Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-06-22
Summary of the Report
Of The Socrddrg Of he Vermont State CoArca-
h0R Qf Congregational Ministers and Churches.
ny REV. r. II. BYfNGrON.

MINISTERIAL CHANGES
Passing now to the general results, pastors
have been dismissed during the year from New
Haven, Bristol, Pittslord Benson. Sheldon, Stowe
lnsburgh, CRANKY and Victory, Lunenburgh
Chelsea, South Royalton, Quechee. Windsor
and Townshend-lourtecn in ALL
Pastors have been installed in Vcrgenues, 40.
Bennington, Rutland, West Rutland, Danylle,
Charleston BrookGeld %, Windsor and Saxton's
Riyer-ninc in all.
The number Of dismissons has exceeded that
Of settlement, reducing the number Of pastors by
FIVE
NEW CHURCHES
New churches have been formed at Essex June
ton, at AscutneyyiIle, in the town of Wcathers-
field, and ut Dandy, three in all.
DESTITUTE CHURCHES.
Forty churches are reported vacant Some Of
them are among our stronger churches, and will
soon supply themselves with permanent minis
try. Something more than half the remainder
are supplied by the Itinerant Department of the
VI D. NJ Society But there are others which
show no signs Of life. They do not even answer
TO the annual .roll-call Of the Convention to ind-
cate their wish to share the prayers and sympa-
thies Of the sister churches They have a name
10 live, but we call their names in vain The Con-
ference will lowell 70 make inquest, and If the case
is really hopeless, to give authority to the Sccrea-
ry to strike their names from the list Of chur hes
GENERAL RESULTS.
We have 1919 churches On the roll, three more
than last year One hundred and sixty Of them
have reported this year.
There are IS pastors six Of whom sustain a
merely nominal relation, and 81 acting pastors,
and SO ministers without charge, making 2l2 in
ALL
The whole number gathered into the churches
this year is ,22i OF these there have been By
profession $50, by letter 1876 Every Conference
reports net gain except Essex, which has lost 9,
lamoie in which the additions just balance the
removals, and Windsor, which has lost l6. The
net gain in the whole State is AL and whole
number Of members is ,732 One-frth Of this
number arc below the age Of 30 years.
The number of deaths reported is 3li, of dis
missions i5l, Of exclusions 49, making the whole
number Of removals 80.
The number Of adults baptscd i, lGj, Of infants
2Gg.
TheSabbath schools report 200H m9mbers the
average Congregations amount to 81 $50. The
benevolent contributions foot up sac ,07l 10 Near
ly every church reports the number Of families
connected with the Congregation, and the whole
number is II ,2j2 If we allow four persons TO a
family, this shows i5,OO5 as the number Of per-
sons in connection with our Congregation.
In preparing my fifth and last annual report |
have been interested to learn the progress which
has been made during the five years last past.
The most noticeable fact is the rapid changes
in the ministry. In 1855 we had in active service
in the State IA ministers. OF these almost one
half have removed from the State few have re
tired from the ministry, and less than half the
whole number are now in service in this State.
The places Of those who have removed are sup
piled by new men. In 1865 there were IS pastors.
Ihirty-nine OF these have since been dismissed
and Of this number Of 80 only two have been re-
settled in the State. Almost without exception
when our pastors are dismissed they remove from
the State OF those settled in our larger churches
we have lost from Vermont DR.. Tyler, Messrs.
Parker, lIough, Smart, Mix, Hyde, Dr. Seayer,
Benton, Hubert, and Cummings, not to mention
many Others whom the State could i'll afford to
spare. suppose that the majority of the mem
bers Of this Convention were not in the State in
1865.
During this term the number of pastors settled
has just about equalled the number dismissed, 50
That now as then we have IS pastors.
/ The membership of the churches has increased
about ten per cent in five years, the net gair
being 1900. Within this time we have received OF
profession ofhith l766, and by letter 1884, making
a total Of 1850 The increase in the number at
tending the Sabbath schools has been % per cent
and the increase in benevolent contributions ha,
been Is per cent There is no doubt also that tn,
churches are in a much better position pecuniari
ly. The houses of worship have been enlarged
and remodelled, several costly churches, like the
beautiful one in which We meet, too, have been
erected, and large number of parsonages have
been purchased. These five years have been years
of reviyals. The churches have awakened from a
long period of inaction, and have developed new
energies. The gospel has been carried into the
neglected neghborhoods. The power of the lay
men has been put forth, and the result has been
larger increase than has been granted before fol-
many years. Let us return thanks for the divine
favor which has been granted us, and let us learn
from Gods dealings with us the secret of religious
growth.