USA > Vermont > Chittenden County > Burlington > Minutes and reports of the 128th annual meeting of the Vermont Congregational Conference and the 150th annual meeting of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society > Part 2
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The following telegram was read by the President :
"Oakpark, Ill., May 15, 1923
Moderator Congregational Conference, Burlington, Vt.
The Congregational Conference of Illinois assembled in Oakpark sends greetings and heartiest wishes for a most blessed Conference. In the interest of the Kingdom we acknowledge our debt to Vermont for our efficient Superintendent, Dr. Mer- rill, the stamp of whose leadership is already upon Illinois Con- gregationalism. Robert J. Locke."
It was voted to telegraph the Illinois Conference the appre-
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ciation of the Vermont Congregational Conference for their ex- pression of fellowship and extend our greetings. The Commit- tee sent the following reply :
"Burlington, Vermont, May 16, 1923
Moderator, Congregational Conference
Oak Park, Il1.
Vermont Congregational Conference responds most heartily with fraternal greetings and good wishes to the Congregational brethren of Illinois and especially to our friend and belo, ed for- mer fellow-worker, Dr. Merrill.
Signed Walter Thorpe" Moderator
The open forum dealing with the subject of the symposium was conducted by Rev. Herbert H. Hines of Woodstock.
Rev. E. S. Worcester of Bellows Falls addressed the Con- ference on "Youth's Heritage in the Pilgrim Spirit" and Mrs. Theodore S. Lee, Associate Secretary Woman's Board, on "Visions and Dreams of India's Youth."
The Business Committee made the following recommenda- tions which were adopted :
To send a message of appreciation and God-speed to Rev. Donald Fraser, who has been for twelve years pastor at Wells River and who is now moving to Rochester, New Hampshire.
Resolved, that a message of greeting and good-will be sent to our beloved Secretary Emeritus, Rev. C. H. Merrill in Wash- ington.
Resolved, that an expression of deep sympathy in the sor- row that has just come to him through the death of his father be sent to Rev. E. G. French, former Field Worker.
Resolved, that this Conference appoint five delegates to represent it at the dedication of a monument July 8 at the site of the first church in Bennington.
Resolved, that it is the sense of the Conference that all or- dained ministers reported by their respective churches under the heading "Pastors" in the Year Book- including, that is, the rela-
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tionships of pastor emeritus, associate pastor, and assistant pas- tor, as well as that of Pastor-in-charge-are regular voting men- bers of this body within the meaning of the Constitution.
Whereas, the suggested change of date of holding this Con- ference to a week-end would involve a radical change in the Con- stitution of the Conference and of the Domestic Missionary So- ciety, and would raise serious questions concerning entertain- ment and conduct of Conference business, therefore
Resolved, that the question of the proposed change be made a special order of business at the opening session of the Confer- ence in 1924, and that the Program Committee be requested to designate an hour at that session for its discussion.
The Conference was adjourned by the President to meet at 7.00 o'clock this evening.
WEDNESDAY EVENING
The evening session was opened at 7.00 o'clock with Presi- dent Thorpe in the Chair.
The Business Committee by the Chairman reported the fol- lowing resolution which was adopted :
Resolved, That the Conference Secretary be directed as soon as practicable to remind all our churches of the relation of this Conference to the Boston Seaman's Friend Society, and to suggest to them that at some time in the near future they under- take to raise by special offering or otherwise an amount equal to one and two-tenths per cent of their regular missionary and benevolent apportionment for the support of the Boston Sea- man's Friend Society, taking care, however, that the amount so raised shall not be withdrawn from their offerings for the de- nominational missionary and benevolent undertakings.
Rev. William McIntire reported for the Nomination Com- mittee the following delegates to Bennington July 8:
George L. Dunham; Alternate, Elbert Simons. Justus R. Hoadley ; Alternate, Herman W. Vaughan. Hon. James Hartness; Alternate, W. D. Wilson. Judge F. L. Fish ; Alternate, Judge C. I. Button. W. F. Frazier, Conference Secretary.
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The report was adopted and the foregoing persons were de- clared elected.
Financial Secretary Sargent's report was accepted. (See Appendix J).
