Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-05-09
THE MECIiOBIST>.
Annual Session III the vernon, Confer,
rnCe.


CONDENSED from the St Adams Messens5r.
The thirty fifth annual session OF the Yer
mont Methodist Conference convened at
Swanton, Thursday. Bishop Harris presided
and the several committees were appointed
and are at work. The present session is an
important one as many changes are expect
ed and the attendance is quite large The
Rev. ii. Webster preached the conference
sermon, Wednesday evening. There are in
the conference four districts-St Adams,
S.. JOhnsbury, Springfield and Montpelier,
presided over respectively by four elders,
the Rev. Messrs. Granger. Malcolm, Bee
man and Tabor.
The roll was called and u members re
sponded to their names.
Rey. T. Morgan was elected Secretary,
for the twelfth time.
Dr. Pierce, of Boston, editor of Zion's
Herald, DR.. kldder, professor in Drew
Theological Seminary, DR.. Gushing of the
Ohio conference, Revs. Adams and Wilson
of the Canada Methodist church and Rev.
Mr.. Rabbit, pastor OF the Congregational
church in Swsnton, were introduced to the
conference.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF METHODIST
MINISTER'S
The most interesting event of the morn
ing was denial of some assertions made
by some o. the newspapers that Methodist
ministers were "pOor pay a. business
men," j. Z. Mage,, Boston agent of
the book concern, said that he had
been for p years connected with the
business, and he doubted il / of | per
cent had been lost during that time, and
| he never knew an instance where the loss
| occurred because of dishonest disposition,
but always because of sickness or death.
Bishop Harris also remembered that DR..
Hitchcock, OF the western branch. and DR..
Hunt of the original Concern at New York,
had both carefully examined their books. and
| could report that IN the last quarter oi cen
fury the loss in the business did not amount
to one OF per cent, or less than | one
hundredth OF one per cent yearly.
A FLEA FOX Culture.
! DIR. KIdder. author of"KidieI : Homo
| letlcS" and other work, addressed the COT
ference briefly on the educational interests
| of the church. lie dwelt with much earnest
pess on the present need that our conieren-
ces use moro care in receiving members who
| have not the culture that the times de-
mard. lie justly ensured a disposition to
| tit ones self for some slde-hill charge,
| instead Of laying that broad foundation for
the years to come which would give life
work worthy ones self lie sarcasticaly
referred to the lack OF energy which pre-
vented 50 many, who ought, from mprov
ing the abundant opportunities now offered
the. Bishop Harris followed in a lev
words in regard u manuscript sermons,
suggesting thar sach as persisted in hold
ing to their manuscripts nj hit find them
selves without pulptS.
THURSDAYS AND FRIDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
CONDENSED from the ST. Adams Messcng-r
SwASToy, May
The womcn's Foreign Missionary Society
met at the Congregational church. Mrs. W.
ID. Malcolm, president, in the chair. Prayer
was offered by Dr.. Gushing who is now
much interested in the Italian Missions.
The report of the secretary, Mrs. J. W.
Guernsey, showed 81 auxiliaries in the
bounds of conference, nine of them organic
ed during the year. By these Sl.l0O had
been collected. A finely written discourse
was delivered by Mrs. l.. l.. Beeman, of
Bellows Falls
Bishop Harris then held the audience an
hour to a consideration of the following
two points: The condition of heather
womanhood, and the spirit and success Of
the sisters which this society has sent out. |
The bishop, in the autumn OF 1871. returned |
from an eighteen months tour of the |
Methodist mission fields, which had carried |
him through Japan, China, Holy Land.
~ S ai. ~ ,
~ .-7 ~ ~ ~ 'o N--. ~ M
lance Vi Tue women Hio,eincnt, ny "1SeI
tna' 10 peopio o'uIu po 'oh' 80 teu W iliS
teiKtou "I $3.50 ~ NIUE in 40 ps0fiIS
the male portion OF a generation should be |
reached and changed, the next generation
would need the same work for them If the |
mothers should not have been converted |
also These women of heathendOm cannot
oe [eaeneu ~ .nI ia"', ~ =, ut S"i'n
49,. ouy az 70, - ~ i,he;t,; =,
.nes'lc ilie "ueie ny VIVA w O'l'7'i'n'@'
''o" HI D'
ANTHONY COgsTOCK AND HIS WORN
4. Tho. I,ss or IN. Wo-,ar,s o,.,,ror,,-,
A. .ntbony ,nnS,oot Of Nau W -
ro,arr onJ ocsnt - tLe Soc;e,y f., 10 Snn-
nrsss;on If Voc and aIso a nriyote dotcc,;ro
in the emnlnv Of C;overnment IN detert VIC,
lstion Of the act of Congress prohibiting the
sending OF immoral literature through the
mails, addressed the audience. His remarks
were exceedingly iorcible and his vindica-
ton of the position and methods he takes in
the prosecution OF his work was strong and
convincing. Inc description OF the scheme
repeal OF the act under wlfui, lu ot,riatr-.
secured intense sympathy toward the sneak
er from the audience.
There are details in this horrible business
which cnuld not be shaken of in n mixed
audience, and hence Mr. Comstock was in
duced. by some who had heard the terrible
revelations from his lips, to remain over
night. and after the conclusion of the tenn
perance meeting. the church was cleared of
Ali exeept the pastors and n few of the
Older married men. when Mr.. CDmstock
showed some of the advertisements and
other methods of this corruptinp business
by which the pure minds of our youth are
defiled.
At the conclusion. on motion of DIR.
Pierce. of Boston. the ministers expressed
bv A rising vote their most hearty anproyaI
of the work in which the sneaker i. en-
gagged and also their confidence in the man.
and their gratitude for the revelation of the
bideous business of which thew had but
faint susnieion.
-,,,.-..,.,- .,,,.,,
hA AA' N"AH'E ami, NHSAN'
ia the evening called oHt inIl house Kew
u. D. Little presided Inc speakers were
he's' L. Douu' IL. l. Austin and DF. Cush-
ing
FRIDAY PROCEEDINGS
SwASToN, May >.
The morning prayer me.tinp was in
charge of Rev p. Merrill. Of WiIjismstown,
Al nine o'clock E,sbon Harris took the
chair and annnnreed the name or scvnral ;
COMMITTEES
Tho Rev n pierr. II ID at;,,r of
Z,,n'x H,,oIg vos in,-od,coj ond al