Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-10-20

The evening meeting wednesday was
in observance of the 104th anniversary
of the Vermont Bible society, Rev. w.
A. Dawson, ID. d., president of the or
ganization, presiding. For Is minutes
prior to the opening of the service the
church organist, Ralph M. Cram, gave
an organ recital that was much appre-
ciated by an audience that gathered
early to hear it.
The service of worship was conducted
by Rev. DIR. Milton S. Littlefeld, d. D.,
of New York, educational superin-
tendent for the East of the Congrega-
tional Sunday School and Publishing
society. This was marked by the sing
ing of the Hallelujah chorus by the
choir, accompanied by the orchestra of
the First Baptist Bible school and the
organ, and led by l.. w. Hawley. This
was pleasing feature of the session.
The first address of the evening was
by Rev. Charles A. Boyd, secretary of
the Vermont Bible society, and was H.
lustrated with lantern slides, showing
the methods of distributing Bibles in
this state and in other countries.
The address of the evening was by
Guy Potter Benton, LID, president of
the University of Vermont, who was
introduced by President Dawson as the
teacher of the largest men s Bible class
in Vermont.
DR.. Benton took for his subject The
Bible and Practical Life, and clearly
showed that the Bible was text book
for practical instruction in this time
He said that the greatest menace to the
church today was those who attempt
to substitute system of ethics for
true religion. Sunday services should
be used for the proclamation of religion
and not for the discussion of labor
problems and other questions of secu-
lar character. The Sunday school teach
er who talks on the "call of the coun-
try' or the "lure of the city, is
feeding the class on husks in which
there is no nutriment.
BY himself, without the true guidance
of the word of God, man is incapable
of leading the highest type Of life. Ev-
cry character in the Bible holds a les
son for the modern man.
He admitted that many teachers in
the Sunday schools are not prepared to
teach the Bible as it should be taught
and others lack the ability to make eff
fective the lessons to be taught. De-
claring that he had no patience with
those who seek to prove dogmas by
Biblical quotations, he said that any
thing could be proved by wrestling par
agraphs from their context and illus
trated by saying: "Cain killed Abel. Go
thou and do likewise. For of such is
the Kingdom of Heaven
Speaking of dreamers in connection
with the life of the world, he mentioned
Newton, Field, Edison, Marconi, Wash
ington, Lincoln and Jesus as dreamers,
All successful men and women are
dreamers, he declared, but they put
forth effort to make their dreams come
true. They are not to be compared
with dreamers who idle away their
time.
The Bible leads to content and future
hope only as the life of the person is
moulded after the life of Him who is
the only safe pattern and of which the
Bible is the only true and practical text
book.
j. Following the close of the meeting
there was an informal reception at
which all had opportunity to meet the
convention speakers.
Yesterday mornings session was the
"work' session, the last two hours
being devoted to survey of Sunday
school progress in Vermont and to de-
partmental institutes.
Rev. DR.. Littlefeld conducted the
opening service of worship at 81
clock. Rev. Arthur H. Bradford of
Rutland delivered an instructive ad
dress on The Pastor s Place in Sunday
School Evangelism. He said that the
main business of the Sunday school is
to make Christians and that every
thing in connection with the Sunday
school is to be judged as to its value
in proportion to its value in making
persons share the purpose of Christ.
The pastor place is first a place of
vision He must clearly see the direc-
| tion in which his Sunday school is
growing and keep all parts moving in
the right direction. He must be a man
of atmosphere, for the influence exert
ed is due in great part to the atmos-
phere of the Sunday school. He must be
a shepherd of youth and remember that
there are so many demands upon the
time of pastor that there is a tempta-
tion to shirk time that should be de-
voted to the youths of the Sunday
school and church. He needs to be an
understanding friend of the children.
The pastor s class and the follow-up
work in the winning of recruits to the
ministry and to missionary service are
other important factors in the rela-
ton of the pastor to the Sunday
school
Speaking on The Superintendent s
Place in Sunday School Evangelism,
C. S. Andrews of Barre said that, like
the pastor, the superintendent must be
a man of atmosphere. His individual
work with relation to each teacher and
each pupil has much to do with the
ultimate results gained by the Sunday
school of which he is the head.
John A. Greenwood of Chester,
speaking on the same subject, said that
the pastor and superintendent must
lock arms and that the combined in
spiration of the two leaders is required
to make Sunday school an effective
organization.
The survey of the Sunday school
progress in the state was conducted by
the departmental superintendent of
the association, each speaking briefly
Miss NJ. F. Stickney of Barre reported
on the elementary division, Rev. j
w. Chesbro of Bellows Falls on the
| sacondarv diVision Raw r. r. Lowe