St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-06-03
Caledonia COng'l Conference.

Caledonia Conference met with the
church at East Burke, May 20 and 81
The entertainment Of the Conference
was a new experience to the people OF
East Burke, no session of the Conference
having been held there since 1867.
However they were equal to the occa-
sion, providing bountifully for their
guests, and conveying from Lyndonville
those who came by train.
H. NJ. Nelson was moderator. At the
opening session, Tuesday afternoon,
Rev S. G. Barnes spoke on the topic,
How Congregationalists should care for
their own" Rev. c. H. Merrill spoke of
Forward Movements in Congrega-
tional Polity." The remainder Of this
session was occupied chiefly with re-
ports from the churches and business.
The reports showed that the apportion-
ment Of missionary offerings made by
the state committee needs revision, with
a more careful attention to local coudi-
lions in the churches A committee was
appointed to revise the constitution and
bylaws. and the changes proposed by
this committee were adopted after some
discussion The duties of the committee
on ministerial standing were somewhat
enlarged. so that the whole subject of
ministerial standing rests with the
Conference of churches. the committee
being empowered to grant licenses. while
authorized at their discretion, to refer
any cases to the Ministerial Association
for Investigation The committee on
benevolence is expected to apportion To
each church its share OF gifts to the
several missionary societies, in order
that the county may meet the appor-
tionment to be made upon it BY the
state committee. The Conference also
elected an advisory committee ITO
direct and conserve the material and
spiritual interests of CongregStionalism
within the bounds of the Conference.
AT the evening session Miss Gibson of
New Mexico, who was introduced in the
afternoon, gave an interesting account
of her work under the Congregational
Education Society. Following this,
Rev. G. w {. Hill preached an able ser
mon from Romans 1913.
At the closing session Wednesday
morning the topic was The Christian
and Public interests" Mrs. Walter p.
Smith fist. Iohnsbury read a paper on
THE Welfare of the Local Community, -
and Mrs. Charles T. Walter of Lyndon
presented paper on THE Welfare of the
Larger Community" The burden of
these papers was that christians should
promote all interests tending to the edu-
cational, social, and moral Improvement
of the town or the larger community.
Facts were cited to show that the pres
ent local option law is unsatisfactory.
Following this discussion, the following
resolutions, presented by the business
committee, were unanimously adopted:
Resolved: As representatives of the Con.
gregational churches of Caledonia Confer
ence and as Christian citizens feeling serious
responsibility tor the physical and social as
well as the moral well being OF our neighbor
and accepting our Lords definition of our
neighbor,-we desire to express our strong
conviction that all manufacture and sale ot
Intoxicating liquors for beverage use-al-
ready under the ban of the word of God al
the teaching and spirit of our Lord, and OF
the prompting of true brotherhood should
also be under the ban of the law of the com
monwealth.
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution he
placed by our clerk in the hands of each
senator who is to represent Caledonia
County in our next legislature.