Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-07-23
National Reform Convention
Craftsbury.

An interesting anu nelpIul con terence
was held in Craftsbury on Wednesday the |
18th inst. Dr.. H. II. George, field sec. esarv
Of the National Reform Association, who
has been filling the pulpit of the Reform |
cd lprasbyterisn church at East Craftsburv |
for the past few Sabbaths with the assis-
tance of the resident pastors made the ar
rangeneDts for this meeting. This being
the farmers busy season the attendance
was not what could have been wished but
those who came felt well repaid for the
sacrifice they had made.
All the ministers of Craftsbury as we'll
as some from Albany were present and
took part in the discussions. In the abb
sence OF Rev. Hood of Greensboro, who
was to preside, Rev. Trow bridge of South
Albany was called to the chair for the
afternoon session. Rev. w. E. Allen
| clearly set forth the duty of the church to
| quicken and strengthen the public con-
| science in regard to the proper observance
of the Lords Day. He dwelt at some
| length on the sscredness of the day as well
as its necessity and emphasized the fact.
| that there must be a conscience behind
right Sabbath keeping. DR.. George OPEN
| ed the discussion on the duty OF the
/ government to protect the Sabbath,
showing the demoralziag effect of the
Sunday mail system employing so many
men in running trains and so many men
and women in beopisg post Offices opsn
on the Lords Day, ell Of them doing q
purely secular business. If the govern
ment can employ so many to do such an
undoubtedly worldly and at the same time
unnecessary business it Is an easy step
for men and organizations TO engage in
other secular employmeats and SO prosti-
tute the day.
Rev Z h. Rowley sDer carefully weigh
ing the evidence.on both sides most en-
phstica Iy declared that the Biole law oi
divorce was the law that should be main
tain5d. No divorce should be granted By
aay court on other grounds than that lait
/ down in the Bible. Il was admitted b!
the speaker that for drunkenness, abuse, o
, other similar reasons a legal separation
? might be granted but neither party shoul
. be permitted to re-marry. The minister
present showed their concurrence in thi
y opinion as each of them stated that the
have never officiated in the marriag
t ceremony when either party had bee
: divorced on other than Bible reason:
. Rev. Tupper said that the Bible should b
1 read in public schools, favored a book @
/. selections for such use and thought lay
= to this effect unnecessary. Mrs. Georg
gave an interesting lecture from char
j illustrating the Kingdom of Christ. Sh
y showed that God had that kingdom
~ view from his purpose of creating to tt
&c &c final destination of all things.
I'd During recess in the convention ii
Ill ladies of the church had prepared bount
=; full supper for all who could remain for
- Nothing was incomplete. 1t was luxu
~, for which most hearty. and unamino
of vote Of thanks was given the ladies OF tn
ot church by all who partook of the same.
all In the evening Rev. w. E. Allen, past
70 Of the entertaining church, presided. Rs
mt Trowb1idge after a.short season OF pray
'or opened the question as to whether COVER
oe. ment should license the sale of liquor
IN. beverage. He made a clear thought
I address stating the grounds on which
. opponents stood but rounded up to nj
. decided negative to the question. II
!, 10 as the. saloon is an evil and only an g
Z dark, dangerous and deadly, 1t ought ne
= and under no circumstances to be licens
ON. Rev. H. E. Howard earned a point m
II convincingly that such license is unct
age stitutional and that no state or goverm
ater has any right to license anything that
urF evil and dangerous to health and life.
= DR.. George closed the conference by p
nus nus senting two theories of government,
.ket secular theory that has nothing to do "
81 God or religion, and the religious the
now that government must have to do "
and God and cannot exist without Him.
rect showed the secular theory to be not O
~ false and absurd, but also impossl
- which leaves only one, viz, the religi
theory. He showed government to be
ordinance of God. "There is no DO
but OF God, and the powers that be
ory, ordained Of God" And IL governmer
q creation of God should 1t not sckno
edge Him as its source of power? 81
Christ is the rig htful ruler of nations, t
,und should acknowledge Him as such
aree should use the Bible as their supreme rul
legislation-for 1t is only by.so doing I
we may be expected to root out the G
that are threatening the very life of
lnat nation.
this coNrINrED ON
ther.