Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-02-19


lence. Because lacking in violence many
OF Us failed TO see it's revolutionary cnsr.
acter. Ho was keenly alive to this fact,
and became In a very real sense a otuden,
Of contemporary social movement He
was more than D. student, he gave himself
without reserve TO social service: that is
TO the task of reconstructing society. He
was concerned not merely in saving men
out of the world. but saving society in
which men lived. His social activities
were varied.
He gave Of his time and means 80 the
Vermont Ant-Saloon League, as .. direc.
tor. in its fight against the saloon be.
cause the saloon was q social evil
He rendered magnificent service - tne
suffering through his untirins efforts tn
the Mary Fletcher hospital
At once he became a strong supporter
Of Mr.. Dickinson in his social under
taking for homeless boys in the Kurn
Eettin Homes OF Westminster. Vt being
president of its board Of directors at The
time Of his death.
He was q prime mover Of the Vermont
Conference of Social Work, and took a
leading part il the establishment of the
state Board Of Charities and Probation
The Blue Triangle House was a Cift
of his for social service In the city
Not infrequently does it happen that
those interested in the enterprise OF
social betterment come to feel that the
religious consideration is unnecessary.
The ground of faith Is left as the field
of conduct is entered This was not the
| attitude of mind of Mr.. Van Patten His
| faith in spiritual reality grew more sim
pie and profound as the years passed on
He knew that the Kingdom of God could
not b1 ge
established in men. And so this social
worker became A. hard toiler at his faith.
No enterprise that sought the spirit.
ualizing of the people--especiallY tbs
| youth-called on him in vain for help.
| ] suppose 1t is correct to say that to
| him, more thnn to any other man, Is due
the work Of the Y. NJ. c. a in the State.
| To him We owe chiefly orr 7. NJ. C. A.
building In Burlington.
! He became a strong financial supporter
| Of the Christian Endeavor movement al
its very beginning, being the first preel-
dent of the United Society Of Christian
| Endeavor.
AS for his own church after his home.
here was his next love. Out of the rany
calls upon mis- time ana generosity he
never neglected his church His counsel
was wise. his sacrifice uneparing, his
| presence a benediction.
| Here is q. notable example Of the dis.
tribution of personal power" The corn
forts which we enjoy. because OF mod
ern scionce-the light we have. the water
| we drink, tho means of communication
| are due 70 the distribution OF power
! Likewise much that we enjoy, a a people
| In this city. is duo to the distribution
| of the moral and spiritual power of tbs
man.
And now God has called him home. We
cannot think that a. career like this stops
| at death. When Paul was an old mar
| and the end drew near he gave a beautl-
full picture of death. He says. THE
time OF my departure is at hand. The
word departure, in the original, Is IN
rooring. The hour of my unmooring has
come. It is future drawn from the
building OF ship. It Is now completed
ready to be set free on the deep. It Is
not the end Of the ships destiny, It u
its beginning. In other words, the
apostle thought of heaven as d vast
chance for 8 career.
There is another picture of death, this
one from the Master: Tn My Fathers
house are many mansions. I go to pre-
pare a place for you" Death is a going
home. Gods method OF colonization, to
be with those whom we have loved and
lost a. while.
In this faith, and under the spell Of this
invigorating life, let us close the ranks
and carry on
INTERaIENT AT LAKE VIEW
The internent was made in the family
lot at Lake View cemetery. the Rev. Mr..
Guthrie conducting the service at the
grave. There was a profusion Of beauti-
| full flowers