Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-01-11
YEAR MOST SUCCESSFUL YETI
Reports at Annual Meeting of
Baptist Church Show 1t.
'h"rch Membership of 500 Largest in
i's HistOry--Itcv. DIR. Rrakcr Dis
cournEcd Ovcrturcs from
Other Church.

ne First Baptist Church has made
II net gain of 80 members during the
p"'t I'VE years, bringing the present
! 'otai TO about $50, the largest in the
| 'nur'h history. The actual number
OF new members obtained during the
! period was 3iS. This was one of sew
'ral 'trm" Of church progress reported
at the annual meeting Thursday The
/ pastor, tho Rev. Dr. James :. Rra<er.
oeiof" submitting his report, told those
/ present how another church, the First
hartlSt church of Portland. Me. had
sought MIN as pastor. pr Brakcr dis
/ c"ur1H"d tn" attempt. and will receive
a material increase in salary Ills re-
, port might he summed up in the
thought that 80 far as he know there
was no homo in his whole parish where
he would not wish to go. where he
would not j." welcome"
Tn" tr"asUrors rcport showed all
bills paid with a reserve fund in the
treasury with which to face the new
wear The report Of the advisory board
Was adopted. recommending that spe-
rial cvangelistic meetings be held in
the spring.
The superintendent Of tho SUNDAY
Fchoo' announced that the vestrv prop
or had been given over to the intcrmc-
7
the primary section having been
separated from tine main school in tho
opening exercises ANA the beginners
had been ~iyon separate room The
whole adult portion of the school mncts
in tn" church auditorium Since tho
change tn" school has grown in NOM
horShp. The summer school session in
which tho junior and Intermediate soc
tons united in the study of the modern
acts or tho apostles during the summer
months VIII he continued. Tho sccro-
tarN- treasurer reported increased mem
bcrshp.
Tho reports Of the womans mission
circl" and the young womans society
were fun OF encouragement.
The Baptist Young Peoples Union
had an average attendance during tho
last year the largest for wears. The
scope of tho work of society has kent
apaco with the demands of tho new de-
nominational activities Nothing has
been spared to mako the union the best
working force in tho church. Tho pas
tor has fitted in to the Young peoples
life like hand and glove"
Tho Ladies' Benevolent society has
had a banner year according to the re-
port made hy the secretary. While not
so many improvements had been made
as In the previous year therc are funds
on hand to carry out some Of the plans,
which will be done at the earliest op-
nortunitY.
Tn" report Of the finance committee
showed a most promising condition OF
church life Tho every -Incrubcr can
vass was tn" most successful OF the
three CauvaSS"S hold.
Tho committee felt pleased to an
uounCe that the church was not only
L. to say that tho church was pros
porous. but was glad to recommend that
tn" salary of the pastor be increased
ono hundred dollars. once before the
salary has been increased
The following were chosen officers
and committees for the year:
Moderntur tn" RcV. Dr. w \. Davi-
son; church clerk. Henry Il Vim: treas
urcr, -. II. Cameron: auditor. G. En-
most Curtis; collector. H. Arnold IIaigh;
deacon, Elmer T.. Bailey; sunday school
rotary-trcasurcr e. Ernest Curtis; ad-
visory board. WELLINGTON Sager. J. G.
Grant, j. i. Tousl"y, \. q. Ferguson, F..
a Spear. G. !. Ferguson: finance com
mittoe. T.. T.. Bailey. \. g. Crane. How
ard Crane. James e. Grant, G. Durrell
Simonds: membership committee, Hen
ry r. Hin, w. r. Laughton. J. D. Tons
ley, Mrs. \. Il Simonds. Mrs. Clara or
ton. Mrs 9. f. curtis. Mrs. w. a. Boyd.
committee on music. Mrs. George d.
Jarvis Miss Edith Brown.