Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-04-13
THE NJ. e. CONFERENCE.

the new Methodist church, Bishop
Fowler presiding. The first day was
spent in examining candidates, which
make very promising class, nearly
all being University graduates.
Wednesday morning Bishop Fowler,
assisted by Rev. A. L. Cooper and the
presiding elders, administered the
holy sacrament, after which Mayor
Gordon delivered an address of well
come, which was answered by Bishop
Fowler. At the request of the Bish-
op, the roll of members was called
and sixty-one answered to their
names. Rev. w. r. Davenport, Sec
retary of last years conference, held
at Waterbury, was reelected to the
same office, and Rev. w. @. Johnson
and Rev. Andrew Gillies were elected
to serve as assistants; Rev. Ell. j. Nc
Laughlin was elected statistical secre-
retary; Rev. A. J. Hough, conference
treasurer, with Rev. j. w. NaramOre
and Rev. E. A. Atwater, assistants.
1t was then voted that all moneys
y
appear in the conference minutes,
accredited to their several charges.
In the afternoon, Rev. Alanson l..
Cooper, d. D., of Newport, delivered
the semi centennial sermon, which
took the place Of the regular address.
In the evening, the anniversary Of
the Missionary Society of the Vermont
Conference was celebrated. Chaplain
McCabe being unable to be present on
account Of sickness, an address was
given by Rev. VIM. Burt, DID,, super
intendent of missions in Italy, includ-
ing Sicily and work among the Ital-
ians in Switzerland. DIR. Burt, after
rapid summary Of the political and
religious conditions of Italy, gave
some interesting statistics and state
ments concerning the present condi-
tions and outlook for the future. The
Methodists now have thirty eight
stations in different parts of Italy
seven elementary schools, an indus
trial school in Venice, a theological
school, boys college and two colleges
for girls. The latest achievement is
the erection of magnificent central
building at a cost Of over $500, 900,
which is considered to be one of the
finest buildings in Rome.
Thursday morning, after the devo-
tional exercises, which were conduct
ed by Rev. P. N. Granger Of Irasburg,
the business session of the day open
ed and the names of those who had
been continued on trial were read and
their standing in different studies was
given. Rev. Charles Parkhurst, editor
of Zion's Herald, was then introduced.
DR.. Parkhurst represents the paper
and the Wesleyan Association, which
is responsible for it's publication. He
gave some in teresting statistics re-
garding the paper. The building
which the association owns is valued
at $780, ,O00., and the debt on it has
been reduced to $40, 900. Last year
s15, 1000 was paid on the debt. The an
nual rentals now amount to $28, ,000
The building and the paper are the
property of the ministers of the six
patronizing conferences in New Eng
land. The past year has been very
prosperous one with the Zion's Herald.
The candidates entering the confer
ence in full connection we're then call
ed forward and Bishop Fowler deliv
cred an eloquent and helpful address.
He pointed out to them the path for
young ministers to follow, and said
that the way was opened to them by
God and that it was not safe to take a
commission and then GO out and do
something else for a living. In clos
ing his address he outlined the practi
cal operations of preparing sermons.
In the afternoon special sessio un
der the presidency of Rev. FL. A.
Spencer, was held. Rev. L. III. Elliott,
agent of the Vermont Bible Society,
was introduced and made a few re-
marks.
Miss Mary E. Lund, superintendent
of the New England Deaconess Home,
Boston, spoke also. DIR. Smith, prin-
cipal of the Montpelier Seminary,
spoke of the need of Sunday school
teachers and class leaders making
careful preparations for their work.
Rev. F. &C. Abbey and Rev. A. A Smith
were introduced and gave short ad
dresses. In the evening the ami
versary of the Church Extension So
ciety was held, Rev. j. Hamilton pre-
siding. The address on tChurch Ex-
tension' was delivered by Rev. Man
ley S. Hard, D. D., of Kingston, Pa.
Friday, after the devotional exer
cises, there was the usual business
session The delepateS were elected