St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-05-29
COUNTY CONFERENCE.
Interesting Sessions at the South
Church.

The 55th annual conference of Con-
gregational churches in Caledonia
county convened at the South church
Tuesday morning. The opening SER
mon was by Rev. H. N Burton of
East Burke, his text being a part of
theeighth verse of the Goth chapter
of Matthew: "To what purpose is
this waste ?" This was a presenta-
tion of the mission work He asked
if the waste was in what is expended
for missions, or in business, luxuries,
amusements and things worse.
The conference then organized with
these officers: Rev. c. H. Merrill,
moderator; Rev. E. T. Fairbanks,
register; Rev. ]. c. Bodwell, assistant
register; T. M. Howard, treasurer.
Tie annual ladies missionary meet
i1gywas held on Tuesday afternoon
and conducted by Mrs. Horace Fair
banks 1t was a we'll attended and
interesting meeting. The reports of
the home missionary work were
given by Mrs. Walter P Smith and
Mrs William P. Fairbanks, while
Mrs. T. M Howard and Mrs Henry
Fairbanks reported the work done
in the foreign field. Reports from
several auxiliaries of the Woman's
Board of Missions were presented.
The address was given by Miss Mat
tie Tyler upon missionary work
among the Zulus.
At O'Clock an essay entitled
"Problems of the country church"
was given by Rev. c. H. Merrill, sec
retary of the Vermont Domestic Mis-
sionary society. He said that the
qualihca tions of the pastor must in
a degree correspond to the churches.
Two men may work with great sue
cess in two separate fields, when, if
they changed, both would utterly
fail. In city churches, if a minister
does not please all his hearers, the
dissatisfied ones can go elsewhere.
But in a country church, whose con-
gregation is composed of several de-
nominations, a minister must strive
to please all. Just here comes the
questions "Are there not too many
churches ?" and ''WOuld it not be
better to combine several weak de-
nominations and make one strong
church ?' 81 answer no to BOTH"
he said. Two churches will flourish
where one will die.
The country church must be sus-
tanned for from it comes the religious
training and instruction that makes
the city churches strong. Many
country churches are too large. The
small congregation scattered around
does not inspire a minister. Make the
churches smaller, get the people to-
gether and talk to them. These
churches, too weak to stand alone,
are among the most fruitful. In Yer
mont during the past year they
proved twice as fruitful as the larger
and selfsupporting ones. l believe
in the future of the country church
because believe in the holy spirit.
Following this address was space
of five minutes for general discussion.
One thought that young ministers
went West to find more active and
aggressive churches, and not for more
pay. Another thought too much
church aristocracy existed while still
another considered it honorable to
labOrin a country church and regret
ted that man could not be valued
for himself, but sized up according to
the office he fills. At 4 o'clock came
an essay on Family reading" by
Rev c. M. LamSOn, who spoke some
what as follows:
One ought early in life to learn the
religious use of books. There are
100000 books, magazines and
periodicals published annually and
with so much comes the question
What not to read" rather than
"What to read" There are three OBJ
jects in reading. Given in the order
of their Importance they are the de-
sire of company, the desire of power
and the desire of refreshment. Books
should introduce us to great man.
One would not choose stable boys
for companions when he could have
kings as easily.
Some hooks weaken and tire you
, while others give strength and re-
freshment. To gain power, read in
tense1y and absorbingly, just as the
fish swims through the water and
takes in the oxygen. Five minutes
spent in this way is better than an
hour in glancing hurriedly over pa
ges to see how it ends.
Reading for refreshment makes one
lazy. 1t is like whistling to avoid
thinking. Have books around in
reach of children. They will at least
get accustomed to their use. Let
: them collect books as they do eggs
and stamps. Do not tolerate Sun
day papers. Many a congregat ton
has lost all interest in sermon by
reading Sunday paper before the
service. Lastly let parents learn
, what and how to read that they may
teach their children.
In the five minutes discussion fol-
lowing, S. H. Bracket called atten-
ton to the religious papers which
had advertisements in reading type
f sandwichedin between reading items
E and resolution requesting the Yer
mont Chronicle to discontinue this
practice was then proposed and ac-
cepted.
The evening service was a union
Christian Endea vor meeting in charge
of Rev. Henry Fairbanks. There
was praise service for a few min
utes, followed by the regular meet
ing, after which short addresses on
appropriate topics were given by
MeSSrS R1ake1ev ClOSSOu and Mar