USA > Vermont > Rutland County > Brandon > Minutes of the annual meeting of the Vermont Congregational Conference; Annual report of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society > Part 3
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31
MINUTES
REPORT OF THE CONGREGATIONAL BOARD OF PASTORAL SUPPLY
REV. ARTHUR J. COVELL, Secretary
CONGREGATIONAL HOUSE, BOSTON
BOSTON, MASS., April 2, 1917
The Congregational Board of Pastoral Supply respectfully presents its second Annual Report to New England states. Statistically the year breaks all past records of the Board's work.
In response to a direct official request we have rendered service pertaining to pastoral settlement of 341 churches, 31 more than ever before in one year. These churches are located in 27 states, 1 territory, beside several in foreign countries. Of these churches there were in Vermont 37.
The number of known pastoral settlements in which the Board had an important part was 117. Opportunities for preach- ing were furnished during the year to 338 men, of whom 185 were candidates for settlement. The correspondence has shown a decided increase.
The amount received from the State Conferences was $4,017.08, of which Vermont paid $344.68. This was the total amount due for 1916 plus $5.20 for 1917.
The Secretary's travels during the year have taken him into a great portion of New England. In all he has travelled on office business somewhat more than 8,200 miles.
These visits have been of special value. They have made it possible for the Secretary to come into personal touch with the men and conditions in different parts of New England. And it has been the rule that these visits have helped to re- move misunderstandings, quickened interest in the work of the Board, and deepened confidence in its ability to lessen, on the part of ministers, the tragic elements in pastoral transfer, and to increase for churches efficiency in pastoral service.
The visits to the Theological Seminaries have been sources of pleasure and profit.
The care of the Board in looking up the standing of men has been of great value to the churches. A little inquiry con- cerning the Board's records would have saved some churches from great tribulation.
To aid in the work of finding the place where ministers may feel that God has summoned them, and to assist churches to find men who will make their members feel that their highest enthusiasm is to be shown in glorifying their Father which is in Heaven, is a great satisfaction in the work of the Board of Pastoral Supply.
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
At ten o'clock the Conference gave way to the annual meeting of the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society.
The Vermont Domestic Missionary Society convened and immediately adjourned.
The Conference was again called to order by the President and proceeded to the report of the Committee on Relations with Vermont Domestic Missionary Society as presented by Rev. A. H. Bradford. The proposed changes in the constitu- tion as recommended in the printed report together with ver- bal amendations suggested by Mr. Bradford were accepted by the Conference after a thirty minutes' debate.
On motion of Rev. F. B. Richards it was voted to take up the recommended changes in the Act of Incorporation made necessary by corresponding changes in the Constitution. Rev. A. H. Bradford made the following motion: "That the Act of Incorporation be changed according to the statement read by Mr. F. W. Baldwin subject to the vote of the Conference in reference to the Constitution." The motion was voted by the Conference.
F. W. Baldwin of Barton recommended certain changes in the Act of Incorporation in order to allow the proposed changes in the Constitution as recommended by the Commit- tee on Relations with the Vermont Domestic Missionary Society.
A motion to accept and adopt the amendments to the Act of Incorporation was passed by a two-thirds vote of the Con- ference. See Sections 3 and 4 of Act of Incorporation.
The Conference then by a two-thirds vote adopted the changes proposed by the committee ; namely, the new articles presented as substitutes for Articles 4, 5, 9, and 10 of the Con- stitution, and for Rules 3 and 4 of the Rules of Business and Order. This vote was taken by rising.
At eleven o'clock the Conference adjourned.
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
The session opened with a devotional service conducted by Rev. I. C. Smart of Burlington.
Rev. C. A. Boyd, Secretary of the Vermont Sunday School Association, addressed the Conference on the "Need of Teacher Training in the Sunday School."
33
MINUTES
Rev. A. W. Bailey of Boston gave an address on the sub- ject : "Three Great Helps for Vermont Churches."
The report of the Committee on Religious Education, presented by Arthur F. Stone, was accepted.
The report of the Committee on Civic Justice was ac- cepted.
Mr. James P. Taylor of Burlington, Secretary of the Greater Vermont Association, addressed the Conference on "Community Ideals." He spoke of co-operation in the life of a county, stressing especially the part which the church ought to play.
