The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1918-09-26
PAGEANT ENDS
STATE BAPTIST
CONVENTION
Large Audiences Present at
Closing Sessions
DELEGATES ON TOT X
Over Two Hundred of the Visitors
DELEGATES ON TOUR
Over Two Hundred of the Visitors
Given Eight-Seeine Trip by
Automobile.

The final session Of the 94th an
nual Baptist state convention which
opened at the local church Moday af-
ternoon closed last evening. While
the gathering was not fortunate in the
weather that prevailed during the ses-
sions the rain failed to dampen the
enthusiasm Of the delegates or inter
fere with the business of the conven-
tior
The last day found the church
crowded at all sessions at the evening
session many having to stand. The
final report OF the enrolment commit
tee showed an attendance of 220 reg
istered delegates and visitors. Be
sides these there were many local
people in constant attendance.
An important feature of the morn
! ing session was the annual report of
the secretary and superintendent w.
/ A. Dawson, D. D., OF Burlington. His
report was most encouraging showing
very successful first year for the
state collecting agency under his
management, by which a great saving
has been made and a large amount
raised for all benevolence than in any
previous year. He also reported
that seven men. II. secured, would fill
all vacant rllpits in the state. He
recommended and urged for the com
ing year a minimum salary for Yer
mont Baptist ministers OF $500 and
parsonage.
President Rolvix Harlan of Sioux
Falls College, s. d., made an address
on Rural Church and Community
Service The rural problem he de-
/ fined as maintaining on our farms
people contented. happy and eff
cient, living in accordance with our
/ highest American ideals AT the
center OF all effort to meet the prob
/ lem is the rural church which must
work from an adequate conception Of
social progress and comprehensive
survey OF community life.
Greetings were extended at the
opening of the afternoon session by
! Rev c. s Mills and Rev p. l.. Dow
The audience was keenly disappoint
ed at the inability of Mrs. Helen Bar
rett Montgomery, president Of the
Womens American Baptist Foreign
Mission society. to keep her appoint
ment They listened to two able ad.
dresses. one by Rev c. A. Brooks
representative OF the American Bap-
list Home Mission society in the work
among foreign speaking peoples. and
one BY Rev. George w Peck, pastor
OF the Rutland church Mr. Brooks
discussed three aspects OF the home
mission problem: the negro immi-
srant from the South; tho new indus
trial communities arising about gov
ernment plants: and the problem OF
| Americanizing the foreigner "To be
great" he said. "a nation need not be
OF one blood but it must be of one
mind" Here is developed the op-
portunity OF the Christian church for
democracy IS the Christian eyalua-
ton Of human personality" Mr.. Peck
spoke Of the part OF the church IN
Keeping the home fires burning" in
maintaining morale in these times OF
war. This is accomplished mainly. he
asserted. through the essentially spiri
, tdal ministry OF the church
Following the afternoon session
about forty automobiles generously
provided by friends made possible q
sightseeing tour for the guests. More
than two hundred persons went on
tho "trip.
The closing service was held in an
ovornowlng house Miss Jeanette
Perkins and her assistants presented
the pageant "The Church and the Ma
. tons Need supported by a splendid
choir and chorus. Rev Dan II. Clare
of North Adams. made a telling ad
dress on Gods Search for Mem II
his most picturesque and dramatic
! style urging personal devotion &c
Gods service on the part Of every per
I son present Rev ]. c. Robbins, for
eien secretary OF the American Bap
81 list Foreign Mission society, recently
returned from q tour OF India, pait
!. high tribute to the sterling worth o
D. the missionaries there engaged, an'
!. attributed to them the leading part II
!, keooing India loyal When the wa
?. broke ont. he declared, the term
}. democracy and brotherhood had CONF
!, llo have meanings because Of the faitl
!, iul teaching OF the gospel OF Christ.
eta Secretary Dawson closed the con
T. yention with the cali TO personal con
}. secratlon TO the tasks OF the comm
I. years The next sessions OF the cor
n tveniion will be held in Rutland,