The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-11-10
INTEREST IN MISSIONS
WAS QUICKENED
At Conference Which Was Brought To a
Close with Mass Meeting Held at
Opera House Last Evening.

! A conference of service, inspiration
and education among the Protestant
churches OF this city and nearby centers
came to close in the opera house last
evening with a big mass meeting. A
representative number of churches with
in l5-mile radius of Barre were inter
ested in the conference and many clergy
men from towns about were in the con-
gregation last night. The speakers were
Rev. G. G. Merrill of Boston and Rev.
j. G. Robbins, returned missionary
from the Philippines. Rev. Ralph F.
Lowe of St. Johnsbury, former pastor
of one of the city churches, presided and
the Congregational church quartet fur
nished music. Rev. Mr. Robbins topic,
"The Flag and the Church in the Phil
ippines," had peculiar interest for the
audience. Rev. Mr.. Merrill developed his
address more along inspirational lines.
His subject was, "Are We Playing at 1t,
or Are We Working at it,"
During the service, the quartet sang,
"The Radiant Morn Hath Passed Away"
by Woodward, and "Be Still Then and
Know That He Is God" by Dudley
Buck. The anthems We're among the
best devotional features of the program.
Added to the quartet music was the con-
gregational singing, some 500 people ris-
ing to join in such stirring missionary
hymns as Filing Out the Banner"
From Greenland's ley Mountain" "Je-
sns Shall Reign" and "The Morning
Light Is Breaking"
Nearly all of the city churches closed
their doors for the evening services, the
congregations uniting at the opera
house. just how tangible are the re-
suits of the conference, which began at
the First Baptist church last Friday,
cannot be definitely estimated, but
through it all there has been a notice
able quickening of missionary zeal
among the conferees. The conference
was one of 20 to be held in centers of
population here in Vermont as a part OF
a nationwide missionary campaign cal
culated TO bind the denominations closer |
together in common cause.
The Barre conference has been of par
ticular significance, since it was held in |
the week of two red-letter events in the |
foreign mission world. Those events |
were the centenary of the beginning of |
the American board missions abroad and |
the day Of prayer, Nov. 9, for the Mos
lens. While the conference was in prog |
ress, the speakers frequently referred to |
the missionary manifestations of the
week
Indications there were a-plenty last |
night that the cause of missions has re-
ceiyed something of new stimulus in
Barre. The congregation was quick to
accord each speaker its most careful at
tention. A silver offering was taken
during the services. Rev Duncan Sal
mond of the First Presbyterian church
read the scripture lesson and Rev. Il. f.
Newell, pastor of the Hedding Method
ist church. offered prayer.
"Are We Playing at It, or Working
at 1T" Rev. Mr. Merrill answered his
own question, for he reached the con
slusion that while the missionary move
ment has been going ever forward in
.he last century, there has been too lit
lie OF individual sacrifice. He instanced
one of the, larger denominations in
America that is giving only an average
# three and one half cents per member
,er week for the cause; aud vet this
ame church il in the forefront among
he foreign missions of American
hurehes. DR.. Merrill sounded call
or larger personal interest in missions.
lie urged that the spirit of brotherhood
'e cultivated with no better purpose in
lew than that il augment the mission
ry possibilities of each church.
/. The second speaker, Rev. Mr.. Robbins,
axe highly illuminative description
f the work which the churches are do
ng in the Philippine archipelago. Upon
he United States government and the
american people, he said. had devolyed
he two-fold duty of educating and !
a people that had come un-
er the sheltering folus of the stars and
tripes. His remarks We're of kind
hat could not fail to hold the interest. +,
n passing, the speaker paid fine trib- !
tie to the men who are giving their
YES for the cause of education and 7
in our eastern possessions.
ev. Robbins sounded message of hope 7
Or the Filipnos and asked that each
lurch in its own way redouhle its mis-
onary endeavors. The field is large
nd more missioners are daily needed to
ian the earthworks, was his concluding {