St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-06-16

IL.
office for the session. Prayer was
offered bv Rev. A. S. Gilbert of the enter
tanning church; the report OF the COM
mittee of arrangements was given and
accepted; the report OF the committee on
constitution and bylaws was read and
laid on the table until the next day. 1t
was voted that the brethren of the Free
Baptist church be invited to sit with the
session. The chair then announced the
various committees required by the con-
stitution. Words of welcome were
given by Rev. A. S. Gilbert. After the
reading of the scripture by Rev. F. D.
Penny, D. D., of Burlington, the annual
sermon was delivered by Rev. J. J.
Williams of Newport. His subject was
THE Responsibility of Ambassadors
of Christ, 2 Cor. 500. This strong
sermon called for loyalty to the great
fundamental truths of the gospel; mans
alienation from God through sin, the
need OF realization of sin before one can
appreciate the need of an atonement, the
message of reconciliation through the
gospel of Christ. Mr.. Williams said that
there should be "a first century gospel
applied to our twentieth century con-
ditions bv twentieth century pulpit.
The letters from the churches were read
by the clerk, assisted by Rev. E. M.
Holman of Derby. They showed
marked improvement in the condition of
the churches. There were 76 baptisms
during the past year, a gain OF IL over
| the preceding year. Prayer was then
| offered bv Rev. J. w. Bergin, pastor of
the Free Baptist church at Lyndonville.
The Thursday afternoon session open
ed with prayer by Rev. J. T. Buzzell of
West Derby. The first address was
given by Deacon c. H. Woods of st.
Johnsbury, on History of the Associa-
ton" This was an excellent paper and
represented a vast amount of labor for
the records of the Association are very
fragmentary. Following this address
came one by Secretary Rev. W A.
Dawson, D. D., of Burlington, whom
some one has called "the state conven-
ton boiled-down," on the subject PRO
gress in the State' DR.. Dawson spoke
of the large number of men who had
been born IN Vermont and had gone out
from the state to become known over the
world, some of them to be prominent in
good causes and some in evil things. He
spoke of the growth of Baptist interests
in Vermont during the years and said
that the work of the state convention
had been growing until now it has more
workers in this state than all the other
denominations combined. Rev. A. +.
Hartman of Lynn, Mass, was then in
PRODUCED and took for his subject PRO
gress in our Country" He told OF the
mass OF foreigners that is coming into
the country from lands where they have
been oppressed, and how often they are
prepossessed with notions of anarchy
and in6delity, and emphasized the
thought that if the church does not "litt
themup they will drag the church down."
The subject of "World-wide Progress"
was presented by Rev. W. B. Boggs, d.
D., of India. His address was tull of in
spring facts and held the closest atten-
ton. He told of the rise of Baptist mis-
sions in India nearly 100 years ago, and
said that now there were 800 Baptist
churches in Burmah with $4,000 men,
bers; in the Nelore section there are 152
churches with sc, 600 members; and the
Theological Seminary at Ramapatan
has over 100 students. He also said
that foreign missions were adding 400
members for every "a hours of effort.
The hearers will not soon forget one
statement made by DR.. Boggs in answer
to the question do missions pay"
The person who asks such question is
so far behind the times that he seems like
fossil left over from prehistoric ages.
hymn was sung and the service was
given over to the ladies, who took pos
session, with Mrs. ]. A. Greenwood OF
Chester in the chair. The first speaker
was Mrs G. w. Peckham of Boston, who
gave a most interesting address on the
work of women in missionary work in
our own land. She was followed by
Miss A. A. Brigham of Bennington, who
described the work in foreign lands
where only women in many instances
can touch the lives and needs of women.
Prayer was then offered by Rev. S. P.
Perry of Richford
Thursday evening. after music and
PRAYER, Rev. S. P. Perry of Richford was
presented, and gave an address on "The
Mems Movement" He said that this
is mems age in religious things and
that men were as never before doing
things for God. He said that labor for
Christ that is not productive is not labor
at all. The rapid growth of this work
shows that the churches are realizing its
great value. A duet was rendered by
Messrs. Sparrow and Shepard followed
by an address by Rev. F. D. Penny, D. D.,
of Burlington, who represented the
American Baptist Publication society.
He said that the work of the society
might be summed up in this one express
sion, "a live man with live book"
The aim of this organization is to bring
the message of Gods Word in it's purity
and simplicity to the people.
Friday mornings session was opened
with a devotional service in charge of
Rev. A. E. de St. Delmas of Norton's
Mills, after which the report of the COM
mittee on constitution and bylaws was
accepted and adopted. A committee on
nominations was then appointed to re-
port later and the reports of various
committees were read and approved.
A special committee on evangelism to
lay plans for evangelistic work among
the churches was chosen, consisting of
Rev. Frank S. Tolman, Rev. A. S. Gil
bert and O. H. Henderson. Letters were
read from former pastors OF the Associa-
ton. The acceptance of the report of
the nomination committee gives the fol-
lowing as officers for next year: Moder-
ator, Rev. ]. !. Williams OF Newport;
clerk and treasurer, Rev. Frank S. Toll
man of St. Iohnsburv; historian, c. H..