The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-04-19

BlShOp tOSs presided over the CONFER
ence which closed Its seth session Mon
day. having held Its six days meetings
i'll the city after which it is named
There are many points of interest at
taching to these annual gatherings.
which are detailed at length IN the daily
papers. A few of these we collect to-
gether and give below.
THE NEXT SESSION
is to be held in the city of Burlington,
the church there having extended a
unanimous invitation, backed by large
constituency outside Methodist lines.
This year the General Conference meets
in quadrennial session, and, therefore,
the election of delegates was quite an
event. The men chosen are DIR. VIM.
Griffin, j. w. Eaton. AID. Heaxt, HON
er Eaton, Henry Graham, d. w, Gates;
j. n. Coleman and j. E. C. Sawyer were
chosen reserve delegates,
THE LAY CONFERENCE
met on Friday to elect two delegates to
the General Conference, Hon. John V.
Carney of Bennington was unanimously
ele cted chairman. This high compli-
ment has once before been accorded to
Mr.. Carney, Superintendent G. d.
Hammond of the d. & II. railroad and
A. Guibord of Pittsburgh were elected
delegates to to the lay conference in
May next. Earlier it had been proposed
to present Mr.. Carney's name from the
Burlington district, for one of those del
egates, but that gentleman distinctly re-
fused to be candidate and threw his
influence for Mr.. Guibord. But for all
that half dozen or so persisted in vot-
ing for him. We are of the opinion that
four years hence the Plattsburgh dis
trict, which now has a delegate, may
insist that the place belongs to this side
of the lake, in which event we hope our
Methodist friends may remember this
incident.
THE BURLINGTON DISTRICT.
The condition of the Burlington Dis
trict was given in a report presented by
Rev. J.W. Bennett, presiding elder, from
which the following summary is made:
Burlington District comprises 80
charges, 45 church edifices and 33 par
sonages. The property with very few
exceptions, is in good repair, and in no
instance is there anything like embar-
RAISING Indebtedness. At Fair Haven a
new bell has been placed in the tower of
the church. the gift of the late Rev. Ry
land Hanger. This society has also re-
ceived from the same source the dona-
ton of house and lot valued at $4,000
or more, as house for the pastor. The
Middlebury charge has for years very
much needed new or better parsonage
than the one owned by the society. Last
spring, soon after Rev. T. q. Thompson
entered upon his duties as pastor of that
church "a lot was purchased, upon which
a house was erected. 1t is conveniently
arranged and well built, costing, with
lot, about $3400. The church was
thoroughly repaired few years ago and
somewhat changed in Its form, making
il more modern and attractive. 1t is
safe to say that the church property Of
Middlebury charge is among the finest
and best of the entire district.
No very great and widespread revival
has visited any of the charges, but re-
viVal spirit had been present throughout
the district, and additions have been
made to most of the societies. Most of
the pastors have held special meetings
for the salvation of souls. and in some
insta noes were rewarded in seeing quite
, number converted, as at South Shafts
bury, Brother Hitchcock pastor, where
some 80 or more were led to accept
Christ. The spiritual condition of the
district is good.
The regular district camp meeting was
held upon the grounds owned by the
district association in the month of Au-
gust. II was well attended and season
of great spiritual benefit to many. In
the month of June at the same place a
Sunday school assembly OF four days
duration was held under the direction
of the Rev. j. S. Ostrander of Brooklyn,
n. Y. This meeting came at an unfa-
vorable season of the year and !, therefore,
was not largely attended, but was time
of much profit to those who could be
there.
The year has been one uncommonly
hard for the raising of money for church
and benevolent purposes. The territory
is largely farming district, the market
for produce Of all kinds has been very
slow and prices low, 80 there has been
but little cash in the hands of our people
much of the time. This is, as we think,
one of the reason why the preachers
salary, in so many instances, has been
paid 30 slowly. Most of the salaries,
however, have been paid in full, but the
brethren hare had to wait for their dues
longer than is Just. and thereby were
greatly embarrassed In their work, An
other cause, as it appears to US, is found
in the almost universal absence Of any
thing like systematic giving or prepar=
ing in q tIpe husiness.llke manner to
meet church expenses. II our people
would but follow the Bible command
Upon the first day of the week let
every one Of you lay by him IN store as
God hath prospered him. How much
better IL would be.
The BENEVOLENT collections have been
we'll looked after by the pastors. The
amount raised for missions will we hope,
60 beyond last year, though we haye
not met the million dollar assessment.
To do this we are asked TO raise nearly
one.third MORE per member than several
other districts in the conference are.
Why this lie 90 we do not know. but be-
cause Of il we cannot make 80 good a
showing as some others.
At the conclusion of this report the
Rev. Fred Widmer, Of the Burlington
District presented Presiding Elder BEN
nett with an open faced gold watch, las
testimonial Of the real love we bear
that cody man." Mr.. Bennett returned
ed thanks showing deep feeling.