Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1920-09-10
CONG'L CLERGYMEN
CONVENE AT COLLEGE
lBy REV. F. q. Dawson Of Derby Centerl

NY rev. II u. DdNlhOH VI DeTDy NenleIJ
One of the unique convocations of the
State of Vermont is the annual meeting
of Congregational ministers, which for
the fourth consecutive year has been
held in Mddlebury this week. This
meeting, which began as an experiment
four years ago, has come to be one of
the institutions of the Congregational
denomination in Vermont, the ideal
location of which is undoubtedly the
grounds of Middlebury College. To
this meeting, the clergymen of the par
ticular denomination in point are in
vited, provision being made by church
officials to bear the expense If necces-
sary, while in many instances the local
church sends its pastor at its own ex-
pense. This convocation is always held
just at the close of the vacation period
that plans and program may be ar
ranged for a general and unanimous
movement along the whole line of
church activity during the season of
special effort by pastor and people.
Rev. C. c. Merrill, state secretary of
the denomination, of Burlington, is the
moving spirit of the convocation and it
is owing to the unwearied efforts of
Mr.. Merrill, both in the preparation
for. and the conduct of the meeting,
that such remarkable success has been
achieved. At this convention many of
the clergymen are accompanied by their
wives, and as all visitors are boarded
in Hepburn Hall, and take their meals
in the common dining room, the oppor-
tunity of social intercourse is most at
tractive.
However, it must not be taken for
granted that the occasion is an excuse e
for visitation On the contrary the
program calls for the most strenuous
application to the work in hand. There
is opportunity for recreation but from
eight o clock in the morning until late
at night courses of lectures are being
given by the ablest thinkers who can
be secured in the whole country, ex-
perts in their several callings and
masters in Israel" of theological lore.
The convocation this year brought to
the lecture platform Rev. DR.. William
Adams Brown of Union Theological
Seminary, New York City, teacher
and author of national reputation, and
and Dr. 0. S. Davis, a native Vermont
er, president of Chicago University, a
preacher of great brilliancy, a teacher
of theological students and an author of
many religious books. Rev. DR..
Schwartz, representing the Congrega-
tiona World Movement, was also pres
ent and made one address in the village
church. There was also present Doc
tor Dana, national superintendent of
rural work for the Congregational
church, who has been doing considera-
bic organizing in his particular line
among the mountain whites of North
Carolina and on the prairies of Color
ado. NThese four men gave three ex-
tensive lectures during the convocation
on their special fields, each lecture
being followed by discussion and a run
ming fire of questions from the audi
ence.
More than one hundred preachers of
the Congregational church, together
with several ministers wives, have
been present during the convocation.
One of the interesting incidents of the
convention was the recognition of the
golden wedding of Rev. DR.. C. H. Mer-
rill of St. Johnsbury, who was for
many years the beloved state secretary
of the denomination and a gift of $50
sent to him from his ministerial friends
in the state.
At several of the convocations of the
past Rev. Dr. Hubert Herring, secre-
tary of the National Council, had been
present and was to have been here this
year, but was accidentally drowned at
Martha's Eineyard few weeks ago.
One of the incidents of the convention
was the memorial service held in his
memory, at which several addresses
were made by his personal friends and
a series of resolutions adopted and for
warded to Mrs. Herring.
Outside of the lecture room there has
been most spirited discussion of state
and national politics, conspicuous fea-
ture of which has been the undoubted
fact that the clergymen of the Congre-
gational order are intensely interested
in both subjects, with the result that
some surprises to politicians in the i'm
mediate f1tIIre are fOrepa Stad