Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-26
FORM STATE BODY
State Organization of Brotherhood
of st. Paul Effected.
&c. PIERCE MAY BE FIRST PRESIDENT
ottumwa Man Slated for Head Posi-.
tion in New OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of
Convention Was Unanimous for For
nation of State Council.

Convention Was Unanimous for For
nation of State Council.
A state organization of the Broth
erhood of st. Paul was effected at the
meeting held this morning in the First
Methodist Episcopal church and a
campaign was inaugurated which Will
undoubtedly be felt in all the Metho-
dist Episcopal churches in Iowa. Al
though the officers have not been Sc
lected as the Courier goes to press 1t
is thought almost certainty thai
Eugene c. PIERCE principal of the OF
tumwa high school, will be the first
president, and that Rev. j. w. Pot
ter of Bloomfield. will be chosen sec.
retary The plan of forming mutual
benefit society as a side feature to the
brotherhood was talked over, but no
action was taken on the matter at the
session this morning.
National Organizer Talks.
The meeting this morning was the
! first business session OF the conven-
ton, and there was intense interest
manifested by the many delegates
both from the clergy and the laity.
The service opened with devotional
service, during which prayer was given
by many of the delegates. Rev. j. w.
i Somerville of Oskaloosa was the chair
man, while Rev. W. P. Stoddard of
Grinnell officiated as secretary. DR..
! Frederick Deland Leete, the founder
and national organizer of the order.
thoroughly explained the workings of
the brotherhood and the success which
has characterized the brotherhood
l since it was organized seven years ago
4 at Little Falls. N. Y He told of the
necessity of state organization and
gave many practical illustrations OF
the good which has been achieved by
other societies and state organizations
4 Vote Was Unanimous.
After a lengthy session in which
nearly every delegate in the conven'
ton was called upon to give his views
it was found that the sense of the
convention was strongly in favor OF
the organization, and accordingly up
on motion of Dr.. A. E. Craig, of this
city, a vote was taken and the chap
tiers in the various cities in the state
were Joined under one state council by
} unanimous vote. 1t was found yes
terday that Dr. Lafayette L. Thomp
son of Davenport, who is national vice
president of the order would be un
able to attend owing to the serious ill
ness of his little daughter. The con
vention sent a telegram of condolnce
to the Davenport minister and this
; morning an answer was received ant
read in the convention stating that thu
! condition of the child was slightly i'm
; proved. After the reading of the tele
| gram the delegates bowed their head
Z while Rev. Leete offered afervent pray
s err that the life of the child might b.
f saved. This was one of the touchin,
sights of the gathering.
Deep Impression Made.
The chaptersof the Brotherhood o
, St Paul of the First Methodist Epis
, copal church in this city is probabl.
the strongest of the Iowa organiza
tons and deep impression was mad
, upon the many delegates assemble
when Dr. Craig told OF the practica
work that had been done here, and tn
plan under which the meetings wer
7 held. The movement is as yet, young
/ in Iowa but from the expressions hear
: on all sides at the morning gatherin
: it is assured that a great impetus wi
: be given to the work of the brother
5 hood as result of the convention nov
. in session.
. The object and principles of tn
i Brotherhood of ST. Paul are as TO
lows:
The purpose of this brotherhood j
!. to effect the mutual improvement an
entertainment of itS members by II
J. ligious, social, physical and literar
:. culture, to promote the spirit an
practice of Christian brotherhood t
I, build up the church with which we al
connected, and especially to eXten
v Christs cause in the world by winnin
our brothers to the Christian faith.
s Principles.
We accept Christ as our great con
mander, examiner and saviour, and S
Paul as the leader of our division {
! Christ's army, They are our type
of manly character. We declare To-
:, atty to the Methodist Episcopal churc
= to it's laws, its pastors and its lay of
! ciary, and to the Scripture doctrine
\ upon which it is founded.
The Afternoon Session.
- i
The afternoon session was devote
to an excellent program of short a
att dresses which had not reached its co
clusion as the Courier went to pres
At the close of the program the OF
is GERS of the state organization will
e. chosen and the place for holding tt
r. next state convention will be selec
ed.
r. Rev. Potter's Address.
q, The address delivered at the Sc
10 sion this afternoon received the Gle
est attention of the delegates preser
81 Rev. j. w. Potter, of Bloomfield W
the first talker and his address was u
on the subject, Brotherhood. Re
Potter talked upon his subject fro
III three standpoints. The first as the
~ rect and logical conclusion from t
J. statement of Paul, God Hath Ma
a From One Blood All Nations OF Mel
,ly Second-from the more restrict
he sense of brotherhood as applied
ne children of the same parentage.
gn talked in mastery manner and ma
as a deep impression upon the gatheril
w. A. Work Talks.
81 W. A. Work of this city, deliver
n in