Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-05-09
HEWITT. THE MAN, HIS WORK.
Nine Years in One Rural Church by
Man Known In Orleans County.

Rev. A. w. Hewitt began his tenth
year of service in the Methodist
church at Plainfeld, May 1. Because
of his acquaintance in Orleans coun-
ty and his service in the church at
Glover, the Monitor is pleased to
quote from Barre paper the follow
ing regarding Mrs. Hewitt's work In
that place:
When Mr. Hewitt came to Plain
field In 1903 there were 127 members,
of which number 81 have died or
moved away a loss made good by the
reception of SO into full membership,
besides the IL probationers now on
the roll There have been So baptisms.
The last time an average was taken
of the Sunday morning congregation
covering a period of several months,
it numbered 131. Twice within
month chairs have had to be brought
in to seat those who came to prayer
meeting on Wednesday evening.
In 1908 the pastoral salary was not
only small and inadequate but was
paid in a very dilatory way. A new
business system has increased the
salary by so per cent and pays all
bills when due. The money is now
readily subscribed and easily, in large
part automatically collected. In adj
dition to this the people have been
able during the pastorate to expend
on their church edifce, it's grounds
and parsonage s., 446, of which only
$214 now remains to be paid, and this
to fund owned by the church itself.
While the church has been steadily
growing under Mr.. Hewitt's leader
ship, he has studied great deal, and
has been able to write many articles
for the leading magazines of the
country which have attracted the at
tention of educators and leaders and
Christian workers everywhere. He
has twice represented his town in the
general assembly and in 1915 was ap-
pointed a member of the state board
of education.
While he has lectured on various
subjects throughout the state and
New England, probably the most i'm
portant work that he has been doing
is in his addresses before theological
schools and colleges on the subject of
| Country Life"
Among some of the more impor-
tant engagements that he has filed
during the past year are the follow
ing: He lectured at the information
al Y. M G. A. conference at Silver
Bay; was principal speaker at the
country life conference Of the New
ENGLAND and middle Atlantic states
in New York City; lectured also be-
fore Hartford theological seminary,
Berkeley divinity school at Middle
town Conn, Union theological sem
mary in New York City, Drew theo-
logical seminary at Madison, N. j.;
spoke three times at Augusta, Me-,
| during the conference of legislators
and educators and religious leaders
covering the whole state of Maine;
was one of the four speakers at the
inauguration banquet of President
Speare in Boston.
In every instance he has had invi-
tations to return. By special invita-
ton of Bishop Brewster he spoke be-
fore the clergymen of the Episcopal
an diocese of Connecticut and is en-
gagged again for lectures at Silver
Bay and at the summer school of
Boston university school of theology.
In all his travel and the attention
accorded him abroad, he always re-
turns to his church and people the
same sweet-spirited pastor that he
has always been; he brings to us ac-
counts of his travel and experiences
that are instructive and interesting.
The stewards and members of the
church and all citizens are sincerely
appreciative of his return to US for an
other year and we extend to Brother
and Sister Hewitt a hearty welcome
and wish them another prosperous
| year in Plainfeld-F'rom stewards
and members of the Plainfeld M. E.
church.