Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-09-29
GIFT BY LOCAL CITIZEN
Henry Bond Gives 81, 600 to Send
Ministers to Conference
Baptist Clergymen to Go to Boston -
j. N. Barss of vergennes New Presi-
dent of Baptist Convention.

A munifcent gift by a Brattleboro
man came as climax to the annual
meeting of the Vermont Baptist State
convention in Chester Wednesday. Hen
ry Bond of Tyler street, the retiring
president of the convention, at a meet.
ing of the convention board at noon
gave $1,000 to pay the expenses of
every Baptist minister in Vermont to
attend In Boston during Evangelist
Sundays campaign in November con.
ferences with specialists on church
work during the forenoons and to at
tend the evangelistic services after
moons and evenings. These conferences
will deal with the problems of how
best to make the churches felt in their
communities and how to increase the
strength of the churches in various
lines of activity, including religious
work, finances, benevoences, etc.
Mr.. Bond declined reelection to the
presidency. These officers were
elected: President, j. N. Barss of Yer
gennes; vice president, A. J. Crane of
Burlington; secretary, Rev. F. s. Toll
man of st. Johnsbury; trustees, c. A.
Day of Cavcndsh, Rev. Henry Crook
err of Chester, DIR. II. ID. Holton of
Brattleboro, c. II. Henderson of st.
Johnsbury, T. S. Dickerman of Bristol,
Rev. j. S. Brown of Manchester and
Rev. w. G. Towart of Bennington.
In the session Wednesday Miss Hilda
F.. Pratt of Bennington, a graduate of
Vassar, gave a remarkable address on
community service work. The incom-
ing president, Mr.. Barss, gave an ad-
dress on Vermont s Opportunity. Mrs.
George w. Coleman of Boston spoke on
the opportunity to help the new Amer
leans in an educational way. Mrs.
Helen B. Montgomery gave an inter
esting address on the world call, EN-
phasizng the oneness of the world.
Rev. DR.. Guy C. Lamson spoke in the
evening, giving as usual, forceful adj
dress. 1t was voted to have the next
convention in Richford.
A comparison of the past year 8
work with that of the previous year
showed a loss of one per cent in Ri.
BILE school enrolled members, a loss Of
four per cent in church benevolences,
an increase of two per cent in church
membership, an increase of four per
cent in resident membership, and an
increase of 16 per cent in contribu-
tons for local church expenses and an
increase of 63 per cent in the number
of new members received into the
church.
The churches raised for home expens-
cs Slopes and gave for benevolence
S1S.S2O, which is a fine showing: Inc
income from the permanent funds ana
tbe contributions from individuals ana
churches has enabled the Baptlsts to
snend sol 1913 in the state of Vermont
the past year. This money has been
used to aid feeble churches, mostly In
the rural communities, many of them
where no other church exists, also to
emplov colporteurs, Sunday school
workers and evangelists and misslona-
ries among the Swedes and Italians.
Treasurer Howard Crane of Burlington
closed his books last week with all bills
Maid and a small balance in the treas
ury.
Interesting sessions were held fore
noon. afternoon and evening Tues
dav. with address and sermons by
prominent clergymen and laymen. In
the business meeting of the Young
Peoples society the following oihcers
were chosen: President, G. A. Bixby OF
Poultney; vice president, D. W. Felch
of Brattleboro; secretary, j. IL. Black
burn of Fair Haven; treasurer, oscar
is. Peterson of Castleton; auditor, Ar
thur Crane of Burlington.