USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Essex Junction > Minutes and reports of the 124th annual meeting of the Vermont Congregational Conference and the 101st annual meeting of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society > Part 3
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The session being resumed, after singing a hymn, anaddress was given by Rev. Albert Parker Fitch of Amherst, Mass., on "The Essence of Christianity."
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
TUESDAY EVENING
The evening session was opened by a sunset meeting on the church lawn, at which Rev. J. Duke King of Rupert spoke on "With the Khaki Men in France." Adjourning to the church, there was scripture reading and prayer by Rev. Francis W. Bates of Thetford, followed by a Memorial Service for our min- isters who have died during the year, prayer being offered by Rev. R. H. Bosworth of Townshend.
"The story of our Churches for 1918-19" was told by Statis- tical Secretary John M. Comstock of Chelsea.
An address on "The Church and the New Era" was given by Rev. Albert Parker Fitch.
WEDNESDAY MORNING
On Wednesday morning the Minutes were read and ap- proved. The report of the Fairbanks Board of Ministerial Re- lief was given by Rev. C. C. Merrill in the absence of the treasurer and was as follows:
Statement of Account of Fairbanks Board for Relief of Ministers for Year Ending May 1, 1919
Dr.
$ 990.89
Cash on hand May 1, 1918
125.85
Received from Churches of State
Received from Congregational Board for Ministerial
Relief, New York, on division of receipts
from Vermont Churches during the year
367.12
Investments Paid
2,265.00
Income from Investments
$5,352.91
Cr.
$ 1,075.00
Aid rendered to eight beneficiaries
3,165.00
Funds reinvested
32.18
Interest on investments purchased
25.00
Treasurer's Salary
4.25
Sundry Expenses
1,051.48
Cash on hand May 1, 1919
$5,352.91
·
1,604.05
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The amount of invested securities on May 1, 1919 stands at ALVIN C. NOYES, Treasurer
$29,574.56
This certifies that I have this day examined the accounts of Alvin C. Noyes, Treasurer, and find the same correct with proper vouchers for all disbursements, and the balance of cash on hand as stated, one thousand fifty-one and 48-100 dollars ($1,051.48.) I have also verified the condition of investments.
J. C. CLARK, Auditor St. Johnsbury, Vt., May 20, 1919.
The report of the Fairbanks Board of Education was sub- mitted by Rev. F. B. Richards and the report was accepted. The report follows :
St. Johnsbury, Vt., May 15, 1919 Gilbert E. Woods, Treasurer, in Account with the Fairbanks Education Board
1918
Dr.
May 15 To cash on hand
$ 152.46
Income from Investments
716.50
Cr.
By paid Aid, four students
$375.00
Taxes on Rice land
23.40
Transfer Savings Account
200.00
Cash on hand
270.56
The invested funds are as follows : 5 shares E. & T. Fairbanks & Co. Ltd. Mahaffey Mortgage Loan
1700.00
Hanson
1300.00
W. S. Rice, land
1200.00
33 shares Fairbanks Morse & Co.
3300.00
12 shares Western Union Telegraph Co.
1200.00
16 shares Penna. Railroad Co.
800.00
2 shares First National, St. Johnsbury
200.00
First Mortgage Bonds E. & T. Fairbanks & Co.
1000.00
Russian Government 612 per cent credit
1000.00
$868.96
$868.96
$ 500.00
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
Anglo French 5 per cent Bond
1000.00
Second Liberty Loan 41/2 per cent Bond 1000.00
Savings Deposit, Citizens Savings Bank & Trust Co. 1135.09
Check Account, Citizens Savings Bank & Trust Co. 270.56
$15605.65
St. Johnsbury, Vt., May 15, 1919
I hereby certify that I have examined the accounts of Gil- bert E. Woods, Treasurer of the Fairbanks Education Board, for the year ending May 15, 1919, and find the same correct, there being proper vouchers for all payments, there being a cash balance on checking account of $270.56 and on savings account $1135.09. The other securities belonging to the Board have , also been examined and are as set forth in above statement. J. C. CLARK, Auditor
The Report of the Committee on Inter-Church Federation was presented by Rev. Fraser Metzger of Randolph and was accepted. (See appendix B.)