Dr. Worcester for the Business Committee recommended that the Secretary of the Conference send a message of con- dolence to the widow of the Rev. R. A. Fowles, pastor at South Royalton, Vermont.
The devotional service was led by Dr. H. P. Woodin of Brattleboro in the absence of Rev. Burton A. Lucas of Windsor.
The addresses of the evening were given by Rev. Samuel McCrea Cavert, General Secretary of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, on the subject, "The Church Uniting for Christian Service" and Rev. William P. Merrill, D. D., of the Brick Presbyterian Church, New York, on the sub- ject, "Meeting the Young People Half Way," at the close of which Dr. Merrill pronounced benediction, and the evening ses- sion was adjourned.
THURSDAY MORNING
The closing session of the Conference was called to order at 8.30 by President Thorpe.
The resolution of the Board of Directors concerning the amendment of the Constitution providing for the election of ad- ditional directors-at-large was adopted and the Constitution amended accordingly. (See Minutes of Wednesday afternoon session for Resolution).
The Nominating Committee presented a supplementary re- port of nominations for the Board of Directors which was ac- cepted and adopted and the following persons declared elected :
At Large-Term expires 1924-Wallace H. Gilpin. Barton ; Miss Margaret L. Johnson, Woodstock; Rev. Frank L. Good- speed, Barre. Term expires 1925-Herman W. Vaughan. Rut- land; Rev. Mabel T. Winch, East Arlington; Philip T. H. Pier-
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son, Bennington. Term expires 1926-Levi P. Smith, Burling- ton ; Mrs. Paul D. Moody, Middlebury ; Miles S. Sawyer, Rut- land.
The Business Committee presented the following resolu- tions which were accepted and adopted :
1. Resolved, that the Secretary be requested to call the at- tention of the churches to the fact that while the other co-opera- ting denominations contribute directly to the support of the Federal Council of Churches, our National Council makes no ap- propriation for it and all support received by the Council from our denomination must come from the gifts of individual churches.
2. Resolved, that the grateful acknowledgements of this Conference be extended to the pastor, Rev. C. C. Adams, and members of the First Church in Burlington for their generous welcome and the cordiality with which this beautiful house of worship, the conveniences of the Parish House, and the comforts of so many homes have been put at our disposal, to the Metho- dist people for their assistance in the gracious exercise of hos- pitality, to the choir for its valued aid in worship, to the officers and the program committee for the stimulating direction which these sessions have given to our thought and purpose, and es- pecially to those speakers who, coming from outside our im- mediate fellowship, have brought to us in rich measure the sense of the largeness and unity of Christ's cause in the world.
It was voted to continue with business until finished and ob- serve the period of devotion immediately preceding the addresses of the morning.
It was voted to instruct the Scribe to complete the Minutes and refer the same to the Board of Directors for approval.
The report of the Committee on Evangelism was accepted and adopted. (See Appendix H).
It was voted to refer the place of meeting of the next Con- ference to the Board of Directors with power to act.
It was voted on motion of the Chairman of the Business Committee that at the close of the morning's program the 128th meeting of the Vermont Conference stand adjourned sine die.
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The devotions were in charge of Rev. J. Duke King of Ru- pert in the absence of Rev. H. C. Newell of Middlebury.
Dr. G. W. Nash, President of the Congregational Founda- tion of Education, addressed the Conference on "The Institutions of the Pilgrims" and President Paul Dwight Moody of Middle- bury College on "Assets and Liabilities in Higher Education."
The closing devotional period was led by Secretary William F. Frazier and President Thorpe declared the Conference ad- journed.
