The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-04-17
DELEGATES ELECTED
10 LARGER SESSION
Presiding Elder Hunt Of 81
Adams and Principal E. A.
Bishop From Ministerial
Conference; S D. Hobson
and C. 5. Andrews From
Lay Conference.

Methodists have always believed in a
special Providence, and the smiling sun
this morning did not tend to lessen their
faith In this direction.
The devotional service under charge of
DIR. Brnshingham and Prof. Hill was
given over to consideration Of Ex-
cuses." Much interest was aroused, and
teh responses were many and fervent.
At nine o'clock the records were read
by Assistant Secretary Shaw, with Bish.
op Cranston in the chair. A. FL. Webb,
WI b. Dukeshire and r. II. Lowe We're
appointed by the Bishop To consider the
question Of peeuniary aid for needy local
preachers after the years Of effective SER
vice were ended Secrtary Lwis read a.
letter from the nephew OF the late Rev.
Isaac MeAnn, giving an account Of the
last days Of his uncle. The secretary
also mentioned letter Of greeting to the
conference from former members.
Duties cf Ministry.
Douglass q. Guest, Charles ~. Kelley
and Alvin w Ford were then called for
ward and addressed by the Bisnop with
reference to the duties and responsible
ties OF the Christian ministry Among
other things, the Bishop said that pro-
baton Of two YEARS ought to have set
tied with the candidates the question
of permanence III tho ministry and the
denomination. 0nr church has always
recognized q divine call to the ministry
and no man should take ecclesiastical
vows With any evasion, equiYoeation or
mental reservation.
The Bishop then read the regular dis
ciplinafy questions of the class, COM
menting On them as lie vent on, and
receiving the proper answers. With rcf-
erenee to the question of Christian
perfection" the Bishop took a broad
view and left each candidate to make
his own definition Of what constituted
perfection" OF maturity II is better to
let the Holy Spirit be our teacher IN
his process than 70 be under the bondage
of definitions. Sky blue or otherwise.
1'he Bishop recalled the Characterization
81 regeneration by Watson as that
mighty change wrought in man BY the
Holy Ghost ard this experience, if real,
is often far ahead Of much OF the So
called sanctiiication Of the present day
Definitions often tend to restrict the
agency Of the Holy Ghost and we should
not daily with them, but the rather get
after the thing defined. Results, not
process, should be the desideratum
III preachers are to succeed they must
devote themselves wholly to the work
OF the Lord Times are different from
what they were when Hedding was the
pastor OF this church. and the early
preachers had less competition in the Ell
fort to get q hearing than is the case
to-day Physical hardsflips then pro-
duced moral courage that dared to run
counter to all worldly influences. To-day
the Bishop thought there was less spec
tacular and less sensational courage than
formerly.
1t was not Christ's idea of church
to get a brilliant preacher and trained
choir and then tell them to Draw
crowd or get III would be better to
have the real 'footights' with all acces
sions than to have such hybrid services
as some laymen demand. The Bishop
then said that, in character and eonse-
Grafton, many Of tfra preachers Of to-day
would fully compare with any of their
forbears. The theological controversies
OF the olden times greatly helped to
draw audiences We have to stand for
principle, not polity to-day, and TO pros
claim morals. not methods. We should
not 20 after FISH already strung but
the rather get out and gather IN the
great mass Of the unchurched.
Not f-aggFandisement, but the eNal-
tation Of Christ and the church should be
the all-ahsorbing motive. lie must in
crease and ! must decrease should be as
true to-day as when John the Baptist
said IT,
Tho average layman Is spiritually SUI
pclior to those Of IS years ago and the
preachers ef to-day must progress to
keep ahead. Ever onward must be the
motto. Every preacher has a great fight
on hand. sn3 The laymen should not
niniiy fas Ha8er nf tie minister By
needless rassn. nor should the preach
81 fail q ase the 4slle al faith.
fu leEnea S. nnecn laieIz boar the
bfith s. H af of ttt daf
hrisaq 4l3 EIaaalisu
H c1t pez w a14sr
stand game
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