St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-06-30

eu III conference was SHOWN DN Jne III
PRODUCTION of a motion upon which
there was decided difference of Opin-
ion this provoked heated discus
sion, and although not an unkind word
was spoken, yet in the debate which
began, the earnestness of those who
supported and opposed the resolution,
seemed likely to result in some hasty,
unchristian expression ; but just at
this time the president arose and said,
"Brethren, let us stop right here and
ask God to direct us in this matter -
and called on one from each of the two
factions to lead in prayer. As the two
brothers took their seats, there was
stiffness all over the building, broken
at last by the withdrawal of the motion
by the brother who presented it. That
men of such decided views should
pause in the midst of an animated dis
cussiOn, and with equal earnestness
and simplicity, present to their Heaven
ly Father their trouble and ask him to
guide them in their difficulty, is "A pow
erful commentary upon the truth and
power of Christianity.
That the conference did not meet for
an ''easy-going" consideration of the
topics and business before them, is
shown by the fact that every day there
were three business sessions, lasting
from an hour and half to three hours
each beside these there were Open-air,
noon, and hall meetings, and various
conferences of young, old, railroad and
state secy's, so that the four days at
New Haven were filled with hard, solid
work.
The most inspiring and impressive
service of the conference was the clos
ing meeting Sunday evening. After
prayer, the leader asked for express
sions, i'll Scripture language, of impress
sions received at the conference. The
variety, number and appropriateness
of the texts repeated were wonderful.
Then silent prayer for three or four
minutes in which we were asked to
pray for our own selves, that Christ
would take complete possession of our
entire being, was called for. "With
heads still bowed let us sing, 'Conse-
crate me now to Thy Service, Lord, "
said the leader in low voice and
with thrilling effect this prayer was
sung. "NOw one or two minutes more
i'll silent prayer and then let us sing,
Nearer my God, to Thee" AS the
first verse was finished, our leader said,
''Some of us go back to hard, self-deny-
ing fields of labor once more let us
sing these words, 'E'en though it be IA
cross that raiseth me- " and in II low,
prayerful manner, the Secretaries of
North America re-dedicated themselves
to Christ's service. As bowed heads
were raised and eye met eye, many
tears of consecrated joy were seen, and
| the quiver of the lips told how strong
was the love for God, of these strong
men.
During the presentation of subjects
for prayer, among which were requests
for sick and absent Secretaries, young
man rose in the back of the house and
said, During the young mems meeting
in the opera house this afternoon,
gave myself to Christ pray for me-"
/ T,,-
rose to their feet and with such an eff
feet which none can know who did not
feel it, sang, "Praise God from whom
| all blessings flow :" As we sat down
Il student rose, and with broken voice
and tears in his eyes, said, 81 thank
God for the blessing received at Yale
college from the influence of this Sec
retares Conference"
The meeting was now nearly through
Just before closing we saw a gray
haired old gentleman rise from his
seat, and, raising his hands toward
heaven like Jacob of old, he said, "God
bless you my sons" 1t was the bene-
diction of "Father Pierce of Brooklyn
n. Y, who for forty years has worked
among the lOwly in that city. Ou
leader then rose and said. EWe me-
last night and held a service in memo
ry of Brother Lewis. In the year t,
come, someone now in our ranks vii
very likely drop out. Let us by ou
renewed conservation, live such live,
and do such deeds, that when callet
we also may be ready to go. Let III
sing that old hymn so familiar to IL
all, Shall we gather at the river afte
the singing we will unite in praye
with Brother McBurney of New York.
A very simple and childlike prayer wa
offered, every one kneeling, and thel
rising we clasped hands, and fOrmin;
four rows around the hall, united il
, singing our closing hymn, "Blest be til,
tie that binds our hearts in Christian
love" We all began the hymn but no
all could finish it ; the heart ,rOult
choke the words and so some of u
stood in silence, with blinded eyes
and, with that deep love for Chris
which so truly constrained us, bore ou
+ part III the closing privileges of tia
: General Secretaries Conference
c. II. ;.
A Horrible Situation.