The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-03-26

Past Four Years Bids Fair for To-
creased Prosperity - His District is
Larger Than the State of Rhode Island
and He Tells of His Long Travels and
the Result of the Ministry Under His
Charge-TriaIs and Triumphs Passed.
The Southwestern Kansas conference
is divided into five district with Rev
W. H. Rose presiding over the Dodge
City district; Rev. T. S. Hodgson, the
Mcpherson district; Rev. G. Howes, the
Newton district; Rev. W. ]. Martin
dale, the Wichita, and Rev. Granville
Lowther, the Winfield district.
Each district is under the supervision
of the presiding elders name, who have
full control and report the condition OF
the county, church. ministers, church
members, etc, to the conference an
nually
As the Dodge City district embraces
a, section Of country almost as large as
the entire state of Rhode Island, and
as Rev. Rose has been in that section
of the state for the past four years,
his hopeful report upon a section con-
tributary 10 Wichita, will be read with
interest. His report was as follows:
In presen ting this, my fourth report,
of the Dodge City district, 1 shall aim
to give a general summary OF the work
on the district without entering into
the details of each charge further than
this general summary may require.
First of all, we return thanks ITO AL
mighty God for the preservation of life
families during the year. The pastors
have been as a rule, in unusually good
health and no death has occurred in
any of their families. My own health
has been unusually good during the en-
tire year, verify we live in climate
of happiness if not of great financial
prosperity.
This report must be understood IN
the light of the fact that the territory
is large and sparsely settled. 1t re-
quires about 1000 miles of travel in bug
gies and as much by rail TO hold the
quarterly meetings in one year. Quot
ing from our district Epworth league
secretary we Will say, we are big, 22,1S9
square miles is our measure. Eight
of these great United States sit at our
feet. We could almost carry two or
three of them in our pocket.
CHANGES IN THE WORK.
Very few pastoral changes have been
made during the year.
In the middle of the year y. A. Wal
ker was relieved from Gates City
charge at his own request and D. j. NJ.
Jones appointed in his stead.
About three months ago f. T. Ever
EFT was transferred to the South Kan
sas Conference by the request of the
- tic
trict leaving Liberal charge without a
pastor.
Early in the year F. L. Rutledge was
appointed assistant pastor of Dodge
City with the intent that he should
preach in communities otherwise des-
titute of the Gospel. His work result
ed in the conversion of IS people, who
together with about ten members al
ready at these places were organized
into societies and the several societies
formed into the Dodge City circuit on
January IS, '96, and he was appointed
preacher in charge.
On January 1, 1896, G. L. Britton was
made assistant pastor of Jetmore and
Nonchalanta and has beene serving
the Nonchalanta part of that charge
and has also since January supplied at
Spearville.
CHURCH PROPERTY.
The property interests have been as
well cared for as circumstances would
permit. l desire to report here what
perhaps ought to have been reported
sooner. In 1889 Rev. S. McGerald, edi-
tor of the Buffalo Christian Advocate
visited the town of Santa Fe. At
that time Haskell was the only coun-
ty in the state without any church
rTxl-sl 81 . h,
tention and interest of Bro. McGerald
and while there he promised our people
$3.50 to be raised through his paper for
the purpose of purchasing a building
which they might convert into a church
He gave notice through his paper and
raised about 5000. He neglected, how
ever, to pay this money TO the people
hence they were una BILE 10 proceed. He
put into my hands on June nth, 1895.
s149S0 which 1 now hold. He says s.
was paid TO my predecessor, Rev. y. z.
George D. d.
Since this plan was originated condi-
tons have greatly changed in Santa
Fe The Presbyterians secured a
building which they are not now using
but we and the Dunkards are.
Many people have gone and those
who are undecided as TO what they
should do. They may want the money
for the purpose indicated if not they
feel they have no authority in the mat
ter. The church at Harold having been
poorly built and for considerable time
in a dilapidated condition fell TO the
ground of its own weigh during the
summer. 1t had not been in use for
several years. We never had a deed
to our church property at Fowler I'M
I
| Williams with the aid of d. E. Votaro
OF Meade and a good attorney who
gave three services gratuitously Sc
cured a good title which is correct
with the exception that the disciplin-
airy trust clause IS omitted.
At Ness City the church has been
repla stored and refitted at an expense
| of $3.50. This puts the church in good
repair and Altogether the year has been
prosperous one.
The church at Manning on the Scot
| City charge has been repaired 10 the
amout of $50 and $40 paid on indebted
ness. This is a good record for a
struggling society. The parsonage
| debt at Scott Cicy OF 1926 has been paid
| in full Very few if any changes in
| the conference have made better fin
ancial record during the year than
| Garden City. In addition 70 salaries
| and benevolences and all necessary
outlay, the entire debt amounting 70
$500 has been paid and about $500 ex-
pended on improvements. This is very
| largely due 10 the persistent efforts and
push Of a number Of laymen OF the
| charge. During last year plans were
| laid for the payment Of the debt and
! about one-half the money raised This
year the plans have been consumated
and the church has sent forth the shou,
/ of victory An advance Of about p
per cent Of salaries OF pastor and pre-
| siding elder has been made and all
| parties concerned are happy. This is
not only a blessing 70 that charge but