Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-06-20

ing suslains the statement of the committee
that the spiritual, numerical and financial
condition of Burlingt on district in 1868 as
compared with 1860, gave evidence that
the eight years union was not disastrous. J"
2. Bro. Noe quotes from the commit
tee: 1T is assumed that the people of
Burlington district are afflicted by the
sundering of tender ties snd the breaking
Of sacred bonds of attachment by this
transfer; while such an assumption is
utterly without substantiation The
manner of the quotation is no credit to
the writer. for he substitutes IL period for
a comma, and garbles the meaning Of the
sentence. Let the i.telligent reader
replace the co nme after "substantiation'
and read on; land all Methodistic history
observation and experience unite to show
that neither geographical, ecclesiastical
social or political lines, bound, or barriers,
imaginary or real. in the church or in the
world, have any power TO disl mt the
fraternity of our connectional Methodlsm, "
The committee did not question the
atllction" of certain people over the
transfer, nor That it has been chronic in
manifestation, peevish in tone and childish
in character, extending the atflclion to
all who have been compelled TO hear their
complaints; but showed forth tho incon
sistency of such plea in view of the
conneclional bond of Methodism as per-
petual safeguard against the imagined
troubles.
These two points being disposed OF the
remainder of the article is without point,
being framed to support the state of "af1 C
tion," which is not in question. 1t deals,
rs usual with the writer in discussing this
issue, with innuendoes and inferences
which are of doubtful import concerning
the fair mndedness and Christian conduct
of the conferei CO and its members gener.
ally.
The conference has submitted to this
manner of treatment without replying,
through these three years, and does not
need to be defended now. We might
remark upon the significant assertion by
Bro. Noe that the district will not afli iiate
with the conference because of 1.-THE over
riding of the wishes votes and protests of
the ministers and members" and inquire
how it can harmonic with the oft repeated
statement that the ministers are not in the
controversy to "wish, vote or protest"
except for the people.
We might dwell upon the fact that at
the conference session at St. Albans Bro
Noe stated that he could not find the min
utes of 1868, and congratulate him upon a
nearer approach to accuracy since he has
found them. although now in error.
We might call attention further to
the fact that he ignores the entire gist of
the report he assumes to annibila'e, and
in belaboring some Inexperienced sta
tstics and an assumed statement which
was never, made, he unfairly passes by
the vital points of the report and is wholly
silent concerning its expressions of cordial
desire to vindicate the right, wherever it
may be found.
But we refrain from drawing out tho
argument and only remark that in cur
Judgment a paper prepared for pnblica-
tion in answer 10 the report of the confer
ence committee would have reflected more
credit upon its author if it had dealt fairly
with the whole report, instead of STOPPING
to the work of disjointing its par is to mis-
interpret its tone.