Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-07-02

few months after, by the adoption OF con-
stitution and bylaws. DR.. /. c Butler,
| of Essex. was the first President. and
Up. c. Abbey. Of Essex. the first
Secretary Of the association. The re-
turn OF the society to the place OF ITS
birth was greeted with the largest attend
ance that ~ ever been present at any OF
its ss-sut.s The Congregational church.
the largest in the village. was filled to its
| utmost capacity. On the second day there
were more present than could possibly b.
seated The exercises commenced on Tues
dav afternoon with devotional meeting
under the charge OF Geo. Z. Davis, of Bur-
linpton. President OF the Union, and this
was followed by discussion upon the sub
iect OF Conservation Needed IN SaJJdth School
Hort. which was rpcGel by Rev II. D..
Hodge Of Charlotte. Mr.. Hodges remarks
were mainly devoted to illustrations Of the
subject in personal experience. showing the
nature and the happy results OF consecra-
tion Rev. l.. o. Lrastow, of Burlington,
followcd in some earnest and impressive
remarks. taking for his defAi;ion OF con-
secration T., wo.l- OF Paul, This one
thing d." as expressing the unity OF pur-
nose and design necessary in the important
work The corsccration needed was the
single purpose og bringing souls to Christ.
bending all the energies of the mind and
body to that end.
The next topic was that of Home Training,
as illustrated IN he Families Of I'll and
Samuel. on which Rev. j. a. Johnston of
St. Adams made most powerful and stirring
address. urging that home training IN or
der to be productive OF the greatest good,
must be scriptural, taking the Bible as P
model and guide. must he enforced by OK
ample rs vel as precept. and always in
conjunction with the Sabbath school. Each
of these points was most impressively Illus
trated
The evening was devoted to the child
rep's meeting in which the Sabbath Schools
of the town were largely represented, that
of the Junction numbering over seventy
present. and the other schools contributing
a large quota. In the absence of the ad-
yertised speakers, the time was wen
occupicd. and the interest of the children
fully held TO the close by Mr.. Davis and
Revs. John Cowan and II. +. Butler. each
Of HON spokein very earnest and effect
i've manner. Mr.. Davis spoke OF the child
jesus in ia, Temple about His Father :
busincS-." and urged the duty of devotion
to Christ a. the end and aim of lite. Mr..
Cowan spoke Of the three eyes, the phys-
cal eye the mental, and the splrltgal. and
inlOrced ihe Importance of eu.tivatlng each.
but especially the latter as the one through
which "the Truth and the Lile'-Christ
jesus received and the slories OF heaven
revealed Mr.. Butler followed the last
speaker 10 some appropriate remarks on
the same subject.
" odue.day morning, reports from the
various schools in the county were pre-
sented. most of which gave evidence OF in
creaSing interest in Sabbath School work
Quite a. number of conversions were report
ed. and the fac. was made prominent that
VERY large percentage OF the c0ngrega-
lions are now engaged IN the stgiy Ul the
Word o ne school. Milton reported seventy
six per cent of TIE congregation in the
Sabbath school. Others reported large ac-
cessiun- to the schools.
Mr. Davis called attention to the fact
made apparent bY statistics, that the per
cen,agc OF attendance upon Sabbath Schools
in this county was Ices than in any other
county Of the State. anu urged the necessity
of earnc>. work IN the future. lie men,
toned, a. an encouragement 10 labor earnest
ly,that in the late rey iy-l al ST. JOhnsbury,
every uucouyer;-L scholar IN one OF the
Sabbath Schools of that place who had
been in attendance two years had been hope
fully converted during The past Writer.
\. NJ butler mentioned, as an encourage
ment to Sabbath School workers. the fact
that every town bar two in the county
Huntington and Sheiburu-and about thirty
schools were represented in this convention
by some Two nund:ed delegates, making
this the largest convention Of the Sabbath
Schools that ever assembled in the county
contrasting very lorcihly with inc small
beginning Of this enterprise here len years
ago, IN this house.
