The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-04-15
THE VERMONT CONFERENCE
HOLDS A FITE-DAPS' ANNUAL SEES
SION IN THE GRANITE CITY.
Harmonious and Enjoyable Gatherings
Clerical and Lay Delegates to General
Conference The Proceedings in Detail

The fifty-second annual session Of the
Vermont Conference convened in Hedding
Church, Barre, last Wednesday morning.
Bishop Charles II. Fowler, ID. D., LID, of
Minneapolis, visited the Vermont Confer
ence for the first time in his official capacity,
and won all hearts by his impartiality, his
ability to dispatch business, and by his in
spring eloquence which found expression
on several occasions during the week.
The Bishop and presiding elders, and Rev
Or. A. L. Cooper of Newport, administered
the sacrament Wednesday morning, the
service lasting nearly two hours At its
close Rev. W. r. Davenport introduced
Mayor j. W. Gordon, who gave the Confer
ence happy address of welcome: Mr..
Gordon said, in part: &c Req. Sirs, Ladies
and Gentlemen:-In behalf of our city L ex-
tend to you and all visitors within our gates
most cordial welcome. Your mission is OF
more than passing interest The lesson of
an occasion like this in the art and blessing
of the higher being is of Importance to all
Your presence is an aid to us in the upbuild-
ing of the moral city that should be counted
men constitute the state and city too.
Within the limits of our city we are endeav-
oring to work out a municipal destiny; but
each unit, each individual, has destiny
that concerns him more deeply than any
thing that our utmost united efforts can
achieve among these hills, though every
weather-beaten howell should be converted
into one of polished granite. Over the
smoothest street we can make, the feet will
be weary; in the richest palace we can
build, the heart be disconnected; from the
highest hilltop we possess, the vision be
circumscribed. We welcome you and your
fellows, whose lives and labors are a refuta-
ton of the charge that the pulpit is degen-
crate, that the efficacy born in the manger
has spent its force, that the age of miracles
has passed away. l believe we may say
with truth, allowing for a difference in con-
dition and methods, that the nineteenth
L,1 Il a..
first Your command may not reanmate
the body of the dead, may not unseal the
eyes of the blind, may not stay the process
of the sun. But there is only difference
in the manifestations Of the power. The
power is still vital with its pristine vigor.
Around the affairs of Christendom ffty-two
times each year, the people may assemble.
There they may receive consultations of an
enlightened Christian creed There they
may proffer their petitions without let or
hindrance of statecraft. There instructions
are given to tutored minds that are not
alembics to turn Holy Water into the worm
wood of superstition and Sigotry. Under
the auspices of such a church, we rejoice
that you have come; for the purposes of
such an occasion, may you find our lamps
burning; for the message you bring, our
hearts inclined-and may we exclam in all
sincerity after the manner of an ancient
welcome Beautiful upon the mountains of
our state are the feet of those that bring
glad tidings."
Bishop Fowler gracefully responded. say
ing that he hoped all Mr. Gordon had said
was deserved, and expressing the pleasure
OF the Conference at being able to meet for
its annual session in the Granite City. He
facetiously bespoke for the brethren leniency
from the city officials, should any of them
fall into their hands.
Rev. W. R. Davenport the secretary,
called the roll and sixty-one brethren re-
sponded. Mr.. Davenport was reelected
secretary by acclamation and chose for his
P. Tucker. Rev; H. j. Mclaughlin was
elected statistical secretary, and Rev: A. J.
assistants Rev. j. W. Naramore and Rev.
e. e. Atwater. Rev. W. N. Roberts was
elected railroad secretary.
The time OF meeting was fixed at $50
A. M. the first half hour to be devotional.
and the time OF closing at H. 45.
The thirteenth question was then taken
up and Rev. L. o. Sherburne, presiding
elder of the St. Adams district, passed in
character. He read his report, which
showed that the new church at Swanton
will soon be ready for dedication. St. AL
bans has paid church debt of 81 100 and
Enosburgh Falls has cancelled a debt of
$4,000. Worcester, Stowe, Isle La Motto,
East Franklin and johnson have all i'm
proved church property. During the year
ton, 80 died, 80 had withdrawn. Net
gain, So.
Rev: Joseph Hamilton, presiding elder of
st. Johnsbury District, and the effective ell
ders in that district were passed in charac-
ter. The first paragraphs of Mr.. Hamiltons
report had a local interest. He said: Z" For
the first time in the history of the Vermont
Conference we meet in city-a city scarcely
two years old. securely walled by granite
mountains, and whose chief industry is the
making OF granite monuments. All hail to
the Granite City! Barre Methodist society
is among the first organized in Eastern Yer
mont. In 1904 Barre charge appears, for
the FIRST time, in the Minutes Of the New
England Conference. In 1905 it had Elijah
Hedding for its pastor. In 1921 the New
England Conference met in this town, with
Bishop George as presiding officer. The
first session Of the New Hampshire Confer
ence was held in Barre in 1880, and Bishop
Hedding presided. The fourth session of
the Vermont Conference was held with the
Barre church in 1848, and Bishop Hedding
again presided. In 1861 the seventeenth
session OF the Vermont Conference was held
in this place and Bishop Scott was the pre-
siding officer. Bishop Foster held the
thirty-third session of the Vermont Con-
ference in 1877 with the Barre society. And
now, In 1896, we find ourselves again in
Barre, in this new temple, built by a self
sacrificing people, holding our fifty.seoond
annual session, with Bishop Fowler for the
first time presiding over u.s." Mr. Hamil-
toms report further showed that there are
49 churches in this district and II stations
ho poooois az 1'hticJ OOuuSDury, ISlduu
Pond and Hardwick each made 500 visits
the past year. Barre has the largest Ep-
worth League and Sunday school. New
church buildings have been erected at
Lowell, Woodbury., Williamstown, New
port and Sheffield. The district has now
paid nearly one and one-half million dollars
in missions.
Rev. j. s. Upper of Newbury was given
leave to withdraw from the Conference.
Rev. Dry N. Burt, superintendent of mis-
aiODa in italy. RaV q. n Palma ~
the Board of Education, and Rev G. N. Rod
gers of Drew Seminary, Madison, Wis,
were introduced by the Bishop and made
brief addresses.
The Conference sermon was delivered
Wednesday afternoon by Rev. DIR. A. l..
Cooper OF Newport. 1t was in the nature
OF semi-centennial address and was fol-
lowed with the closest interest DR.. Coop
er's text was from Luke iv: IS, 10.
Much disappointment was felt because
Chaplain McCabe, general secretary of the
Missionary Society, was unable, because of
illnasa. to deliver the addrass in tha aven-