Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-04-21
The Vermont Methodist Conference.

This organization convened at Barton Landing,
the 4th inst, Bishop l. W. Wiley Of Cincinnati,
presiding. Preliminary exercises relating to the
examination Of the classes for the various orders
and the admission OF number Of young men on
trial, were held on Tuesday the 18th, and in the
evening Rev. J o. Sherburne preached the con-
ference sermon-a practical discourse and appro-
pirate for the occasion.
WEDNESDAYS SESSION
Wednesday morning the active business OF the
session commenced. After appropriate devotional
exercises Bishop Wiley took the chair and pleas
antly introduced himself to the conference. lie
alluded briefly to the discussion in some OF the
UNCONVENTIONAL papers relative to the proprety OF
putting the appointing Of presiding elders into
the hands OF the members OF the conference. Al
though the bishop did not cultivate that intimate
acquaintance with the members OF the conference
which might create sympathy or prejudice for or
against the brother, he had such an acquaintance
with their qualifications as made him effective
for good. Methodsm, he said, was the same
among the hills OF Vermont as in SUMMER clmes
amid the perpetual bloom OF flowers. From the
reports of the various presiding elders it was ev
dent that a prosperous year had passed over the
ditions to the churches, the creation Of new or.
CARNATIONS, the building Of new church edfices
the contemplated erection of others, and the
diminution or canceling Of many church debts
Revs. J, d Beaman and Peter Merrill addressed
the conference in the evening on the subject Of
temperance, favoring prohibition and the rigic
enforcement of the law, and exhorting Christian.
to fight courageously against the evil, trusting 10
God for the victory
THURSDAYS SESSION
On Thursday the various candidates for the
ministry were reported on by the committees and
promoted in the order OF their relation TO the
conference. Bishop Wiley addressed the candi-
dates in wise and instructive manner, stating
clearly the vows to be made the work to be done
and the duties assumed on their entrance into tn,
Methodist ministry. Rev l.. Phelps, the repre-
sentative of the Congregational Association, wa.
introduced, and in short but appropriate speech
presented the compliments and congratulations Of
mis- association, The bishop pleasantly responded
In regard to the proposition to put the Burlington
district into the Vermont conference, it was or
dered that the delegates the general conference,
present the documents relating to the matter, and
request the change mentioned. An animated dis
cusson on the subject showed that there was
difference in opinion in regard to the proposec
change, and the methods to be employed in pro.
noting it.
In the evening Dr. Freeman Of New York, in tn,
absence of DR. Vincent addressed the conference
on the subject of Sunday-schools. DIR. Freeman
spoke not only of that part of Sunday-school worl
which related to the conversion OF the children
but also to that which lead to salvation. He saif
the teacher should teach the Bible. Nothinl
should be used or taught that did not tend to il
lustrate Bible truths. The number Of Sunday
school scholars converted annually is large bn
many Of those who are converted in the Sunday
school are not converted by the Sunday-school
Other influences have, in many cases. brought tn
child to Christ Christian training at home bring
many into the fold. The instructions and the ex
amples Of Christian mothers lead many to bette
lives. Next came the influence of the pulpit o
the man who stood behind the pulpit. His labors
when made in that direction, were very fruitful il
the salvation Of children lie condemned the
practice of allowing children to stay away from
church service il they attended the Sunday-school
In many instances children of moral parents
whose instructions have not been of a religious
character, are converted through the influence OF
preaching supplemented by Sunday-school in
struction Their children often lead their parent.
and friends to better lives. Another class o
children are saved by being gathered into mission
schools, where they are brought from literal a.
well as moral darkness into the light DR.. Free.
man favored the use of helps which have latel,
come into the schools and saw no reason VIII,
they should diminish the spiritual condition Of the
school than the litips H.,
theological schools
FRIDAYS SESSION
On Friday, after addresses from the representa-
tives of various societies and objects, it was de
cded to hold the next conference at Bradford.
Rev. II, A, Spencer was elected one of the dele
gates to the general conference, and afterward,
Revs. p. n. Granger and j. d. Beeman wert
chosen, with Revs. r. Morgan and J. A. Sher.
burne as aternates. At meeting of the lay del
egates, NJ. o Heath and Isaac n Hall were Sc
lected as delegates to the general conference
with William Chase and p. Ball as alternates
These delegates were instructed to use all honor
able means to have the Burlington district set
into the Vermont conference, and resolution
was adopted favoring the present system of ap
pointing presiding elders, with no extension of
time in the length of the stay on one charge II
the afternoon Revs. J. o. Sherburne, c. W. Will
der and Gill spoke upon the character of the
New England Educational Society and what it l.
doing for young men in the way of loaning then.
money to enable them to obtain more liberal
education, the better to qualify themselves for thu
work Of the ministry 1t is now helping many
men along in their course. Vermont has shared
its benefits. The twenty-five men from this state
have received, on an average, something owe,
$500 each. The society has received from th,
state only about one-half that 1t is because the
church did not set sufficient appreciation on the
value of the Educational Society.
The evening session being devoted to the Freed
mems Aid Society," its claims to the support of the
Methodist church were strongly put by Rev DR.
Rust, and satisfactory results Of previous assist.
ance were plainly shown in the many colleges and
more numerous schools which have been built
and organized throughout the country, Alta sub
sequent meeting it was voted to raise 81 600 foI
this charity during the coming year.
SATURDAYS SESSION
On Saturday two preachers were elected to dea-
cons orders and nine were admitted to the con-
ference on trial. The committee in the OF Rev
H. +. Eastman reported that he was guilty on
one allegation brought against him; but, on ac-
count of palliating circumstances he was allowed
to pass, by making confession to his quarterly
conference. The afternoon session was devoted
to the Woman's Foreign Missionary ciety, and
it voted to raise 81 600 for the aid OF this or
ganzation. The committee on publications pre-
scented a resolution which reflected on the char
acter OF the Vermont Christian Messenger, and
recommended that the conference dsclaim any
connection with it. This provoked a sharp
debate, which brought out the fact that the
editor had little or nothing to do with the general
management OF the paper, and that many thing
find their way into it that ought not to appear
in religious paper, and which the conference
would not sanction in the so-called organ of the
Methodist church OF Vermont The resolution
was softened by amendment and adopted.
SUNDAYS SESSION.
The services on Sunday commenced with the
morning love feast. The forenoon services were
held by Bishop Wiley who preached from the
text " For the redemption of the soul is precious, -
Psalms xix: g. In the main, it was a plain bur
powerful discourse, and in passages it rose to the
height of power and eloquence. Rev A. l.
Cooper preached at the Methodist church in the
afternoon and Reys. II. W. Worthen and W.
johnson at the Congregational church, each OF
whom preached sermons worthy of the last day of
the conference
The memorial services of the evening were filled
~ nd ID Tor aan rod