Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-09-11
CoNaRBa ATIoNALIsTs
The Annual Windham County Confer =
ence one OF Great HeIpfulness.

ence one OF Great HeIpfulness.
The 5jth annual meeting of the Wind
ham conference of Congregational churches
was held at Marlboro Wednesday and
and Thursday. Those who have attended
many such gatherings declared that not
for many years has so interesting a confer
ence been held. Every minister in the
conference In active service was present
except one and the attendance generally
was large.
The sermon by Rev. w. A. Estabrook of
Wilmington from the text, "As a man
thinketh in his heart, so is he,n ably struck
the keynote, as it was essentially an occa-
sion of earnest, comprehensive Christian
thinking and planning. A special feature
was the four prayer services led by Rev.
II. II. Shaw, Rev. Smith Norton, Rev. A.
j. Cameron and the Rev. Mrs. Norton,
which kept the spirit of the conference
upon a high plane.
Rev. G.. f. Chaplin reported the condition
of the churches as prosperous especially in
material way, several parsonages being
now in process of erection, while in mem
bership the churches have held their own.
Forcible and suggestive papers upon our
county Sunday school and temperance
work were given by Rev. j. II. Babbtt
and Mrs A. A. G. Ware, and resolution
urging upon the churches and ministers
more earnest work for temperance was
unanimously passed.
The missionary meetings Wednesday af-
ternoon and evening were unusually inter-
esting and were address d by Secretary C.,
IL. Merrill of st. Johnsbury, Mrs. II. s..
Caswell of New York, Miss Lamson and
Rev. DR.. c. II. Daniels of Boston. On
Thursday morning Mrs. II. S. Caswell an
swered in very interesting and suggestive
manner, series of questions covering al
most every debated point in church work
One result of her inspiring remarks was
the formation of ladies' homeland circle
in the thriving little church at Marlboro.
Rev. II. A. Goodhue and Rev. NJ. f.
Hardie gave two helpful papers upon the
difficulties and forces to meet them in our
Christian work today. Miss Emma L. War
riner of West Brattleboro represented the
Young Peoples Society of Christian En-
deavor in an earnest and helpful essay up
on personal spirituality and Christian
unity.
The closing service was conducted by
Rev. Mary Norton, whose words upon the
presence and power of the Holy Spirit were
full of inspiration and encouragement.
The hospitality of the Marlboro friends
was most abundant entertainment for all
delegates and friends being provided in the
chapel, and those who spent the night be-
ing cared for in the various homes. The
spirit of Christian union was deeply felt
and the outlook for the work of the COM
ing year is hopeful.
The presence of speakers Of national in
fluence like Mrs. Caswell and DR.. Daniels,
giving of their best In a small county con-
ference, was another recognition OF the
closeness of touch which even the country
districts of Vermont maintain with the ma
ton at large
Olaf Anderson, representing the Swedish
evangelical church of Brattleboro. in simple
and effective remarks brought the foreign
element into consideration. The condition
of the women's department of work. both
home and foreign, as reported by Miss s.
+. Clark and Mrs. G. F. Chaplin, was found
to be satisfactory with growth in every d.
rection. The need of more earnest effort
in UNCONVENTIONAL Sunday school work was
expressed, while loyalty for the present
union organization was heartily main
tanned.
The communion service on Wednesday
evening was impressively conducted by
Rev. p. F. Barnard and Rev. Geo +.
Chaplin. Rev. c. II. Merrill recalled very
tenderly the names of DR.. Stevens, Deacon
c. B. Rice and others who in past time had
been earnest workers in this county, and
spoke feelingly of the former strength OF
the Marlboro church, which now appears
to be hopefully reviving.
The moderator of the meeting was Rev
| c. o. Day and the scribe Rev. w. A. Es
tabrook, while Mrs. A. Z. Park presided
at the organ. Rev. 5. l.. Vincent wa:
elected register for the ensuing year and tn,
next meeting OF the conference is to be held
with the church in West Townshend.