Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-01-29
CONGREGAT|ONAL|STS'
ANNUAL GATHERING
Professor Emerson, in Hopeful
Address, Expresses Belief
That Spirit of Christianity
Will Wipe Out the Vindictive-
ness That Has Followed War


The intense cold of last evening was a
pronounced contrast to the glow of en-
thusasm and the warmth of the feeling
of Fellowship, which dominated the an
nual gathering of the College Street Con-
erepational Church From the time grace
was said bv Dean George H. Perkins of
the University of Vermont at the OPEN
ing of the fine repast provided by the
women of the congregation and served
bv the Young people. until the pronounce
ing of the benediction Nv tho Rev. Or
Isaac G. smart. every moment was filed
with interesting and profitable discussion
by groups or by the gathering as a
whole.
Professor Sa,uo, II Encrson usuallv
sounds the keynote of the gathering. and
last evening was no exception to the rule
in this respect. Professor Emerson showed
how one year ago the world seemed to
have reached the very heights of centuries
of expectation. Cruel miIitarism had been
crushed. The old order apparently had
passed. War was to be no more. Love
of humanity was to dominate the race.
Now he is startled to read glaring
newspaper headline, "Is the modern
world bankrupt?" The whole world IL
apparently given over to hate and yindic-
tveness and the spirit of warfare Class
is arrayed against class and nation
against nation The war seems to have
been fought in vain Millions of lives
have been sacrificed to no purpose so far
as we can now see
All this is the direct result Of n CEN
fury of dire materialsm. The dollar be-
came the god of the whole world. We
sacrificed noble aspirations to material
ism, and we must now pay the penalty.
Yet we are already beginning to see
new light The hope of the world and of
abiding peace is to be found in the spread
of the spirit of Christianity, in genuine
love of brother man and in service for
humanity This means work for the
church
Professor Emerson said he ALWAYS
looked forward to the parish gather
ing as a communion of choice SHIRTS. On
this occasion the memories of former
saints of the church are still with us.
Nor would we forget those who would be
with us. if they could Those present
might be sure that Professor Putnev and
Deacon Goodhue and Judge Haselton de-
tanned at home were thinking of this
gathering in their church home
Mrs. NJ H. Buckham. who smoke for
the Woman's Union of the church. sup
plemented this expression of remembrance
for the absent ones by asking those
present to stand q moment as a token
of svmnathv for Nrs smart and Mrs
, Richmond. who have been in the hospita
for serious operations. Mrs. Ruckham
told of the work of the women of the
congregation who during the past wear
had voted an appropriation of $500 in
round numbers for a new covering for
the floors in the church parlors. She out
lined he various methods adopted
to raise money as well as the social
features connected there with The opin-
| ion was expressed that the women of the
church might we'll he permitted to handle
all church finances
The Hon. Robert Roberts. who presided
had announced in the course IF an adj
dress replete with interesting reminis-
cences of Burlington and burlington
churches that he would like new
definition of Conrregationalism since there
were so many churches in this region nv
other names that believed in the rule of
the CONGREGATION.
When Stunt. Walter n. Crockett renorted
for the Sunday school showing an nm
usually successful wears work. he sue-
gested that ex-NIayor Roberts take charge
of a class in the Sunday school devoted
to the study of Characterization and an.
nounced that he would pladlv receive
applications for noemhersbin in sucb =,
class
The order of exercises for tho eyeping
al leo f1 M. 49, ~