Omaha daily bee., 1883-07-26
METHODIST METHODS.
The Ministers Meeting and What They
Talked About.
A Lively Discussion Over the Three
Years Limitation of. Pastors
-To-Day's Programme.

The district conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church opened yesterday
morning with religious services, con-
Quoted by Rev. c. Smith, of Missouri
Valley. The roll was called, and the
following clergymen present:
w. s. Hooker, presiding elder; p. F.
Bresee, j. u. Armstrong, and Wilbur
Fisk, Council Bluffs; j. w. Coe, Aston;
j. w. Adair, Logan; w. G. Smith,
Woodbine; +. Lymer, Coin; S. Smith,
Missouri Valley; Charles Brown, Little
Sioux; +. Brown, Dunlap; A. 4. Crit
fifth, Glenwood; w. L. Edmunds, Emer-
son; G. L. Nye, Hamburg; w. j. Beck,
Sidney; f. Harris, Farragut; G. j.
Eckles, Shenandoah; w. r. Douglas,
Plum Hollow; G. w. Brewer, Essex; j.
s. Morrow, Dow City; G. III. Burleigh,
College Springs; d. Pruitt, Hastings; E.
M. II. Fleming, Council Bluffs.
Rev. G. l.. Nye, of Hamburg was elect
cd secretary.
Various committees wore appointed,
and reports were received from the pas
tors of the different charges.
Rev. Mr.. Squires presented the claims
of the American bible society.
Rev. Mr.. Marsh, of London, presented
the work in England.
The afternoon session opened with re-
ligious services, conducted by Rev. E.
Lymer, of Coin.
The report from local preachers, Sun
day school superintendent, district
stewards and class leaders were received.
The transfer of Rev. p. f. Breesee to
the south California conference was an
nounced.
The committee on the state of the
church reported as follows:
"The reports show good and faithful
work by all concerned, that the charges
are in good condition spir-
itablly, and in the securing
of church property, payment of debts,
etc. In view of the general discourage
ment of the early part of the season to
the farming interest and the recent ca
lamities Detailing a considerable part of
the district by wind and hail storms, it is
not surprising that the benevolent collec-
tions fall short of that expected. So far
rs reported we find the benevolent col
~lections to be about $3.50 from this dis.
trict which may be increased. The total
number of accessions are 789 which indi-
Gates a good degree of prosperity.
The committee on the pastoral term
limitation reported, a majority favorable,
and a minority report opposing a removal
of the limit was presented. Under the
present system a pastor cannot re-
main on one charge longer than
three years, and formerly the
limit was two years. The'majority of
the committee to whom the matter was
referred, reported in favor of doing away
with any time limitation whatever. A mi
nority report was presented dissenting
from this. The discussion was an ANNA
ted one and many keen thrusts were
made in the arguments, though all in
the spirit of personal kindliness. The
vote was in favor of the minority report,
and against doing away with the time
limitations.
The programme for last evenings SEES
sion opened with religious services, led
by Rev. w. r. Douglas, and addresses
on missions. "Home Missions, "by Rev.
ID. Austin, and 1.-The Missionary Spirit
Essential to Church Life" by Rev. ~.
T.. Griffith.
To-day will be the closing one of the
conference, and the programme arranged
is rs follows:
MORNING.
$3.50. Opening Services .......C. w. Brewer
900. Conference business.
IL 100. "Denominationalism" ...P. +. Bresee
AFTERNOON.
200. Opening service ..........J. w. Adair
2:l5. Proper use of books in w n Smith
pulpit preparations,
300. Unity of Methodism". Bro. Lawton,
400. Adjournment.