Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-25
CONGREGATIONAL CLUB.
Custom of CnndidatinG Considered at
MOndny's Meeting.

The spring meeting of the Congre-
| gational club of western Vermont was
held at the College street Church In
this city Monday afternoon by even
ing. and was largely attended by mem
bers and friends At two o'clock the
meeting was opened by the executive
committee, and matters pertaining to
the business of the club were taken UP
and discussed.
The report of the outlook committee
was given by the Rev. r. r. Davies of
| Ncrgennes, Mr.. Davies's report was
| general summing up OF what had been
done in the congregational world since
the last meeting and also brought be-
| fore yesterdays session a few import
| ant questions to be considered.
The first business taken up by the
meeting was the gist of the four fol-
| lowing questions: % whether the re-
sponsibility of ministerial standing
should he borne by tho local conference
Of churches acting through a perma-
ncnt committee; (2) Whether 1T was
desirable to abolish or curtail tho Gus
tom of "candidating" and establish
state committee or bureau of pastoral
supply to assist the churches in find
ing pastors; 90 Whether the Congre-
gatonal churches Of Vermont should
employ a superintendent TO devote his
time to the interest of tho churches,
either in connection with, or distinct
from the work of the Vermont Domes-
tic Missionary society. such superinten-
dent to be chairman of committee on
pastoral supply; az whether the mem
bcrs wish to share in an apportonment
pro rata per member to dcfray the ex-
Nc t,t doll
gates to the sessions of the national
council, to he held in Edinburg, Scot
land, in June. 1908?
These questions were then taken up
one by one and the several advantages
and disadvantages discussed Presi-
dent NJ. II. Buckham was the first
speaker. and he spoke of the need of
changing the old customs OF the church
tn suit the changes that were constant
Is taking place and pointed out that
while he was perhaps not in position
to know tho exact needs Of the church
in this connection. he believed that tho
church. like many other institutions
should select their pastors with view
to the standing that the candidate had
in the community, and that this could
best be accomplished by n committee
, of brother laymer.
Following Prof Buckham. the matter
d was taken up by Rev. j. H. George
1 who stated that personally he was not
| in favor of the old custom of candidat-
ing as ii did not permit of the candi-
dates best work
The whole question of the best meth
j DDS of selecting pastors was then taken
up for discussion and the laymen were
1 asked to cypress their opinions upor
the matter The subject was presented
in all its forms by the following speak.
ers C. r. Fairfield, editor of the Rut-
| land News. H. o. Wheeler, w. J. Var
Patten. n Il. Nichols, f. f. Herrick. L
T.. Wright J. W. Coffin and many other
members.
] At the close of the laymen's discus.
Z sion the Rev. j. II. George gave a re-
port of the Tri-Unon convention al
Chicago, and touched on the movement
to unite with the Methodist and other
! Protestant churches in a great unior
= body. to be known as the United
i Churches.
At the close of the address the meet
ing was adjourned to the church par.
lors, where supper was spread for the
members and their friends. after which
/ brief addresses were made by the Rev
4 s. Parkes Cadman Of Brooklyn. " 4.
u General o. O. Howard. Professor
3 Wright of Middlebury college. and thC
4 Rev. f. d. Penney.
The following new members were
4 announced: Rev. u. l.. THllard of New
q Haven, Rev G. II. Dickinson of Middle
y bury Henry Todd OF Burlington, JAY
Spiccr of South Burlington, d. c. Locke
n OF Rutland, T. NJ. Wilson of Rutland
]. f. Crane of Middlehury, Rev. W. II
spencer of Rutland.