Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-07
! CONGREGATlONALlSTS AT WORK
Programme of the Proceedings at the
County Conference.

Programme of the Proceedings at the
County Conference.
The Chittonden county conference Of
Congregational churches at Jericho Gem
ter Thursday and Friday opened with
devotional service, led by MIR. Watt; MI.
lIerrCk, the registrar, was unable to be
present. Prayers were offered by Rev. Mr..
Watt. Deacon Charles Green of ESSEX and
by Rev. MIR Tcnney. The sermon was
preached by Mr. Tenney, he taking his
text from John l5-S-l6. lie said in part:
/ human nature is easy to be guied.
Man makes many ventures such as gold
mines and legitimate OUTLAWS on their
farms that imperil the interests of the
owners In John Lois we ind a sure in
Ncstment and there Is no monopoly OF
fruit-hCarng among Christians Many
think if they were in city church with
many organizations and eloquent preach
crs they could bear much fruit, but the
fact is the city churches look TO the coun-
try church for their officers, Sunday schc oil
Supefntcndcnts, etc. Workers in the coun-
try church should know that they are at
the centre of things.
AT /. O'Clock the ladies of the church
served a most satisfying dinner in the Ncs-
try of the church, III which all The visitors
and few of the residents entertained
the inner man"
In the afternoon a business session was
held at O'Clock and the following of
toers We're elected. Moderator, Rev. Z.
j. Harris scribe. Rev. George r. Baker.
Koll-call of churches by tho delegates
"aS responded To by very fair proper
ton Of the churches of the county. An
address was delivered by Rev. X. X.
Davies Of \ergennes. He said in par:
ASK the Catholic if there is any author
itY in the church and he would answer,
most assuredly" in the power of The
holy spirit. through the Pope. and trans
M ted hi ~ f-hf, Il
people ASK the tpiscopalian if he be-
leves IN the principle of authority and he
answers, most asSuredly." The author
ity of God is vested in the church through
the state. Does the Presbyterian believe
in authority? Certainly; in the authority
OF the creed, and of the church organiza-
ton enforcing that creed
When come to the Methodist brother
ana ask him what is his ministerial stand
Ing he Will point to his annual conference,
where, once a year. his character has to
be 'passed'' by the conference. when we
come to the congregational denOmna ton.
the ministerial standing of the preacher is
not so clear. We say that a young man
cannot enter the Congregational ministry
except by council of churches" But
sometimes our ministerial associations
license candidates to preach. This is an
evolution without authority. The Congrc
Satonal polity says all authority is vest
ed in the local church; and only the local
chlrch, by its council of local churches.
has tho power to license and ordain
preachers No ministerial association has
any authority TO eNcommunicate a preach
cr ON the charge of heresy or other cause.
Remarks supporting this view were
made by Rev. Mr.. Hayward Questions
were asked by Rev. Mr. Tenney and 9TH
ers. Remarks opposing the dcsrabi,itv of
this view were made by Rev. Mr. Olmstead
ana the points of danger resulting there