The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-10-26
% CHURCH UNIONS
In Vermont During II Months, Reports
Rev. William Shaw.

hSNs w lllall 0uaWt
Rev. William Shaw, chairman Of the
conference of UNCONVENTIONAL superin-
tendents and secretaries of Vermont
representing Baptist, Congregational
and Methodist denominations gave out
to-day statement regarding the recent
meeting of the conference and especially
regarding the progress that was then re.
ported as to unions and federations be.
tween churches in the smaller communi-
ties of the state. During period Of II
months, since about May !, 1917, there
have been % instances of such a union
or federation,
BY these changes, nine whole towns
have been given over into the care Of
one Protestant church. The number of
Baptist churches which have united or
federated, s; Congregational, 10; Meth
odist, Ia; Universalist, l. Fourteen of
these changes have been made on the
Exchange of fields" plans and eight on
the federation" plan. Number of full
time ministers freed or Conserved" for
service elsewhere, Ia; number salary in
creases, Ia; amount Of home missionary
money freed 81 800. List of placess
Bristol, Methodist CONGREGATIONAL East
Calais, Congregational niversalist; Cen
ter Calais, Congregational Universalist;
Coventry, CONGREGATIONAL niversalist;
Derby, Baptist Congregational; Essex
Center, Baptist Congregational; Hart
ford Wilder, Congregational Methodist;
Hinesburg, Methodist Congregational;
Irasburg, Methodist Congregational; ia
maica, Baptist Congregational; Lunen-.
burg, Methodist Congregational; Middle
town Springs, Methodist Congregational;
Montgomery Center, Baptist Congrega-
tional; Mount Holly, Baptist Methodist;
NewburY, Congregational Methodist;
West and Center Newbury, Congrega-
tional Methodist; Reading Felchville,
Methodist Baptist; Sheffield, Methodist
Baptist; Sheldon, Methodist -Congrega-
tional; Stockbridge- Gaysville, Congrega-
tional Methodist; Whiting, Congrega
tional -Baptist Wolcott, Methodist Con-
gregational. The report also showed that
in the communities where these changes
had been effected there were in general
an increased church attendance, greater
enlistment of the community in church
work and a larger program for the sery.
| ice of the community.
At this meeting committee that had
been appointed to prepare program for
community service in a Vermont church
reported. This program included com
munity survey, evangelism, educational
evangelism, unifying and all-round bet
terment of community life, forwarding
of wholesome reaction and social life
the undergirding of the moral life Of the
community, aiding in the organization
| of the community for successful prose
cution and early conclusion of the war
The program is to be printed and sent
out to the churches. In communities
where one church is alone the suggestion
is that it endeaYor to carry out the pro.
gram by itself; where there are two or
more churches, it is hoped that there will
be thorough cooperation between them
in carrying out the program for the en-
tire community. The superintendent
and secretaries of the several denomina-
tions will aid in this to the extent of
their ability 1t is believed that the
hearty adoption of this program for
churches will enable them to render
greater service during the reconstruction
period after the war. In order, however,
| that there may be resolute and harmo
Nous action during this period, spe-
cial committee was appointed to suggest
an outline of principles or methods that
might be followed by the churches and to
arrange a series Of group meetings at
which these plans and methods could be
discussed and their use forwarded in the
state.
1t was found that on account, largely,
of war conditions there were 40 vacancies
in the pulpits in the state representing
these denominations and it was voted
that there be the utmost possible reci-
procity between the denominations in
supplying nearby vacant churches during
the war period.
Rev. William Shaw was reelected
chairman of the conference, and Rev.
G. c. Morrill, secretary
The men present at this meeting were !:
Representing the Methodists, Rev. vii.
liam Shaw, Phi. d., st. Adams, superin-
tendent southern district; Rev. E. w.
Sharp, st. Johnsbury, superintendent Of
northern district; Rev. George K Stath-
am, d. d., Rutland, superintendent Bur
lington district, Troy conference; repre-
senting the Baptists, Rev. w. A. Dawson
d. D., Burlington, superintendent and
secretary Baptist state convention; rep
resenting Congregationalists, Rev. G, II
Merrill, d. d., St Johnsbury, secretary
/ Vermont Domestic Missionary society