Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1914-06-24
CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
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CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE |
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there were supplementary reports
from the Individual churches given by
pastors and delegates. There had
been slight increase in the total
membership of the churches during the
year, also in the value of church prop
erty. The largest net gain in men,
bership had been made by the West
Glover and the next largest by East
Charleston church.
All the churches have pastors except
Irasburg. At some time during the
meeting all of the twenty churches
except West Charleston and Lowell,
were represented either by pastor or
delegate or both. and some had the
j. R. Aiken of Newport gave an
address on MANS Place in the
Church." Owing to the rainy weather
the automobile ride scheduled on the
program was omitted. At Ais the
ladies' missionary meeting was held in
the audience room of the church under
the direction of Miss Mary L. Wheeler,
delegate from Irasburg. This meeting
was addressed by Miss Ethel Gallop, a
missionary in western China, who is
visiting in this country. At 4. 80 the
general council held a session in the
church parlor. Deacon F. w. Baldwin
was chosen moderator. The minutes
of the meeting held at East Charleston
which ordained Rev. w. R. Price, were
read and approved. The papers of the
Rev. Robert Lawton of Island Pond
were received from the Kennebec
association of Maine and Mr.. Lawton
was voted into membership in the
Orleans association. The following
committees for five years were elected:
On ministerial standing, Rev. M. w.
Hale, Deacon J. R. Aiken, Rev. E. R.
Gordon. Oscar P. Wright; advisory
committee. Rev. C. E. Gordon, S. T.
Vance. Rev. VIM. Millar, Deacon w.
G. Dutton.
At the evening session the Rev. G.
ElleryIReed gave an inspiring address
on 1.-The Church." The conference
sermon was preached by Rev. E. w.
Eldridge from Psalms 20, verse 5.
The communion service was conducted
by Rev. M. w. Hale and Rev. S. T.
Achenbach assisted by Deacon Bald
win of Barton and Deacon Gilpin of
Westfield.
At the session on Wednesday morn
ing, it was voted to hold the meeting
next June with the church in Westmore
with Rev. S. T. Achenbach as
preacher. Committee of arrangements
the entertaining pastor, A. e. French,
Rev. M. w. Farman. G.. A. Wood
of Newport was chosen treasurer and
w. H. Gilpin of Barton, auditor. The
following were elected members ap-
portionment or missionary committee
for five years: Rev. L. A. Edwards,
W. H. Gilpin. Miss EMary L. Wheeler,
Rev. VIM. Millar.
An evangelistic committee was
chosen assfollows: Rev. H. F. Hallett.
Rev. VIM. Millar.
! The subject discussed at the Wednes-
day morning session was 1.-The Country
Church" The Rev. C. E. Gordon
spoke on the advantages of the denom-
| national church. the Rev. F. B. Hyde
for the union church, the Rev. II. F.
Hallett for the federated church and
the Rev. C. H. Merrill D. D. of St.
Johnsbury discussed the question of
which church is best for the
country parish. For twenty-seven
years DR.. Merrill has had the over
sight of the weak churches in Vermont
nestle missionary society. He said that
the federation had proven a failure in
nearly every case where it had been
attempted in Vermont. In his opinion
there are grave objections to the union
church. The union church is simply a
UNCONVENTIONAL church cut off from
fellowship and without proper mission
airy affiliations. When it becomes
weak there is no society to which it
can apply for assistance. There is no
strong organization to look after it's
welfare as in the case of the denomina-
tional church. Where there are sew
eral weak churches in a field, DIR.
Merrill favers giving the field to one
denomination while the others with
draw. The closing words were by
the moderator and the meeting stood
adjourned without date.