Omaha daily bee., 1890-06-08
! THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
Meeting of the Committee Having the
Amir in CharEc.

mas resources lOf entertaining Juc UCNJ
general conference of the Methodist Episco-
pal church mct the local committee Of seven
and members Of the committee Of one hun
dred in the new club room Of the Paxton last
evening. Among the Onahans present were
Bishop Newman, II. +. Clarke, Max Meyer,
General Lowe, Clark Woodman, j. l.. Nc
Cague, Mr.. Robinson, c. +. Wellar, Colonel
Scott, Samuel Burns, Rev. c. w Savidgc,
Rev j. Il. Ensign, A. T. Rector and others
In the absence of General Gown, chairman
of the committee of seven, Bishop Newman
nominated H. r. Clarke as chairman of the
meeting Upon taking the chair Mr.. Clarke
said: "These gentlemen by whom we have
been called upon to meet tonight, have been
appointed a commission to investigate whether
this city can entertain the next general con
ference of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The last general conference designated this
city as the place for holding the
coference. and seven brethren of this
city were appointed at local meet
ing to see what could be done in
the way or transportation and entertainment
of delegates Two years from now the way
to obtain assstancesfrom the railroads would
be more clear than it is now. The officers
cannot pledge themselves so far ahead, as,
Wullc 'IlCS uEt connected WIN CERTAIN ldll-
roads today, they may be connected with
others tomorrow. When the time comes
there is no doubt but that we will receive
ample accommodations from them. In speak
ing with the bankers of the city
/ find that they, are particularly
and so are the mercantile houses and all busi-
ness men of the city. ] do not think it advis-
able to begin active work yet among these
gentlemen, but | speak the sentiment of
Omaha when say we are well able to take
care of these people and that we can make it
to your interest as well as ours to meet here.
We will take you in and care for you and
from what you have seen today am sure that
you are satisfied that we can fulfill any prom
iSeS we make
EMr Clark Woodman stated that he had
talked with a number of railroad officials,
and, while they were not willing to make any
pledges so far ahead he was assured from
what they said that when the proper time
came liberal rates would be offered. He was
certain that all denominations of church peo-
pie in Omaha would take pleasure in enter
tanning the delegacts and visitors to the con
ference.
Mr.. Max Meyer was called upon by the
chairman Omaha, he said, had never done
anything by halves yet, and never would.
There had never been single body assem-
bled here-and there had been some large
ones--but that had been well entertained and
whose members had gone away well satisfied.
In Omaha, he said, it was not necessary to
begin preparatory work in a matter of this
kind two years in advance Thirty days
would be sufficient in this rushing western
city, and when the guests of the city left
they would go with desire to come again.
j. l.. McCague said that there could be no
question of Omaha's ability to entertain the
conference. Her present hotel and hall facil-
tiles were in themselves sufficiently commo-
dious, but if there were any possibility of IL
doubt as to this, other halls and other hotels
were to be built in the immediate future, and
would be completed before the meeting of the
conference.
Mr. Robinson spoke to the same effect
Mr. c. +. Weller was certain that if the
conference should meet here it's members
would be handsomely entertained. There
was but one sentiment among the citizens,
and that was to entertain the conference and
entertain it royalty.
Colonel Scott said that his father and
mother belonged to the Presbyterian church,
but that he had a warm place in his heart for
the Methodists ~ $40 oha have been told"
Was that all. If it were 100000 we
would raise it. Omaha. is no tive-cent
place, gentlemen. In old England they
build u foundation and then give it two years
to settle before building the superstructure.
In Omaha we build the superstructure first
and then the foundation. 81 will promise you
one thing, brethren, if you come here; we will
give you the finest yellow-legged chickens in
in the world'
Samuel Burns and Rev. Mr. Savidgc're
iteratcd that Omaha would not be rcmiss in
entertaining the conference.
A. +. Rector said that one man had raised
81 ,0O0 for the Bradshaw sufferers in a few
minutes, and taking that for a criterion, it
would not require much time to raise $4,000
for the conference.
Colonel Finley spoke of the growth and
achievements of Omaha. Omaha had enter
tanned the Presbyterian conference and could
that of the Methodist brethren He was
willing to be one of 300 to pledge 800 each to
make up the $50, 600 said to be required.
Mr.. Dale said that from his talks with busi-
ness men he was assured that there need be no
difficulty in the matter of funds.
The gentlemen forming the commission, by
request, then spoke briefly. They all com
plimentcd the city highly and the enterprise
of its citizens. From what they said there
seemingly was but one obstacle to the con
ference coming here, and that was the ques-
tion of suitable building for holding the
meetings. Mr. Hobbs said that he wanted to
make correction. THE BEE had stated that
Chicago was after the conference This was
not true. Chicago had it once and was will
ing for some other city to entertain it noW
He spoke of Omaha's elegantly paved streets
her admirable system of street transit, her
business blocks and electric lights He would
who had never seen the west and
it. and then, he w SAID, the
Methodist church was church of temperance
anu llllSuI uO SOluGlulllB lOWdTuS uOlHS away
with those vipers he had seen in too many of
Omaha's handsome blocks-the saloon.
Mr.. Shinlilcr of Covngton, Ky, spoke of
the practical necessities of a conference and
questioned whether Omaha had suitable
building for its accommodation he had heard,
he didn't know how exactly, that Omaha
was not possessed of sufficient accommoda-
tions for the conference, that was why the
commission had been appointed. 1t was to
investigate soon into Omaha's facilities in
order that if it should be found that she was
unable to take care of the delegates another
place might be selected. He was sure that
the people of Omaha were liberal people
and he didn't know why the action of the
general conference in nominating Omaha for
the place for holding the next CON
ference should not be carried out, but
for one thing. Where could its meetings be
held! The Coliseum wouldn't do, it was too
far out and, speaking entirely for himself he
considered it in no wise suitable. He liked
Omaha and respected her power and zeal.
Mr. Magee said that it had been stated that
Boston objected to Omaha and he wanted to
refute this statement as it was not true.
DIR. Palmer spoke eloquently of the natural
beauties that surrounded Omaha. AS for
himself he came from Gotham, village too
small to build monument to General Grant;
village which had surrendered to Chicago
the worlds fair, and whose own Depew
had lifted his silver voice at the
dedication of Chicago's auditorium
There should be no more section