Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1872-06-26

| opening serm m was preached by hcY. l.. II.
Cobb, Of Springfield, who left, for few hours,
the dying bed of little daughter to fulfil his
appointment Ills text was from Matthew 90
Is, "To what purpose is this waste2" which,
Mr.. Cobb said, was the gospel according to
Judas who, having no genuine love for Christ,
could not appreciate the offering Of loving heart
in pouring the precious ointment on the bead Of
her Lord 10 Judas all was waste that did not
replcnsh his bag, or minister to some physical
need. In all the generations since there have been
successors Of Judas who have cried out against
the great waste Of building costly churches,
keeping up Christian ordinances, sustaining
Home and Foreign missions, expanding brain and
life and money for merely spiritual ends Mr.. Cobb
-aid that tho intellectual stimulus. the intell.
gence, refinement, social order, sound morality,
purity ofheartand life, and spiritual aspirations
gained by such expenituresare the most valuable
Of all mans possessions, and bear heayenw,rl
fragrance that is precious in the eyes ofthe Lord
The sermon had evidently cost the writer much
study, and was listened TO with great attention
The Convention chose Rev. Aldace Walker,
DID,, Moderator, and Rev p. B. Fisk Scribe
In the afternoon Rev j Torrey, the Cores
pondng Secretary, read a report on the religious
condition and growth Of the churches during the
year. This annual review Of Christian labor and
its results, revealing the dealings Of God with
his people is always one Of profit. 1t appeared
that two new churches have been organized du-
ring the year AMI two dropped from the roll n
having become extinct There are in the State
20i Congregational Churches containing 1874
members. The additions have been ,O5l the
losses by death and dsmis-i)ns rs, leaving net
gain Of 273 The aggregate contributions for
ihects Of Christian benoyocnce have been Sij,-
70iOO. Two ministers one in the decline Of
life, Rev. Joseph Steele, the other in the lullness
Of early manhood, Rev. LYNN Watts, have been
called To their rest and their reward
The Fairbanks Board, for the Relief Of Minis
ters, reported the receipt Of Eve, one thousand
dolhHIennessee bonds, from Rev X. C. Hand, de-
ceased, late Of Brooklyn, n Y, to be added to
their fund, and available not only for ministers
but for their families also 1t is understood that
the present market value Of these bonds is about
forty FIVE per cent. They will no doubt in due
time come up to par. By reason Of failure on
the part of Rev c. W. Thompson, essayist, the
anniversary of the Sabbath School meeting was
held Tuesday evening. A well written report
was read by Rev. w. 5 lIazen, Of Mortified,
which ELECTED an interesting discussion.
| Wednesday forenoon was devoted to the ami
yersary Of the Vermont Domestic Missionary So.
ciety. J.W llickok. Esq the President, presided
The Directors report was read by the Correspond
ing Secretary, from which it appeared that sixty.
seven missionaries have been employed during the
year. The additions made to the aidcd churches
have been larger than usual, two hundred and
iny-three in ALL The receipts into the Treasury,
including the balance on hand at the beginning
Of the year, have been Sll 1855 60 There have
been sent from the State besides this, directly to
the American Home Missionary Slcicty at New
York, 80 2sS u, making the total contributions
from the state, for home missionary purposes for
the year, sea, 65i6s, a larger sum than has been
reported in any previous year After the reading
Of the report, interesting renlrks were nude by
Rev. o. C, Dickerson. county missionary for
Windham county, in respect to his work, and by
several other gentlemen. The Old board Of Off
GERS was elected, Mr., j. c. Emery, taking the
place so long filed by Dsa. O W. Storrs, as
Treasurer.
Lords Supper was celebrated, Rev W. r Her
rick and Rev G. b. Sli,rd presidnsa at the table
Wednesday evening was given up u the anniyer-
-ary Of the Vermont Education Society Rev Il
j. Cushman presided. A vigorous report was
made by the Secretary, Rev. A. B. Discomb 1t
appeared as usual that the receipts of the 81
iety had been small
| 1t is popularity of this Anniversary that it
elicts some very eloquent taking and but very
little practical working. The members come up
every year, and with ieryid oratory portray the
great Importance Of Christian education II
furnishes a wide field for the display Of logic and
rhetoric, and for earnest appeals. But the mem
hers on returning home, forget that the passing
If the contribution box has anything to do with
the success Of the Society. This year the ami
yersary was not quite in accordance with the
~tereotyped form.
The two leading speakers, Rev j G. Johnson
If Rutland, and Rev. c. llamlin, of Bellows
Falls, had evidently, at some time entertained
not very exalted views of the character of some
Of the benefcaries of the Society. And though
their remarks were, in most respects, discrimin-
ating and favorable they were rather apologize
and advisory, and did not satisfy the ardent feel
ings of the old friends of the cause Conse-
quently after the first speakers sat down. the dis
cussion was very lively, and the defence pointed
and valiant.
The old board Of officers was elected
An able article was read before the Convention
by Rev. H. F. Fuller, on 1.-THE Best Method by
which the Church may promote Classical Eluca-
ton" The writer thought we had no frst-elass
classical school in the State that we ought to
have two or three. lie brought out the fact that
Mr.. Thaddeus Fairbanks was taking measures to
establish one at St. Johnsbury that he had al
ready built boarding house, at an expense Of
some $4,000, and was this season erecting, at
an equal expense, school building,
There was also discussion Of the topic, " In
iluence of Christian mothers, through their chill
dren, upon the cause Of Christ" |. was opened
by Rev. A. W Wild, of Greensboro, in labored
written article, followed by Rev. NJ. L. Sever
ance, in an extemporaneous speech. Both had
merit, but were too long
The Convention voted to send, for the future,
no delegates to the Congregational bodies Of other
States, as we are now to meet them every three
years in National Council. Delegates will still be
appointed to the Evangelical denominations in
our own State.
| The attendance from different parts Of the State
was about as usual. The meetings were har-
monious. A resolution recommending the churches
to withdraw their contributions from the Amer-
can and Foreign Christian Union, and give them
to the American Board of Commissioners for
Foreign Missions met with considerable opposi-
ton. There was some sharp criticism on the
men who undertook to draw Oh the Congrega-
tional churches from cooperation, with the Pres
byterians, through the Foreign and Christian
Union, in Catholic countries. The resolution was
laid upon the table by decisive vote.
The good people Of Brattleboro showed the
most generous hospitality to the members of the
Convention the weather was delightful, and the
village of Bratteboro, with its scenery, most at
tractiye
The expressions Of enjoyment by the strangers
present were without qualification. Owing to
| Ga, ~