Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1883-05-02

the Burlington district nominated q board OF
commissioners, pending the election OF which the
conference adjourned to meet at two p NJ.
Upon the reassembling OF the conference after
devotional exercises, the subject Of the Burling-
ton district was resumed and Mr.. Samuel Hunt
ington OF Burlington, layman, addressed the
conference setting forth the grievances Of which
they complain. He was sharply Intercepted by
Rev. ]. d. Beeman and others and general dis
cusson followed In which J. d. Thrall Of Rut-
land, Rev. NJ. ID. Jump Of Bennington and others
participated Without reaching any conclusion
the conference adjourned.
The morning session Of Wednesday was chiefly
devoted to hearing the reports OF the presiding
elders. They showed a good degree Of prosperity
among the churches Of the conference Several
were put upon the superannuated list among
others Rev Peter Merrill, now stationed at North
field, who hm> preached continuously for forty
years. Rev. Charles Van Norden OF st. Albans
gave fraternal greeting in behalf OF the general
convention OF the Congregational churches OF
Vermont and the bishop responded in fitting
terms Rev. l.. 5. Dean addressed the conference
In behalf Of the Free viii Baptist church OF the
state, and Rev. DIR. Hidder Of New York spoke
for the board Of education. The committee on
the boundary question was ordered to report
Thursday morning and the conference adjourned.
In the afternoon the annual missionary sermon
was delivered by Rev. Z. W. Culver OF St Johns
bury. He, without taking any particular text,
covered the whole ground Of missionary work
and enterprise, not forgetting to put in good
word for Governor Ben Butler-he Of the cratic
vision and still more cratic deeds.
The evening session was devoted to the exer-
cises OF the Freedmen's Aid Society, Mrs DIR.
Rust and Mrs. Dunton of South Carolina being
the principal speakers. Our limits forbid an ex-
tended report Of this meeting, which was well at
tended and good degree OF interest manifested.
After the usual devotional exercises Friday
morning and the appointment Of additional COM
mittees, the report OF the committee on boundary
interests was called for, After considerable dis
cussion the committee was granted until Monday
morning to make Its report. Rev. S. w. Dixie,
secretary OF the New England Divorce Reform
League, addressed the conference on the subject
OF divorce reform. Several gentlemen were put
upon the supernumerary relation and others were
put upon the effective list. The conference
passed n vote favorng the organization of the
woman's home missionary society. After further
routine business the conference ad journed till
afternoon.
The conference sermon was delivered in the af-
ternoon by Rev. A. b. Truax Of Brattleboro who
spoke on the Talents, taking bis text from Mat
thew XIV: 10. His discourse was listened to and
enjoyed by large audience
The church Friday evening was filled to over
flowing to hear Chaplain McCabe on the subject
OF church extension. His eloquent address fully
covered the ground, but a brief abstract would
fail to dol justice and we attempt none. Bishop
Haynes also gave an account of what he had seen
In Kansas OF the work OF the church extension So
ciety and the meeting closed with prayer, music
and benediction.
On Saturday morning, after the transaction of
business OF minor importance, Rev. j. ID. Beeman,
president OF the seminary at Montpelier addressed
the conference in regard to the standing and the
work OF the institution, which is now in q prosper
GUS condition. The past year has b. en- financially
successful to the extent OF paying all expenses
and leaving balance of nearly So 000 The
floating debt OF $1,000 at the commencement of
the year was necessarily Increased to $40 800, by
refurnishing but Is now reduced to S4 500. The
scholarship is maintained at high standard, no
institution OF equal grade In New England excel
ling It's advantages. The musical department es-
" in ita nd unfa
dence is felt that the entire debt will be removed
In 1884. Professor L. A. Bishop, principal OF the
seminary also addressed the conference, giving
Information concerning the increasing attendance
OF students and the prevailing religious interest
OF the school. collection amounting to $40 was
taken for the purpose OF improving the grounds
by setting outtrees Several gentlemen were elect.
ed to local deacons' orders. and j. |. Baxendale
now preaching Ia Cabot, was admitted on a Ger.
tticate from the New Brunswick conference, when
the conference adjourned till afternoon.
