Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-17

probable value, s7O6. $50; parsonages, 107
probable value. slai,sC0 paid for building
and improving properties, sA2o7; present
Indebtedness church property 1880; pas
tors salaries sS1,976; received for con-
ference claimants. .l,s61; support of pas
tors, district superintendents, bishops and
conference claimants, sSs372.
ST. JoHNsBURY DISTRICT.
The report of supt Ralph r. Lowe of
the st. Johnsbury district was in part as
follows
With due regard to the homiletc habits
of our calling the following report is here
by divided into two parts: First, re-
cital Of facts and achievements on the
St Johnsbury district; and secondly,
some observations and recommendation
concerning our work in Vermont.
No great or striking changes have oc.
cured in northeastern Vermont during the
present year,
1t /, not uniting to note in passing.
that Of the four renchers in the last
Vermont Legislature two are from the dis
trict. The st. Johnsbury district stand.
ready to furnish any number Of able legis-
lators or to entertain tho conference in
perpetuity.
The most extensive improvements have
been in Plainfeld it was declared that
not thousand dollars could be raised,
but the superintendent had perfect con
idence in the varied ability Of the Rev
, Arthur Hewitt who has shown himself
to be equally at homo whether writing
poetry, preaching original sermons, joy
ously presiding at n mock session OF the
Legislature or with the keener scimitar
OF his wit. neatly carving some bluffinG
lawyer into transparent shrcds. About
, $4,000 has been expended and everybody
is perfectly satisfied
Bloomfield under the indefa lgable f. g.
Harris, has remodelcd the interior OF the
church. The cost will be about $50
The church at Danvillc and Al West Dan
\ VILE have each received small legacy
Of $500. At Groton now and elegant
clock. costing over 5000, ha, been placed
in the church tower lrasburg has ac-
cumulated fund OF about 5000 which will
> be used for repairing the parsonage when
D.. spring opens. St Johnsbury has expend-
- ed 81 900 in painting the church and par
sonage and in otherwise improving its
. property. Glover has just purchased a
parsonage at a cost Of s1.7Oo and wa. able
to pay half down. 1t is now planning to
. have n pastor all by itself
:, Formerly when this subject was preached
, a "sithe OF discomfort" MS Samantha Al
len says, almost perceptibe; now,
p however. we are Of good cheer In a
{ little over year and half about 1900
:. has come in, leaving about $500 moro to
10 be collected.
The religious life Of the church can
ii not be easily measured 4, the material
4 side. II doc. not yield 40 readily to ex.
~ ternal tests. Yet, upon the whole, | feel
10 that the year has been better than usual
!, What we need in many places is not bet
Al ter preaching but more people to preach
~ to.
N The EpwOrth League Is whatever the
ID local church chooses to make Of it. 1t.
ID chief value seems TO consist in furnish
n ing social life for our young people under
l. wholesome auspices The Junior League
T. likewise, docs good work wherever on
cient leadership can be found. Very few
: of the laity appear to the value o.
Y training the youth.
e The camp meeting Mt I.yndonville VA.
IF unique last summer, being less extensive
and more intensive than usual. 1t viii
be kept up Just so long ms there are sucl
spiritual results as to Justify its con
u tinuance.
- II is n pressure 10 record IIlhl the I'M
s. portance Of the Sunday school is growing
is In apprecin tlon. As superintendent OF or
a, ganizcd adult department for the Yer
IT mont Sunday School ns.ocia ton am con
stantly receiving applications for certii
lie Gates Of organiza tion, a large proportion
r. Of which are from Methodist Churches. I
is the recognized thing in all ~ our large
c' churches and in many Of the smaller one
Iar tVA1 ole ne
OF II can no longer be said that men do no
ke attend church.
After having had some years % CT
- porlcnce in this State, including two year
on the district, | have come TO have Ger
- tain opinions, yea, convictions, concern
" ing what ought 10 be done For genel
alton there has been very small We
definite decline in church membership. ON
" careful student says a. much a. Ave pc
Y" cent. in 30 years ! should say betwee
49, two and three per cent Al least we mr.
'cr not Keeping up with the growth OF tn
as State. The churches lose faster In tn
Vi rural sections than they gain in the grow
-, Ing villages and cities. In the race or I'M
~ and other difficult conditions there Is yer
-" great need Of constructive program
ny which will enlist the interest and cnthus
"''' TNPP'Il N every plfh'h'' - $50
ference Such n program should contal
u' the following points, which are mentione
JUS without any regard TO the order OF In
az portance
nee /, deeper interest in and cooper
'"s tion with Montpelier Seminary, our on
Az conference institution
"' Sustcntation, which includes DC
an ter pastoral support.
Ills ., .,..u
ola Again, the salary question is vitality
olo lated TO the rest OF the problem. La
NV, week We read that the Now YORK en-
,,on conference voted $500 as the mlnimu
% Tor unmarried and 1000 for marrl
- preachers In the face Of such action
n Is very difficult 10 secure strong you
ror mon from our theological seminaries
we need some Of them II we are 70
our share in the religious work In 7
State. Our Baptist brethren have a lar
the fund OF quarter OF n million, the incoI
+. OF which is devoted to helping we
on churches
r. -Four years ago, at Hardwick, the Ia
tied Rev. G, W, Hunt, a far-seeing man, II
ers; tiated the organization OF n sustentati
was society," The annual collection for 1t i
con- gradually Increased but ms yet not q
lson lar OF endowment has been given. II
or high time to stifen the spine OF this
ugh deity by putting 1t upon a more subst'
ates tial basis,
eplyI third point that should be in our p