St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1912-10-02
THE CLOSING SESSIONS
State Baptist Association Transacted
Its Business on Wednesday

AOS DuSDlCSS Oh wednesday
The Vermont Baptist association
was formally opened for business at
the session on Tuesday evening Of
last week. The church was filled to
loverfowing and many others than
delegates and attendants of the Bap-
tist churches were present. Prayer
was offered by Rev. w. F. Myers, fol-
lowing an opening hymn. Rev. F. S.
Tolman was elected clerk pro TEN,
and after a few preliminary remarks
by DR.. Dawson, Rev. Mr. Tolman
welcomed the delegates and visitors
to the home church, to this beautiful
town, and to the kindly people. The
president responded, referring pleas
antly to the town and it's people and
its advantages, saying we had
weighed and weighed well, through
out the whole globe as we'll as in
this community. !" selection was
sung by a newly organized quartet,
followed by a short business session.
AS Rev. J. r. Cow of Brattleboro
could not be present on the follow
ing day he gave his report as chair
man of the, committee on the state of
religion, which was a comprehensive
and stirring report reaching much
farther than mere statistics.
Scripture was read and prayer ofz
ferred by Rev. Mr.. Rankin ofNewport
and a selection was sung by ladies'
quartet.
The president then introduced
Rev. Ralph M. Jones of Chester, the
preacher of the annual sermon, who
said he would talk simply, continue
through as best he could and leave in
the mouths of his hearers some of
the pleasant taste of brevity. His
text was from John 14:12 and in
treating it he showed his impression
of the prophecy, Greater works than
these shall We do, because I go unto
my Father" He said we have done
greater things than He did, greater
in extent and magnitude, because
Jesus laid some limitations on his
power. He never healed before
crowd and cured only those who came
within reach of his hand. His works
were limited by laws of his own be-
ing. The hospitals, asylums and col
leges of science of the present day
are far reaching and the work that
Jesus came to do is magni1ed many
fold.
Wednesdays Sessions
The session Wednesday morning
was largely a business one when
committees reported and officers were
elected as announced in last weeks
Caledonian. The report of the COM
mittee on christian stewardship
which was to have been presented by
Rev. George w. Russell OF East Dow
er was read by Rev. S. P. Perry of
Richford
The report of DIR. Dawson, secre-
tary of the trustees of the conven-
tion was full of interest and show
ed great results for the year just
closed in the Baptist church of Yer
mont The board held four meetings
during the year with an average at
tendance of Is. Gifts and legacies
for the year incl 1ded the Merritt G.
fund of $539, the income
to be expended for the support of the
Fairfax church; 500 from Mrs. Hat
tie Cutting to be expended for the
church at South Londonderry; $1,000
from an aged friend, the income to
go to him during his life and after
his death to the convention; from
Deacon Edward K Foster, the gift of
his house worth S140O to be used as
a parsonage. During the year DIR.
Dawson made 212 addresses and
held 271 conferences. He travelled
,919 miles by team and automobile
and 15,903 by rail, making 1882
in all. The convention aided 54
churches during the year, much of
DR.. DaVison's report being given to
more detailed statement of what had
been done for these different church
es. During the year 113 were added
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