Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-04-09
METHODISM IN VERMONT.
Continued from first page3

expect to cross that line this year, and
do not intend to stop short of the two mil
lion line. The work of the whole year
has been one OF general prosperity ana
advancement in all lines of Christian
work.
Rev. Thomas lyric spoke appreciative
words regarding the work of Presiding
Elder Hamilton. The effective elders of
his district were then called for.
Rev j. s. Upper of Ncwbury was al
lowed to withdraw from the conference.
A report received from Rev G.. L. Story
regarding the publication of the minutes
of the conference and the matter was vo-
ted to be left in the hands of the secretary.
The effective elders of the Montpelier
district were called and reported
The bishop introduced Rev. DIR. w. n.
Burt, superintendent of missions in Italy.
He spoke of the possibilities of the work
there and reviewed briefly what cheer he
had brought.
Rev C. II. Paine, secretary of the board
of education said he was glad to meet
the brothers of Vermont conference and
said he came as an agent to report the
work the board was doing. The success
| along the line was encouraging and re-
viewed the advancement for higher educa-
ton in colleges of Methodism. He urged
the support of Methodist colleges and
wanted the young men educated there.
Rev. DR.. Rodgers from the Drew semi
nary at Madison, Wis, was Introduced
and said 1t was his first time in Vermont.
! This conference he said sent most of its
men to the Boston university and he felt
a little out of place, being as he was from
the Drew seminary. He spoke of the
/ close relationship existing between the
| two seminaries. He gave n general de-
scrption of the campus, buildings and
gave much information regarding the inner
work of the Drew institute.
/ The following drafts were ordered to he
drawn: Twenty dollars to the chartered
fund.- sS51 to Book concern, and 800 on the
Episcopal fund.
The classes for admission on trial and
to full admission and also tho supernu-
merary members of the conference were
referred to the committee on conference
relations.
/ 1t was voted to make the reception of
the class entering full connection the spe-
cial order of 10 o'clock Thursday morn
ing.
Tho statistical session was ordered to be
held at o'clock to-day. The morning
session came to a close with the singing
of praise God" and Rev. Mr.. Cooper pro-
nouncing the benediction.
AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
After prayer by Rev. j. o. Sherburnc
Rev Alanson i. Cooper ID. D., of New
which took the place of the regular con-
ference address.
DR.. Cooper has been preacher so years
and for that reason had been elected to
deliver the sermon. He Is one of the most
eloquent preachers In the conference and
his sermon which occupied nearly an hour
and a half in delivery, was closely fol-
lowed. He opened his remarks by per-
sonal history of himself and "reminiscences
of his early life
My ancestors" he said, "for 200 years
were members of the Congregational
church and for four generations the male
members were all deacons During a re-
vival in 1880 my father and mother, who
were then living in Rochester. were con-
verted and Joined the Methodist church
My mother while | was yet a boy, offered
me to the service of the Lord. ] had no
knowledge of this until after my 18th year,
when / was prepared for the ministry
My mother died before I entered the
ministry and my only regret was that she
did not live to see her desire gratiflcd.
accepted the covenant between my mother
and God, and at the time of Nicholas
Nathan, In 1916, when the conference was
held at Sprnfeld, l became candidate.
The candidates In those dart were not re-
quired to attend the conference as 1t re-
quired greater means, and very few were
there to take the examination"
DIR. Cooper then concluded his address,
speaking upon the divine spirit. He took as
his text Luke iv. is and 49, He said the
spirit of God irstllled life into the human
form There is a divine power exerted by
the spirit of God when a human heart Is
made new. Man can resist the power of
the spirit If he chooses but he cannot. If he
continue, find his way to the power of
tho divine. The spirit of God is wonderful.
An example is found in the world where
lie brought order out of chaos.
THE EVENING PROGRAMME
The anniversary of the missionary soci-
ETY. of the Vermont conference was cele-
brated in the Methodist church this even
ing at O'Clock. Rev. Charles c. McCabe,
ID. D.. general secretary of New York city,
was unable to deliver the address of the
occasion owing to illness. Row. William
Burt, ID. d., superintendent of missions in
Italy including Sicily and work among the
Italians in Switzerland, spoke in place of
DR.. McCabe. Dr. Burt said, after a rapid
survey of the political and religious con-
dltion of Italy and of the causes Leading
20 the political independence and unity of
the nation showing the parts played by
such men as Mazzini Gas.baldi Pope Plus
the 9th, Cavour and Victor Emmanuel
He gave interesting statistics and state
mcnts concerning the present conditions
and outlook for the future. The Metho-
dists now have IS stations In different
parts OF Italy, seven elementary scEools.
an Industrial school in Venice, thcolc gc-
al school, boys college and two colleges
for girls. Their latest great achievement
has been the erection of a magnificent CEN
trail building 155x95 feet. five stories high,
tho total cost of which was over 500, 900,
and is considered one OF the finest build
ings In Rome His remarks were closed
by showing how the work with Italians
here and in Italy is becoming reci-
procally helpful. There are missions in
Boston, New York city, Philadelphia, Chi
cago, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and New Or
leans. Many amusing stories were told
and his address was very much enjoyed.