WALTER THORPE, President JOHN C. PRINCE, Scribe C. C. CLARIS, Assistant Scribe
REPORT OF STATISTICAL SECRETARY
It is not surprising that this city, easy of access, beautiful for situation, a stronghold of Congregationalism, should be now for the ninth time the place of meeting of our state body. The first meeting, in 1819, was of The General Convention of Con- gregational and Presbyterian Ministers in Vermont, purely a ministerial body, and met at the house of Rev. Daniel Haskel, then pastor of this church and afterwards president of the Uni- versity. The second meeting, in 1828, was probably held in the meeting house of this church, though the records are silent in the matter. Later meetings were in 1840, 1850, and 1865. In 1879, at the College St. church, the session was noteworthy for one of the warmest and ablest debates in which the representa- tives of our churches have ever participated, on the acceptance of "the historic belief of the churches" as a condition of standing in the Congregational ministry. Fidelity to truth as men saw it caused keen division, and scars were long in healing. Of the few survivors of the membership of that year, not more than two are now living in this state, one being Rev. C. H. Merrill, then secretary of the Convention. The Convention was then com- posed of delegates from county conferences and ministerial as- sociations, and at the same meeting of 1879 a committee was ap- pointed to consider changes in its composition, "to secure a more direct representation of the churches and a larger proportion of the lay element." The report made by this committee the fol- lowing year proved in advance of the time, and was not adopted, though it was quite similar to the present system. The next Burlington meeting, in 1892, adopted the present method of representation. And in 1903, the Convention, not yet having changed its name to Conference, met in Burlington with the Col- lege St. church.
It has long been the custom near the beginning of this re- port to note the names of present and former ministers of our churches who have been removed by death during the year. When this report was written, it could be said that no pastor in active service in the state had died within the year, but on the
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eve of this meeting Raymond A. Fowles, pastor of the two Royalton churches, has been suddenly called. Only one former pastor has died within our state limits; but that one, Edward E. Herrick, is noteworthy for 48 consecutive years of ministerial service within the state of his birth,- a record rarely equaled. Next to him in length of Vermont service is Rufus C. Flagg, 22 years a Vermont pastor. Thomas Hall's active service of 14 years was with one church, which retained him for the rest of his life in an emeritus relation. Jeffrey G. Haigh was 12 years in two Vermont fields, and John P. Marvin 11 years, also in two fields. William Carr and Stephen H. Robinson each served the Vermont churches for 10 years. George W. French was eight years in Vermont, Jean E. Heath seven years, and Benja- min W. Pennock six years. George L. Gleason was five years in Vermont pastorates and Myron A. Munson four years, both in the earlier time, before the active life of the greater part of this company. Of still shorter tarrying in the state are Wil- liam F. Stearns and John H. Morley, three years; James Bil- lington and Charles C. MacDonald, two years; and Lorin S. Gates, who prepared for a long missionary career in India by a year's service in Vermont. Another name might be included, that of John A. Dixon, whose ordained ministry has been en- tirely in another denomination, but who at the outset served one of our churches one year as licentiate. There are also three natives of the state who never served in the pastorate here, Frank E. Woodruff, Myron O. Harrington, and George G. Rice, the last of note for having survived his 103rd birthday.
There is this year a necrology of churches as well as of min- isters, for the names of seven churches have disappeared from the roll,-Alburg Springs, Burke Second, Calais, Leicester, Plainfield, Ripton, and Worcester. These have all been long in- active. Three have a long and honorable record, but loss of population and other local conditions have rendered them no longer needed in their communities. Of such it may be said, "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." Another of long history lost its usefulness through internal dissensions. The other three are of recent origin, and have not fulfilled the hopes
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of those who were instrumental in organizing them. The event may show the lack of prophetic foresight of their promoters, but at least they must be acquitted of sectarian intrusion, for none of these churches were competitive in their beginning. The removal of these names is a distinct gain, for the number of churches now reported, 206, is a much nearer approach to reality. There are other names which should be removed, and steps are being taken which are likely to accomplish this result during the present year. In one case, Winooski, it it understood that formal disbanding awaits final arrangements as to property.
It was said in the report last year that fewer churches were without regular pulpit supply than for many years. The same statement may be repeated this year. If a list of so-called vacant churches were to be given, it would be found to be large- ly made up of hibernating churches expecting only a summer supply and others dormant throughout the year. The number of those aspiring to regular pastoral service and at present des- titute of it is very small. There are 15 churches with installed pastors, two more than last year. There have been four councils resulting in installation and two in recognition, while three men have been ordained without a closer bond. Two dismissing councils have been held.
