Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-09-23

|
out OF a population of 2,276, counting
ms attendants oil who go one third of
the time or more. Springfield which
proclaims itself the most rapidly grow
Ing town. had 66s church attendants
out Of n Protestant population of g.
7O2. Weathersheld, which may be
called typical farming town divided
into several villages and hamlets, had
19S church attendants out of n Protest
ant population of 1,O1s. Weston. a
mountain town with a Protestant pop.
ulation Of 622. had 90 people who went
to church at least one Sunday in three.
Our own study shows that throughout
the state from one-third to one-half
Of the population 80 not attend a
church once Ir six months. All fig
ures show q constant tendency for the |
worse.
The church has been preaching the |
same gospel; our pastors are the equal
of their predecessors Is II not posi-
BILE then that we should take hint
of a needed change of methods for
adapting the church to it's new en-
vironment?
In no instance is the school a social
center for the community In only a
training. agriculture and home econom-
les taught Their moral condition
is reported to he excellent with a few
| exceptions. Libraries are an efficient
| agent for good and exist in most COM
munities. Clubs and fraternities are
everywhere. One village of less than 2Uo
| reports over GO such organizations. Wom-
ems clubs often discuss social questions
| Ind taka ri L., Eos ;o1 hot
terment. undoubtedly to a greater de.
gree than organizations Of men.
| Poverty is not a serious problem in
the country and relief is generally
prompt and generous with the churches
doing their part. In the large villages
and cities 1t is otherwise and much
criticism is due. About one person in
twenty-five requires assistance in Bur-
lington and Montpelier. In no case is
effort made to find or remove the
| causes.
Delinquency Is a crying evil in Vermont
and no false modesty or pride in our
State should close our eyes to It's serious
ness.
With population practically stationary
for the past twenty years our penal in
situations have more inmates than ever
| OOAOA WAtl q Puioio ohu piOpa-
ton system having in its care nearly
a thousand persons convicted Of crime
who would otherwise be confined.
Divorces have increased from one to
nineteen marriages in 1890. to one to
ten marriages in recent years,-a greater
proportion than the average in the United
States In addition there are the great
number Of assertions which do not reach
the courts.
Suicides during the past five years have
varied from "A to 70.
One million dollars. or over 50 for every
man. woman and child In Vermont. will
be spent in this State during the present
biennial term for crime. inebriety. mental
deficiency, and insanity.
How really bad the situation is in
Vermont cannot be ascertained owing to
and other records are kept. A trained
Investigator assisting this commission
reports after q six months study Of court
and other State records that 1t is rracti.
cally impossible to obtain from them any
comprehensive or accurate information.
These figures are not the measure OF
the delinquency of State. The number
incarcerated for violating the laws and
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= thermometers Indicating the moral tenn
3 perature in that community. The
: adultery represented in the house of cor
n rection and State prison is but small
Q percentage Of the adultery that exists IL
n the State. Fornication as 1t Is repre-
scented In the State Industrial school 1!
Y but a meagre percentage Of the fornica
; ton In existence, and under the presen
y laws, fornication can be safely carried
= on in the fine residential districts Of an!
n town in Vermont.
g The church in Vermont is not taking
: the leadership in the community which i
v once had; it is not attracting and holdin.
d the red blooded young men and women o
: Its constituency as 1t once did-forgettint
n that even In Vermont institutions as vel
= as individuals must keep moving Il
d order to be stationary" that we worshi
>. living God who grants to each gener
C alton the high privilege Of new tas
q and this new task requires new methods
70 For the proper leadership of the churcl
e In this. It Is automatic that pastors ant
n officers must know their community. Tina
n many Of them do not is the reluctant con
Il clusion forced upon your commission afte
% two years of careful study by evidenc
Ia overwhelmingly conclusive
lie For the coming year we recommend an
ask your cooperation in the following
ID some Of which are unfinished task
q brought over from last year:
10 First. The organization in our churche
" Of mems unions and brotherhoods 1t
\. tremendously important that the men I'm
Is dertake this work Of applied Christian
ity.
g Second. That the larger churches in tn
n denomination whose strength has bee
Or drawn 30 largely from the rural dis
1t tricts-help their smaller sisters in all thel
" activities by the direct work and pei
~ sonal touch Of its members. This Is
Is task at hand for the mems organizato
T. just recommended.
Is Third That pastor and church leader
g. strive In every way possible to promot
e. cooperation and cooperative enterprise
SO among the farmers Of their community
IN thus bringing about in business IN
le brotherhood which the church has so Ion
SO preached.
d. Fourth. That every effort be MADE
x create a public sentiment which shall er
ty sure tho passage by the next Leg1slatur
G. Of laws protecting the marriage rnlatio
he by providing the publicity or delay be
err tween the obtaining of n license and tn
ceremony. for preventing fornication, fo
Ed the better making and more systemat1
OF keeping Of court and other records or ct
OF linquency. and for the thorough invest
IS cation of crime inebriety, mental del