St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-05-03

CONGREGATIONAL CLUB.
Organization and First Meeting of the
New Religious Organization.

Nv vi w 'hN N-'ik3 81
tonal club of eastern Vermont ant
the adjoining towns in New Hamp
shire was effected on Monday. TIL
meetings were held in the Nortl
church, and there wasagood attend
ancc from the surrounding towns
Rev c. II. Merrill called the meeting
to order, and called upon Rev. DR.
A. II. Heath to explain the objects o
the proposed club. DR.. Heath cor
daily welcomed all present. ant
stated that the club had been dis
cussed at the ministers meeting,
in both Orleans and Caledonia coun
" and committees had been chosen
from each county association to cal
the people together. This was what
had been done up to date and it was
now in order to make n temporary
organization. This was effected by
eIccting Rev c. II. Merrill chairman
and Rev. +. A. George clerk. w. l..
X nney was chosen treasurer and
the following committees elected -
Executive committee, Rev. DR..
Heath; Rev. Mr.. Barnard, Bradford;
Rev. A. c. Swain, Barton; +. w.
Baldwin, Barton; Charles p. Car
penter st. Johnsbury; membership
committee, Rev. II. N. Perkins,
Derby; Rev. Henry Fairbanks, st.
Iohnsbury; Rev. Mr.. Bugbee, Wells
River. 1t was voted to have the
next meeting at st. Johnsbury on
Monday, July /, AT this meeting a
permanent organization will be
made, the executive committee will
present a constitution and bylaws
tor adoption and a name will be
chosen. An informal discussion was
then held concerning the admission
OF ladies to the club, of initiation fee
and dues, of the desirability of hold
ing the club in different places and of
the limit territorially. All these
matters will be decided by the cxecu.
tive and the membership commit
tees. 1t seemed to be the sentiment
OF those present that the club should
meet at least four times wear, that
ladies' should be invited to all the
meetings, even itthey did not become
Members that no hard and fast lines
should be drawn as to where the
territorial limits of the club should
he, and that the annual dues be kept
as small as possible
At $50 an elaborate supper was
served by the ladies' of the North
church, the money for the supper
being donated to the treasury Of the
new club.
The evening session opened at 100
with an organ voluntary, after which
the choir, double quartette, sang
1.-The King of Love my Shepherd is"
PRAYER was next offered by Rev. f.
!. Fairbanks, who asked a blessing
upon the organization, The Ma
hogany Quartette then rendered an
anthem Though | speak with the
tongues OF men and of angels" which
was much appreciated.
A few opening remarks by the
chairman, Rev. {. II. Merrill, fol.
lowed, in which he said that the
meeting was to be quite informal.
Heregretted the absence of President
tucker OF Dartmouth college, and
Bartlett of the same.
who were to have spoken, and called
upon Judge Smith to speak on behalf
of the laymen.
Judge Smiths remarks were d.
rected to show the need of greater
exertlons on the side of laymen, and
the necessity of the clergy making
greater use of the occupants of the
pews in advancing all lines of Chris.
tan work. He spoke of the change
which has taken place in the atti-
'ude and manner of the clergy in
.hese days from what it once was
when nothing struck such terror to
he heart OF a child as to have the
call. The change is one to
make people glad. There is more of
coming together between the pul.
DIT and the pew, and harmonious
working OF the laymen with the min
ster. This club, the speaker thought, ,
you'd do much for both parties.
lie referred to the fact that there are
struggling churches in this valley.
Win people not very responsive to =,
ne call to take part with the minis.
er, and hoped that this club would !
'e instrumental in giving people new {
IDEAS tor work, as well as giving
mem the benefit OF association one
v'th another. The necessity of min /
9ters making more use of laymen in I
hurch work was dwelt upon at E
ensth, and IDEAS suggested in con- ,
lection herewith. He confidently
'oped the club would be of great i
'eneht, The burden of much of the +
present day church work lies upon f
ne Iaymen, and it is necessary for q
ne TWO forces to more thoroughly h
understand each other. He referred h
o the Y. NJ. c. A. as lay work. and y
aId 1t was largely instrumental in n
lddlng to the churches. !
ne next speaker called upon was v
<eV' L, A, George, Of Newport, who IA
a'o he supposed as Newport was "
me oil the Lcrritnrial linnitn nC ~.