The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-25
THE INDIAN MISSION CONFERENCE.
To the Editor Of the Eagle


To the Editor Of the Eagle
The Indian mission conference con-
vened at Guthrie on Jan. 10, and adj
| journed Jan. 18th at half-Past p. m. 4,
sine die, Bishop Bowman, senior bishop
of the Methodist Episcopal church, pre-
siding. This was one of the most enjoy
able conferences the writer ever had the
! pleasure of attending. In every sense OF
the word. the conference was a success,
and wonderfully encouraging to all in
terested. The bishop closed the confer
ence at half-past 9 p. m, reading of the
appointments seventy-eight IN number,
| (7S) and to be presided over by four pre-
siding elders a., and one general super
intendant of missions, Rev. b. c. Swartz,
who at present resides in Kansas, but
who will hereafter be fully identified by
a residence among his people here In the
territory. The Rev. E. F. Hill, pastor of
the First Methodist Episcopal church Of
Guthrie, where the conference was held,
fairly eclipsed his best efforts OF 'auld
lang syne" in accommodating the con-
ference, and visiting brethren; all were
well taken care of by the hospitable clti-
zens of this infant city. The church
building, is large, handsome, inviting,
well ventilated audience room, seating
very comfortably 700, and Bro. Hill de-
serves great credit for planning, complet-
ing and also in securing six handsome lots,
on part Of which, this house of worship
is situated, the building would be credit
to any city numbering $4,000 people.
Are the readers of the EAGLE aware, do
they realize the importance of this con-
ference, the present and the future pos
sibilities, of this now seemingly small,
and Insignificant beginning Mark well,
and digest, this is to be an empire, pop
ulated by an intelligent wlde-a-wake
people, people numbering now in the
year of grace 1891, 235, 900, and an area
in round numbers, of 500 miles, by
nearly 800, and-the finest climate on
the continent, and the soil unsurpassed
for its productiveness! Very true, It's
yet an infant, but In one or two years,
will be hercules, and fully able TO
strangle any serpent or serpents sent to
destroy! Does any one for moment
suppose that because we had a six weeks
drouth, and poor crop, that the Anglo
Saxon spirit is in any sense daunted or
ready to Weld? No; ten thousand times
no. What of it; if the mountains are on
either hand, the Red sea in front, and
Egyptian hosts in the rear, we are going
forward, for ''the Lord of hosts is with
US. the God of Jacob is our refuge"
We have been member of the Metho-
dist church for over a half century;
have enjoyed numerous annual confer
ences, but have never met more de-
voted, cheerful body of minis
tiers and laymen, than at this
conference; all of them, without single
exception poor, very poor; but rich In
faith and trust in God and in his over
ruling providence. Will you believe the
writer, when we state as fact, that
many received less than hundred dol
lars for years work!!! THIS would
prove to the most sceptical that the spirit
of self sacrifice, nay! the old, old martyr
spirit, still abode in the church of the
living God. More than fifty church edl-
fees erected during the year 1890, all of
them comfortable and attractive, many
of them a credit TO a civilization twenty
years older than this infant country, one
and half years in age. How did the
people manage to build these structures
for worship? By the grace of God, and
poverty. The Church Extension soci-
ETY. of the Methodist Episcopal church
furnished part of the funds, and the peo-
pie, out of their meagre supplies, the
balance. The board of church extension
of the conference authorized the build
ing of five new churches as start for
the new year; pretty good beginning,
we think A university for the entire
territory was also favorably considered,
and already there are two hundred acres,
as a gift, and 5000, as starter, offered
to the conference, at a central, easily
accessible point; and six hundred acres
and $50, 900 would meet with ready
response This will be offered ere long,
and will fix the location.
WILLIAM F. WOLFE.