The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-05-02
NINE YEARS SERVICE
IN A RURAL CHURCH
Advancement of the Church and Its
Pastor at Plain
fold

Rev. A. w. Hewitt began his l0tl
: year OF service in the Methodist Epis
copal church at Plainfield last Sunday
His text was taken from the 18th chap
ter OF Acts, the 18th verse, "Known untc
God are all His works from the beginning
Of the world"
The sermon was another of great pow
er to add to the many that his hearers
have been privileged to listen to in his
long pastorate. The attendance at all OF
the services on Sunday, l40 in the morn
ing, 81 in Sunday school and 70 in the
evening service, is evidence of the loyalty
and appreciation of the entire community
to his work among them.
Growth of the Church.
| When Mr.. Hewitt came to Plainfeld in
1908 there were l27 members, OF which
number 81 have died or moved away, a
loss made good by the reception of so
into full membership, besides the ii pro-
bationers now on the roll. There have
been So baptisms.
| The last time an average was taken of
the Sunday morning congregation, COW
ering a period OF several months, it mum
bered 1871. Twice within month chairs
have had to be brought in to seat those
who came to prayer meeting on Wednes-
day evening.
In 1908 the pastoral salary was not
only small and inadequate but was paid
in 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 addition to this the people
have been able during the pastorate to
expend on their church edifice, its grounds
and parsonage "a ,446, of which only S2l4
now remains to be paid, and this to
fund owned by the church itself.
The Man.
While the church has been steadily
growing under Mr. Hewitt's leadership
he has studied great deal, and has been
able to write many articles for the lead
ing magazines OF the country which have
attracted the attention OF educators and
leaders and Christian workers every
where He has twice represented his
town in the general assembly and in 1915
was appointed member of the state
board Of education.
While he has leetured on various sub
jects throughout the state and New Eng
land, probably the most important 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 important
engagements that he has filled during the |
past year are the following: He leetured |
at the international Y. NJ. c. A. confer |
ence at Silver Bay; was principal speak
er at the country life conference of the |
New England and middle Atlantic states |
in New York City; lectured also before
Hartford Theological seminary, Berkeley |
Divinity school at Middletown, Conn. |
Union Theological seminary in New York |
City, Drew Theological seminary at Mad |
ison, n. j.; spoke three times at Angus
ia, Me-, during the conference of legisla.
tors and educators and religious leaders
covering the whole state of Maine; was
one of the four speakers at the Inaugural
ton banquet OF President Speare in Bos-
ton.
In every instance he has had invita-
lions to return. BY special invitation
,f Bishop Brewster he spoke before the
,lergymen of the Episeopalian diocese of
and is engaged again for
ectures at Silver Bay and at the summer
school of Boston university school of
theology.
In all his travel and the attention ac-
'orded him abroad, he always returns to
MS church and people the same sweet
pirited pastor that he has always been;
le brings to us accounts of his travel
md experiences that are interesting and
instructive.
The stewards and members of the I
hurch, and all citizens are sincerely ap- !
'reciative of his return to us for another
ear and we extend to Brother and Sis
er Hewitt a heart welcome and wish
hem another prosperous year in Plain &
eld.-From stewards and members of I
he Plainfeld NJ f. church.