News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1893-05-11
News and Citizen.
MORRISVILLE and HYDE PARK,
Thursday, May II. 1898.
L. H. LEWIS. EDITOR.
County Conference.

County Conference.
The sd session of the Lamoille
County Conference of Congregational
Churches was held at Waterville on
the I'd and 3D. of May, and in spite
of the stormy wea her and bad trav-
cling was "a most interesting and
profitable meeting. Preparation for
it was begun early by the pastors,
many of whom had met together
from time to time to consider the de-
tails of the meeting and to ask the
blessing of God upon it.
When the occasion arrived, there
fore, they were prepared to enter
heartily into all the services.
The annual sermon was preached
by Rev. F. c. Taylor, from the text,
John, 4:35.
Organization was then effected by
the choice of Rev. FL. C. Howard
Moderator, and Rev. F. &. Taylor
Scribe.
The roll of churches when COM
pleted included the pastors of every
church in the county and delegates
from every church but one. In this
respect it was the largest conference
that has been held in the county for
many years.
After organization had been COM
pleted the conference adjourned for
dinner. Upon re-assembling a half
hour was spent in devotions, after
VIII b an earnest and suggestive ad-
Il 1ali NV I'M
Wheelock. The heme of the confer
ence was g A FoI ward Movement"
Mr.. Wheelock /. viewed the pastre-
IiarioIIs history eft the county as a
preparation for this theme. He re-
ferred feelingly to the work of former
pastors, deprecated the misuse of
large sums of money spent in build
ing churches that were not needed
Tor the sake of perpetuating the vari-
Gus denominations, and urged a
closer union in the future. He said
in conclusion, that the church of the
future must have regard to the in
stitutional idea, and give more at
tention to the training of the young
Rev. c. H. Merrill, of the Vermont
Domestic Missionary Society, fol-
lowed with a stirring address, after
which the ladies held their annual
missionary meeting, while the con-
ference attended to its usual bust
ness.
In the evening, after a short SER
vice of praise and prayer, the annual
address was delivered by Rev. G. W.
Gallagher, Of Montpelier, who spoke
very forcibly and practically upon
the subject, "The power of faith, :"
basing his remarks upon the text,
Heb. Mi, 2.
The exercises of the second day
were opened by a devotional service,
after which there was discussion of
the subject, How can the Churches
improve their present opportunity ?"
The first division of this subject,
"The part of the Church as leader in
movements for the general public
welfare, was introduced by Mrs. 2.
K Gleed; the second division, "The
part of the Y. p. S. C. E." by Miss
Genie Austin, Rev F. B. lockwood,
an Miss Mabel E. Child; the third
division, THE part of the s. So by
Rev. Albert Donnell; the fnurth di-
vi>io The part of the benevolent
o-ga lizations, by Mrs. r. L. Flagg
and VI s. G. W Hendee. All these
presentations we're carefully pre-
pared and listened to attentively by
those resent.
In the ternoon the topic, "Dis-
trict work.-The elimination of our
opportunity" was well treated by
Mrs. L. J. Mudgett and Rev. S. F.
Drew.
The conference was brought to a
close by an earnest conservation SER
vice, which was but a natural cul-
mination of the deeply spiritual feel
ing that had peryaded the entire
meeting
According to the reports that were
given, the churches of the county
have enjoyed a prosperous year,
nearly all having increased their
membership.
Great credit is due to the kind peo-
pie of Waterville for their generous
hospitality and their earnest efforts
for the success of the conference.