The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-08-01
CONGREGATIoNALIsTs IN VERMONT

SONUhEoAIlONALlS IN VERMONT,
The Congregational churches in Yer
mont, as reported at the Convention
held in Windsor in June, number 16S-
one, West Haven, having been dropped
from the roll ,and to take it's place a new
church at the village of Olcott, in the
town of Hartford, being added. The re-
port states that the churches at West
Berlin and Sandgate must soon disap-
pear, their condition being already de-
scribed in the last clause of Hebrews
eighth chapter. There are A installed
pastors, and about so not installed; 25
supplies, 40 destitute of any ministerial
service. The policy of working two
churches under one pastor is said to be
successful. The total membership of
the churches January 1st was 20,4S1.
The additlonas during 1888 were 719
upon confession of faith and 400 by let
ters; total, l,139-a less number since
1854. Twenty-Five churches received
ten or more additions each upon confess
sion and fifty five and one-half per cent.
OF the whole number, being eleven and
three-fourths per cent. increase upon
their resident membership. 4,070, or
about one fifth of this membership is
nonresident. Since January 1st, by the
most accurate reports obtainable, there
have been not far from 400 additions,
upwards of 300 of them upon confession
many churches gathering the fruits of
revival interest during the fall and early
winter. The removals during 1888 were
4l2 by death, sol by dismission and 80
by discipline; total 945, showing a net
gain OF l94. This gain appears in eight
OF the conterences-Bennington, Gale
n n
washington, Wiudham, and Windsor
while the other six conferences show
net loss,
Revival interest to a greater or less
extent has made glad about thirty
churches during the year, promoted in
the majority of instances by the SER
vices OF special evangelist. In some
of the churches the work has been of
unusual power. At Dorset it is esti.
mated that not far from 200 hopeful
conversations have taken place, and the
whole town has been moved as never
before, the church rejoicing already in
the accession OF fifty-five new members.
Bellows Falls has been reaping the latest
and best fruits of a continuous work of
grace, covering period of two years,
and bringing thus far eighty persons in
to the church, with others yet to come.
Benevolences of the year have reached
sum including legacies, larger by al
most ten per cent. than last year, which
was then the highest sum ever reported.
The whole amount is $64, ,057, of which
$02, ,5O7 were the contributions of the
living, and the remainder, 81, $50, the
gift of those whose personal work on
earth is ended. This is an average of
50 % per resident member of the
churches contributing, or, including leg
acies, of 1894 per member. The in
crease in contributions has been So. 1877
to foreign missions, 81, ,S57 10 home mis-
sions, 81, ,5SS to the American Missionary
Association and 5000 to the Sunday
school work. The other objects upon
the schedule have suffered decrease.
The amount of home expenditures for
the year has also reached the highest
figure ever reported, S209, ,6S7-an in
crease OF S27,977, or over fifteen per
cent. upon that of 1887. Three of the
largest churches, on account of extern
slve repairs upon their houses of wor-
ship, report an expenditure of upwards
of 200, and nearly forty others re-
port an outlay of from 800 to So, 900 for
the same purpose. This is an average
OF $l2.S7 per resident member or adding
6enevolence, of $16.S1 per MEMBER
Vermont Baptist.