The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-10-05
ILLINOIS METHODIST.
Proceedings of tbs Rock River Conference at
Aurora This Morning

AWEOFh Auks MUEn1uks
AURORA, H., October 4.-The Rock
River Conference was opened this morn
ing by Bishop w. L. Harris, who read the
twenty second chapter of Luke, announced
hymn. and led the sacramental services.
The six presiding elders assisted, and the
conference partook of the holy emblems.
1t was a benediction, indeed, to see
Fathers s. r. Beggis, Louis Anderson, and
others of the veterans assisting in this
service.
One hundred and twenty eight members
answered the roll-call, and the conference
proceeded to business. Committees were
appointed on education, on Sunday school
and tracts, church extensions, freedman's s
aid, Bible cause, observance of the Sabbath,
temperance, seaman's cause, claims and
accounts of book concern, district con-
ference records periodicals, post offices,
accounts, woman's foreign missionary
society, financial aid, and on Mormon
polygamy. The conference stewarts were
also appointed to take charge of necessitous
cases.
DIR. R. S. Rush, secretary of the Freed
mans Aid Society, and Rev. David Hill, a
Wesleyan missionary from China, were in
troduced.
N NJ. Stokes was appointed treasurer
| of the Womans Missionary fund.- James
Baume, of the Episcopal fund; J. FL. Al
| ling, treasurer of the missionary moneys,
| and Jacob Hartman, Sunday school sec
retary.
A motion prevailed that it is not ad-
visable to publish detailed missionary re-
ports.
r. S. Cantine was chosen railroad secre-
| tary for the conference.
DR. Luke Hitchcock, Presiding Elder of
the Chicago district, gave good report of
the work of his immense charge. There
have been no troubles, but prosperity and
excellent financial progress; $63, 900 has
been paid on debts, nearly iquidating all
the membranes of the churches.
Presiding Elder C. E. Vaudeville, of the
Rockford district, reported progress on all
his charges. The new and elegant $35, ,0OC
Centennial church at Rockford is going nr
rapidly, and will soon be completed. On
twelve charges the salaries of the pastors
have been increased. The benevolent col
lections have been increased, and the
spiritual work has been blessed, and the
laborers faithful.
The Freeport district was reported by
Elder F P. Cleveland. 1t has twenty six
charges and fifty-one churches, and mos
of the churches have parsonages: Galena
Warren, Willow, Vanbrocklyn, Embury
Church, Freeport, have all made improve
ments, and the expense provided for
Eleven churches had glorious reyivals, anc
the camp meeting was excellent. The Sun
dav schools have had marked advances il
the whole district
Elder W. A Spencer, of the Dixon dis
trict has good report, and mentioned
many churches where salaries had beer
increased and the religious work ad
vanced.
The Mendoza district was called. an(
Elder Sanford Washburn answered tha
the pastors had been improving the church
es. Mendoza has paid its old debt, and i
is now free Princeton has also improved
Laneville is moving for new church
Plano has remodeled the church and i'm
proved it at cost of 81 400. The pastors
have tried to meet the apportionments TO
the collections, but will fall short. Th'
work of grace has progressed favorably
Life has been spared save in the case of j
f. Burns, of Plano, who has died. Tn
elder paid deserved tribute to his mem
, ory.
Elder J. M. Caldwell, of Joliet, reported
twenty-six charges, no deaths among th'
pastors or families. The Elder ha
: preached 300 times, travelled 10000 miles
{ and held four quarterly conferences. Tn
a camp meetings were admirable, and man,
: were converted. The district conference
- was discontinued. Fourteen churche
have been improved. and debts have bee
paid 50 that not $500 now remain
Il against the churches in the district Owe
1900 persons have united with the peopl
of Sod during the year, and the prospects
are excellent.
Il The conference business to-day has pro
4 gressed with remarkable speed, doing al
most two days W ork in one. No troubl
: whatever appeared
Rev. r. s. Rust called the attention O.
| the conference to the claims of the Freed
mems Aid Society. The Doctor is thun
der-storm of eloquence on his chosel
: theme.