Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-30

Superintendent Lowe of the st. Johns
bury district said in part:
"A few weeks ago the parsonage stable.
and practically all of the furniture at
Bloomfield were destroyed by fire. The
plucky little society has taken steps to re-
build. Cabot has made interior improve
ments in its parsonage at a cost of over
500 Concord has altered and completed
the prayer room and dining room in the
church at an expense of over $500. The
church editice at West Danville has been
thoroughly renovated. The expense has
been over $1,000 all of which has been paid
or provided for. A reopening service was
held there last Sunday.
Since last conference Community
Church so-called. has been established
at Glover. Tired of being supplied from
neighborng town the people of Glover
petitioned for resident pastor who would
unity the scattered religious elements Of
their community. The Rev, Glenn Doug
lass was sent and thus far has run well.
Little Stannard has put a new metal
roof on it's church Hardwick has gotten
rid of the unsiehtly part Of Its horsesheds
and made an inconspicuous arrangement
Of the remainder. A good number of i'm
parsonage. Newport has an extensive
transformation on hand for which 5000
has already been subscribed Newport
Center has been the recipient of a new pull
pit set and chairs and the parsonage has
been lighted with electricity. Plainiield
after raising $1,000 last year has raised $500
more this year. At South Albany wien
our church was burned last spring the
oh Z
bought so that now all who so anywhere
to Worship gather under the same roof.
Waits River has repainted the church and
recovered the parsonage at a total cost of
$165 At Walden a pulpit set has been Sc
cured and al South Walden n new carpet
adorns the church. At West Burke an an
cient spiral stairway leading into the audi
ence room has been changed over, a new
roof put on and memorial windows pur-
chased St Johnshury has placed a ven-
tilstor in the church and a furnace in the
parsonage. Irasburg has entirely remod-
ellcd its parsonage doinga thoroush-going
piece of work. It has also built a new
stable, The cost is 5000, of which three
fourths has been provided for. Lunen-
burg has spent 1928 in placing a hardwood
floor in the church and another in the par
ing for its new parsonage with the excep-
ton of only about $3.50 and is making plans
to repair the church.
The little decayng church ut Jay has
been sold and shall ask authorization to
sell our church building at Westheld
OF SPIRITUAL WORK.
- confess that / approach the subject
with some trepidation rot because moth
ing has been done but because 1t is far
more difficult TO count twice horn men
than to enumerate material gains, and
when we think we are through we are
probably far out OF the way. In spite of
the ministerial changes a considera BILE
work has been accomplished. Despite it's
flavor OF antiquity positive good was done
at Lyndonville camp meeting last season,
One fine young man who had been con-
vcrted there two years before, decided on
the ground to enter the ministry. n has
since been granted local preachers liz
cense and is now engaged to supply a
church In enother State where he is at
tending college.
Although We have seen no revival OF
large dimensions there have been num-
her OF ascertained conversions. Much
valuable work has been done through
some modern organization as an organized
Sunday school class or boy scouts patrol
In era ftsbury we find at least, almost ideal
church conditions. The Presbyterians oc-
cupy one village, the Congregationalists
a second, and the Mcthodists the third
each church being responsible for all tho
people in its vicinage. The pastors unite
in having a boy scouts camp for the whole
town and practically every boy belongs to
1t. In several places Camp Fire Girls have
done much good.
"A Few churches have reached the 10
per cent. goal, but II would @ invidious to
mention them because other churches in
decaying rural sections have made a great
effort but can only report loss
"A number OF churches have voted to
Introduce the new financial plan and where
they have taken hold Of it with two firm
hands decided improvement has been
/ noticeable.
CHURCH FEDERATION.
The time has about come for frank
discussion OF the much advertised term,
! church federation There was a time
when was rather favorahly disposed
| toward federation, when | listened, OPEN
cared, to well intentioned theorists but
after three years of experience and OBJ
servation, ] must conclude that for the
most part, federation Is failure. The
oretically, II looks plausible for two or
three denominations to sink their differ
ences and unite under one pastor Prac.
tically, it does not work, Perhaps II
would II all the people entering into II
We're broad minded and intelligent. The
trouble seems to be that the amalgama-
ton Is mechanical rather than vital. The
people are forced together ON account
of circumstances rather than drawn to-
gcthcr through AN inner compulsion
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