Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-11-19
The conrreya.ionali..s.

The congreya.ionalis.s.
SATIoNAL CONVENTION AT ST. louis.
At Saturday mornings session DIR. Ii.
Brown read lengthy statement concerning
the American Congregational Union, whose
Chief object is 10 build churches iD the West
and South. During the 81 years Of the e4-
isteuce of the society it had erected 1, 100
churches, all Of which are free from debt.
No house is dedicated until il is paid for,
and the society then takes first mortgage
on it for all it is worth, 50 that it cannot get
in debt in future. The society has had q
working capital during the past three years
OF $4,000, and is in n prosperous condition.
DIR. Tarbox Of Massachusetts read state
ment regarding the American College and
Educational Society, showing that 800
young men are now receiving assist
ance, being distributed among 81 colleges
and universities and that in the past three
years the society has paid SG2 Goo for cduca-
tiOnal work. The churches, he said, do not
seem to appreciate the Importance of this
work, as MT one in ten contributes any
thing. The efforts Of the society in behalf
of colleges had been more successful. Dur
ing the past three years Carlton College had
been aided S2j 600 Colorado College @2S,
900. Doan College S23, 900. Drury College
$50, 900, Iowa College $4,000, Ryspn Col
lcge S60,0O0, Pacific College $4,000, and
Washburn College 5000; a total of S235,-
900, all of which had come from the East.
large amount Of this money had been
given by Mrs. Stone, a most benevolent
lady of Massachusetts,, who had also con-
tributed freely for the education Of descrv-
inE young men.
Hon. \. c. Barst0w resigned his member
ship of the Indian committee. Committees
were named on memorials and other subjects
and the nominating committee was instruct
ed to appoint delegates to France and Eng
| land and to various borders IN this and other
countries. The discussion on ministerial re-
| sponsibility and standing was resumed.
| DIR. Qnirk, Secretary of the council, offer
! ell resolution as substitute that a j,,0 re
Hata council should be the ultimate resort in
| cases of ministerial standing. In other re-
| spects the substitute did not differ materially
| from the majority report. After a long de
bate this substitute was adopted, and all
resolutions on the subject were ordered
| printed.
Rev. DIR. Shirley of the American Mission
arr Society made a statement Of the work
| accomplished by that society The society
was out of debt, and had received gift of
1000 from Mrs. Stone of Massachusetts.
The whole amount received by the society in
/
sum had been used in establishing churches
and organizing schools. great work had
been done in the schools, and schools Of
higher grade had been established in eight
Southern States, with POO teachers and over
5000 colOred pupils. He spoke especially Of
the freedmen, and the conclusion was that
the only way to make them safe members of
society was to educate them. Rev. DIR.
Means addressed the council on the Publica-
ton Society. and urged that it he better sup
piled with means to do its work.
Rev. DIR. Storrs spoke regarding the Home
| Missionary Society. He urged that teachers
as well as preachers be commissioned, cspe-
cially in Jesuit and Mormon sections Of coun-
try, where the work, to be successful, must
be carried on among children. lie had never
had such great success in Sunday school work
rs during the past three years. lie spoke OF
the wonderful growth Of the far West. In
Dakota there were already 80 Congregational
churches, and in nine years, with proper en-
couragement, he believed there wonld be 20p.
In Colorado IL churches have been aided
the last year. and in Utah, Wyoming and
Idaho there were similar great religious
fields requiring only development.
Rev. DIR. Noble of Chicago read q paper on
the Northwest, in which he denounced Nor
monism in strong terms. lie alluded to Utah
as being made by that faith laboratory of
filth, craft and cruel wrong. For three dec
AIDES he said Congress and the courts had
done next TO nothing to check or put down
the evil From Mormonism the doctor drift
cd to the Jesuitism of New Mexico, and
charged the Roman Catholic Church with
nearly all the crimes in the calendar, and
held it responsible for the lawlessness and
disorders in the Territories where Mormon
ism had not spread. To meet what he con-
-. - II
Government must send the best men to the
frontier for its officials. Preachers AMI
teachers must be sent, especially the latter,
as they excited less prejudice than the
preacher.
The evening session was occupied in al
dresses by several gentlemen. No business
of Importance was transacted.
CLOSING PROCEEDINGS.
In the Congregational Council, the Com
mittee on Nominations presented the names
of DIR. GOodell of St. Louis and J. VI. Sturte-
want of Illinois as delegates TO the General
Assembly of the Presbyterian church South,
and Rev. Edward Davis of New York dele
gate to the Congregational Union of Eng
land and Wales.
The report of the Publication Committee
was adopted. a motion TO reconsider the
. vote by whic,. tho Sunday school work WIS
transferred from the Home Missionary Soci-
ETY. 10 the Congregational Publishing Society
at the last meeting of the Council was carried
and the matter referred to the committee, to
report soon as possible.
The report of the Committee on Indian
Affairs in Dakota was presented and conf
mittce of seven appointed to consult with the
Government regarding missionary work in
that territory.
The Business Committee submitted rcsO-
luton that the Council place itself on record
as deploring the alarming increase OF divorces
throughout the land, and calling upon the
ministry TO use earnest efforts to preserve the
sanctity of family relations and labor 10 pre-
vent divorces, except upon ground, sane
toned by the church. Adopted.
The committee to whom was rel, n, Il the
transfer of Sunday-school matters from the
Home Missionary Society to the Publishing
Society reported resolution approving the
transfer and recommending the appointment
of Sunday-school secretary, which, after
considerable discussion, was tablet and
resolution offered hv lir. Abbott requesting
the two sCrI-t.'S To- Hui! a conference and
arrange the difficulties The Council then
adjourned.
About one hundred and fifty members OF
the Council left on Monday night on an ex-
cursion to the Indian Territory and Kansas.