The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1918-09-14
MINISTER'S
CONVOCATION
Second Day of the Middlebury
Gathering

Middlebury, Sept. 13-The second
day of the convocation of Vermont
congregational ministers at Middle
bury College opened with large at
tendance at the first lecture in spite
of the stormy morning. The first
period was given over to Prof. W.
E. Hooking of Harvard University,
who spoke on "The Principle of Au-
thority; It's Place in the Religion of
Tomorrow"
Following Prof Hocking's lecture,
Prof. G. +. Kent of Yale University
spoke on "Religion and Recreation"
He said that Jesus Christ had keen
sense of humor. He was fond of So
cial life and endeavored to train the
individual for citizenship and a con-
structive part in the social order. He
insisted that the modern church
should give full and prompt atten
ton to the gospel of play. He feels
that the church should maintain an
appreciative attitude toward COM
munity cooperation. The church ser-
vice should be of such a nature as
would be restful and helpful to the
toiler, and the joyousness of thought
and expression would reflect the
Gospel message. There should be a
thoroughgoing Interpretation of the
Sabbath as Gods gift to men for
physical, mental and spiritual re-crea-
ton. The church as an organization
should be prepared to render that
type of service which will satisfy the
cravings of youth for wholesome re-
creation.
At 1915 the convocation assembled
for the morning chapel service which
was conducted by Mr.. Bell of the
American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions.
Following the chapel service, DR..
Silas e. Persons of Baltimore spoke
on "The Church as Community
Leader"
At the afternoon service Mr..
Bell spoke on --latest News from the
Eastern Front" Hes has recently re-
turned from five month tour of the
Far East including Japan and ths
Philippines, during which his posi-
ton as secretary of the American
Board gave special opportunity to
inform himself concerning interna-
tional conditions. The afternoon ses-
sion closed with a general confer
ence conducted by Sec. Merrill.
Among the interesting develop
ments of the directors meeting of
Wednesday afternoon was the fact
that there are now twenty-five pas
torless Congregational churches in
the state of Vermont and the wal
conditions make it exceedingly dir
ficult to secure new men to take
these pastorless fields. Hence the
directors expressed themselves as
under the necessity of granting new
men first to those communities which
we're so thoroughly by themselves a.
to be unable to share with neighbor
ing churches. The board of directors
adopted total budget of $4,000, al
increase of $1,000 over the budget O
last year, which will necessitate call
ing upon the church to meet this ad
ditional amount. The Domestic Mis-
sionary funds will be administered
: with special reference to the needs o
those communities in which the loca
Congregational church is the onl
: Protestant church in the community
: There are Al churches for which thi
Missionary fund is available and o
these, at least 80 per cent at the pres
ent time are the only Protestan
; churches of the communities who
they serve.
e The evening session of the Convo
d cation was held in the Congregation
t al church and a large audience wa
u present to greet DR.. Hamilton Ho
n of New York, Editor of the "Indeper
e dent" and vice-president of tn
t League to Enforce Peace. DR.. Ho
d talked for an hour and a quarter o
s his experiences "on and behind tf
o front in France" and his descriptio
e of his experience in the trenches t.
It gether with his impressions gathere
e from personal interviews with Eur
pean statesmen made a profound in
e preston.