The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-09-30
The CONFERENCE.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE FlFTY-sEV'
ENTH ANNUAL MEETING.

ing Ine I1lSb Va <ARRO@
Enthusiasm Manifested and Very
Successful Session.
The 57th session Of the North Ohio Con-
ference began at 8 O'clock. Wednesday
morning, September 90. Bishop Chas.
H. Fowler, L. L. D., presiding. The sac
ramental service was impressive, and
large number cOmmuned together with
the same simplicity and devOutness Of
soul that characterized the older church.
When the secretary Of the last session
called the roll, 1877 ministers answered to
their names; two, G. A. Peters and T. j.
Pope were reported as having passed
from the itineracy to the ranks Of
crowned members Of the conference.
Vim. Kepler, Phi. D., was elected secre-
tary. No other name was mentioned for
the place so ably filled by DR.. Kepler and
for a longer period than any of his pre-
decessors. DR.. +. A. Gould and j. T. N.
Braithwaite were chosen assistants. P.
F. Graham was selected for statistical
secretary. Several conferences before
have given him the honor.
Rules Of order Of the last session were
adopted.
The various standing committees were
nominated by the presiding elders and
confirmed by the conference. Drafts on
the book concern for $1471 and on the
chartered fund for $25 were drawn in
favor of the superanuated preachers and
their widows. This supplemented by
conference collections for this purpose
and by the interest on funds invested by
the Northern Ohio Preachers Aid Associa-
tion will reach $22S0, not large sum
to divide among many claimants, too
small, no doubt, for their needs and yet a
great boon to worn and weary men, who
have done the church noble service.
Bishop ThOburn, Of India, was intro
duced to the conference. DR.. Lewis
Curtis, agent for the Methodist Book Con-
Germ, of Cincinnati, addressed the con-
ference on the publishing interests. DR..
S. F. Upham, of Drew Theological semi
nary, pressed the claims Of that institu-
tion and other similar schools on the
conference. 'Tis fact, and most graft
flying to the conference, that many young
men are coming into its ranks who have
been trained in the college and the theO-
logical seminary. The times demand
this training and the church is rising to
meet the demand.
DR.. c. H. Payne, sec'y Of the board of
education, represented its work. Child
ren's day is becoming great power in
the church, and its moneys assisted more
than one thousand young men and wom-
en- last year to keep at their studies.
On call of the 18th question, "Was the
Character of Each Preacher Examined"
the Wooster district was reported by
George Mather, and the Sandusky dis
trict by DR.. f. S. Hoyt. As each minis
ter's name was called, his character was
passed and he reported his benevolence
collections. Only one name was arrest
ed and that was afterward passed. Verify
every man shall give account Of his work.
This simple call means volumes to a
Methodist preacher and the church.
The Bishop announced that $1474 must
be raised this year coming toward the
Episcopal Fund.
Conference adjourned with doxolgy
and benedictiOn.
A short session for collecting the stat
istical reports was held in the afternoon.
DR.. A. j. Lyon was in the chair, E. H.
Bush led the devotions. After getting
the reports, the following resolution was
adopted:
Resolved: That we, the members Of
the North Ohio conference, hereby ex-
press our deep sense Of personal loss in
the departure Of our brother, the Rev.
Newell s. Albright, D. D., caused by his
election to the chair Of Historical Theo-
logy, in the Iliff School Of Theology, in
Denver, Col; who, through his boyhood
college life, and splendid ministerial
career, has won our love and highest es'
TEEN, by the constant manifestation Of
those high ideals, which belong to the
Christian scholar and gentleman.
The report Of Rev. George Mather, pre-
siding elder Of the Wooster district wa:
presented. Rev. Mr.. Mather report
ed a falling off in membership in his
district, due as he explained, to the pas
tors correcting records. Owing to finan
cial struggles and the multiplication o.
secret socities, he said, 1t was impOssibl,
for many parishiOners to meet the call
Of the church Tor financial aid. Speak
ing of certain country charges the eide
said: ut is expecting too much Of sue
cessive pastors to serve such sOcities, VIII,
do not pay, perhaps, One-quarter Of thei
, reasonable share Of support, and yet de
mand annually prOtracted meetings, a
which the mere excitement is to religion
as 16 to l, and the number Of prOfesse
converts who remain steadfast to thOs
| who do not is as 1 to 49," This referenc