The Treasurer's Report was presented by F. W. Baldwin of Barton, Treasurer, and was accepted as follows :
TREASURER'S REPORT Frederick W. Baldwin, Treasurer
In Account with Congregational Conference of Vermont
To cash to balance as per Auditor's Report
To cash received as follows :
Emergency $51.25
182.37
Bennington Association
104.72
Caledonia Association
50.00
239.09
Chittenden Association
88.87
260.27
Essex Association
8.03
Franklin and Grand Isle Association
9.00
97.22
Grafton-Orange Association
100.00
178.43
Lamoille Association
55.44
Orange Association
90.53
Orleans Association
131.56
Rutland Association
224.95
Union Association
19.50
100.52
Washington Association
62.00
228.87
Windham Association
16.71
182.15
Windsor Association
125.06
245.62
$522.39
$390.62 (Dues)
Addison Association
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Borrowed Money
800.00
Total
. . $3520.39
Credit
By paid Orders as follows :
National Council, Balance 1918
$462.58
National Council on 1919
200.00
Board Pastoral Supply 1918
346.16
Board Pastoral Supply 1919
150.00
Charles C. Merrill, Secretary, Salary
200.00
Charles C. Merrill, Secretary, Expenses
40.14
Conference Expense 1918
91.79
Balance Publishing Comstock History
612.42
Borrowed Money and Interest on same
825.65
N. G. Williams, money paid by mistake
25.00
Rev. . C. E. Hitchcock, overpaid Bennington
Association Dues
5.72
Printing Minutes 1918
223,71
General Printing Bill
27.30
Expense Directors' Executive Committee
99.40
John M. Comstock, Statistical Secretary, Expense
88.32
Frederick W. Baldwin, Treasurer, Expense
13.09
Total
$3411.28
Balance in Treasury
$109.11
There is due from Associations as follows :
Chittenden Association
181.50
Essex Association
19.67
$201.17
I have this day examined the books and vouchers and ac- counts of your Treasurer, Frederick W. Baldwin, as given above, and find them correct.
Dated at Barton, Vt., this 17th day of May, 1919.
WALLACE H. GILPIN, Auditor
Voted that the bill held for many years against the Essex Association of $19.67 be abated.
The Nominating Committee, Arthur F. Stone, Chairman, presented the following list of Directors and they were elected by the Conference: At Large, Rev. C. C. Adams, Burlington ;
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
Rev. E. P. Treat, Pittsford ; Jonas H. Brooks, St. Johnsbury.
Representing Associations: Term Expires 1921-P. T. H. Pierson, Bennington; John E. Tinker, Danville; H. D. Howe, Burlington ; Rev. F. W. Day, Swanton; M. M. Wilson, Ran- dolph; Rev. R. A. Hamilton, Orleans; O. A. Whitcomb, Wood- stock. To fill vacancies, term expires 1920-Rev. A. V. Wood- worth, Brattleboro; H. G. Woodruff, Montpelier.
A service of Meditation and Prayer: "Maintain the Spirit- ual Glow" was conducted by Rev. Geo. A. Buttrick of Rutland.
At 10 a. m. the Conference adjourned to make way for the meeting of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
The Ways and Means Committee through Justin R. Hoad- ley, Chairman, presented a report and it was accepted. (See appendix H.)
The Board of Directors, through J. R. Hoadley, presented its report. (See appendix A.)
The following Budget for the year 1919-20 was adopted as recommended by the Board of Directors :
Board of Pastoral Supply 11/2c per member (includ- ing non-residents) $348.57
National Council Dues (including non-residents)
929.52
4c per member
200.00
Printing Minutes
30.00
Other Printing
75.00
Meetings of Directors and Committees
20.00
Treasurer's Expenses
90.00
Expenses of Annual Meeting
50.00
National Council Delegates
85.00
Statistical Secretary, Salary and Expenses Interest
24.00
$1,852.09
The following recommendation of the Board of Directors was adopted : That a contribution of eight cents per member be asked from the churches for the Conference year 1919-20,
37
MINUTES
the basis to be upon the total membership instead of resident membership as in previous years.
