Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-05-18

ton from the pastor Rev. George T..
TomkinsOn:
'To the Members of the First Baptist
Church:
"My Dear Friends: -Four wears ago
accepted the unanimous invitation Of
his church to become its pastor. These
ears have gone by very quickly. The
loyal cooperation and love which Won
have shown me are treasured beyond
anything | can express in words. II
would seem as if we could work on to.
gcthcr in perfect harmony for years
to come.
"llowcVcr, there comes time when
even your sons leave home at the call
of larger service and opportunity. !
have received unanimous invitation
to the passionate of the Oak Lane Bap-
fist church, Philadelphia The very
nature of the work to be done there ap.
pcals to me. | must accept this invita-.
ton. There is not the slightest doubt
i'll my mind but that the same Hand
that guided me at BrattlcbOro now
directs me to Philadelphia.
Therefore ! request that you accept
my resignation to take effect at a time
agreeable to both of us. | trust that
your prayers and sympathy may be
with me in my new work. | shall ever
remember you before our Heavenly
Father.
"Yours in His work.
GEORGE Il. TOMKINSON. -
Brattlcboro, VT, May l3, l9l7.'
1t was voted to refer the matter to
the prudential committee to make rec.
concentrations to the church.
Rev. Mr.. Tomkinson began his work
in Brattleboro Sept. ., 1913, and his
passionate has been successful to a
marked degree.
During his ministry 19l have been
received by baptism, 80 by letter, nine
by experience and three by restoration,
making Il total of 2G2.
The losses have been Al by letter,
seven by crasurc and 80 by death, max .,
ing total of 81 and leaving net
gain of ISL.
The present membership is G72 which
is the largest in the history Of the
church.
The Sunday audiences have shown n
decided increase, this being particu.
larry noticeable in the evening meet.
ing which has been made popular
With the growth in numbers there
has come substantial gain in the
amount of money raised for current eX.
penses and bcnevolcnce.
The church is in very sound condi-
ton in al its departments and is con.
Quoting Il vigorous work.
In the midweek meeting of the
church Friday night Rev. MIR. Tom
kinson announced that he had received
IL call from church in Philadelphia
and was seriously considering it, -
so his resignation did not come who'll
~ as surprise.
Rev. Mr.. Tomkinson states that
about four weeks ago he received a
call from the Oak Lane Baptist church
in residential section of Philadelphia
and that the outlook was so favorable
that he and Mrs. Tomkinson went
there last week to look the field over.
The church has about the same
membership as the Baptist church
here and it offers one of the two best
opportunities in the city. The resi-
Dental section in which it is located
is one of the best and it is growing
rapidly. A Sunday school hall has
just pccH Dullt anu pans nave Dc"U
made for new church edifice. Re
Gently one of the members presented
the church Il beautiful parsonage buIlt
of stone and containing II or L.
rooms, Connected with it are hand
some grounds with fruit trees
Rev. Mr., Tomkinson began his active
ministry with the Brattlcboro churcl
Sept. ), 1913, and during his pastoral,
the church has enjoyed period of un
usual growth, which Thc Phocni,
may have occasion to 20 into in {
more extended way later. lie was pas
tor Of the Central Baptist church il
Southbridge, Mass, from 1910 until h,
came here.
Rev. Mr.. Tomkinson is gradual,
of McMaster's university, Toronto
After his graduation he was assistant
pastor in the First church in Lowell
going from there to the pastorate OF
the Central church in Southbridge
Mass, from which place he came t.
Brattleboro.