Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-06-13

Christian truth lend plots Of eyll and their lane
/ iul influence extends itself IN all directions
There Is not church In this State, strong or
feeble thai should moi every year devote of its
offerings To Chrisanize Vermont 10y sustaining all
4 our small churches and supplying destitute COM
muntes with the public worship Oi God. For there
IL not church that does not depend part for its
membership or church officers on persons who have
Z been trained up in or joined II from some of the
feeble churches. The growth and prosperity of all
| OF the stronger churches especially depends on the
thorough religious leiNening Of our rural districts
with gospel Influences, from which districts persons
are constantly moving into the larger parishes
! rylng with them the religious sentiments and
| prime pies they have gained from attendance
! upon the lille country church. the ungUIlness
they have Imhihed IN the hack districts small
/ towns where the church br1. the Sabbath srhnDl
and the prayer-mertlng Were never present as
agencies 10 mould their lives after the divine pat
! tern.
The churches Of vermont have not done their duty
the past year In contributing To sustain the feeble
/ churches Of the state.
These are only two conferences In the state that
have contributed Ia treasury during the year Us
much AS we have paid GU. IN the same time To
sustain the feeble churches within the bounds Of
! those conferences. Those two exceptional confer
ences whose churches have given US more than than
| they have received are Addison and Caledonia
| such a stale OF things cannot continue. The un-
| pahi demands in the hands Of the treasurer has
enabled us Ia meet considerable part of this
deficiency Tor Tins year. II Is Necessary however for
! the churches tn consider well the actual amount
needed for our STATE work and see that that
Ne have in our STATE about i6 5no resident mem
hers To carry on our Stat" work with the strictest
ECONOMY consistent with II highest efficiency,
need a contribution from every church in the State
10 average AT least MY cents a member
| Thai will give us some s. ga. Whar IS received
! from epaeies and interest should bring up the
amount 10 between nine and ten thousand dollars
| We ASK from the members Of this society, from
all the ministers aud churches careful cOnsdera-
lion u these facts and such action as shall ell
sure the spiritual care of Vermont hy Vermont
| churches.
| The report was accepted.
DR. Stevens of Westminster then address
ed the Convention. This question, he said,
comes up every year. Running through the
Secretary's report is the underlying fact of in
creasng interest in the general missionary
work and diminishing interest in the feeble
churches. We have permanent fund of
$40, 0O0-but the Society would be richer il
this was wiped out. Bring the work direct
lyto her churches, with no fund standing be-
| tween.
AT this point, in answer to questions by
DIR. Stevens, the treasurer and secretary eX
planned the origin of the permanent fund.
No contributions, except those particularly
specified, have been added 10 that fund.
DIR. Stevens continued: If there is any
place in the world that the churches of Yer
mont are concerned in it is in our own State.
This is II Home Missionary Society. We
must look after our own churches in these
/
all the work We must take the smaller
churches to our hearts We must do more
than give money. We must have interest
and care and love. This convention has an
influence, and every little church is benefited
by it.
President G.. b. Hubert of Miidlebury
College spoke in terms of high praise of the
Secretary's report. He referred to the work
/ h.l., 4 -.
inclined TO disparage the work of this society
We ought to read the reports carefully and
in our pulpits bring the facts before the
| people.
| The Rev. Mr.. Torrey spoke of the need of
pastors of the stronger churches looking after
the smaller ones.
| Rev. S. W. Dixie Of ROyalton introduced
| the following resolutions and supported them
| in brief speech
| Rss"lr'd That while the home missionary work is
| practically one all over the country and no antag-
nnlsIn between the claims of the east and the west
| should he for moment admitted; yet, on prin-
ciples accepted by all, the feeble churches OF our
| own State should receive our nrsi attention and
| and should he faithfully aided from year 10 year
| according In their needs.
| Et,oired. Thai in view Of the facts presented in
| the report OF the Directors the churches of this
State, without exception are urgently called upon
TO contribute To the treasury Of the Vermont bones
nc MISSIONARY Society 10 the amount OF al least nifty
cents a member.
Rev. Henry Fairbanks of ST. Johnsbury,
spoke of the need of supporting the small
| churches.
Rev. DIR. Hooker of Middlebury advocated
the adoption of the resolutions.
Rev DIR. Worcester Of Massachusetts be-
ing called on by the president, referred to the
time, thirty three years ago, when he filled
the secretary's chair In an interesting and
eloquent address DIR. Worcester urged the
necessity of generous support of the So
ciety.
The resolutions were then adopted.
The nominating committee then reported,
presenting the names of the present officers,
except that Mr. Thaddeus Fairbanks, de
Ginning 10 serve longer, Rev Henry Fair
hauks was put in his place and the report
was accepted and adopted.
President Buckham extended the couric-
sizes Of the University and Rev DR. Stafford
those of the Home and the meeting closed
with hencdicton by the Rev. DIR. Worcester
of Massachusetts
AFTERNOON.