In behalf of the Board of Directors, J. R. Hoadley presented an amendment to Article 4 of the Constitution relating to nom- ination of Directors, final action to be taken Thursday morning.
The Board of Directors also presented an amendment to Article 8 of the Constitution, changing the time of meeting from the third Tuesday of May to the third Friday, the object being to make possible a session over Sunday. This amendment was discussed and an informal vote disclosing the fact that there was almost unanimous opposition, it was not further pressed.
A service of Meditation and Prayer, "But the Spirit of the Lord Came Upon Gideon," Judges 6 :34, was conducted by Rev. George A. Buttrick of Rutland.
The following amendment to the Constitution was presen- ted by Rev. C. H. Smith to be voted on at the Thursday session : That Article 8 of the Constitution be amended to read, "The Conference shall meet annually at 2 o'clock on the second or third Tuesday of May, at the discretion of the Board of Direc- tors."
An address on "Safeguarding the Sailor" was given by Rev. Merritt A. Farren, Secretary of Boston Seaman's Friend Society.
A brief report was made by Dea. H. C. Pease of Hartford, Vt., member of the Board of Managers, on the work of the Sea- man's Friend Society.
The Business Committee presented as an amendment to the Constitution a new article to be known as Article 9 relating to the Boston Seaman's Friend Society. Under the Constitu- tion, action on this amendment was deferred until Thursday.
Harry D. Howe of Burlington spoke on the "Every-Mem- ber-Drive," after which he called on various Association leaders in the Drive for reports.
Rev. F. A. Poole of St. Johnsbury spoke on the "Cam- paign for Evangelism." There was discussion by Rev. Donald Fraser, Rev. J. L. Alexander, Rev. F. B. Richards and Rev. W. J. McNeill.
Greetings from the Vermont Branch of the Woman's Board
38
VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
were given by the First Vice-President, Mrs. G. S. Mills, of Ben- nington.
Greetings from the Woman's Home Missionary Union were given by the President, Mrs. W. J. Van Patten, of Burlington.
An address on "How Can We Transfer to the Church the Enthusiasm, the Co-operation and the Efficiency of the War Drives," was given by Hon. Charles I. Button of Middlebury.
An address was given by Rev. J. B. Sargent of Northfield on the subject: "With the Khaki Men in England."
The report of the committee on Religious Education and the Ministry was given by Rev. J. C. Prince of Bellows Falls, and the report was accepted and adopted. (See appendix F.)
The Pilgrim Memorial Fund was reported by Frank H. Brooks of St. Johnsbury, State Chairman, and Rev. G. S. Mills of Bennington, who had assisted in presenting the matter to the churches.
The report of the Commission was accepted and the thanks of the Conference were extended to the Commission and espe- cially to its Executive Secretary, Rev. Frank W. Hodgdon, and those who have assisted him.
The following recommendation from the Board of Directors was adopted :
That our Committee on Civic Justice and Community Ser- vice co-operate with similar committees from other State bodies of Churches at the State Capitol during the session of Legisla- ture in order to give definite and effective expression with re- gard to legislation effecting the moral life of the State.
The Board of Directors presented the nomination of Rev. Charles C. Merrill as Secretary of the Conference for the year 1919-20 and he was elected.
The Secretary presented his annual report and it was ac- cepted. (See appendix D.)
It was voted to accept the invitation to hold the Conference meeting of 1920 in Windsor.
The following resolutions were presented by the Business Committee and adopted :
This Conference heartily endorses the Aims and Program of "The Inter-Church World Movement" as enunciated in the
39
MINUTES
Boston meeting of March 21, 1919, and calls upon our ministers and churches to make themselves familiar with these plans, and take steps toward their efficient execution.
We reaffirm our unalterable hostility to the beverage liquor traffic and demand that the warfare against it be carried to a speedy and victorious conclusion. We heartily approve the ac- tion of Congress in passing and of President Wilson in signing the war emergency prohibition law to become effective July first. We protest against all efforts to repeal it or to make in- operative any of its provisions.
