New Britain herald., 1929-06-10
Rev. Theodore A. Greene Reports
 \ On Coneregationaists' Council
First Church Pastor Tells Of Stirring Meetings at Detroit and pr. Davis Courage.

A report on the activities of the national council of Congregational churches which has just finished its annual meeting in Detroit was made yesterday to the congregation of the First Congregational church by Rev. Theodore A. Greene, who represent ed the Central Association of Con- gregational churches in Connecticut. Part of his report is as follows:
 Our Congre gational fellowship in America numbered in 1927 some B. 54S churches and boasted a total membership of 1,05l,446 persons. This great body was represented in Detroit last week by some 900 dele- gates and associates from s1 states of. the Union, the Island of Hawaii, and several mission fields overseas.
 Dr. Davis speaks Though III
 "The retiring moderator. Dr. Oxora Davis, once. pastor of the South church of this city. delivered the keynote address of the program. His subject was 'Life-Giving Convic- tions' and the text in full has a!- ready appeared in the Congregations alist. His message came home to the hearts and minds of all present the more effectively because he knew and we knew that it would be in all probability the last public appear ance he would ever make.
 ':An incurable disease has laid it's hand upon him, and though he spoke with . clear and resonant voice. it took all his strength to climb up into the high pulpit and deliver himself of certain great personal convictions.
 He closed this marvellous parable which none of those. who heard will forget. Always the moths had felt the fascination of the flame. They had investigated. debated. defined; but the full meaning of the flame never yielded itself to their eager quest. One of their best and brav- est went courageously. He circlei the flame and returned to report that it was brilliant. splendid, ya,li- ant with revealing power. But there seemed something more yet to be learned. So another fared forth. He. too, new yet nearer, circling but 1Afe. and returned, to report that 1t was not energetic. searing; but this did not seem to be adequate. So there hew from among the moths one of wide wing. He, too, circled about the dame.< Past the margin of its radiance into the range of the heat. dauntless he flew. Then. with one straight rush of wing, fearless he drove into the mystic center of the flame. There he learned the secret; but his eager companions waited in vain for his return. He alone. who knew. could not tell
 Frod B. Smith Moderator
 As- fts moderator fer tho next two years. the codhcil elected | lAyman of great ability and power, Fred B. Smith. of the Congregational church in White .RIains, New York. MT. Smith Is doubtless known to many of this audience ay . business man and Christian statesman. He was born in Iowa. and grew pin the Da- kotas. He built his first home of logs and laid the pod roof with his own hands. Shaggy of brow, wide in his sympathies. and thoroughly alive withal, he comes of Congregational stock, we'll described in o. F. Rol- vaag's novel n Giants in the Earth Some years ago he retired from brs- iness to devote the remainder of his life to the Laymen's Missionary movement. Law Enforcement, and the World Alliance for International Friendship through tha- chuhches. Thrice he has circled the globe in the interest of Christian Missions, 70 times he has crossed the Atlantic before and since the war to promote better understanding between Europe and America. His election was immediate and una nifnous, and his presiding touched with humor. grace and understanding. It is some- thing of which our Contreg4tional- ists may we'll b. pseuA, that alter