Omaha daily bee., 1886-09-11
NETHODISTS IN MEETING.
Reports Of the Good Work Done During
tire Year Just Ended.
POLITICIANS AND PREACHERS
Have Their Photographs Taken
Mourning the Death OF Two Be-
loved Clcrgymnn-That Long
Windcd Will Case.
POLITICIANS AND PREACHERS
Tho OnrcrrnCc.

Yesterday morning Bishop Bowman
called the conference to order, and after
devotional exercises, led by Rev. n. T..
Galliday, ID. d., the presiding elders of
the DGs Moincs dictrict, Atlantic district,
Boone district, Charlton district, and
Corning district made their reports, the
elders in each district reported.
Presiding Elder Blodgett of the At
lantic district, reported:
There is not to my knowledge single
official member in the district in whose home
card PLAYING and dancing are practlced, anu L
am tempted to say or in the home OF any
other member. This is attributed TO the faith
ful preaching of the pastors and the moral
backing given them by the church The re-
suit of such preaching is over thousand con-
versions The net increase OF membership
will not figure up to its real status, as careful
attention has been given to the church rec
ords. Within the district there are but two
towns where open saloons are found,
The ministers and people have been fear
less in the fight for home and law. Some
have suffered by it--othcrs have endangered
their lives The prayer and class meetings
are exceptionally well attended. The mem
bcrship OF the district will figure to 1000 and
beyond. Five churches have been erected
and dedicated and paid for. Indebtedness
on churches aud parSOnagcS have been so far
liquidated that there is now nothing owing
ON twenty of the twcnty-one parsonageS-
and but small amount on four OF the thirty
eight churches.
Total expenditure in paying odd debts inn
proving and building new churches and par
sonages will exceed SlI, 900. There has also
been u creditabe increase in periodicals
taken, but here there is room for improve
mcnt. Our Sunday schools take Methodist
literature.
The total increase in salary allowed aggre-
gates 81 ,OOO-per centage paid not rs good as
The various benevolent societies have not
been sighted. Six conventions were held in
February and March. The district was as
sessed 50 cents per member for missions, or
$3.50. We raise 81, 10, going beyond mil
lion dollar line $500. This has been done not
at the expense of the other collections for
they are generally full.
j. w. Weble, ID. d.. presiding elder of
the Des Moines district, reported that:
The district this year has had divnely
human uplft Our special lines of effort
have been: l. For their spiritual life and
conversion of sinners. 2. Benevolence.
3. The dissemination OF our literature and
intellectual culture. 4. Material improve
ments, seeking first the kingdom" the
others have been added, as bloom and foliage
follow the dawn OF spring
TO our own surprise there have been l, ,226
conversions and accesslons this year in the
Des MoineS district. Perhaps the like was
never known in its history, almost wholly
the results on the human side OF our own
pastors laDOIS.
Simpson college, after a successful year,
was deprived of her president by resigna-
tion, but we believe the reports from trustees
and faculty will omen great and good things
for the future.
As to salaries and benevolences we fully
| expect the largest collections IN the districts
| history. Rev. Joel A. Smith did noble
| service in helping lis, and we believe our
selues beyond the golden line 1t has been
| quite hard work, never harder in my life. L
| have done my best for 365 days, and that is
| all an archangel can do in year.
The following are the officers and board
managers of the Conference Missionary
| society, elected at the anniversary eXer-
| cises last Thursday evening:
President, w. A. Chambers; secretary,
A. w. Armstrong; treasurer, j. M. Con
rad.
Managers, E. d. McCreary, J. R. Hors-
we'll, Cyrus Smith, I. w. Vinson, L..
Joan, W. j. Beck, w. f. Harmed.
The anniversary of the Woman's For
eign Missionary society will be held Sat
urday, at $50 p. m. Report by Confer
ence Secretary Miss l.. Pearson. Address
by Rev. M. G. Wilcox, returned mission
ary.
Rev. DR.. Ridgaway, president of the
| Garrett Biblical institute, Evanston, H.,
| is visiting the conference and will dedi-
cate the new NJ. +. shurch ut Adel, Iowa,
| tomorrow. His pleasant countenance is
| always welcome at Des Moines confer
| ence.
Substantial abstracts of titles and real
| estate loans. j. w. u f. l.. Squire No.
| 1O1 Pearl street, Council Bluffs.
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