Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1897-09-24
Proceedings of the Sixteenth
Session of the Iowa Annual
Conference.

~ '-i T.
The Sixteenth session OF the Iowa An
nual Conference convened in Asbur,
7 Chapel, NJ Il. church at Mt. Pleasant
Iowa. Sept Is, 1897.
Il At $3.50 a. m the Con, ,erence was callet
to order with Rt. Rev. b. w. Arnett in tn
chair. Devotional exercises were con
Quoted by the Bishop. The Bishop reat
as scripture lesson the 18th Chapter 0
St Luke. upon which he commented
briefly. The hymn, "And are we ye
Alive" was sung, after which few
moments was spent in conference greet
ings. The following brethren then intro
duced Revs. Il. c. Ransom, Silas Wright
A. w White and Rev. G. McCracken
Prot. Fl. L, Keating, the brilliant lecturer
and editor Of the A. NJ. f. Review, and
Prot. B. w. Arnett, Jr., Bishop Arnett's
son and private secretary were also intro
duced. Prof. Arnett, who is also Meth
odist Minister has transferred from the
Indiana to the Iowa conference.
The conference then organized. Rey. j. /.
p. James was elected secretary; Rev, w.
A. Bruce, Recording secretary Rev. j. c.
Anderon, statistical secretary; Rows. II.
s. Graves, D. A. Basstield and Steward.
Moore elected Marshals. Rev. Il. G.
Ransom reporter for the Christer; Rev
1. J. Phillips, reporter for the Southern
Recorder and Prof b. W. Arnctt, reporter
for the Associated Press.
The bar Of the Conference was fixed at
the fifth seat from the altar.
The preachers wives were requested to
sit within the conference bar.
On motion the hours Of assembling and
adjourning were fixed as follows: 9. a.
m. to II a. M. and 2 p. M. to 5 p. m.
Rev. Mr.. l. Gordon the pastor OF the
church and host Of the conference was ap-
pointed postmaster. Conference then
took recess of 5 minutes.
Rev. j. c. Willets of the First M. E.
church of Ft. Madison, Iowa, was then
brought forward and introduced to the
conference.
The financial and statistical reports
from the Chicago District were then read.
Conference then adjourned until p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At 2p. m. the Bishop called the confer
ence to order. The financial and statisi-
cal reports were continued. The St. Paul
District made its report.
Rev. M Tuttle presiding elder Of
lsths arlinst ston Distsiet 4. .tksAl VI cAsseaa
came forward snd gave tho conference =
isw sFords of hearty vel come ~ behalf of
The citizens ~ Mt. Pleasant. ll3ishop Az
nett responded in his usual happy manner.
The disciplinary questions were then
taken up, ....55
Rev. F. j. Peterson named Evanston,
Illinois, as the seat Of the next annual con-
ference, and Evanston was accepted by
the unanimous vote Of the conference.
. The following ministers wives were
then introduced 10 the Bishop and confer
ence: Mrs, J. w. Malone, Mrs. w. r.
Alexander, Mrs. J, Higgins, Mrs. W. A..
Bruce, Mrs. Il. &. Meadows and Mrs.G e.
NJ. Tillman.
The conference then adjourned and had
itself photographed. Benedlc,ion by tie
Bishop.
| WEDNESDAY, EVENING SESSION.
At 9p. nj. the evening services began
with Bishop Arnett presiding, Song by
conference choir. Prayer by Rev. J: b.
Dawson. The Bishop stated that the OBJ
ject of the mee9ing was the celebration Of
the anniversary OF the Conference Mission
ary society.
| The first speaker was Rev. Timothy
Reeves who made an able plea in behalf
of Home Missions. The next speaker was
Prot. II. L. Kcating Of Philadelphia, Pa.
Prof. Keatng is simply wonderful in his
graphic and at times humorous delinea-
ton Of Negro character and achievements.
Prof Keating held his audience spellbound
from beginning 10 end. DR.. John q.
Mitchell Dean of Payne Theological Semi
nary, arrived at this juncture and was
introduced 10 the conference. A collec-
ton OF 1925 was then taken up by Rev.
McCracken, p. f., of the Ills. conference,
Rev. Mr. l. Gordon. the genial host Of the
conference then announced that on Thurs
| day evening reception would be held at
the NJ. E. church, after which refresh.
nents would be served at the Grand
Opera house.
Adjourned with benediction.
THURSDAY MoRNING-sECoND DAYS
Devotional services conducted by Rev!
j. w. Malone. Prayer by Rev. K. G.
Ransom; Scripture lesson, 4th chap, I'd
cor. DR.. B. +. Watson, the famous evan
gelist AMI sweet singer of the Michiga
conference, Rev. w. A. Barton OF the M.
E. church and Mrs. Il. G. Ransom and
sou were then introduced to the confer.
ence.
i The conference convened into a Miss.
ionary session. The secretary called the
roll and S4s.75 was paid in by the minis
ters. Rev. W. $. Brooks was elected
Missionary committeeman.
The following committees reported.
Education.
, Church extension.