We rejoice in the ratification of the prohibitory constitu- tional amendment by our own Legislature and by such an over- whelming majority of the legislative bodies of the Nation. We confidently look forward to an era of vast economic, political and social progress resulting from its impartial enforcement. We urge upon our Congressional delegation the most earnest effort to secure the passage of appropriate legislation to give it full force and effect, and condemn all efforts to nullify it as dis- loyal to our form of government and subversive of our demo- cratic institutions.
The following list of Officers, Boards and Committees was presented by the Nominating Committee and they were elected (the Directors were elected Wednesday morning) :
President-George L. Dunham, Brattleboro.
Vice-President-Rev. Edward G. French, Danville.
Treasurer-F. W. Baldwin, Barton.
Auditors-W. H. Gilpin, Barton, and John C. Clark, St. Johnsbury.
Fairbanks Board of Education-Lt .- Col. Joseph Fairbanks, Rev. L. A. Edwards, Rev. F. B. Richards, Rev. F. A. Poole, Gil- bert E. Woods.
Fairbanks Board for Relief of Ministers-Rev. C. H. Mer- rill, Alvin C. Noyes, Rev. Donald Fraser, Arthur F. Stone, H. C. Wilson.
Reporters and Receivers :
Addison Association-Rev. William F. Frazier.
Bennington Association-Rev. S. K. Perkins.
Caledonia Association-Rev. C. B. Bliss.
Chittenden Association-Rev. Charles K. Tracy.
Essex Association-Mrs. S. G. Wilson. €
Franklin and Grand Isle Association-R. W. Jocelyn.
Grafton-Orange Association-Rev. Donald Fraser.
Lamoille Association-Mrs. Florilla Holmes.
40
VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
Orange Association -- Rev. H. A. Barker.
Orleans Association-Clinton A. Wood.
Rutland Association-Rev. O. R. Houghton.
Union Association-Rev. R. A. Beardslee.
Washington Association-Rev. J. B. Sargent.
Windham Association-Rev. A. V. Woodworth.
Windsor Association-Rev. B. A. Lucas.
Nominating Committee (to fill vacancy)-Rev. C. C. Adams, term expires in 1920; John R. Akin, term expires in 19.22.
Trustees of Vermont Anti-Saloon League-Rev. C. E. Hayward, Rev. John M. Thomas, Rev. William Millar, C. P. Cowles, J. R. Hoadley, E. B. Jordan.
Manager Boston Seaman's Friend Society-Horace E. Pease.
Director of Vermont State Sunday School Association- Walter H. Crockett.
Delegates to National Council, term expires in 1921-Rev. C. C. Merrill; Alternate, Rev. Chauncey A. Adams. Term ex- pires in 1923-Ralph E. Flanders ; Alternate, J. R. Hoadley.
Directors of Board of Pastoral Supply-Rev. G. S. Mills, George L. Dunham.
To represent Vermont on the directorate of the Church Ex- tension Board (one to be chosen)-Rev. J. C. Prince, C. D. Howe.
Preacher-Rev. Donald Fraser.
Alternate-Rev. R. A. Beardslee.
The announcement was made that the Board of Directors of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society had chosen Rev. A. S. Bole as one of the two Pastors-at-Large, the other one to be selected later. Mr. Bole addressed the Conference.
THURSDAY FORENOON
A devotional service was conducted by Rev. J. C. Prince of Bellows Falls. It was voted to dispense with the reading of the Roll. It was voted that the reading of the Minutes be dis- pensed with and they be referred to the Board of Directors for approval.
Upon recommendation by the Business Committee it was voted that the churches be urged to pay the expenses of pastors attending the Middlebury Convocation and the Secretary notify
41
MINUTES
the churches to that effect.
Greetings were received from the New York Congrega- tional Conference in session at Oswego. Voted that a reply be sent in the name of the President of our Conference.
