The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1897-10-15
The Opening of Conference.

The Opening of Conference.
Tie thirteenth annual session of the
Dakota conference opened this morning
in the Methodist church at 8 o'clock.
A large audience was present, realiz-
ing that Bishop Warren would be
heard for the first time. After the
opening exercises Bishop Warren gave
short opening address and said in
part: "We are come together for splr-
itual blessing, for growth in grace, to
get power. We may do some other
things but the chief object of our gath
ering is to get hold of power. Men
have gained control of physical forces,
of steam, electricity, gravity, but we
over spiritual forces. The great multi
tudes of the world are faint with hun
ger. The Master says: Give them to
eat. We say we have nothing, but He
can only say to US: Give them to eat. ,
But there may be some boy with q
lunch. I can't imagine why that boy
hadn't eaten that lunch. But he had
not. And he rendered it to the Lord.
He did not think of the Lord increas-
ing it. 1t was just an offering for the
Lord. I can imagine his amazement
when he saw it increase and as the
Lord gave him the firstspiece, and he
saw it broken and carried away in arm
fuls. These loaves were just fiat pan
cakes and the fishes were small, hardly
enough for lunch but the Lord re-
ceived it. And what is not enough for
you we will feed the thousands"
After some remarks on the purpose
Of the sacrament the bishop proceeded
to administer the Lords Supper, being
assisted by Presiding Elders Boggs
Dobson, Simmons, Akers and Springer
VI Conference was then called to order
and j. P. jenkins called the roll tt
which sixty-one members and proba
tioners of the conference responded
DR.. Hard of the Church Extension Soc
iety was introduced to the conference
and addressed it on the business of tn,
society. He stated, in substance, tina
| this conference had given to the socie
!. ty 81, 1878, but since it's organization ha'
r received from the board S38, 900 in do
y nations and S53, ,45O in loans. OF thi
amount $4,000 is still unpaid. Las
h year this conference was asked to rails
/ 81 800, and this the contribution is re
J. duced to 81 1000, which, if raised, vii
a entitle the churches to receive doubl
n that amount to help on buildings. c
# the 80 charges 10 gave $40 or more,
Il gave less than $40 and 25 gave nothing
}. j. P. Jenkins of Madison was electe
it secretary of, the conference with {
= L. Watson and W. S. Shepherd {
d assistants. D. Rifen bark was electe
y treasurer, with o. b. Sproul and v
A. B. Stewart as assistants. Statistic
he secretary is A. P. James with W. T
sr Cory, II. S. Coon, A. J. Jolly, j.
h Dibble, and G. E. Matteson assistants.
ID The time for closing sessions W
fixed at 11:45 a. m. and the bar of tt
ty conference set at the sixth seat fro
le the front.
If The presiding elders were added
re- the committe on education and t
rt following elected to supply commit
be vacancies: W. F. M. society, D.
it Dean; resolutions, F. J. Norton; tre
xt urer's accounts, Fl. F. Knight. T
ay character of the presiding elders
II Mitchell, Huron and Watertown i
ay tricts were passed and they made tn
700 reports, showing encouraging ga
despite the hard winter; considera
100 building and improvements and
in decrease of debts. The committees
en Christian citizenship and prohibit
les were consolidated in one on temperal
ess composed of the members of the
committee.
nal Continued on Third Page.