Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-29
The New England Conference.
SECOND DAY,
BUsINESS MEETING


The conference met yesterday morning and was
called to order promptly at nine O'Clock by the bsh
| OPP After the reading of the Journal of Wednes-
days proceedings, the conference took IN the names
upon the list of supernumerary preachers and pro-
ceeded to examine them separately The entire list
| was continued as supernumeraries, with the ex-
| ceptlon of Rev. James w. Mowry, who was made
| supernumerary with an appointment. The list of
superannuated preachers was read, and each minis
ter passed on singly. Letters were read from Hor.
| ace Moulton, N S. Spaulding and j. NJ Merrill
and brief addresses made by Father Isaac Jen.
nison, VINO was eighty-two years old Yesterday and
| by Rev. Thomas g. Brown. l., A. Bosworth and
| H. H. Parmenter were transferred from the super.
animated list to the list of effective preachers
Rev Edward g. Otheman, secretary of the New
England educational society, presented series of
resolutions providing for the raising of 5000 among
the churches of this conference for the aid of the
society, which were referred to the committee ON
| education, He explained the necessities which
gave rise to the resolutions. The society is now in
debt in consequence of the increased aid which it
has been rendering to benefciares in theological
schools. This money, with proportional amounts
from the other conferences will place the society
upon firm basis. There seems to be an ignorance
concerning the operations of this society and the
speaker hoped the preachers would present the sub
| Ject 10 their people Remarks were also made by
VIC High, N. d. George and L. r.. Thayer
The annual report of the Boston theological
seminary was received and referred to the commit
| tee on education.
The class of young men, on trial in the second
year, was examined, the presiding elders vouching
as to the character of each student and the exam.
lnng committee as to the result Of the preliminary
| examinations All passed satisfactorily and were
continued on trial, The names OF the class are w
a. Gheney, u. T. King, w. H. Cook w. S. jaeger
| j. W Fem, S. o. Dyer and N. B. Fisk The exam,
nation of members of the class in the third wear
VINO are candidates for full connection was then
| taken up in the same manner. At the close of the
examination the class was called forward and
after the usual disciplinary questions, were admit
| as follows: Miner II. A. Evans Samuel McLaugh-
| I'm, Fayette Nichols, James F. Mears, Joseph j.
| NJ. AVIAN and Garrett Beekman BENJAMIN Gill Of
Westboro who is now inmate of tine lunatic asv-
l1m IN this city, was continued on trial. w. +.
Crafts and w. g. Sawyer were also continued on
| trial.
The bishop addressed the class retaining his seat
while he spoke. He said while grace and truth
come by Jesus Christ, it is the duty of Christs
ministers to be ensamples to the flock Paul said:
"Folt us, as we follow Christ" The fountain can.
not rise higher than the source. The candidates
mad been examined by others as to their literary
atta1nments. This examination refers wholly to
their spiritual condition. The first question is
whether the candidate has faith in Christ This is
desgnedly FIRST for faith has been tine origin of all
tnat IS good on earth The second question is, "Are
you going on unto perfection" Every minister of
| the Methodist church has answered the question
afirmatlyely 1t is not only matter of expert
ence that it is to be preached, but as truth of
| scripture John Wesley himself never made pro.
fession of Christian perfection though he taught it,
The time has not come yet to write life of Wesley.
| Divine Providence is writing commentary upon
the life of that glorious man. and sitwill be some
time before it will be completed. This question is
perfect in love in this fe?' 1t perfection of
love II is sliding scale 1t is an individual mat
| ter. The Bible segregates men. Each is to serve
| God according to his opportunity The next ques-
ton is, care you groaning after it ?" meaning as
| the attainment of this the chief desire of your
| heartp The next question is "Will you devote
yourselves wholly to the work of God?' They were
cautioned to observe the rule not to speak too long
nor too loud. The speaker who loses command Of
himself loses command of his audience. He urged
them above all to strive after pungency the pow
er of so uttering their thoughts that men shall re-
The question then asked whether any of the
members of the class used tobacco. All answered
i'll the negative.
COLLATION. was taken up for the benefit of Mrs
Gerrish widow of one of the preachers of tine con-
ference.
committee of three was appointed to take
measures to recognize the womans foreign mission
airy society as part of this conference
Rev. DR.. Barrows of the freedman's aid society
spoke in behalf of that cause. He said there were
10000 or 100000 members of the church among the
freedmen and 600 or 700 regular ministers with as
many more local preachers. There is great need
fmore teachers in the south and of better trained
colOred ministry. He spoke of the theological SEM
mary at Atlanta and urged the necessity of liber-
ality among Christians at the north. There is a
great work to be done at the SOUTH the Roman
Catholics are already in the field and they must not
be allowed to get the upper hand
committee Of five, consisting of L. A. Titus, j.
4. Round, ID. G. Knowles, NJ. IL. A. Evans and NJ
Fellows, was appointed on freedman's aid.
Pliny Wood was added TO the committee ION me-
moirs.
A. J. Kynett, secretary of the church extension
society, then addressed the meeting. The aggre-
gate receipts Of the society for the past year We're
$4,000 and the number Of churches aided was
233. He spoke earnestly of the importance of the
work TO be done in the west and SOUTH and urged
the preachers to call the attention of their churches
to the subject. The society expects that $500 will
be raised in the New England conference for the
cause during the coming year.
Bishop Ames announced that, in consequence of
his exhausting, labors, he would be unable to de-
liver sermon during the present session.
communication was received from VIM. A.
Smith. secretary Of the Mechanics association, Of
ferIng the free use of its reading room to the mem
returned to the officers of the association.
The benediction was pronounced by Rev. A, d.
Sergeant.
sEMI-cENrENNIAL SERVICES.
The afternoon session was given up to addresses
delivered by Samuel Kelley, A. D. Merrill, N. S.
Spaulding and A. d. Sergeant, veteran preachers
who have abored for fifty years in the ministry.
The attendance was larger than at any previous
session of the conference The services were very i'm
pressiye and interesting holding the closest atten.
ton Of the audience throughout the long session
Rev. n. $. SDaulding conducted the opening eyer
cises, and introduced Rev A. d. Sergeant Who de.
livered the principal address. He began by speak.
spreading the the truths OF the gospel Christi
precept is go ye into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature" This is the true princi.
Pile and basis Of itinerancy. st. Paul practiced and
taughtths doctrine, and so long ss his followers
were moving from point to point teaching and
preaching, the religion Of Christ steadily ex-
tended but when papacy was established with its
settled ministry, bigotry and persecution followed
change of pastor is beneficial both to the church
and to the preacher. The speaker gave an inter.
esting and detailed account Of his ministry. He
was converted and Joined the church In what Il
now known as Merose, In 1890 preached his first
sermon the following year. and In 1922 was admit
ted into the New England conference, OF which he
has been member from that date. AT that time
there was but one Methodist conference, with
81 preachers and 20 0A lay members IN all New En-.
gland, while there are six conferences, with
S6l preachers and 95,660 church members. During
his ministry he has had charge Of churches In over
twenty cities and towns In Massachusetts,, has sol.