The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-05-30
CONGREGATIONAL COMPETENCE,


The seventeenth annual meeting of
the Bennington County Conference Of
Congregational Churches. was held at
the Congregational Church in Benning-
ton, on Tuesday and Wednesday of this
week.
The opening meeting of prayer was at
10 o'clock a. M, led by Rev. =. S. Pratt
of Dorset. There were present pastors
and delegates from six churches, and
the organization was effected by the APP
peintment of Rev. Chas. II. Seymour,
moderator Rev. p. S. Pratt, CORES
ponding secretary. and Rev. Chas. H..
Peck, scribe.
Reports were listened to from the
different churches, in alphabetical order,
those not represented by delegates be-
ing given from written memoranda in
the hands of the registrar. During the
year past, there has been considerable
religious interest in the county, and
more especially in Arlington and Dorset.
Among the results in the latter place
fitty-five have been added to the church
and there are many more who are eX-
pected to soon take the same step.
The afternoon service was opened
WIN prayer ny HCN, III. w lChHdlll vi
Manchester, now in his 93d year, after
VIII CHI the annual sermon was delivered
by Rev. L. P. Wild, d. D., of Manches-
ter. 1t was founded upon I'd Cor. VI,
LILO, and was grand exposition Of
Paul's idea of Christian duty and privi-
lege, with strong and able presenta-
ton of intentions to each follower of
Christ, to be found with the armor on,
doing whatever their hands can find to
do in the Masters vineyard.
Communion service followed the SER
mon, led by Revs. G.. II. Peck and NJ.
l.. Severance, assisted by Deacons AL
fred Robinson of Bennington Center and
G. j. Hurd of Sandgate. The discussion
upon the topic. County Evangilization, :"
by Chas. b. Kent, Rev. Z. p. Wild and
others, was of much interest, as it elicit
ed many items of excellence with refer
ence to revival work in the county.
While business of the conference was
being transacted during the afternoon,
there was woman S missionary meet
ing in the parlors of the church, which
is spoken of as being Of much interest,
especially paper read by Miss Maria
Holley of Dorset.
The evening session commenced with
song service, led by the moderator,
Rev Mr.. Seymour, after which the topic,
The Church and the Young was in
troduced. The Churches Need of
Young People," was discussed by Rev.
u. Marten OF the Baptist Church, in a
carefully prepared written paper, that
received the close attention of all, The
BEST means Of enlislng young people
in the service of Christ was presented
by Harrison |. Norton, in a manner to
interest and instruct those engaged in
this important work.
The claims of the "Y. p. S C. f :"
was ably presented by Rev. w. j. Chap
man of the Methodist Church. From
his experience he could recommend
these societies as one of the best, if not
the best means of interesting the young
of both sexes, as its ways and means
were so well adapted to bring out their
latent talents and energies.
After short remarks by the moderator
the meeting adjourned to meet Wednes-
day morning ut o o'clock.
the devotional m,eung Wednesday
morning was led by Deacon Alfred Rob
inson, after which business meeting
was held, and reports of committees
were made. The committee on appoint
ments reported Rupert as the place OF
MEETING next year, and for delegates to
the general convention of the State, to-
be held at Windsor the second week in
June, Rev. q. II Peck. Bro. ii. q Root
DeacOns b w. SpaffUId and II. d. Hall,
and Bro. Theodore Swift substitutes,
Deacons s. GrouI aud w. G.. Shaw and
Brothers G., j. Hard and c. b. Kent.
Delegates to National council, 10 be held
IN Worcester in October next, primary,
Rev. NJ. l.. Severance, and substitute,
Dea. s. G.. Cone. The committee on
finance r. commended that tax of six
cents per resident members OF the
churches be raised, for the expenses ol
the State and county conventions, which |
was voted by the conference. A second |
meeting Of the womau's missionary So
ciety was held in the morning, and
very valuable paper was Presented by |
Mrs. nj. l.. Severance, ON Women IN |
the Nineteenth century, The discus
SION of the topic, The Church and the
Community" was participated in by
Rsvs. g. Ii. Pick, Chas. A. Perry and
NJ. l.. Severance and others, when the
natter of county eyangel cation was
AIKEN up.
After considerable elaboration, and
Interchange Of views II was unanimously
'otad that the work Of county evangeli-
."tion sh.u,G b entered upon at once.
A COMMITTEES consis'i'g of Rev. E. P, !