The annual statistics, so far as they concern the figures of membership, are very cheering, as they also were for the pre- vious year. There is an increase in total membership of 254, though this increase is brought down to 71 when reduced to terms of resident membership. The total membership is now 23,522. The absentee list has again increased, in spite of all ef- forts to keep it down, regular or spasmodic. There are now 6250 non-residents, nearly 27% of the total. The accessions by con- fession are 904, nearly as many as in the previous year, and much above the average for the past fifty years. By letter the additions have been 500, making the total 1404. By correction of erroneous counting or restoration of names previously dropped, 49 more are added, 25 in one church. The number of removals is about normal, 395 by death, 495 by letter, 309 by revision of roll. Of these, 55 were from one church, including
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its entire absent list, and it is not unlikely that a later report will see the restoration of some of these. The list of those re- moved by revision includes 78 of the 95 members of the seven churches disappearing from the roll.
The accession of 904 persons by confession to our churches must not be understood as meaning a like increase in the work- ing force of the churches. Much the largest part of these are probably young people between the ages of 12 and 15. Potential strength is in them, but for the present they represent an added responsibility to the church for their training and de- velopment. What they will become will depend in no small degree upon the fiber and quality of the church that receives them. The 500 additions by letter represent very largely the growth of the churches in larger communities at the expense of the smaller, and the loss to the latter is comparatively greater than the gain of the former. The meaning of figures is not always so simple as it seems. And after all, if we could weigh rather than count these data of membership, we might arrive at different conclusions. The gain or loss of one man or woman to a church may mean more than the gain or loss of other ten.
The list of the churches receiving 10 or more by confession is of unusual length : Springfield, 61; Wallingford, 31 ; Burlington First, 29; Bennington Second, 28; Newport and St. Albans, 25 each ; St. Johnsbury North, 22; Montpelier and Saxton's River. 21 each; Barre and Barton, 17 each; Bristol, 16; Rupert, 15; Hardwick, Newfane, and Pittsford, 14 each; East Berkshire. Bradford, Wells River, Whiting, and Wilmington, 13 each ; Alburg, West Brattleboro, Swanton, and Waterbury, 12 each : Orwell and North Pownal, 11 each; Brandon, Danville. Randolph, Shoreham, and Windsor, 10 each. Of the 206 churches 118 have received some additions by confession, and 88 have not. 70 received no additions either by confession or letter.
Other figures than those of membership do not admit equally satisfactory comparisons. The Sunday school membership has de- creased 394, and the membership of young people's societies
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383. Most serious is the shrinkage in the benevolent gifts. Last year we were elated over a large gain, and entertained undue hopes that it might be permanent. Now we have to chronicle a retrograde movement, and decrease of $16,034 in gifts on the apportionment and of $22,793 in total reported gifts. Busi- ness conditions may account in part for the loss, but it is to be feared that there are other reasons, especially when we note an increase of home expenses to the amount of $31,650. The reported valuation of church property has also risen materially, being now given as $2,725,100. 22 churches have received lega- cies amounting to $37,336. Not quite half of this amount goes toward an increase in invested funds. 156 churches now report such, with a total of $753,438.
In the collection of these annual statistics, there never fails to be some difficulty in getting complete returns. Often in the case of churches with no activity and little life, the figures printed have been obtained indirectly. Every year there have been such. But not for many years, if ever in my somewhat extended experience, have there been two pastors of churches so completely indifferent to the representation of their churches in the Year-Book that it has been quite impossible to obtain any report from them or their churches. Of course the figures of last year have been employed in reckoning the totals so far as membership and a few other items are concerned, but the ab- sence of a fresh report is none the less regrettable.
Outside of the data which find a place in annual statistics, there is little that is outstanding in the chronicle of the year. Two items of building are noted -- at Bethel of a parsonage re- placing one destroyed by fire a few years ago, and at Hartland of a combination club house and gymnasium for work with boys and girls. The house of worship at Windsor has been entirely re- modeled, at a cost exceeding $20,000. At Marshfield, repairs on the church building were of sufficient importance to call for a rededication of the building July 29. At Greensboro, the pulpit end of the building has been remodeled to add an organ alcove, this with other repairs and improvements costing nearly $4000. At Charlotte, about $1400 has been expended on the church build-
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ing, and at Brandon over $2000. Other repairs on church pro- perty are noted at North Hyde Park, to repair damage caused by fire, at Berkshire Second, Pittsfield, Highgate, Johnson, Wood- stock, Rupert, Shoreham, Vergennes, Barton, East Corinth, and East Arlington. At Dorset, serious damages caused by a fire are being remedied.
