The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-05-12
CONGREGATIONAL
STATE MEETING
Sessions in Centre Church
Full of Interest-Well
Attended
SUNDAY OBSERVANCE
UNDER DISCUSSION
Marriage Law Gets Attention-Many
Excellent Addresses-Rev. Edward
G.. French of johnson Elected Pres
ident-Vergennes Next Year.

ident-Vergennes Next Year.
Brattleboro Congregationalsts in gem
cral and the Centre church in particular
are entertaining this week the Vermont |
congregational conference in its l25th an
nual meeting and the Vermont Domes-
tic Missionary society in its l02d annual
session, and while the arrangements were
made without long advance notice because
Windsor found it necessary to cancel its
invitation the delegates are being enter
tanned i'll a manner creditable to the par
ish and pleasing to the visitors.
George L. Durham of the Centre church
is president of the conference and is pre-
siding at the sessions of that organization,
which began yesterday afternoon at 9
O'Clock He started the convention
promptly. Rev Richard II. Bosworth of
Townshend read from the l32d Psalm and
offered prayer Rev. Ola r. Houghton of
fWallingford was elected scribe and Rev.
Arthur V Wcodworth of West Brattle-
boro assistant scribe.
Following. the presidents words of wei
come, Rev DIR. H. p Woodn Of the Cen
: tire church presented the program, stat
ing that it was unchanged from the printed
program, and he expressed his personal
welcome to the visitors and made some an
nouncements.
Then followed reports of various boards
and committees, the last of which fun-
, shed material for discussion which was
! one of the enlivening features of the al
ternoon. 1t was the report Of the com
! mlttee on civic justice and community
service, OF which President Durham j:
chairman. The committee made four rec
concentrations one of which was; THAT
: we have Sunday observance law on oul
: statute books which will be adequate fol
present day conditions; that our churches
!, adopt a policy toward Sunday recreation
! that will commend itself to a right think
i ing people and at the same time give th'
! churches the leadership in this matter il
their respective communities
: The other recommendations were thai
:; the Congregational churches co-operat
with others in protecting against the eX
ploitation of the morals of young peopl
by commercalized recreation; that tn
conference stand strongly behind the off
cals in uphoding the constitution as re
= CARDS prohibition; and that the minister
and laymen cooperate with the stat
board of charities and probation, actin
~ as investigators or agents if requested
ts Rev. John c. Prince of Bellows fall
u thought the recommendation as to Snda
NJ observance ought to be more specific, 5
Ie as to show just what sort of prog1aI
10 was proposed, and this led to considerabl
oi discussion, during which Rev. DIR. Wood
q related the efforts of the Brattleboro mil
III listers to prevent baseball playing i'll Bra
- tleboro last fall and voiced the need of
law that would have public sentiment bac
of it.
Several motions were made and it fnall
was voted to commit the report to I'll
of committee for revision with respect
n. the Sunday observance feature, the entn
~: report then to be presented again at tn
az conference for adoption This was dor
~ on motion Of Rev. Fraser Metzger of Ran
dolph
1t was the opinion Of Rev. Mr. Prime
also that the present marriage law ere
ted a situation that was not altogeth
wholesome. This law was framed and e
'eS acted two years ago to stop the init
no of couples from other states. largely Ma
ell sachusetts, most of whom came to BelloV
led Falls and Brattleboro. 1t was proyid'
that such couples should wait five da
after taking out marriage licenses befo
at getting married Rev. Mr.. Prince sa
FOR the result was that in some instane
YES couples not knowing the requirements u
OF til they arrived in this state would put
at hotels as though married and rema
in the state until the five days were I
the Rev Mr.. Prince thought luicense oug
and not to be delivered until valid for l
out and should be universally good in Nermo
instead of simply in the county where
. sued. He moved that the committee ma
some recommendation in this matt
which was voted.
The first address was by Rev Lev
Fri IT. Reed, d. D., of New York, on the |
,old grim Memorial fund. He expressed al
,aIl iety lest some ministers should not beeo
ing laware of the benefits offered until
nds late to get those benefits. He showed Il
Through the annuity plan incomes in
,lar age were provided such as no minis
of could afford to miss 1t is really a
markable investment opportunity, mt
possible by the generosity of the denc
'eI p ination.
H. Rev Clifford H. Smith of New Yo
formerly of West Brattleboro, spoke
the International Congregational Cour
in Boston June 90 to July 6, the terc
tenarv celebration of the Pilgrim Fatht
Eand urged the appointment of delegat
shin He stated the fact which few have r.
ing. izcd, that vermont mas more eonsie
the |