The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-14
RELIGIOUS ASSEMBLIES
INDIANA M. e. CONFERENCE TO
MEET AT EVANSVILLE THIS WEEK.
Bishop Merrill to Preside-Church
Statistics-LOwer Wabash L. ID.
Conference Appointments.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. Sept. 13.-Indiana
Methodist Episcopal Conference will hold
it's sixty-fifth session here, beginning Sept.
16 in Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.
The pastor of this influential charge. c. E.
Bacon, in closing pastorate extending
few months over the five-year limit De
PAW University. of which he is an alum
nus, at the recent commencement conferred
on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity.
His ministry at Trinity has been success
full in every way, and his people part with
him with regret. An old debt has been
lifted by DIR. Bacon, for which the people
greatly rejoice.
Trinity and all Evansville Methodism will
entertain the conference most delightfully."-.
The city has enjoyed a rapid growth the
past few years, and is now the second city
of the State in size and commercial enter
prise and has about 5000 inhabitants.
Bishop Merrill, of Chicago, will be the
president of the conference. This will be
the second session of the body since the
reunion of Indiana and Southeast Confer
ences The minutes of the last session
show a membership of $40 names on the
roll; superannuated preachers, 81; super
numerary 10, effective full members, 233
probationers, 81. Three hundred and three
answered to their names at the roll call of
the last session. This large membership
makes the matter of free entertainment a
serious one.
This will be the fifth time that Indiana
Conference will have met in Evansville
The first time in October, 1877 with
Bishop Waugh president and Matthew
Simpson as secretary. The church reported
a membership of 80. 745. The second time
was in October, 1853. Bishop Ames presiding
rI-a.z
Conference having been formed, the men,
bership reported for Indiana Conference at
this session 20,956. In September 1863
Bishop Arnes again held the session of the
conference and S. Bowers was secretary
membership of the church reported as 81
707. The fourth time in September
1879, with Bishop Peck in the chair and j
Pontcher secretary; membership, SO, oS1
The total membership of the church to be
represented in this next gathering of the
united conferences is S7,461. including pro-
bationers. Il. A. Kemp has been confer
ence secretary for the past fifteen years
and none is more accurate or efficient The
conference sermon will be preached by II
a. Buchtel, who Is closing a five years
paStorate at Central-aVenue Church In
dianapolis: The missionary sermon will be
preached by {. n. Sims, pastor OF Merid-
ian-street Church. Indiana polls In his
early ministry he was a pastor of Trinity,
congregation, and his old friends will hear
him with great pleasure again.
The conference has nine districts The
presiding elders were requested TO meet
during the year to see if an adjustment
could not be made that the districts
could be reduced one, at least and possibly
two, making seven for the entire confer
ence. 1t is now less than week until the
meeting OF the conference, but your CORE
spondent has not learned of any meeting
of the presiding elders for that purpose as
yet. j. w. Dashiell, presiding elder of East
Indianapolis district, is the only one whose
term of Office expires by limitation As
there is a movement on among the charges
of Indianapolis asking that all the city be
put in one district. il seems that now would
4nD0rtHna N Vast Ind Hon
apo5ts district. which would make one less
DR.. Dashiell has had very successful term
in this district. and will leave his work in
excellent condition. There are six pastors
VINO will have 10 move account of the