Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-09-07
GERMAN MErHODIS7S.
OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
AT ENTERPRISE.
Large Number Of Ministers and Lay
Delegates Gather to Look After
Church Doings-Bishop Merrill to
Preside.

xIoblu0'
Special to the Reflector.
ENTERPRISE, Sept. Tn true orr
entail hospitality the homes Of Enter
prise have been opened to receive the
one hundred members OF the West
German conference Of the Methodist
Episcopal church and the seventy del
egates to the Lay Electoral confer
ence. With so many prominent
ministerial and lay Methodists the
town has suddenly assumed a very
spiritual character.
Yesterday the young preachers
suffered inquisitorisl tortures at the
hands of the conference examiners.
In the church and in the Academy
building these young theologians,
molested by the fearful heat Of the
hot winds, tried to express their
knowledge or lack of knowledge of
ecclesiastical learning. Prominent
among them is the only candidate to
the office Of elder, H. 4. Rompel, the
popular pastor Of the society at Sal
isbury, Mo-, and professor of German
and moral sciences in the North Mis-
souri, academy Of that place.
sUPERANNUATED RELIEF SOCIETY.
In the evening at O'Clock the
Superannuates Relief society held its
annual business meeting in the
church. The report OF the treasur.
er, Rev. Chas. OFT, showed that the
society has capital Of $4,000,
amount of dividends $3.50, and had
received legacy worth $4,000 The
money is loaned out at seven per
cent. The newly elected officers are
as follows: President, Rev. Chas.
Harms; vice president, H. Bruins;
secretary, Rev. D. W. Smith; treas
urer, Rev. Chas. OFT.
CONFERENCE SESSION.
At 5 o'clock a large audience was
assembled in the commodious taber-
uscle tent to hear the conference SER
mon, delivered by G. J. Jaiser OF To-
peka. The. theme Of the discourse
was, 1.-The Responsibility Of the Min
lister to Humanity" The speaker,
though unfortunately notified that be
was to speak but few hours before
the time, arose to the occasion and
spoke his words Of inspiration to his
clerical colleagues. A we'll known
conference sextette also rendered a
song, which did credit to their must
cal ability.
OPENING WORK.
This morning at $3.50 o'clock Rev
F. Fiegenbaum, the nestor Of the con-
ference, conducted prayer service.
At 9 o'clock the conference was form
ally opened by the communion ad.
ministered by Bishop Merrill and
participated in by both preachers and
laymen. Thereupon the routine
questions were taken up and the var
ious committees appointed. In the
afternoon these committees met to DO
their respective work
The Western Methodist Book con-
Germ has a large and choice collection
Of books for sale in the commercial
room Of the academy building.
Bishop S. M. Merrill presides and
the sessions promise to,be of much in
terest. The conference includes the
churches of Kansas, Missouri, Ne
braska and Iowa. The program for
the session is:
The morning sessions will be &C.
cupied by the routine business and
the afternoons by committee meetings
On Thursday evening at o'clock
educational addresses by Prof. s. +.
Havighorst, D. D., and Prof. W. G.
Baab, A. M.
Friday evening at s o'clock, mis-.
sionary addresses by W. F. Smith D.
D., and Rev. J. L. Sternberg.
Saturday evening at s O'Clock Rev.
!. c. Rapp will represent the Old
,7olk's Home, Quincy, ILL.,, and M. 5.
Hard, D. D., the Freedmen's Aid as
ociation.
On Sunday at g a. m. will be the
,ye feast with sermon at 10 a. m. by
ishop S. M. Merrill, d. D., LII. d.;
rdination service at D. M; Ep- |