Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1902-09-12
CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
Successful Session in West BrattIe-
boro-Notable Addresses by Well
Known Missionaries.

The opening session of the 6lst annual
meeting of the Windham Conference of
Congregational Churches began Wednes-
day morning at 10 O'Clock in the Congre-
gational church in West Brattleboro
There was satisfactory attendance and
much interest was shown, which also
was true of all subsequent sessions. The
conference opened with service of pray
er and praise led by Charles r. Prentiss
of West Brattleboro, which was followed
by the conference sermon by Rev. L. c.
Fisher of Guilford. Mr.. Fishers theme
was Christ, the Burden Bearer" from
which he drew a practical lesson for
Christians of today. The conference
organized by electing Rev. II. r. Miles of
Brattleboro moderator and Rev. NJ. f.
Hardy of Townshend scribe. Dinner
was served at noon.
In the afternoon Rev. c. L. Hayward of
Putney led a prayer service and Rev. G..
+. Chaplin of Saxtons River gave the
narrative of the state of religion in the
churches. At o'clock a women's mis-
sionary meeting was conducted, reports
on home missions being made by Mrs.
A. L. Park of Brattleboro and on foreign
missions by Miss s. K. Clark of West
Brattleboro. Rev. c. II. Merrill, of st.
JohnSbury, closed the session by an ad-
dress on the history of missionary work
in Vermont. DR.. Merrill is secretary of
lht lhlSSlOndTN Society
and for ii years was pastor of the West
Brattleboro church, being succeeded by
Rev. ]. II. Babbitt.
A half-hour song service, conducted
by W. A. Gilbert of Brattleboro, opened
the evening session and was followed by
an address by Rev. George III. Gutterson
of Boston. of the American Missionary
association. The audience present filled
the church. DIR. Gutterson spoke of the
$50 missionaries supported by the asso-
citation in all parts of the world, and the
results of its work, mentioning Booker
L. Washington as a product of the as
sociation. He expressed his thankful
ness that we constantly are confronted
by problems to work out and said the
worst thing that could happen to us
would be to reach that stage when we
could fold our arms and say We had moth
ing more to do. DR.. Gutterson's remarks
abounded in humor and held the close at
tention of all.
The first service yesterday morning was
prayer for our state, her righteous
character and true prosperity, led by Rev
II. r. Miles. At the business session
that followed Rev. NJ. F. Hardy was
elected registrar and committee was ap-
pointed to arrange for the next confer
ence, consisting of Rev. H. r. Miles, Rev
w. =. Jackson, r. r. Pember, the regis
trar and the pastor of the church al
NeWtane. 1t was decided to have the
next conference at Newfane and Rev. l.
NJ. Keneston was appointed to give the
conference sermon. A 15-minute address
on Sunday school work was given by
Rev. II. H. Shaw, a 15-minute report OF
Sunday school work in the county was
given by Mr.. Randall of Townshend anc
a 15-minute address on Christian En-
deavor work in the county was giver
by c. l.. Hescock.
TIE notable addresses of the day were
4 by DIR. Harriet e. Parker of Putney who
has charge of the women's and children's
hospital at the medical mission in Mad
ura, India, under the auspices of tn,
, American Board, and by Rev. l.. p. Broat
and Mrs. II. S. Caswell- Broad who es
tablished Bencasson on Newfane Hill
who related their experiences in a 1000
mile missionary tour on the Pacific coast
The people of the county feel an intimat,
acquaintance with these missionaries, anC
large audience listened with deep in
terest to their addresses. The confer
ence closed in the afternoon with a pray
er service, led by Rev. II. A. Goodhu,
of Westminster West, and a communion
I service led by Rev. G. II. DeBevoise o
Westminster and Rev. M. f. Hardy.
The conference was a success in ever!
particular and was one of the most in
teresting that has been held. All thos
who were announced to take part wer
/ present. One of the surprises of tn
conference was the report from tn
Swedish church in Brattleboro. showing
that the attendance the past summe
averaged nearly 100.