Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-05-11

The Conference Resolutions.

The followinsis the full text published by
requcst) of the repor: of the Methodist confer
cnce committee of reference on matters per-
,aininI to the Burlington district question
Your committee, to whom was referred the me
moral OF the Troy annual conference, asking the
appointment OF u jinmlssion on boundaries on the
part Of this conference TO meet u like commission
OF that conference, 10 consider the REIMBURSEMENT nf
boundary lines, aud the resolution offered by d. d.
Noe, designing 10 appoint such commission. To-
gcther with the memorials from the charges OF Bur
lIngtOn District, nave carefully, candidy anu pray
ertully considered the same have listened To the
representations OF the llymcn OF Burlington DIS
trct, who have appeart before this conference 10
state their views in the case and have availcd our
selves of such additional means OF information as
at hand to facilitate an intelligent report con-
corning the matter.
That the responsibility now upon the Vermont,
conference Is grave and serious, anu the IL CT OF a
right decision OF the highest Importance, is evident
We refer, therefore, to facts as IN. basis Of our
recommendations in this treport anu respectfully
submit the following:
WLrrcds 1t has been stated in the public press,
and in dthate upon this conference nDor that the
former union Of the Burlington district with the
Vermont conference from 1860 to ls6s was di'as-
trous TO that district while the Official statistics
show the contrary TO be true in relation TO the
| spiritual, numerical and financial condition III 1865
rs compared II ls6l (:
| And Whercas l. Is assumed that the feeling of
| opposit on to the present union of Burlington dis
| tfIct with the Vermont conference Is 50 Intense
that the future prosperity, harmony and spiritual
| the union be continued, VIII le this assumption IS
refutcd by the present condition of the ST. Adams
district, once In ike condition OF grievOus dis
content lint now in cordial, loyal and unques ion
ed sympathy with the Vermont conference;
And Whsisds, Ii IS asserted tina, the people OF
the Burlington district afflicted by the sunder
ing OF lender ties and the breaking Of sacred bonds
OF attachment by this transfer; while such assump
| ton Is utterly without substautlatiOn, ami ali
Methodistic history, observation, and experience
unite to show that neither geographical, &C.
cleslascal, social or political lines, bounds,
| mr. Itlrr
| the world have any power 10 dlsj)int the fratcr-
nifty Of our cJnnectional Meth0dsln.
| Lnd Whereas, II has been assumed again and
| again, IN the public press, including not only the
secular papers VI this state but also the papers OF
our own church, Official, sen-oilclal ana hon-oil-
| cal, by contributors OF anonymous and known
ella, SEES, by writers responsible and by writers ire
sponsible and even by editorial writer's IN Metho-
dst periodicals., as well as by members OF tins con-
ference this ioOr, that the transfer OF Burling
ton district to this conference IN 1850 was effected
by "A vote OF 20 To ~ the boundary committee of
| ninety live members when the facts OF tine case
al that the request OF the Vermont conference for
the transfer OF that district was cinvassed deliber-
ated anu debated before the boundary commit &c
of the general conference for two days with full
attendance of that committee, ami nnally decided
| by vote In favor of the transfer so overwhelming
that one questioned 1t or asked for count. and
that during the closing days OF the session OF that
general conference, and at the last session OF the
boundary committee a reconsideration was granted
for IA halt hour hearing, resulting IN reafrMalsn
OF the transfer by vote OF one majority, and MS
the much quoted, much advertised and much mis-
apprehended vote of 20 to 10:
And Whereas. II Is stated IN print and in debate
that the methods used 10 secure TINS transfer were
questionable" AMI unfair. and are otherwise
named rs dlscredlable aud dlsgracciul; while moi
one act or one cxelted influence has been named
in specification Of these charges and no person has
vet been found to state before witnesses or ove
his signature that he knows II to be true that any
method, plan or system oil operation was used To-
, TINS purpose IN amy degree removed from an up
right Christian course, in full accord with open III
tegTiiy and GOdly plety
, Ind Whereas, Notwithstanding all these misap
prehensiOns OF the truth, all these grave imputa
lions OF motive, a. this strange misunderstanding
Of the merits of The ISSUE and all these unaccuuni
able errors of judgment and of information yet thu
, Vermont conference, "a a body, and lis members
as individual ministers OF the Lord Jesus, have N
desire to express, no plan to vlndlcdc, and no pur
pose to accomplish III the union Of Burlington Ills
, trlct with TINS conference, but to promote the com
mon prosperity and etllcenc! of Vermont Method
7 ism as an evangel of the son oiGod
Z And Whereas, We are persuaded that It is for tn
good OF the church II, large III Vermont, as well u
burlington district as elsewhere, that our Method
Ism be unit IN the state organization, that 1t ma
+ 20 on TO perfection an eyanselZng influence
= and that our state MeihOusm. which gave ElJa
: cause Ot Christian education, Laban CLARK 10 III
IS missionary society," Martin kuter 10 ecceslaStica
n history snd Stephen Ulln to our annals of pulpit oil
y atory, with many others in former days AMI IN TIL
y generation, 10 grand achievements OF trumphaI
VI fiitn In The Masters work That state Methol
v lsm with such record OF past usefulness, may i
{, stimulated 10 Its best and united effort to clan
= and possess Vermont for the Kingdom OF the lin
u OF Kings:
" And Wherfas The prevailing misapprchensoa
IL, the real facs of our case indicate, bya charitab
Y construction, lamentabe ignorance on the part
III those who mss'ate the pending issue, and call Il
nc correction by the publication OF the truth;
And Whereas, We humby desire to treat the pr
position of the Troy annual conference with Il
becoming Christian courtesy:
And Whereas, We believe that we need nOthit
for the yindication OF our position on the bOunda
RS ISSUE and for the su sanitation OF the righieou
ness Of our ailliatiOn with the Burlington dstric
nc SO much as we need to have light upon the tru
10 anu truth brought u the light; therefore.
ResO,rod, That 81 much of the memorial Of Il
q, Troy annual conference as relates 10 the appOlL
. ment OF cOrnniss on on the part Of TINS cJnft
y enCe to meet the commission named AS apPont
ia by that cOnfcrt nee be granted.
~ Resoired, That III this decision we seek the futile
OF exposition OF all truth bearing upon the pendil
of issue, aud TO afford an opportunity for the rclAt
IA, OF amy facts subsantated by competent testlmoI
Us winch have come to the knowledge Of parties IN
Al tcTest
II Res0lr,d That j d. Beeman, +. n. Granger,
90 A. Spencer, X. Morgan and D. Il. Bartlett be, \
We they hereby appointed commissioners on soui
aries as provided IN paragraph 800 Of the discipli
no 10 meet the SAID commission from the Troy conf
ha | encc at such place and at such time during the
he suing co ference year as may meet the NUT
he convenience Of bath commissions to receive VIII
in ever information upon the pending issue may
,re | available.
~ 4. 7. FRosT, Secretary