The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-27
BUSINESS
and MANY
REPORTS
Claimed tho Attention Of Rhode
Island State Conference Of
Congregational Churches.

and State Conference OF Congregational
churches were held in the chapel Of the
Union Congregational church today with
both morning and afternoon sessions and
a good attendance OF the clergy and lay
delegates at both. The sessions were
presided over by the moderator, Rev. j.
J. Woolley. and the morning session.
which opened at $50 o'clock, was pri-
marlly "woman's meeting" the general
subject OF the same being Home Mis-
sions."
The meeting opened with a devotional
service. led by Rev. John Deans OF the
Riverpoint Congregational church. The
first address OF the morning was by Miss
l.. l.. Sherman OF Boston. the secretary
OF the Home Mission association.
Miss Sherman told I'm a most interest
ing and charming way OF the various
phases OF the work carried on by the as
sociation throughout the length and
breadth OF the land.
In this connection she made a strong
plea for the development OF the work.
picturing the great need of home mis-
slonary effort In various sections OF the
land. notably in New Mexico, Alaska and
| among the Chinese women on the Pacific
coast
MRS. BAKER SPEAKS.
The second address OF the morning was
by Mrs. George r. Baker, secretary of the
Rhode Island branch OF the Womans
Board of Foreign Missions.
Dwelling first upon the great privilege
which was hers. as secretary OF the Wo-
mans board. in looking over the foreign
field and bringing glimpses OF the work
to her hearers Mrs. Baker gave mental
picture OF foreign missionary work in
India, Turkey, among the Zulus in
Africa. In Foo Chow. China, in Ceylon
and many other places.
AT the close OF Mrs. Bakers talk Presi-
dent Butterfeld of the Agricultural col
lege at Kingston was introduced and de-
livered the address which was scheduled
for yesterday, but was necessarily post
poned
THE COUNTRY CHURCH.
President Butterield presented most
intelligent and illuIninaiye view of the
Sociological Problem OF the Country
| Church. There has come realization
OF the fact" he said. that the rural
question is one which has Its pressing
| needs The farm problem is a most inn
portant one; first, because of the num-
bers involved, tor one-half of the people
Of this country are still farmers. and one
from the brown soil" Continuing the
speaker made a plea for the preservation
of the old type OF the American farmer.
ments which have already had wide In
| fuence in developing rural life.
Among these he presented the various
trolley lines penetrating far out into 1.-The the
country and city. the rural telephone. the
rural mail delivery and the development
OF country roads. AN these things. he
of country life-isolation." Another great
thing in the development of country life,
the speaker believed, was organization,
and in this connection he discussed the
/ advantages social and otherwise of that
organization known as the farmers
| grange"
Another movement In the development
OF rural life" he said, may be general
ized an educational movement among
| farmers" In this connection President
the development of the rural schools, and
also discussed the subject of agricultural
education. its significance and importance
In closing he raised the question
What shall be the part OF the country
| church I'm this movement for social bet
terment i'm the rural districts?'
The speaker believed that the country
| church should take a social leadership
In the community and should do a com
munity work such as is done, perhaps, by
| social settlements in cities.
He believed. moreover, that the country
sociological movements OF the day and
should make a study OF the social con
ditions In his parish with a View TO their
| improvement.
Among other agencies, which were
! mentioned as tending to the development
| of rural life were conferences upon top
! ics of n common interest to the communi-
| ~ and above all cooperation with the va.
rious social agancies OF the rural dis
| tricts.
HOME MISSIONS
At the close OF President Butterield's
address the conference resolved itself into
| a meeting OF the Rhode Island Home
! Missionary society.
Mr. John f. Huntsman. the president
| called this meeting to order at l9
| o'clock and announced that Il was the
annual meeting OF the society and tha,
the regular reports were In order
Acct rdingly Rev. j. II. Lyon. the secre-
tary. read his annual report as did Also
| the treasurer Mr.. j. william Rice after
which, by vote OF the meeting. the chair
appointed ~>s.e following as a committee
John NJ Deans and Or. Charles Leonard
Mr.. j. william Race then read the prog
ram or the great meeting OF the Com
| greeational Home Missionary society
| which convenes in the eBnehcient church
! esday. Wednesday and Thursday of
next week. In this connection Mr.. Rice
spoke briefly on How to welcome the
H)me Missionary Society"
TREAsuRERs REPORT.
The report OF the treasurer OF the
society presented during the morn, ng.
/ showed receipts from all sources during