Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-09-09
CONGREGATIONAL CONVOCAT|ON
Nearly 100 At Fourth Annual Session
Memorial for DR. n. c. Herring,
Nat. Council Secretary

Middlebury. Sept THE fourth an.
nusl convocation OF the Vermont Con.
gresstional ministers opened foul
days session at MiddleburY College last
night with an attendance Of nearly 1od
Congregational olergymen from al.
parts Of the State. The Rev. e. c. Mer.
rill assistant state secretary of Bur.
lngton is the presiding of11cer of the
convocation. the meetings of which are
held In Hepburn Hall of the college
Provision is made for the entertainment
of both clerRymen and their wives ant
quite a number Of women are present
The delegates are entertained at thu
building. all meals being served in the
dining room of Hepburn hall
Among the distinguished speakers o.
the convoca ton are DR.. William Adams
Brown Of New York city an educator
Of national repute in Union Theological
Seminary; the Rev. Or. o s Davis,
Chicago University. one of the aolest
eachers. teachers and authors Of the
nomination; the Rev. DR.. J. l.. Barton
of the American Board of Commission
ers for Foreign Missions and the Rev.
DR.. Dana. national superintendent OF
Rural Church Work of the denomina-
ton
These speakers conduct during each
day a lecture period of 50 minutes on
some theme Of interest to clergymen fol-
lowed ny 20 minutes discussion of the
particular subject.
Ample time is given for recreation
and committee meetings. both forenoon
end afternoon and arrangements we're
made with the local churches Of the
State SO that the largest possible at
| tendance Of clersymen has been secured.
ms
the Rev Or. James l. Barton upon
the subject. America and the World
/ situation The speaker gave a rapid
survey of world conditions from first
I hand observation and information and
I drew a earphic picture of what Amer
' lea could and should do in this hour
! of great and world wide distraction
| President Thomas Of the college gave
felicitious greeting to the assembly
at the opening session.
This morning the first address VA.
given by the Rev. Or. William Ada ns
/ Brown, who discussed the first Of the
three themes he is 10 present. l. e.
What to Teach" Whom to Teach
/ How to Teach" He claimed that
teaching is the most important but
most neglected function Of the pulpit
| to-day. Sermons are no longer doc
| trinal we have lost the catcheism ana
the Sunday school is incompetent.
The second lecture Of the morning
was given by the Rev DR.. O. S. Davis
| of Chicago University. AS an intro.
duction to his lecture he requested the
preachers to write out the answers &c
six questions for discussion Tomorrow
First, What is the Gospel" second
What is the greatest single obstacle In
your community hindering the impression
M h.. : {
third What is the greatest single
obstacle in YOURSELF" fourth. What is
the most stimulating book that you have
read during the last year? fifth What
signs do you discover that the church ;s
doing its proper work In your COM
munity?" sixth lis the Congregatio alist
and the Vermont Missionary meeting the
religious needs of yourself and conzre.
cation? If not, what do they need -"
DIR. Davis explained in his address his
conception Of the Gospel
The closing session Of the morning was
in the nature of a memorial 10 DR.. Hubert
G. Herring, the secretary Of the national
council, who recently met his death by
drowning at Martha's Vineyard. The
service was in charge Of the Rev. c. c.
Merrill and consisted Of Scripture reading
prayer and hymns which were sung at the
funeral Of Or. Herring In Boston Brief
addresses were made by the Rev. DR.. Q.
s Davis. who spoke Of DR.. Herring as a
great friend and a wonderful Christian
and by the Rev DR.. Brown al one Of en-
lightened and far-siehted leadership: by
the Rev. James L. Barton, as a MAJ capa-
HE Of sustaining great burdens and By
! tine Rev. G.. H Smith as Of one capa BILE Of
carrying a vast number of things at the
same time with absolute courtesy and