St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1882-12-15
st. cSOmsburp GaledunialL
st. Johnsbury. VT. Friday. Dec. is, 1882.
Conference Of Christian Work.
ers - Large Gatherings and
Much Interest.

Much Interest.
The fifth conference of New England
Christian Workers met at this place
Dec. Z.
The opening service was held at the
North church on
THURSDAY EVENING.
The conference was called to order
10y the secretary, +. b. Dillingham; of
Hartford, Conn, who stated that this
was the fifth annual meeting of the
conference. The first was held in 1876,
and there was no session held in 1850
OF 1881.
Col. Franklin Fairbanks was chosen
chairman of the conference for this SEES
sion. Scriptures were read and prayer
was offered by Prof. c. +. Putney. The
pastor. Rev. II. w. Jones, made an adj
dress of welcome. The response was
made by Russell Sturgiss, Jr., of BOs-
ton. a service of prayer followed, led
by ). NJ. Sayford of Newton, Mass,
state secretary of the y. NJ. G. A.
Rev II. l.. Hastings of Boston, edi
tor of The Christian, spoke on "The
Inspiration of the Bible" He spoke of
faith as the basis of all Christian work.
He said that he need not speak of this
as an age of revolution, an age when
faiths and creeds are shaken and scat
tered to the winds, an age which de
mands the proofs for its belief, and
whatever prevails must prove its right
to stand. He said there is an alarming
amount of doubt in the world. The in
spiration of the Bible was considered.
He spoke of it as Il strange, IA remark
able book. Moreover, it is Il lively
book, for one that has been declared
to he dead so many times. A hundred
years ago Noltaire declared that in
century hence Christianity would be
thing of history. The Bible still lives
and Noltaire is passing out of history.
He was followed in his predictions by
Thomas Paine. who filled drunkard's
grave. He had Il letter in his posses
sion written by lady who, then "a
child. was present at the death bed of
Paine, the letter depicting the terrible
scenes of the infiders last moments.
He next considered Ingersoll and his
Mistakes of Moses taking up some
of the achievements of the great jew
ish law-givcr. He showed that living
in accordance with Moses laws, the
average of the life of the Jewish peO
pie, to-day, in whatever quarter of the
cess of the general average. One of
the great reasons for this excess is in
the strict observance among the Jews
of the Sabbath as day of rest. He
said that Moses, in establishing the
twelve tribes of Israel, founded the
first republican form of government i'll
and the first total abstinence society
was formed 10y Moses, as recorded i'll
the sixth chapter of Numbers.
At the close of the service "A prayer
meeting was held at the Y. NJ. G. A.
rooms. On
FRIDAY MORNING
the services opened by a devotional
service, at 9.3O, led by IL. n. F. Mar
shall of Boston, the subject being
BODILY Conservation"
At the opening of the regular session
Il committee of three was appointed,
consisting of II. NJ. Moore and f. O..
Winslow of Boston and ii. ID. Smith of
Plantsvlle, to whom all matters per
tanning to the conference should be re-
ferrcd. The committee announced the
subjects and the speakers for the morn
ing session. The subject, "The World
for Christ" was sub divided as follows ::
(a) Individual Work (b) Organiza-
tons; (c) The Work of the Holy
Ghost. The second division was con-
Sidered first, 10y G.. II. Slade of Provi-
dence. He considered it under four
heads Churches of Christ, Sunday
schools, Missionary societies and the
\. VI. &. \. He unconsciously raised
quite breeze by criticising the educa-
ton of young men for the ministry
and said that nine out of ten gradual
ing from college never have led soul
to Christ. He also criticised professors
and presidents of colleges, alleging
that they become so absorbed in the
discussion of abstract questions that
they become backslidden, and saying
that there should he IA reformation in
this respect.
c. X. Ober of Boston considered the
first division of the subject, "Individ-
ual Work" and enumerated some of
he advantages of personal work
whose remarks were very practical
The corresponding disadvantages were
also cited.
c. j. Littletield of Boston sang
"While the days are going by" and
Mr.. Sturgiss spoke ON "The Work OF
the Holy Ghost a general discussion
here ensued over reflection of Mr.
Slade upon college professors and the
illogical seminarieS. The
AFTERNOON SESSION
was opened by prayer by Mayor Harri,
of New London, Conn, and the discus
sion of the forenoon was continued fol
a short time. The subject for discus
sion, "What are the Hindrances il
Christian Work % WIS then taken III
by Allen Folger of Concord, n. H., fol
lowed by c. j. Littlefield. This wa'