Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-09-07

The 42nd annual meeting Of the Windham
County Conference of Congregational church
es was convened on Wednesday morning in
the Congregational church at Putney. The
trains brought goody number of delegates,
and many came by private conveyance. The
opening service of social worship was at 10. 30
o'clock This was followed by a most timely
discourse from Rev. c. II. Merrill of West
Brattleboro, emphasizing the necessity of at.
tending to present duty rather than TO specu-
laton about the future, from the text, Luke
Is % 81. This sermon called forth the
earnest attention and hearty assent of the
congregation. and will probably be printed in
full in the Vermont Chronicle. The roll of
the conference was then made out by the
Registrar, Rev. G. II. Merrill, and organiza.
ton Was effected by the choice of Rev A.
Stevens, d. d., as moderator, and Rev. j. L.
sewal, scribe. Adjournment was next in or
der, and the bounteous repast furnished in
the vestry by the ladies was most enjoyably
discussed.
Promptly at 100 o'clock the conference
came to order, the customary committees
were appointed, and proposed change in
the constitution discussed. At O'Clock the
narrative of the state of religion in the
county was presented by Rev. A. Holbrook
of Windham, and discussed by the lay dele
gates from the various churches, Dsa. G.
F. Thompson of Brattleboro then opened the
discussion of the question, How can more
spiritual power be secured in our churches ?"
and was followed by Rev. 0. G.. Baker of
Jamaica. The discussion was then made
general and called forth much earnest
thought from many of the delegates. Tea
was served at o'clock in the vestry, and ar
rangements were made for assigning guests
to the hospitality of different homes for the
night.
A large congregation came out in the even
ing to listen to addresses upon the work of the
American Missionary Association. Prof. Il.
n Chase, of Atlanta University, was first in.
troduced, and gave a succinct account of the
work of that institution in educating and ele-
waiting the oolored population of the south.
Mr.. Philip Page, young cOlored man who
was brought to this country from the Mendi
coast of West Africa, and is now in Atlanta
University, then gave in broken English "A
thrilling account of his history and conversion
aud his hopes Of returning to Africa AZ mis-.
sionary. Rev. Jos E. Smith Of Chattanooga,
was the next speaker. 1t seemed almost i'm
possible to believe that this cultured, easy
orator, had once stood upon the auction
block and had been bid OF for $4,000; yet
such was the fact All could easily accept
the statement OF Dr.. Stevens, as he introduce
cd him, that "he is a much more valuable
man to-day" In language which would have
been creditable to the graduate or any New
England college, Mr.. Smith described the
needs of his race in respect to Christian
homes and education. The last speaker of
the evening was Rev. @. L. Woodwork, d.
d., one of the secretaries of the association.
He depicted most foroibly the needs of the
south, and its claims upon our thought and
activity.
Thursday morning 1t O'Clock the confer
ence came together for half hour of prayer,
which was followed by business session.
Tue first discussion of the morning was upon
the question, How shall the churches be-
come more aggressive in their work 2" opened
by Dea. G. w. Hastings and Rev Geo. +.
Martini and carried on effectively by others.
Rev, A Il. Dascomb then read an essay on
the theme Future Punishment" which was
received with deep interest and copy re-
quested for publication in the Vermont Chroni-
Gle. The closing discussion was on the
Principles demanded in the preaching at
the present day, aud was opened by DR..
Stevens and Rev. Josiah Merrill The dis
cusson was continued by others until the
hour for transacting the final business and
adjournment. Resolutions were passed
thanking the people of Putney for their
Astounding hospitality, and requesting the
publication of Rev, O. ii. MerrilPs sermon,
and Rev. w. Harlow responded in behalf Of
the church of Putney. After sitting down
once more to the richly laden tables in the
yestry, the conference came together for III
closing session, the celebration of the Ilord'l
supper.
The conference, as a whole, and in each Of
It's parts, was a most successful meeting. The
programme was finely selected and admirably
carried out All the arrangements made By