St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-06-14
MINISTERS AND CHURCHES.
Icontinued from first page.I

Rev. L. Tenney. Dea. c. F. Thompson,
Hon. Joseph Poland, Rev. A. A. Smith,
Hon. D. NJ. Camp, Rev. Edward Halves,
D. D.. Hon. Franklin Fairbanks, Rev. V.
M Hardy, Rev. c. S. Smith, Rev. 6. w.
Phillips, D. D., and Rev. c. R. Seymour.
Directors ex-oficiis-Rev. Henry Fair
banks, Phi. D., president, and Rev. c. H.
Merrill, secretary.
Members of the Congregational Home
Missionary Society for the present year,
Rev Austin Hazen, Nathan Reed. ]. R.
EMERSON, Rev. J. K. Fuller, Charles Wy
man.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.
The first feature of the session after
the opening, was a fine essay on
The Place OF Religion in Literature I"
by President NJ. H. Buckham of Bur-
lington. He held that literature is
not wholly the production of those
who indjte it; we may say, perhaps,
it is partly the production of those
who read it. Religious literature is
to be tested not by what it contains,
but by the influence it exerts. The
speaker pleaded for literature that
is not too formal or harsh or repel-
ling, as tending more completely to
said, is the rosebud of humanity, and
he spoke also of Christianity grand
eur and supremacy Is developed in
its literature OF song and devotion.
Gods spirit is more helpful in litera-
ture than elsewhere. The effect of
tragedy on the human soul was in
terestingly set forth, and the older
literature was criticised for the de-
gree of wantOnnesS and coarseness
to be found therein. Literature ex-
ats and persuades TO that which is
best and noblest. The best literature
is strongly committed to objective
religion. Literature is to religion
what Saturday night is to Sunday
an approach. Literature must not
be considered as a substitute for re-
ligion. In closing he referred his au-
dience to the one book which is the
library of litera ture and the library
of religion-the Bible.
Next followed a symposium on
THE Holy Scriptures" Hon H. F.
Field O! Rutland was the first speaker.
He referred to the extent to which
the Bible is read and studied-the
universal esteem aid reverence in
which it is held. 1t was little maid
in Wales, he said, whose tears as she
pleaded for a copy of the Bible,
resulted in the organ cation OF the
British Bible publication societies;
235, 100000 copies of that book
have been issued, and it is printed
in at least $50 different languages.
1t remains the popular and priced
book, the world over. The speaker
gave statistics to prove how general
was the reading and study Of the
book, and gave testimony as to the
inestimable help to be obtained from
persistent perusal Of the Bible.
Rev. DR.. Seaver spoke of the
supreme authority of the Scriptures.
They do not deal in trivial matters,
but in questions of eternal interest to
men. Men have never been able to
answer these questions, but out of
this old Hebrew book comes a thus
saith the Lord" in answer to all
these questions. Without this the
present is a burden. aud the future
dread; with the answers the present
is a JOY and the future an advancing
glory. DIR. Sea yer went on to prove
the authority of the Bible, referring
to the intervals at which its books
were written, the early pictorial Ian
guage used. Why is it still a living
force? Because there is in this book
the continuing yet perfect and abid-
ing revelation of the Eternal mind
The unity of the books effect on
humanity was emphasized, Christ
again and again declares the supreme
authority of the Scriptures-'for
they are they which testify of me-"
He who doubts the Old Testament
questions the authority of Christ.
Rev. c. H. Peck took up the in
fluence of the Scriptures, and went
on to show how wide-reaching and
beneficial this influence has been. 1t
does not take away from US those
things that are helpful. The facil-
tiles afforded for its study are i'm
portant factors in the mi ghty in
fluence exerted by this book.
Rev. J. c. Bodwell had the closing
paper of the afternoon, on The
Church's Right to Be-" The church.
he said, had been called upon to
give up business or change its
methods. The speaker argued for
the church. In spite of its de-
iciencies it is the best thing in the
world. 1t has elevated many in
tellects and purified many hearts.
1t has today less and less of Sec
tarlanism, andis pushing its influence
throughout the world. Mr.. Bod
wells paper was an earnest defence
OF the church and an appeal for sym
pathetic and willing support of it.
THE MISSIONARY UNION