The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
IN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Reports on the Condition of the
Methodist Church.
A REVIEW OF CONDITIONS
Encouraging Results Have Followed the
Efforts of the Church Workers
in the Two State
Districts.

At the annual conference of the
Methodist Episcopal church held last
week in Livingston, the reports on the
condition of the two districts were read,
showing continued Improvement in
every respect. Rev. w. w. Van Ors-
del reported for the Helena district
and Rev. I. w. BENEFITS for the Boze-
man district. An abstract of the two
reports follows:
r- HELENA DISTRICT.
Dear Bishop and Brethren: This, my
second year on the Helena district. has
been one of advance. The brethren,
with their families, have stood heroical-
ly.by the good work. God has wonder
fully sustained them in planting the
church in the new rural districts, as
well as in the more populous centers.
A fair degree of success has crowned
the labors of each worthy itinerant,
and their reports will show a healthy
advance on all lines of church work,
for which we feel to thank God and
take courage. While there has been
some sickness among the preachers and
their families, the home of Brother J.
j. McAllister, our pastor at Missoula
has been visited by the death angel. On
May "a his beloved wife received the
welcome summons, TT is enough, come
up higher She lived well and died in
the faith, covered with glory.
We will now give summary of the
work by charges;
,..g..r.',s, ANACONDA.
Brother custer, our pastor, has sus-
tanned his reputation as a brother that
brings things to pass. There has been
an advance of 2S per cent. in church
membership The Epworth league has
paid out 5000 for charitable purposes.
The entire beneVolenCes of the church
amount to 81, 400, which should give in
SEPARATION to all of the churches. Service
is held regularly every Sabbath after
noon at the Jail for the benefit of the
prisoners under the auspices OF this
church. They also furnish them with
much good reading matter. There are
six mission Sabbath schools in the val
ley adjacent to the city under the man
agement of this church.
BUTTE CITY.
Mountain View-Brother j. L. Albrt-
ton. D. D., was transferred to the
charge from the Central Ohio confer
ence. He has done most efficient serv-
ice. The work has developed rapidly.
The church soon became too small for
the growing congregations, and for five
months services have been held in the
Auditorium. The old Mountain View
church, built q years ago under the
pastorate of Brother F. "A. Riggin, has
been removed, and a new editice much
larger is in course of construction, the
cornerstone of which was laid July %,
which was a very impressive, service.
The new edifice will seat 900 The esti-
mated cost is $4,000, over $40, 600 of
which Is either in cash or reliable sub
scription. Over $50 have united with
the church. This church has organized
a mission Sabbath school in the Parrot
addition, and thus the good work goes
on in this, the leading charge of our
conference.
Trinity-Brother G. M. Fees has been
abundant in labors and the work has
not only held its own, but has made
advances. Especially is this true of the
Sunday school and the Epworth league,
which has been organized during the
past year. over S526 has been raised
and applied on improvements and in
debtedness during the year. This
church Is largely made up of our breth-
rem from England, who come to us from
the Wesleyan Methodist church and
who brought their religion with them,
and are Jealous and full of good works.
South Butte and Observation-Disclosures
John Hoskins, pastor, has been in the
midst of increasing interest on this i'm
portant charge. While the congrega ton
ana interest mas kept up Soutil
Butte the congregation so filled the
church at Meaderville as to make 1t
necessary to enlarge the church. Tne
Sunday school and Epworth league are
in advance of what they We're one year
ago. In the revival meeting there We're
some bright converts aAd rs additions
to the church. One hundred dollars has
been paid on improvements.
Walkerville and Silver Bow Park
Brother J. T. NJ. Stephens, pastor, has
brought things to pass most encourage
ingly on this charge. The debt on Sill
YER Bow Park church, through the gem
erosity of our Church Extension society,
which donated 800, gave inspiration to
our friends, and it is all provided for.
improvements have been made on the
parsonage at WalkerVille and some
bright members have been gathered in
to the church as the result of revival
meetings held at both places. This has
been year of victory on this charge.
HELENA.
= St Paul's-Brother +. NJ. Digger,
pastor, served this important charge
efficiently until May. when, because of
falling health, he requested to be re-
leved, which was done, and he left the
work June 1. DIR. Van Scoy and other
brethren have generously assisted in
supplying the pulpit. We consider this
the mother charge of our work in Mon
our educational work at this point we
deem it of very great Importance. This
church, under all the circumstances,
has done most heroic work.
Oak Street-Brother A. w. Roberts,
pastor, has been student at the Mon
tana Wesleyan university. He has done
most faithful work. God has blessed
his labors and the work has prospered
in every department. Quite number
has been added to the church.
MISSOULA.
Brother. ]. ]. McAllister pastor, has
had. under all the circumstances, a
very encouraging year. Owing to the
heavy debt on this church, due the
Church Extension society, We have need
of very wise management in order to
get these complicated finances adjust
ed. The pastor has shown himself
master of the situation. On May "a,
after brief illness, his beloved COM
panion. with whom he had walked
pleasantly since Sept. II, 1873, went on