Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-28
Tho Baptist State convention.

The SEVENTEEN anniversary of the Yer
mont Baptist State Convention has been
held at North Bennington during this
week, beginning Tuesday and closing
Thursday noon. 1t has been one of the
most successful and satisfactory of the
kind, for years at least, as was noted by
several who have been regular attend
ants at such gatherings. Our village be-
ing so small. and the members of the de-
nOminational church being somewhat
scattered, very pleasant arrangement
was entered into whereby the union feel
ing could be gratified by the extending
lui,vNsnlp auu nOopito.liUy W ounce
churches, as far as necessary, in the en-
tertainment of guests. Dinner and tea
were served in the parlors of the church,
which in one way relieved the homes
from the full care which would other
wise be required of them, but at the
same time put into requisition the abili-
ty of our ladies in the culinary art. In
this connection it is proper to say, that
the pastor and Baptist friends desire to
express their hearty thanks to those who
have kindly given hospitality during the
meeting of the convention, and especial
ly to Mrs. j. G. Mccullough for the
large donations to the tables, which
were greatly appreciated.
A Women's Missionary Meeting of
much interest was held at $50 p. M,
Tuesday, preliminary to the general con-
vention which began at 7 o'clock. The
address by Mrs. Clark of Assam, on For
eign Missions, was extremely interest
ing, and the other speakers held the at
tention of the good number who were
present. In the evening after the report
of the committee of arrangements, and
the address of President Abbey of Barre,
the report on Home Missions, carefully
prepared and finely delivered by the
Rev. Henry Crocker of Fairfax, was lis
tened to. Then followed the address of
DR.. r. j. Morgan, Indian Commissioner
by appointment of President Harrison,
upon Home Missions, he being the New
York corresponding secretary of the
American Baptist Home Missionary So
ciety. He was very interesting, his re-
marks partaking of the spirit and ferver
of his manly and Christian conduct dur
ing the time of his Office, under the late
Harrison Administration.
Wednesday was day filled with good
things, presented in reports on State
Convention, Treasury, Board of Man.
ayers, and of State Missionary by the
Rev. A. Macgeorge.
The annual sermon by the Rev. j. A.
Swart was full of thought and made a
good impression on the attentive audi
ence. The address of Prof. Geo. Bullen
of Newton Theological Seminary, on
Ministerial Education, emphasized the
greatest need of capacity after conserva-
ton, in the students who are to be fitted
for the ministry.
Principal G. A. Williams, Phi. D., of
the Vermont Academy, spoke of the
success of that institution, and of its
bright prospects for the future, and es-
pecially of It's good fortune in having
Miss Cummings as lady principal.
The cordial greetings of the Vermont
Congregational Convention of Ministers
and Churches were now brought by the
Rev. G. H. Peck, and hearty response
made by the president.
The Rev. DR.. Ashmore of the China
Mission, held the audience closely as he
spoke of the foreign missionary work,
and made many happy and striking al,
lusions to all missionary labor, limiting
strongly to the far greater per cent prof
it in the stock of St. Paul of early gospel
times, than any of the stocks bought
and sold in the St. Paul city of the West.
In the evening the address by the Rev.
DR.. D. D. MacLaurin of Detroit, Mich,
was the principal attraction and was a
grand effort, showing himself master of
his subject, and giving the audience
food for mental digestion. Various
meetings u committees and of different
societies were held Thursday morning,
and an excellent paper was read as a re.
port on Publications, by the Rev. c.. D,
r. Meacham of Townshend.
A report on Obituaries, by the Rev. H.
NJ. Douglass of st. Johnsbury, was given,
which included those of Dea. W. E.
Hawks of North Bennington, and Dea,
Daniel McEOwen of Bennington, two
who will long be remembered in this
vicinity, and whose influence for good
has been felt far beyond the limits OF
the town.
Other matters were transacted and the
business of the convention brought to a
close at II o'clock.
The Rev. P. G. Abbey of Barre, was
elected president for the coming year,
the Rev. r. B. Tozer, vice-president, and
E. A. Herring of Brandon, secretary.
Such meetings are an inspiration and
help to any community, and this cannot
fail to leave spiritual impressions which
will raise the plane of thought and ac,
ton here. Very many things worthy OF
particular notice should be mentioned
but want of space precludes it.