The herald., 1897-10-05
MEMORIAL SERVICES
HELD FOR THE LATE ABEL
STEVENS YESTERDAY
Reports Of Various Committees and
Short Addresses Occupied the
Conference Sessions

its seventh days sessions yesterday
Newman in the chair. The devotional
service was conducted by r. Barton.
The committee on admission on trial
reported in the case of Walter M. Low
ell from the Baptist church. Brother
Lowell came forward, the vows Of the
elders Office were read and satisfactor-
lily answered and the bishop welcomed
him; the orders were recognized and the
presiding elder was given the privilege
to employ him as supply.
Rossiter Bland. who holds supernu-
merary relation to the Rock River con-
ference, was transferred to this conger-
ence and made effective.
w. r. Goodwin and T. Stalker were
elected representatives in the anti
saloon convention to be held In January.
1898, in Columbus, Ohio.
The memorial addresses read Sunday
afternoon were approved and ordered
printed in the minutes.
r. c. Westenberg read the report on
Bible cause. which was adopted and
number of other reports were read and
action taken upon them.
The hour for the memorial services
for the late Abel Stevens arrived, and
after the hymn, "In the Sweet Bye and
Bye" sung standing by the audience
that quite filled the auditorium, DR..
Briggs offered prayer and DR.. Matthews
read the Ninetieth Psalm. Revs. S. l..
Hamilton, H. ]. Crist and T. E. Robin
son spoke of the inspiration that DIR.
Abel Stevens had been to them and the
two latter speakers dwelt at some length
upon his public life and works.
DR.. Hamilton, on the contrary, spoke
of his iutimate acquaintance with the
deceased, and in terms of most glowing
tenderness and reverential love he re-
ferred to DR.. Stevens as having come
nearer to Jesus Christ than any man"
he had ever seen. and called him the St
Stephen of modern Methodism. The
speaker gave a graphic description Of
DR.. Stevens last hours and told affect
ingly of the scene at his deathbed.
Bishop Newman then arose and al-
dressed the conference and guests. He
said that Abel Stevens memory would
live long after all present had mouldered
into dust. what an artist was Stevens!
AS historian he was not chronicler
but philosopher, seeing the continuity
running through history, connecting
races, nations and individuals" The
bishop placed DR.. Stevens beside Ma
caulay for honesty Of thought clearness
Of conception, beauty of diction and
majesty Of rhetoric.
After singing I'VE Would Not Live
Away" by the congregation, DR.. Ham,
mond closed the service with prayer
1t was ordered that the report of the
menyorial services be printed in the
minutes.
The afternoon session was occupied
largely with routine business and re-
ports of all kinds and descriptions were
read and formally disposed of.
DR.. Briggs talked forcefully on Sab
bath Observance" Rev A. w. Bunker
reported on "State of the Church." CIV
ing a detailed account of the confer
ence's growth in twenty years. Reports
on 'Intemperance" and Education
were read and adopted.
Revs. Goodwin and Stocker were ap-
pointed delegates to the convention Of
the AntiSaloon league at Columbus,
Ohio, January 49,
There was no conference meeting last
night. The bishop and most of the men,
bers attended a reception at the First
NJ. E. church.
The appointments that have been
made, confirmed, etc., will be read this
morning, when the conference will for
mally adjourn until next year.
THE BISHOPS APPOINTMENTS
The conference which the NJ. E. Church
South held the greater part Of last
week has come to an end, with the fol-
lowing appointments, made by Bishop
Hargrove for the coming year:
Los Angeles misunderstanding Elder.
H. c. Christian.
Los Angeles-Trinity, ]. ]. N. Ken
ny; West End, w. L. Whisnant; Belle
vue, c. w. Hoag; Mateo, j. w. Allen
Cahuenga-C. S. Perry.
Santa Ana-R. A. Rowland.
San Bernardno-James Healy.
Norwalk and Ranchito-J. T. Thorn
ton.
Newport and Bolsas-Rufus Balaam.
| Gardena-To be supplied.
| Downey-T. L. Duke.
San Diego-S. W. Walker.
| RedlandsE. j. Harper.
Ventura-Forbes.
Pomona-R L. McCausland.
| Azusa and Duarte-A. v. Harbin, W.
| w. Brunk.
| Valley Center and Escondido-J. A.
| Wright.
| Menifee-A. Adkisson.
| Lompoc and San Luis Obispo-G. H.
Wilkinson.
Arizona misunderstanding Elder-W.
B. Sharbrough.
| Phoenix. M. Weems.