Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-03-17
Gospel Meetings In Montpelier.

An unusually wide and deep interest has been
felt in the churches and among the people Of God
outside Of Montpelier for the success Of the gospel
meetings that have been in session at Bethany
church, Montpelier. for week past Many pray
ers have been offered and ardent hopes cherished
that God would visit his people in this center OF
the state and that the spirit might be poured out
from on high. These hopes, II they have not been
realized to the extent they were cherished, have
not been wholly disappointed The Holy Spirit has
been present in his quickening and renewing
power. The meetings began with fair attendance
and promise on Tuesday afternoon, the 9th inst,
and went forward increasing in numbers and In
terest till their close, Monday evening OF this
week. They were held afternoon and evening,
with prayer-meetng Friday. Saturday and
Sabbath morning. young peoples meeting pre-
cedng for an hour the general evening meeting
Saturday, Sabbath and Monday evenings. Sab
bath day the forenoon services were held In the
different churches, meeting as usual, all coming
together again at two clock in the afternoon and
seven in the evening. The attendance Sabbath
day was large, attentive and thoughtful
These meetings have been conducted and sus-
tanned mainly by the representatives of the
Young Mems Christian Association the churches,
the pastors and brethren Of Montpelier giving
themselves as helpers and fellow laborers rather
than as directors and leading workers. Workers
for the young men have been here In large num-
bers and from a wider region than usual In the
gospel meetings. Among them have been Rev.
Henry Fairbanks and Colonel Fairbanks of St.
Johnsbury, Rev. w. s. Hazen Of Mortified,
Rev. J. II. Rabbit OF Swanton, +. L. Small of
Springfield, p c. Abbey Of Essex, d. f. Curtis OF
Lowell, l.. b. Lord of Burlington, A. w. Ford of
Rochester and l. +. Hall of Brattleboro-these
last two leading in the service of song. r. X.
Remington of Fall River, G. II. Shaw Of Middle
boro, and II. NJ. Moore Of Boston, Massachusetts.
Besides these, neighboring pastors and brethren
interested have been in attendance and aided by
their presence and words.
Rev Henry Fairbanks has had the general over.
sight and direction, and most discreetly led this
devoted band Of Christian workers. They have
led us in prayer and praise and presented Christ
as the end, and his love as the motive to work
They have held before us the sin Of indifference
and half-hearted service; told us how to live and
| grow in the word and work of God, and of thu
| conservation that makes us meet for the Master
use; exhorted us to prayer, and confession, ant
| abiding in Christ, and to make religion rule II
family and in all the business Of life. In this way
and in the family as well as church, these breth
rem have worked with an earnestness and de
votion a sacrificing perseverance and skill worth,
of the work in which they are engaged and tn
end they seek-savation from sin-and with
tenderness that the Spirit gives only to those tina
give themselves up to work with him. We ar
witnesses that, coming in the name of Christ
these brethren have brought the kingdom Of Co
near to us. Some have passed in and others ar
standing at the door. Thus the current of world
illness in the community has been checked and W
have been brought under the power of the wor
| to come. In the meantime the great work to b
done for Christ and his redeemed has been 3
opened up before us, and the privilege and expo
| rience of working with our Lord has been so sal
isfactory, that we are unwilling that either tn
work or the meetings that have brought thes
things before us SHOULD cease Accordingly,
has been arranged to continue the meetings afte
an interval of two or three days. The gospt
meetings will begin again Friday evening in tn
vestry of the Methodist church.