Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-03-31

New ENGLAND METHODIST CONFERENCE
SECOND DAY.-Thursday foreuoon's session
was opened with devotional exercises, conducted
by Rev. w. H. Hatch of Milford, after which re-
ports from the districts were heard. That of the
Worcester district was read by Rev. Loranus
Crowell, presiding elder, and represented state
of general prosperity; the salaries of the preach
ers at several stations had been considerably in
creased, and two excellent parsonages had been
built, at Brookfeld and East Templeton;
and improvements and additions had been
been made to several churches The new church
editice in SouthbIidge had Just been dedicated.
the Webster square church in Worcester was
dedicated early last year; Trinity church was
about completed, and Grace church would be
finished next autumn. A beautiful church in
Ashburnham would be dedicated early in May.
The debt of several churches had been reduced
or eXtinguished. During the coming year new
churches would be built in Leominster, East
Douglas, Spencer, and Winchendon, Rev.
Isaac S. Cushman, a member of the district,
had died. Rev. Ichabod Marcy was appointed
professor in the Cahin university, Orangeburg,
C.
Springfield district, represented that three new
church edifces had been completed and dcdi.
Gated in that district-the Memorial church at
Wilbraham, and new churches in Russell and
Holyoke. He compared the salaries sof the
clergy in the several districts. In the Boston
district they averaged St4T0 each; in the Lynn
district, $500; Worcester district 1858 As, and
in the Springfield district, S795 25 The differ
attributp1 tO the &c of tbo
financial systems. There were seven auxiliary
societies to the women'S foreign missionary So
ciety in the Springfield district.
Rev. L. A. Bosworth was granted superannu-
ated relation. Rev. d. Z. Chaplin was changed
from the supernumerary to the superannuated
list. Revs. A. NJ 0sgood and w. G. Leonard
were changed from supernumerary to electives
The case of Rev. j. NJ. Bailey, suspended last
year, was referred to Il committee of fifteen for
consideration.
On motion OF Rev. Daniel Dorchester it was
voted to hold Seini-centennial service at the
next annual conference, when RevS. A. ID. Mer-
rll, A. ID. Sargent, Samuel Kelley, and N. S.
Spaulding who will then have completed their
fifty years service, should participate in the
service. A motion Of Brother Merrill, for the
appointment of committee TO arrange for that
service, was, after lengthy discussion, land on
the table.
AT the afternoon session were the anniversary
exercises of the New England educational socie-
ty, Rev. Bradford X. Pierce, D. D., of New York.
presiding. After PRAYER by Rev. Nathan d.
George of Oakdale, and Introductory remarks
by the chair on the demand for young ministers
and the necessity of more urgent effort for the
qualification of Il larger proportion of the young
men for the sacred calling, Rev. j. H. TwOmbly,
the secretary of the society, addressed the meet
ing In explanation of its objects, suggesting
modes for carrying them out, by the loan of
funds to students for the ministry.
Rev. George Whitaker of Westfed followed,
urging more efficient system of education and
enlightenment for those contemplating entering
upon the Christian ministry. Rev. j. o. Knowles
OF Chelsea followed in similar strain, alludlng
10 the great demand, and the duty of the church
and of this society to meet it,
Rev. DR.. Warren, president of the board of
instruction of Boston theological seminary, was
the last speaker. He spoke of this question as
the great providential problem of this hour so
TO lift up the standard of our religious institu-
tions as to properly educate and qualify young
men, so as to fit them for leadership in the
world. The church must train them at her own
expense. New England Methodsm had noble
record in the past, which it was our duty now
TO revive, for the extension of our religious in
flnence over the broad west and the whole
country. What was wanted was the proper adj
minstration of genuine New England ideas, en-
grated upon the old stock, over the entire land.
To this end proper training and instruction
should be given to our young men, and every
pecunary facility audIencouragement be afford
cd those contemplating entrance upon the min
istry, to induce them to give their whole heart
and strength for the work.
contribution in aid Of the cause represented
by this society was then made, led by the SUBJ
scripton of $50 by the president of the meet
ing.
The sixteenth annual report of the board of
managers of this society, made to the meeting,
shows that the whole number of its heneficiaries,
since its organization in 1856, has been 1888, to
whom loans have been made. Of the thirty-six
aided in this way last year, thirteen were i'll the
Boston theological seminary, and thirteen in the
Wesleyan university and academy. The board
asks for the raising Of 5000, S940O of it from
the New England conference, and the remainder
from other conferences. OF the eighty-one stu
dents in the Boston theological seminary the
past year, one only (Fayette Nichols of Brook
field was from this county. Gov. Clafn is
president of the board Of trust of this semi
nary.
Last evening, Rev. L. T. Townsend, professor
of theology in the Boston seminary, preached
sermon on ministerial education.
This afternoon will be devoted to addresses on
temperance by Rev. w. F. Maaleu, of Chelsea,
Rev. D. G. Knowles, of Lowell and others. This
evening the missionary sermon will be preached
by Rev. F. Woods of Lowell.