The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-04-18
Vermont Methodist Conference.

The annual conference of the Vermont
Methodist Episcopal churches opened at
West Randolph on Tuesday, April 10, with
the usual examination of candidates for adj
mission to the ministry The anniversary
of the Temperance Society was held in the
Methodist church in the evening, with an
address by Rev. f. w Culver of st. Adams.
Frank Plumley, Esq, was announced to de-
liver an address, but was detained on &C
count of illness
The conference opened for business
Wednesday morning. In the absence of the
bishop, Rev. a. l.. Cooper was elected chair
man pro tempOre and Rev. h. Morgan was
elected secretary for the twenty-tirst con-
secutive time. Revs. G. +. Smith and G..
l.. Story were elected assistants and Revs.
f. w. Lewis, r. l.. Bruce and 7. p, Frost
were elected statistical and railroad secre-
taries. The usual standing committees were
appointed. a special committee was elected
to consider the eligibility of women as dele
gates to the general conference. The
classes for admission on trial and in full
connection were ordered to appear before
the conference. At two o'clock Rev. n. w.
Wilder of Newbury preached the conference
sermon from First Timothy iii II, 1S Fol-
lowing this came the anniversary of the
Woman's Home Missionary Society, before
which Rev. L. p. Frost of st. Johnsbury
delivered an address of great beauty and
power. In the evening crowded house
greeted Rev. DIR. j. H. Vincent. The local
Chautauqua Circle was out in full force to
greet the chancellor His address was de-
livered under the auspices of the Methodist
Episcopal Sunday -school Union and Tract
Society, of which he is the secretary.
On Thursday Bishop Foster was present.
AS he explained the enforced delay in his
arrival, he stated that but once before in
sixteen years had he failed to appear on
time at every conference session to which
he was due. Dividends were declared from
the Book Concern and chartered fund. The
/ az TArA xNa lyaH for fOrt 1a
port of the bishops for the coming year.
Rev. b. 7. Parker, delegate of the Free-wll
Baptist yearly meeting, was introduced and
presented the fraternal greetings of that
body, to which the bishop responded; Reys.
a. b. TruaX of Montpelier, w. A. Donald
son of st. Johnsbury, Il. w. Culver of st.
Adams and II. Morgan of Springfield pre-
sented carefully and acknowledgement
reports of their several districts, from which
it appeared that a good degree of prosperity
had been enjoyed throughout the confer
ence territory. Large amounts had been
expended in the erection of churches and
the improvement of the church and parson-
age property. Extensive revivals had
widely prevailed Benevolent enterprises
had been well looked after. No man in the
active ranks had died during the years
work; but one superannuated preacher,
Rev. l.. C.. Dickinson of ST. Johnsbury
Center, had died since the last conference
session Rev. l.. IL. Elliot, agent of the
made presentation of the work under his
supervision, referring to the large amount
of money placed at his disposal for special
work by the children of the Sabbath-schools
| in the state. In the afternoon Rev. L.
Dodd of Richford preached the missionary
sermon from the text, Whereupon, o
King Agrippa, was not disobedient to the
heavenly vision" and his theme was that
as with Paul the vision of Christ produced
the missionary, so to-day every vision of
Christ will evoke the mission spirit in the
Christian church. After this sermon a bust
ness meeting in the interests ofthe Woman's
Foreign Missionary Society was held under
the presidency of Mrs. l.. l.. Beeman of Barre,
Mrs. Bailey of st. Johnsbury giving a stir
ring address, AT night the anniversary of
the Church Extension Society was held, adj
dressed by Rev. w. A. Spencer, who at
length and with great earnestness discussed
the needs and works and plans of the So
ciety he represented.
On Friday Revs. George Emery, William
Douglass, Charles #, Partridge, T. f. Cur
rier and John Il. Farrow We're admitted in
full membership, the last three being also
elected to deacons' orders. Rev, l.. Il.
Taylor was continued on trial. The address