Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-10-05


arge and handsome floral display, includ-
ing pillow of white flowers 'in memory
of Deacon Lawrence Barnes, Deacon j.
w. johnson, George NJ. Duncan, Mrs
Mial d. Davis, Mrs. James A. Shedd, Mrs.
h. A. 5. kelton, Mrs. NJ. f. Grafton y d
form of a cross and arranged around the
edge of the pulpit platform several
tropical plants in pots and some cut
flowers.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
Wednesday afternoon session opened
with prayer and praiseservice, which
was largely participated in under the lead
of Rev. Mr.. Swart of West Pawlet. The
regular business of the convention was
then proceeded with.
The report of the treasurer, d. NJ. White
| of Rutland, was read by Rev, 5. II. Archi-
| bald 1t showed the total sum received
| from the various associations for conven-
| ton work and minutes to be S4l0S; total
| receipts for the year, S6913G2; disburse-
ments, S4lS6 96; amount of permanent
| fund, Sl7125l2. 1t was shown that vari-
| ouS churches had sent in subscriptions,
but too late for this report, the treasurer
| books having been closed for auditing
| September 10. The report was accepted
and ordered to be printed in the minutes
of the convention.
Rev. S. II. Archibald of Wallingford read
| the report of the board of managers of the
State convention, showing the condition
| of the aided churches in the State. The
churches at Montpelier and Newport at
| tempt this year to sustain themselves.
| The debt of the church at West Rutland
| had been raised through the efforts OF
| State missionary McGeorge. 1t was shown
| that most of the churches were in good
condition, the appropriations from the
State convention asked for being about
| the same as last year. The report was ac'
cepted and ordered to be printed in the
| minutes.
The report of the State missionary, Rev
| A. McGeorge, was next listened to. The
| Fairhaven church had secured a new pas.
tor and has been placed on a good footing.
| At Montgomery, after the last convention
special services were conducted and los
| conversions were reported, 81 united with
| the Baptist church, 20 the Congregational
| and some of the remainder with the Meth
odist church. Rev. Mr. Dexter has re-
Gently been installed as pastor. The mis-
sonary next visited Colchester and II
converts were made and seven were bap
tized He mad visited Fletcher, johnson,
| st. Johnsbury, Newport, Passumpslc,
Hardwick, Stannard Halifax, Chester
Andover, Weston, Rutland, Middletown
Springs, Enosburgh Falls, Berkshire
Westford, Essex Junction. Pawlet, Lud
|
between 300 aud 400 converts had
been reported to him and he had baptized
| l05 members and raised about $4,000. The
report was accepted and adopted.
| Rev. l.. II. Elliott, of the Vermont BIZ
| bic society, addressed the convention. He
said there were 30 Bible repositories IN
the State. They sold bibles to the amount
of over $500 last year and over $1,000 this
| year. Bibles were sold at the same price
as in New York, and given to INDECENT
families. More than half the people do
not attend church at all, and it was sur
prsing to find how many families had nc
bibles. In Lamoille county only SO per
cent OF the people attend church. He
wanted this convention 10 come to the
| assistance of the society and cooperate in
the work. The speaker said that four
years ago the society adopted the plan of
| asking for thank offerings from the chill
dren. The first year they received $3.50
and invested most OF it in bibles, which
| were distributed in the States prison
| House of Correction and Reform school,
| They had continued to ask for these thank
offerings and they had received 800 the
second year, 5000 the third year, and $955
| the last year.
| Col. j. j, Estey spoke of "Our State con-
ventiOn work" considering in particular
the work OF the State missionary, who was
under the immediate direction of the eX-
"cut've committee of the State convention.
IL COliolSIt(l Ill IOOhlDB after weak CDuTCueS
that are aided and those likely to become
aided churches, settling difficulties, seek
| ing pastors for pastoTless churches, and
| looking alter the interests of the State
convention. Common sense was needed
especially in the management of the
smaller and weaker churcnes.
The financial aspect of the State con-
vention work was spoken of by Rev Il.
Marten of Bennington. He said 81 out of
| ll5 churches in the State contributed $1,000
for the State work, showing the value OF
contributions even though small We
need three things, system, conservation
and push. He thought the convention
should help the weak churches for the
! good they had done.
Col. j. j. Estey Tor the nominating com
mittee reported for members of the board
OF managers, whose term will expire in
1871, Rev. ). II. Archibald, ID. d., of Wal
| lugford, kew. u. Marten of Bennington,
! Rev. w. II. Randall of SaXton's River
Rev, h. L. Sandford of st. Johnshury
Willard Crane of Burlington and Deacon
j. w. Shepardson of Fairfax. The report
was accepted and adopted.
Rev DR.. Halves was introduced when
he extended the greetings of the Vermont
Congregational churches. He was glad mat
| this duty was becoming less and less for
mai. He SAID there were 1875 Congregations
churches in Vermont, 20O0 additions were
received during the year by profession
and 700 by letter. The membership Il
10000, and in the Sunday schools % ,00(
receive instruction. He knew Vermont
was continually sending OF its best to the
nation. The population of Vermont had
increased 10 per cent in the last 40 years
while the nation had increased about BOZ
per cent in the same time. He spoke OF
the necessity of combination and coopera
ton among the Christian churches anC
closed with an eXbortation to a unity Of
prayer, of purpose and of labors.
Rev. Mr.. f. f.. Dawson of st. Johns
bury spoke in behalf of the Free Viii
Baptists OF Vermont, making pleasant
reference to the separation of the two
branches, The denomination numbers 81
churches in the State and 1000 members
You are stronger in the western part OF
the State and we in the eastern. The work
of the two branches is one, however.
Rev. j. A. Pierce of West Randolph, the
moderator, responded in behalf of the con
vention, assuring the visitors that a warn
feeling WAS cherished for the siste
churches, which were like different ships
in squadron, some draw much water anC
Others little, but they were all in the sam,
cause. The response was happy effor
and was we'll received, as were the ad
dresses of the delegates.
Rev. DR.. Foster of the Waterman
Boston, spoke on Religious Literature