Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-06-11
The Convention.

| Vi GIInOul' Az J'OO OCloCh DCRdu JIO
all-day session of the Ladies' Vermont
Union. The speakers have been present
as advertised Themselves workers,
their appeals have held the sympathy of
their audiences throughout. Tonight
occurs the first general meeting, at the
Old Church on the hill. The preaching
this evening is by Rev. A. w. Wild,
native of Vermont, his father having
been for nearly forty years pastor of the
first church at Brookiield Mr. Wild has
been for a number of years historian of
the Congregational churches of Vermont.
Theservice VIII close with the Commun-
ion. The music will be that of the choir
of the Second Congregational church I'M
der the direction of Prof. E. E. Long.
The meeting of the Ladies' Vermont
Union began at $50 o'clock, with pray
er service, led by Mrs. w. P. Smith.
Mrs. j. II. Babbitt, president of the
Union, took the chair, and words of well
come were spoken by the Rev. Chas. r.
Seymour, Miss Anna G. Park, Mrs. II.
S. Caswell and the Rev. Chas. H. Merrill,
secretary of the Vermont Domestic Mis-
sionary Society. The greetings from
Mrs. Benedict, president of the Woman's
Branch, were read by Miss Susan E.
Clark of West Drattleboro, and from the
Rev. L. Writ, secretary of Sunday School
Missions in California, by Mrs. Arthur
j. Covell of Waterbury. These cordial
welcomes were pleasantly responded to
by Mrs. Babbitt, who proceeded to call
for reports. That of the seCre tary, Mrs.
NJ. X Paine, revealed an increase of in
terest during hard year. The treasur-
er, Mrs. r. p. Fairbanks, showed re-
ceipts of $500, a gratifying increase
over the sum apportioned to the
woman of this State. The Young Peo-
pies Secretary, Mrs. Edward Kirkland,
afforded strong ground of confidence in
the will of Sunday schools and Endeavor
societies to meet their responsibilities
A large part of the morning was given
to three addresses. That of Miss Mary
Nelson was vivid inside view of what
the missionary "girls" are doing. Their
work is nothing less than that
of building up, then ministering to,
disheartened churches. Miss Anna Had
oush, a Hungarian, who has for five
years labored among the slaves of Peru,
affectingly illustrated the needs of these
100000 now in the country and the mar
velous results of self.denying efforts in
their behalf, Mrs. H. S, Caswell, super
intendent of womans' department of the
National Society, was truly eloquent in
her portrayal of the ignorance and idola-
try that prevails so widely in their Chris
tian land. Her appeal for deeper inter-
est in home missions was irresistible.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, the morning
session will be held at the Second Con-
gregational and will be of special i'm
portance. After the devotional exer-
cises Principal John NJ. Comstock of
Chelsea, will read his annual report of
churches for the past year. The report
of this able statlstician is always listen
ed to with profound attention. Following
this report will occur the anniversary of
the Vermont Domestic Missionary So
cety, Rev. Chas. II. Merrill, secretary.
The addresses at this meeting are in
part by women missionaries, who speak
from their personal eXperienc. For sew
eral years these addresses have produced
a marked impression upon the conven-
ton.
The afternoon of Wednesday will be
devoted to a historical service at the
First church. This, strictly speaking,
will be the one hundredth anniversary.
The subjects of the papers to be read are
as follows: The Influence of Congrega-
tionalism upon Vermont; The Early Re-
ligious Papers of Vermont; The Old and
New Contrasted. The speakers, Rev's.
Dr's. Henry Fairbanks, E. H. Byngton,
w. S. Smart and Rev'ds G. P. Byington
and G. N. Thomas are sufficient guar
antee of the strength and interest of the
service.
In the evening of Wednesday the gen.
eral missionary meeting will be held at
the Second church. The names of var
ious speakers of ability are on the pro-
gramme. The music will be under the
direction of Prof. Long.
The Thursday morning session at the
Second church closes the convention.
Local trains on the Lebanon Springs
will run as follows; Tuesday. LeaYe
crossing at Bennington p. m. aud p.
| m Raturn laava croSCinU of tho Cantra
at close of evening session. Wednesday.
Leave crossing at Bennington at 100 p.
m. Return leave crossing at the Centre
at close of afternoon session.
CONVENTION NOTES.
The women of the Second Congrega-
tional church furnish dinner to-day in
the church parlors for all delegates and
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