The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-06-16
UNI VERSALISTS MEET.
Annual Session of Vermont Central
Association.

oPeheu vi thursday snOrtly a1ter III
o'clock in the Church of the Messiah.
The attendance was small in the morn
ing owing to the fact that many from
out of the city did not arrive until
the noon train.
Rev. J. Edward Wright made the
opening address extending hearty
welcome to the delegates f1om other
churches. The response was made by
Rev. Walter Dole of Norhfield
Dinner was served in the church
vestry at noon by the members of the
Women's Alliance of the church.
The second day of the annual ses-
sion of the Vermont Central Associa-
ton CT Universalists opened on
Friday with a much larger attend
ance than the day before. A meet
ing of the council was held at $3.50,
at which some details of business
were transacted. A fine address was
delivered by Rev. Eliza M. H. Abbott
of Stowe at 10 O'Clock, followed by a
talk on home department of Sunday
school work by Mrs. Asa M. Bradley
of Barre The Occasional Sermon"
was the subject of an interesting dis
course by Rev. Walter Dole of North
field. Communion service was OBJ
served the last thing in the morning
at which Rev. j. Edward Wright was
assisted by Rev. Frances Kimball of
Williamstown. In the afternoon at
1.30 O'Clock meeting of the council
was held at which the following off
GERS were elected W. H. Gladding
of Barre, president; Charles Dole of
Northfield, secretary and treasurer !;
Rev. Asa M. Bradley of Barre, Rev.
Eliza M H. Abbott of Stowe and Mrs.
George e. Wilbur of Williamstown,
executive committee. After the bust.
ness session Rev. Alvin M. Smith of
Plainfield, superintendent of Univer-
salist churches in Vermont and Prov
ince of Quebec, gave a comprehensive
report Of churches. He stated that
there we're in the State twenty seven
active pastors and about fifty churches,
a few of which were not open the
year around He said he had been
called upon during the year to look
after twenty-six churches. In con-
nection with the general prospects
the speaker stated that no ground had
been lost but there had been no large
gains. During his remarks the speak
er urged that care be taken tor the
promotion Of a larger attendance at
Goddard Seminary, that more parson-
ages be built and that the entire State
be canvassed for missionary work.
Rev. 1. P. Booth. D. D., of Norris
vile gave an interesting address on
The Office of Field Secretary"
Because Rev. Alven M. Smith had
not arrived, in place of the report of
churches, Rev. j. Edward Wright de-
livered an address on the Family
and It's Safeguards. Mr.. Wright
spoke urgently Of the need of a higher
regard for the sanctity of the marriage
tie, and on the present divorce laws.
A discussion followed in which Revs.
Walter Dole and Asa M. Bradley took
an active part.
On Thursday afternoon following
reports Of the churches and discus
sion of various phases of the work, a
short praise service was held led by
Rev. A. M. Bradley. Rev. G. W.
Penniman. of st. Adams, preached
strong sermon on the theme Gods
Cause" Rev. Grant Van Blarcom of
Washington gave an address largely
statistical, showing the statistics of
Universalist churches and Universal
lists in Vermont closing with a strong
plea for the dissemination of correct
information regarding these facts as a
means of promoting courage and en-
thusiasm. Rev. l.. f. Fortney of
Plainfield was the last speaker of the
afternoon and his subject was The
Temperance Problems of Today on
which he spoke strongly.
The evening meeting opened with
a service of song led by Rev. Mr..
Bradley and trio composed of Misses
Fl. Julia Gross and Pansy Severance
and Mr.. O. f. Lowe. Rev. Alven M.
Smith read the scripture lesson and
offered prayer which was followed by
a sermon by Rev. Mr.. Bradley who
I x0 iched from the text fOund in John
III. 3, and Corinthians X. V, 40.
Except man be born anew he
cannot see the Kingdom of God. )"
The sermon was clean cut exposition
of the fundamental doctrines of Uni
versalism and effectiveness of these
doctrines III producing the new
Il;