The report of the Tercentenary Committee was presen- ted by Rev. E. P. Treat. The discussion of the subject was opened by Rev. Donald Fraser of Wells River. The report was accepted, and its recommendations adopted.
The report of the Committee on Benevolence was presen- ted by Rev. F. B. Richards of St. Johnsbury, and was accepted as follows :
1. That the Secretary be instructed to convey to Dr. H. C. Herring and Dr. H. A. Atkinson our appreciation of the splendid service rendered by them to our Vermont churches.
2. That our Vermont Committee be instructed to push the Every Church Visitation Campaign in the Autumn.
3. That we approve of the recommendation of the Com- mission on Missions, that a Pilgrim Memorial Fund of $5,000,000 be raised, the proceeds to be used for some form of Ministerial Relief.
4. That we approve of the following program of work for the next year, as outlined by the Tercentenary Commission, and seek to carry it out in Vermont.
(1) Renewed emphasis on the Every Member Can- vass.
(2) The use of the Correspondence Course in our churches, suggestions and material for which will be sent to all pastors in September, together with a list of 100 questions.
(3) The use of Pageants wherever possible. Plans and suggestions for local churches will be ready in the fall.
(4) The use of the Stereopticon Lectures, three of which are now ready; others in the series will be ready in the fall.
ยท
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
(5) Pushing the plan of enumerating "prospects" by each local church as described in "Pushing the Program," and also a total enumeration by the . state.
(6) Pushing the circulation of literature published by the Education Society on recruiting the ministry, and enrollment of all possible candidates in Ver- mont, by the state committee.
(7) The cultivation of the local women's organiza- tions to enlist them more definitely in the Ter- centenary Program.
(8) Cooperationwith the "National Pilgrim Memo- rial Fund Commission," which will be appointed on securing the $5,000,000 Pilgrim Memorial Fund.
The report of the Committee on Inter-Church Federation, as printed, was accepted, and its recommendation adopted, as follows: That the Conference elect its delegation to the Fed- eration as it has in former years.
The report of the Advisory Committee was given by Rev. S. W. Anthony of St. Albans. This was accepted, and its recommendation adopted, as follows : That "The Pro- cedure for the Licensing of Candidates for the Ministry" adopted in 1916, be printed each year in the Minutes after the Rules of Business and Order.
The report of the Committee on Missionary Education, as presented by the chairman, was read and accepted.
Rev. C. H. Smith, Superintendent of the Vermont Anti- Saloon League, gave an address on "Temperance Ideals- State and National." Mr. Smith emphasized the fact that temperance is not an end in itself but a means to an end.
In the absence of Mr. Frank H. Brooks, Mr. Arthur F. Stone of St. Johnsbury gave an informal report in regard to the Boston Seaman's Friend Society. This report was accepted.
The Business Committee presented the following resolu- tions, which were adopted :
The nation is at war. In view of this fact and in view of the fact that the Pilgrim Church has always been conspicuous for its patriotism and that this is a war for a just, righteous, and holy cause.
35
MINUTES
BE IT RESOLVED by the Vermont Congregational Confer- ence sitting in Conference at Brandon, Vermont, May 17, 1917, at its 122nd annual meeting,
I That the Clerk of the Conference be instructed to com- municate to the President of the United States and the Gov- ernor of this Commonwealth, pledging the hearty support and whole-souled loyalty of the Congregational Churches of Ver- mont through their leaders, pastors, and people.
II That a communication be sent to the Congregational churches of the State suggesting that pastors, leaders, and people do everything in their power to assist the Government of the United States in the successful prosecution of the war, especially suggesting that the churches aid in the propaganda for the disposal of government war bonds, in the securing of men and women for war service, in the production and con- servation of food, in the teaching of thrift, the proper display and teaching of respect for the flag, the enlisting of church clubs in Red Cross and similar war work, encouraging the formation of Home Guard organizations, welcoming such troops and soldiers as may be quartered near the churches, utilizing church buildings and plants where practicable for hospital and like purposes, and above all displaying personal loyalty, encouraging self-sacrifice, and remembering the nation and the cause for which we fight in prayer before the throne of the Heavenly Father.