The following resolution was presented by the Business Committee and was adopted :
We hereby place on record our grateful appreciation of the unstinted hospitality which we have enjoyed from the pastorand people of this Essex Junction Church which has entertained us during the Conference. They have fed us most bountifully, they have received us to their homes most cordially, they have provided every convenience and facility for the transaction of our business. We thank them for everything they have done for us, and wish for them abundant prosperity in all their labors of love.
Upon recommendation of the Business Committee, the fol- lowing new article of the Constitution was adopted, it having been first presented Wednesday afternoon.
Article 9. The Boston Seaman's Friend Society shall be the agent of the Conference in the work of promoting the spiritual and temporal welfare of seamen, and shall make an an- nual report to the Conference. The Conference shall annually nominate a person for membership in the Board of Managers of the Boston Seaman's Friend Society.
And Articles 9 and 10 shall be numbered 10 and 11 respec- tively.
An address was given by Rev. Arthur W. Bailey of Boston on "Religious Education and World Reconstruction."
An address was given by Rev. Miles B. Fisher, Boston, on "Missionary Education and the New Day."
An address was given by Rev. Frank M. Sheldon, Boston, on "The Fundamentals in Religious Education."
The Business Committee presented the following resolu- tion, which was adopted by the Conference :
Believing that the principles embodied in the proposed League of Nations are in harmony with the principles of the
42
VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
Gospel of Christ and conducive, therefore, to the welfare of our Nation and the world, the Vermont Congregational Conference, assembled in annual session at Essex Junction, endorses the Covenant adopted by the Paris Peace Conference, April 28, 1919, and asks the representatives of Vermont in the Senate of the United States that they vote for its adoption as an essential por- tion of the treaty of peace.
The Secretary of the Conference is directed to transmit copies of this action to Senator Dillingham and Senator Page.
It was voted to adopt the following amendments to the Constitution which were presented to the Conference at yester- day's session :
First. Relating to time of the annual meeting. That Arti- cle 8 be amended to read as follows :
Article 8. The Conference shall meet annually at two o'clock p. m. on the second or third Tuesday of May at the dis- cretion of the Board of Directors.
Second. Relating to nomination of Directors by Associa- tions :
(1) That Article 4, Section 3, paragraph C, be amended by striking out in the second sentence the words "two persons, one a minister and one a layman" and substituting therefor "one per- son," and by striking out in the last sentence of said paragraph the words "two such persons" and substituting therefor, "one such person" so that the second and third sentences of said para- graph shall read :
"For subsequent elections each Association shall be asked at a duly called meeting of the Association to name one person for any vacancy occurring in its representation in the Board of Directors. In case an Association shall not name one such per- son the Nominating Committee shall provide a candidate for such an Association."
(2) That Article 4, Section 3, paragraph E of the Constitu- tion be amended by striking out all in the paragraph after the word "thereafter" and substituting therefor the following :
"The Nominating Committee shall arrange and the Secre- tary shall send to the Association a schedule of such approxi- mate alternation between Ministers and laymen in the nomina-
43
MINUTES
tions for Directors from the Associations as shall result in at least one-half of the elected members from the Associations being laymen," so that said paragraph shall read :
In reporting nominations from Associations for the Board of Directors, the Committee on Nominations shall name at least seven laymen the first year, and thereafter it shall arrange and the Secretary shall send to the Associations a schedule of such approximate alternation between ministers and laymen in the nominations for Directors from the Associations as shall result in at least one-half of the elected members from the Associations being laymen.
A Practical Conference on "Problems and Possibilities of Vermont Church Schools" was conducted by Rev. Arthur W. Bailey, assisted by Dr. Fisher and Dr. Sheldon.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Arthur W. Bailey and the Con- ference adjourned sine die at 10.45 a. m.
CHARLES H. MERRILL, Moderator CHARLES C. MERRILL, Secretary EDWARD C. HAYES, Scribe
GEORGE E. LADD, Assistant Scribe
Approved by Board of Directors, June 18, 1919.
Attest: Charles C. Merrill, Secretary.
