Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-05-22
District Convention of Christian
Churches Place Matters on a Bust.
ness Basis-Progress of the Meeting
Now Being Held in This City.

ing year. The. section of the report
pertaining to the appointment of al
correspondent in each congregation,
for the purpose Of keeping the county
officers informed as to the work, it
was stated by one delegate, is but the
adoption of the same plan as used in
the sub-distrist, township and county
organization of the political machines.
Officers for the coming year were
elected at the morning session.
The regular program as provided by
the district was carried out. Several
short addresses were given by differ
ent men prominent in the work of the
church. A. F. Sanderson, of Keokuk,
secretary of the southeastern district,
was present at the session this morn
ing and told very interestingly of the
work done throughout the district dur
ing the past year.
The morning session was called to
order at 8 o'clock this morning with
G. w. Birch, of West Liberty, as chair
man. Short devotional services were
led by G. P. Leach. The program was
then taken up in the order prepared
and the addresses given. A. F. San
derson spoke briefly of the work done
in this district and of the many diff
culties which arise from time to time.
3. s. Denny Speaks.
State Secretary B. S. Denny of Des
Moines spoke on the Growth of the
Church in Iowa" The idea brought
out in Mr.. Denny's address was that
of the growth of the church in Iowa
during the past fifty years. "In 1851"
said Mr.. Denny, there were only two
preachers. From +, this exceedingly
small beginning the growth has been
steady and today our ministers num-
her1 1854. 1t is most satisfactory to
note this substantial increase and to
know that we are but now in, posi-
ton to accomplish great work in the
salvation of the people of our state.
The substantial condition in which
the church is at present is shown by
the reports from this district Com
prising twenty-five counties there are
at the present time 1872 congregations
ard 125 houses of worship within the
bounds of this district This gives
this territory one. church for every
eighty-two square miles and every
4,232 population. The church is now
in a most prosperous condition and
from the present outlook we are about
to march on to greater success"
A short discussion on the needs of
the /. G. c. work was given to G. e.
Hunt and the ways and means to ad-
vance the work was presented by L.
H. Humphreys.
Business Session.
About IL o'clock the convention was
called to order for the business SEES
sion. The reports of the committees
appointed at the meeting last evening
were heard. The first called for was
the report of the committee on nominal
tions. OF this committee L. H. Hum
phries, of Delta, was chairman. Ac-
cording to this report the following
officers were elected:
President-G. w. Burch, of West
Liberty.
Vice president-H. A. Pallister, of
Keota.
Secretary-D.W. Hastings, of Floris.
Superintendent of Bible SCHOOL,.
P. Reed, of Delta.
Superintendent of G. E.-P. C. Leach,
of Iowa City.
Plan of Work.
The plan of work for the churches
of the district for the coming year was
reported this morning and in accord
ance with the recommendations of the
committee new line of work was
adopted. B. S. Denny, of Des Moines.
was chairman of this committee and
was assisted in his work by the follow
ing members: G. W. Burch. of. West
Liberty; J. P. Mcknight, of Oskaloosa.
and A. F. Sanderson, of Keokuk. The
recommendations We're considered by
the convention in a committee of the
whole and though there were several
points over which lively debate fol-
lowed the sentiment was greatly in ia
yor of the propositions made. The
COMMITTEE recommended the following
resolutions, which We're heartily adopt
led:
A closer cooperation of our church
es in the local evangelical and mis-
sionary work.
That the apportionment plan of rails
ing money be continued.
That the missionary work of the
state and auxiliary missionary boards
be supervised jointly.
That in each county or group of
counties as the case may be, a secre-
tary be appointed, who, with the dis
trict secretaries, shall be assistants to
our state secretary.
That We select in each congrega-
ton correspondent whose duty it
shall be to keep our sectaries informed
of the condition and needs of the local
congregation. so that, as far as posi-
BILE, each congregation shall be sup,
piled with a minister and be actively
engaged in the Lords work, and fur
Their, that this correspondent shall act
as solicitor for the IC G. and aid in
securing creditable offering from his
respective congregations for state
missions.
That an evangelist be employed for
each district and that said evangelist
! ha under the direction Of the sfatA ana