St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-06-04
Caledonia CONGREGATIONAL Confer.

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Congregational churches assembled at
the church in Lyndonville, Tuesday,
May rs, with good attendance, despite
the rain. The conference sermon was by
Rev. Frank F. Lewis of Hardwick. The
text was from Genesis 1: &c, "And God
said, let us make man in our image" The
speaker explained in what this image
consisted, how it was marred, and the
divine method of our restoration. 1t
was fine exposition of the text, enjoyed
by all. During the noon recess most
bountiful and delicious dinner was served
to over fifty. 1t was such dinner as is
always expected from the ladies of the
Congregational church. The pleasant
church parlor, with it's warm fire, was
very homelike to the guests on such
dark, damp day.
First on the afternoon programme
came brief reports from all the churches.
These were full of interest and showed a
good healthy growth through thecounty.
In spite of the hard times, the financial
affairs of the various societies were
reported as rather better than usual at
the annual meeting. Several Of the
churches have made extensive repairs.
Three churches have received legacies,
whose income will be of much help
toward their expenses, viz: East Burke,
ten thousand dollars, Lyndon, three
thousand, Lyndonville, seven hundred.
Many members have been added to the
churches the past year. The Christian
Endeavor societies are becoming more
and more power in our county, and the
good they are doing is Unreasonable.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in
discussing the topic of the day, Family
Religion" as follows: Importance of
the family to all other relations" an
able paper by Mrs. F. Tinker of Danville;
Family religion asrecorded, commended
and commanded in the Bible" an inter
esting talk by Rev. ]. w. Patterson of
East St. Johnsbury; "The Family Sab
bath" a fine paper by Rev. George P.
Byington Of East Hardwick. Family
religion as an aid to good citizenship"
This topic was fully and Interestingly
discussed by Deacon W. H. Gilchrist of
McIndoes, Deacon Al. Clark of Danville,
A. Cole, student of Chicago University,
Rev. ]. c. Bodwell of Lyndonville, Prof.
Henry Fairbanks and Deacon Harvlin
Paddock of St. Johnsbury.
The following officers were elected for
the coming year: Moderator, DIR. L. w.
Hubbard; registrar, Rev. P. B. Fisk;
assistant registrar, Rev. F. F. Lewis.
The conference sermon will be preached
by Rev. ]. c. Bodwell of Lyndonville, the
communion sermon by Rev. Henry Fair
banks of ST. .Johnsbury. There was fine
congregational singing, Miss. Alice
Walter presiding at the organ and Fl. c.
Wilson at the piano. During the recess
supper was furnished to the visitors.
The evening exercises were rendered
very interesting by two choice selections
by the Congregational male quartette.
Rev. G. A. Hood of Boston, the New
England secretary of the Congregational
Building society, gave most entertain
ing address on the mission work of the
society. He proved conclusively that
great and faithful work had been done
by this same Congregational Building
society. Such work always pays. A
symposium on Memories of family re-
ligion" followed. Rev. E. T. Fairbanks
Rev. p. B. Fiske and Rev. J. e.. Bodwel
gave admirable speeches, full of pleasing
and touching "reminiscences.