Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-04-29
THE VERMONT CONFERENCE.

SUMMARY OF PRoUEEDINGs-THE BOUNDARY
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ron sPRIHaF1E1p
DISTRICT.
The 37th annual session of the Vermont
M. .. Conference was held at Bradford last
week, Bishop e. G.. Andrews presiding. The
conference proper opened on "Wednesday
morning, with the administration Of the sac
rament, the ritual being read by the bishop
On Wednesday afternoon the semi-centennial
sermon was preached by the venerable Rev.
W. ]. Kidder of Mortified. The sermon
was chiefly an historical review of the prog
ress of the Methodist church for the past 20
years. Wednesday evening was devoted TO
the temperance anniversary. Thursday morn
ing came the reports Of the presiding elders.
Thursday afternoon Rev. +. ID. Roberta
preached a missionary sermon, and at 4
o'clock special session was held for the ao-
commodation of the Troy conference com
mission. communication from the Trov
conference was read praying the appointment
of commission from the Vermont oonfar
once for the mutual consideration and ar
rangement of the matter pending. Rev. Mr..
Morgan OF the Vermont conference then read
paper for the conference to adopt The
motion to adopt was discussed by several
gentlemen, the gist of their arguments being
that the transfer of the Burlington district 10
the Vermont conference would occasion great
trouble in that district that many families
would leave and attend the Congregational
church, that in some places the churches
would fail for lack of support and that the
entire movement had been carried on bv the
laity and not by the ministry. Rev. Mr.
Hurlburt presented petitions from over thir.
ty churches appealing to the Vermont con-
ference to grant commission and thus af-
ford means for setting them back in their old
home--the Troy conference. The hour be-
ing late the conference adjourned without
taking any action. Thursday evening was de-
voted to the anniversary of the freedman's
aid society. Friday morning the boundary
question was again taken up. Rev. J. d.
Beeman of Swanton gave an historical re-
view of the whole discussion, and expressed
the belief that the trouble had gone so far
that it should be presented to the general
conference for final adjudication. A paper
was then presented by Bishops Andrews and
Harris which declared that the harmonious
union of Methodism in Vermont in one con-
ference organization would greatly promote
the interests and influence of the Methodist
church within the state asserted inability to
see any good reason why such union of
Vermont Methodism should not be estab
lished, and disapproved of all plans and eff
forts to ALLEVIATE churches and parsonapes
within the territory Of the Burlington district
lIOul I0e metlOOiBt church.
The address further asserted that the opposi-
tion in the churches within the Burlington
district to its transfer to the Vermont confer
ence is so intense and widespread as to prac-
tically defeat the good results which would
otherwise come to Vermont Methodism. and
commended to the prayerful consideration of
the Vermont conference the propriety of an
pointing commission as is requested by the
Troy conference, with the understanding
that the joint commission will agree TO retro
cede the territory recently transferred from
the Troy TO tho Vermont conference At
special session held at 4 p. NJ. Friday Rev.
r. Morgan, secretary of the conference, pre-
scented report, which, in brief, refused the
proposition for a commission and expressed
the hope that all parties in interest might &C.
quiesce in the present arrangement until the
supreme authorities of the church shall have
an opportunity TO review its action If it shall
be thought advisable to do so. After some
discussion the vote on the adoption of the
report was taken. It was, with but one dis
senting vote, unanimous decision in favor
OF adopting the report, and thus retaining
the Burlington district in the Vermont con.
ference. Thus ended long, and in some re-
spects bitter, controversy. Friday evening
Gov. Farnham presided and Rev. Dr. Vim
cent delivered lecture ON children and their
relations to home, society and the future
Saturday morning the bishop preached and
the examination of candidates took place.
In the afternoon the anniversary f'the wo-
mans foreign missionary society took place.
Sunday there were the customary religious
exercises, and at the final session ON Monday
morning the usual resolutions of thanks were
adopted.
Following are the appointments for the
Springfield district
H Enencar nrasid;no aIdar T,dIo,v
Athens and Cambridgeport, w. r. Daven-
port.
Barnard and E. Barnard, j. s. Little.
Bellows Falls and Saxtons River, N. +.
Perry.
Bondville, to be supplied. j. Mackie.
Bradford and Fairlee, L. p. Frost
Brattleboro, A. B. Truax.
Brownsville, F. w. johnson.
East Dover and Williamsville, ]. E. Knapp.
Guilford, to be supplied.
Hartland and No. Hartland, A. s. Markham.
Jacksonville and Sadawga, to be supplied.
Landgrove and Peru, E. II. Bartlett.
Ludlow aud Plymouth, A. j. Hough
Marlboro, to be supplied.
Mechanicsville, Cuttingsville and Mt. Holly,
W. @. Oliver.
Perkinsville and Weathersheld, L. E. Rock
well.
Pomfret, to be supplied, F. H. Wheeler.
Prootorsville, G. Z. Smith
Putney, %MASEht.
So. Londonderry. A. b. Enright.
So. Reading and FelchVille, W. A. Bryant.
South Royalton, A. H. Webb
South Tunbridge, w. B. Howard.
Springfield, A. L. Cooper.
Thetford Centre aud North Thetford, W. l.
Todd
Union Village and Norwich, O. P. Flanders.
Wardsboro, w. NJ. ellis.
West Bradford, to be supplied, r. B. Fay.
West Fairlee and Ely, E. W. Culver.
Weston, @. H. Walter, Jr.
White River Junction, L. o. Sherburn.
Wilmington, Joseph Hamilton.
Windsor and Ascutneyville, p NJ Frost
Woodstock, L. L. Beeman