St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-12-08
EVERY CHURCH VISITATION
Rev. R. A. Beardslee.
(From The Vermont Missionary.


Evangelism, and the Every Member
Canvas, has apparently been halted
for the present, save where arrange.
ments were already so far advanced
as not to permit of cancellation. The
. idea of the campaign is both good and
practicable; it realizes and fosters
fellowship on the one hand, and uni
fies and standardizes the denomina-
TONS work on the other. Where car
ried out, the plan has succeeded be-
yond expectation. A general report
of the work already done in Caledon-
ia County may be of value for the
guidance of those to be engaged in
subsequent operations elsewhere in
the State.
Persuant to appointment of workers
made by Rev. S. F. Bloomfield of Mont
pelier, and to schedule of engagements
made by Rev. T. A. Carlson of Peach
am, five churches in the County have
been visited during the first week OF
November. The five churches reached
in the five days were McIndoe Falls
Barnet, Lyndonville, Hardwick and
East Hardwick. The usual program
of single day began with a very in
formal forenoon conference with the
local pastor in order to acquaint the
workers with conditions. This con-
ference produced a uniformly helpful
Interchange Of problems and solutions,
Ideas and experiences, not the least
valuable element being a most happy
mutual mountaineering.
The afternoon meeting usually con-
sisted of a semi-informal conference
with the women of the church,-of-
Ulcers, teachers, workers in various
other activities, and members of the
home and foreign missionary societies.
In one case the visiting team addressed
the women of the Benevolent Society
gathered in a regular sewing meeting.
In some places there were men pres
ent also. The subjects varied accord
ing to circumstances; there were no
set speeches" Usually one of the
team presented the significance of the
church and it's life in the local COM
munity, touching upon practical ways
land means of organizing or working.
The other then spoke more by way of
emphasizing and cultivating the wider
Toutlook of the church's missionary
work. Question and conference fol-
lowed where desired.
The evening program was more
formal, being held, save once, in the
main church auditorium, and being in
trOduced with singing scripture-read-
ing and prayer. Music was also used
to intersperse and conclude the pro-
gram. In these evening services the
Speakers presented more formal ad-
dresses, one upon Foreign Missions as
related to the Church and the Nation
the other on that phase of Evangelism
which may be called Personal Work"
| In nearly every case there was am
pie opportunity afforded and utilized
for meeting the people socially. One
Gchurch served an oyster supper at
$3.50 o'clock. At another place there
were refreshments of sandwiches
cake and coffee served in the Vestry
after the evening service. Tours of
inspection about the various places
often afforded further opportunities to
meet the business men of the towns.
The churches visited represented
different types, but it was noticeable
that all, even the most conservative,
had adopted practically the Every
Member Canvas and Pledge system of
raising the budget for benevolence
and local treasures. Apparently this
system, with the Duplex Envelope for
offerings, is coming into general and
very successful use. Some churches
which have introduced notifications,
understand them to be temporary con-
cessions to a feeling conservatism or
adjustments to peculiar local condi-
tons. There seemed to be a quite I'M
animous opinion that the Every Mem
Der Canvas for pledges was fairer and
far more successful than the old hit or
miss way. A system which could
carry the treasures through the lean
times of the past two years. is worthy
of adoption and continuance.
The visitation work in Caledonia
County was done by both work ; be-
ing together in each place visited. AL
though practically every Congrega-
tional Church in the County applied
for place on the itinerary, this meth
Cd limited the number of places visit
ed to but five, and will necessitate a
second trip if the remaining churches
in the County are to be visited in the
same way. However, where the
workers are willing. this would seem
to be the best method, its effectiveness
far more than counterbalancing the
added time consumed for the team |
Splitting the team to cover more ter
ritory would certainly destroy the eff
fectiveness of their work, as well as
overload the workers. On the other |
hand, to subpoena additional chance
helpers would almost certainly tend
to lower the quality and effectiveness
of the work done. The team method
is the best method, and the practise
only heightens the effectiveness
Probably no team can cover the area
assigned in a single week, working as
a team in each church. If, therefore,
the workers are unwilling or unable
to give more than weeks time, the 4
territory should be divided into small
er units and other teams appointed.
Increase the time or increase the
teams, rather than split the team or
associate chance workers with it.
Greater effectiveness will justify not
only the workers taking more time
even at apparent personal sacrifice;
it will also justify the sacrifice of per-
sonal convenience entailed by work.
ing outside of ones own county. There
Is no honor for a prophet In his own
compared to that from coun-
~ where he does not reside. More
over, half the effectiveness of these
comes from the heightened
sense Of fellowship and unity produced j