Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-04-25

saries were observed. The first was that
of the Womans Home Mission society. Mrs.
f. A Bradford presiding. Mrs. H. II.
Reed from the Troy conference presented
the cause, with brief reports from the diff
ferent fields and a statement Of the needs
Just now imperative. The anniversary of
the Education society followed. and the at
titude Of the church toward educational
projects and the need of the times for more
widespread opportunities were brought out
in the addresses Of Revs Chas H. Walter
of Wardsboro, J f. Farrow of East Burke
and l. o. Sherburne of st Adams The
evening session was devoted to the ami
versary Of the Freedmen's Aid and South
eru Educational society, aud it was one of
the most delightful Of the whole confer
ence The first speaker was Rev. Charles
Morse of Coventry, followed by Rev. Dr.
Gray Of Chicago in the chief address Of the
evening The condition Of the southern
negroes, the deplorabe ignorance of even
the preachers among the colored people,
the trials of those who 20 there TO teach
and their utter social ostracism by the
white people of that section-nothing was
CLOSED over. but the actual state of mat
ters was forcefully presented. The safety
of the nation demands that these people be
ltuNltI anu Taught anu tltNd ltil, anu LilS
is what the church is trying to accomplish,
as statements of the work now in hand
proved A song, suggested by an amusing
experience of DIR. Gray's while preaching
ia the South, was sung by Rev. A. W Ford
Sunday morning dawned bright and clear
aud at nine o'clock the first service of the
day, love feast at the town hall had
drawn together large number. This in
spring meeting was closed little before
1880, when the morning preaching service
opened The sermon by Bishop Andrews,
was stirring and eloquent, and ON a subject
always of deep interest. The text was
from II Cor. III, & Not of the letter but
of the spirit for the letter killeth but the
spirit giveth life, and its treatment was IA
clear and analytica setting forth of the
radical difference between the old Jewish
worship and the simple religion which
Christ came teaching-the former with its
manifold laws hedging in the jew in every
direction with rules and restrictions, in
public and in private, in his business in so
cial intercourse, in his worship; the latter
with few thou shafts and thou shalt
notS, but with principles rather than dis
tinct acts emphasized. A contrast was
drawn between some of the observances
and institutions of the old and the new dis
Observation-Disclosures and baptism, the
Passover and the Lords Supper, church or.
ganization, places and times of worship
and many others, in every case in the Old
Testament given with minutest directions.
in the New with silence ON every point of
detail In this respect it is silent also in
regard to benevolence, use of money,
etc. it is not letter, but spir-
it. From the training which wise parent
gives his child, leading him early from de
finite commands IN the adoption of princi
pies which shall govern his acts, was shown
Gods reason for thus dealing with his PEG
pie Because of this general rather than def
mite teaching it is that Christianity is suit
ed to every people and condition and age,
and fitted to conquer and rule the world
All these matters about which we are un-
certain must be studied in the light of con
sequences and general tendencies, must he
looked at in the broadcast, most spiritual
most comprehensive manner Christianity
is not letter, but spirit In conclusion the
bearing of all these things upon Christian
ministry was made plain. At the close of
the bishops sermon, an ordination service
was held, when three candidates were adj
mitted to deacons orders In the after.
noon another rich sermon was listened tn,
also at the hall, Rev. DR.. Parkhurst preach
ing He took for his text Rev Ill, 20
Behold, | stand at the door and knock,
his theme being The personality of
Christ Most tenderly and helptully he
talked of the attitude of Christ toward the
human his s,u,nutI,p a, 4 tb.