Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-30
THE M~ETHODISTS.
Opening Exercises of the Helena District
Conference-Reports of Gharges-The
Members Entertained at the Parsonage
Mt Noon.

At $50 o'clock, on Thursday morning,
Presiding Elder Stanley took the chair and
called the Helena District Conference to
order. He announced hymn eli, II Love
thy Kingdom, Lord" which "a sung with
much interest and warmth by the confer
ence, after which a most touching and
spiritual prayer was offered by the chair
man. He then read parts OF the first and
second chapters of the Acts of the Apostles
| and the fourth chapter OF Second CORN
thians, offering brief comments while read
ing. The conference then Joined
in singing, ''Close to Thee"
| Prayer was offered by the Rev.
]. q. johnson of Bozeman, after which the
hymn beginning, "a charge to keep have, "
was sung, when another prayer was offered
by Rev. &. s. Clark of Helena. After a
brief address by Chairman Stanley in which
he INDUCED the hope that the deliberations
OF the body would be for mutual edifica-
ton, Rev. A. C. Couey, the secretary of tn,
last session, called the roll OF delegates, and
| the following brethren answered to their
names:
Revs. E. Stanley, w. NJ. Britt, S. w.
Barker, A. C. Couey, j. B. Parnall, I. w.
Flowers, r. s. Clark and John Moore. Rev.
J.. B. Parnall was elected secretary.
On motion of Rev. T. w. Flowers. the
hours Of meeting and adjournment were
fixed at 9 O'Clock to IL, and 2:3O O'Clock
to 5. The bar of the conference was fixed
at the fourth pew from the chancel.
A committee on quarterly conference
records and one on public worship were ap-
pointed by the chair.
Rev. J. Fl. johnson of Boseman was in
PRODUCED to the conference. and invited TO
| participate in the proceedings oil the BODY.
Helena station was called, and Rev. w.
NJ. Britt, the pastor, reported his york.
The spiritual condition OF his charge wa
greatly improved-while his membership
were good. Methodists, they were
| equally as good Christians. The finances
would all be met. One remark of the
preacher concerning his people OF the CAPT
tai city caused a smile in the conference
room. In speaking of the number OF chill
dren who attended his ministry, he said,
my people do have children" As assost-
ate editor OF the Montana Methodist,
published at Helena, he reported it in a
| prosperous condition, financially and 9TH
erwise.
At IL O'Clock, Rev. W. NJ. Britt.preaehed
on justification by. Faith" He said that
faith only would bring pardon to the PEN
itent believer. He would not discuss the
| subject from a controversial standpoint,
but having recently heard apreacher assert
that there were thirteen conditions OF par
| don, he felt if t o be his duty to assert on
| the authority of Cots word that while a
sinner might do many things nothing pre-
vailed but faith. Our constitution is such
that man can be saved in no other way-It
is not only scriptural, but philosophical as
well.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The afternoon session was opened with
reading and prayer by Rev. r. s. Clark of
Helena. Chairman Stanley assumed the
| chair. The minutes II the morning session
were read. and after slight emendation,
were approved. The regular minute bust
ness was then taken up. The Helena cir
cult, represented by Rev. r. S. Clark, is in
a healthy condition. Rev. A. c. Couey
read a paper on How to secure the co.
operation of the entire church." which pro-
voked quite a lively discussion, the confer.
ence agreeing generally with the essayist.
NOTES.
At the conclusion OF the morning session
the chairman OF the conference announced,
by request, that the members were all re-
quested to meet Immediately in the parlor
| OF the parsonage. Pastor Couey and wife
welcomed the conference to their pleasant
home, but Mr.. Thomas Steiss was master
Of ceremonies. The body was soon invited
to the dining room where a full table
awaited their coming. Mr.. Steiss said that
for the time the pastor and his family would
be considered non est, and that be-
cause. of the faithfulness of Mr..
Couey his parishioners had spread the
| board in his own house in honor of the
members of the District Conference, and he
was then invited to share with them the
feast that was but a slight expressi n Of
their appreciation of his ministerial ser
vices.
On behalf of the conference, President
Stanley made an impromptu reply, which
was abort and sweet" but was so very
felicitous that many eyes were moistened
by tears o! reciprocal gladnes1. Rev. &. 5.
Clark offered thanks to the Oliver OF ali
blessings, and the inner mar was made
glad.
Rev. J. Fl. johnson of Bozeman has on
hand at the conference DON a supply of
good books, which he will sell at reason
able rates-histories, biographies, etc.
Rev. W. F. Goulden of the Lozeman dis
trict was introduced to the conference.
and invited to take a seat within the
body.
The sermon last night was preached by
Rev. J. 81. johnson of Bozemap. His cub
ject was Christ, the Theme OF the Pulpit
The Office and work OF Christ we're dwelt
upon, and the preacher'sduty was sketehed
in a manner that impressed all the clergy
present with an overwhelming sense of their |
divine mission. One sentence We wish to put |
upon record: Conversion is az deep as re-
pentance; repentance is as deep as convict
ton; conviction is as deep as the gospel
that is preached" |
Rev. E. C. Finley arrived from Boulder |
before the service closed last night. Rev.
W. NJ. Britt, on account OF a revival, was
compelled to leave for Helena yesterday |
afternoon. |
The citizens OF Butte are entertaining |
the members OF the conference and the Wis
iting brethren from a distance with a true
Western hospitality.
SIM. |