St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-06-07
COUNTY CONFERENCE.
/ Two Days Gathering at DanviIIe.

Caledonia county conference of Con-
gregational churches was held with
the church in Danviile on Tuesday
and Wednesday. There was a good
attendance at all the meetings. The
general topic of the gathering was
"Fello wship."
The convention sermon was
prea ched by Rev. Geo. P. Byington
of East Hardwick from the text
found in Matt xiii: %. The preach
er's points were first, good seed
exists in two forms, the Word simple
and pure, and the growth of the
seed in the living, growing Christian.
Second, our Lord places his children
where he wants them, just as the
sower does the seed. Third, the
duty of selfsacri6ce in the Lords
work The seed must die in order to
bring forth fruit.
The preliminary devotional exer-
cises were conducted by Rev. Mr..
Gay of McIndoes. The conference
organized by eiecting Rev. Geo. P.
Byington moderator and Rev. P. B.
Fisk OF Lyndon clerk.
The afternoon session opened with
a devotional service led by Rev. Ed
ward T. Fairbanks.
This was followed by the reports
from the churches. The East Burke
church reported a consecrated and
working membership. The churches
at Barnet and Kirby were not re-
ported. The Danville church had
net loss of seven, but raised $307 for
benevolence. East HardWick re-
ported a total mem bership of 14S,
benevolent contributions amounting
to 1922 and an addition of 13 on
confession. The church at Hardwick,
which was organized in April with
21 members has received two new
members, has an average attendance
Of 40 at church and SO at Sunday
school. The church at Lyndon has
added eight to its membership since
last January. There are 70 resident
members OF the Lyndonville church
and a Christian Eudeavor society
has recently been organized. The
McIndoes church reported some
gain, three having joined in May.
The Sunday school has rs members
and the Christian Endeavor society
&C. Peacham reported a present
membership of about $50 with net
gain of 8. 1t has an average attend
ance of 1877 at the Sunday school
and 20 at prayer meeting. The CEN
tennial of the church will be cele-
brated Aug. 16, to which all were
cordially invited. The st. Johnsbury
Center church reported an average
church attendance of SO and Sunday
school attendance of So. Four have
joined during the year, but eight
were removed by letter and two by
death. In the report of the North
church at St. Johnsbury special men
ton was made Of the call of new
pastor, DR.. Heath, and Of the general
prosperity OF the church and its
work. The special work at the
South church was mentioned by
both delegates from this church.
Ninetv-three are studying the Sun
dav school lessons in the home de
partment, and cottage and district
meetings have been held during the
year The East St. Johnsbury
church reported that they had called
a pastor during the year, Rev. 6. w.
Patterson. The people are united
and nine-tenths of the congregation
attend the Sunday school. The
Waterford church reported united
, congregat and devotion for their
pastor. Repairs have been made on
the church during the year, which
are all paid for.
| The next hour was devoted to the
ladies missionary meeting. Mrs.
Henry c. Newell presided. the
scriptures were read by Mrs. Walter
P. Smith, and prayer was offered by
Mrs. Geo. P. Byington. The first
speaker was Mrs. Beach of the
North China mission. In a halt
hour address Mrs. Beach told much
about the life of the Chinese-their
superstition, their poverty and their
| idolatry. China has rich deposits oi
! coal and the metals, but the mines
are not worked for fear of disturbing
! the dragons. Railroads are not
| built lest graves of ancestors should
be disturbed. In the country it is
the exception to find men that can
read. while very few Chinese ladies
can read. The woman has hard
and uueventful life. Mrs. Beach lives
- miles from Peking in city which
is at the head of navigation, and she
described briefly the missionary
work there. Just outside the city a
fine school building has been started,
but work has been suspended nearly
a year or account of funds. The
chief work of the station is to edu-
cate young men for teaching and
preaching In closing she said Mrs.
Isabella Bird Bishop recently said in
London that the duty of the Chris
tian church was found in these
words Go, let go. help 60"