The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-05-20
Declared Rev. Charles S.
Haynes to the Vermont
Congregationalists
IN CONVENTION
HELD AT RUTLAND
Salaries in Small Country
Churches Declared
Inadequate

Rutland, May 2D.-Wlth sessions OIL
the 10th annual convention of the YER
mont conference and the Goth annual
gathering of the Vermont Domestic Mis-.
sionary society, the Congregationalists
of the state had busy time here to-
day at the convention which opened yes
terday at the local church to last until
tomorrow at noon. The main confer
ence took up the whole day with the ex-
ception of two hours in the morning be-
ginning at 10 o'clock, which were given
over to the missionary workers.
Reports from tie national Congrcga-
tional council were given this morning
by Rev. BENJAMIN Swift of Woodstock
and Rev. A. p. Pratt of Bellows Falls.
This was followed by an address to the
missionary society by Rev. Charles s.
Haynes Of Merrimack, n. H., whose top
ic was estate Missionary Experiences" !"
He urged that family quarrels, neighbor>
hood feuds and politics be kept out OF
the church, saying that they were often
the primary cause Of dissension in rural
districts. A spirit of pull together" is
needed to uplift the country church, in
his opinion,
Miss Mabel IT. Winch Of East Airing
ton spoke most optimistically on encour-
agements received in field missionary
work, and Rev. Thomas Hall Of Island
Pond. who for 80 years has had expert
ence in revivals, discussed the theme,
"Revival Successes" He said that an
age of great revivals was at hand and
he predicted great accomplishments in It.
Rev. +. p. Treat of Pittsford was the
last speaker at the missionary gathering.
His subject was "The Problem of Lead
ership in the Country Church" His re-
marks had to do with the country pas
tor. He said ii was not reasonable to
suppose that good men could be obtained
at the present salaries paid. The desir-
able pastors ready to take country
church will be fewer and fewer each
wear. ,.,.-a...
AT the afternoon session OF the con-
vention proper reports were given as
follows: "Civic Justice" Rev. J. w. Bar
nett, Barre; "Church Federation" Rev.
Fraser Metzger, Randolph. Mr.. Metzger
said that the ministry were one of the
discouraging factors in the problem.
The clergy feel under obligations to their
respective denominations. There are
strong influences behind the pastors
which urge this attitude. Another con-
dition to be considered is the dissipa-
! ton of Christian forces due to segrega-
| tion, resulting in inevitable deteriora
tion. The evil of separation actually
alienates men from church. The only
way of church unity is by way of edu-
cation. This period is too enlightened
| for men and women to feel that convic-
tion cannot be affected when there Is
error.
| Rev. Charles O. Gill Of Hartland gave
an address this afternoon on PROBLEMS
of the Country Church." and Rev. Ernest
| q. Guthrie Of Burlington spoke on the
theme, How Can the Stronger Church
Aid the Weaker?"
| Rev. John M. Thomas, president of
Middlebury college, and Rev. j. N. Barss,
superintendent Of the Vermont indus
| trial school at Vergennes, will be the
principal speakers tomorrow.
! Rev. {. Il. Echterbecker of Quechee,
in his report on Sunday schools, said it
took nearly S2,500,000 to do the work of
the Congregational churches of Vermont
in 1918. There was invested funds to
the amount of S500,000 more, so that
the total investment was about S3,000,-
OO0 The additions in membership TO the
| 2l4 Vermont churches was LOGO, and
there were 9O4 removals, giving net
gain of GO members. The total member
ship is now 22,500. Not counting time
spent, it cost $4,9l6l4 to secure each
member.
Rev. A. P. Pratt of Bellows Falls gave
an encouraging report of young peoples
work. with recommendations. An ad-
dress on "The Annuity Fund for Minis
terial Work" was delivered by Rev.
Frank J. Goodwin of New York.