The Billings gazette., 1899-03-14
THE M. B. CONFERENCE
Closed Sunday Night After q Four
Days Interesting and Help
full Session.
INSTRUCTIVE PAPERS
Read and Discussed Pertaining to
Church Work Meetings Well At
tended A Rally on Sunday.

i a.IE Is z ! . q L
tended "A Rally on Sunday:
The Bozeman district conference OF
the Methodist Episcopal church which
convened in this. city last Thursday,
adjourned Sunday night after an inter
esting as we'll as helpful session.
The entire day Friday was devoted
to the Epworth League and a most in.
teresting programme. was rendered.
The prayer service from $3.50 until 8 a.
M. was led by DR.. Helms Of Glendive
and was indeed splendid one with
which to begin the day. The roll-call
showed goodly number present and
all seemed to be enthused. After the
acting president, Rev. John Oliver. had
made few remarks. the reports of the
different leagues in the district were
given, showing that some splendid
work has been done since the last con-
ference. The paper by Ernest Edsall
ON ..How to Win and Hold the Young
Men in Our Leagues, was we'll writ
ten and contained many truths. He
suggested that the league should be
made attractive and the young men
should be given something to do to
keep them busy; and he said the best
way to win them was by personal work.
The discussion Of this paper was most
interesting, both the leaguers and pas
tors taking part.
Mrs. Ida Best was not present to
read her paper on "The Evening
Meeting,' but it was read by Rev.
Oliver The leading thoughts were
that the leader should prepare the les
son very carefully, that he may present
it in it's best light and provide good
spiritual food for all. She spoke Of
the plan of adopting two leaders, one
to conduct half-hour devotional ser
vice and the other to present the topic
of the lesson. Another good sugges-
tion was that care should be taken to
keep things moving; don't let a
moment be lost; have good, spirited
singing. This paper was great help
to all and was eagerly discussed, after
which the meeting adjourned until
i 80 o'clock p m.
Claudio Browning led the devotional
meeting after dinner. The first paper,
How Can We Induce the Majority Of
Our J.eaguers to Attend the Business
Meetings. by Joseph Farnum, was
most interesting, as SO few of the
members usually come to the business
meetings, which are very important,
and the paper was thoroughly dis
cussed.
The paper on How Can We Assist
the Pastor in Handling the Benevolent
Collections was written by Mrs. F..
A. Cutler, but as she was not present
it was read by Rev. J.. H. Nickel.
She said that the leaguers must not be
selfish with their money, but must
give to all benevolences; that the pas
tor should win the confidence of the
young people and interest them in the
church work; she also said that col
lections should be taken at the league
meetings and each member should con-
tribute. 1t was also said that the
league should take a great interest in
OA1O AA46SAO1hAy OOA4COe4OAos NAA
Cutler follows these different plans in
her league and has caused all the
members to become very liberal. The
paper was discussed with much in
te1est DR.. Frees talk upon the sub
ject,, What Are Some of the New
Forms Of Ministering Our League
Should Do?" was very original and
full of good thoughts. He spoke of the
good work that could be accomplished
by more extensive circulation of our
church papers and that each member
should do his duty; he also suggested
that the quarterly meeting service
should be made special service and
everyone should be especially invited
to that meeting. This talk gave the
pastors plenty Of food for discussion
After the discussion business ses-
sion was held. Two delegates and
also alternates were elected to attend
the National Epworth League conven.
tion, which will be held at Indianapolis
next July. DR.. Free and Rev. TAFT
of Livingston were elected as delegates,
with Miss Lea DeGroat of Livingston
and Rev. H. A. James of Miles City as
alternates. The invitation of the
4 league at Meadow Creek, asking the
district league to meet with them in
the fall, was readily accepted, afte,
which a very interesting Ground
Table Talk" was held. The conyen,
tion then adjourned to meet at O'Clock.
From 2 to 1880 a splendid testi
( monial and praise service was held,
/ each one present readily taking part
At 7:S0 an Epworth League rally
opened, speakers being Revs. John
Oliver and Melvin Rumohr and an in.
teresting as we'll as helpful paper on
the league pledge being read by Miss
DeGroat. The rally was followed by
N altar service Of spiritual blessing.
On Saturday morning the ministers
met to hold their meetings. Rev.
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