Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1920-04-21

Sd. Again I cannot agree with Mr..
Baldwin when he says that all Prot
estant churches in Vermont have
Statistics show that Congregational
gifts have remained at a dead level
for 80 years while the per capita
wealth has almost doubled in that
time. If Vermont Congregationalists
were today giving in proportion to
their per capita wealth, what they
were giving in, 1890, we would be CIV
ing in Vermont more than $500, 900
annually instead of being frightened
into opposition to a movement which
asks US to give the paltry sum of
$50, 900 1.-THE amount of our regular
apportionment of $4,000 plus the
$50, 900 emergency fund for 192O).
These figures are based upon stats
tics given in "World-Wide Survey"
1920. Mr.. Baldwin says that during
the war call" church people were
leaders in contributing for war relief
work. This is not true in Barton of
"all' church people. / venture the
statement that the general condition
of church properties is as good as it
has ever been, and / believe, most en-
phatically that we can do what we are
asked to do in this drive, that we shall
be the better for having done it and
Will prosper as churches and as indi-
viduals by doing it.
While mentioning the fact that
many rural churches are having a
struggle, Mr.. Baldwin fails to take
INTO consideration the increase in pop
ulation and wealth of our county, or
state, as whole, which should offset
any such rural decline. In the Barton
rrrhf II
president, deposits were never so
large, and Vermont as a state has
greater per capita savings bank de-
posts than any other state in the
union The increase asked of Yer
mont Congregationalists in this
drive is less than SO per capita of
church members, while the supporters
OF the Congregational church must
number nearly twice the membership
and would cut the increased per cap
ita asking in half-and again the in
creased asking is for a period of 16
months, while the old basis of ask
ing was for II months. This would
again cut the per capita increase on
a yearly basis. / contend that the
amount asked for is not impossible
or improbable with everyone lifting
for it.
Mr.. Baldwin is in favor of increas-
ing gifts to missions and educational
institutions four fold if necessary. We
are not asked to give four fold, but
less than three-fold for the very en-
terprises he says he is willing to sup
port, and the money will not go to any
combination having the power to
spend 1T as it pleases. Every cent of
the money will go through the regular
treasures of the various missionary
and educational societies of the de-
nomination, just as our gifts have
gone before.
Mr.. Baldwin quotes Rev. Frothine-
nam, who says sum something like
a billion dollars" is being sought.
rms statement alone is enough to
stamp Mr.. rockingham as entirely
unacquainted with his subject, and his
argument may be dismissed.
Dr. Gordon is also quoted. / cam
not quote In reply, but am positive
enat nave seen statement to the eff
Iect tnat DIR. Gordon admitted after
ms original statement that he prob
aciy made some of his arguments
the subject. pm
believe the members and friends
Oh the congregational churches ac
cept the challenge of the new pro-
gram as one worthy of their effort
- IPP', ohe conceived, planned,
ana Deing executed by honest, ener-
getic and progressive men who have
Tor their object only the strengthen
ing and development of the Protes-
Nm sant 6enurcnes- am sorry that
Mr; BALDWIN is SO poorly posted and
SO badly mixed in his understandino
OF the movements as to oppose this
drive, as he opposed the Pilgrim Fund
movement. u
Let us put our church and religious
business on sound basis and become
real men IN the face of real tasks and
real problems. anu