St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-04-30
METHODIST CONFERENCE.


Appointments for the st. Johnsbury District.
The SD annual Vermont Methodist con-
ference opened at Barre last week Wednes-
day, Bishop J. M. Walden of Cincinnati
presiding this being the second consecu-
tive year it has been held in that city.
The first business was the examination
of the candidates in the various courses
OF studies; also for admission on trial
and for local elders and deacons' orders.
Wednesday evening Rev. W. A. Spencer,
D. D., ofPhiadelphia delivered an address
in celebration OF the Church Extension
society. Dr. Spencer is an eloquent
speaker and delivered fine address,
taking as his subject, "The church of
tomorrow, where shall we find it and
what shall we do for it?" Among other
things he said: 1--WE have 1000 unshel-
tered Methodist congregations and over,
5000 unsheltered Methodist Sunday
Schools We must build for them and
the unsheltered poor, more than four
churches day to the end of the century.
During the last twelve years gain Of
500, 100000 has been made, more than
$4,000, 900 year. During the previous
twelve years church property gained
thirteen millions of dollars, or a little
more than one million a year. There
have been built during the last twelve
years $500 churches in new places and
nearly as many more new churches in
place OF old ones.
Thursday morning an address of well
come was delivered by Mayor Gordon
which was replied to by Bishop Walden.
The conference was then formally opened
with the election of Rev. w. X. Davenport
as secretary and the naming of his assist
ants, Revs. l.. p Tucker and w. NJ
Newton. The roll call was then called
and each one present answered to their
names. When the name of Rev. 7. A.
Sherburne was called he arose and said
this conference was the SOD consecutive
conference that he had had the pleasure
OF attending.
Rev. H. ]. Mclaughlin was elected
statistical secretary and he named as his
assistants, Revs. ]. A. Dixon, c. o. Jud-
kins and G. H. Sisson. Rev. A. E.
Atwater was elected treasurer and named
as his assistants, Revs. B. F. Rowland,
F. X. Graves and W. Jones.
A slight change was made in the
evenings programme and instead of
Bishop Walden delivering his lecture on
Africa and its evangelization, it was de-
cided to postpone the lecture until Satur-
day evening. This was deemed necessary
i'll order to give the people another oppor-
tunty of listening to Rev. {. B. Mason,
D. D., Of Cincinnati. DR.. Mason is coal
black negro and made an exceedingly
favorable impression on his hearers.
The regular business was pleasantly
varied Friday by highly interesting
addresses by distinguished visitors.
In the morning the speakers were Rev
Charles Parkhurst, D. D., editor of lions
Herald, Miss Mary Lunn, superintend.
ent of he New England Deaconess home,
Boston, and Rev. William F. Smith, D.
D., general missionary secretary, New
York. Bishop Walden delivered an
impressive address to the class entering
conference in tull connection.
Remarks were made by DR.. George
Mains, representing the book concern,
DR.. Starr in behalf of Wesleyan college
and Rev. Chas Rishell for Boston uni
versitv. The matter OF appointing a
committee to meet the committee recently
appointed by the New Hampshire con-
ference to establish boundary line
between the two territories was brought
up. Three border towns of Essex county
constitute the section in dispute. 1t was
voted by large majority not to appoint
| a committee.
In the afternoon came the anniversary
of the Woman's Foreign Missionary
society. There were reports of officers
and addresses by Mrs. Phebe Stone
Beeman, conference corresponding secre-
tary, and Rev. Alfred Baker, D. D.,
recently of India.
Friday evening an address was given
by Rev. w. T. Smith, D. d., general sec
tary OF New York, on the ANNIVERSARY
of the Parent Missionary Society,"" One
church was first organized in New
York more than 100 years ago, through
the influence OF woman and we have
increased so fast because we are a mis-
sionary church. The missionary society
was organized in 1919. A home society
purely. | emphasize the seed thought
that we never lose sight of the home. We
are taking care Of the foreign population
as fast as we can. We have nine German
conferences who give us $1,53 per capita
yearly. We have conferences among
almost every nation. The society is Civ
ing the Vermont conference this year
$1,000. Our first missionary to India
was DR.. Vim. Buckley. In India today
we have 10000 members and $4,000
probationers, and the same in China
The Methodist church in Calcutta is one
| Of the nreat churches of the world ct