Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-03-20
Proceedings of the Forty-ninth
Annual Session Now Being
Held at Morayia
BISHOP MATTHEWS PRESIDING
The Annual Address Shows the Work
of the Church in Iowa to Be in
FIourishins state-some Change in
the Number of Presiding Elders Con-
tempIated.

| Special to Times Republican.
Moravia, March 20.-The forty ninth
session of the Iowa annual conference
of the United Brethren in Christ OPP
ened here Wednesday afternoon at
o'clock, Bishop G.. Nj. Matthews, .. D..
presiding. Dr. r. e. Williams, presid-
ing elder, conducted the opening devo-
tional and introduced resolution rat
DR.. Matthews as successor to the la
mented Bishop Holt, paying high trib-
ute to both. Bishop Matthews re-
sponded most feelingly, closing by read
ing the fourth chapter of Ephesians
and after the singing of Nearer My
God TO Thee" an especial favorite OF
the late Bishop Holt. made the annual
address which rang with the true ag
gressive spirit of the church.
The designations of Rev. w. B. Ar
bic, of Upton, as conference secretary,
and Rev. S. L. Long, of West Union, as
conference treasurer, We're accepted, as
the gentlemen We're unable to be pres
ent and Rev. w. Z. Bovey, of Garwin,
and p. A. Shope, esq. of Tama, re-
.spectively. We're elected to fill the va
cancies.
Rev. w. T. Richardson, L. O. Bricker,
Boyd, S. S. Smick, members OF other
conferences We're given advisory seats.
DR.. w. r. Funck, general agent CT the
U. Is. Publishing House, Dayton, Ohio.
was introduced and presented the in
terests he represents.
The name of j. w. Fischer the only
member to pass away during the year.
was referred TO the committee on menu
oirs.
The secretary was instructed to send
letters of greeting to Rev. II. w. Re-
box, Toledo: Rev. /. l.. BuchWalter.
Lisbon Rev. j. Lash, and Rev. j. p.
Fisher, retired itinerants. and to Mrs
Austia Patterson Shoemaker and Rev.
Philo w. Drury. missionaries in China,
and Porto Rico respectively
Bishop e. b. kephart. also a member
of the conference sent a warm Christian
letter, and Revs. j. p. Wilson, c. w.
Benson and c. Wendle. all on the retir-
ed list made feeling remarks.
Revs. l.. o. Bricller. LomaX, Chill
dreths, S. S. SmiclS and l. +. Hartman,
all now holding charges in this confer
ence were received into membership
on transfer.
The usual committees were APP
pointed and the presiding elders. II. r..
Williams and V. A. Carlton made their
reports showing good work done, but
a scarcity of pastors.
Extensive improvements and repairs
have been made all over the territory,
and still more aggressive work is be-
ing planned as evidenced by the APP
pointment of Il committee on church
interests and the report of $500 do
nation received by the missionary
treasurer.
The evening discourse was most
able effort by DR.. Funck of the Pub
fishing House.
The second days session of the con-
ference was mainly given TO routine
business. The important work of the
body Will be its decision on the num-
Der of presiding elders. There are
now and for number of years have
been but two. They are expected to
hold four quarterly meetings each on
% charges. To do this they must hold
nearly half of them in the middle of the
week, which IS unsatisfactory, and have
no time to give to the actual work of
general supervision. 1t will be recon-
mended by the committee TO have but
one presiding elder and change his
work wholly to that of supervision,
not requiring him to hold the quarter
ly meetings or visit the charges regu-
larry but go only when and where there
is special need for his services. This
report will provoke ardent discussion,
as many are in favor of increasing the
number of presiding elders to three and
having them spend four Sundays on
each field every year. Some change
is sure to be made. Along with the rec
ommendation for the one presiding ell
der system which is used in but one
other conference in the entire denomin-
alton, the committee will advise the
recognition of a Laymans Auxiliary,
which will be incorporated among the
laymen of the church and provide the
funds for special evangelistic work
thruout the conference.
Encouraging reports were had from
Agent w. r. Funk of the Publishing
House and C. NJ. Brooke, of the Union
Biblical seminary.
DR.. w. 1. Beatty, of Lisbon. delivered
an eloquent and highly interesting SER
mon in the evening.