Vermont Annual Conference.
By D. T. Bourdeau
WITHOUT controversy this was one of the most interesting, encouraging, and profitable Conferences ever held by Seventh-day Adventists in Vermont. There was quite a large gathering of brethren and sisters from different parts of Vermont and from Canada East, who seemed to be interested in the advancement of the cause of present truth, and who were made glad by the presence and help of the messengers from the west. We trust that these servants of God will be encouraged by the thought that their labors among us were not in vain. Bro. Loughborough's experience and help in organization and in settling church difficulties was needed and appreciated. Our business transactions moved on in union and harmony. The principles of organization were set forth in their beauty and loveliness, and were carried out as far as we could expect. Truly, if we are to judge of a tree by the fruit it bears, we must conclude that organization is good. As far as it is cherished and received it produces union, equality, love, and peace. The meetings on Sabbath and first-day were held in the Vermont tent which was pitched on a beautiful spot of ground near the Lamoille river, and about half a mile from the meeting-house. On first-day the tent was filled to overflowing. It was estimated that there were about eight hundred persons present. Sabbath morning the exercises commenced with a social meeting, in which many took an active part. Rich present experiences were given, and the language adopted by many, and which expressed the feelings of most present, was, "We be well able to go up and possess the goodly land." These exercises were followed by a practical discourse by Bro. Hull from Titus ii, 11-14. In the afternoon Bro. Loughborough spoke from Titus i, 5. In this discourse he dwelt largely on church order and on the proper manner of sustaining the cause, and to illustrate his subject he gave a brief and interesting history of God's people, showing the steps that God led his people to take to carry on his work, and exposing the extreme view, that those who believe the Lord is coming, should sell all their property to support the cause. In the evening Bro. Hull spoke with clearness on the evidences of Christianity, as drawn from the resurrection of Christ. Bro. Hull is naturally possessed of good reasoning powers, and those who were troubled with a skeptical turn of mind must have been helped by the evidences he presented. First-day morning Bro. Hull spoke with usual freedom on the messages, especially on the commandments, and in the afternoon Bro. Loughborough spoke on the seals of Rev. vi, and on the present war. Previous to this it had been reported that we were secessionists, and the news had come that if we sympathized with the rebellion, our tent should be torn in pieces. But Bro. Loughborough gave his hearers an opportunity to learn that it is against our principles to sympathize with the rebellion, and we heard no more about the people's tearing our tent down. In the evening Bro. Hull gave the closing discourse, on the seal of God and mark of the beast. This discourse was interesting and encouraging to the dear saints, and had a tendency to confirm and strengthen the faith of those who have lately embraced the truth. We think we express the minds of many when we say that we look back to this meeting with a good degree of satisfaction, hoping to profit by what we saw and heard, and to so live out the truth that we shall finally meet with God's servants, and with all God's humble people, when the warfare is ended, and when the saints receive their rich reward.