The Conference also adopted the following resolution, upon the recommendation of the Business Committee :
The Vermont Conference of Congregational Churches in annual meeting assembled at Brandon most earnestly urges upon President Wilson that he use his great personal and official influence to secure from Congress, legislation prohibit- ing the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes during the continuance of the war that the wealth, food, and manhood of the Nation may be most fully conserved. We also urge upon our senators and representa- tives in Congress that they use their utmost influence by voice and vote to secure national prohibition of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors for beverage purposes during the continuance of the war.
Later the Conference voted that the portions of the above resolutions addressed to the President be sent by night letter signed by the President and Secretary of the Conference.
The Business Committee presented a recommendation that the Conference pay the expenses of its delegates to the National Council. After discussion from the floor the recom- mendation was amended, and adopted, as follows :
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
That the Conference pay the necessary traveling expenses of its two delegates to the next meeting of the National Council.
The Business Committee recommended that the note given by the Conference at the time of the publication of Comstock's History be renewed. The chair, with leave of the Conference, directed that this recommendation be taken up at a later session.
The Business Committee presented the following recom- mendation, which was adopted : That the various committee reports be printed before the next meeting of the Conference, at the expense of the Conference, with the approval of the Directors, as in previous years.
A communication from Rev. C. A. Boyd, relative to the election of a Director to the Vermont Sunday School Associa- tion, was read.
An invitation to the Conference to meet at Lyndonville next year was referred to the Committee of Arrangements.
The Business Committee presented the following resolu- tion, which was adopted :
Resolved that the Conference voice its earnest and hearty appreciation to the Congregational Church of Brandon, its Pastor and people, and the people and churches of Brandon, for their hospitality in providing for the comforts of the Con- ference and delegates.
The report of the Nominating Committee was read and adopted. (For officers and committees see pages 21-23.)
The following minute, presented by Rev. F. B. Richards was adopted, and the Conference voted that it be sent to Mr. Adams :
"Rev. Chauncey A. Adams,
En route to the French Battle-fields :
Dear Brother :
The Vermont Congregational State Conference in its annual meeting at Brandon learns with deep interest and sym- pathy of your patriotic offer of yourself for the arduous and dangerous work of Ambulance Driver in France. We congrat- ulate you upon the devotion to high ideals which has prompted this step, and we assure you that we will follow you with our prayers : that you may be kept in health and strength, pre- served in the midst of danger, given great efficiency in your unselfish humanitarian work, and be brought safely back to
37
MINUTES
your pastoral labors and to our fellowship in God's good time."
The Conference adjourned.
WEDNESDAY EVENING
At seven o'clock the Sunset Service on Mount Pleasant was conducted by Rev. John M. Thomas.
The evening session opened at eight o'clock, with the President, Rev. C. C. Adams, in the chair.
The Business Committee recommended that the matter of the Conference debt for the publication of Comstock's History be referred to the Board of Directors. This recommendation was adopted.
The Finance Committee recommended that an assess- ment of ten cents be made on the resident membership of the churches for state and national purposes, the additional amount being necessary to cover part of the expense of the Secretary appointed by the Conference for the common service of all our churches. This recommendation was adopted.
This assessment is distributed among the Associations as
follows :
Association
Resident Members
Assessment
Addison
1214
$ 121.40
Bennington
934
93.40
Caledonia
1710
171.00
Chittenden
1714
171.40
Essex
84
8.40
Franklin & Grand Isle
816
81.60
Grafton-Orange
693
69.30
Lamoille
528
52.80
Orange
855
.
85.50
Orleans
1337
133.70
Rutland
1964
196.40
Union
746
74.60
Washington
1526
152.60
Windham
. 1552
155.20
Windsor
1121
112.10
16,794
$1,679.40
The Conference voted to accept the invitation to hold the next annual meeting at Lyndonville.
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
A musical selection was rendered by the choir.
Rev. C. C. Merrill gave an address on "Practical Congre- gational Ideals in the Vermont Field."
Mr. F. W. Baldwin made the motion that Mr. Merrill's address be given to the Vermont Missionary for publication. In the event that space is lacking for the address, Mr. Baldwin offered to have it printed at his own expense and sent to all the churches. The motion was carried.
