The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-03-31
VERMONT CONFERENCE.
Methodists Hold Goth Session III
Montpelier.

ference convenes in Montpelier. the
formal opening being held this morn
ing in Trinity church A large num-
Der arrived on the afternoon and even
ing trains on Tuesday and the morning
trains today brought still greater
number. The ministers with their
families are being entertained at the
various Methodist families and others
with whom arrangements were made
So we'll has the conference been ar
ranged for by the committee having
the matter in charge that little fric-
tion or confusion has existed in the
distribution of the visiting pastors and
their families II is the sixtieth ses-
sion of the conference and bids fair to
be one of. the most profitable and en-
joyable one, old Sol also deeming it
his duty to make the capitol city look
as bright and pleasant as possible on
the occasion which brings so many
reverends among us.
Tuesday was taken up with the ex-
animation of the four classes of young
men preparing in this conference for
the work of the ministry. The MEM
bers of the classes were nearly all
present and only two of the board of
examiners were absent. Rev. Q. f.
Partridge OF Woodstock, having re,
signed AS registrar of the board. Rev.
of AZ al
his place. Tuesday evening came the
anniversary of the board of church ex
tension with an address by the Rev.
W. ID. Parr d. ID. of Philadelphia.
After a short devotional service con-
Quoted by the Rev. F.. W. Lewis, DR..
Parr said sit is no small thing to
belong to christian church which.
beginning with nothing 1875 years ago.
is now the leading evangelical denomi-
nation IN America by the report of
the last United States census When
l think of this / feel that former days
were not better than these; we are not
fading away. | want to read you
some figures; figures are not always
interesting reading but these may be-
come so. When Methodist Episcopal
church extension was organized there
were 10, 900 churches, now 81, 000 then
1000 ministers, now 1000; then
923, 600 members, now 5000. 295; thel
ID, 600 Sunday schools, now 80. 400 !;
then 600, 600 teachers and students
now 8, 100, 600; then value of churches
and parsonages $50 600, 600, now $l46,-
700, 600. The board of church extern
sion not only aids in church building
in the States and territories but fol-
lows the flag of the Republic and has
assisted III building churches in Ha-
wall. Porto Rico and the Philippines.
The christian church as whole is
building eight churches every day--the
Methodist church four of them,
aud there is nothing discouraginG in
that Wherever we have an ecclesi-
astical interest we have a superintend-
ent we can send to serve that interest
and no ecclesiastic body can do more
than that. In the South we are teach
ing men and women, boys and girls,
to MISUNDERSTANDING, farm and mo
chanical matchmaking every industry
to aid us in lifting up the people Of
the South socially, morally, indus
trIally.
1.-The people of former time had no
m lnnc flan -
spread out more, that is all We can
do nothing without enthusiasm and
only wish we had more, we would
build more churches and get more men
saved. This country does not belong
to the Lord but it must and the church
extension society is ready to help the
church to bring this country to the
Lord. Every half truth, every sort of
belief is holding the mind of the peo-
pie. This is particularly true of the
west and middle west This country
must be saved and that is the reason |
plead for church extension. Where
we plant church we mako posi- BILE
better schools, hospitals, and every
means for the betterment of mankind.
We have got to save the black man.
The Democratic party has dropped him
and the Republican party is dropping
him. II is likely to be his salvation,
but we must as church help him to
work out this great problem and stand
by him till it is done, To the loyal
poor white people of the South we
must 90 with our help, from them
come the strong, sturdy men, as Lin
coin for instance; wherever we plant
churcn We make possible not only
Professionalism but the bsst form of
Americanism. DR.. Parr explained
how $3.50 makes possible church on
the frontier plan worth at least from
81. 200 to 81, 800.
Bishop Charles III. Fowler.
Bishop Fowler is making his second
| official visit to Vermont Conference,
having presided at the session of Ver-