Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-05-10

Vermont MethodIsts.
THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE AT WOODSTOCK.
The thirty-fourth session of the Yer
mont annual Conference Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church met in the Methodist
church. in Woodstock. Wednesday morn
ing, May lst. Bishop Haven in the chair.
The conference was called to order at
O'Clock by Bishop Haven. and the sacra-
ment of the Lords Supper was administer
ed in charge of P. Merrill, Of Williamstown.
The Conference business was opened at 10
O'Clock a. M by the reading of the Scrip
lures BY Bishop Haven. Prayer was offer
ed by Ii. p Cushing, followed by congre-
gational singing R Morgan, Secretary of
the Conference, called the roll of members,
to which seventy members responded. r.
Morgan was then Reelected as secretary,
making his term of service in this Office
eleven years. II. A. Spencer was also
elected assistant secretary p. nj. Frost,
Statistician d. II. Bicknell, Journalist,
and j. NJ G. Fulton. Railroad Secretary.
E. Foster, of the Troy, N. Y. Conference and
NJ. c. Cumming, of the New England Con-
ference were transferred to this Confer
ence. making the present membership 100
The report of the Book Concern was read in
part by Ii. A. Spencer. of St. Adams.
Bishop Haven and j. P. Magee, agent of
the Book Concern, made remarks descrip-
tive of its business, and the advantages it
offered to ministers and Sabbath h-schools for
obtaining books adapted to their wants at
the lowest possible prices, which should in
duce the brethren to make greater efforts to
extend its usefulness The Standing Com
mittees for 1878 were then appointed also
| Special Committees were appointed by the
Bishop. At 7:30 p m. the conference ser
mon was preached by j. W. Gurnsey, OF
Milton,-text ii. Corinthians, iv. 6 and 7.
SECOND DAY OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE.
Thursday mornings session was mainly
occupied with the examination of the char
acters Of the effective Elders. The Presid-
| ing Elders presented favorable reports from
their respective districts. A portion of the
session was occupied by the intr oductiop
visitors. Rev. Alfred A. Wright, of the
New England Conference, was introduced
and briefly addressed the Conference respect
ing the Methodist Ministers Relief Associa-
tion. Rev. L W. Hicks, a delegate from
the General Convention of the Congrega-
tional Churches of Vermont. was introduc-
ed, and presented the salutatiOns of his de-
nomination. Rev. q. Donaldson, Of the
Michigan Conference, and DR.. McCabe, of
the Church Extension Society, were also in
troduced to the Conference. Rev. P. Mer-
rill, delegate to the General Convention of
Congregational Churches of Vermont, and
Rev. j. A. Sherburne. delegate to the Yer
mont Freewill Baptist Quarterly Meeting,
presented their reports. Rev. A.
&. Rose, of the Troy Confer
ence, was introduced. and spoke
Of the contemplated Sunday-school conven-
tion at Round Lake, under the direction of
DR.. Vincent, Prof Baird and others. The
Committee on Conference Relations re-
ported on the supernumerary and super
snnuated preachers. 1t was ordered that
the Secretary inform the members of these
two classes of preachers residing out of the
Conference limits who have not sent re-
port Of their standing from their pastor or
presiding elder, that their character will |
not pass next year unless they send such re-
port.
In tie afternoon the temperance ami |
versary occupied the entire session. Ad- |
dresses were made by Revs p. N. Granger,
c. P. Joplin and P. NJ. Frost. At o'clock
the Conference adjourned, with bene-
diction by Rev. o. NJ. Boutwell,.
The evening session opened at 7:3O. |
Rev. G.. Tabor in the chair. Prayer |
was onereu ny he'. n. wright. Dr-
McCahe delivered an eloquent address
theme. "Church E4tcnsion"-which was
listened to by large and attentive audi
ence. At 10 p. IN. the Conference adjourn
ed, with benedction by Rev. A Bullard. |
The following are the Standing Committees
as appointed for 1878: Stewards, W. j.
Kidder. Ii. W. Worthen, j. Enright, w.
Ii. Hyde; Education, W. d. Malcolm. j.
