Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-09

Il. a. Atwater as assistants.
1t was then voted that all moneys paid
into the Montpelier Seminary appear in
the conference minutes, accredited TO their
several charges. The 18th NestSon was
then taken up, was the -, acter Of
each preacher examiner" ".sF l.. o.
Sherburne, presiding elder of t5e ST. AL
bans district. passed in character and
read the following interesting .rSort of the
district:
REPORT OF ST. ALBANs DISTRICT.
Dear Fathers and Brethren:
At the close of the last session of our
conference the presiding elder found him
self seriously embarrassed by the transfer
of one brother to another conference, and
by the granting of supernumerary rela-
tions to the others The work has suffered
somewhat thereby, suggesting that so far
as possible such matters should be ar
ranged in advance. All the preachers
went TO their respective charges with a
loyal spirit, and have worked faithfully
and successfully. But one of the whole
number has been seriously i'll. NJ. II. Ryan,
the supply of St. Alpans Bay, who has
been confined to his home for nearly four
months. BY the blessing of God he is
much improved, and expects to resume
work in the rear future. our heroic ana
sanity brother. +. X. Hamblin of whom
mention was made in our last report, pass
ed to his heavenly reward last May. No
one could know him but to love him, and
he often reminded us of watts immortal
line.
THE minds the standard of the man"
The year has been one of toll, care and
pcrplexity. More and more the Protestant
population In the smaller places Is being
depleted, and those who remain are
obliged to share pastoral oversight with
9th ct, ilar RI cit DISCOURAGE
ments of such are serious in the extreme.
The financial depression which had az
fected the manufacturing centers or our
country at an earlier date, has at last
reached us. No community has escaped.
Fruit has been scarce and of Inferior quail
ity Butter has been low, and carloads of
potatoes have been sold for IL cents per
bushel, while horses il sold at all have
been sacrificed at less than half their
value five years ago. In the midst of such
difficulties, the people have done nobly as
will be seen in the specifications hereafter
made, demonstrating that their love Tor
Christ aud His church has made sacriilc
a Joy.
our beautiful church edltlce at Swan
| ton was totally destroyed by fire on July
| 16 having been exposed by the falling
walls of a hotel which was burned to the
ground. Fortunately more OF tho fur-
nishings were saved. The society through
struggling with an embarrassing DEBT IN
CURED in the building of the church, but
six years before, was not disheartoned,
1t Immediately began plans for rebuilding
and in n few weeks a new church VIII be
ready for dedication, similar in plan and
| structure to the one that was burned.
Such zeal Is commendable.
St. Albans rejoices Ger the liquidation CT
the debt of Sll00 upon its beautiful church
edfice. 1t is meet that the society should
/ 60. ,- lie ha 1aat nf n
payments which makes the society free
| for the first time since the edice was
built, 81 years ago This achievement was
made possible by the payment of $500 by
C. Temple. one of the official board.
Enosburgh Falls also rejoices that the
mortgage of 500 upon its parsonage has
been cancelled. This was due TO the gen.
erosity of Hon. Olin Merrill and NJ. 7. Per
ley, who paid the entire amount In other
years these gentlemen have done similar
kindnesses.
The charges have paid 1896 upon the debt
! incurred by the building of the district
, parsonage two years ago. A certain sum
has been subscribed toward the erection
of a tent upon the grounds of the Morris
willie camp meeting association, suitable
for holding the masses in times of storm.
/ 1t will be impossible in the space allotted
to enter into details concerning improve
ments in church property. brief outline
Is here presented. Worcester and Stowe
have painted their churches, Isle La Motto
has expended $2s7 in a belfry, windows and
miscellaneous furnishings, East Franklin
has retitted the interior of its church edi-
flee az n cost of $3.50, MiddleseX, Montgom'
cry and Underhill. have each expended
something in steel roofing, Moretown and
St Adams Bay have shingled their parson-
ages, Binghamvile has built a barn, John
son and Watervile have built a neat cot
tage upon the grounds of the MorrisvillC
Camp Meeting association, and purchased
an organ for the Johnson church, Alburgf
Springs has u new bell costing $780, Enos-
burgh Falls has provided all modern i'm
provements for its parsonage at cost OF
1869, making it one OF the best of homes
for whoever may be so fortunate as to oc-
cupy It, Other items Of interest might be
inserted. did space permit.
Proper attention has been given to spir-
itual work The usual camp meetings
were held. while the meetings were inter
esting and profitable, they were limited
in their usefulness from n lack of attend
ance upon the part of the unconyerted
save upon the Sabbath. More than or
dinary revival effort has been put forth
Nearly every charge has held special SER
vices, The annual convention of the con.
ference Epworth league was held at St
Adams last June, and the district conven-
ton at Richford In September. Both were
full of inspiration, ard gave rich promise
of the future. Four sub-dstrict conven,
tions have been held six new chapters
formed, and several Junior departments
organized. Three Sinday-schools have
formed hourishing normal classes. The
text book used is DL Hulberts Revised
Normal outlines. The pupils upon eX'
animation are entitled to diplomas from
the State Sunday-schOOl association