Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-05-02
Vermont Conference.

Annual Conference of the M. f. Church
met ut Barre, April 26th. 1877, Bishop r.
S. Foster in the chair. The opening eX-
ercises consisted of a prayer meeting un,
der the direction of Rev. p. Merrill, anu
the administration of the sacrament OF the
Lords Supper, at which the Bishop pre-
sided, calling to his assistance some OF the
senior members of the Conference.
At the roll call seventy-seven members
responded TO their names. r. Morgan
was reelected Secretary, making his term
If service in this Office ten years. IL. A.
Spencer was elected Assistant Secretary
P. Mason Frost, Statistician, d. II. Bick-
nell as Journalist, ard j. NJ. c. Fulton as
Railroad Secretary.
The third, sixth, seventh, eighth and
ninth questions were severally taken up
and Leonard l.. Beeman, II. X. Hastings
T. P. Frost and c. II. Sweat were contin-
ued on trial. j. 0. Sherburn, o. A. Far
ley, L. S. Lock, j. II. Winslow, W. A.
Bryant, A. NJ. Folger, Robert Sanderson
G. F. Buckley, L. w. Culver, o. d. Clapp,
S. S. Brigham and c. II. Leverton were
advanced to the Deacons of the Second
Glass. T. Trevillan. G. II. Hastings, s.
G. Vail, j. +. Knapp, NJ. d. l.. johnson
and John c. Langford were elected to
Deacon's Orders. II. p. Gushing, A. L.
Billiard, A. H. Honsinger and L. W. Cul-
yer were continued supernumerary, and
A. II. Stevens was made effective, with
the expectation that he will be transferred
TO the New York East Conference and
be stationed at Cromwell, Conn, where
he has supplied for the last year.
j. l.. Smith, A. S Cooper, A. j. Cope
land, D. Field, G. B. Houston, l. Beard,
P. Frost, II. Hitchcock, A. Hitchcock, H..
Eastman, N. w. Scott, f. Copeland, j. w.
Spencer, P. p, Ray, W. J. Kidder, D
Wells, A. G. Button and G. Fales were
continued on the superannuated list.
Three brethren, comparatively young.
have deceased during the year. Two OF
lhem-R j. N johnson and D. II. Mega
hy--had not been effective for three or
four years, and c. d. Ingraham took IL
superannuated relation one year ago.
There is evidently n disposition on the
part of the Conference to rid itself of
members who for their own convenience
hold Il merely nominal relation to the
body; and committee on Conference
Relations was appointed, to whom all such
cases were referred.
Rev. l.. II. Elliot of Bradford, the dele
= tte from the General Convention of Con
gregational Churches in Vermont, was in
roduced by the Bishop, and presented the
SITUATIONS Of his denomination to the Con-
ference in very appropriate address.
Rev. l.. Tenney, pastor Of the Congrega-
lional Church ut Barre, was also introduce
ed.
DR.. Townsend of the Boston University
addressed the Conference in the interests
of the School of Theology. The address
was IN excellent one, and can scarcely fail
to promote the object at which he aimed.
The Conference adjourned at II NJ,
with the doxology, and the benediction by
Rev. Mr.. Elliot Of Bradford.
In the afternoon the anniversary of the
Sunday School Union was held, Rev. j..
NJ. c. Fulton presiding. A large congre-
CATION was in attendance, and good nd
dresses were delivered by Rev p. Merrill,
J. X. Fuller, +. A. Roberts and Dr. Town
send of Barre.
In the evening the Temperance Ami
versary WAS holden, Rev. w. IL. Hyde oc-
cupymg the chair, and the meeting being
addressed by Rev. A. B. Truax, l.. Dodd
and |. Lansing of Atlanta, Ga, an act
ing Assistant Secretary of the Freedman's
Aid Society.
SECOND DAY.
BY vote of the Conference the hour of
meeting WAS fixed at eight o'clock, the first
hour being devoted TO II prayer meeting.
The meeting this morning was led by
Rev. A, b. 1ruaX, and was an excellent
meeting. The Bishop set II good example
for the brethren, by being present and
taking part in the exercises.
At nine O'Clock the Bishop took the
chair, and the business of the Conference
was commenced the session being mainly
occupied with the characters of the etleC-
tive Elders.
The reports of the Presiding Elder,
were hopeful in lone.
The case of E. d. Hopkins, who bad
been suspended by committee of his
brethren, came before the Conference, but
rs he is now in the hands of the civil au-
thorities and cannot be present, the case
was referred to his Presiding Elder, to be
dealt with hereafter, as the facts of the
same may demand.
Rev. ID. ii. Blcknell the accomplished
Journalist of the Conference, was, ut hi
own request. on account Of poor health
granted II supernumerary relation.
Rev. |. j. Lansing of Atlanta was in
Itroduced, and in II very telling speech pre-
sented the claims of the Freedman's Ail
Society, of which he is the acting Assis
tant Secretary. Bro Lansing is evident,
the right man in the right place, and fully
understands the needs of the work in thu
South.
Rev. Dr.. Foss, President of Wesleyan
University also addressed the Conference
in the interests of that institution. This i
the doctors first appearance in this Con
ference, but Il warm greeting will Away
await him whenever he may be able t.
visit us. The doctor spoke again in the
afternoon ut tie anniversary of the Freed
mems Aid Society, as also did Bro. Ian
sing; the addresses were highly commend
cd.
Rev, D. f. Miller preached the Mission
airy sermon in the evening, announcing Il.
his theme, "The Gospel the True Light o
the World" The sermon was able, an,
was listened to by Il large and attentive
audience.
THIRD DAY.
The prayer meeting this morning wa,
conducted 10y Rev. ID. Lewis, and was .
means of grace indeed.
At nine o'clock the Bishop took the chat
and the Conference proceeded to business
Several of the committees presented thcil
reports, which were adopted. At ter
o clock the class of Young men who ar,
candidates for admission into full connec
ton were called forward, and the BishoI
proceeded to address both the class ant
the Conference in the most powerful AM
convincing manner. 1t will he long be
fore the influence of this address shall hay,
been lost by the Conference. The standar,
of ministerial excellence set up by Bishol
Foster was indeed II high one-none to-
high, however, and the responsibility O
the minister was represented rs being O
the gravest character. An idea not oflel
advanced in such an address was buldl
proclaimed by the Bishop, to the effect
chat Il man is not only truly called of Goo
to the work of the ministry, but also il
some eases rom the same work, That i
to say, the call to the ministry is not u life
long work.
In view of the important interests of tn
Conference Seminary at Montpelier, al
afternoon session was held in place of thu
anniversary Of the New England Educa
tiunal Society. At this session, pending ;