Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-10-20

SheriH, clerk OF the courts, district attorney,
county commissioner, and special commission
erS, all one ballot.
CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE IN SHREws-
nURY.-Ths body rcassembed on Wednesday
evening, Rev. II. Cummings of Rutland, moder-
ator, and after devotional exercises Rev W.
johnson Of West Boylston made an address on
the subject: rs the prevailing method in the
churches Of occupying so large a portion Of the
Christian Sabbath in public exercises, coDdu-
Give to the best welfare Of the church, ard to
promoting the knowledge of God in the world?'
The speaker recommended a dispensing with
the afternoon sermon and having Sabbath
school exercises instead the pastor to preside
BY thus dividing the laborS of the day, he
thought the kingdom of God and the cause of
Christianity would be advanced. Rev. DR..
Bgelow of Boylston, Rev. A. IL. Coolidge of
Leicester, and Rev Henry Dutton of Northbor-
ough, and others, spoke against the proposed
change. Remarks were also offered by others,
mostly against the proposition OF Mr.. johnson.
The discussion was very interesting and ami
mated one, conducted in true Christian spirit
Thursday fOrenoon's exercises consisted prin.
cpalIy in hearing the reports on the state of re-
ligion i'll the various churches, and remarks
thereon. Interesting remarks were made by
Rev. Elnathan Davis of Auburn, and others sug-
geSted by the wants and condition of the
churches. Remarks with reference TO the rela-
tons Of the young mems Christian associations
TO the churches, were made by Rev. MIR. Clark of
Clinton, Deacons Witherby and Phillips and S.
A. Pratt of Worcester, Mr.. Pike of Paxton, and
others.
The afternoon session was opened with SER
mon by Rev. Elnathan Davis of Auburn, from
Mat 0:34: "Think not that | came TO send
peace on earth; l came not to send peace, but
sword" The speaker explained in eloquent
terms the true meaning of the text, that the
warfare of Christ was a spiritual one, that war
with evil, in all of its forms, waged by Christ
and his followers, with sharper weapons than
two-edged swords, would ever and should ever
continue, till the whole earth is redeemed from
sin and wrong and error. He noted several of
the more prominent instances Of spiritual war
fare in leading reformers in different ages in the
world, coming down to the grand moral revolu.
tons and enterprises of our own time instancng
many prominent actors therein.
The sessions of the conference closed with the
administration of the sacrament of the Lords
supper by Rev. MeSsrs. Coolidge and Clark, as.
sisted by DeacOns Wood and Phillips.
METHODIST SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION.
A convention OF delegates from the Sunday
schools Of the Methodist churches in the vicini-
ty, and many interested persons not delegates,
was held at IIubbardSton on the 18th, in the
Methodist church. The following report gives
an account of what was done in the convention,
of which Rev. J. S. Day, of Hubbar!ston, was
chairman, and Rev. D. d. Hudson, of Barre,
secretary:
After reports from number of schools, the
first ESSAY on "the duty olthorough preparation
on the part of Sunday school teachers" was
read by Rev. l., 2. Causey of Ashburnham. The
second essay on Sunday school singing" by
Mrs. D. D. Hudson, presented valuable thoughts
and was discussed by N. Herrick of Ashbun.
ham, Rev. W. NJ. Hubbard of Gardner, Rev. A.
McKeown, Fred. A, Clapp and Rev. MIR. NAL
lalieu of Worcester,
The session of the afternoon began at half
past one, by the answering of questions by Rev
d. d. Hudson, which was followed by very in
tereStng exercise in responsive singing and
chanting by the children of the Hubbardston
school, arranged and conducted by Mrs Day,
wife OF the pastor.
The first essay of the afternoon was given by
Rev. J. NJ. Avann of East Templeton, on the
duty Of memorizing Scripture, which the essay
ist thought could be best accomplished by pa
rental instruction, and should not be insisted on
10y the teacher The Rev. J. w Mowrey differed
from the essayist, and thought the committal of
the Bible should be insisted on by the teacher
Rev. l.. CgOwel, +. A. Clapp, Rev. A. AlcKewOn,
and A. b. Waters of East Templeton, also spoke
"The Sunday School in Old ruts" was portrayed
by Hon. G. NJ. Buttrick OF Worcester, AleXan-
der McGregor, and Rev. W. +. Mallalieu. The
last topic Of the afternoon, "Ihe need of the
Holy Spirit in Sunday School work, was intro
duced by Rev. d. ID. Hudson Of Barre, who was
followed by Rev. Geo. +. Eaton OF Winchendon,
Albert Sanderson Of Gardner and others.
In the evening, Rev. Geo. +. Eaton, gave an
interesting address on the universally of the
obligation to engage in Sabbath school work;
and Rev. Mr.. Maaeu addressed the conven-
ton, in an able manner, on the Importance OF
ReYivals." The convention was a very interest
ing one, and was largely attended, and the mem
bers were handsomely entertained by the good
people Of HubbardstOn.