Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-10-13
by the Moderator Prayer by Rev. M. q.
smith Singing, choir voluntary.
Is. The Report of the Board was read,
and, after remarks by several brethren,
was adopted.

TO the Fefna0nt Baptist State Convention =
DEAR BRETHRBN,-In presenting their annual
report, the Board desire to render thanks to God
for his good hand upon them during the year.
None of their number has been removed by death
or withdrawn from labor by protracted sickness.
Two pastors only, Bros. Leonard Tracy and Moses
Field, and three ex-pastors, Bros. Leland How
ard Isaiah Huntly, and Amherst Lamb, good
and true men, all faithful ministers of Jesus
Christ, have fallen; but we leayeto the committee
on obituaries suitable notice of their life and la
bors.
We regret. also, to learn, that the Rev. Fl.
Fletcher, ID D., for % years the able and beloved
pastor of the Townshend church. and for many
years, till recently, an efficient member of this
Board, has been laid aside from preaching since
April last by illness.
We regret, moreover, to notice the frequent
changes occurring throughout the State IN the
pastoral relation, The feebleness and consequent
ineiciency of so large proportion of our churches
is due in great measure, believe,to this cause.
1t is demoralizing both to pastors and churches;
but specially to the churches. Often more is lost in
one change than can be regained in a three or five
years. pastorate The extent of this evil is start
ling. No less than 80 of these changes have oc-
CURED within the bounds of the convention dur
ing the year under review.
In view of the importance of this subject the
Board would recommend the appointment of
committee 10 prepare an exhaustive report upon
il to be read at the next anniversary.
The committee appointed two years ago to Sc
cure the services Of Il state missionary agent, and
reappninted last year, have persevered IN their
efforts To find good and able man, adapted to
| the work, TILL through the Divine blessing, sue
! IQ,,,
NJ q. Smith, for IL years the abe, efficient and
beloved pastor Of the b sptist Church, Preston,
Conn.,, after protraoted correspondence, was led
to re- ign his pasrorate and enter upon his mission
work abou' the fr,t Of July last. An abstract OF
hi report is appended to this report.
Bro II. G. De Witt, the evangelist, of whom
mention was made in our last report, continued
hrs -vargellstlc l4b,r- through the winter and
part of the spring though considerably inter-
rupred by previous enEalements and by sickness
in his family. Hrs labor> were much blessed, to
the refreshing OF the churches and the conversion
Of sous. The board have again secured his rervi-
ces for the prese t autumn and the coming win
ter; and last ear without expense to the
treasury. And here the Board desire TO express
their fun conviction that frt quent proraet-
ed efforts the part OF the churches TO promote
rev walls Of religion. assisted by evangeIsts or
pastors, would greatly conduce to their growth
| and prosperity.
At tn June meeting held with the Church in
vergennes the aoid grow h and bright promise
# that Young interest reue~edly impressed the
! Boud with the importance Of having strong
churchas at thu centres Of business and infu-
euce throughout the S ate Such churches. under
Cnrist imp4rt vitality and power 10 the whole
circle Of aller churches around them Specially
therefore DOVE approve the efforts Of the churches
in Veigennes, St. Adams and Muntp-lf,r to Sc
cure suit ,ble houses of worship ant we would
commend them to the cordial syrnpatbv ana CO.
operation fall tn whom hey NAV apply for aid
In All tie meetings Of the Board essential h.r-
mnny has char Acteriz.l their action. Onlv such
diversity of opinion has arisen AS all earnest
bodies of men will develop.
F,treeu churches haze ben assisted BY the
Board during the var. A synopsis Of their re-
specrive reports Is herewith submitted.
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with the. appropriatiop pr,,-,,v OF tie sh,I,r
go, 400. Appropriation $50
II-B-uows FaIls-J r. IIaskins. pastor
NIr,ber of members Is males IL females IS Re.
sidant members a They have MANY reasons r.
bless God First. he ba. given thorn a faithful
and dear p4stor the HOLY Spirit has seemed TO be
bo,,erir, over them. All but one, If the resident
members c,rtrihnte+o the s7,r,,rt of tIa e,os,e1
and there IL general oreraiio7 nm the mart ot
the concreyation for the same object Have con-
+rihp+od "a 20 far benevolent objects VIZ. for
Home and Foreign Missions. B;ble and rnblic,-