Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1899-11-23
THE CONFERENCE
Comes to Bellows Falls Next April-20O
Guests to Provide for,


The next session OF Vermont annual
conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church will be held in Bellows Falls. This
decision was reached on Monday OF this
week, the committee on conference enter
tainment having had under consideration
a pressing invitation from another charge
in the northern part of the state. Various
combinations finally led them to conclude
that 1t was better to accept the invitation
from Bellows Falls tor this particular year,
holding the other IN allegiance.
The time OF beginning the session is
determined by the board OF bishops who
have fixed upon Wednesday, April 18th;
they have also designated Bishop Stephen
M. Merrill, ID. ID LII d q, of Chicago, to
preside at the conference.
Besides the bishop, there will also be
present quite a number of other eminent
men OF the church, repre- senting its educa-
tional and benevolent work and other in
! terests. Some of these add to the most
thorough general culture the advantages
resulting from extensive travels in our own
and foreign lands, and being selected be-
cause OF SPECIAL natural qualifications, their
addresses nearly always prove inspiring
and helpful as well as instructive and enter
tanning. LsE.
AS regards the conference ITSELF the
names OF 1OS members in full appear on
the roll; OF these nearly 80 are super
numerary or superannuated, not being in
the active work, and only few of them
will attend the conference session. But
there are also 10 probationers and over
70 local or lay preachers acting as supplies,
most of whom will be here, some OF the
last named as applicants tor admission on
trial In the conference. A few others may
be expected to be present also with view
to entering the work, some coming directly
from college or seminary.
On the whole about 1870 preachers con.
nected IN some way with the conference
will probably be in attendance, some so o.
them being accompanied by their wives
Add to this about 20 official visitors, in.
GLIDING traternal delegates from CORE
spond ng bodies of other denominations il
the state, and it will be seen that entertain
ment must be provided for about 20(
guests. This is no small undertaking
but the other churches Of the place have
indicated their readiness to assist tn,
Methodists in the work, such co-opera
ton being usual and necessary in cas-
of the meeting of any Of the large rep
resentative bodies of the different de
nominations; and there is no question Blu
Bellows Falls will be able to take care o
this meeting, and do it well.
Thu above represent, only those 70
whom free entertainment is expected, Ii
addition to these large number are draw
| fp tho Mo ~ y,oofipn xpbo prnvIJo fo
themselves at the hotels or elsewhere
This will be especially the case next sprini
as the Lay Electoral Conference must NEE
at the same time to choose delegates to th
quadrennial session of the General Confer
ence to be held in Chicago next May.
On account of this and other Interests
may be expected that representative Meth
odists, such IS ex-Gov. Dillingham; o
Montpelier, Hon. u M. Mansur of New
po t. Judge Barney of Barre, Hon. Fran
Pumley OF Mortified and many other
will be here from different parts of tn
state.
The session lasts over Sunday and it i
Gust omary for the other churches to ope
their pulpits to the visitors; so that every
one may have an opportunity to hear q
least one or two of the leading men of tb
conference or distinguished preachers f OF
elsewhere. As the bishops sermon is on
OF the features OF especial interest, it
possible that arrangements may be mad
for him to preach at opera hall Sunda!
afternoon, to give the fullest opportunit
possible or all to hear. At ali event
everything possible will be done to max
: the gathering one to be remembered wit
pleasure byap. gzbeore, 81