Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-29
Local Members of Methodist Bro
therhood After First Convention.
STATE ORGANIZATION TO Be FORMED
Dr.. A. E. Craig of This sity Appointed
On Committee to Organize Various
Branches of Brotherhood of ST.
Paul-Larse Membership Here.

Ottumwa will probably capture the
first state convention of the Brother
hood of st. Paul of the Methodist
Episcopal church. A committee of
five, of which DR.. A. e. Craig, pastor
of The First Methodist Episcopal
church in this city, is member, has
been appointed for the purpose of
forming state organization and a
meeting will be held at some city to
be determined later, in the latter part
of this month, at which time the var
ious branches of the brotherhood in
Iowa will be joined and plans made
for state meeting, which, it is
thought, will be held some time in
March. The members of the brother
hood in Ottumwa have requested the
honor of entertaining their brothers
at the first state gathering, and mas.
much as the Ottumwa branch is one
of the most furnishing in the state, it
| is thought that the meeting will be
held here.
Rev. r. D. Leete, of Rochester, N.
Y, the founder of the order, appoint
ed the committee on organization,
which is composed of Dr. A. e. Craig,
of this city; DR.. Lafayette L. Thomp D.
son, of Davenport; Rev. j. w. Som
erville, of Oskaloosa; Rev. Calfee, of
Council Bluffs, and Rev. W. L. Clapp,
of Muscatine. The committee has not
decided upon its place of meeting,
but it is understood the city will be
chosen which is the most conveniently
situated geographically.
Local Organization is Strong.
The Brotherhood of ST. Paul of the
Methodist Episcopal church is one of
the strongest organizations for mon
in the Protestant churches. In OF.
tumwa the brotherhood has large
membership, probably larger than
any OF the similar societies in the
city. Meetings are held every month
at the homes of the members, and the
gatherings are always treats. Papers
are usually prepared on some current
question and the discussion which in.
variably follows is interesting as well
as instructive to the participants and
other members.
Order Will Be Benefited
There has been much talk of form.
ing a state organization in the past
year, but no definite steps were taken
in this direction until recently, when
Rev. Lette, of Rochester, the foun
der and national organizer for the so
ciety, appointed the committee with
instructions to meet and arrange fol
yearly state meetings under state
organization. The largest branches
of the order in Iowa are in the cities
which have a representation on the
committee of five; there are severa
other towns in Iowa, however, III
which the brotherhood has branch
!, With the formation of state body II
is thought certain that the member
: ship of the Iowa branches of the or
der will be greatly increased and that
much good will accrue from hayins
the societies Joined in bonds of broth
erhood
Ottun1Wa Wants Convention.
The Ottumwa members of thu
brotherhood are greatly DESTROYS O
having the first state convention
brought to this city. The Methods
Episcopal church in this city has
large membership and the most influ
entail men of the church are member.
of the brotherhood 1t is stated tina
assurance has been given that OF.
tumwa will be given the convention
, although 1t will not be definitel,
known until the committee of fiv,
{ meets and affects the organization o
: the various branches in Iowa.