The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-06-29
Congregational State Convention.

Inc elRnty y-SlAtn generl convention
of Congregational ministers and
churches of Vermont opened at Brad
ford, June 10, Vice-Presidcnt d. NJ
Camp, of Newport, in the chair. The
opening sermon was preached by Rev.
G. b. Stafford, of Burlington, on the
text | Cor. xiii H. 1t was a strong
discourse on the methods of the work
ing of the Holy Spirit.
The report on the state of religion
was made by the corresponding secre-
tary, Rev. p. s. Pratt, Of Dorset. 1t
was an encouraging report. There
have been l, ,155 additions to the church,
cs during the year. The congregations,
and especially the Sabbath schools,
have increased. The state has shared
in the general interest on the subject of
religion.
In the evening, a discussion OH the
methods of terminating church men,
bership was opened by Rev. l.. o. Bras
tow, Of Burlington, in an able address.
Rev. c. S. Smith read carefully pre-
pared and valuable essay on "System-
attic Bencvolence."
DR.. G. l.. Walker, of Brattleboro,
offered series of resolutions, recon-
mending that the church sever its rela-
tons with those who have ceased to
share its faith and with thnse who have
been long absent and have failed TO re-
port to the church, and that the separa-
ton be by some process which shall not
bear the opprobrium which attaches to
communication. The resolutions
were referred to n special committee.
After considerable discussion, in which
Rev. Mr.. Van Norden and Rev. II.
Fairbanks (who strongly opposed the
resoutions) and others participated,
the committee reported, by DR.. Walker,
series of resolutions, modifying Mr..
Walkers resolutions and intended as a
compromise between the differing opin-
ions on the subject. A warm discus
sion took place over the report. Mr..
Stafford urged the duty of reducing the
nominal membership Of the churches to
the actual membership. Others oppos-
ed any easy method of exit from the
church and urged that absentees should
be carefully followed by the interest of
the church, and not lost sight of, and
should be fully cut off from the church
only for positive and well known cause.
On motion of DR.. Walker, the two
series of resolutions were referred to a
committee, to report at the next con-
vention, consisting of Rev. c. S. Smith,
Rev. r. T. Hall and Rev. c. W.
Thompson.
On Wednesday, the Vermont Domes-
tic Missionary Society held its 57th an
nual meeting. The interesting report
of its secretary, Rev. c. S. Smith, was
followed by addresses by Rev. w. S.
Hazen, Rev. j. G.. johnson, DR.. Drake
and Rev. j. F. Stone. The following
officers were chosen for the ensuing
year:
President-Hon. Franklin Fairbanks
e-President-Dr. c. B. Hubert.
Secretary-Rev. G.. s. Smith.
Treasurer. C.. Emery.
Auditor-Hon. John A. Page.
Directors-Rev. L. Tenney, Hon
Thaddeus Fairbanks, Rev. c. E. Ferrin
Rev. W. S. Hazen, Rev. A. W. Wild
Rev. j. e.. johnson, Rev. J. G.. Hale
Rev. G.. B. Stafford. Rev. j. S. Spaul
ding, Rev. |. Jennings, Rev. S. W
Dixie, Deacon c. f. Thompson.
On Wednesday evening, the Yer
mont Education Society held its ami
versary. Rev. c. w. Thompson in the
chair. The treasurer reported S5S9.9(
treasury, S39.96.
The secretary reported and addressed
the meeting, followed by well prepar
ed address from Rev. ii. W. Jones, o.
st. Johnsbnry The following Officers
were chosen for the coming year:
President-M. II. Buckham.
-Presidents-Rcv. c. B. Hubert
Rev. ii. T. Fuller.
Secretary-Rev. A. b. Swift
Treasurer-Deacon G. f. Thompson.
Directors-Rev. NJ. L. Severance, Rev
c. w. Thompson, Rev. G. G. Torrey
Rev. c. Van Norden, Rev. G.. B. Tolman
Rev. L. G.. Reed, Rev. r. 7. Hall, Rev
A. Stevens, d. D., Rev. Charles Duren
Rev. G.. II. French, Rev. E. p. Wild
Rev. Leonard Tenney, Rev. r. Il
Searle.
The Fairbanks Education Board re
ported through its chairman and treas
urer. Thirteen students havo beef
aided during a whole or part of the yea
to the amount of 81 900.
The members of this board are as fol
lows: Rev. E. 7. Fairbanks, Rev. al
dace Walker, ID. D., Rev. Henry Fair
banks, j. c. Emery, Esq, Rev. c. W
Thompson.
Rev. Lewis Grout addressed the con
vention on the interests of the Ameri
can Missionary Association. Rev. j
G.. johnson, of Rutland, by request o
the secretary of the American Board
spoke on the need of prayerful sympa
thy with the missionaries in Turkey, il
China, and in Japan.
On Thursday, Rev. L. II. Hooker, o
| Castleton, read an able essay on ''Wha
, the Sabbath-school might be-"
The following were appointed dele
gates to the National Council TO be hell
in Detroit: Rev. G. L. Walker, Rev. j
q. Johnson and Hon. II. Fairbanks
with DR.. Hubert, Rev. W. W. Win
chester and James W. IIickok as alter
mates.
The convention will meet next yea
al Rutland.
The Womans Board of Missions, O
, which Mrs. Governor Fairbanks is pres
, ident, held its meeting on Wednesday
Mrs. Bissell, from Ahmednuggcr, In
dia, made an interesting address, and
letter was read by Mrs. Montgomery
One hundred auxiliaries now report I
the state branch. The meetings wer
, full of interest.
; The following officers were electe
for the state convention, next year
! President, ID. NJ. Camp, of Newport
/ vice-president, G.. b. Stafford, Burline
, ton; secretary, G. II. Merrill, Brattle
/ boro; treasurer, j. c. Emery, Mont
pelier.
! A SLIGHT MIsTAKE.-The presen
Archbishop of Dublin, the gifted at