16
down. 1t is now planning to have a
pastor all by itself.
The District Parsonage

down. 1t is now planning to have a
pastor all by itself.
The District Parsonage
Formerly when this subject was
preached, a 'sithe of discomfort as
Samantha Allen says, was almost
perceptible; now, however, we are
of good cheer. In a little over a year
and a half about $1,000 has come
in, leaving about $3.50 more to be
collected
Spiritual Progress
1.-The religious life of the church
cannot be so easily measured as
the material side. 1t does not yield
so readily to eternal tests. Yet, up
on the whole, l feel that the year
has been better than usual.
What we need in many places
is not better preaching, but more
people to preach to.
1.-The Epworth league is whatever
the local church chooses to make it.
It's chief value seems to
consist in furnishing social life for
our young people under wholesome
auspices. The Junior league, like
wise, does good work wherever eff
cient leadership can be found. Very
few of the laity appear to see the
value of training the youth.
"The camp-meeting at Lyndonville
was unique last summer, being less
extensive and more intensive than
usual. 1t will be kept up just so
long as there are such spiritual re-
suits as to justify it's continuance.
Second and Finally
Co. hoI Soma IF
experience in this state, including
two years on the district, l have
come to have certain opinions, yea,
convictions, concerning what ought
to be done. For a generation there
has been a very small yet definite
decline in church membership. One
careful student says as much as
five per cent. in 80 years. / should
say between two and three per cent.
At least we are not keeping up with
the growth of the state. The church
es lost faster in the rural sections
than they gain in the growing viii
lagos and cities. In face of this and
other difficult conditions, there is
very great need of a constructive |
program which will enlist the in
terest and enthusiastic support of |
every preacher in the conference. |
Such a program should contain the |
following points, which are men |
toned without regard to the order /
of Importance.
81. A deeper interest in and CO.
operation with, Montpelier semin-
airy our only conference institution.
2. Sustentation, which includes a
better pastoral support.
again, the salary question is vi /
tally related to the rest of the prob
lem. Last week we read that the
New York East conference voted
$500 as the minimum for unmarried
and $1,000 for married preachers.
In the face of such action it is very
difficult to secure strong men from
our theological seminaries. Yet we
need some of them if we are to do
our share in the religious work of
the state. Our Baptist brethren
have large fund of a quarter of
a million, the income of which is de-
voted to helping weak churches.
-Four years ago, at Hardwick,
the late Rev G. w. Hunt, a far-see-
ing man, initiated the organization
of a sustentation society. The annual
collection for it has gradually in
creased, but as yet not a dollar of
has been given. 1t is
high time to stiffen the spine of this
society by putting it upon a more
basis.
"a third point that should be in
our program may be named, Meth
Odism's Spiritual Advance When
Methodism becomes static and
it is shorn of its dis
-inctive power. The Son of God
goes forth to war; and so must we
if we follow in his train
Are not the increased efficiency of
Methodism and the salvation of our
share of unevangelized Vermont as
important as the search for the
north pole? Yet what numbers of
men, what splendidly equipped ex-
petitions have been lost in that
quest. If the battle be worth while
It were a joy to die in it. If there
are towards in heaven they are not
visible near the great white throne.
The lure of the difficult has created