Omaha daily bee., 1899-09-17

So that the situation is somewhat complex,
and when the 125 lay delegates en-
titled to a voice in the selection
OF the two delegates meet in the lee
ture room OF Hanscom Park church Friday
morning, September 20, there is going to be
witnessed a most exciting contest.
While the election OF delegates to the gen.
eral conference will be a matter OF para
mount Importance, there will be many other
things which will make this eighteenth an
nual session an interesting one, and Rev. DR..
f.. M. Sisson, pastor Of the Hanscom Park
church, where the meeting will be held, an
t%icipates that the conference will be one Of
the best in the history of north Nebraska
Methodism. This opinion is shared by many
others. Special features Of the conference
Will be the presence of two bishops. The
presiding officer will be Bishop Henry w.
warren, DID. LID, of Denver, one Of the
brainiest and most popular bishops in the
church. Bishop Warren will preach at
Hanscom Park church Sunday morning, Oc-
tober 1, and in the evening the anniversary
Of the missionary society will be held, which
will be addressed by DR.. j. M. Thoburn,
bishop to India. Among the prominent off,
cials OF the church who will be present and
participate in the special services of the
conference will be Rev. DR.. William A.
Spencer of Philadelphia. corresponding Sec
rotary of the Church Extension society;
Rev. DR.. ]. B. earns of Lincoln, president of
the Nebraska Anti-Saloon league; Rev. DR..
d. w. G. Huntington, chancellor Of Nebraska
esleyan university; DR.. ]. w. Hamilton Of
Cincinnati, secretary of the Freedman's Aid
society. and probably DR.. e. A. Schell of
Chicago, secretary Of the Epworth league.
MANI ConHtsuxo. Go Ur5...Ls--
There is one other thing which is interest
ing the clergy to a considerable extent and
that is the fact that there will be two va
cancies in the presiding e%ldership because
Of the expiring time limitation of DR.. Max
field of the Omaha and DR.. Hodgetts of the
Norfolk districts, both of whom have served
the allotted six years. There has been some
among the laity Of the availability
of Rev. 7. G.. Webster of Grand Island as the
successor to DR.. Hodgetts. He lis the only
man who is known to have been mentioned
to any particular extent and the ministers
have not as yet indicated any special prefer
ence. Rev. Webster was formerly presiding
elder of the Chadron district and is an old
timer in Nebraska Methodism. DR.. Max
field, the veteran clergyman who has been
the elder Of the Omaha district for six years,
will retire from the active ministry because
of his advancing years. There is likely to
be a lively scramble for his place, as the
omaha district is considered one of the best
appointments in Nebraska Methodism.
Leading the list among the ~favorite candi-
dates is Rev. Fletcher M. Sisson, pastor Of
Park church. who has been in the
conference for about six years. He came to
Park from Fremont and has
popularized himself both with the clergy of
the conference and THE people of his congre-
cation. Rev. G. N. Dawson, who has been
the pastor Of the Walnut Hill church for the
four years and has been in the North
conference for perhaps thirteen or
fourteen years. is also a likely candidate. In
this connection, however, 1T is stated that
Dawson has received a call from one Of
Inc leading Methodist churches in Minneap-
Oils and is debating whether he shall accept
It or make an effort for the Omaha presiding
e%ldership. DR.. w. P. Murray. for the last
two years stationed at Fremont and who for
i've years previous was the pastor of Hans
Park church, is also favorably mem
DR.. Hodgetts OF Norfolk Is also I'M
1erstood to be actively in the race, but with
he number of good men available in the
omaha district, 1t is hardly likely that DR..
successor will be chosen from
some other district. In case Rev. Sisson is
chosen as presiding elder Rev. C. s. Dudley
beatrice stands in high favor with the
'hcial board Of Hanscom Park church as his
The pastors Of Omaha's Methodist church
VINO will participate in the forthcoming con-
:erence are G. N. Dawson, Walnut Hill; M.
v. Chase, First; F. M. Sisson, Hanscom
Dark; F. w. Bross, Monmouth Park: A. G..
WEIGH, Seward street; j. W.. Jennings.
trinity; G. A. Luce. South Tenth. Bar
ing the appointment of one of these GENTLE
nep as presiding elder. the only changes
"hich are likely to take place are in the
Of Monmouth Park and South
zenith Street churches. The pastors of these !
wo sanctuaries, Revs. Bross and Luce. ara
likely to be sent to some outside appoint
nents at their own request,
The splendid work being accomplished by
ne Methodist hospital in this city will also
'e recognized by the conference in the de-
'otion OF some time to the needs of that in
'%titution, together with the ordination as
leaconesses of several young women who are
levoting themselves to hospital work. The
hospital intends soc. to begin
he erection of a $4,000 building, and So
100 to be applied for this purpose is now on
leposit, while half of the entire amount is al
.eady subscribed. 1t may be that a wave
generosity will sweep over the confer
nee and the remaining s25, 900 subscribed so
hat the work may be pushed to completionI
t an early date.