The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-09
NINETEENTH ANNUAL
CONFERENCE HELD
Members Of the Abingdon Baptist Asso.
citation Gathered at PeckviIle.
THE SESSIONS LARGELY ATTENDED
acted and Matters of Interest to the
Members OF the Association Dis-
cussed--Sessions Were Held Morn
ing, Afternoon and Evening--At
the Last Mentioned the Church Was
Overcrowdcd.

The nineteenth annual conference Of
the Abingdon Baptist association be-
gan yesterday in the Baptist church at
Peckville. There were three largely at
tended sessions. In the morning Of
flcers were elected, in the afternoon
the several department reports were
read, and in the evening the Young
Peoples union, a branch of the asso-
citation, held an enthusiastic rally in
the Methodist church.
The attendance this year Is large
and a very successful conference is
promised.
At 10 o'clock a. m. the conference
opened with a season of earnest devo-
tional services, led by Rev. w. B. F..
Brown, of Jermyn Baptist church. Rev.
H. II. Harris, pastor of the Calvary
Baptist church at Taylor, retiring
president of the association, called the
meeting to order.
The following officers were elected:
Presidents Rev. w. J. Ford, of Green
Ridge church; clerk, F. M. Koehler, of
Scranton; treasurer, l.. M. Peck, of
Carbondale. Rev. Mr.. Ford. on taking
the chair, offered prayer, and then in
troduced Rev. Mr.. James, of Roger
Williams college, who spoke on The
Negro Problem and How to Solve It."
The Introductory sermon was deliv-
cred by Rev. A. B. Browe, of Wav-
erly. His text was taken from the sec
ond chapter and fourth verse of the
book of Revelations.
INDIVIDUAL CHURCH REPORTS.
The afternoon session opened at 2
o'clock. The first business was the
reading Of the individual reports of the
churches by Secretary Koehler and Rev.
w. G.. Watkins, chairman of the digest
committee. The reports showed a MEM
bership of about $500 Baptists in the
thirty churches comprising the associa-
tion. The report of the treasurer was
afterward made, as also that of the
auditing and home missions committee.
DR.. E. 3. Palmer, secretary of the
state educational society of the Baptist
denomination, delivered an address up
on the work of the society.
The session closed with a meeting in
charge of the Womans Missionary
union. Professor Grablechoff delivered
a stirring address. This was followed
by an address by Mrs. Frutchey and
Miss Sara Krigbaum, of Scranton.
The final session of the day, in the
evening, was in charge of the Young
Peoples society of the association. The
meeting was held in the Methodist
church, which was crowded to the over
flow. Luther Keller, president of the
Young Peoples union, called upon Rev.
Mr.. Miller, who has been for seventy
years connected with the association, to
offer prayer. Mr.. Keller then appointed
the following nominating committee:
Ralph Miller, of Clifford; Rev. ]. L.
Williems, of Forest City,and B. G. Bed
doe, NJ D., of Scranton.
While the committee was preparing
the nominations the treasurer of the
union made his annual report. The
following committee was appointed to
frame a set of bylaws for the union:
Rev. A. B. O'Neal, Rev. w. J. Ford and
F. NJ. Koehler
The nominating committee reported
the following nominations: For presi-
dent; j. X. Ellis; vice president r. F.
Chamberlln; secretary, A. B. O'Neal:
board of managers, j. S. Thomas, j. s.
watkins and John Owens. Rev. Mr..
ONeai then arose and placed Luther
keller's name before the meeting as a.
ioliuHSe loT pTSSiuent.
MR.. KELLER AGAIN PRESIDENT.
Mr.. Keller has been president of the
union for three years. Rev. Mr.. Ellis
requested that his name be withdrawn
by the nominating committee. The
final elections were: President, Luther
Keller; vice-president, Rev. j. R. Ellis;
secretary, Rev. A. b. O'Neal; treas
urer. j. F. Chamberlin, and the board
Of managers are suggested by the COM
mittee.
Rev. ]. r. Ellis addressed the con-
vention in the absence of Rev. Chivers,
of Chicago, who could not attend. Mr..
Ellis spoke upon the subject of the
Tendencies of the Times"
DR.. Stevens, of Philadelphia, then
addressed the society upon the subject
of systematic Benevolence."
Mrs. Jones, secretary of the Wo-
mans Mission union, and Dr. Stevens,
Of Philadelphia, also spoke. The con-
ference will be continued today.