Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-01-25
THE CONGREGATIONAL CLUB OF WEST
ERIN VERMONT.

This association held its first annual
meeting on Tuesday, Jan. %, at Burling-
ton, in the parlors of the College street
church. The morning session began at
II :45 with business session of the ex-
ecutive committee and a social meeting
of the club. At II 40 the club took up
its business and heard the report of the
secretary, received new members, re-
ceived and acted upon the report of the
executive committee and elected the fol-
lowing board of officers for the ensuing
year:
President, Rev. c. F. Carter of Bur-
lington.
Vice-Presidents, Hon. L. E. Knapp of
Middlebury, DR.. John Avery of Walling-
ford, Rev. George P. Byington of Shore
ham.
Secretary, Rev. M. c. Stebbins of
Cornwall.
Treasurer, Rev. A. w. Wild of Char
lotte.
Three, who, together with the above
named officers, constitute the executive
committee: Pres. Ezra Brainerd of Mid
dlebury, Rev. c. C. McIntire of Pitts
ford, Rev. A. F. Keith of Middlebury.
Membership committee, Rev. James A.
Bates of Williston, Rev. 5. |. French of
Wallingford, Dea. Samuel James of Wey-
bridge.
Outlook committee, DR.. o. M. Bump
of Salisbury. Rev. H. G. Pillsbury of
Vergennes, Rev. w. B. Hague of New
Haven.
Auditor, Hon. j. D. Smith of Yer
gennes.
At the close of the morning session
the club repaired to the Van Ness House,
where they enjoyed delightful social
time and partook of an excellent dinner
admirably served.
Returning to the church parlors they
listened to an admirable address of Pres
ident Carter, in which he clearly outlined
some of the work that invites the action
of the club. President Carter was fol-
lowed by Prof. S. F. Emerson of the
Vermont university, who read an elabor-
ate and exceedingly interesting paper up
on "The Problem of the Sects," the drift
of which was that the history of Chris
tianity and the leadings of Providence
point to the breaking down of denomina-
tional barriers and the unfication of be-
levers by the controlling attraction of
the central character, the Lord Jesus
Christ. One-half hour was given to the
discussion of this paper; then Rev. o.
II. White, ID. d. of Burlington, yielding
to the pressing Invitation of the execu-
tive committee, consented to speak in the
place of Rev. Geo. w. Phillips, d. D.,
of Rutland, who failed to appear,
He took for his theme, "Africa as
the Coming Continent" In opening he
payfully remarked that just then his
thoughts were less on the coming CONT
nent than on the man who didn't come.
He spoke eloquently for about twenty
minutes upon the people, condition and
resources of that country, the demand
for wiser policy on the part of our
government in regard to commercial rela-
lions and the debt due from us to the AT
rican race. The club adjourned in season
for the evening trains. About forty
Congregational clergymen and laymen
were in attendance. All manifested an
enthusiastic interest in the organization
and a large appreciation of its possibility
and promise of usefulness. The secretary
was instructed to secure the printing OF
two hundred copies of the constitution
and by-laWs. with a brief history of the
origin of tLc c.ub and a list of its mem
bers, and to furnish each member with 6
copy. 1t is expected that the next meet
ing, on the 4th of March, will be held il
Rutland.
1t appears that Rev. DR.. Phillips SEN
a telegram to the secretary of the club
directed to the Van Ness House, stating
that he had been left in consequence O.
the train starting from the Rutland sta
ton two minutes before advertised time
The telegram did not reach the secretary
until the evening of the day after tn
convention. The club gratefully recog
nizes the effort of DR.. Phillips to fulfil
his appointment and his thoughtfulnes
in sending the telegram. They look for
ward to good things to come.
NJ. C. STEBBINs.
Cornwall. VT, Jan. %, 1889.