NJ. G. Fulton. L. G. Dickinson, j. Ii. Gay
lord Sunday-schools, S. Donaldson, e.
Taylor, j. Hamilton, W. c. Robinson Sta
tistics. A. NJ. Wheeler, W. Ii. Wright. A.
Scribner, J. Enright Tract Actions,
II A. Bushnell, J. W. B. Howard,
W. A. Bryant, J. Mcdonald Temperance,
W. Underwood, W. D; Dean; P. N. Gran
ger. j. E. Knapp: Church Extension, c.
Tabor, D. Willis. L. c. Dickinson. C. W
Edgeworth Freednan's Aid, ii. F. Forrest,
c A. Smith, N. NJ. Wilder, N. F. Perry
Conference Collections, j. W. Guernsey. G
II. Hastings. E. Folsone, c. P. Flanders
To Nominate Anniversary Speakers, A.
Sherburne, d. E. Miller. Ii. Webster, d.
Lewis; Memoirs, K. Morgan, ii. p Cush-
ing, A. Hitchcock. A F. Bullard Publish
ing interests. j NJ. 9. Fulton, r. Morgan.
IL. A. Spencer, d. II. Bcknell Ladies' and
Pastors Christian Union, q. P. Joplin, S.
b. Currer. Ii. I. Jones, o. NJ. Boutwell,
TO Publish Conference Minutes, j. Beeman.
o. NJ. Boutwell,; Missions, the Presiding
Elders Bible Cause, j, W. Benais, A. B.
Truax, c. S. Boswell, F. Ii. Roberts.
THIRD DAYS PROCEEDINGS OF THE ANNUAL
CUNFERENCE.
Prayer was offered by Rev. A. B. Truax,
of Northfold. The members of the Confer
ence on probation, having passed examina-
tiop, were advanced to the second year
Deacons of the first class, having passed ex-
animation, were advanced to the second
year. W. W. Roberts was elected to elders
orders. B. X. Pierce. editor of tho ZiOn's
Herald, was introduced. and spoke of the
interests of his pap5r, and was followed by
Bishop Haven. Rev. W. Ii. Rugg. pastor
af the Baptist Church of Perkinsvllle, was
as delegate from the Vermont
State Baptist Convention, and presented the
greeting of his denomination to
this Conferences. DR.. Stevenson, Rev. E.
Q. Bass and Rev, j. Adams OF tho New
Hampshire Conference. and Rev. j. W.
of the Peoples Church of Boston
we're introduced. Candidates for admis-
zion to the Conference were called by the
Bishop and examined according to the dis
cipline. and were addressed ut length with
reference to the duties of the ministry.
In the afternoon, AN address to Sunday
school workers was made by Rev j. NJ.
Freeman, d. d.. of New York city. on
the theme OF Sunday-school promotion. At
O'Clock the Board of Trustees of the Semiu-
.ry at Montpelier held a meeting Tor re-
ceivins reports of officers and the reorgani-
sarion of the Board. At O'Clock free
provided by the ladies of Wood
stock, iOr the members of the Conference.
visiting brethren and resident clerpymen
and their ladies, was served in the Town
Hall. The tables were b0untiiully furnish
ed with tempting viands, and embellished
with choice flowers. A button-hole bouquet
was laid by each plate. About 225 persons
were seated at the table. The Woodstock
Cornet Band, j. II. Marsh leader, discours-
ed some excellent music. After the removal
of the cloth. speeches appropriate to the oc
casion were made by Bishop Haven, follow
ed by DR.. Pierce of Boston, Rev. Ii. p.
Cushing OF Newbury. Rev. j. W. Hamilton
Of Boston, Dr. Freeman OF New York city,
and j. P. Mages of Boston. The evening
was occupied by the anniversary of the New
Eng land Educational Society. Rev. X. Nor
Rev. j. W. Bemis. Speeches were made by
Revs. &. Tabor, N. W. Wilder and W. ID.
Malcom.
tContinued in inside
RuMoRED FENIAN SCARE.-A not particu-
arly trustworthy Montreal despatch gives
the following Reports come from Ottawa,
The Dominion capital, that secret orders