The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-03-31

peller people may well feel themselves
fortunate in having the privilege of
his ministry among them. One of the
chief events of conference will be the
bishops lecture on Grant on Thursday
evening.
Wednesday Morning
1.-The morning watch" under direc-
tion of DR.. Cooper we'll prepared the
members of conference for the bust
ness of the day.
DR.. Nutter, presiding elder of st.
Adams district, opened the confer
ence at the request of Bishop Fowler,
who was not able to reach the seat of
conference at so early an hour in the
day. Rev. L. X. Whitman. pastor of
tie Methodist church in Montpelier,
welcomed the conference In most
cordial way. Rev. Frank Lewis, sec
rotary of conference, called the names
of the members present and sixty re-
sponded.
The following transfers were an
nounced by the secretary; Rev W. H.
White to Genesee conference; Rev.
W. E. Badger to California confer
ence; Rev. G.. e. Webster to dakota
conference and e. o. Thaver from
Portland, Me-. to the Vermont con-
ference and stationed at Springfield.
Rev. f. W. Lewis was reelected sec
rotary of the conferences Rev. M. II.
Smith, statistical secretary; Rev. S.
II. Smith treasurer, and Rev. William
Roberts railroad secretary. The bar
of the conference was fixed at the rear
OF the third window.
Insurance.
The general conference board of in
surance WAS represented by Rev. Frank
L. Hart, d. D., of Chicago. While
this board is only little more than
four years old il has attained the mar
velous sum of S22, 00c, 600 in policies
written. 1t protects all property held
by the church, pastors or superannuates
at cost, on easy terms of payment.
The assets of the board are over $244,
600; this taken in conjunction with
the fact that the risks are widely sep.
arated gives double assurance as to
it's safety.
At 10 O'Clock Bishop Fowler entered
the church and took the chair and
the routine business of the conference
was at once begun. Calling the pre-
siding elders and DR.. Cooper to the
church chancel the bishop proceeded
to the administration of the Holy
Communion-a very solemn and inn
pressive, service, at the conclusion of
which the Rev. W. M. Newton, pre-
siding elder of Montpelier district,
read his report of the work on his dis
t:ict, showing amid many discourage
ments and against heavy odds in some
places SUBSTANTIAL gain. DR.. Eaton
representing the Book Concern at New
York, was introduced by the bishop
and presented the sum of S74S to
this conference as its share of the
profits to be applied for conference
claimants, their widows and orphan
children.
The Methodist Book Concern has a
capital of over So, 500, 600. The sales
last year were over 50, 600, 900. it's
profits were 1882, 000 1t makes divi-
dend to the annual conference this
year of $40, 600. No other publishing
house does so large and safe business.
Wednesday Afternoon.
The Rev. s. Donaldson having been
appointed by the bishop to preside at
the statistical session took the chair
| au 30 and called the districts in their
order, each preacher Of presently re-
spending. This session is one where
| the preacher gives in to the treasurer
| and secretary of the conference the
moneys raised on their charges for the
various benevolences of the church at
large, and statistics as seen in the min
! utes of the Vermont conference pub
| lished annually.
At 2 O'Clock was held the missionary
service, Rev. j. A. Dixon presiding
and Rev. DR.. Eaton of New York CITY
giving the address from his travels in
the east among the missionary inter-
ests of the Methodist Episcopal church.
| The speaker was in the now very in
eresting "Far East visiting Yoke.
hama and Toxic crossing the Sea Of
! Japan to China. The doctor very
graphically and interestingly described
his journey, the countries he visited,
the people whom he saw, the strange
contracts he noted. His description
of Ohina's cities, the streets of which
are reeking with filth their people
covered with diseases and dirt, pre-
septing most repulsive appearance,
clearly showed the difference between
their condition and ours. To the
medical dispensaries the people go for
medical treatment. 81 saw at one
time $50 women waiting for treat
| ment and as thew waited were listen