Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-02
CONGREGATIONAL COUNCIL
Ministers and Delegates Take Action
ON Resignation of Rev. Il. G.. Guthrie.

There was a special meeting of the
Chittenden County Association of Con-
gregational Churches Tuesday after
noon at the First Church parish house
to consider the resignation Of its pastor,
the Rev. f. c. Guthrie.
The following delegates We're present:
w. j. Van Patten for the First Church
of this city, and S L. Platka for the So
ciety; w. II. Munson and j. NJ. Wright
of Colchester; DR.. c. NJ Ferrin and II.
w. Rice of Essex Junction; H. NJ. Page
Of iIinesburg; a. b. Byington, b. II.
Day and f. a. Percival Of Jericho; c. A.
Pratt and G. ~ Wood of Milton w. G..
Fuller Mrs, Orrin Wood and Mrs
Charles Waite of Richmond; A. f..
Landon and James Hoag of Grand Isle
and South Hero; II. c. Mead and Wendell
Hayden of Underhill; w. NJ. Barber and
Il. +. Goodrich of Williston: e. p. Whit
ney of Winooski. The following pastors
answered the roll call: X. c. Flag.
lIervey Gulick, f. G. Guthrie, I. A. Rose,
!. c. Smart, w. W. Smith, d. H. Strong,
Joseph Torrey, William Cashmere and
Charles Waite. After a prayer by the
Rev, X. c. Flagg of Winooski, the pas
tors letter of resignation was read, fol-
lowed by the report of the action of the
church and the society upon the resigna-
ton,
w, j. Van Patten then told of the good
work of Mr.. Guthrie, of his coming al
most six years ago and how he had ex-
banded the church and had brought 1t
into closer connection with the other
churches of the city, of his faithfulness
and devotion. The Rev. r. c. Flagg and
s. l.. Platka expressed themselves in
the same strain, the former telling of
MIR. Guthrie's work In connection with
the federation of the church here with
that at Winoosk, and Mr. Platka men
toned how Mr.. Guthrie had cleared the
t2oOo debt once hanging over the church
Mr.. Guthrie then spoke a few words,
telling how hard 1t was for him to leave.
but that he thought there was a greater
field In Boston. where he was going Mr..
bradford of Rutland, Mr.. Lancaster of
Middlebury and Mr.. Woodbridge of Yer
gennes, congregational ministers invited
to the council, said few words, after
which the council held its session, adopt
Ing the following resolution:
Burlington, Vt, June 80, 1914.
Whereas. The churches of the Chitten-
den County Association of CONGREGATIONAL
Churches together with the Congrega-
tional Churches of st. Adams, Vergennes,
Mddlebury and Rutland, having been
Invited by the First Church of Burling-
ton to convene and act in the capacity
or a council to advise with regard to
the dismissal Of It's pastor, the Rev
Ernest G. Guthrie, and
Whereas, These churches have so con-
Vened at the place and hour designated
and have taken into consideration Mr.
Ghthrie's resignation and the action of
the church and society accepting the
| same, together with statements OF pas
| tor and people relating thereto, there
| fore
Resolved, That We, pastors and dele
gates Of the churches above mentioned
In council convened do advise that the
relation heretofore subsisting between
the Rev. Ernest @. Guthrie and the
First Congregational Church of Burling-
'Aps Verpont 40 r--.ay a,S.S -aAopIe, hs