Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-10-17

of power hy the Holy Ghost.
Al the suggestion of Mr. Y. X. Brown
the Lords Prayer was repeated in unison.
The Convention then adjourned sine die
THE SECEETiEY's REPoET
The executive committee elected at st.
Johnshury present Il report Of the work com
mittcd to them. and of the condition of The
| Associations
The next week after the convention the
newly appointed committee met at Montpc-
licr To organize and arrange for the work Of
the year. How to do this was not clear and
very great anxiety was felt, so that almost
all even from remote parts of the Stale at
tended, thirteen being present.
After much earnest prayer and conference
the way opened, and an organization was
effected, and provision made for our work
The chairmcn was charged with the duty of
arranging to do what could be done for the
Associations by systematic visitation and
otherwise, and the secretary was to cores
pond with churches applying for Gospel
meetings, and to arrange and provide work
crs for them. In the Providence of God the
ability of the committee to carry out this
| plan has been seriously limited. while the
opportunity and demand for work have been
much less than was anticipated.
The last -four annual reports read at these
conventions have been mostly occupied with
the cvangcl!siic work carried on under the
direction of the committee, which developed
50 Unexpectedly, occupying the attention
and demanding the best effort of those en-
gagged, as being Tie work which God by His
| Providence Nns cif.arl. indicating should tT
| earnestly pushed forward. BY Providenccs
not less clear lie has during the past year
limited the amount of this work, while at
the same time lie has in marked way
blessed the few meetings that have been
held. The committee has never considered
ii any part of its work 10 solicit invitations
to conduct meetings, or to set at work trains
Of influence which would lead to such in
vitatiOnS. The pastors are supposed to
know when they need help, the churches are
the proper judges of the time for inviting
this cooperative agency. During the year
comparatively few such invitations have
been received, though many more than could
he complied with promptly, and according
TO the wishes of those making the request.
rs several asked for individual leaders at
times when their preference could not be
met.
The first regular series of meetings was at
West Milton November 2d and 3D.. followed
by others i'm the same town in January,
which Were kept up with interest by the St
Albans brethren during most of that month,
and resulted apparently in great good. In
Bridgcwatcr the committee arranged for two
series of meetings, conducted hy Brother
Small. the first commencing November 22d
\ very small church had been for years
struggling against every disadvantage in a
community where it required much moral
courage 10 cspouse the unpopular cause of
Jesus OF Nazareth. but the Holy Spirit had
begun To manifest His power, and the little
band of disciples were praying and hopeful.
In the meetings the interest was increased
and developed, a large number sought the
Saviour, and many are giving evidence that
they found Him The revival fostercd hy
this and other agencies continued until the
strength OF the little missionary church was
doubled, and their courage SO much in
creased thai the people have sat about build
ing mccting-housc.
There was also in November Il series of
meetings led by Brother Farnsworlh at Tm
bridge which the pastor reports as of great
interest and profit, the Scriptures being
'opcncd in II strong and healthy manner.
Grateful mention must also he made of the
presence of Gods Spirit in the meetings ar
ranged for and conductcdhv Brother Quimhy
port and Athens, during five weeks in De
ccmhcr and January, when large number
found the Saviour. The Lord thus rcwar,ling
the faithful brethren and nttcsting Ills con
tinucd readiness Ia bless this form Of special
work. Brother Quimby also led the two
series of meetings appointed by the com
mittcc al East Poulney. Besides the rcgn-
lar series Of meetings reported, services have
been conducted occasionally al several other
wise unsupplicd points, and the poor have
heard the Gospel.
Early in the year the committee arranged !
To visit the Associations, and ten or twelve
were reached before our chairman who was !
charged with the details of this part of the |
work was called out of the State. These |
meetings OF the visiting brethren with those
resident in each place were partly directed |
to stimulate and guide in Association work |
and partly took the form Of Gospel meet /
ings, sometimes continuing through two or /
three days, and being blessed of God to the |
Of many. Looking back over the /
year it is apparent that while the Lord did |
not allow the committee To arrange for much |
Evaneelistic work, Ills presence was mani |
Tested in a marked way in the meetings that /
were held
Before discussing these facts as affecting /
the questions of our duty and plans for the /
future, let us Glance at the condition of the .
local associations SO that We may understand .
our obligations tu them also The discour- |
aging character OF these reports is the very 1
feature that ought to stimulate our effort 10 /
strengthen the things that remain, and some |
Of which seem ready to die
From the list of Associations rs il had 1
been given six were omitted last year as !
being practically dead, and though some /
effort has been made since 10 revive some oi /
them II has moi been successful. These were /
at Chester Johnson. Concord, East Con /
cord West Concord, Peru and Winooshi. |
of the thirty eight remaining (iive new ones |
having been added last year. seven have not /
recently reported though solicited To- do 81. /
80. These are Bristol, North Concord, .
Chelsea, Enosburgh, Essex, North Fair
faN and Nergcnucs. Most Of these are /
understood 10 bc alive, and some of them |
very active. Thirteen others are reported as
inactive, dishandcd or dead individual re-
ports being ms follows;
Barre, ''our Association has NOT met for .
two years
Barton, mo y. NJ. G. \ here and never
has been"
Charlotte, "our Association suspended over
two years ago. our rooms were needed.
Ludlow, mo meetings practically very
nearly dead" Othcr Christian agencies.
Lyndon, organization died five or six
months ago
Manchester, "Associaiion discontinued for
some time with little prospect etc. Few
young men.
Montpelier. 'c"mpclcd To abandon our
rooms and no meetings since, but alive.
Miles Pond. organization completely run
down" Members have left tha place.
Passumpsic, " Association has held no