The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-05


congregational Conference.
The Rutland Conference of Congrcga-
tional churches met on Tuesday, June 3D.,
in Pawct. The old Rutland and Bcnning-
ton conference has been dissolved by the
withdrawal of the Bennington county
churches to form conference Of their own
Only the seventeen churches of Rutland
county will hcncclorth make up this CON
ference.
The Rev. O. Myrick of Middletown,
preached the sermon from Jno. xiv: II.
After which the Lords Supper was adj
ministcred by Dr. Walker of Wallngford,
and Rev. p. s. Pratt of Dorset.
DR.. Walker was chosen moderator, and
Bro Myrick scribe. Rev. r. J. Hall of
Pittsford was chosen register for the cnsu-
ing year
The afternoon was occupied by the re-
ports of the churches Tor the past year and
an address, chiefly on the subject of tenn
perancc, by Rev. l.. II. Stone of Castleton.
The reports of the churches was rather I'M
satisfactory. Most of them appeared TO
have lost more members by death and dis
mission than they had gained. The Hub
bardton church has been remarkably de-
pletcd by emigration. Both deacons, the
cholistcr and six entire families have left
town during the year. The Tinmouth
church also is rapidly declining. Rutland,
Middlctown, Pittsford and Pawlct appear
to have had considerable prosperity. Pitts
| ford showed a net gain of seven and some
other evidences of vitality. They
have appointed committee to
examine candidates for admission
to church membership instead of leaving
that matter to go haphazard as hitherto.
They have chosen four new dcacons for
term of years. instead of for life, and have
adopted the system of weekly contributions
sometimes called the envelope plan. This
last feature aroused considerable interest,
and was more fully explained Wednesday
morning The experience of the Pittsford
church thus far, seems to have been such
as to commend the system to general ac-
ceptancc. DIR. Walker, whose long en-
pericncc and excellent sense gave his
opinions weight, advised that caution be
exercised lest the idea should gain ground
that the salary paid the minister is gratu-
ity-othcrwise little was said against the
plan.
In the evening an admirable essay was
presented by Rev. f., LuXbury, of Bran
don, on the ''Work of the Christian Con-
grcgations.' 1t was his idea that we do
not utilize the forces of our congregations
for work within and without the congrcga-
ton, as we ought and that this personal
power needed organization and direction to
make it most useful. Some discussion fol-
lowed, in which the ideas of the essayist
were in the main endorsed. Wednc sday
morning, conference business was attend
ed to, including the appointment Of dele.
gates to the General Convention, arrange
mcnts for the next conference, which will
be held in Pittstord. A tax of three cents
on each resident member to defray confer
cncc and convention eXpensec, was alsc
voted.
\ very interesting devotional meeting
was held, conducted by Brother Stone Al
half-past ten o'clock an essay was read by
Brother Hall on ''the proper terms of admis
sion to church membership, in which it wa,
maintained that repentance and faith il
Jesus Christ, as ascertained by committee
of the church, are all the requisites thai
ought to be demanded. Doctrinal tests
then should not be used for such purposes
although they should be in examining can
didatcs for ordination and for receiyin.
churches into fellowship. An animated
discussion followed, in which most of the
speakers inclined to disapprovc of the us,
of doctrinal tests to any great extent. Bro
Aiken of Pawlet, however thought, that The
assembly's catechism was the proper test t,
apply.
In the afternoon, Bro. Myrick read al
essay on " the Sabbath School teacher o.
the times" and after the Sabbath Schoo
anniversary the conference adjourned
There was smaller representation of til,
churches than usual, but still it was a goot
meeting. The good people of Pawle
seemed to enjoy the meetings and dispensed
a cordial hospitality to the minister an,
delegates.
} Mention should be made of the report OF
the state of religion, in which it was urge,
that the churches cndeavor to realize them
selves and convince others of the conslan
presence and help of God, and also to or
ganize themselves to work for the CONVEX
sion of the inhabitants of the outskirts o
the various parishes. AUDITOR.