The record-union., 1897-08-19

turns of Children's Day IL has received
S36, 500 SO, while the receipts to bust
ness aggregate SIS. COS. 1t has do
mated to needy Sunday schools, in the
way of books and periodicals. S5.O51 9S.
The afternoon was spent in listening
to the reports of committees and dispos
ing of them as seemed best to the con-
ference.
EVENING SESSION.
The church was Well filled in the ev-
ening, and the exercises opened with
singing, after which the Bishop made
brief remarks relative to the occasion
that had called them together and said
that il was customary to preach at
each conference an annual sermon,
which would be done this evening.
The conference then Joined in singing
a hymn.
Rev S s. Truman, the pastor at Pas
adena, was introduced by the Bishop,
who stated that he had been chosen to
deliver the annual sermon.
He took for his text, I have desired
to eat this Passover with you
He had for years had the same desire.
Whenever he came to conference he
took home with him something of
good; some of the bread of life. He
had always found it a hard task 10
preach a conference sermon, as the
brothers did not seem to pray as hard
as the congregation. They seemed to
act more like critics. We are all fanl-
lar with the Passover spoken of in the
Bible. 1t is the one instituted by God
through Moses. For centuries it was
kept by the Jews. and they held a great
feast in the temple. When Christ came
to redeem the world he found it best to
keep the customs of the Jews. and
whenever the Passover came he came
up to Jerusalem.
The leaves flourish in the spring and
fall in the autumn, and their plants are
called annual plants. So these confer
ences come annually. We are in the
midst of a great tumult-a great strife
between the church and the devil. We
see this every day by what is published
in the public press.
Brethren need more and more the
spirit of unity. They need the preach
ing of the Gospel. Many are out in
various fields of labor, and they meet
here to confer together; to eat the
Passover together; to commune in
Why did he want to eat the Passover
with his disciples? 1t was because he
knew he was to soon leave them and
send them out to new fields of labor.
He wanted to direct them, to warn
them and prepare them for their work.
They We're not endowed with eloquence,
with education, with high standing, but
they were men of good character, were
earnest, We're ready to work in their
calling. They were not afraid TO speak
the Word.
Paul said he was thankful that he was
allowed to speak these things to the
King. He did not mean that he was so
superior to others, but was glad of the
opportunity. The speaker thought the
disciples must have often felt like the
poor missionaries working in the vari-
Gus fields of the church. The last
Christian Endeavor Convention brought
Christians from all over the State.
There mothers and fathers and sisters
and daughters that had been separated
for years and their hearts leaped at the
chance Of meeting their dear ones again,
at the prospect of exchanging their love
greetings and their hopes and fears.
And so the brethren come to this con-
ference. Some Of them may never meet
again in this world. Let US remember
that to be affectionate and loving is to
be like Jesus Christ. Let us meet in this
spirit Let us not look at education, but
let US look at the spirit of the man and
see If he is a true Christian. Let US
meet and pray and praise in the same
spirit as He when He said, II shall eat
il with you in the new Jerusalem"
Prayer was offered by Rev. ]. F, An
derson of Chico, after which the Bishop
gave the assembly a good old fashioned
talk, an old Methodist hymn having
been sung.
He wondered, he said, IL people were
trying as hard to be Christians as they
used to when he was young. In those
days a good old Methodist hymn like
that would make his hair rise and the
blood tingle in his veins and send a feel
ing of peace and happiness all through
him. The Bible is the best flower gar
den in the world. When you open it
you find bouquets of love, bouquets of
mercy, bouquets of faith and bouquets
Of grace within it's borders. 1t is a
grand odd book. Our fathers studied it
and lived up to it. He urged the young
men to strive hard to be good Chris
tians He wished to encourage the
young men. Brother Truman had
spoken of critics. He was a critic when
necessary but he wished them not to
be nervous or bashful. The Bishop was
only a man who had been lifted up by
the church, he hoped, on his good rec
ord. The Bishop ought to be better
than others, if he was not, but all
should try TO be good enough to be
Bishops.
He wanted the young men to read the
Bible He did and never got tired of it..
Sometimes he read it till a holy fire
seemed to come and fill the house. Min
listers need the prayers of the church
and the encouragement of the church.
Paul asked for it.
Another hymn was sung, the benedic-
ton pronounced and the conference ad-
iourned till this morning.
TO-DAY'S PROGRAMME
A prayer meeting will be conducted
at 9:30 this morning by Rev. H. Wilson
of Riverside The conference will con-
vene al 10 a. M, and will receive the
reports of the committees on the vari-
Gus branches of the church work. The
reports of the pastors on the work will
be continued. Such reports as invite
discussion will be discussed.
In the evening Rev, z. F. Coltman
of Los Angeles will preach the annual
missionary sermon.