Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1920-10-08
COUNTY CONFERENCE HERE.
Congregationalists Meet i'm Centre
Church, Holding Three Sessions-Two
Addresses Made Last Evening


Church, Holding Three Sessions-Two
Addresses Made Last Evening.
About 80 persons were present yester-
day at the 10Th annual meeting of the
Windham Association of CONGREGATIONAL
Churches in the Centre church, where
forenoon, afternoon and evening sessions
were arranged, with dinner and supper
in the church parlors.
The meeting opened with devotional
service led by Rev. j. w. Crippen of Put
ney and this was followed by a business
session in which ]. A. Pearson of Bel
lows Falls was chosen moderator and
Rev. A. V. Woodwork of West Brattle-
boro was chosen scribe. Rev. J. G..
Prince of Bellows Falls, Rev. f. d. Hyde
of Newfane and G. II. Clapp of Brattlc-
boro were elected q business committee
Rev. w. r. Curtis of Westminster West
and Elmer Weston of Saxtons River were
named as nominating committee
Rev. Il. w. Wild of Westminster gave
talk on What Our Churches are Doing
and this was followed by talk on This
Sountys Opportunity in the State Eel
lowship, by Rec. G. c. Merrill, secretary
of the Congregational state conference
The annual sermon was preached by Rev
Mr. Prince. whose theme was Faith and
World Building.
Following the sermon was commun-
ion service, at which Rev. Mr.. Hyde and
Rev. g. f. Chaplin of Saxtons River Off
ciated, assisted by Deacons n. G. Will
liams of Bellows Falls, f. s. Hewitt of
Putney. and r. c. Crosby and G. ii. Clapp
of Brattleboro.
The afternoon session was begun at
30 O'Clock with a praise service led by
Key: Mr.. Woodworth and Rev Il. H.
!noplnson OF Holyoke, Mass, spoke on
The Sunday Situation.
The Woman's Missionary hour was in
charge of Miss Florence NJ. II. Wells of
Brattleboro. Mrs. Atkinson of ITarpoot.
Turkey. spoke Interestingly and Mrs Ed
ward Kirkland of Bellows Falls spoke
about the plans for next years work
Rev. w. Vernon Lyle. secretary of the
Congregational Education society. spoke
interestingly regarding Religious Educa-
ton.
In the afternoon business session Rev.
"A. V. Woodwork of West Brattleboro
gave the treasurer's report. Rev John
{. Prince of Bellows Falls reported for
the advisory committee expressing appre-
cation of the work of the ministers of
the association, the records showing larg-
or accessionS to the churches in the past
year, and of the loyalty of the minis
tiers as they have met discouragements.
In his report for the business committee
he suggested that the association ask the.
board of directors of the state conference
to undertake the investigation of the
prosperity of the churches and bring
to the churches recommendation for a
minimum salary for ministers.
Rev. w. c. Clark of Wilmington re-
ported for the NIiddlebury college scholar
ship committee that the committee had
assigned the scholarship to Miss Hazel
Chase of West Brattleboro for one year
Rev. Mr.. Clark also reported for the
nominating committee. the report being
accepted and adopted and the following
officers declared elected: Auditor. Wal
ter "A. Gilbert; reporter, Rev. T.. w.
W1ld OF Westminster: committee on min
lsterial standing-one member elected
for three years--Rev. r. II. Bosworth of
Townshend; one three-year member of
advisory CON-, Wilbert Renfrew of West
Brattleboro NIiddlebury College scholar
ship COM, c. w. Osgood of Bellows
Falls, Rev. w. c. Clark of Wilmington
and Mrs. F. S. Hartwell of Bratteboro
meeting, Rev. e. w. Wild and A. G.
Frazer of Westminster, Rev. f. b. HYDE
of Newfane, and the registrar, Rev. Mr..
Clark; advisor for committee of pastoral
supply, Rev. DR.. II. p. Woodin of Brat
tleboro; delegates to National Council
Westminster; alternate, George l.. Dun
ham of Brattleboro.
Announcement was made that three
invitations had been received for the
meeting place for next year and it was
voted to accept the committees recon-
incubation that the invitation of the
Westminster church be accepted
AT the evening service there were ad-
dresses by Rev. DIR. William n. DeBerry
OF Springfield, Mass, and Rev DR.. John
r: Merrill of Central Turkey college.
Aintab.
DIR. DeBerry has been a pastor in
Springfield 20 years and has built up
strong institutional church there for col
orcd people. His subject will be Present
Status of the Negro Problem.
For the first time in 10 years Rev
Or. John IL. Merrill returns to the home
land. During this period very few mis-
slonaries have had an experience the
equal of his. He was in Turkey through
all the terrible war years. Antab-hiS
statlon-is place whose name is spelled
IN letters of blood. No city in that sec
tion has seen such tempestuous DAYS. I'm
the last few months of DR.. Merrill's STAY
there the city was under both French
and Turkish gun fire His story thrills
with these months of intense strain.
AS president of Central Turkey college
with its go students and various depart
ments in normal times, his contacts and
his influence have been very extensive.
For ~ years he has loved and lived and
labored
He is graduate of the University of
Minnesota and of Hartford Theoloeicol
seminary. Mrs. Merrill is a granddaugh
ter of Elias Riggs, who was a mission
arV of the American ROa ri 60 voorc