Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-05-17
Letter From A. II. Roberts.

The following letter was received by
G. b. Brooks, the assistant superinten-
dent of the Nj. +. Sunday school, and
was read to the school last Sunday.
Thinking it would be of interest to the
public we have obtained permission to
publish it. Mr.. Roberts is attending
the quadrennial general conference as
one OF the lay delegates from this, the
Des Moines district conference. Here
is the letter:
Chicago, May 10th, 1900.
Dear Friends of the Audubon M. E.
S. s.
No doubt word from your superin-
tendent will be of interest to you,
hence l hastily iot down the following
lines.
The impressions upon one permitted
to attend the sessions of the general
conference and the anniversaries and
other meetings held in connection are
not easily described, but as one sits
under the influence of such an august
body, and hears the clarion notes of
exhortation, encouragement, and COM
mand from the great leaders of the
Lords hosts one cannot help but be
swayed and partake of the enthusiasm so
contagious in such gatherings.
After completing the necessary legis-
lation providing for equal lay and
ministerial representation (Which was
done without dissenting vote and the
seating of the provisional delegates
which was done at the first session of
the conference, the thing in order
was the Bishops address, which is one
of the most mastery and powerful of
its kind that it has been my privilege
to hear or read, and [ believe sounds
the death knell to the time limit. The
conference is now down to hard work,
its sessions being held from $50 a. m
to II 30 p. m. and is sometimes ex-
tended to | 80 p. IN.
The sitting and shaping of the work
of the conference is largely done by the
standing committees of which there are
thirteen, each committe being composed
of two members of each annual con-
ference making each committee consist
OF about $50 members from which many
sub committees are appointed. The
standing committees meet in the after
noon and many of the subcommittee
at night. Your superintendent is on
three of the standing committees,
namely, Sunday schools, temperate &c
and temporal economy.
The chairman of the committee on
temperance is Hon. Samuel Dickie,
n Of hn
committee. DR.. Eaton, of Des Moines,
is also upon the committee and [ feel
safe in saying there will be no lower
ing of our flag on this great question.
AS | said before [ believe the time limit
will be removed, but aside from this
do not anticipate any radical change.
in fact l badly think the removal of the
time limit will be a radical change. for
the pastors will still be appointed for
one year at time, and with a very few
exceptions the church at large will not
feel any difference.
think it probable that the discipline
may be so amended as to provide for
the election of trustees and stewards
by the adult members of the church
instead of by the quarterly conference.
L believe the prohibited amusements
will remain under ban.
The anniversary of the Sunday
school uuion held on last Friday night,
at which addresses were made by
President Bashford, of the Ohio
Wesleyan University and DR.. Cadman,
of the Metropolitan church, New York
City, was a meeting long to be remem-
bered by those privileged to attend and
the inspiration that took hold of our
hearts will undoubtedly be the means
of the salvation of many precious souls.
The reports show an increase of 1000
schools, and an increase of 10000
scholars in the last quadrenium. The
hosts of the Lord are marching on and