The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-12-14
A STATEWIDE
CONFERENCE OF
BAPTIST CLERGY
Is Being Held at First Baptist Church in
Barre and Is Being Addressed by
Speakers Who Bring Inspira-
tion to Work.

| opSahNio "ho DtAib e"~f'
tion to Work.
The conference of the Baptist ministers
of Vermont which is being held in Barre,
was opened at the First Baptist church
last evening. About 10 ministers, repre-
senting most of the Baptist societies in
the state, are taking advantage OF the
hospitality of the local church to get to.
lgether and discuss their problems and
ideals, with the idea of mutual benefit to
all.
The program last evening was started
with short and prayer service led by
Rev. Stanley c. Reynolds of Passumpsic
At the close of this service Rev. George
II. Holt extended hearty welcome to
the guests in behalf Of the local church
and bade them consider themselves en-
tirely at home in the houses to which
they have been assigned, assuring them
that such was the wish of each of the
hosts.
Following the address OF welcome, DIR.
w. A. Dawson briefly outlined the work
Of the conference and announced the alb
sence OF the first speaker, Pres. Henry
Bond OF Brattleboso. A worthy substi
tute was provided, however, in j. c..
Robins of Saxtons River, the newly elect
ed foreign secretary of the American
Baptist Foreign Missionary society.
The subject OF Mr. Robins address
was, "The Resources of the Kingdom OF
God" The two most powerful resources,
according to the speaker, are principles
and personality. 1t is personality, backed
up by honest principles, that is the NOV
ing factor for good in the world to-day
and will always be as long as the world |
exists. Considering next the less worthy |
factor Of money, the speaker said that
the evidence of statistics showed that |
there is plenty OF money available for
the cause if only motive enough can be
brought to bear to secure its use. He |
cited instances where in Canada seeming /
ly impossible sums have been raised time I
and again to aid the cause of Great Brit
ain in the war and suggested that if an
equal amount of enthusiasm could be /
aroused over the work of spreading the I
gospel the lack of money would be a
thing of the past Men and women to
carry on the work are also plentiful If i
the right kind of influence can be brought
to bear to get them interested.
In regard to missionary equipment the
speaker called his audiences attention to u
the fact that the American Baptist So
riety is one of the largest missionary
in the world. Native churches
in non Christian countries are also to be
counted among the resources OF the Chris
ian faith. The great world movements
going on at the present time are likewise
4 i1inrY Ixr tl,a Of nd !
hitherto inaccessible worlds to American
md Christian infiuence. The two real
'esources, however. according to Mr.. Rob. {
MS, are prayer and consciousness of the !
presence of God. Without these two {
lothing else can avail. I
At the close of Mr.. Robins address the y
Iext speaker, DIR. Samuel G. Neil of Phil I
Idelphia, was introduced. His address 7
vas in the nature of an eyangelistic SER s
non. "We must preach and obey the a
+ospel, but above all, we must make il
ttractive," said the speaker A large
roportion of the people outside of the
hurches to-day are there because they
ave misconception of the true mean.
ng of the gospel. The frivolous regard
as thing which does away with all
be enioyments of life; the business man L
ngards IL as an obstacle to money get n
ing, and the young regard il as some
hing requiring large amount of self I
acritice with little, if any, return. II a
the duty of every Christian man and n
oman to show these people their error 1,
nd to speak and live the gospel so that 4
shall become attractive to all Man
always attracted by beauty. We must
Dt only give him truths. but give him
ttractiye truths TO arouse his interest =
The primary purpose OF Christianity is .
le redemption Of man, but YOU cannot
deem man with ugliness" was the
'eaker's way Of putting it. Laying due IN
ress on the beauty OF the spoken word. !;
le doctor said that the real way TO y
axe the gospel attractive was 20 live !,
in such a manner that your life should :,
an everlasting example of its beauty. 4,
kind word viii ~ farther than the 4,
~ argument, and a smile or a song u
III win more men 10 Christ than sar- M
sm and a whining voice. ~
One popularity Of the true work OF
e gospel is that Il never fails 10 trans. Y
rm the worker. and II man really -
'es the life Of a Christian be cannot 4.
Il 70 be affected by its beauty and w
nee have a greater influence over his !.
sociates. let your gospel 20 out 10 y.
2 people and DO not keep il within the ~
1r walls Of the church" was the speak
: iinal plea. ~