After a solo by Miss Alice Briggs, the final address of the evening was given by Rev. John J. Banninga of India, on "A Practical Congregational Ideal in the World Field."
The Scribe was instructed to complete the minutes, and the Conference adjourned.
WILLIAM C. CLARK, Secretary L. M. ISAACS, Scribe
REPORT OF CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
This meeting of the state body at Brandon is its fourth with this church. The first was in 1834, when its name was "The General Convention of Congregational and Presbyterian Ministers of the State of Vermont." Though not recognized in the name, lay representation had already begun, three of the 27 members of the Convention being lay delegates from Consociations. These 27, with five fraternal delegates from outside bodies, made up the entire membership. An "alarm- ing neglect of public worship" received conspicuous mention, which may indicate that this evil is not entirely of recent growth. In 1848, the year of the second meeting, the name had become "The General Convention of Congregational Ministers and Churches in Vermont," and of the 52 delegates seven were laymen. The fraternal delegates were now two. A committee was appointed to consider whether it was the "duty of this body to withhold fellowship from individual churches and other ecclesiastical bodies on account of their practice or toleration of slaveholding," and to report at the next annual meeting. A pastoral letter to the churches was adopted, dwelling chiefly on the practice of infant baptism and the right improvement of the Sabbath in the training of house- holds. The third Brandon meeting was in 1869. There were now 78 members, of whom 17 were laymen. Eight fraternal delegates were also recorded. Three members of this Con- vention are living, Rev. Henry Fairbanks and Rev. John K. Williams, both still in Vermont, and Rev. John G. Bailey, in a distant state.
The list of deceased ministers who have served our churches or who were natives of the state is this year a long one. One pastor in active service has been taken,-Arthur E. Hartwell of Jamaica. Two others had left their fields in the state but a short time before their death,-Horace F. Hallett of Holland and Ebenezer H. Jenkyns of Sudbury. Marcellus W. Farman, while never a pastor in Vermont or elsewhere, was a familiar figure in many of our pulpits and much beloved
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
throughout the state. The longest Vermont service is that of Calvin B. Hulbert, who was 23 years in the Vermont ministry and five years president of Middlebury College. James A. Bates was 21 years a Vermont pastor, in three fields. Henry A. Goodhue was 19 years with two churches. The nine years of Walter Rice in Vermont were given to this church of Brandon, while the nine years of Henry M. Perkins were in three fields. Artemas Dean was eight years with two Vermont churches, beginning over 68 years ago. Prescott Fay was six years with two churches in the state, and Henry M. Goddard nearly six years with one group of churches. Richard Scoles was five years in one field. E. Irving Rackett, Frank J. Grimes, John E. Russell, Nathaniel L. Upham, and Frank E. Whitham were each three years in Vermont service. Robert J. Mathews, Eugene F. Wright, and Henry W. Conry were with us for two years ; and James F. Clarke and Egbert N. Munro have each a record of one year in Vermont. Daniel Bliss, for many years a missionary in Turkey, George F. Prentiss, and George J. Battey were natives of the state but never in the pastorate here.
The organization of no new church is to be reported this year. On the other hand, one name is removed from the roll, and steps have been taken which will soon remove another. At West Rochester, changes of population have left but one family on the ground interested in the continuance of the church, and at their request the organization is considered to have lapsed. This family has since moved away. At no time during its short existence has the church had much real life.
At East Poultney, the church voted December 15 to dis- band, the vote to become effective when arrangements should be made for the disposal of funds held by the ecclesiastical society. The church building had previously been sold at auction. The final arrangements have not yet been concluded, and the name of the church, which has been on the roll since 1780, is still retained. No regular services have been main- tained for fifteen years, and the religious needs of the com- munity are otherwise supplied. There are several other cases of dormant churches for whose restoration little hope can be felt, and some of these may surrender their nominal existence before another annual report:
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REPORT OF CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
The pastoral supply of the churches remains with little change. There are now 19 churches with installed pastors, the same number as a year ago. There is now no pastor "recognized" by council. Forty are reckoned as vacant, eight of these at least expecting a student for summer supply, which leaves 156 with regular but uninstalled ministerial service. Three councils for ordination have been held, including one for foreign missionary service, three for installation, and three for dismission.
