Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-06-21
coNcREGATloNALlsTs MEET
Annual Session of Vermont Conven.
ton Held in Woodstock Last Week.


ton Held in Woodstock Last Week.
The ll1th annual meeting of the Congre-
gatlonal convention OF Vermont, was held
IN the Congregational church at Wood
stock June II. 10 and IA Gov. Bell. the
president, called the convention 10 order
Tuesday. Reports OF boards and commit
tees were read, and Rev. William A. Rice
OF New York talked on ministerial Re-
lief.n
The annual report Of the corresponding
secretary, John NJ. Comstock of Chelsea.
showed that there are now PIP churches m
Vermont, the largest number probablv
that ever existed at one time. The total
membership is Zl,s15, an increase of 81
and there has been a gain Of 1870 in Sunday
school membership. Benevolent contrl-
buttons amounted TO s47, 758, a slight gain
IN the past year, and the total of home
expenditures is s2l1, 28i.
The Royalton association, which had
existed 10 years, has voted to disband.
There was reception and supper for dele
gates at the church at the close of the ses-
SION and the evening sermon was preached
by Rev. Henry j kllburn Of Bradford.
Wednesday morning was held the meet
ing Of the Vermont Domestic Missionary
society. The report OF the secretary, Rev.
DIR. {. II. Merrill of st. Johnsbury, showed
that to mission churches have been added
on confession OF faith, 167 members and SO
by letter; net gain 152. This record has
been exceeded only twice in thirty years.
The larger part of the gain has been due to
new churches which accounts for IA OF
the 152 additions. Churches have been or
gained in East Calais, East Charleston,
and Berkshire Center, and union church
at Rochester.
The treasurer's report for the ten
months ending April 1, shows:
Cash received, -l3, 5000; expenditures,
e, S55d. The national society has re-
eeiyed =, 900 as gift and in all has re-
ceiyed from the state, = 1857 as. The con-
tributions for all home missionary pur-
poses have amounted to si9,S7399.
The Rev. Henry Fairbanks Of st. Johns
bury was elected president, and Gen. y. q.
Williams of Bellows Falls vice president.
Wednesday afternoon a business session
was held, after which the general topic,
Twentieth Century Christianity was
discussed as follows: (a), Its Message to
the Commercial Spirit, the Rev. DR.. /. c.
Smart of Burlington; 2, 40 Labor the
Rev. /. w. Stuart Of Hartland; 3, ITO So
ciety,n the Rev. j. W. Cone OF Sharon; 4,
40 the Citizen Atty. Gen. Clarke c.
Fits Of Brattleboro.
The following officers Of the convention
were elected
President, Rev. L. II. Smith Of Pittsford;
vice president, w. j. Van Patten OF Bur-
liogton; secretary, Rev. Evan Thomas OF
Essex Junction; treasurer, ID. NJ. Camp of
Newport; auditors, J. {. Clark, G. L. Ran
ney OF Newport; trustees, Rev. Henry
Fairbanks, Kew. G. W. good OF Bellows
Falls, w. J. Van Patten. Rev. John Bar
stow Of Manchester, and J. b. HOLSTER OF
Rutland.
The report Of the treasurer showed re-
ceipts of S9Ssl9; expenditures OF s6S9.39;
balance on hand of S29SS0.
A resolution was adopted recommending
that assistance be sent 10 san Francisco
churches, and a committee in charge OF
the matter was directed to act in union
with three denominations, Congregation
al, Christian and Protestant Methodist, in
accordance with the policy which Is being
carried out in other states.
Wednesday evenings session was taken
up with the general topic, Twentieth
Century Christianity Past" The sub
ject was considered as follows: ITO Gull
tlyate an Appreciation OF the reality Of
the Spiritual the Rev. Benjamin swift
oi Orwell. "To Foster an Intelligent
Faith, the Rev. DR.. Edward d. Eaton OF
81. Johnsbury; "To Create Social Con-
science" the Rev. Rufus Z. Flagg OF New
port: $50 Economic Church Forces the
Rev. Fraser Metzger Of Randolph.
Thursday morning, the discussion OF
the general topic, twentieth century
Christianity." was completed BY NJ. II.
Buck ham. OF Burlington, president Of the
University OF Vermont, who spoke on
"The Signs OF Promise" Resolutions Of
gratitude to the church and people OF
Woodstock for the delightful arrange
ment OF the convention were passed; also
a resolution favoring last yea s action
and lookiog toward the federation or
union 81 Congregational, United Brethren
and Protestant Methodist bodies.
There were about 100 delegates present
or about $50, including the officers and
speakers. The next meeting OF the con-
yention will be held in Fair Haven.