The next topic waS ChiH CoRreraon.
on which Rev H. f Butl-r of Keoseville,
New York. spoke in ia y,rr interest
ing and lorcible manner. After al
luding to the su. Jet a one of vital
importance. in view of the fact that the
little child in its mothers arms Is to be |
saved or lost forever. he announced as the /
doctrine he proposed 10 consider Soul re- |
generation before the time OF moral re~p0n- /
sibllitY. or infant salvation for the living Is
well a. the dead infant There was no i'm
possibility IN the doctrine for it l. as easy /
for the Divine Being to Tcgencrlte an III /
FAINT soul as that of man and il God /
makes conditions of salvation, as lie does,
lie would not make those conditions of such
a nature as would exciude by their terms
large proportion of the race. On the con-
trarY tie probabilities favored its truth.
because Gods care for the parent extends
to the child He desires she child to be in
To 90 must Tor Him, and His
promises point specially to the Young.
Moreover. The doctrine is confirmed By the
OF some Christians. VINO cannot
tell the time Ui their regeneration, and by
instances not inirequent, of children who
cannot tell the time when they did not love
Jesus. IL Is confirmed also by some ont ofthe
church who arc looking and waiting for some
great change a. a confirmation OF their love
to the Saviour. Ii agrees with Gods PROM
sc to hear prayer. the prayer OF the child.
The child may not understand the nature
If prayer. DO older ones understand it
much better? l. may not understand the
ldlult VI Lut INV b44Au- 10 you UllIr !
Christians understand it? l. it urged that
The child cannot exercise faith? Does not
he child, simple, confiding trust oftimes
-ebuke the lack OF faith in ourselves? The
,arent is praying and the church is praying,
90. Tor the conversion OF children Are
hesc prayers of no value? Glorious prom
ses are connected with them. Do you "a
,ecf them 10 De realised2 The speaker said
n conclusion am afraid we do not feel
he 1lgLess OF God : love, the breadth of his .
promises. tie irecGess OF the salvation for
he child as sci! as the man. | am afraid
We shIrk responsibility that we desire TO
i've 1csi,r than We should ddre t. live. if
We knew uor living conditioned our child's ;
alyItI tear that the church has for
Ot.eH IT,. covenant which includes the
hlldren in Its blessings. her duty to tram
he children for God and 10 welcome :hem
lto the fold of the Great Shepherd rs mem-
ers OF His visible body. would urge up
n infant class teachers to consider it their d.
asiness to make the child's salvation. by =,
he blessing Of God on their labOrs, swre
ing.
Inc committee on nominations reported
he following officers and they were unani-
Iously elected President, Gen. f Davis. ,
arlington Vict-pre-identS, d. II. Nj !
IN. Der, R-sex and l. y. Bishop. VII !
ston +; Recording Secretary. Z W. Hum
hrey. Jericho; Corresponding Secretary
nd Treasurer. {. y. Brigham. Westiord
ounty Committee, Il. Z. Davis. 5 q. !
utter, D. l.. Field, f. II. Lane. |
The following resolutions were intIu- a
uced and unanimously adopted; v
REsoLI TIONs. n
Looking upon the Sunday School. as no longer >
be considered as an institution separate and in
pendent OF the Church, but should embrace a
nong its members. every Church member. heipg d
fact the CHI arch IN school Tor the study OF Gods
lrd also one Of the most potent means Of grace q
Joy ed giving TO the Church the largest portion [,
the converts received by her; therefore, !,
ResOlrtd, That we regard the Sunday School as
,ond TO but agency in Importance (the min G.
ry) under God IN extending the kingdom Of h
rist in the world. And that using It as a mould a.
. power in Christian lie and as an instrument d
lied on in brin gag sinners 10 thirst great care Is Il
manded that the instruction given be Biblical in n
nature and mode, and that sunday School work \,
!, as prerequisite preparation, he imaued with VI
. iulness OF the spirit OF the Divine Teacher. V,
That it is the duty ofthe church to furnish con- 90
nient and an attractive place in which to %
a fffua flta ma