Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-06-18
STATE conoreo rational convention.

State Conereo ationaI Convention.
The 18th annual meeting of the Con-
gregational convention OF Vermont
opened in st. Adams last week Tuesday
with a large attendance.
There were addresses throughout the
session by able speakers and the conven-
ton was one of the most successful in the
history of the denomination.
One of the most interesting features Of
the convention was the report of the cor
responding secretary, John NJ. Comstock
of Chelsea, an abstract of which follows:
Number of churches, 213, which shows
no increase over last year. There are
four dormant churches, namely, those at
Leicester, East Poultney, Ripton and Al
bany. In regard to the pastoral supply,
SO churches are considered vacant, six
supplied by students for the summer,
and the remaining liza are regularly sup
piled.
The total membership Jan. /, 1908,
was 2,055, a decrease of 30 from the year
before. Additions exceeded the remov-
ais, however, by IS, the discrepancy of AZ
being due to a shrinkage caused by what
purports to be more accurate counting
in several churches. The number of addi-
tions by conversion was 500, which is
small, with 451 by letter, which is about
the average, making a total of 1,006.
The removals numbered 993, of which 442
were by death, 400 by letter and 172 by
revi ion. Seventy-one churches had no
additions. The Sunday school member.
ship is 10, 172, an increase of 222 over last
year, but ~ fewer churches have young
peoples societies.
The infant baptisms numbered 291,
which is the smallest in five years.
The total of benevolent contributions
was S61,61S, gain of S10,551 over last
year.
The home expenditures were s22s, 926,
which was S5,S15 more than last year.
The church property in the state is val
ued at 81, $40, 965, an increase of s113,900
for the year.
The number of brotherhoods and mems
clubs is rapidly increasing.
The report of the treasurer, ID. NJ.
Camp of Newport showed balance in
the treasury of s309.99, with S372.66 still
due.
The following officers were elected
President, Rev. DIR. Rufus C. Flagg of
Newport; secretary. Rev. z. G. French OF
Lyndonville; corresponding secretary,
John NJ. Comstock of Chelsea; treasurer,
David NJ. Camp of Newport; auditors,
John c. Clark of st. Johnsbury and c.
F. Ranney of Newport; trustees, Rev.
Henry Fairbanks of st. Johnsbury, c. w.
Osgood of Bellows Falls, w. j. VanPst-
ten of Burlington, Alexander Gordon Of
Barre, Rev. r. II. Ball OF Fair Haven;
delegate to the Vermont Methodist con-
ference, Rev. l.. A. Wilson of Hardwick;
delegate to the Baptist state convention,
Rev. w. j. Ballou of Ludlow; visitor tc
Andover Theological seminary, Rev. y.
r. Nichols OF Sudbury; committee on
benevolences, Rev. Benjamin Swift of
Woodstock, w. J. NanPatten of Burling-
ton, Rev. F. W. Raymond of Proctor;
committee on Sunday schools, n. @. Will
liams of Bellows Falls, II. A. Slsyton of
MorrisiIle, Rev. c. c. Adams OF Essex
Junction; committee on polity, Rev. w.
@. Clark of Lyndon, Rev. DR.. c. II. Mer-
rih of St. Johnsbury, Rev. j. H Morley
of Springfield; COMMITTEES on civic JUS
tice, Rev. F. B. Kellogg of Waterbury, 8.
HOLSTER Jackson of Barre, u. S. Pease of
Burlington; committee on young peoples
work, Rev. Fraser Metzger of Randolph,
Rev. G. s. Mills of Bennington, Rev. A.
P. Pratt of Bellows Fails, Rev. w.
Parkyn Jackson of St. Adams, Mrs. E F.
Palmer, Jr., of Waterbury; committee on
arrangements for the next meeting, Rev.
Fraser Metzger Of Randolph, H. T. Cush-
man Of Bennington, Rev. c. H. Dickin-
son of Middlebury; committee on print
ing, Rev. DR.. c. H. Merrill of ST. Johns
bury, Rev. E. G. French OF LyndonvilIe.
Rev. d. H. Strong of Wiliiamstown !;
committee on Observation-Disclosures conf
ty for five years, F. w. Baldwin of New
port for four years, Rev. Fraser Metzger
OF Randolph for three years, Rev. H. r.
Miles of Brattleboro for two years, Rev.
DIR. G. H. Merrill of st. Jehnsbury for
one year, Rev. j. B. Sargent of Mortified.
The next convention wiz be held in
Randolph.
Wednesday, the ninetieth anniversary
of the Vermont Domestic Missionary So
ciety was observed and che follow ing
officers elected President, Rev. Henry
Fairbanks of st. Johnsbury; vice presi-
dent, N. g. Williams of Bellows Falls;
auditor, Charles s. Adams of st. Johns
bury; directors for three years, d. M.
Camp of Newport, Rev. II. r. Miles OF
Brattleboro, H. F. Field of Rutland, Rev.
G. Fl. Dickinson of Middlebury. A va
cancy in the board of directors, the term
expiring in 1910, was filled by the cleo
ton of Hon. Mason 8. Stone of Mont