The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-01-27

REV. CLARENCE TRUE WILSON, ID. ID.
be one of the greatest debates the peo
pie of Barre have ever had the privileg,
of listening to.
The Pasadena (Cal.l News gives tn,
following sketch of the life OF DR.. vii
son:
In the year 1895 tall, thin young
man, % years Of age, stepped from the
train in California. A native son gave
him a casual glance and remarked.
/ There is another one who viii go bael;
in a box
The man was Clarence True Wilson
ID. d.. now the general secretary Of the
temperance society of the Methodist
church, one of the seven benevolent
boards of that denomination. Even If
DIR. Wilson's life had closed on that day
| il would have been an eyentful one.
Born on the oath OF April 1872, at Mil
ton, Del, he had already graduated from
st. Johns college, Annapolis, Md, read
law, been ordained as the youngest elder
in the Methodist church at the age of 81,
and achieved considerable reputation as
a pastor of strong churches in Delaware
and in New York.
The kindly climate Of California re-
made him. Immediately upon his recov-
cry he became pastor of the North pasa-
dena church and during his pastorate the
saloons We're closed and the church mem
bership multiplied by four. He was
transferred to Santa Monica, city OF Is
saloons and four weak churches. With
in six months the saloons were closed
and the churches could no longer be
called weak From Santa Monica he
went to San Diego and accumulated hon
ors rapidly. He received the degree of
A. B. from the University of Southern
California, of Phi. B. from the San Jo-
aquin Valley college, b. ID. from the Me-
Clay College Of Theology. and d. d.,
from st. Johns college OF MARYLAND.
In 1901 DR.. Wilson became pastor Of
St Luke's, the largest church in New
ark, N j.. and from there went to Grace
church, Portland Ore. He was pastor |
six years at Grace and Centenary |
churches in that city, and during that |
time became lecturer of nationwide |
fame and one of-.he popular figures in
the development of the "Oregon Idea" of /
state government.
But DR.. Wilson's career really began /
in 1910, when he was elected field sec
rotary OF the temperance society of the
Episcopal church. The Meth
odist church is a gigantic affair and its
a wonderful piece of ma
,hinery. A board OF that denomination
should always be entitled to respect. but
the temperance society was i'm state of
In, CO. ~ L., !
name. DR.. Wilson entered upon his work
without an office or desk. or cent OF
ocular income, without much guarantee
Is to salary or expenses.
Then began stirring struggle with
ate. The doctor believed that the tenn
'eranee reform required the services of
regular board OF the Methodist church,
Imported in exactly the same way that
he mission work of the church is sup
'orted. He rented an office. furnished Z
he room at his own expense and began.
)uring the two years before the general
difference of 1912 he visited three
ourths Of the conferences Of Methodism. :
1any of them twice, lectHred, debated. Z
poke on street corners, in Sunday
chools, circulated 10000 packages of lit
nature and books, secured the signature
100000 people 10 the total abstinence :
ledge and raised considerable sums of
loney to aid in prohibition fights.
The society was made. The general
difference of 1912. by unanimous vote, q
DR.. Wilson's administration.
loved the headquarters Of the society to
opeka, Kan, and voted $4,000 APP
Drtionment as a yearly minimum for
$ support.
Since 1912, under the direction of DR..
'ilson, the Temperance society has cir L
Hated 50,O00,000 leaflets. its secretaries :
I'VE Travelled 100000 miles. a total alb. :
inence work has been organized among
,groes, publication has been estab.
she'd which goes each month to every
ie Of the 1900 Methodist pastors,
Tvs service reaching nearly every edi-
7 OF daily newspaper each week in
e year has been established and has
lined considerable influence, not less
an 20 notable surveys and sociological
ldies have been added 70 the perma-
Mt literature OF the temperance re-
rm. handbOoks textbooks for study II
Isses. volumes OF lectures and volumes
T popular reading to the number of
600 have been circulated, Sunday 4
FOOLS and Epworth leagues have been
yanized. and men have been addressed
railroad shops mines. lumber camps
sociological departments Of colleges.
Is estimated that Dr. Wilson has ad-
.ssed 10000 people during the past
n years.
The late Bishop David Moore put his
ger upon the keystone 81 DR.. Wilson's
nominal success when he said. eCiar-
e True Wilson not only has tact and
lr vision. but dauutless courage and