Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-05-02
DISCUSS CENTENARY
PROGRAM FUND
One of the Days Features of the
Vermont Methodist Confer
ence at st. J0hnsbury

. st. Johnsbury, April 25.-The days Aes-
sion of the 74th annual meeting Of the
Vermont Methodist conference opened to-
day with a large gathering in the Grace
Methodist Episcopal Church, The quiet
hour was conducted by DR.. T. L. Frost Of
Bradford,
The Rev. W. Shaw reported that an
exceptional year had been experienced in
the st, Johnsbury district due to the
changes that were made in many Of the
pastorates. over go men have been called
to the colors and have responded and six
young women have gone as Red Cross
nurses from the Methodist Churches In
the district. With reference to tho union
services which were held last winter, he
thought if such a condition of things
existed next year the better plan for the
maintenance OF the efficiency Of the work
would lie to worship in the vestrics in
preference to holding union services A
large number of the changes were re-
ported Increases In membership and while
several reported losses the result would
show an increase OF about rs in the men,
bership of the district
The Rev. Elmer A. Leslie Of Cambridge,
Mass. spoke Of the unique opportunity
they had at Cambridge to influence the
body Of student life there. In order to
meet this there had been established a
Wesley foundation at Harvard University
for the social and religious care of the
students In Cambridge. He asked tho
Vermont conference to appoint a repre-
sentative on that board of trustees.
On motion Of the Rev. w. Shaw, the cab
net was authorized to appoint represent
tative on the foundation
DR.. Arters Of Washington, d. c., pre-
scented the cause Of the board of temper
ance. respecting the national prohibition
fight. He claimed that the liquor traffic
had now the largest corruption fund ever
raised In the liquor interest. It was SO
large that s150.0OO could be offered as the
price which could be placed at the back
OF very one of the 1863 men who were
needed to defeat national prohibition in
the Legislature this coming winter He
reminded the conference that 1t would
only take 10 States to defeat national pro-
hibition.
Fraternal greetings were presented
to the conference Of behalf of the
churches of ST. Johnsbury by the Rev.
c. 1. Eaton. Universalist Church of the
Messiah; the Rev. F. B. Richards.
North Congregational Church; the Rev.
Fl. B. Rankin of Newport, for the
Baptist State convention; the Rev. c.
II. Merrill, Vermont Domestic Mission
airy society; the Rev. f. A. Poole.
South Congregational Church: the
Rev. L. E. Peabody, Advent Church.
and the Rev. A. S. Woodwork, Baptist
Church.
Bishop Hughes felicitously respond
ed on behalf Of the conference.
c. D. Williams spoke on behalf of
the New England Deaconness associa-
ton. c. r. Magee of Boston on behalf
of the book concern, presented the con-
ference with a cheque for $3.50 for
the conference claimants fund.
The afternoon and evening sessions
We're devoted to the presentation of
the centenary program by which the
Methodist Episcopal Church Is an
ticipating to raise ss0,000.000 for home
and foreign missionary work. Rousing
speeches were delivered by Bishop e.
Fl. Hughes, DR.. F. B. Fisher of New
York, DR.. B. T. Bailey of India and
DR.. e. L. Mills of Philadelphia.