Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-09-11
w1NDHAM COUNTY CONFERENCE.
The som Annual Meeting ut West
minister ON Wednesday md Thurs

The som Annual Meeting Mt West
minister on Wednesday lnd Thurs
day.
The gathering of the Congregational
churches this year was of special interest,
1t being the j0th meeting of the conference.
The attendance was good from the east side
of the county, and delightful weather added
its charm. The annual sermon by Rev. +.
F. Lewis was forcible and scholarly
presentation of the fact and meaning of
Christs resurrection. The narrative of the
state of religion by Rev. II. a. Goodhue
showed slight gains in membership, con
tributions, etc, but no marked changes.
In the hour devoted to a special review of
fifty years work. Rev. &. II. Smith gave
/ historical statement, outlining the develop
ment of the conference and the growth of
the churches. The membership of the
churches is considerably smaller now than
it was in 1871. but the loss has been wholly
in the towns whose population has de
clined. And while the decline in population
has continued steadily, the decrease of
membership is confined to the first twenty
years, there being an actual net gain since
1S6l.
DIR. \. Stevens then spoke with much
feeling and power of his recolections of the
conference. He was present at its second
meeting, and has been absent from only
four since then. His references to the
ministers and people of earlier days were
very tender. Most characteristic was the
hopeful way in which he spoke of the
future, of the work of the churches after
he should be dead, and of the JOY which he
anticipated in watching their work. Ger
tainly DR.. Stevens is not one of those who
. become spilraH nv moron M vaare
Rev. c. o. Day was cordially welcomed
back after his absence from the state. and
read a very forcible and fresh paper on
applied Christianity in the Fourth Cos
pei The ladies' missionary meeting was
addressed by Miss +. T. Crosby of the
Micronesia mission. She is Il very bright
entertaining speaker, and greatly interested
the audience by her simple narrative of
work among the natives of the South
Pacific.
The evening service drew a large congre-
CATION. Special interest conferred in the
addresses of Misses Billings and Hartig.
the young lady evangelists who are doing
such good work in the state. W. II. Jack
son, the earnest young Englishnan who
has labored successfully at Gulford. spoke
of his work. Then Rev. c. J. Ryder of
! Boston gave an eloquent address on the
work of the American missionary associ-
alton. speaking chiefly Of the negroes and
the mountain whites.
Thursday morning Rev. J. II. Rabbit
conducted a Sunday school conference. at
which many practical hints were thrown
out. 1t was stated that the percentage of
Sunday school attendance in Wndham
county is larger than in any other county
of the state.
Christian Endeavor conference was
conducted 10y Miss Florence Clark of
Brattleboro. She read an excellent paper
Oh what the society is doing for the church.
The society makes christians and trains
them for successful service.
Rev. :. L. Vincent. the new pastor at
Jamaica. opened discussion upon cN-
periences and possibilities in out-disirict
work. The communion sermon was
preached by Rev. VIM. Schohed of Mari
boro. Thus ended a very pleasant and
profitable meeting
Dea. c. F. Thompson of Brattleboro
acted as moderator, and Rev. f. f. Lewis
OF Putney as scribe.