Fourth Annual Session of the Vermont State Conference.
This meeting was held at West Enosburgh, Vt., Friday, June 16, according to appointment. Meeting opened with prayer by Eld. J. N. Andrews. Credentials of delegates were then called for and read by the Chair. Twelve delegates were present, representing eleven churches. The Secretary not being present, A. C. Bourdeau was appointed Secretary pro tem. On motion of A. C. Bourdeau, Bro. J. N. Andrews was invited to take a part with us in our deliberations. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The reports from the churches were read by the Secretary. The ministers belonging to the Conference being invited to read their reports on labors, receipts, and expenses, the following brethren responded: S. Pierce, A. Stone, A. S. Hutchins, and A. C. Bourdeau. Bro. Andrews read the report from D. T. Bourdeau. On motion, the Chair was authorized to appoint a committee of seven to nominate officers for the ensuing Conference year, whereupon the following brethren were appointed to constitute that committee, viz., J. N. Andrews, A. S. Hutchins, A. Stone, H. Bingham, L. Bean, Wm. White, and H. Peck. Adjourned to half-past 2 o'clock P. M. Afternoon session. Prayer by Bro. Hutchins. The Treasurer's report was then called for and accepted, showing the following result: | Cash in Treasury at close of last Conference year, |
$124.77 |
|---|
| Received during the year, |
608.12 |
| Total, |
$727.89 |
| Paid to ministers, |
$621.55 |
| Paid to D. T. Bourdeau, expenses to Battle Creek, Mich., |
25.00 |
| Paid on Missionary Fund, |
50.00 |
| Cash on hand to balance, |
31.84 |
| Total, |
$727.89 |
The erection of the meeting-house at Enosburgh was brought up for the consideration of the Conference; and in view of the fact that such a house is needed for State Conferences and large gatherings, and that the church in Enosburgh have contributed largely to this enterprise, and is the only church in Vermont which is sufficiently numerous to bear the burdens in entertaining such meetings, on motion of Bro. J. N. Andrews it was Resolved, That the Chair be authorized to appoint a committee to solicit means to meet the indebtedness incurred by A. C. Bourdeau in the erection of the meeting-house and shed belonging to it. Brn. H. Bingham, F. T. Wales, and E. Colby were appointed a committee to solicit means from the brethren present, and the following brethren were appointed a committee to solicit means from the friends in their respective localities: M. Gould, F. T. Wales, A. Cross, I. Stanhope, E. Colby, S. W. Willey, A. Stone, H. K. Pike, L. J. Hall, and W. G. Kendall. Adjourned to Sunday morning, at half-past 7. Met according to adjournment; prayer by A. C. Bourdeau. On motion of Bro. Andrews it was Resolved, That the churches belonging to this Conference be requested to settle up their s. B. fund to June 1, and then organize their s. B. so as to commence their financial year with the Conference year, and that our preachers are expected to see that this work is done at once. Resolved, That we request the churches to devote their whole s. B. fund to the Conference treasury, and that the clerk of each church is requested to make immediate returns to the Conference Secretary of the amount of their s. B. fund for the ensuing year. Voted, That the church at Jamaica be received into the Vermont Conference. The credentials of the following ministers were renewed: Stephen Pierce, Albert Stone, D. T. Bourdeau, and A. C. Bourdeau. The committee on nominations reported as follows: For President, S. Pierce; Secretary, D. T. Bourdeau; Treasurer, A. C. Bourdeau; Executive Committee, S. Pierce, D. T. Bourdeau, and A. C. Bourdeau. The report of the committee was accepted, and the brethren named were elected to the respective offices to which they were nominated. Moved, That the doings of this Conference be prepared by the Secretary to be published in the Advent Review. Carried. Adjourned to the call of the committee. S. PIERCE, President,
A. C. BOURDEAU, Secretary.