Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1880-04-19
THE VERMONT METHODIST
CONFERENCE.

odist church embraces nearly all that
section of the State lying east of the
Green Mountains, and all the north
western portion of the State as far south
as Essex Junction. Originally all the
eastern portion formed part of the New
Hampshire Conference; but the growth
of the denomination made changes and
decrease of territory necessary. The
Vermont Conference was organized in
1914, and consisted at that time of sew
enty-eight members. At the General
Conference held in 1860 the bounda-
ries of this Conference were so changed
as to embrace the remainder Of Yer
mont, but the Conference was too large
and unwieldly, and was changed to its
former boundaries All that portion
of Vermont lying south of the territory,
is embraced in the Burlington district
of the Troy Conference. Of the seven
ty-eight members belonging to the Con-
ference at the time of organization one
third are deceased, and the larger part
of the remainder are located, transfer
red or Withdrawn. Of those now do
ing work in the Conference we men
ton. Revs. H. P. Cushing. Homer T..
Jones, D. Willis, and J. S. Pinney.
Of the original members of this
Conference. who were on the superan-
uated list, one year ago, were A. G.
Button, E. Copeland, P. Frost, Caleb
Fales, H. and A. Hitchcock, P. 2. Ray,
". J. Kidder and n W. Scott. A few
others not mentioned are living in the
Conference limits. Rev. Nathan W.
Scott, now resident of Glover, entered
the ministry in 1926, W. J. Kidder in
1881. J. S. Spinney is probably the
oldest member now taking appointment
work. About 325 ministers have be-
longed to the Conference since its for
nation there are now nearly $50, in
cluding superanuated.
The Conference territory is divided
into four districts, viz. : Springfield dis
trict, H. A. Spencer, presiding elder
st. Johnsbury, W. D. Malcom, presid-
ing elder; Montpelier, Church Tabor,
presiding elder. The whole number of
church ediices in the Conference in
1873 was $50. The number was con-
siderably increased the past year; the
number of parsonages in 1878 was "a.
The amount of church property, inelud-
ing churches and parsonages was $780,
900. The amount of money raised for
the support of ministers is about $780,
900 annually. The number of church
members in the Conference is in round
numbers 10000, with 1000 probation
ers. The number of Sunday-school
scholars averages $4,000.
The growth of the Methodist church,
in the limits of this Conference, has
been greater than most other churches,
but the heavy emigration from the State.
and the inroads of death are such as to
make the increase small. During the
past year several church edifces have
been built, and the Indebtedness on
church property has been considerably
diminished. The spiritual work COM
pares favorably with ordinary years.
In particular localities great work has
been done, and numerous souls have
been gathered into the church.
THE THIRTY-sIxTH SESSION.
The Conference was called at Barton
Landing, April 18th. l. w. Wiley of
Cincinnati, presiding Bishop. On Tues
day, Apr. Is, the several classes for ex-
aminations for the various orders met
the committees appointed and passed a
thorough examination. Nearly every
applicant was successful, and was re-
ported for promotion into the next or
der. Quite large number of promising
young men were admitted to the Con-
ference on trial. On Tuesday evening
Rev. J. o. Sherburne preached the
Conference sermon, from ID limo.
AZ. The discourse was practical, and
peculiarly appropriate for the occasion.
Wednesday-The exercises commen-
ced at s, a. m. Rev. Peter Merrill
leading an excellent nrayer-meetinc