Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1918-05-01
METHODISTS IN An
NUAL CONFERENCE.
(Continued from Page One.)


1st over 23O men have been called to
the colors and have responded, and
five or six young women have gone
as Red Cross nurses. All from the
Methodist Episcopal constituency of
the st. Johnsbury district. Our peo-
pie have been active in all kinds of
war relief work, such as the Red
Cross, the Y. M. C. A.; Thrift and
War Savings Stamps, Liberty Loan.
In not few of the towns the leader
in all this business has been the
Methodist preacher"
Regarding joint worship with other
denominations because of fuel condi-
tions last winter, he said: "The re-
suits of this method have not been
definitely reported by all. The con-
sensus of opinion is to the effect that
under this method the Sunday school
and the church organization have
suffered. Especially has this been
church. l am still of the opinion that
tain next winter the better plan for
most of the churches will be to wor-
ship in the vestry and so adjust the
work that the efficiency of the organi-
zation will not be seriously affected.
"Contrary to what might be ex-
pected % charges have reported some
expenditures on church or parsonage
property. The most notable achieve
ment is at Glover where the old
church edifce has been remodeled
and made into a fine commodious
parsonage for the pastor of the fed
Grated church. 1t is now one of the
best parsonage homes in the confer
ence. There is a small debt, which
the pastor confidently expects will be
easily cared for. The pastor, Rev. G..
L. Wells, has shown leadership of a
high order in accomplishing this re-
suit. Our church at Craftsbury has
been thoroughly renovated at an ex-
pense Of about $1,000, all bills are
paid and the people are delighted not
only with the beautiful church audi
forum but at the wise and tactful
way the pastor, Rev. G. D. Pierce,
brought the plan to completion. Our
church at Barton was struck by light
ming last sumner and suffered damage
bury has reduced the debt on it's
property $4,000, the church at Lyn-
donville has practically wiped out the
debt on the parsonage by the pay
ment of $1,000. Newport has reduc-
ed the debt on that property by about
$4,000, partly owing to gift from
the Board of Church Extension
amounting to $1,000. About 5000 has
been spent on the district parsonage
made possible by the wise manage
ment of the property by the trustees.
The total improvements and debt Ii
quotation on the district amounts to
over $11 900 exclusive of the building
enterprise at Glover.
"At the beginning of the year
serious attempt was made to secure
more adequate support for the pas
tors on the district. The response
while not as generous as seemed nee
essary under the circumstances, did
help the situation little. About
$1,000 was added to the pastoral claim
of the district. Bloomfield, ST. Johns
bury, Derby and Craftsbury, added
500 each to the claim. Holland,
Island Ponds Peacham, Lunenburg,
Lyndonville, Walden, Albany and
South Albany, added $50 and Waits
River and Williamstown increased
the claim $25 each. This is not suf-
the pastors of the Vermont confer
ench and I sincerely hope that the
people will see fit to add thereto, at
the first quarterly conference. The
case does not need to be argued, it is
admitted"
"Have any souls been saved?
Surely. Barre reports % CONVEX
sions, Groton over 40, St. Johnsbury
Sc, Williamstown II, Danville 16,
Hardwick IS, Barton Ia, and other
charges report smaller numbers.
"Have there been increases in
membership? Again, yes. Barre p,
Plainfield 5, Danville Is, West AL
bany 2, Holland and Morgan 2, Will
Jamestown 16, Marshfeld 5, Hardwick
7, Woodbury. A, Craftsbury 1, Barton
8, West Burke 5, ST. Johnsbury Is,
and Groton will report large in
crease of probationers. Have all
charges increased? No. Twelve
charges report losses aggregating 60.
and five charges report no change in
membership From the figures given
me there should be an increase in
membership on the district Of about
SO.
Gin no other part of the work has
the severity of the winter and the
disorganization of the work through
fuel conservation been so manifest as
in the Sunday school. The primary
departments have been severely hurt
by winter conditions and the adult de-
partments have been handicapped by
the disorganization of the work
through fuel conservation.
"Where the senior and junior Ep-
worth League is given chance and
has a real program, both organiza-
tons are of real value to the church
and prove their worth without diff
Guilty. A new senior League has been
ORGANIZED rocont1v at West RI1rko
with good prospects for great useful
ness. Under the title, Young Peo-
pies Work, mention should be made
of the very excellent results being
obtained by some pastors in the use
of Boy Scout and Camp Fire Girls
Both these organiza-
tions give the pastor an opportunity
to come into close touch with the
young people under almost ideal con-
ditions and enable him to influence
the lives of the members for Christ