Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-10-20
THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

The opening service in the afternoon
was conducted by Mr.. McConaughy behind
closed doors, as in the morning, and this
feature of the conduct of the devotional
meetings has commended itself to a very
large number. Those who attend are
greatly pleased with the quietness of the
room and of course those who do not come
in season to be admitted before doors are
closed are the losers. The whole afternoon
session was fitly characterized by the most
devotional spirit.
Heavenly Alliances in Sunday School
Work.
The address of Rev. Joseph Fielden of
Winchendon, Mass, was a powerful one
on the subject of Heavenly Alliances in
Sunday School Work" The use of the
quotation Property right in immortal
spirits" was used with special eff ct near
the opening of his address. The injunc-
tion that teachers should invest all of their
powers in that which is eternal was like
wise very impressive. All through the ad-
dress scripture references were cited to
strengthen the points made. When about
half through his address he gave the ex-
PLANTATION of his topic by saying that pray
er was the heavenly alliance TO which he
specially referred. In this connection he
spoke of prayer as not simply asking for
something, but talking over everything
with God and letting him talk back" The
elements were expectancy, interchange,
communion and fellowship, and this was
the natural outcome of an alliance with
God. The work of the teacher was build
ing up, of course, ready for Christ's use
by instruction, but, referring to Ezekiel's
vision, he enforced the thought that pray
er supplies the living breath. He enjoin-
ed teachers to give God no rest but to de-
pend upon it that to their prayers for the
conversion of their classes they were as
sured of an affirmative response every
time, but ask as the man "need .ng loaves''
in The olden time. He urged the bringing
by the teacher OF their class to the church
prayer meeting, expecting that they would
be interested, be prayed for and saved
d. L. MOOdy's Uplifting Address:
The address of MI. Moody was in per-
feet harmony with the program of the af-
ternoon, and was in his very best vein.
OF course, it is generally known that Mr..
Moody's earliest Christian work was in
connection with his Chicago Sunday
school, and he has never lost his interest
or his "touch," so to speak, with this
work. His address was full of interesting
and touching incidents in connection with
that work. Hearts were moved as at no
time during the convention, and no doubt
many resolutions were made of more faith
full work when these delegates return TO
their homes.
Preceding his special appeals to th
teachers, he spoke as he has often done in
late years, regarding the, to him, retro
grade movement among the churches, that
movement which enthrones culture and
dethrones revivals. He said he believed
in both, in Christian culture and revival
work, but he would not advise any farmer
to continually plough and cultivate his
ground and not plant any seed. That
would be cultivating to excess He be-
| lieved that the seed should be sown and
in due time he would reap.
The need of the country today is a re-
vival of righteousness, and wholesome re-
vival in any community is not to be de-
plored, but to be devoutly prayed for.
While he believed in hand-picked fruit, he
also believed in shaking the tree. BY
many illustrations drawn from his work of
4Oyears ago and the conversions made at
that time, he impressed upon his audience
his firm belief in the fact that converts
from revivals are fully as likely to ''hold
out" as the expression is, as any other
class. He also brought out the thought
that every prominent denomination of TO-
day is the child of revival effort at some
time in the history of the world. Es-ssl
Prof Hamil followed Mr.. Moody's ad-
dress in very earnest talk regarding the
spiritual work of the Sunday school, deep