Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-06-11
THe CONGREGATIONAL CONVENTION.

/
THE CONGREGATIONAL CONVENTION.
The 102d annual meeting of the gen
eral convention of Congregational min
listers and churches of Vermont opened
| in the Congregational church here at ,
o'clock Tuesday afternoon and closed yes
terday noon, This was the seventh meeting
of the body in Middlehurv. The first time
it met here was in 1907, Just 30 years ago.
The convention has been the largest of
recent years, over 300 delegates and pas.
tors being present. Dinners were served
by the lauies on Tuesday and Wednes-
day in the lecture room. which was fill
ed with prettily decorated and fully sup
piled tables.
President n. G.. Williams of Bellows
| Falls called the convention to order
| Tuesday afternoon and offered prayer.
/ Rev. 5. l.. Bates of Burlington submitted
the roll of the convention. Rev. T. d.
Bacon of Essex Junction was chosen
scribe. Rev. DR.. Edward Hawes, Rev.
c. H. Merrill and Rev. r. D. Bacon were
appointed a committee on credentials.
Rev. A. W. Dickens, pastor of the To-
cal church, welcomed the convention to
Middlebury, and President Williams res
ponded.
Dea. c. f. Thompson, treasurer of the
Fairbanks fund for the relief of minis
ters, reported balance on hand of $50
Il. Rev. Henry Fairbanks of st. Johns
bury, treasurer of the education board,
said there was S34.57 in the treasury.
He recommended smaller grants during
the coming wear.
Rev. E. +. Herrick of Milton, Rev. S.
H. Barnum of Cornwall and DIR. J. Hen
ry Jackson of Barre were elected a NOM
mating committee. Rev. w. :. Smart of
Brandon, Rev w. 5. Hazen of Mortified
and G. G. Benedict of Burlington were
made business committee. Rev. Dr..
Jackson, Rev, Henry Fairbanks and Rev.
Mr.. Lewis were appointed to consider
the advisablitv of continuing the publ
cation of the Vermont Chronicle and to
report at a subseqent meeting.
The convention sermon was given by
Rev. j. f. Fullerton from Matthew
XVI, 26 to 2S The subject was The
Death of Christ Still Gods Answer to
Mans Moral Nature" The sacrament
of the Lords supper was then admins
tered by Rev Henry Gulick of Charlotte
and Rev. Benjamin Swift of Orwell
Deacon Henry Mcneil and C. F. Thomp.
son distributing the elements.
In the evening the ladies. as elsewhere
reported, had charge of affairs.
Wednesday morning Rev. X. j. Bar
ton of salisbury conducted prayer and
praise service. Officers of the conven-
tion were elected as follows President,
Rev. V. NJ. Hardy of Randolph; vice.
president, Rev. Mr.. Babbitt; secretary,
Rev. 5. l.. Bates of Burlington; treasur.
er, ID. Camp; trustees, Rev. Henry Fair
banks, G. Thompson, lockwood Barrett,
= 4
of Burlington; members Of the Fair
banks board of education. j. Poland,
Rey. Messrs. f. and II. Fairbanks. W.
IIazen and l.. Elliott trustees of Fair
banks relief fund for ministers, j. Stin-
son, G. Thompson, g. Sykes and Rev.
Messrs. K. Fairbanks and c. II. Merrill.
y resolution was adopted endorsing
the prohibitory law and recommending
that delegates be sent to the convention
of the anti saloon league.
The reports of the minor committees
were made. The treasurer's report
showed cash received, SSSl. rs; cash paid
/ out, SGSl.09. The number of Sunday
school scholars is Pills, an increase
over last year of so. The membership
of the Christian Endeavorers is $780, a
loss of 375.
At ? o'clock Rev. c. f. Fay led a
devotional service. j. NJ. Comstock,
corresponding secretary, made his report.
Rev. DR.. Edward Hawes of Burlington
then gave an address upon spiritual
Life in our Chuches.' and Rev. DR.. Sam
uel Jackson talked upon the compara-
tive claims of educational and evangel-
istic work.
| President Ezra Brainerd led The eve
ming devotional services and Rev. George
5. Smart of Manchester addressed the
conference upon "Our Slumbering Cor
porate Conscience. The missionary ad
dress was by Rev. DR.. James L. Barton
of Boston, secretary of the American
board, who gave an admirable address
on the work of foreign missionaries.
Thursday morning Rev. 5. II. Barnum
of Cornwall conducted the devotional
service. Routine business occupied the
time till 10 O'clock when Prof. j. f.
Goodrich of Burlington led discussion
of the topic, The Meaning of Church
Membership" That was followed by a
discussion Of "Lay Work." Prof. Eaton
of Mddlebury speaking of the work in
the church, Dea. II. +. Bentley of 1t i'm
the world and Rev. Peter Mcmillan tell
ing of noted lay workers. The business
of the convention was then brought to
an end and the final adjournment taken
soon after II O'Clock.