The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-11-04
EVANCELIST'IC
CONFERENCE At
NORTH CHURCH

Under the auspices of the Gale
donia association OF Congregations
al ministers a conference on evan
gelism was held at the North
church Wednesday afternoon and
evening with Rev. Chauncey A.
Adams of Danville presiding. Sec
rotary William f. Frazier of the
state organization and Rev. DR..
Clement G. Clarke of Springfield
we're the only clergymen from out
side the county and besides taking
an active part in the discussions of
the afternoon gave inspirational
addresses at the evening session.
The conferences opened with a
devotional service led by Rev. Rob
ert Clark of Lyndon. The latter
spoke on the first theme of the af-
ternoon. "The Greatest Obstacle
to Parish Evangelism and How 1t
Can Be Met Secretary Frazier
conducted the discussion which
followed, speaking of the value of
books and of how the recent book
"The Vanguard of the Race" had
so interested his young son.
Rev. Ambrose c. l.. DeLapp, the
new pastor of the South church,
was the next speaker on the pro-
gram and said he was glad to be-
come affiliated with the Caledonia
county pastors. His subject was
the every member campaign for
church attendance. He said Roger
Babson'S idea of substituting relig
ion was vicious. From an educa-
tional standpoint alone it pays to
90 to church. He also believed that
the psychology Of buttonholing
people to attend church was be-
littling. He believed the pastors
time could bette be spent in saw
ing shoe leather ana giving his at
tention to the preparation of his
sermons.
A general discussion followed,
participated in by several of the
clergymen present. Rev. f. B.
Richards said he thought a canvass
did the workers as much good as
the people visited and expressed
the opinion that friendly calls
where no appeal was made for fl
nancial support were especially
helpful in getting people interest
ed in regular church attendance.
Rev. L. II. Gordon distributed some
blotters giving President Harding's
reasons for coins to church which
had been successfully used in his
Greensboro parish. Rev. c. A.
Adams said if the present genera
ton failed TO 20 10 church he Won
dered what the erect would be on
the children and grandchildren.
Secretary Frazier explained how
successfully the canvass had been
worked out at the First Congrega-
tion0l church in burlington.
"The Pastors Class was the
theme Of an address by Rev. Mr..
Gordon. The speaker referred
briefly to some helpful booklets
and then exhibited one Of his own
which had a picture of the Green's
boro church and helpful suggest
ions for those planning to come
into the church. lie said he beliey-
ed in looking upon the children of
the church as CHI :stians until they
proved themselves otherwise. He
said the laymen could help the pas
tor in interesting the children in
the church.
Rev. F. B. Richards spoke on
Church Mission" declaring that
his theme meant that the church
had a mission. He suggested that
the pastors might loan their ser
vices to other parishes for week
during the year, helping the local
pastor in his evangelistic work and
cooperating with him in the solu-
ton Of his parish problems. He said
a plan quite similar to this had
been worked out among the Con-
grcgational churches of Massach-
usetts and that he should like to
see not only such a plan for Yer
mont clergymen, but also have a
good gospel singer that could visit
the churches during the year.
The closing address of the after
noon session was Oy Dr. Clarke of
Springfield upon the suggestive
theme "The Little Church on Main
Street" He opened by quoting q
recent magazine article of DR..
Frank A. Crane in which DR.. Crane
said it was not the newspapers, the
magazines, the silk stocking crowd,
the highbrows or the political par
tie. thni cnl.l.inH tho 18Th n1nnnnd-