The membership of the churches, now reported as 23,129, is at an increase of 150 from last year, and is no doubt at the highest point ever reached by the Vermont churches. The male membership has increased by 82, and the female by 68. The absent membership, however, has increased by 210, so that there is a loss of 60 in resident membership. Seven hundred and seventy-three were added on confession and 429 by letter, a total of 1202,-fewer than for the two last preceding years, but more than for any of the four years last preceding these. The removals were 417 by death, 444 by letter, and 191 by revision,-a total of 1052, considerably larger than last year. Thirty of the removals by revision were from one church, - nearly two-thirds of its membership as given last year.
The gains are not distributed quite so widely as last year, 117 churches sharing in the additions by confession and 109 in those by letter. Seventy-five churches received no new members. The following received ten or more by confession : Saxton's River, 53; Brattleboro and New Haven, 40 each ; Rutland, 28; Burlington First, 26; West Brattleboro, 25; Montpelier, 22; Barre, Northfield, North Thetford, and Townshend, 17 each; Randolph, 14; Brattleboro Swedish and Guilford, 13 each ; Bradford and St. Johnsbury South, 12 each; Bennington Second and Strafford, 11 each; East Berkshire, Grafton, Middlebury, Newport, and Shoreham, 10 each.
The figures of work with young people do not show equal progress. The membership of the Sunday schools, 18,449, is 603 fewer than last year. Young people's societies also show a decrease in membership of 86. There is, however, a gain in organizations for men and boys of 136.
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VERMONT CONGREGATIONAL CONFERENCE
It is a cause for congratulation that in spite of the urgent calls for aid outside of our own pledged work the gifts for benevolent objects which may be reckoned on the apportion- ment were $35,797, an increase of $1769 over the preceding year. The amounts reported for "other Congregational ob- jects" show a small decrease, and there is a small increase in reported undenominational gifts. The figures under these two heads are not accurate enough to be of great value.
Home expenditures are given as $254,447, an amount less by $13,237 than last year. The fact that there has been less than usual of rebuilding or extensive repairs on church prop- erty may account for this. There seems to have been a gen- eral revaluation of church property, which has caused the reported value to take a sudden leap of $132,300, the figures as now given being $2,343,775. Twenty churches have received legacies to the amount of $23,413, which closely tallies with the increase in invested funds, $23,833.
Passing now from the statistics of 1916, the report will devote some attention to other items of current news from the churches, for the year ending with this meeting. Either the past year has been less eventful than usual or the secretary has been a less attentive listener, for such items appear to be comparatively few.
One serious disaster to church property is to be chronicled. On the early morning of March 12, a fire originating in the parsonage barn at Westminster West could not be checked until the entire parsonage property with most of its contents, as well as several adjacent houses, was destroyed. The people intend to rebuild.
There appear to be few items of building or repairs of sufficient importance to require their mention here. The Com- munity House given to the Rutland church had its formal opening on the 9th inst. This gift enables the church greatly to broaden its service to the community. At Cornwall, $1800 has been raised and expended on church and parsonage repairs. At Charlotte, in the interregnum between pastorates, about $1000 has been expended in preparing the parsonage for its next occupants. At Bradford, the lower floor of the church building has undergone a renovation at a cost of over $700. At Danville improvements have been made on the church and
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REPORT OF CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
parsonage costing over $500, and at Wells River $500 has been expended in painting. Other items of repairs or im- provements on house of worship or parsonage are noted at Bridport, Marshfield, Roxbury, Westminster, Sherburne, and Tyson. The East Charleston church has bought a parsonage costing $1200, of which $800 has been paid.
Vergennes has completed the payment of the debt incur- red in repairing its parsonage, and the debt on the parish house at Essex Junction has been reduced by $2000. The debt at New Haven has also been largely reduced.
The largest legacies reported during the year are of $2000 each to the Second church of Bennington and to Bellows Falls. Johnson has received a gift of $500 as a fund in memory of the deceased wife of the donor. A set of pulpit chairs and a com- munion service have been given to the Sherburne church by descendants of two brothers once prominent in the commu- nity life. Waterford has the gift of an organ. Clarendon has received an individual communion service as a gift of the ladies of the parish. Newbury receives a motor for its pipe organ from an anonymous giver. Ferrisburg has a piano, given by its young women.
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