St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1901-06-19
CongregationaIists in Session.

the Rutland church last week Tuesda
and Wednesday, St. Iohnsbury was re
presented at this gathering by the pastor
of both the churches, Prof. Henry FAN
banks, Rev. c. H. Merrill, Frank Il
Brooks and Arthur F. Stone,
DIN. Camp of Newport presided, ant
the first afternoon was largely devoted
to reports from the various boards ant
standing committees. The mayor wei
coined the delegates to Rutland ant
rather unfortunately referred to the bank
ing industry as one of Rutland's leading
industries. The convention was not a.
well attended as in previous years, Their
being only 1913 pastors and delegates re
presenting Sc churches. At 4 O'Clock th'
first afternoon the annual sermon wa!
preached by Rev. G. Glen Atkins OF the
First Congregational church of Burling
ton. 1t was learned and eloquent dis
course, followed by the communion.
In the evening the Woman's Home Mis-
sionary Union arranged missionary
service. The devotional exercises were
conducted by Rev. E. M. Chapman and
Mrs. Rebecca P. Fairbanks, the president
of the Union, introduced the speakers.
Prof Hoyt of Grandview spoke tellingly
of the work his school is doing for the
mountain whites OF Tennessee. Mrs.
West of Worcester followed with vivid
portrayal of her recent trip through the
South. Rev. W. G. Puddefoot followed
with one OF his initnitable addresses. in
which be paid glowing tribute to the
sacrifices and victories OF the home mis-
sionary. Rev. DR.. Judson Smith, senior
secretary of the American Board, was
the last speaker and made a telling adj
dress. He spoke entirely of the situation
in China and made strong defense OF
Dr. Ament and his much-criticised col
lection of indemnities. During this part
of his address he was frequently inter
rupted by applause.
Wednesday mornings session opened
with Secretary Comstocks annual re-
port. 1t gavein detail the progress of all
the churches in the jurisdiction of the
society. There has been an increase
within the year in the number OF churches
maintained. Thirty-one churches now
have pastors installed by council, $50
have pastors regularly installed, IA are
supplied by theological students and the
pulpits of Is are vacant. There are 20
pairs of churches, each served by the same
lA Nn1 1In.- L. e L.,
society is 21,779. This is A. less than
last year The names OF 400 members
have been removed from the list by death
during the year. The Sunday school list
shows an enrolment of 10, 191.
At the afternoon session the following
officers were elected: President, !. Henry
Jackson of Barre; vice-president, Rev. c.
H. Merrill OF St. Johnsbury; secretary,
Rev. Evan Thomas Of Essex Junction;
treasurer, D. M. Camp of Newport audi
tor, Elmore 7. lde of St. Johnsbury;
trustees, Rev. Henry Fairbanks of St.
Johnsbury, c. W. Osgood OF Bellows
Falls, W. ]. Van Patten of Burlington,
lockwood Barrett of Rutland and Rev.
c. II. Peck of North Bennington.
The addresses of the afternoon then
followed. Prof Howard of Middlebury
College spoke on the theme, "The Evolu-
ton of Trusts-Its Lesson for the
Church" Prof. Howard rather favored
the creation of the trusts as he consid-
cred them the result of the evolution of
the industrial conditions of the age. Rev.
]. H. Reid of Bellows Falls followed with
a paper upon as there Alienation of
Men from the Churches ?" The closing
address of the day, and one of the best of
the entire convention, was by Rev. E.
Nd. Chapman and entitled christian
Nurture-the Pastors Place in It."
The closing session of the convention
was an evening address by Rev. DR.. O.
Mears of Worcester. He spoke upon the
theme, THE Methods of the Control of
the Liquor Traffic. "Dr. Mears was I'M
quali6edly in favor of our present law
and cited many statistics from the Wor-
cester and Boston courts to show the
fallacy of high license advocates.
On Wednesday morning came the an
nual meeting of the Vermont Domestic
Missionary Society. Rev. Henry Fair,
banks presided and Rev. c. H. Merrill
read his annual report as secretary of
the society. The following officers were
elected: President, Rev. Henry Fair
banks, Of st. Johnsbury; vice president,
N. G. Williams, of Bellows Falls; audi
tor, l.. D. Hazen, OF st, Johnsbury di-
rectors for three years, Rev. William S.
Hazen, OF Mortified, Rev. Charles r.
Seymour, of Bennington, c. F. Thomp-
son, of Brattleboro and Rev. Clifford
Smith, of Pittsford; director for two
years, Rev. E. G. French, of Johnson.
Rev. H. c. Howard, of Jacksonville, H.
H. Stevens, of st. Adams, Rev. Warren
Morse, Of Bennington Center, G. A.
Appleton, OF CRANKY and Rev. X. H. Ball,
OF Fair Haven were elected delegates to
national convention in May, 1902.
The annual meeting of the Woman's
Home Missionary Union was held on
Tuesday with Mrs. Rebecca P. Fair
banks as president in the chair. The re-
port OF Mrs. Robert Mackinnon, treas.
urer, stated that $3.50 had been re-
ceived and all pledges had been met dur
ing the year. The report Of Mrs. W. B.
Ranney on the young peoples work was
read by Mrs. Mackinnon, and told of
the assistance which the Christian En-.
deavor societies and Sunday schools
were giving in the missionary labors of
the union. About $500 has been given
by these organizations to the union dur.
ing the year. Miss Lydia Hartis, the
field secretary, told in her report Of her
visits to 152 churches in this state and
also OF trip through the South and
West which was taken by her last year
The following officers elected for +h,