The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-04
Rutland County Fellowship Meet
Ing,

At a conference OF Congregational
clergymen during the late meeting of the
American Board of Foreign Missions, at
Rutland, plans for promoting the fellow
ship of the Congregational churches were
discussed, which resulted in the present as
sembage at Castleton of ministers and
delegates from the several churches in the
county.
A prayer meeting was held Tuesday
Nov. 3, at 10. 80 a. M, conducted by Rev.
W. L. Woodruff, pastor of the Congrega-
tional church at Castleton, assisted by
several clergymen from other towns. Rev.
S. B. Sheriff., formerly of Bellevue, Ohio,
now supplying the pulpit of the Congrega-
tonal church in Fairhaven, Rev. N. p.
Gilbert of Clarendon, Rev. Calvin Granger
of Poultney. and Rev. J. X. Williams of
West Rutland were present. A consider
able number of people were in attendance
and an earnest, devotional spirit pervaded
the meeting.
At the business session which followed
the Rev. Calvin Granger was chosen presi-
dent and Rev. N. p. Gilbert secretary,
after which the meeting adjourned.
The order of exercises for the afternoon
was opened at o'clock by prayer meet
ing in charge of II. G. Barber of Fair
haven. The purposes of the meeting are
held in special remembrance by those who
participated in the exercises.
At the close of the prayer meeting the
following question, "What is fellowship
of churches ?" was ably and earnestly dis
cussed. Rev. II. T. Hall of Pittsford
opened the discussion. His remarks were
systematic, argumentative and pointed. He
seemed to have clear apprehension of the
importance of the topic under considera-
ton, and after few general remarks
and allusion to the customs and
consequent results of the fellowship of
other denominations, proceeded to point
out the causes of the very palpable lack of
fellowship in the Congregational churches,
the objects to be secured in the promotion
of fellowship, and the elements of success
in this meeting and others of similar char
acter.
He was followed by Rev. Messrs. w. l..
Woodruff, John Smith, late missionary to
Marsovan, Turkey, Calvin Granger, VIM.
Dennison of Ohio, and N. p. Gilbert.
The discussion of the second question,
Z" What is the duty of the stronger to the
weaker churches p was opened by Rev. w.
l.. Woodruff, who read as an Introductory
a typical letter from the pastor Of feeble,
declining church in Sudbury, the Rev. Mr.
Bartlett. He also read carefully pre-
pared statement of the field opened by the
question.
At suggestion by the Rev. j. X. vii
liams the question was ably and practically
spoken by H. q. Barber of Fairhavel
and Henry S. Rumsey of Hubbardton
Mr.. Barber suggested that practical fellow
ship be put into operation by exchange o
friendly greetings among those present be
fore the meeting should close. Mr.. Rum
sey spoke feelingly of the struggling, en-
feebled condition of the Congregations
church in Hubbardton. Rev. Calvin Gran
ger followed with some interesting remark
as former pastor of the church. Rev.
B. Sheriff. gave an account of work in tn
west similar to that projected by this meet
ING.
Prayer was offered by Rev, VIM. Dennl
son, and after the benediction by Rev.
Is. Sheriff. the meeting adjourned. W,