Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-04-13
MBTHoDISTs OF VERMONT.
Their seth Annual Conference Now in
Session at Bellows Falls.

Vermont Methodist Seminary.
The seth annual session of the Vermont
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
church began its series of meetings here
Tuesday and will continue until Monday
noon. The different parts of the program
thus far have been of great interest to the
large number of ministers in the state.
The conference is being fully attended,
there being 127 ministers on the roll, and
at the meetings of lay delegates that occur
today, the number is augmented by about
an equal number of leading Methodist re-
representatives., there being one from each
church in the conference.
Bishop Stephen G. Merrill L. l.. D. of
Chicago is the presiding officer. He is to-
day the oldest bishop of the Methodist
church in America in active service. The
members of the conference speak of him
as one of the very best presiding officers
who has held the Vermont conference.
He is being entertained at the home Of
Mrs. Franklin p. Ball, and 1t is there that
the cabinet sessions are held each alter
noon, the cabinet consisting of the pre-
siding bishop, and the three presiding
elders of the districts.
The examination of those who are In
conference studies, Tuesday, showed there
is an exceptionally fine class of young men
coming into the ministry, most of whom
have received training at Boston and
Wesleyan universities and at Drew Theo-
logical seminary.
w. f. Mcdowell, D. D., of New York,
who was to make the address al the board
of education anniversary Tuesday evening,
failed to appear and the time was very ac-
ceptably occupied by Z. NJ. Mills, d. D.,
of New York, who devotes his whole time
to the cause of the twentieth Century
Thank Offering effort. This is an effort
being made by the Methodist churches of
this country TO raise fund of 10000, 900
to be available at the opening of the 2Oth
century, for the cancelling of the indebted
ness on churches, seminaries and colleges
of the church throughout the land. The
speaker reported that about one third of
the sum named was already raised, and
spoke in a very enthusiastic and hopeful
vein as to the effort being an entire sue
cess.
The devotional services of the confer
ence are in charge of T. Corwin Watkins,
ID. D., of Boston, assisted by the Dea-
coness' quartet of the New England Train
ing school, whose harmonious and spirit
ual rendering of the familiar hymns of the
church is a new and pleasing feature.
On the organization of the conference,
Wednesday morning, Rev. f. W. Lewis OF
Bellows Falls, was unanimously elected
secretary of the conference for the second
time. The faithful statistical secretary,
Il. G. McGlauhin, of Lyndonville. also re-
ceived unanimous reelection. As treas
urer A. f. Atwater of Barre was reelected
but later asked 10 be relieved, and l.. o.
Sherburne, of Enosburg Falls, was chosen.
W. n. Roberts, of Proctorsville, was re-
elected railroad secretary. The various
committees of the conference, nominated
at last years session, were made the per
manent committees.
A roll of the conference was called show
ing more absentees at the commencement
Of the session than for many years, but
later trains brought in large accessions.
The pastors of all the districts were passed
in character, and reported their collections.
The reports of the presiding elders would
indicate several hundred new accessiOns
to the membership of the church during
the year, and that there had been a num-
Der of thousand dollars expended in i'm
proving the church property. 1t is prob
able that the benevolences of the church
will reach about the standard of last year.
The reports of the elders this year show
much more care in preparation than in
former years.
At o'clock the missionary sermon by
A. f. Atwater of Barre was highly com.
mended by the large audience who at.
tentively listened.
The sermon Wednesday afternoon by
Rev. A. E. Atwater of Barre was upon the
subject of mission, and based upon the
great command of go ye into all the
world and preach the gospel to every Great
ure." He is very forcible speaker and
closely held the attention OF his audience
to the end. This sermon was followed by
the anniversary of the deaconess' work
there being several members of the organ.
izatiOn present. The service was presided
over by Mrs. A. H. Webb of Bradford
The corresponding secretary of the New
England Deaconess' Home Training schoo
of Boston, Rev. T. Corwln Watkins, d. D.,
gave an interesting resume of The work oil
the movement, the design as stated by him
being a revival of an olden custom in
church work in the systematic visiting OF
the sick, the poor, the strangers, and in q
general way ministering to the unfortunate
and sinful in all walks of life.
They have a two years. course in train
ing school, receive license and are con.
secrated by the bishop. Then they enter
home near by and are assigned to labor
There is additional training for nurses
They 60 to all parts of the world, includ.
ing the foreign missionary fields. DR.
Corwin was followed by Miss Josephine S.
Fisk the superintendent of the training
school, who is Vermonter and graduate
of the conference seminary. She gave
many incidents of heroic work by those
who had thus fitted and consecrated them
selves.
Wednesday evening was devoted tC
church extension, 1t being the anniversary
of that board. This meeting was undel
the direction of Rev. A. L. Cooper Rev
W. S. Smithers of ST. Adams led in pray
er and DR.. M. S. Hard of Kingston, Pa.
delivered the address. He spoke of the
difficulty of making the people understand
the great necessity for the extension of the
church work and church building. Hi.
address was intensely interesting and DR.
Watkins is evidently the right man in the
right place. His tender and earnest ap
peals to Christians, ministers and those un,
saved, ought to arouse Christians to deep
er conservation and bring sinners to Christ
At 8 A. NJ. Wednesday the sacrament OF
the Lords supper was deeply impressive
service under the direction of the bishop,
At its conclusion the board was reorgan-
lied by the election of DIR. Cooper of Ran,
dolph, president; Hon. Frank Plumley of
Mortified, vice president; Rev. W. M
Newton of Montpelier, secretary; A. e.
Niles, treasurer. The other members are
F. X. Sherburne, Montpelier; W. E. Bar
ney, Barre; G. M. Ladd, Worcester; Rev
+. Z. Currier, Williamstown: FL. r. Brown