The afternoon session was almost entirely de-
voted to the anniversary exercises Of the Woman's
Foreign Missionary Society. An address on the
subject OF foreign missions by Miss Gibson, re-
turned Hindoo missionary, was listened to by a
crowded house and awakened renewed interest
in the grand work.
OF the annual conference temperance annver-
sary. William NJ. ellis made the first address
OF the evening and was followed by Chaplain Nc
Cabe. Both addresses were excellent in matter
In new lights.
The usual Sunday services were held, opening
with the love feast conducted by Rev. II p Cush-
ing. Bishop Harris preached the sermon from
the fity-hrst Psalm. Rev. j. 4. Reid OF the
general missionary society, delivered the after
noon discourse to a large audience from John
xiv, II 60 to prepare place for you" The At.
ternoon services we're Appropriately closed by a
mass meeting under the auspices of the reform
club. which was attended by about eight hundred
people. Sunday evening was devoted to the ex-
ercises OF the missionary anniversary Rev. DR..
Reid was The speaker. who congratulated the
conference In having in the field 80 efficient a
worker as Rev Z. W. Parker.
On Monday morning Rev. T. P. Frost presented
the report OF the committee OF reference on mat
tiers pertaining to the Burlington district ques-
tion. Although not longer than the importance
OF the subject demands, 1t is much too long for
our columns. We attempt only a summary OF
points and conclusions. ~ 1t Is not true that
the former union of the Burlington district with
disastrous to that district; while the official sta
tstics show the contrary TO be true in relation to
the spiritual, numerical and financial condition
in 1868 as compared with 1861. (2) 1t is not true
union is so intense that harmony and spiritual
good is impossible. (3) All Methodist history,
observation and experience unite to show that
neither geographical, ecclesiastical social or po-
litical lines, bounds or barriers, imaginary or
in the world, have any power to disjOint the fra
ternity OF our correctional Metbodism az The
widespread assertion Is not true that the transfer
OF Burlington district to this conference in 1880
was effected by vote OF twenty to nineteen in
the boundary committee Of ninety-tive members
The facts OF the are that the request of
the Vermont conference for the transfer of that
district was canvassed, deliberated and debated
before the boundary committee OF the general
conference for two days with a full attendance
OF that committee, and finally decided by a vote
In favor of the transfer 30 overwhelming that no
one questioned 1t or asked for a count, and that
10 da nff In of fl,aNa.
eral conference, and at the last session OF the
boundary committee reconsideration was
granted for half-hour hearing, resulting in a
reanirmation OF the transfer, by vote OF one
majority, and this the much quoted, much adver-
tised and much misapprehended vote of twenty
70 nineteen. 10Y No other means than honorable
and Christian-ike ones were employed TO bring
about the transfer 10Y The Vermont conference
In Its action desires in this union only the promo
ton OF the common prosperity and efficiency OF
Vermont Methodism. az We believe 1t to be for
the good OF the church at large that Methodism
be q unit In the state organization. (8) The pre-
paillng Misrepresentation OF the real facts indicate
q iamentable Ignorance on the part of some. (9)
The conference desires to treat Troy conference
with becoming Christian courtesy (l0) The
bringing to light Of the truth of the matter Is all
that Is needed In yndcation OF the action OF Yer
mont conference, The committee thereupon re-
solved that a committee should be appointed 10
Join committee from Troy conference for the
purpose OF adjusting the difficulties II possible
that j. ID. Beeman, r. N. Granger, H. A. Spencer
r. Morgan and J. r. Bartlett DO, and they hereby
are, appointed commissioners ON boundaries AZ
provided In paragraph 800 Of the Discipline, to
meet the said commission from the Troy confer
ence At such place and at such time during the
ensuing conference year as may meet the mutual
convenience OF both commissions, to receive
whatever Information upon the pending Issue
may be available.
The remainder Of the forenoon session was
taken up In spirited debate on the report OF the
committee. The subject was resumed in the
evening. An amendment that the commission be
instructed TO recede the Burlington district to the
Troy conference was defeated after an exciting
discussion. Several proposed amendments were
defeated and the report OF the committee adopted
The various committees made reports In the
afternoon and In the evening the conference
closed with the announcement OF the appoint