Some gifts and legacies should be noted. At North Bennington, a pipe organ has been given as a memorial of a deceased deacon and his wife by their children. At St. Johnsbury North, the elec- trification of the organ has been a gift in memory of a deceased wife, long a member of the choir. The same church receives two legacies, one of $5,000 to be used in accordance with the needs of the church, preference being given for its addition to the parish house building fund, and $1000 for increasing the equipment and efficiency of the primary department of the Sunday school. St. Johnsbury East is to receive a legacy of $5000, for use in repairs on church property. The little church of South Wards- boro is remembered by a bequest of $7500, left in care of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society. Windsor receives a legacy of $5000. At Chester, a memorial bell has been given by the pastor emeritus and his wife in memory of the mother of the latter. At Brandon, an attempt at Easter to raise a fund for permanent endowment resulted in over $5000.
Under methods of church work, the increased use of moving pictures is conspicuous. The most striking instance is at Spring- field, where an outfit costing about $1000 has been installed, and has been used regularly at Sunday evening services in con- junction with the Universalist church. The pastor is distinctly pleased with the result, including his opportunity to press home some vital truth in a ten minute talk to an audience of from 200 to 500. The School of Missions, now a regular feature at Ben- nington Second, has been held effectively also at Brattleboro. Dorset, St. Johnsbury North and South combined, and Wood- stock. The Forum at Bennington has had a successful fourth season. At St. Johnsbury, a union Council for Religious Edu- cation has conducted a union training school for teachers for a term of seven weeks. At Ludlow, the Black River Bible Class.
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composed of 25 active business men of the community, continues to be a most helpful factor of church life. From a discussion of town conditions at a monthly meeting of the Brotherhood of St. Johnsbury North church, an agitation was started which led to the adoption of the town manager plan. Bradford has adopted free pews. At East Hardwick, a federation with the Baptists has recently been voted.
At Weston, the church building has been turned over to a local community betterment club, and at Montgomery Center a similar step is likely. This means that the resumption of Con- gregational church services in these fields is considered improb- able. Do the Christian people in our larger towns realize in how many of the smaller communities of the state diminishing popula- tion or especially in the north of the state the immigration of a stock unsympathetic to our forms of faith and worship renders the religious outlook extremely discouraging ? One pastor in a northern town writes that of 60 children in the village school less than half a dozen are Protestant. That church has been hitherto reckoned as federated, but this designation must now be re- moved, since the Methodist church with which it has been fed- erated has entirely disappeared. The people must somehow be made to see that the only hope for religious progress in many of our communities lies in the fusion of all religious elements not wholly uncongenial, -- by federation, the formation of a new church to embrace all, the voluntary sacrifice of the traditions and preferences of the people of one church to be absorbed in another, -- or any way which will bring a real union. In studying the statistics of the year I have been struck by the new prosper- ity which seems to have come to a good number of our federated churches, with pastors sometimes of our own and sometimes of another denomination, and I believe that wherever the union is one of spirit and not of name only such prosperity is very sure to follow. The spirit to be shown is well illustrated by these words taken from the personal letter of a pastor of a success- fully federated group of churches: "The Congregational con- stituency here is not a weak and dependent constituency, but is giving up a considerable bit of its liberty very freely, very gener-
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ously, and with a considerable degree of broad Christian charity, with the distinct purpose of holding together the Protestant constituency of the community." It seems to me this is the attitude that must be taken in a federation or any sort of union, and illustrates the Christian spirit so urgently needed. But alas ! it is far easier to be a good Congregationalist or Meth- odist or Baptist than to be a good Christian! Is not the hearty union of Christian forces one of the great tests of our Christian- ity today?
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