The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-19
A PECULIAR PEOPLE.
Annual Conference of the Free
Methodist Church.
RELIGION WITHOUT ANY ERlLLs.
Denomination FolIowing Paths Of
Primitive Christianity Reviewing Its
Work in the Pacific Northwest.

iesserday afternoon the Free Methodists Of
oreeon aud Washington held the frst session Of
'neLf seventh annual conference in the Scandi-
nsnan Methodist church, at the corner of Fifth
ana Olive streets
Inc Free Methodists are not st present Q
strong sect in the Northwest, for their work
mere was begun within the last decade. The
cnuIen was organized August ., 1s6o. by con-
seuuon OF laymen and ministers from the
aetnooist Episcopal church, which met At
rekin, \. Y. Their discipline says Of
tnem, They 90 not believe that either God
o1 tne Bible was changed 70 accommodate
tns fashionable tendencies of the age" They
refuse 10 Join secret societies, dress themselves
Wiz extreme simplicity, wearing no gold nor
cossiy array. Their church government II thor
ougniy democratic, the laymen having an equal
voice with the ministers. Performance upon
musical instruments and singing by ehoirs in
puotc worship are prohibited They give no
countenance TO fairs, picnics or modern exps-
clients for promoting Christianity.
Kew. B. 7. Roberts, of North Chill, n. Y, the
senior general superintendent, presided yester-
day. Mr.. Roberts 10 one OF the leading men of
the denomination, and In the East is well
known from his philanthropic work. He
founded Free Methodist school at North Chilli
for years he has been the editor of the Eornest
Carfstto, and during period of four years he
edited the Free Aefhodist, the Official organ Of
the denomination.
The ministers present were: J. c. Norton,
Chairman Of the Wals wslla district; J. C.
Scott, Portland and Puget sound district; J.
Ladue, Colfax, J. Glen, of Dayton, Or, con-
ference evangelist: r. Wander veen, whatcom:
+. Caihy, Gresham, Or; Ira T. Ward, Snohom-
ish; c. McReynolds, Seattle. The lay delegates
are: II. NJ. FARMLAND, Seattle; John W. Tuttle,
Snohomish; G. Elder, Tacoma; William Kim
brough, Mount Vernon: w. L Welsh. Salem; J.
d. Bennett, East Portland; Il. II. Brown, Bay
Center; Mrs. II n. Brown, sodaville. Or; F. II.
summer, sunnyside. Clacksmas county, Or
Peter Haddle, Buckley; Mr.. Slayton, Blaine.
The conference is divided into two districts,
mentioned above. That of Walla WalIa includes
all OF Eastern Washington and Oregon, and that
OF Portland and Puget sound all of Western
Washington and Oregon Each is in charge Of q
chairman.
The main business of the afternoon was the
appointment Of the following committees:
On appolntments-President B. T. Roberts,
Chairman, J. C. Norton, Chairman J. c. Scott
T. n Sumner H. N. FARMLAND.
Public worship-B. T. Roberts, C. Z. Mercy
nolds, ]. C. Scott.
Publishing ninutss-J Lsdue, Ira r. Ward.
Education. Glen, J. c. Norton, J. c. Scott,
H. H. Pease. C. E. McReynolds. F. n Sumner.
Examiners on course of study. c. Norton,
J. c. Scott.
To receive conference collections for the gen.
eral superintendents-J. T. Watson.
To receive mission collections-F. Cathy.
For church extension and aid-F. N. Sumner.
For publishing minutes-J. 7. Watson.
Toward the end OF the afternoon session the
several clergymen made reports OF the work in
their several fields All the reports were favor
able, showing gratifying gains at every point
This part Of the exercises was followed By o
general discussion of the best means for promot-
ing the interests of the church.
The conference will remain in session the rest
of thu week, from to II As in the morning and
after O'Clock in the afternoon.
President Roberts, who is a splendid speaker,
preached powerful sermon last night IL was
doctrinal but was full of meat for his hearers,
most OF whom were members or followers of the
Free Methodist church.