The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-20
CONGREGATIONAL CONVENTION OPENS
 BIENNIAL SESSION
Charles R. Brown, Head of Yale Religious School, Will
 Retire As Moderator.

Il gan it's fist biennial session in Cen II ter church today. Delegates to the l number of several hundred were in | attendance at the first session, which | was presided over by the Rev. Charles l R. Brown, head of the Yale school | of religion, who will retire as mod orator. The first session was given 1 up to the submission of reports of | officers and commissions named by the Kansas City session two years l ago. These reports will be made the l order of the day on different days to 1 permit of discussion
 ! The announcement was made that l the monday meeting for business | men and the public will be held in | College Hall. At these meetings | prominent men of the country will 1 speak on civics, the war, municipal Il government and kindred topics. By II reason Of the fact that several meet i ings will be held simultaneously dur f ing each day the committee in charge I of the program will issue a daily I bulletin as a guide.
 Committee Report.
 The committee on international Icounci1 reported that after considera- ton of time for the next council ses- sion it had agreed that 1918, the first suggested date, was took early for churches to arrange for entertain ment of delegates and the recommend ation is that the council be held in
 
 arrival of the Pilgrims. It is suggested that the council last nine days, the first part being given to historical subjects connected with the earliest settlements and later developments of l life in the New England states and the place of Congregationalisn in the history of this country. For the sec ond part it is suggested that the plan adopted at the world Missionary Con ference in Edinburgh, in 1910 should | | n .-..G o,.<r,- -Y1 number of commissions be appointed to consider topics very fully and to present reports for discussion before the National Council. Topics recom- mended as a ground work are: The l History of Congregational Polity; the contribution of Congrega tionalism to
 Modern Missions; Cone:regatianalism in it's Relation to the Evangeistfc Spirit and Evangehstic Methods; the Place of Congregationalism in the Movement Towards Cooperative and Organic Relationship Between Prot lestant Churches; the Relation of the l Church to Education and Present Day Obligation in the Field; the Modern Intellectual Readjustment as Affect ing CongregationaliGm and as Affected l by Congregatio tionalfsm-
 Building Society Pleased.
 The Church Building society report | ed that the biannium just closed was the best in the history of the society. The receipts were $500, ,350 which was $25, ,638, more than for the pre- ceding two years. Churches and parsonages had been put up costing $5O2, ,014. Into 132 houses was put 1 S456, ,539, and into 54 parsonages to shelter Heralds of the Cross $45,475. In two years the Increased assets of the denomination as represented by this property amounted to more than million and half dollars. The total addition to loan funds wa s$119,- ITO The contributions to the Con- fditiona1 Gift Fund reached $246,- 6s4
 Building aid has been given to 33 churches in cities and to 153 churches in villages and rural communities. Practical Fellowship has been given to 35 churches in which worship is in other tongues than English. The society through Rev. ". w. Newell is trying 5 to establish business Nef- fciency among churches in raising and expenditures of it's funds. The society as yet has been unable to have much influence in the way of ar chitecture of churches and parsonages some of which are put up in style either grotesque or repe1lant to the taste. Opportunity for service is in- creasing, and there are hundreds of communities west of the Mississippi large enough for a post office which
 
 dreds of other churches must be en- larged and adapted to new conditions of our modern life.
 The remarkable growth of cities is imposing heavy burden on the so- ciety. Loan funds have enabled it to meet the growing needs of churches, City work is difficult. 1 land values are high and building regulations are strict. The society, l however. looks to the future with jus- tfhed hope for greater work, expect ing greater gifts from churches and individuals to match the greater op- portunities before it.
 The Commission on Evangelism re- ported that. it's conferences had 1 been most heartening. The addi- | tions to churches on confession | of faith in 1914 exceeded by over S. 900 the average of the previous years.
 The Commission on County, Fedora | tion and Unity after reporting on the l several phases of it's work and the | results which had been accomplish l ed had recommended that the com | mittee 'be directed to inaugurate as far as may seem feasible negotiations looking to organize union with other kindred denominations and that the secretary of the council be directed ! to give special counsel and aid to this service"
 The Commission of Temperance re- poFleo ensAC the temperance cause had on &ts seven league boots. In the past two years it has made many forward strides. God hath made the wrath of man to praise him xx The motto of Europe's military lead CTS appears to be Trust in God and keep your army dry .
 The reports add: .'The economic forces of our beloved America, are ar rayed against the saloon. Capital and labor have both declared war upon alcohol x Organized labor maintains that safety first means being sober first and that good safe work and intoxicating liquors are enc nnies." The commission recommend ed four temperance lessons each year