Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-10-20
SPEAKERS OF NOTE
State Sunday School Convention
Will Close Tonight
Large Audience Assembled Last Even
ing for Dramatic Presentations
Miss Slattery Here Today.

The 4Sth annual convention of the
Vermont Sunday School association
opened Wednesday afternoon at 3
clock in the First Baptist church and
will continue through this evening.
Before the afternoon session was more
than half concluded the auditorium of
the church was almost filled, and as
many of the delegates were to arrive
on the late afternoon trains the large
attendance at the opening session
presaged an unusually large conven-
ton, which in fact was realized
Rev. William Shaw Of Montpelier,
president of the association, presided
at the opening session. Rev. Milton S.
Littlefeld, d. D., of New York con
cluded the opening service of worship.
l.. w. Hawley, superintendent of the
Baptist Sunday school for over 80 years,
was introduced and in turn introduced
Rev. George E. Tomkinson, pastor of
the church, who gave brief address
of welcome.
He said that he was glad to welcome
the delegates to a town famous for
many things, among them a factory in
built. He said that Brattlcboro is an
up-todate town and spoke of the evil
dences of new construction to be seen
on several sites in the business section.
He welcomed the association and the
delegates to the church and predicted
much inspiration for them in the meet
ings and cordial welcome and good
care in all homes where they may be
boip cta in
President Shaw in his brief report
of the work of the year extended his
thanks to the workers for their united
and untiring efforts, especially the field
workers He congratulated the asso-
citation upon its increased membership,
saying that they are closing the best
year in the history of the association.
There has not been time when the or
ganization of the work is in such good
condition as at present.
He said that the business of the
Sunday school, some teachers are be-
ginning to realize, is to instruct and
not entertain the pupils. The associa-
ton must strive for better teaching and
so organize the work as to extend the
influence of the Sunday school beyond
its present membership.
The address of the afternoon was by
John l.. Alexander of Chicago, secon-
Diary division superintendent of the In
ternational Sunday School association,
who spoke upon The Why of Evangel
ism in the Sunday School.
The three essentials of the Sunday
school, he said, are the Bible, the child
and the teacher and the most impor-
tant is the teacher. You cannot talk
AZ.
an instance of a large stock dealer who
mentioned his two boys to the speaker
and then said that they had gone to the
bad because one could not raise boys in
such community. At the next ranch
was woman who referred to her two
boys and said they were in a seminary
studying to enter the ministry. He said
that fathers and mothers are such only
in so far as they understand the inner
life of their children.
The, church is suffering, he charged,
with adultism. 1t fails to devote time
intelligently to the rising generation
The Christian religion, he said, is
caught by contagion. No one ever gets
it by being talked to death. Hence the
teacher who can transmit it to the child
is the most important essential of the
to remember that helps, he said, but
what:you cannot forget. Religious edu-
cation. is the giving of impulses for
Christian living.
Speaking of the young man who is
able to handle and interest boys and is
given charge of the large class but who
leaves the town and the class of boys
in the lurch because there is no other
NJ, IA; Ia 70 fol g ,,ln
he declared that God did not intend his
work to be done by stars or he wouldn t
have made them twinkle at night. 1t
is the business Of all connected with
the church and Sunday school to work.
The annual meeting of the Vermont
Bible society was held at o'clock with
brief, but interesting, reports by the
field secretary, Mrs. Edith Balch
Wright, and the treasurer, DR.. o. G.
Stiekney.
Mrs. Wright's report showed that a
total of / 1862 Bibles had been sold and
that there had been donated to the so
ciety and distributed 1913 Bibles.
The following officers were elected;
President, Rev w. A. DAWSON, ID. D..
of Burlington; vice presidents, II. w
Varnum Of Jacksonville and Rev. II
ID. hankln OF NeWpoftj recording secro
tary, Rev. James d. Sargent of North
field; treasurer, Dr. o, q. Stickney OF
Barre; auditor, II. &, Woodbury. OF
Barre; directors, A. NJ. Aseltine of Bur
lingtOn, Chester A. Bixby of Poultney
Rev. L, Grassland Of Barre, Rev. ID. $
Carpenter of Middletown Springs, A. b
Engren of Rutland, l.. w. Hawley o.
Brattleboro, w. b. Glynn of Saxton
River, John A. Greenwood of Chester
Smith F.. Henry Of Burlington, Rev. r
+. Lowe of st. Johnsbury, f. s. Peas
of Burlington, c. T. S. Pierce Of Yer
gennes, Rev. James b.. Sargent o
Mortified, H., A. Slayton of Morris
vile, Rev. William Shaw of Montpelier