The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-05-18
Verm ont Congregational
Conference Meeting with
the Barre Church
TWO REPORTS GIVEN
THIS AFTERNOON
1t Is Expected That About
200 Delegates Will
Be Present

Barre welcomed to-day pastors an
delegates from throughout the state t
the l20th annual meetii 6 of the Vernon
Congregational conference which opene,
this afternoon at ? o'clock in the Congre
gational church for three days session
Incoming trains brought upwards of l0'
lof the visitors into .he city and as many
more are expected late this Afternoon
and evening. Tomorrow morning it i,
anticipated that majority of the 2l4
churches of the conference in Vernon,
will be represented by either pastor ol
delegate and in some instances both.
President Rev. H. l.. Ballou Of Chester
called the conference to order this after.
noon for organizatica and +. G.. French
of Hardwick was Immediately elected sec
retary pro tenn of the conference, this
action being necessitated by the absence
| of Rev. William NJ. Clark of Barnet, who
| is in New York City attending the 25th
anniversary OF his graduation from the
Union Theological seminary. Other Off
GERS of the conference who are here are (:
Vice President John +. Weeks of Middle
bury. speaker of the House of Represen-
tatives at the last legislature; Core
spending Secretary John NJ. Comstock
of Chelsea and Treasurer F. W. Baldwin
of Barton.
The report of he committee on inter
church federation was given following
the perfecting of organization, the re.
port being read by Rev. A. r. Pratt Of
Bellows Falls in the absence of Rev.
Fraser Metzger of Randolph, who was
expected this evening. The committee.
which also Included Clarke c. Fits Of
Brattleboro and w. J. Van Patten of
Burlington, in their report say that but
little change has occurred in the status
of church federation within the state
during the year. The federation will
hold its third annual conference this sum.
mer.
Inter church relations Of the present
are on a much higher level than in years
past. asserts the report. and better re-
lations exist between denominations in
hood prevails. The committee fails to
make any recommendations of impor-
tance.
Entirely different is the report Of tho
committee on religious education, which
has the following suggestions 20 make
which they believe will tend TO increase
the efficiency OF religious teaching in
church and Sunday school.
The report. which was offered by Rev
A. p. Pratt Of Bellows Falls. urges in
sum and substance the adoption OF the
suggestions: ul Central plan
ming board in every church, large or
small ~ committee on religious cdu.
cation to work in connection with plan.
ming board; (3 teacher training in sun
day school: "a superintendent Of mis-.
sions and il possible. superintendent Of
social service in every Sunday school; (5l [
Young peoples society in each church /
t6l evangelism in Sunday school nd
church. Elaborating on these suggcs.
tons. the committee explain the need Of
active organizations in each sunday 1
school and church 20 work with the so
rieties Of the young people. The idea Of
! central planning board is taken from
the report OF the Massachusetts, confer. I
snce aud such committee. in the belief 1
# the committee on religious education.
sould do = great deal toward unifying
md co-ordinating the work OF Sunday
school. Young peoples societies, mission
,ry societies, etc.
Reports of other committees of the
,onference will b. made to morrow fore.
loon aud afternoon nv the chairmen. the
eports being mingled with other husines.
4 the meeting.
The new hotel being uncompleted. the
" stors and delegates were welcomed into
he honaes upon their arrival IN the city
md every effort vii b. made 10 euter-
ain them vel during their stsy in Bsrre
his evening and TO morrow evening ~
o'clock. suppers vii h. served IN the
estrv 81 the chursh snd "Wednesday and
Thursday a. ~ o'clock dinners viil h.
rrtcd ~ tho ladies ~ The church. li
President " J.. Rall8u has appointed !
he faIlop ING cornuittees. Fiuauce. A.
4 Stone n Springfield. ~ g Woodruff 2
Z Barre. Rrv " A MeIntyrr ~ Dsn. :
s.. Nominations. Rev. a r. Pratt OF
.sIl8us Falis. a. y. Crouel of Brattlr- 4
ura. nusiuess runmittes. Rev T. a.
duards of Newport. q y Long n Fer. =
sis.rrn rrs latter corulittee pill hars Z
third niemter. shn has 80 to 10
: med