St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1904-11-09
The National Council.


OF the delegates to the recent National
Council of Congregational churches and
| furnishes this report which appeared in
the November Vermont Missionary:
The meeting of the National Congrega-
tionaI Council at Des Moines, Iowa, in
connection with the anniversaries of the
Home Missionary societies, Oct. 1920.
was the largest meeting in the history OF
American CoBgregationaEsm.
Vermont was represented by 16 official
delegates. The size of the delegation was
due 10 part to the fact that the State Con-
vention and several of the Conferences
paid part of the travelling expenses.
The delegates are very grateful to the
churches which helped them to enjoy this
grand meeting, which by some of them
will be accounted one of the great events
OF lifetime.
The interest began with the business of
the opening session, which resulted in the
election of Rev. Washington GLADDEN. of
Ohio as Moderator; John 81. Perry, Esq.
of Connecticut. First Assistant Modera-
tor; and Rev. Fl. III. Proctor (colored) of
Georgia, Second Assistant.
Of great significance were several ses-
sions at which the subject of labor was
discussed. At one OF these meetings in
the church, Mr.. e. E. Clark. Grand Chief
of the Order of Railway Conductors, a
member of the coal strike commission,
spoke as a representative OF organized
labor; while at Labor Union Hall on Sum
day afternoon Prof. Graham Taylor adj
dressed the labor men.
Sunday fmorning the sermon was
preached by DIR. Alexander Mackenzie, on
Rev. 21:2. Sunday evening addresses
were made by DR.. Dewey and DIR. Cad
man.
Monday evening every available seat
was filled, including the steps to the choir
loft to hear the golden tongued Jefferson
on young People and Home Missions, !"
and the ardent Hills on "A Hundred
Years of Home Missions"
Again on Wednesday evening the church
was packed to the doors to hear DR.. Ly-
man Abbott, DIR. Boynton. and others !;
and once more on Thursday evening the
house was filled for the closing session,
when eloquent addresses were given by
DR.. GLADDEN. and Pres. Cyrus Northrup.
The meetings were held in the large,
new, and beautiful Plymouth church,
whose people bestc wed upon us the most
cordial and generous Western hospitality.
An address of welcome was given by
Gov. Cummins. A connection was made
with the early days at one session when
prayer was offered by Rev. Ephraim Adj
ans, one of the two survivors OF the
iowa Band" who went out from An
dover in 1913.
The keynote of the addresses was
Spiritual Experience, or The Vision of
God. Rev. WI. Dawson, who brought
fraternal greetings from England, told of
his successful evangelistic labors in the
city of Brighton, Eng, Afterward, at a
meeting OF pastors, Mr.. Dawson urged
the supreme Importance of evangelistic
work. The Council chose strong Evan
geistic committee, headed by DIR. Hills,
and it is urged that a Forward Move
ment" be instituted in the several states
on the line of the New Evangelism" It
is expected that this will be one of the
most important results of the Council.
The keynote of the business was prac-
teal fellowship, especially in the direct
ion of "a more perfect union" in the
work of our denomination, or, as some
advocated, "connectionalism." Resolu-
tons were passed authorizing the mod
orator to put liberal Interpretation up
on the scope of his Office, recommending
that Congregational churches in the
same city draw nearer together, especially
in church extension; and the committee
appointed to suggest changes in church
polity made important recommendations
in regard to uniform conditions of minis
terial standing. The Home Missionary
societies were requested to hold Joint
meetings in 1905 and 1906.
A thrilling scene was the reception of DIR.
Weekley, representing the United Breth-
rem, and DR.. Stephens. representing the
Metho dist Protestants. When they as
cended the platform, the whole congre-
cation rose and greeted them with pro-
longed cheers. Each of them spoke at
some length, explaining and advocating
the plan of union proposed by the joint
committee of these three denominations
and already adopted by the General Con-
ference of the Methodist Protestants.
DR.. Weekley said mutual concessions
would be necessary. "We can loosen up
little, and you can tighten up little"
Our committee recommended that the
proposed federation be consummated,
and at a later session the Council heartily
adopted the recommendations of the
committee.
The following are few nuggets from
addresses.
"The seat of authority is in the spirit
of man, illuminated by the spirit of Cod"
Frequent changes in creedal statements
are necessary" DIR. Bradford.
For the church to do what Others can
do better is waste. For the church to do
what others can do as well is superfous.
The great work of the church is to supply
the motive through the preaching of the
gospel Prof. Platner.
1.-THE blacks have been stunted by op-
preston; the whites, by depressing"
DIR. Fl. 81. Proctor.
'Good men will make good institutions,
but there is no certainty that good insti-
tutions will make good men," Hon. 6.
M. Beardsley.
"He that hath done his duty in this
world can face the day of judgment stand
ing DIR. Mackenzie.
''The common will must be the COM
mon veal" DR.. Dewey.
"Congregationalists are in danger of
being over fed and under worked" DIR.
Cadman.
"Tbe great problem is to get the vision
of God" DIR. Enrich.
1.-The world is to be saved by passion"
DIR. Stephens.
t.The goal of the twentieth century
crusade is the rescue of America, our
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