The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-11-18
GENERAL CONFERENCE
OF CONN. CONGREGATIONAL
 CHURCHES BEING HELD.

CHURCHES BEING HELD.
 Sharoh of nsdsemsr ahs Meeting Place
 of EaBy ministsrs-AIany Interesting
 Topics DIseussed-Addrsss by Rev.
 wIIIIsIon Walker Last tEvsnInE-con-
 vention win Continue To-day and
 To-morrCw.
 The thirty-seventh annual meeting of the General Conference of the Congre- gational churches of Connecticut open ed yesterday morning at the Church of the Redeemer with a large attendance in spite of the disagreeable weather.
 Dr. Watson L. Phillips, pastor of the church, greeted the conference with fine address of welcome. The conven- tion then organized by the selection of Judge Epaphroditus Peck of Bristol as moderator, Rev. Winthrop B. Green of Pomfret as scribe and Rev. Edward c. Gillette of Canaan as assistant scribe. The address of welcome was then de- livered by Rev. Watson L. Phillips of the Church of the Redeemer.
 A nominating committee to report to- day their selection of officers for the next conference was chosen as follows: Rev. Cyrus F. Stinson of Stratford, Rev. T. s. Dewitt of Branford, and John C. North of this city. Reports were read from the standing committee, treasurer, finances, statistical secretary, committee on pastoral service, state committee on missionary work, and the committee on moral legislation.
 Treasurer Ward w. Jacobs of Hart ford repotred a balance on hand of $624.11. It was then voted that each church be invited to contribute at the rate of IA cents for each church mem Der as reported January 1, 1903, to de- fray the expenses of the general confer ence for 1904. Last years assessment was at the rate of 1-2 cents per mem Der.
 Rev. J. S. Ives of Hartford reported for the committee on pastoral service and the Rev. H. B. Schauffler of Ber- lin for the committee on missionary work Rev. MT. Schauffier recommended that the six benevolent societies of the church be heartily supported.
 Attorney Henry G. Newton of this city reported for the committee on moral legislation, and Rev. Russell T. Hall, his colleague on the committee, spoke from the floor on the saloon question. "The number of saloons in Connecticut is simply scandalous," de- clared MT. Hall, and he advocated an attempt to reduce the number by leg islative enactment. At the recommen- dation of the committee vote was unanimously passed declaring that the license fee for saloonkeepers should be raised to $1,000 and that only one sa- loon would be allowed for each thou sand of population in the cities of Con- necticut, towns with less than thou sand inhabitants to be restricted to one saloon. In some parts of Connecticut, Rev. MT. Hall stated that there was at present one saloon to every 115 in- Inhabitants. .' 'f.- l The afternoon session opened at 2 o'clock with singing and prayer fol- lowed by a conference topie,g t"The King dom of God,' in which many of the lclergymen and laymen took part | The subject "Scriptural Teaching" Twas discussed in it's various phases by number of prominent clergymen. Pro lessor Curtis M. Geer of the Hartford Theological school discussing "The Old Testament Doctrine,'' Rev. Frank R. Luckey of this city "Christs Teaching" and Rev. George R. Montgomery of Bridgeport "Pau's Teaching"
 Following this came general discus sion of the topics by large part in the audience.
 An interesting subject, "The Church Mediating the Kingdom to the Times" which was scheduled for to-day was taken up at yesterdays conference by Rev. Lester L.. West of Norwich