Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-09
STATE sUNDAY-scHooL CONVENTION.

The convention, which was held iu
the beautiful little city of Vergennes,
was very well attended. A good
number of delegates were present al
the opening service and they contin-
ued to come urtii here were 200 dele
gates registered, besides a few pastors
and supefiutendents who were made
honorary members. The convention
opened with a preparatory service,
led by Henry NJ. Seely, president of
the Addison Co. association. After
this came "Words of Welcomen by
the local pastors and response by the
president, d. NJ. Camp of Newport.
The three local pastors joined in well
coming the visitors. Rev. Crowell of
the Baptist church spoke OF the gen.
erous hospitality of the people, shown
in responding SO willingly to the calls
for entertainment, and a'so spoke of
the beauties of Vergennes scenery
and hoped the delegates would find
time to visit the points of interest.
He hoped they wouldn't be like the
countrvman who visited Boston and
on arriving in the city put up at one of
the leading hotels and inquired OF the
clerk at what hours they served
meals. The clerk replied that they
served breakfast from z 20 10, dinner
from II to 8 and supper from 6 to 8.
"Jerusha," said the countryman,
"When am 1 goin' ter git time to see
the city?" Rev. Mr.. Davis OF the
Cong. church then spoke for a time.
He said they had held a special prayer
meeting, praying for Gods blessing
on the convention and SO had made
preparation in spiritual things as we'll
as in material. d. NJ. Camp, in re-
spending for the convention spoke of
the cordial Christian greeting they
had received, of the generous hospital
ity of the people and thanked them
for the same. Next on the program
the presidents annual address.
This was a very excellent paper full
of good thoughts and advice and
showed careful study in its prepare
ton. He spoke of the ways in which
ca AS0 oo Ia NAO RooP va 0A0 /
of our having come together to render
account of our stewardship, to study
present needs, and seek divine wis
dom to aid US in further work. He
referred to the social opportunities of
the convention and sail we should
God for all the achievements
of the past. In speaking Of present
conditions he said there was a decline
n religion in the state with d loss in
in schools and
D. E. societies. AS causes affecting
decline he mentioned the preva-
ence of higher criticism, causing loss
Of faith in, ahd doubts concerning the
Bible, but said that higher criticism
lid not affect God. Another cause
vas the half heartedness
lack of conservation among
members. Nowadays when
church gets a man it gets only
one-half of him; his heart is not
here. He spoke of the prevalence
n these days of corporations,
'ocieties, cubs etc, in which he said
he Individual was lost as in the bot
omless pit. There is no better Their
nometer than the Bible in it's use and
lisuse to measure the state of religion
nd claimed that the disuse of the
bible was the cause of the trouble.
Family religion is ~decaying. Gods
Vord is neglected in the homes.
life in the community can
lot rise higher than in the home.
Neep on with work in church and
'unday-school, but don't neglect the
In closing he spoke of some
Kings that ought to be impressed in :
unday-school teaching, such as 7
bedience to Gods laws the sin of .
rofanity, intemperance and Sabbath :,
esecration, and should teach that
ne idea of getting something for :
othing, SO common now, is wrong. :
ut on the contrary that all honest
lbor is ennobling. :
After a solo by Mrs. Swift came the
ddress, "The Book We Study" by 9
.ev. Elder Samuel Miles of Monkton. +
Le said in part: The Bible is like no ,
Their book. 1t took thirty or forty =
uthors 1900 years to write it, and it =
ow takes 10000, 900 copies yearly to .
apply the demand. He spoke of the ;
of the Bible and mentioned :
in which all could agree, such as :
lie belief in n God, belief in Satan, :.
the redemption purchased by Christ /
nd the gift of the Holy Spirit. In l.
osing he dwelt on the value of the :
IDLE in affection, and gave I'd limo !.
~ Ills, as good advice to all those .