Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-04-16
PRESIDENT THOMAS
APRIL PROGRAMME

nj I'LL i 1lVU1OAIAIWu
President Thomas is spending only
week ends in Middlebury during the
month of April, giving the greater part
of his time to the Congregational
World Movement at their National
headquarters in New York. During
his visit last Saturday, Dr. Thomas
told The Register little about his
present work.
He explained that the Congregational
World Movement is really part of
the great Interchurch enterprise now
being prosecuted in every part of the
United States. The Congregationalists
are cooperating to the full with the
Interchurch Movement, but have also
set themselves to raise $3.OOO,OO0 for
the various enterprises supported by
their churches.
The thoroughness and efficiency Of
organization have evidently made quite
an impression upon DR.. Thomas and he
! thinks he has learned quite a little
for possible future college campaigns.
The entire United States is divided
into districts, each with its Regional
Director. There are twelve of these
districts, and Vermont is included in
the Connecticut Valley district which
includes Connecticut, the western half
of Massachusetts, Vermont, and Porto
| Rico, a total of S54 churches. Just
when Porto Rico became a part of the
Connecticut Valley, DR.. Thomas could
not explain, but he said that district
had one of the best Superintendent in
/ the entire Church, Dr. George L. Cady,
now located at Hartford, Conn.
Superintendent Cady visited New
York headquarters a few days ago and
had high words of approval for the
Congregational organization in Yer
mont under c. C. Merrill and his as
sociates He said that Vermont was
now one of the bright spots for enter
prise and efficiency in all the Congrega-
tional field.
Admiration for the leaders of denomi-
j national work was freely expressed by
DR. Thomas. The head of the move
ment is DR.. H. F. Swartz, whom he
called prince of men and a natural
leader of great ability. Always cheer
full and enthusiastic, he easily secures
the loyalty and devotion of his as
sociates
Among the other men who are show
ing great ability in leadership in this
movement are Dr. Charles E. Burton
of New York, Dr. H. c. Herring, whose
headquarters are in Chicago, and DR..
Cornelius H. Patton who has the i'm
portant Boston territory.
The immediate work assigned to
President Thomas is the Department
of Individual Gifts. The Congrega-
tionalists have their full share of peo-
pie who could contribute much larger
amounts than are usually given to a
church quota, and it is important that
they be made to realize the seriousness
of the present endeavor. Dr. Thomas
is a thorough believer in the cause to
which he is devoting his time. Aside
from the absolute dependence OF very
many worthy Christian enterprises on
the success of the Fund, he feels that
it is the most practical step toward
Christian cooperation and unity ever
taken in the United States. That his
enthusiasm is slightly due also to the
expectation of $4,000 for Middlebury
College, which he declares he has seen
in the Budget, may perhaps be sus-
pected. Christian education is one OF
the primary purposes of the Inter
church World Movement, and Presi-
dent Thomas believes that Middlebury
College has by no means lost its ira
ditional ideals in this respect.
The campaign in all the churches
closes before May lst, but as the work
of President Thomas is really in the
preliminary organization, he hopes tc
resume his usual duties at college be-
fore that date.