The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-04-18
VERMONT CONFERENCE.

The Vermont Conference began its fifty
sixth annual session at Bellows Falls
Wednesday morning, with Bishop Stephen
NJ Merrill of Chicago presiding. The holy
communion was administered by the bishop,
assis cd by the Presiding elders, Revs. W.
Il. Davenport, Charles 3. Nutter and j. y.
Sherburne.
Rev. r. w. Lewis was reelected secreta-
ry and Rev. III. G. McGlaufiin of Lyndon,
statistical secretary. Rev. A. K. Atwater
of Barre was renoIuinated for conference
treasurer but he declined to serve and Rev.
l.. o Sherburne of Enosburg Falls was
elected. Rev. Mr.. Sherburne appointed
Rev. Il. j. Chrystie, Rev. M s. Eddy and
Rev. j. A. Dixon az his associates. Rev.
w. N. Roberts of Proctorsvllle was elected
railroad secrecar
Rev. DR.. M. 8. Hard OF Philadelphia and
Rev. DIR. e. M. Mills of New York adj
dressed the Conference. Rev. w. r. DAv-
export, presiding elder for Montpelier dis
trict, read his report. Three hundred and
forty.tive new members have been enrolled
during the past year and many improve.
ments have been made in churches and
parsonages.
Rev. 9. s. Nutter, presiding elder for the
ST. Adams district, followed. Many new
members have been added and in ten
churches additions and improvements have
been made. The great need OF the district
is deter mined pastors and willing laymen.
by Presiding Elder j. o. Sherburne. Here
there have been $50 conversions from re-.
vivals and much improvement in churches
and church property.
The bishop then called upon each church
for the amount Of its missions and collec.
tion5 for the year after which the confer
ence adjourned.
The conference sermon Wednesday after
noon was preached by Rev. A. e. Atwater
OF Barre. In the evening occurred the au-
niversary of the board Of church extension.
DR.. Hard of Philadelphia was the principal
speaker.
The Thursday morning session OF the
Vermont Conference a. Bellows Falls was
devoted to business. The committee on
class examinations reported and the pro-
motions were announced. The committee
relations who considered the cases OF super
annuates, opportunities and those wishing
transfers also reported the cases voted upon
by the conference.
The Rev. j. M. Blu kley, DID,, LII D.,
of New York, editor Of the Christian AdUo-
cate, was to have addressed the meeting
but was detained by illness. Rev. DR..
Eaton spoke in his place. DR.. Eaton urged
every pastor present to furDish the best Of
literature not only to their families but the
Sunday schools as well, and particularly to
sing the good old Methodist hymns in
church and house, there being nothing so
inspiring and religious in his opinion.
nov IL IL ElllOJ bpUho III Dbudll
Of the Bible Society's work, stating that in
the State of Vermont alone he had found
354 families without Bibles.
In The afternoon occurred the anniver-
sary Of the Woman's Foreign Missionary
society. Miss Mary Pomeroy of ST. Albans
presided. Miss Pomeroy introduced Rev
j. W. Butler, d. D., of Mexico, who deliv.
cred the address in place OF Miss Liavati
Singh Lucknow, India, who was obliged
to cancel her engagement on account of III
ness. Mr.. Butler proved very entertain.
ing substitu and his address was much en-.
joyed. Having been at work in Mexico as
missionary for twenty-five years he had
much of interest to tell
A memorial service was held at half p 81
three with Rev G. o. Howe in the chair
An opening hymn was sung with scripture
reading and prayer. Miss l.. Lewis sung
a solo, Nearer my Home Today" Mr.
Howe said one of the objects OF these mem
oliAl services was to bind together more
closely the Methodist family. Obituaries
were read of Rev. William III. Hyde by
Rev. David G. Thatcher, Rev. Asahel H
! Honsnger by Rev. NJ. II. Smith, Rev. Viii
| liam A. Bryant and Mrs. Ida e. Smith by
Il. j. Chrystie. In the evening occurred
the anniversary OF the Freedmen's Aid anC
Southern Education society Rev. w. W.
l. wis OF the Boston University gave
surfing address concerning the work of the
Fresdmen's Aid society among the South
ern people.