Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1904-04-08
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Completion Of Sixtieth Annual State
MEETING.

] Meeting.
The Goth annual convention of the
Vermont Methodist conference OPP
ened In Montpelier Tuesday, March
/ 29, with a large attendance. Dr. W.
ID. Parr Of Philadelphia gave an ad-
dress Tuesday evening. About 100
elergymen and wives were present at
the opening Bishop Charles II. Fow-
| Ter presided Wednesday. These OFF,
GERS were reelected: Secretary. Rev
/ Frank w. Lewis. Brattleboro; statis-
tical secretary, Rev. NJ. ii. Smith,
South Londonderry; railroad secre-
tary, Rev. William Roberts: treas
urer, Rev. S. II. Smith. The general
conference board of insurance, which
protects at cost the property of pas
tors, active and superannuated, was
represented by Rev Frank L. Hart,
D. D., of Chicago, Although only four
years old, the board has written Wa
100000 in policies and has assets OF
over S241.00 In the afternoon Rev.
Homer Eaton of the Methodist Book
concern, New York, presented s74s as
the share of the profits due this con-
ference Rev. S. G. Lewis delivered
the annual missionary sermon. In
the evening, an address was made by
Rev. w f. Huntington, president OF
the Boston university. Thursday,
March 81, Mr.. Whitaker. pub
Usher of lions Herald, Boston,
spoke and Rev. Joseph Simester,
Of Foo Chow. China, delivered STIR
ring address on Missions. Rev. q. w.
Morrow spoke in the interests OF the
state anti-saloon league and Rev. j.
A. Dixon delivered an address at the
anniversary observance of the Ep-
worth league. In the evening Bishop
laIf
opera house on Great Deeds ana
Great Men.
Friday, April /. the conference elect
ed Rev. F. w. Lewis of Brattleboro
and Rev. DIR. C. S. Nutter of st AL
bans delegates to the general confer
ence at Los Angeles, Cal. in May. Al
ternates, Rev j. A. Dixon OF Hard
wick and Rev G. w. Hunt of Enos-
burgh Falls. At the lay conference.
Mrs Elizabeth A. Bartlett of Brad
ford introduced a resolution which
was adopted declaring that no lay
delegates be elected to the gen.
eral conference who used tobacco and
that If such were elected, they should
resign. Nominations followed and
Hon. Frank Plumley one OF the NOM
inees. frankly stated that he occa-
sionally smokes cigar and that with
the full consent of his wife. Not
withstanding the resolution Mr..
Plumley was elected by a large vote.
Mrs. A. II. Webb Of Bradford was
elected first delegate. The resolution
to strike out section 24S regarding
amusements and to substitute
warming against theatre, cards and
bar-room was voted down. The dea-
coness board for one year is. Rev. r.
F. Lowe, Mrs. A. Fl. Webb. Lydia Gil
man; for two years, Mrs. ]. A. Sher-
burne. w f. Douglass, DR.. L. w. Han
son; for three years, Rev. e. 0. Thay-
er. Rev. L. 0. Sherburne. Rev. J.
Hamilton.
Saturday. April 2, the statistical
secretary, Rev. P. M. Smith. reported
the membership to be 1898, an in
crease of 1872 members. The deaths
numbered 235. Reports showed that
the Montpelier seminary, the Metno-
dist preparatory school in Vermont
was on a bad financial basis. with
deficit last year of $4,000. 1t was
voted to have a committee appointed
to make arrangements to relieve the
situation The Epworth league re-
ported 70 societies in the conferences
with membership of PSI. At Sundays
sessions a love feast was held and
deacons and elders ordained. Rev.
DR.. ]. F. Berry of Chicago, editor OF
the Epworth Herald, gave an ad
dress.
The conference closed Monday.
April g. with the announcement OF
for the next year.
The statistics for the Congregation
al churches in Vermont have been
compiled by J. NJ. Comstock of Chel-
sea, the UNCONVENTIONAL statistician
The total membership is 21,S13, net
gain of 80 over the previous year.
The largest number of additions was
at the Jeffersonville church, which
reported 65 for the year, while ~
other churches added 10 or more by
There were SS5 infant
baptisms, the largest number ever
reported. The Sunday school mem
bership is 1871, a loss of $40. The
Christian endeavor societies In 1853
churches show a gain of las members
and a total membership of 6262. There
Is falling off in the benevolent con-
tributions of s1017, the total contribu-
lions being s45,407. The amount
spent for home expenditures was