The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-05-16


BRANDON. May L.
The lid annual meeting OF the Yer
mont congregational conference and the
91th annual meeting OF tho Vermont
Domestic Missionary society, opened in
the Brandon church yesterday after.
noon. with large attendance from all
bart, OF the state The conferences ser
mon was preached hy Rev T.. F. Treat
.of Pitt-iord from the theme, The Pill
GRIM Spirit. The sacrament OF the
Lords supper was observed AT the close
of HE sermon An address in the even
ing wa, given by Rev. Newell Dwight
Hills Of Brooklyn.
IadaN's sessions were taken up largely
with reports of the various standing
committee, the most important OF which
was the report of the committee on rela-
tiou~ with the Vermont Domestic Mis-
,iouary society. which involved some
changes in the act Of Incorporation The
committee made two very important
changes. viz: First, the creation OF a
board of director, which Shall serve both
for the conference and for the Domestic
Missionary society, thus bringing all the
with All Congregational work in Yer.
mont. and second. the provision of an
executive officer. called secretary. who
shall hc the servant OF all the churches
in the state, somewhat A., the secretary
lot the National Council i, the servant of
the churches OF the rotntiV, and shall
also be- secretary or aaSoctatc secretary
of the Vermont Domestic Missionary.
The report of tho committee on bencv.
olcncc stated that the gifts from all the
chmchc, for 1915, applicable ON appor-
tjoumcut. tota'cd s35.I97. Il gain over
1913 ct Sl169, or ) per cent. The gain
the prcyiou, year was 500. The com
mittec on intcrchuch federation believed
that the need OF such an institution was
Increasing rather than decreasing. and
that doors are opening continually for
more effective cooperation
AT this morning, session the Yer
mont Domestic Missionary society.
Rev. {. H. Merrill OF 81. Johns
bury secretary, held lis Goth annual
meeting. The directors report showed
tit fund, held b. the society have in
creased from S79,7S7.23 to $50, los Is.
The current account for the year show.
.a total raised in the state ior home mis-
-lolls to- Toe Sl2,157.6 6. OF the lI6
churches contributing out of 2l5. some
-. ar 81 per cent. gave the iull amount
."I their apportioumcut or more. Al the
last meeting Of the board ol directors the
minimum was raised IRON 500 To $500
aud parsonage.
In connection with the report Of the
directors, he secretary. Brv Br. Aler-
uiL gave y Thirty Years Review of his
work. some items Of which are as fol.
low: During these 50 years the mum.
Der 81 churches has increased from lg7 10
2l', aud the membership from 20.27I To
25l2~. TUcnty-~iN churches have, boen
orlaAjTd and eight have been droppcd.
laNiug a net gain OF Is At the benin
ming OF this period there were - rhlrrhr,
and six mission fields under the care OF
the society. The list is reduced this wear
lo - and one mission. Only - of the &c
hclde now appear. Two causes have
operated. One il self support and the
other j. cudoE mcnt.
I There l~ now trust fund OF S4n2oS ~.
( % permanent fund OF - 100. and annuity
! account or conditional gifts OF 200. a
memorial fund oi 500, a general fund ar
/ legacy reserve OF sS4 .2g4 jG. Ibi, show,
/ M some measure the way in which the
society IS becoming banking institution
/ for the church. The larger portion of
. the Increase has come from lcgacics.
\ In closing his review Rev. Mr.. Merrill
4 made q personal statement in which he
bore testimony To the kindly treatment
he had received in all quarters. Few
. men. ! am convinced. in nv position have
been subject 10 lc,, mkiud criticism il,
! public or in private than ha, been my
lot during all these years. Especially
I do ! wish To record my gratitude for the
more than generous way in which ! hay,
been treated in the transition of 70.
N ~ponSihility now in progress. No one
could transfer his mantle To another nm.
der happier auspices han am now pc,