REPORT OF STATISTICAL SECRETARY
This is the first meeting of the state body with the Essex Junction church, and, save for the eight meetings in Burlington, there has been but one before in Chittenden county. This was in 1824, when Charlotte entertained The General Convention of Congregational and Presbyterian Ministers in the State of Ver- mont, then a purely ministerial body.
The list of ministers deceased during the year who have been connected either by birth or service with Vermont contains the names of men widely known and held in deep affection in the state. Two have been taken from the active pastorate- Francis Parker, nine years in Vermont pastorates and six with his last church, and Isaac Adams Rose, stricken with the pre- vailing epidemic after six years of fruitful work in three Ver- mont fields. Henry Fairbanks, but briefly connected with the local ministry, was closely associated with the larger work through the state during his many years of active life. Edward T. Fairbanks was 36 years in the active pastorate in Vermont, all but one in his native town. Joel F. Whitney followed a ser- vice in foreign mission fields with pastorates of 21 years in this state, and had been temporarily heard in many pulpits outside these pastorates. These all died in the state. Of those who had gone elsewhere, George P. Byington has the longest record in Vermont pastorates-31 years. Next comes S. Ingersoll Briant, 14 years pastor of one Vermont church. Andrew J. Eastman was 11 years in three Vermont fields. John G. Bailey had a Vermont pastorate of ten years in what seems to most the remote past. Frederick B. Kellogg was more recently nine years with a Vermont church. William T. Swinnerton was nine years in Vermont in his earlier ministry. Thomes Mac- Briar went into business life after a ministry of seven years, all in this state. George W. Wright and Idrys Jones were each two years in Vermont pastorates. Samuel H. Lee was one year
45
REPORT OF STATISTICAL SECRETARY
with a Vermont church in a former generation, and W. Stanley Post and Samuel Kay Darlington had very recent Vermont sec- vice of a year each. Andrew J. Park, Lyman B. Hall, Franklin D. Ayer, and Arthur S. Dascomb were natives of the state whose work was elsewhere, the last named dying in the mili- tary service of his country.
There is no change in the number of churches, 215 remain- ing the total. This has not been a time for new enterprises, and none of the situations which promised an early dissolution have yet so resulted. The final disappearance of a Congregational church is not easy to effect, at least in Vermont. We should understand, however, that of these 215 churches around a half dozen are really non-existent.
It is not, however, the dead or dormant churches which cause the difficulty in obtaining the annual reports. Of the seven churches unreported when returns were forwarded for the Year-Book, March 3, none were of this type, and the two finally incorrigible are supposed to be maintaining regular services. But are these churches Congregational or Independent?
While the number of Congregational ministers in service in the state is considerably smaller than ordinary, the list of churches without regular preaching is no larger than usual, probably even smaller. This is accounted for by the large num- ber of combinations which have been made, placing an entire community under the care of one man. Of the pastors, 18 have been installed and one recognized by council. Three councils for installations have been held during the year, and one for dis- mission.
The annual statistics, which will appear in the Year-Book and the Minutes of this body, require a little time for expansion and interpretation. The membership on the first of January was found to be 23,238, which is nine more than a year before. This gain is small, but in view of the great depletion of the ministe- rial force of the state for war work and the cessation of all activ- ities for four weeks in the fall as a measure of quarantine, which in some localities was extended much beyond this time, it is far from discouraging. The additions by confession were 708,
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
fewer than for any of the four next preceding years, and by let- ter 460. The latter number is sensibly increased by the trans- fer of a large number of members in the formation of the East Corinth church. The number of deaths, 475, is the largest ever reported. So far as any cause can be found for this, it must lie in the mortality from the influenza epidemic. The removals by letter, 490, are relatively large, owing to the Corinth situation. 194 removals by discipline and revision are largely due to a cleaning up of rolls of membership. There has been a large in- crease in the number of absent members, so that the resident membership is 177 less than last year. The absentees have now become 29 per cent of the whole membership, which is far too large a ratio. While, as has been said, the total membership has been increased by but nine, the male membership has increased by 52. The proportion of men in the membership has made a steady increase in the last few years.
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