Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1917-05-18
CLOSER CHURCH RELATIONS.
Important Action at State Congrega
tional Conference DR.. Merrill Re-
views 80 Years Work.

The l22d annual meeting of the Yer
mont Congregational conference and the
Doth annual meeting of the Vermont |
Domestic Missionary society, opened i'll
the Brandon church Tuesday after |
noon, with Il large attendance from all
parts of the state. The conference ser
mon was preached by Rev. f. p Treat
of Pttsford from the theme, The Pill |
grim Spirit. The sacrament of the
Lords Supper was observed at the close
of the sermon. An address in the even
ing was given by Rev. Newell Dwight
Hills of Brooklyn.
| Wednesdays sessions were taken up
largely with reports of various standing
committees, the most important of which
was the report of the committee on rcla-
tions with the Vermont Domestic Mis-
sionary society, which involved some
changes in the act of Incorporation. The
committee made two very important
changes, viz: First, the creation of Il
board of directors which shall serve both
for the conference and for the Domestic
Missionary society, thus bringing all the
churches into more vital relationship
with all Congregational work in Yer
mont; and second, the provision of an
executive officer, called secretary, who
shall be the servant of all the churches
in the state, somewhat as the secretary
of the National Council is the servant of
the churches of the country, and shall
also be secretary or associate secretary
of the Vermont Domestic Missionary.
The report of the committee on bencv-
olencc stated that the gifts from all the
churches for 1916, applicable on appor-
tionment, totaled S35,707, II gain over
1913 of Sl,760, or > per cent. The gain
the previous year was S505. The com
mittee on intcrchurch 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 the morning session the Yer
mont Domestic Missionary society.
Rev. c. II. Merrill of st. Johns
bury secretary, held it's Doth annual
meeting. The directors report showed
that funds held by the society have in
creased from S79,7S7.23 to SS6,l9SIS
The current account for the year shows
Il total raised in the state for home mis-
sious to be Sl2,I57.G6. OF the l7G
churches contributing out of 2l5, some
%, or 81 per cent, gave the full amount
OF their apportionment, or more. At the
last meeting of the board of directors the
minimum was raised from 800 to $500
= and parsonage.
In connection with the report of the
directors, the secretary, Rev. Dr. Mer-
, rill, gave a Thirty Years Review of his
work, some items of which are as fol-
lows: During these 30 years the num-
Der of churches has increased from l07 to
2l5, and the membership from 20,21l to
23,l2 Twenty-siX churches have been
organized and eight have been dropped,
leaving a net gain of Is. At the begin
ming of this period there were 81 churches
and six mission fields under the care of
-, the society. The list is reduced this year
' to 3S and one mission. Only 10 OF the 63
4 fields now appear Two causes have
1 operated. One is self support and the
/. other is endowment.
D There is now trust fund of $40, 203 90
e permanent fund of 81 800, and annuity
. account or conditional gifts of $500, a
memorial fund of $500, general fund or
q legacy reserve of 34,294.5G. This shows
in some measure the way in which the
. society is becoming banking institution
for the church. The larger portion of
the increase has come from legacies.
, In closing his review Rev. Mr. Merrill
made 1t personal statement in which he
bore testimony to the kindly treatment
= he had received in all quarters. Few
= men, am convinced, in my position have
=, been subject to less unkmd criticism in
p. public or in private than has been my
,. lot during all these years. Especially
/ do wish to record my gratitude for the
= more than generous way in which | have
n been treated in the transition of re-
y sponsibility now i'll progress. No one
could transfer his mantle to another un-
II der happier auspices than am now per-
= mittcd to do
u The address of Rev. Charles c. Mer-
u rill, associate secretary of the Domestic
Missionary society, was given Wedncs-
c day night. Ii dealt with the theme, \
Practical Congregational Ideal III the
II.