The herald., 1896-09-25

II ID Now 10 Session Wit. . Large
Atteadance


The Southern California Methodist
conference met In Simpson tabernacle
Wednesday morning at o'clock, with
Bishop Cyrus D. Foss, d. D.. LII. D..
presiding and about two hundred min
.sters In attendance. After communion.
, Bishop Foss addressed the conference.
! and the conference proceeded with BUSH
ness. the remainder Of the day being
taken up in routine work.
At the afternoon session the anniver-
sary meeting Of the ministers. wives
took place, with Mrs. j., w. Van Cleve
presiding. A number Of interesting
papers were read.
The evening session was. devoted to
subjects Of church extension. Freed
| mems Aid and Southern Educational
society, the speakers being Revs. F. v.
Fisher and e. O. Mcintyre. The urgent
need for still further work was elo-
quently. discussed by the speakers.
YESTERDAYS SESSION
The conference opened yesterday
morning with devotional, services con-
Quoted by Rev DR.. Cox, after which
statistical reports were heard, and the
presiding elders reported on the prog
ress of their respective districts the past
year. Rev. T. C. Miller told of the Fres-
no district, Rev. Green Of the Los An
geles and Rev e w. Caswell of San
Diego. The conditions Of the three dis
tricts were said to be good.
The matter, of Grace church property
was settled and through the generosity
Of Stephen M: White, Henry T. Gage AMI
Judge Variel, that church has been
saved to- the congregation.
For years past there has been litiga-
ton between the Sanchez heirs and the
trustees OF the church over the possess
ion of the land on First street on which
the church stands. Recently the su-
preme court decided in favor Of the heirs.
who were. thus given possession of the
front part OF the lot on First, while
the church was awarded only
the rear part which was prac-
tIcally worthless. The heirs were
were given an undivided third In the
front land on First street. %
These gentlemen offered to dispose of
their interest to the church for about
$780, the cost Of the litigation, and the
proposition was laid before the con-.
vention this morning. A'resolution was
first introduced and passed appealing
to- the public and to the conference. to
assist the congregation Of Grace church.
Rev. Will A. fKnighten, the pastor OF
Grace church, was given the floor, and
made an eloquent and touching appeal
for aid. He reviewed what had been
accomplished in the district in the sew
en- years that he had had charge, and
dwelt at some length on the. necessity
of a church in that district. He told of
the noble sacrifices made by the people
in building up the church. and asked
that they should not be allowed to be
scattered and broken up. He outlined
the offer of the attorneys and said that
about $1,000 would be needed to pur-
chase their third, and for additional
expenses. and then the remaining third
| Of the lot GOULD: probably be secured
from the Sanchez heirs.
Rev. NJ. d. Green, presiding elder of
the Los Angeles district; Rev. Mclean,
the pastor of Simpson church: Rev.J.
| A.sB: Wilson, pastor Of the First Metho-
| dist church.. Rev L. NJ. Hartley and
others followed Mr.. Knighten and made
| earnest appeals. At the conclusion of
the remarks the various pastors went
TO- the deiegates and In q short tin1H had
secured thet necessary amount.
-r:1... i,;refPwCRTH LEAGUE.
In Simpson tabernacle at / o'clock the
Epworth League convention Of the
| Southern California conference was
called to- order by H. H. Baker. the
Devotional services for the next half
hour were conducted by. Rev. Martin
Hilbish, after which Rev. w. L. Miller
delivered an address on the Epworthian
Aim Of Today. W.
Three papers, were read. The first was
on Revivals in the League. Miss Abbie
L. Halls; the second, Missions in the
League. M. S. MCGEE. A. b.: and the
third. Opportunities of the League Mrs.
M. L. Sloan. The department confer
ence followed and was conducted by
Clinton Bradley. Miss Cora Day, Rev.
StabIer.
At $3.50 o'clock the question drawer
was conducted by Rev. J. A. b. Wilson,
D. d. A business session concluded the
afternoons work.
In the evening Rev Clarence Tine
wilson. A. B.. delivered an address on
The Force Of Forces, after which came
the conservation. services. 81,