Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-06-14
The County Conference.

The session of the Chittenden Coun-
ty Congregational Conference held at
Essex Junction. is generally conceded to
have been the most interesting and profit
able that has been held for years. The pro-
gramme was well arranged. and there were
no failures among those who were appoint
ed to take part. The committee OF arrange
monts made all things ready Tor tho feast
and the churches OF the county were all rep
resented, save perhaps one or two. The Con
ference assembled in the audience room OF
the church, which had Just been newly
tinted and irescood. and looked as neat and
tidy as a parlor. The pulpit was decOrat-
ed with beautiful arrangement of flowers
in the form of star and an anchor, with
the tall white pampas grass on either side.
and a medley OF flowers in bouquet form in
front of the desk, with the pure white Gala
lily nestled costly in the centre, the con-
tributioAs of Mrs. Brig ham and Mrs. Byron
Stevens. The music was under tho dlrec-
tion OF MIR. d. II. Macomber, Miss Katie
Macomber presiding at the organ, with
DR.. and Mrs. $. W. Smead and Mrs. E. A.
Beach as basso and soprano. and Mrs. DR..
C. NJ. Ferrin as alto, and was admirably
suited to the occasion. the voices blending
in sweet harmony. The hospitality OF the
good people of Essex Junction was I'M
bounded. and cordially extended To all who
came. The attendance was unusually
large, the audience nearly filling the church.
The exercises were interesting throughout.
The opening sermon, by Rev. j. ID. Emer
son A., gave the key note to the meeting, i'm
pressing tho necessity and power OF the
Spirit in the triumphs of the Gospel. The
reports from the churches gave evidence of
the presence Of the spirit in renewing and
saving power in some localities, and the
sad want of it in others, OF encOuraa eme nts
to labor, md Of disc0uragements the bright
and the dark sides of Christian experience
and work. The churches in Burlington and
Charlotte are tho bright GASES in the desert
this year, but the gracious Influences of the
Spirit which they enjoyed in such mark
cd degree have not been wholly want
ing in other portions of the county.
The report of SsbbatE-school work in the
county showed decided Improvement in
the number of church members taking part
in the schools, but presented the sad pic
ture of much work left undone. in the hun
dreds Of children who arc not yet brought
under this means of grace. ln recognition
of its importance, the Conference appointed
Bro. A. NJ Butler as Conference Secretary
of Sahbath-schools.
The papers presented and the discussion
Of topics before the Conference were emf
ncntIy calculated to infuse new zeal into
Christian work. Rev. Mr.. Brastow's dis
cussiOn on "The Christian conscience in re-
lation to the question OF amuScments WAS
carefully considered expression Of the
average sentiment of the Christian commu
nifty in regard to such amusemcnts as gam
bling. billiards, dancing, as being decided
lx, ,,nu,nra1 IN thar taphanau huf Loo ~
ample room for honest differences of opin-
ion in regard to what other amusem6nts are
or are not justifable or proper for Chris
tian people to engsgein. Rey. Mr.. Bylng-
ton presented general ideas 10 regard t. the
"Proper observance of the Sabbath. re-
gardIng it as necessary day of rest, and OF
Scriptural authority, but said little Of its
proper observance in particulars, turning
that over ID the conscience of his hearers
for solution. Rev. Mr.. Stafford presented
a carefully discriminating Estimate Of
Modern Evangelism" with reference to its
power for good and the perllS incident to it.
christian Principle in Business" was very
ably presented by Bro Z. 5. Palmer. illus
trsting and enforcing the idea that the mos.
rigid honesty and integrity in all business
transactions was an essential feature OF
Christian character. In discussing Modern
methods o! raising church funds Bro. 5.
G. Butler made some palpable hits at the
methods sometimes employed for that pur-
pose, such as church fairs, grab-bags, lot
teries, fish ponds, masqucrades, etc. g, and
contrasted them with the scripture rule Of
giving. not so much as duty but as a Tree
will Offering unto the Lord, conservation
of substance received, to the Giyer of all
good. The communion season was prec-
ious sitting together around the table OF
our risen Lord, to which all who love the
Lord Jesus in sincerity and truth were
cordially invited. and in which mem
bers of other evangelical churches par
ticipated. Ii was q fitting close OF the
interesting services of the Conference, a
beautiful type OF the cOmmineling and FL
lowship of Christian hearts in love and la
Dor here. and glorious foretaste of that
blessed c6mmunion;with the Father and the
Son, face to face, which awaits the chosen
people OF God in the mansions above. pre-
pared for them from the foundation Of the
world.
The met ting Of the Woman's Missionary
Board was held during the forenoon OF
Wednesday, was largely attended, and the
exercises were deeply interesting. Reports
from the various towns in the county show
cd that Furnishing auxlliaries were in ex
lsttuCt III hi tuC LOW us WutIc
Congregational churches, save in Hines
burgh and williston. and that lively in
terest was manifested in this phase of Chris
tan work. In Jericho Centre an organize
tion has been in existence since 1906, under
the name of the Ladies Cent Society,""
which has contributed about eighteen hun
dred dollars to tine cause OF missions. One
of similar kind has existed for many years
in Underhill. Both of these have recently
become auxiliaries to the W. b. NJ.
The recent decease Of Mrs Rev. Z. @.
Torrey, of Charlotte. who was former
vice. president of tho State Board. and an
active, earnest and devoted Christian
worker in tho cause, was ieelingly allud-
ed to by tho present vice president as a
great loss to the Woman's Board and to
the world. Interesting papers were read
by Mrs S.F.Wilbur on Our Work, by Mrs.
q. 2. Byington, and by Mrs. F. X. Kyle.
The exercises were frequently interspersed
with singing. and during the progress of
the meeting that beautiful piece OF music
by L. p Bliss. "My Redeemcr, was sweet
ly sung BY four Misses from Jericho. The
meeting was one long to be remembered by
those who were present and was closed by
singing 1--WE shall meet beyond the riy err"
LAYNAS.