St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1888-06-07
COUNTY CONGREGATIONS CON.
FERENCE.

| An Interesting and Profitable Meeting
The 54th annual conference of the
Congregational churches of Caledonia
county was held with the church al
East Hardwick on Tuesday and
Wednesday. The attendance at all
the services was good and much inter
est was manifested. Rev. H. A. Rus
sell, Cabot, opened the Tuesday morn
ing service with scripture reading and
prayer. A strong sermon by Rev. Mr..
BOdwell, Lyndonville, followed from
the text found in / Cor. l :2l. The
two principal thoughts of the discourse
were that human wisdom was utterly
insufficient to know God, and that
knowledge and salvation come by the
cross of Christ. Rev. DR.. Hubert fol-
lowed with a few words of welcome,
The conference organized with the
choice of Rev. G. M. Lamson, st. Johns
bury, moderator, and Rev. Henry
Fairbanks, secretary. The moderator
appointed the following committees
arrangements, Rev. DIR. Hubert, Rev.
Henry Fairbanks, Deacon G. L. Nor
rill nominations, Rev. Joseph Board
man, Barnet, Deacon G.. I'll. Weeks,
Lyndonville, DIR. II. l.. Newell, st.
Johnsbury; assessment, Rev. Henry
Fairbanks, Rev. T. w. Darling, Dan
vile, Deacon L. G.. Spencer, st. Johns
bury. The meeting then adjourned to
the chapel where an excellent COLA
ton was served.
The afternoon service opened with
prayer by Deacon Bailey, Lyndonville.
Rev. Mr.. Boardman then addressed the
Sunday school children and the men,
bers of the conference on the story of
Jonah, showing very clearly how he
stood before the Lord though at first
he was a coward. The subject was
further discussed by Messrs. Bodwell
Darling, Bailey, Grover, Russell, An
drews, Hubert, Fairbanks and Lam
son.
The discussion upon the social pray
or meeting was opened by Rev. III. M.
Andrews of Peacham. The speaker
dwelt upon the attendance at these
meetings and said we should neither
be discouraged nor satisfied at small
numbers. Christ is the most constant
attendant and the prayer meeting is
the place to find God. The audience
should not lean upon the minister but
upon God. Silences are sometimes
valuable, for then the Holy Spirit may
be doing its greatest work. The
theme was further discussed by Messrs.
Fairbanks, Russell, Boardman, HUI
bert, Bailey, Bodwell, Grover, Darl-
ing, Spencer and Lamson.
A woman's missionary meeting was
held in the chapel at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon, at which a large number OF
ladies were present and reports were
given from the various societies in the
county auxiliary to the w. B. M. The
meeting was led by Mrs. c. M. Stone
Ol OC. JOHnSUuTy.
In the evening large audience
listened to grand address by Rev. G.
M. Lamson on preaching. The speak
or said the three places of worship
were in the Sunday school, the prayer
meeting and the preaching service.
The sermon is the reality of the Sab
bath service. Preaching is the man
being used by truth and using it that
he may turn the purposes of man
toward God. 1t is truth realized. The
task of the preacher is to realize truth
rather than to preach doctrine. But
preaching is not all. The element of
worship plays an important part. Our
preachers need to study the science OF
worship more than the science OF
preaching. Worship is worth ship
1t is the power that makes us forget
ourselves. The crowning splendOr OF
heaven is worship. We should look
upon worship here as the higher type
for which it prepares us. This them e
was further discussed by Messrs. HUI
bert, Bailey, Boardman, Fairbanks and
Andrews.
Wednesdays Service.
The morning prayer meeting was
led by DR.. III. L. Newell of st. Johns
bury. The committee on assessment
reported that each resident church
member of the conference would be
taxed cents. There being 1871 mem
bers the tax this year would amount to
$99.O5. The committee on nomina-
tions made the following appoint
ments: Place of next convention, Lyn-
don preacher, Rev. S. F. Drew alter
nate, Rev. L. w. Darling; preacher oI
communion sermon, Rev. E. T. Fair
banks alternate, Rev. DR.. Hubert
committee on arrangements, Messrs
Burton, Bodwell and Hubbard COM
mittee on ministerial standing, Revs
Lamson, Fairbanks and Darling dele
gates to the state convention, Rev. III
NJ. Andrews, Peacham, Henry Blake
East Hardwick, Osborn Chase, ST
Johnsbury alternates, Rev. j. G.. Bod
well, Lyndonville, DR.. H. l.. Newell
st. Johnsbury, Rev. Jos. BOardman
| Barnet. The committee also present
ed a resolution thanking the Hard
wick church for their entertainment
and the Lake road for half fare tickets
and on motion of Rev. DR.. Hubert, 6
committee consisting of that gentleman
Rev. G. M. Lamson and Arthur f
Stone were chosen to draft resolution!
in behalf of the conference on the
death of Ex-Gov. Fairbanks. Rev
Henry Fairbanks reported on county
] rxr .uorIc shatpincr hH rnaans %