Convention opened with prayer by Mr.
Putnam of Charlotte
Mr.. Hale moved to reconsider the vote or
dering the previous question, and the motion |
being carried, asked unanimous consent TO |
withdraw the motion to order the previous |
question.
The Convention then took up the regular
order for the afternoon
The report of the Corresponding Secre-
tarynf the convention, Rev L. $ Pratt, WAS
then read by Mr. Pratt
Next came the essay, rs follows:
HE PROMINENCE DIE To THE ETHICAL EIE-
MENr IN PREACHING.
IAN essay read 10y Prof T. H. Higley of Middle
bury before The Congregational General COnyen-
lion, June II, ls.9.l
have hal a half suspicion thai In the appoint
ment OF layman like myself to discuss preaching
there might he some lurking irony. Having never
written sermon, naturally know Just how
mons ought 10 he written However that NAV be-, |
can certainly say, before this audience forasmuch
ts know that you have for many years been u
Judge of these matters and have more perfect
knowledge Of this way, | can with the more cheer
iulness AMI holiness present my thoughts before
YOU, feeling assured that any shafts of misconcep-
non or sophisry which should ny would fall harm
essly back from the mailed armor OF your orthO-
iONy. while u shall he fortunate To present
any Truth, II Will md ready recognition and accept
inre In discussing the right relation Of the ethical
ID IA" other elements IN preaching. some definitions
,r postulaieS Will lac Of assistance at the outset. In
he 1rsi place may he assumed thai all the preach
ng Of the Christian minister viii lie Christian ,
preaching. The ductrina sermon should expound |
'niy Christian doctrines kNegetical, historical,
biographical preaching should all seek TO forth
hlngs Christ sci them forth, should all lie pene
rated with His spirit anl he devoted 10 the further
NEE Of His Kingdom. In like manner In speaking of
-thcal preaching wr are 10 understand only the I
reaching Of Christian ethics. Christian ethics {
5 The law OF life and conduct which We md III the {
Nalnple ami Teaching OF Christ, the practical way
II life AS revealed ~ Him. The term should z
leHer mean the delivery Uf nne-spun theories of I
morals uf human invention, or The elaboration /
Il the sulhleties OF philosophic casuistry. II
We may all, however, he agreed upon the d
rfni.inn Of practical ethics and still have different
onceptions OF ethical preaching Persuasion 10 p
ny line oi action naturally includes some EXPOSE n
ION OF the principles upon which such action is f
stsed. Aud 80 We have doctrine of ethics and h
thlcal doctrines. These terms suggest something
the old debating club question VI The relation OF :,
eory 10 phellee dispute ~ which both sides are n
ways right and neither can he wrong without de- y
lr"ying the other All the great themes Of religion
ave points of contact with human conduct and y
ence doubt moi that all the preachers of our =
hurches have regarded and do still regard their =,
rdarhlng ethical IN tins broad sense, whatever ~
lay bu lhu rSperigl range of topics or methods
nth which The, chlrfy deal. And 1t must be AL i
htied that tins opinion Is TO u considerable ex-
nj correct lrglng rs shall that ethical results
Inuli he The supreme ann VI all pulpit mnstra- Ii
"ns. would YET recognize the impOssibiliiy of
Instruclmg any casl-lrOn rule by which alone
ich results are Ia hc reached. 4 large liberty
luSt he allowed for the play OF the preachers ID
WI personality, and for the circumstances and =,
Ngencies Of special communities and periods. u
he same topic AT one lime and under one treat n
lent ma, be theological skeleton and At an -
her time under Different treatment may Ice an Il
cenliye To christian actiylil. Al preaching. II
len. may, should. and probably will have lis u
hica tendencies. But u ~ not wtll Tor us To ii
ave these Iendencies In take care OF Them
Ives without setting clearly before minds the nj
ur position which these interests occupy in the ::
'gion of Christ. II We could have u style OF III
-tachng which hal for lis whole aim AMI result nj
e dissemination OF correct views about Cod
,avrn, hell, the Bible and all matters of religion H.
At alniiAer style which moved men To lead noble
hrlstkr lives W. shpAld all, doubt not, prefer 81
hot u eli
Ic without, Ia fact. having much Of the other "
M i' bare superstition Is suiirient ihlnk show M
e irur relation Of the ethical element, AMI to
siiiy the proposition that This element is supreme
III vital In christianity, thai all other aims AMI $50
lrrrsta are suhOrllpale 10 this, and important W
t rs they promote AMI strengthen this supreme a,
III vital ann. In stating the ethical claim thus "
Iungly Am mol impugnng OF un,erS aluing the ga
hrih OF sound and positive doctrine. The saving
hirh We sometimes hear: 1T Is no matter Whai ol
man believes II he only behaves himself" grncr- -
u conveys huriful error Taken literally that III
wing Is strirll, true and can lee proved from m
rupture aud from reason. Hut IN the sense which "
rtllL m 10 |